Sunday, September 26, 2010

Wet Paint

I'm almost embarrassed to show you, but here are some pictures of what we've been up to this weekend. Painting.

We removed the ugly curtain that was here when we moved in. Not only was it an eye sore, but it collected 10 years worth of dust on the ledge. We also discovered the one thing that was updated in this out before we moved in...the wall paper was removed (kinda). We found that in some areas they just painted over the yellow velvet (yes, it was textured) flower wall paper. I was so excited to find it was (mostly) removed. I removed most of what was left and textured over the rest.

And yes, that was me on the ladder.

It's hard to tell the color because of the light, but you can best see it in the last picture of the foyer (also recently painted...and updated with new light fixtures). I still have a ways to go on the painting, but you get the idea.

Ignore the mess. It's only temporary (I hope).



Sunday, September 19, 2010

New Acquisitions

Abel's parents are getting new furniture and gave us some of their old pieces (since our house is so anemic right now). I have to say though that it certainly made a big difference in our house--it feels a little more lived-in.

(Ignore the bad pictures--I didn't mess around with the lighting...)

We didn't add anything to the bar but a few weeks ago I reorganized it so it looks so much better. I wish it didn't have the glass behind it because it really takes away from our glassware, but oh well! Another project for another day!!

We haven't put the doors on the china cabinet yet but we'll get them up today (my mom really wanted to see pictures ASAP). But the size is really great for our space...and so is the table. It's much larger than the table we had there before. Someday we'll get a larger table but this works great in the mean time.
My grandmother's secretary had to find a new home. It's here for now but I'm not 100% certain it's the perfect spot. I love this secretary because my brother and I used to play in it when we were little--my grandmother kept skeleton keys in the drawers (I'm sure she's always wondered why they always disappeared).
This is a couch that Abel's parents kept in their formal living area. It looks much nicer than the old couch that was here (Gunner's couch) so we moved Gunner's couch to the playroom and placed this one here for now. When we get a seating area in front of the fire place, we will remove this couch all together (and probably move it to the downstairs in front of that fireplace).
My brother and his wife graciously gave us this bed as well. We put it in Bella's room for now until we get a new bed to put there (our neighbor has a white twin sleigh bed that they are going to give her in the next few months). This bed will then graduate into Noah's room or the downstairs guest room.
Here's the coffee table that we gave Abel's parents one time (since they severely needed a table)--they are now ordering a coffee table for their house so we took this one back but it needs some TLC (again, another project). The color goes with our couch a little better and this one is a little taller, so we moved the other table to (you guessed it) Gunner's couch in the playroom.
And finally, this buffet belongs with the dining set, but we badly needed something in our entry way, so I borrowed it to place under the clock. The clock now seems a little high but maybe it'll look better when I add some pictures and (maybe) a lamp to the buffet.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

This is what happens when I upload pictures


(Yes, that's rice krispies all over the play room floor. Evenly distributed. Her flower-girl skills came in handy.)

House Updates








Visit from Grandmother and Pepaw





Monday, September 6, 2010

Devil's Punchbowl

Today we crossed one more item off of our "San Diego To-Do" list. Mark and Katy (along with Maybe and Gunner) joined us for a hike to Devil's Punchbowl (also known as Cedar Creek Falls). Four and a half miles round trip with a 1,200ft elevation change--the hike was incredible. At the bottom of the trail, there was a waterfall and swimming hole (for lack of a better term). The water was pretty cool but VERY refreshing. We packed a picnic and had lunch by the water fall under a tree.

Since we haven't had much rain recently, the waterfall was more like a trickle and the water level was about two feet low (it was only about 5ft deep in the center). The waterfall is about 90ft high and is a popular spot for cliff divers--fortunately there were no cliff divers while we were there.

The trip back up was a little more difficult than we had anticipated but both of the kids did great. Noah slept in the backpack carrier (courtesy of Abel) and Bella walked the whole way. She's quite a trooper and complained very little.


The amazing view. This section of Ramona sees wildfires every few years but the vegetation always grows back. The last fire through this are was about 2 years ago.

Maybe with saddlebags.

Abel and Noah.

One of the few shade trees.

Gunner, Mark, Abel, and Noah.


Abel and Noah on a steep section of the hike.


Abel and Bella swimming.


The waterfall.


Your illustrious photographer. Since I'm usually the one taking photos, there aren't many of me!


Mark and a boulder.