The Castle

Edgy Edits and Quality of Light

What are we gonna do today??

Happy Holidays

Skywatch Friday

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Primping my Pillows

I love DYI decorating, and especially decorating on a budget. Our whole house is done this way and even if I could afford it "all" I would still "do" a lot on my own. It is creative and fun. My favorite DYI projects are simple and inexpensive ofcourse. Kolhs already has all their Xmas decor 70% off. The most gorgeous placemats that are way too beautiful to serve food on and probably impossible to clean make the most lovely throw pillows. These place mats were only $1.80 each; gorgeous little works of art they are. I gently ripped open the side seam and stuffed them with the filling of an older fake feather bed that is no longer used. I quickly hand stitch them up and they are done. They are perfect! One I will give to my grandmother in the nursing home and two to my mother-in-law. The two white ones with sequined snowflakes are mine to keep.

http://www.remodelaholic.com !!!!! and http://redoux.blogspot.com!!
http://projectqueen.org/ Enjoy!

Before and After

On the Road Again.

I am doing last minute Christmas shopping with my mother-in-law. I am pretty much done, I think, but need to tie up a few loose ends and come up with a few amazing ideas. I am trying to keep the Christmas spirit, but just want this holiday to blow by. Bahumbug, I guess. Our lights lie on the ground in the front yard in a make shift mess. Donovan carefully informs me that his friends and neighbors who wait for the bus with him each morning don't really "get" it. It being the wimpy heart I fashioned on the ground out of lights after myself, the younger boys and then Aubrie tried to hang ourselves. Hang the lights I mean, of course. And now, my beautiful mantel greens, the one decoration I was adoring are dead.

Eye,eye,eye,eye,eye....

Flowers on Saturday

I am not sure what these flowers are called, but they are sitting on my entertainment center and will be gifted to my mother-in-law on her birthday tomorrow. They remind my of apple blossoms. Happy Birthday Meme!

Sunrise Skywatch

Taken off my front steps just this morning. Lovely! Happy skywatching. :)

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Finally

Finally, a few decorations are up. All over the blogosphere are gorgeous photographs of Christmas decorations. I finally rallied and decorated our mantel. On Friday eve we put up the tree. For the kids mostly. Gabe is so excited and in love with Christmas. A 5th grader, the youngest of 4, who still believes in Santa and The Elf on the Shelf??!! When did I lose that? Last night just before bed I noticed the tree was totally dry, not drop of water in the stand. Arrgh! Another thing I feel compelled to keep hydrated. I put the boys in charge of outdoor lights. On Saturday afternoon we came home from Donovan's first swim meet to find that our 16 year old son had fashioned the lights into a large phallic design on the front lawn. Dad was the one who had the benefit of viewing this in its twinkling glory and quickly pulled the plug. I got to hear the story second hand and view the deflated pile of what once had been. I found this a little humorous I must say, and very unsatisfying as the lights are now in a tangled pile just inside the front door on the floor. I am considering plan B :) . As you can see I am truly working against the tide her with my decorating for the holidays. Maybe Santa, or the elf on the shelf would be willing to help. I think I need some Christmas magic.

Linking with Sweet Shot Tuesday http://my3boybarians.com/2011/12/sweet-shot-tuesday-81/ and:

http://theinspiredroom.net/

I Heart Furry Faces

I may be a little early for this, but I am going to enter Summer in the weekly photo challenge. She is my next door neighbor. :)

Skywatch Friday

"All my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown. The moon rolls through the nighttime til the daybreak comes around."

I'm not sure if I quoted that exact, but I love that song. I am going to spend today trying to remember who sang it. Anyone?

Happy Friday everyone. :)

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Morning Has Broken & Words With Friends

Crazy windy rainy night last night around here. That, and my husband coughing non-stop from 3-6am. Cough medicine!!!???? And now, I can't help but identify with Alec Baldwin this morning. I love words with friends. Love, love, love it ! It's the perfect game. It's cerebral and social. All that time frequent fliers spend sitting on the tarmac, I could not think of a better way to pass the time. And, when it's your turn and your in a close game with your know it all brother-in-law thousands of miles away and your finally almost beating him, you need to take your turn. Now. It's very satisfying.

