Foyer Hall Tree Update

This is my wonderful hubby in what was once my our beautiful dining room.  Now his office/writing studio.

Want to see a magic trick? 

Poof!  They are gone!  

Don't worry, hubby is still here.  He is enjoying his new office.  Or is he? Now he has decided to write in the living room with a laptop desk.  (insert my Charlie Brown scream)

 I will try to draw up some plans and insert them.  I'm most proud of the fact that this can all be removed with four screws and very little damage to the frame which I hope will be hidden by my French doors someday.  

Only a small bit of caulking and paint remain to take this project all the way to the finish line, but I have decided to call it a win!  As soon as the weather cooperates and I can paint without poisoning us occupants, it will be complete!   

I'm still debating the Oak Leaf hooks.  In the catalog they called to me, but once they were up, not so much.  I'm usually all about symmetry, in case you can't tell, but I think they are growing on me.  And I feel like living in Oak City, the Oak leaf and Acorn motif are fitting. 

Supply List and Drawings:

Foyer Hall Tree

Because Mr. Farmless Farmhouse has commandeered my dining room as his office.  And the Farmless Farmchild has claimed the living room as her haven of collecting. 

I have had to come up with some sort of Smoke Screen, if you will, to hide the Office of Shame from those who pass through our front door and may not know yet.  You should really win someone over with your charm and wit before exposing them to the kind of crazy in your home. 

This is where my idea was born.  For a quick fix, we placed four IKEA Billy Bookcases in the doorway to the dining room/office, which also and unfortunately gave Farmless Farmchild even more space to expand her hoard of toys, puzzles, books and trinkets.  She definitely has a collecting monkey on her back! 

I purchased two amazing sets of French doors, many moons ago, to install in the doorway of each of these rooms.  My dream is for guests, someday, to enter into our Foyer to find lovely inviting rooms beckoning through the pretty frosted squares of glass in these beautiful French doors.  "Come sit a while, doesn't this look like a peaceful relaxing retreat?" 

First problem here is:  There is nothing peaceful or enticing happening in those rooms.  Their occupants enjoy them, but they cause me great stress.  You see, I am easily overwhelmed by chaos  but the two most important people in my life seem to THRIVE in it! And it's three against one.  Yes, I said three.  We must not forget the four legged inhabitant who has a hoard of bones and toys that rival any Petco!

Second problem:  I do not feel confident enough in my handy woman skills to install these doors.  I know the basic mechanics; however, all my projects escalate into Mt. Everest.  In addition to this, since the owners of these rooms have filled them to capacity, I don't think there is enough room to accommodate the opening of the doors. 

I had to really mull this one over for a while.  Lots of screen shots, compiling ideas, sketching scrapping plans, sketching again.  Thinking of a good cost effective way to mask the chaos for my comfort and keep the other occupants happy. 

A little fact you may not know about me is that I love a good bargain!  I love the hunt mostly! I like to think I got a really great deal and I'm doing these projects "on a dime".  The sad fact is, I purchase stuff, it doesn't work, I sell it for a dime, try something else, I find a new deal, tire of that item.  See where I'm going with this?   It's a vicious cycle.  And a big factor in the major meltdown that refueled my blogging.  The blogging means I have to face public failure if I don't follow through.  I'm really not into public shaming.  I'm not into shaming at all.  So far, it has worked.  Sort of.  I have made big strides in four of my major projects but none have quite hit the finished point.  YET!  The greater the effort, the greater the reward, right?

Back to the dining room doorway:  Luckily the whole "Mud Room Entry-way" has become very trendy.  Let's hope it stays trendy until we can afford a major project we have been wanting to accomplish since purchasing our home. That's just a lil teaser for another day. 

Now the wheels are turning. How can I make a really awesome entryway, on a budget, that will have my guests and visitors saying, "Wow! This place is lovely, I never want to leave!"? 

And, how can I do this, and not waste all the money we have poured into Billy Bookcases and Pottery Barn Cameron storage systems?  Those were thrifted, of course!  But now we have enough for a showroom and they aren't really meeting our needs, or what I envisioned in my head.

