Halloween!

So this year, friends of mine decided to get married on Halloween. It was a wonderful, costume-filled party, with the groomsmen dressed in jeans and black t-shirts printed with tux fronts, and the bridesmaids dressed in frilly black skirts and black sneakers :o)   The ceremony was quick and cute, the food was so wonderful, the costumes were fantastic - and I forgot my camera. Sadly.

We DID take some photos of our costumes once we got home. I was an ancient (as in, from long ago) Norse woman and my man was Hunter S. Thompson. Doesn't he look awesome?!

We even went the extra mile and bic'd his head on top so he looked bald! He promptly shaved off the rest when we got home, since the bald on top look was really getting to us :o))

 Do you know how hard it was to find a cigarette holder? Apparently people STILL use them...and they are still being made. It took 2 days of frantic calls and searching, but we found one!

My costume was from when I belonged to a medieval recreation group called the SCA. I don't play any more, but since I already had the whole costume, it was easy to wear....and WARM! It's hand-sewn (no machine sewing) out of wool and linen and decorated with felt and hand-spun wool needlepoint. I can't believe I made the whole thing...right down to the shoes. (the bag was hand-made by a friend). The beautiful reproduction animal-head brooches were given to me by my mother and are currently the most expensive jewelry I own. How sad.

Here's the dress:

And the jacket:

Fun was had by all, but we came home at a decent hour and didn't end up going out with friends afterwards, like planned. We were both tired.

Our ages are showing.

A little update on a dresser I was working on, ages ago, if you're keeping track: it's finished! If you don't know which one I'm talking about, read the beginning, here: Finally, a Weekend

I sprayed the top coat ages and ages ago, before I actually hurt my knee (that was in April) and it's been sitting out in the garage, waiting on handles and me getting up the energy to sell it. Instead, I sold the antique dresser I HAD inside, and am keeping this one, for the time being. It's much bigger!

I'm not a HUGE fan of the white handles, however they were very inexpensive and they can be removed and replaced at a later date. Like when I win the $50 million Lotto Max soon. Ha.

Like the detail? It's a lovely, big size and I still have an extra drawer to fill up! Awesome.

Well, that's about it for now!  I'll be sharing some sweet finds from Etsy one of these days, soon. See you then!

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Such a slacker...but look!

Yes. I FINALLY finished Jack's dresser. All it needs now (aside from the ride to it's new home) are new handles. But Jack's mum needs to pick something out. Not a big deal.

You have no idea how happy I am about it! Here's a before and after of it.

Before:

After:

There were a few in-between photos, but I've been such a procrastinator about blogging. But you already knew that.

It's not nearly as reddish colored in person....that's just the photos. It's much richer and darker brown. It would look fabulous with white ceramic handles!

Here's a photo of the lined drawers:

The lining is just a nicely patterned contact paper, but it's washable, and when the little feller gets older and wants a "big boy" dresser, she can pull it out without problems and replace it with something more masculine! Plus, it cost less than a quarter of the price of wallpaper. Heh heh

Jack's mum's baby shower was last weekend. Fun was had by all, including a water-drinking contest (out of plastic baby bottles). I don't know how the winner did it...all I got was air! BURP!

And there was also a "guess how big around mum's belly is" contest. I was WAY off....sorry about that. We had snacks and punch and got to see her delight with all the gifts. I heart baby stuff.

But then, I heart babies. (shhhh...don't tell my boyfriend that)

I'd put in photos of the shower fun, but I've been too lazy to go through them yet. (I took a LOT of photos of the host's doggy, Minnie, though...I should go check them out right now.)

Anywhooo....

I'm still on 1/2 days at work. My knee gets too sore if I'm on it more than that. Dr. says no stairs, no heavy lifting, no squats. Blarg. My appointment to see a knee specialist isn't until September, so that's pretty lame.

I'm still away from my ballet classes, darnit! At least this gives me a chance to do stretching, which I really need. Unfortunately, I've gained 8 POUNDS since I've been injured. I suck.

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Sunny days

So, the weather has been cooler, but today was still sunny. Which was nice.

I had a great day out with friends yesterday. We sat and watched the world at a Starbucks, and then had a bit of barbeque. Here's her and her dog...

We also had a short walk to the park, where I took these photos. Can you tell I really like flowers??