Night Stand Update

This is all new to me, posting photos in some kind of consecutive order. Frustrating.

I have a little pine night stand that my dear father made me in 1989. I was 22 and moving into my first apartment on my own. I owned very little furniture. He whipped up this cute little shaker style piece that to this day I keep by my bedside adorned with a love note made by 3 year old Donovan featuring Sponge Bob. My Dad passed away suddenly 9 years ago so I really cherish the pieces of furniture he made for me through the years. Not even two months after my Father died Donovan fell and required 7 stitches on his little chin. He was 3 at the time. I can still remember him lying on my bed after the traumatic ordeal of the injury and hospital visit. It was mid-afternoon and I was trying to get him to take a nap. I went in to check on him and he lifted his head off my pillow and said " you know why I am so sad Mommy?" I was fully expecting him to reply because my chin really hurts. But, he said "because I really miss Grampy and began to cry." I think it was around this time he left us the Sponge Bob love note.

So, I struggled a little on Monday, trying to decide if it was alright to paint this piece. It had become a little battered and was just kind of blending in with the wood floors in our bedroom.
I decided to spray paint it a deep chocolate brown, after a light sanding and coat of gray primer. I then chose feminine cyrstal knobs to balance the masculine color. I am really pleased with the result and I think my Father would be too. The integrity and memory of the piece remains. In the process I was really able to appreciate how much work he put into it, from the hand carved raised panels to the dove-tail drawers. And, my Sponge Bob love note is back where it belongs, the last thing I see each night before I turn off my light. :)

I am primping my stuff on Wednesday at : http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/. :)

Swim Team

Donovan joined our local youth swim team. He swims nearly every week day for an hour or so. Non stop. I am so proud of him. It was a three day event to convince him and nearly drag him there the first couple of times. I almost gave up, having that struggle with the voice inside my head, wondering what was best for him. Do I "force" him and then have him hold it as ammunition to throw as he needs it through the years that he had no choice, or do I not give in to him sitting on the couch watching TV all Winter knowing that he is often afraid to try new things and scared to fail. Having two brothers who meanly point out any physical inadequacy you have does not help. I am believing that my heart is in the right place with this and that my instincts are "on". With trepidation he conceded and over nearly a weeks worth of days he finally joined. Against my best judgement I too conceded and bribed him with his hearts latest desire: a facebook page of his own. Which reminds me I need to jump on right after this post and monitor. His first meet is this weekend, but he hasn't yet realized that he will be competing in it. I am playing dumb and will let the coaches inform him. Wish us luck. :)

http://www.the-creative-exchange.com/ I am linking with The Creative Exchange :)

Visiting Colleges

Saturday Morning Post

http://blackandwhiteweekend.blogspot.com/

Night Moves

Last Saturday we went to see Bob Seger in concert. It was such a heartwarming concert. From the moment he stepped on stage it was like he had just returned home. The concert was wonderful, full of love and life and a joy to witness. And, the man can still sing. He sounded great. I took this photo traveling east on the way to the show. I am calling it Night Moves, one of his best that has been running through my head all week.

"Ain't it funny how the night moves, when you just don't seem to have as much to lose. Strange how the night moves...with Autumn closing in."

Happy Skywatch Friday everyone..:)

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

To the Mall

I headed to the mall yesterday to do a little Christmas shopping. I got some crazy great deals. I keep getting coupons for free stuff in the mail. Yesterday I got free underwear from Victoria's secret and an eyeliner for $2.50. Who knew they sold makeup. And, in 77 kids, the children's version of American Eagle I got three pairs of pants, a shirt and a girl's puffy, cozy winter vest for just over $30. Anything on clearance was another %40 off and I had two $10 off coupons. The vest alone came to only $5. Wow.

Sky Drama

These photos were all taken on the same day on opposite sides of the horizon throughout a period of about an hour or so. I kept having to pull into slowly emptying school parking lots as the show began. In teaching my teens to drive I am tying to model safe behavior by not answering my cell phone if it rings and absolutely never texting while driving. Now I have to fight off the urge to snap photos as well. It is getting dark so early. :( . Between the hours of 3 and 6 I am on the road as the sun sinks low and fast and darkness overwhelms. "It's strange how the night moves, with autumn closing in".

It's wordless wednesday.