Now we are getting to the part where you will start to understand why all these projects are raging at once.  Well, two or three of them at least.  We needed two of the Billy Bookcases being used in the dinning room doorway, to flank the Loft Window Seat upstairs.  It took me forever to decide between bookcases on the sides or just a long window seat.  Then sensibility won out.  You ALWAYS need more storage!  Am I right?  Okay, that decision made. 

I left part of the story out until this point.  We also have two half Billy Bookcases in our garage, that were too short to use on the window seat.  Ooops.  My bad? Or is it?!? 

My original Hall tree idea had us using the Cameron bases as the bench seat and the bookcases going up the sides or behind.  Wrong, no go.  (Looking back, we could have cut down the Billy's and placed them on top of the Cameron bases, but that came to me too late.)  Okay, Cameron in the middle for the seat and Billys on the sides.  Bead-board back.  Wrong!  The gap between the bookcases was 1 inch too narrow for the Cameron!  "Oh for crying out loud!"  "Is anything ever easy?"  "Why is everything I do, so difficult!"  I somehow find myself saying this in the middle of EVERY project I do.  Please tell me I'm not the only one?

Wait!  The two short Billys in the garage collecting dust housing our supply of sparkling water.  Yep, it's a thing.  Go ahead, judge me.  "Let's cut those down, and we can make a bench seat, just the right size, and have cubes at the top for more storage!" I said.

"You want to cut them?"  Mr. Farmless asked, in his best "Lucy, this is a baaaad idea" tone. 

Crap!  Now he's triggered my self doubt.  See what a stinking mess indecision can make? 

This is when that little voice in my head started to squeak.  "Do it!"  "Do it, I say!"  "Or you will never finish this project and you will feel like a big doo doo head!"  Yep, the voice in my head is a school yard bully with the vocabulary of a 10 year old.  But she is just the cheerleader I needed! 

"Yes!"  "Cut it!"  "If we mess it up, I don't care!"  "It's not the end of the world."  And cut it we did!  Well, actually, I measured and marked, Mr. Farmless did the cutting.  I'm afraid of the Crocodile - a small powerful circular saw. 

But, I'm a really awesome wife!  It was dark and cold, he was super tired, so I told him to cut it right in the middle of the kitchen.  How many wives would do that, huh?  Note to self, don't do that again.  It was an exorbitant amount of dust.

We worked on projects that entire day. We didn't finish that part until almost 9 pm., but, it was completely worth it!  I'm still tweaking and adjusting this project in my head.  I've decided we'll take an evening off and pick it up tomorrow just in case I think of some really cool way to improve the final product.  So I'm going to leave you here...  and that's what they call it a Cliff Hanger ;)

  

Loft Window Seat Progress

Update on the Loft Window seat Project

I know my goal was to take my projects to the finish line, but I have decided to place this particular project on hold until after Christmas.   

Let me explain why:  on almost every project I do, I think of ways I could have improved the finished product either part-way through, or on the RARE occasion that I actually finish a project, it comes to me as an afterthought. Am I the only one who does this?  Maybe it’s why I rarely see my projects through. Fear of regret or mistakes?  I’m hearing Bob Newhart’s words: “And how does that make you feel?” 

Shut up Bob!  That’s how it makes me feel!  Just shut up! 

This project WILL make it to the finish line!  Pinky swear!  In fact, it’s really at a point where some would call it finished. A few trim pieces and most people would be perfectly content.

However, I know, it could be better. Maybe even perfect!  And I don’t want to settle. I want to feel elation when this project is finished. And I did not give it “my 100 percent”.

Now, back to my actual explanation.  I realized, last night, while working on the Hall Tree build, that I could gain about one quarter inch of depth on each shelve if we took out the “Factory” backer board, and placed bead-board panels on the back instead. 

I could also fix each shelf in place.  Making them stationary would allow me to fill in the adjustable shelving holes and backer board channel with caulk.  This would also give them a much more polished and professional look.  You know, like they’ve always been there. Like a “real” old farmhouse. The authenticity and charm I’ve been looking for! 

