Sheila's Home

I've been working on Sheila's house; specifically the living room.

We started by painting the entire room navy blue, specifically Noir by Pratt and Lambert.  It almost drove the painter mad and I feel for John, but it had to be done.

This summer and spring I've been working on draperies for the wall of windows.  The fabric is Irish Linen.  And I know now that I'm definitely not set up to sew draperies that are as long as these.  I tried using the floor, a table and the clothesline to cut them out.  Arggggh.  What I wouldn't give for a cutting table like real workrooms have.  Joel suggested I could set up my own sweatshop out in the garage and sew for other people.  There isn't enough money and I'm not hungry enough for that at this time.

So here are the middle panels installed.  I'm still working on the two side panels which are easier to deal with because they are significantly shorter and only have the green panel on the bottom - without the center band of the green.  They are made with French seams throughout so that they are finished on the back because they are not lined.  If I'd lined them I never would have finished them because I would have died trying to square everything up and then IRON them.  And that probably would have been at my own hand...

Please note Sheila's collection of muertos.  The big ones on top of the armoire are fabulous; I especially like the lady (called a Katrina) holding her blue skirt in both hands.  They're all beautiful, though and really show up against the blue walls.

Jimmie Schnauzer

I've been messing around with Adobe Photoshop all day.  Little enough to show for all my effort, but here is the latest with Jimmie.

If you will refer to previous posts you will see him as...well, I don't know what it is exactly that he looks like breed-wise without a haircut.  A little bit of everything, but probably Pug and some Yorkie.

So I took him to the beauty salon and I got back a little, sort of, schnauzer.

Landscraping...

The plants around the front path, from the driveway to the front walk, are maturing somewhat.  The lavender is full of bees and butterflies and the daisys are just getting started.

Here it is before we constructed the gravel path:

And here it is this morning:



Changes

I'm so slow at this.  I've been painting and redecorating.

The living room has had its previously all brick fireplace painted white.  It is vastly improved and I don't have to look at the ugly raw brick with its curtain of water stains from a roof leak.

Before:

And then the after:

 

I couldn't be happier with the results.  And so happy to be happy with it because there is absolutely not a chance of going back to brick.  It has taken weeks because of the rough brick, its porosity and the requirement that a full primer coat had to be applied.

So what do we think?

Jimmy Without a Haircut!

Jimmy's former owner sent me a photo with his coat grown out.  He looks like a different dog - but I think even cuter than with a haircut...what do you think?

Pictures!

Jimmy February 2011
Who are you again?

He can stand up and twirl around when he wants a treat.

He is a really good sleeper, too.

Hilarious!

I know, I know, I promised pictures.  But I'm still not getting them off my camera...so those will be along soon.

But my friend B sent this to me and I can't stop laughing.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I.

From the BBC - by John Cleese (of Monty Python fame)
ANNOUNCEMENT

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats
and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved."

Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or
even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the
blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been
re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the
British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when
threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get
the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they
have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300
years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror
alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are
"Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire
that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the
country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to
"Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective
Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance"
to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher
levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat
they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy.
These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy
can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to
"She'll be alright, Mate." Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!",
"I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend", and "The barbie is
cancelled."

Funny, no?