More snowstorm 2010...
(the last one is our Blessed Virgin statue that sits in our front garden.)

Snowstorm 2010

Merry Christmas!

Dining Room Before and after pictures. The red walls and "crystal" chandelier are the way the house looked when we were looking at houses. Those are the pictures from the original listing. For six months we used the room for my dad's room while their apartment was being built. I think dad liked the fancy chandelier and the view of the front yard. I liked the color, but not the white on the bottom. Also, we had only one set of dining room furniture - the 1969 Ethan Allen Olde Tavern dining room set that was my Aunt Joan and Uncle Al's. I spent many a birthday, Easter dinner, etc. at that table (or the kids' table)! But, really, the colonial style is not one you see often any more. I didn't want to get rid of this furniture for two reasons: one, it would kill my mom; and two, it is very practical. The table extends into a huge table and the buffet/hutch has a lot of storage. In the old house, I was going for a kind of 1940's farmhouse vibe in the kitchen, and the furniture worked. Here, I wanted a Mexican vibe. When I say vibe, I mean I don't want it to look like you stepped into a place or time, but that you have a certain feeling or flavor about the room. But, I suck at interior design. I figured I would try - there is a first time for everything!
So I painted first. The colors are Frosted Jade and Brown Teepee from Behr at Home Depot. The Frosted Jade is the paint and primer in one, and it only took one can to go over that red - two coats. Amazing! I bought that paint when we moved in and intended to use it someplace else. Well, I wanted to mind my budget, so I used the paint we had in this case, and it came out beautiful. On the chip it seemed a little more washed out, but the result is better than what I expected. The brown teepee is what I was using on the walls in the upstairs hallway, the stairs, and the entrance, so there is some flow (I watch too much HGTV!)
I had saved those sarapes on the walls for a few years to use somewhere. We got them out of one of Danny's dumpsters when he was hauling. He had a job once to clean out a woman's storage and home after she died, and I found lots of treasures there. I also have some written proof of the age and place where these originated - they are 1940 or 50's vintage saltillo sarapes from Arizona. One is wool, and one is a wool blend. I bought wrought iron towel bars on e-bay to display them.
The Last Supper print came from a house Danny wanted to buy. It was an old, abandoned house in a bad part of town, and the man who lived there became a ward of the state and was forced into a nursing home. The city wouldn't sell us the house, but DJ took a memento.
Lastly, the chandelier - what a bargain! I bought that on e-bay, too. I love it! But it is an outdoor chandelier, and only 20 volt. The listing said it came with a transformer, but it was not in the package that came straight from the manufacturer. So I let the seller know, and the manufacturer called me a few days later to tell me all had been shipped. Still, it could not be installed directly into the ceiling, which is why we have that chain. Oh well!
I am still waiting on the new knobs for the buffet - talavera knobs from Mexico.
I think it looks great! on to the next room...

November 2010

Frances at our church festival, paella for Thanksgiving weekend with the family, and a strangely shaped sweet potato !

Happy Halloween!

Above is the pin pulled from Sebastian's leg - the one he was shot with. We thought we lived in a safe area. :) Really, when we were moving out of the old place one of marty's friends picked up the bb gun, loaded it with a sewing pin, pointed it at Sebby, and shot. They made him swear to not tell, and they all figured the pin was on the floor somewhere. A month later, Sebbby told me what happened and showed me the bruise where it hit. I figured he was okay, just being a baby. He complained about it after days swimming, skating, playing baseball, and generally running around. I figured he was just tired and feeling whiny after all of that activity. Actually, the pin was in his leg and working itself to the surface. Finally, 3 months later, we had it x-rayed and went to a surgeon. He had to have it surgically removed. That particular "friend" is now too afraid to come around. And this is why I am a candidate for mom of the year.

Above is the after photo, below is the before.

Above: obviously, it is the bathroom.
Below: The living room.

Above: The kitchen. Tile is not set yet on the countertops, so the sink is not able to be set just yet.
Below: The entryway. to the right is a closet for the washer and dryer, then the door to the garage. The door straight ahead goes out to where the pool equipment, HVAC stuff is, the outside electric panel, meters, etc. are.

Below is the view from the garage door entry.

Grandma & Grandpa's House~
above is the back view

...the view from Grandpa's bed

Grandpa is all settled in :)

Will post more as I take them!

~ 4th of July, 2010 ~

Frances' end of school party~

Joey and Ant's birthday cake~

Bri and baby, in the pool~

Danny, Frances, and Seb on Roman Rapids at Busch Gardens

more to come...

We are finally moving!

New address:
5204 Albright Dr.
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

It is about two miles from where we live now. I am so glad this is over. But now we have a week t get out of this house and into the other. So we are painting and cleaning over there, and packing over here. It is pretty hectic. So if anyone wants come and visit (or help), come on over!

I will edit later with some pics of Seb's brithday. He turned 12 on March 14th. We celebrated a day early because Danny had to leave the next day for his grandma's funeral in Texas. Last year we had an impromtu birthday party for him at my cousin Missy's house in Pennsylvania because we were there for my Uncle's funeral. It was the last time we saw my aunt Joan alive. We sat down and talked at the table for a long time, and it was good. But poor Seb. Next year we'll be wondering who's turn it is!

Marty is now failing out of school. In fact, he has been kicked out. The hearing is today. Wish us luck.

And, our house is no longer ours, but we only have about 2 weeks left to live here. The offer we made on the house we want was accepted, contract ratified, and accepted by both lien holders as acceptable (it is a short sale). But where is the paperwork? Only God knows.

Frances turned 9!