So current game plan is:  Deck the window with a Christmas tree and decorations. No one, but the residents of our house, will be any the wiser. And in January or February we’ll “Git R Done!"  Maybe I’ll discover even better ideas by then. 

Meanwhile, we will finish the Hall Tree build, which gave me the idea. I wish I would have done so many things differently on this project, but I’m okay with that because I know it’s temporary. More on that in a upcoming blog post.

The Big Green Monster

This thing shall henceforth be named the Big Green Bastard!  Okay, maybe the Big Green Monster would be better.

I say this as I am sitting here, covered in white speckles from head to toe!  And, absolutely pooped from today’s new shenanigans.

I’ve already used two jars of DIY paint, three to four coats, depending on the area. At first I thought I had too much water in the paint, add another coat.  Use it without water, still didn’t cover. Paint again, still didn’t cover. Then I realize - this was raw unfinished wood and sitting in someone’s kitchen for probably 15 plus years. Grease!  Ugh!  Post question on support page.  Thank goodness for awesome friendly DIYers.    So now I learn I have to spray it with Shellac to seal it.   How lovely for me, none of the stores in my area carry spray Shellac!  Not that I could quickly run to the store anyway, child with autism here.  Not an option.

Wait till sweet hubby gets home with it, that would make sense right?  Oh contraire, I have no patience for such practicality.

I had my friend help me wheel it onto the deck.

I figure I can at least start spaying the inside with the Killz paint I have in the garage, it says that primes and seals, right?  Only one small problem.  Apparently spray paint doesn’t keep for 12 years!  Who knew?

So textured interior it is!  The Killz came out of the can something akin to silly string. Remember silly string?  Fun right?  No!  Not when it’s permanent, and all over you!  Sigh.

Still determined to finish this project before I qualify for the Senior discount at Denny’s. Only kidding, I hate Denny’s. Don’t ask.

I begin shaking the can, and shaking, and shaking, and shaking, and some more shaking.  And even more shaking after that!  You get the picture. Two cans later, I am speckled from head to toe. My favorite cleaning cloth sacrificed to the paint gods, I have finally coated the inside of the Big Green Monster!  All be it textured, it is painted!  Whew.

And so am I.

Remember that goal I had of taking my projects to the finish line? You will not defeat me Big Green...  Monster!

Rainy Howl-o-ween update

We are still working on the bead-board in the master bathroom, with little to update, so I thought I would share an Autism story.

Remember the meltdown of the century, which spurred the blog restart, and realization that I needed to finish a few dozen projects before starting new ones.  By the way, the accountability of blogging has really helped, so a big "Thank you" to the poor souls following along on my journey through these crazy posts.

Back to the story - Some of that exhaustion I tend to forget about, comes from trying to stay mentally ahead of what could possibly cause drama or upset in a home with an Autistic person.  It is a daunting task to plan every move and minute of your day, thinking ahead as to how it will effect someone you love.  Picture the family reunion or holiday with those relatives that scrutinize your every move, and  you feel like you are walking on eggshells the entire time.  Exhausting just thinking about it, right?

The project - maybe you noticed, we have the towel hooks up, long before we have finished the wall or project?  That is because, I quickly painted the top board so it would dry and Tony could hang them. This I did, while he was still enjoying the rest of the Sunday afternoon siesta, because I know the potential for drama if Saralain gets a bath, and does not find her towel hanging ready for her in the usual spot.  Any little change in routine can have disastrous outcome for a person with severe OCD.  Notice I said, "gets a bath" and not "takes a bath"?  That is because, even at 18 she requires a substantial amount of help.  She doesn't understand how to regulate the temperature of the water, wash all her wobbly bits without prompting or safely enter and exit the tub.  Heaven forbid you ask her to wash her own hair!  Again, I forget to give myself credit or cut myself slack for the fact that I still have to do these things long after most parents would be forbidden to even enter the bathroom when their child is bathing or showering.