I've had my man haul out Jack's dresser/changetable, and have started some stuff I can do without squatting down (due to my bum knee). Poor thing will be born in less than 8 weeks and will need it!!

I've started sanding it with a palm sander and some heavy grit sandpaper to try and minimalize the gouging from the sloppy stripping that was done. It doesn't need to be perfectly smooth, as Jack's mum is happy with a slightly rustic look...especially since she's thinking that it will take years of boyish abuse :o) I also sat and started scraping yucky 1950's wallpaper from the insides of the drawers. I don't need to get it off completely, as we'll be papering the drawers again, but I'd rather I got all the colored parts off, since I don't want the color to show through the new paper.

Here's how it looks, at the moment!

I will need to stabilize a couple areas that are coming a bit loose on the cabinet, and then make sure the drawer bottoms are firmly fixed, before I continue sanding with finer and finer grits.

Seems like summer is here!

Goals for the near future:

1) Finish Jack's dresser...he's going to need it soon!
2) Start stretching regularly and doing some core exercises.
3) Get back to work asap. I'm off for maybe another week: I better not waste it
4) Pick up a paintbrush and do some art while I still have the time at home.
5) Less internet!!! My butt is getting bigger from sitting on this chair
6) Eat less. I eat fairly well, just too much. Sigh. I *heart* food.

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Injuries after injuries.

So. Yeah. Lots of things happening....or not, as the case may be.


I blew out my knee at work. Talk about not even having a good story! All I did was squat down to measure some paint. Sigh. I must be getting old. The doc says that something may be torn, so I'm off for a weeks rest, at least. Icing and elevating.

Not that I'm really that torn up about not being able to work (since I really don't like my workplace), but I am TOTALLY sad about not being able to go to ballet class, or do gardening around the yard, or driving (since I drive a standard, and it's my left knee that's wonky). I'm stuck at home with no cable and I can't sit and read for very long without disabling myself, since I have herniated cervical discs (in my neck).

I KNOW! I know.... I'm totally falling apart. Time to take me out back and put me out of my misery.

Dear Santa.....

All I want for Christmas is a new back, and a new left knee and maybe some new eyes, OK? Ones that don't need heavy-duty eyeglasses. And maybe can I have some thighs and a butt that look like they belong on an 18 year old????

PS: I'd also like a winning lottery ticket...and I don't mean for just $20. Mmm-k?

Love, Me.

And Horrors! So my bad knee means no ballet, either. And here I had just bought a new pair of ballet slippers!!! (do you know how hard it is to take a picture of your own pointed foot??? I had to use a mirror)

They're Bloch's split-sole neos. The fronts are a super-soft leather and the heel parts are neoprene! They're very very comfy. And I never even got a chance to use them in class. Please don't tease me about my terrible pointe, either. I'm working on it.

I STILL haven't gotten anywhere with the dresser past getting the black glaze on it. Now it will have to wait a bit, due to my stupid knee.

(Sorry, Knee. I don't think you're stupid! I love you and want you to get better, quick. Please get better!)

I also got a new dresser for a baby gift for one of my best friends. It's definitely a project dresser that has been badly cared for. Looks like the drawers were papered in the 50's and someone tried to tear it out. Also, they must have used a chisel when they were stripping it, since there are HUGE gouges all over it

(It's OK, Jack's mama. Thery're really not *HUGE*. I can make it look purty. Really)

And the top is slightly bowed. It's going to take some screwing, gluing and elbow grease to fix it up, but when it's done, it will make the finest little change table/dresser you ever did see!

Plans are to straighten out the top, re-paper the drawers with something nice, but boy-ish (since the baby is Jack) , finish it a lovely chocolate brown stain and add some nicer handles, maybe glass?? I also would like to add new legs, since I find the proportions of these to be a bit....shall we say, stubby?

Oh, and on a more sober note, my step-brother (really, my mom's boyfriend's kid, but they've been together forever, so same thing) has just been injured in Afghanistan and is currently in Germany, having surgery. He's OK, which is good. Collapsed lung, shattered heels and a wicked concussion, or so I hear. That's from his tank going straight up in the air! He should be shipped back to Canada by the end of the week, possibly near us, possibly not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for close to us, since his brother and dad would really like to be near. Poor kid was only 3 weeks into his first tour, too.

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