We are constantly trying to walk a fine line between avoiding unnecessary upset and creating some uncomfortable situations just to keep her in balance and not allow her to become so rigid in her routine, that we can not flex from it at all.  She could easily become so hyper focused on routine that anything out of the ordinary would be dreadful.  If you knew what happens, in our car, when you have to make a U turn, you would totally get me!  For someone without a licence, our child is one heck of a backseat driver!

For example, if we discover a new restaurant we would like to try, it takes about 5 to 10 trips there, before Sara doesn't scream when we pull into the parking lot.  Familiarity is our friend. She has to feel very confident that she will like the food (by this I mean french fries), there won't be screaming children, or loud music.  And, if she has a bad experience, we right that one off as a family option.

We both enjoy eating at Sassool, a local Mediterranean restaurant.  They do not serve fries, so we have to take our own.  Luckily there is a Wendy's in the parking lot, and yes, we have done that in more places than you can imagine!  We have always been fortunate in picking places that were accommodating.  Sassool is one of those, however, we haven't found a time that they are slow and not busy and bustling with people. So that is a "date lunch" only kind of restaurant.   One of our favorite haunts is Fiesta mexico.  They are always accommodating, serve french fries that meet with Sara's approval, and after many many tries, she has finally started eating their tacos!  It is the only restaurant where she will eat anything other than french fries, and that makes for two very happy parents. 

Some autism incite for those who may not be aware - Crowds, noise and bright lights can all be incredibly offensive to a person on the spectrum with heightened senses.  Impossible for some.  Some businesses  are very understanding and will turn down the music if you request it, but there isn't much you an do about people talking, babies crying or squealing misbehaving children.  All of those have the of potential to ruin our chances for a pleasant meal or a chance to return.

Moral of my story and soapbox time - when you see that mom trying to handle a child, who may look like they are simply throwing a bad temper tantrum.   Please understand that she could use some support and encouragement, and not judgement and scorn.  She may not have learned all of her child's triggers or may not have the option to do this task without carting them along.  She may not know that she can ask someone to turn down the music or that the faint sound, she can barely hear, and bright lights are assaulting her child's senses like standing in the middle of a marching band.  It takes a lot of time and empathy to embrace the symptoms and resulting behavior of a person on the spectrum.

A very imperfect girl in a perfect word.

If you've come to my blog to see beautiful pictures of a perfect home and family traveling, or cutesy videos rivaling a Target commercial?  You've come to the wrong blog!  You see, I was motivated to restart my blogging by a total meltdown last week.  Yep, I said it, confession time - I had a ultra massive meltdown, like a toddler in a grocery store who wanted a box of sugar and food coloring laden, cancer causing, cereal crunchies!

Let me explain.  When I said I tend to start projects and have trouble taking them to the finish line, it's not because I have ADD, at least I don't think I do.  It's because I've been searching for a creative outlet, but mostly a win.  I really need a win!  Nineteen years ago I quit my job to have a child, and  I absolutely love being a mom and homemaker.  Saralain was the answer to fourteen years of prayers.  In fact, I wanted a daughter for as long as I can remember.  I'm not sure if this is what is going on, but, I believe with her turning 18 nature is kicking in.  A parent of a neuro-typical child would have had time for projects while their kids were in school or out with friends, however we have not had such luxuries.  Tony and I do it all.  We have a fantastic aide and some great therapists who work with Sara a few hours a week but we have been physically and mentally on "Toddler patrol" 24 hours a day for the past 18 years. 

Something that happened yesterday, which was Sunday, helped me see what might be going on here.  Tony and I were working on the bathroom remodel.  We have to make Saralain play in her room while we work so that she is safe and close enough for us to hear her.  Her room is secure, and as an added precaution we have a gate at the top of our stairs that she would struggle to open and we would likely hear her if she breached it.  Anyway, we had been up early and working most of the day so stopped to lay down on the bed to play with Starla for a minute.  By the way, who came up with the saying "working like a dog?"  Because our dog is usually lying comfortably on the furniture watching us do the work! 

Next thing I knew, we had dozed off.  Only briefly , but when we were talking after our wonderful little siesta, we realized that in almost 18 years we had not had the luxury of napping together on a weekend afternoon.  I said, "This must be what it's like to have typical children, I wonder if their parents realize how lucky they are?"  I don't want to sound like I'm putting blame on Saralain or looking for excuses, but I sometimes forget how much I have been doing for 18 years.  Most moms send their kids to school at 5 and have free time during the day.  Most kids, after the toddler years, don't need constant supervision to keep them from doing something life threatening 24 hours a day. I really need to stop placing more demands on myself than have already been assigned. 

That being said, this is the inspiration board for our Master Bathroom, one of the many projects I have flying around in my brain. Now I understand what Tony means by his characters are always talking in his head.  He's a writer, not a serial killer...let me clarify that.   There is something about making a visual board for planning that has brought it together for me.  I have such fears of making mistakes and not liking the final product that it handicaps me.  If I can see it like this with all the elements laid out and like it, that eases the doubt somehow. 

The added satisfaction comes from learning to create the Mood board  itself.  I have been out of the work scene for a LONG time and my computer skills are a little behind.  I was about to start gluing magazine clippings to a scrapbook, but decided to take classes on Skillshare instead.  I'm sure Susanne Sugarbaker would have loved Pic Collage, I know I do! Next will be photography.  Ooops, here I go - loading up the projects. 

Wow, pictures really do show the stuff our eyes overlook - we are very messy home re-modelers! 

I would love to say this is the finished project.  However...

You can see, we have a little ways to go.  We have one more vertical board on that wall, then we'll move to the opposite side.  Now for some of the funny stories.  Well, they are funny now, but not so much a few weeks and $$$ ago!  First we put up a Narrow bead-board (four board per panel), then I decided I didn't like it (it was too busy).  So we tore it out, and used the wider bead.  (two boards per panel).  Then we ran out! Two trips to Home depot, and on-line search lead to...they no longer produce or sell the wide boards!  Insert exasperated Charlie Brown scream! 

 
The drama doesn't end there folks!  We had to order the bead-board because they don't carry it in our stores.  Wait two weeks for it to come in...here is where it gets funny now, it wasn't then!  Remember that child we have with autism?  We can't take her in many stores.  1) Because we don't have Bill Gates bank account. 2) If we don't let fill the cart with crazy things she will never need, deconstruct and throw away, she will scream like a banshee!  So we always pair out trips to Home Depot with a stop at Smithfield's Bbq for her favorite fries. 

Yep, bribery is a useful tool to special needs parents. 

On to Home Depot we go.  I'll go in and get it, Laurie says! Yikes...I had to drag the fifty foot long box weighing at least 800 lbs to the car.  (thank you nice man from the Quay who offered to help, next time I'll take you up on it right away).  So I try to lift the box and slide it into the van which quickly went awry!  The "nice man from the Quay" heard me tell Tony I needed help and quickly came to assist.  That's when the screaming started.  You know, the banshee kind! I ran to the side of van to make sure Saralain was okay, afraid maybe we clipped her with the 800 lb box.  Well, there was a causality, it was her Smithfield's cup!  It had been decapitated by the 800 lb box and the hell fury that followed was daunting!  I still here the fateful words coming out of my mouth.  "Don't go all the way back there," I said as Tony turned toward Smithfields once again. "Let's just go to Chick-fil-A."

Have you ever smacked your thumb with a hammer?  That would be way less painful then the ride to Chick-fil-A and home!  NO, I am not exaggerating in the slightest!  I actually contemplated jumping from the moving car several times.  I'm certain Tony wanted to throw me from the moving car just as many times for not letting him simply drive back to Smithfields.  God bless the sweet young girl outside taking our order for yet another french fry and pink milk (that would be sprite to anyone else). Even after the new drink was procured, Saralain screamed "WHITE CUP" until I pieced the broken cup together and filled it as far as I was able with the "pink milk" from CFA. 

Skip ahead to the new bead board...So we have now torn down the bead-board and replaced it twice!  And the new Bead-board is now a different pattern.  Hello board removal number three!  And did I mention it was $25 dollars for the tool to remove the nails from the boards...that we can't use anyway! 

Sunday when we finally started back on this project, it decided to pour down rain.  I was not going to be defeated! 

This very determined woman told this ^ handsome handy man to set up shop on my rolling island. Yes!  I let him set up shop right in my kitchen!  That had just been cleaned.  I was that desperate!  But I think I will wait for better weather to finish the job...  Today I painted...it was sunny and beautiful.  Universe...don't fight me!  I'm going to see the projects through! 

Saturday November 16th, Mr. Farmless Farmer will be schlepping a tractor load of books to the Holly Springs Book Festival.  Please don't make him schlep them back.  I need my storage for fun DIY projects, and right now it looks like delivery day at Barnes and Noble.  All proceeds go to support a Catahoula with a Chicken nugget addiction. 
                                 

Tony Bowman's Books

Loving the loft part 2

The finish line for Phase 1 is in sight  I've worked hard all morning and now I am off to find hinges and paintable caulk, and food! Maybe a new paintbrush too.  Who ever designed those stubby handled brushes and said they are ergonomic, lied!  My hands are killing me.  Tomorrow, phase 2. Bring on the Bookshelves!  Don't you just love bookshelves?  I love those kind that go floor to ceiling with the sliding ladder attached to the wall above.

I love walls and walls of bookshelves.  Must be something genetic because my Nana was a librarian.  In my next life, I want to come back as a tall sexy Librarian!  I'm putting that out to the universe....

Loving the Loft -

Loft Window Seat part 1 -

We have been working on a project in our loft for WAY too long.  I'm going to guesstimate we started  about 6 years ago, when we had hardwood floors installed upstairs.  I knew I wanted a window seat at some point, and I knew I wanted the pattern the flooring to accommodate it.  the window seat I had planned in my head, so we rushed to get the basic structure in so that the carpenter could work the flooring around it.  The carpenter finished the floors.  And there is sat!  Tick tock, tick tock.  Calling to me each time I passed it.  Finish me?  Finish me?  Finish me?  You see, I have a bit of a problem taking projects to the finish line.  I don't know why.  I'm all out of legitimate excuses, so I'm just going to blame it on being a Special needs parent.  We have the luxury of blaming everything we can on that title, and by gosh, I'm gonna use it! 

  I'm posting this tonight so that I am "all in" tomorrow.  I've made a commitment to finish this and if you love me, you'll hold me to it!  No excuses baby...let's git-er-done!  😘

Olives changed my day...

Today’s keto lunch was leftover meatballs with salad. When I went to retrieve the olives. You can’t have a salad with olives! I discovered the jar laying on its side. You know where I’m going with this, don’t you?
Five minutes later I found myself shoulder deep in a serious refrigerator clean out! What is darn satisfying about a refrigerator clean out? I mean really, don’t you feel like Wonder Woman after you tackled that job! I’m pretty sure the way I feel each time I look in the refrigerator today, is how Elon Musk feels every time he passes one of his Tesla’s. 🤛🏻

Although, I’m pretty sure I lost my autism mother of the year award,  considering I left Saralain’s bread in the toaster during my shenanigans, and it texturally resembled packing material by the time I fixed her pb&j. 🤷🏼‍♀️
In the spirit of absolute transparency - I was cutting my overly ripe avocado, seen in the salad, it flipped out of my hand and landed face down on my lap. Yep! That was my reward for all that hard work. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Added fun fact - it’s always fun when you just sit down to eat, and you have to wipe a hiney! Autism life 
Another Autism fact - it’s very hard to take a task to the finish line when you’re a special needs parent. It took me all morning to do the base of the refrigerator and then the better part of the afternoon to do the doors. Now I must find a way to get to Dollar tree for more organization supplies or beg hubby to bring them home. *Recycle, reuse and re purpose tip of the day -  We use our strawberry baskets as organizational containers in the refrigerator and drawers.  The handles easily remove and voila, saves the environment and our money!  

Do you have any suggestions on what to use to protect the drink drawer? The surface getting ridiculously scuffed and scratched from cans and bottles.  I would love to hear your ideas!  

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