Painting a home is a lot of work!

A cup of tea,
and the weekend review...

We began this area with this...

Beloved removed all of the art work and plants....
He washed it down a bit and paining commenced...

I did all the lower work , tapping of and such.

We have yet to do the great hall into the master bedroom.

We have all of this done now

Things were moving along well.
He and I worked a good 8 hours on it today.

The living room and dining room is all but finished.
Now to fold all that laundry for the kids.

I have never showed you this before. These are my ear ring frames that beloved made me. Now remember I am a jeweler so most of these are hand made by me.
I love ear rings. Some women collect shoe, purses or what ever...Me it's ear rings!
I have to use an under coat and paint this commode space.

This wall that is matching in a lighter pink and...

This door to the Master bath.
We had pink carpet in the house when we purchased and so I did this to make due.

This is the hall near the kitchen to the kids rooms.
See the difference in the wall.
The old paint is original to the house.
12 years old.
I will paint this hall the bright "Swiss Coffee".
With the low ceilings I may be able to do this alone during the week when the kids are at school.
Then the kids "pepto pink" bathroom and it will be done! ...I Think.
We invested $300 in paint and supplies and have saved over $2000. in seller discounts for paint.

Well, my cup is empty and my beloved awaits my arrival.
Good Night!

Sunday Smiles * Snow time*

If you click on the image it will enlarge.
Sunday we rested!
We decided to take our little family on a short holiday to the snow Country.
Living in Arizona in the winter we have a 2 1/2 hour drive in the winter to the pine and fur forest of Coconino forest. There we can play like a real soul in the woods. We are normally surrounded in the desert but wide open sky's that are surrounded as in a bowl by lovely mountains. Every so often we escape the city and head up to the woods. Northern Arizona is a spectacular wide open sky vista as far as the eye can see. Traveling up the highway to Payson Arizona is a flood of beauty. Canyons full of magnificent boulders and views to die for. It is like stretching your eves as far as one can see.
We traveled a few mile north of Payson passing through Pine, then a small community of Strawberry (that was where the Gallery is where my jewelry was). & and 1/2 miles north of Strawberry Arizona on highway 87 is a cozy spot off the major highway where they have made a nice area to sled. Only plastic sleds or inner tubes are allowed No steel sleds or the like.
We made a grocery stop at a local store and loaded up with snacks for the family and drinks. We had prepared a pick nick of peanut butter and strawberry preserves on whole wheat.
We gave our dear Dove the Bennidrill to put her out of the target of motion sickness and she slept up most of the way. Once her belly was full of snacks.
When we arrived we were greeted by hundred or so folks attending as we turned around we discovered a parking spot just right their! We rejoiced as not to have to park on the highway with the kids. It was the perfect parking spot.
We opened the tail gate and dressed out the kids in the snow gear.
It was so warm that in no time we disrobed a layer and took them back to the truck. It was 60* or so and beautiful!
We hiked the tall hill and we all had a turn going down it Yes! even me! It was a ball!
Fast! Wow that tall hill was a fast down fall.
It was a 60-80 ft tall hill with a 250-350 yard hike up to the top.
I was able to hike it with a bit of care for my knee.
I loved the first run I took! It was so fast. I really had fun. Yes I was careful. :)

Thats me!
Hair in the breeze and courage in the fun of play.

This felt so good to do something fun with my body.
I love it!
I felt so strong and able.

Dash carried the sled up for us several times, He is such a gentle man.

Daddy Man and Dove started off a few hards below the top.
Off they went

This is a little perspective ...

and... as in each run Dash Hawk would fly down afterward to tow the sled up.
The sweet little boy drove us a bit nuts with chatter and attitude.

It was some distance from the top.

We took a lunch break, and had a nice rest.

The kids warmed up and ate inside. Dash had a melt down.
He has sensory issues and was absolutely f reeked out by cold feet.
Now mind you we spoke several time to him about keeping his feet dry but he had to learn the hard way. We put dry socks on him and a second pair of shoes. He was just not able to deal with feeling cold at all. He just was very overwhelmed by it.
Now Dove was the opposite too warm.

We had our lunch.
I made the sandwiches on the tail gate.
We had several folks walking by with comments, about being well prepared.

There was an vendor selling hot dogs for a hefty price.
All the hungry souls were either paying it or leaving earlier to eat. We were able to stay longer and have more fun due to the pick nick lunch we packed.

I had a visit from this raven who came to have a hot dog or some chips...
I was only 10 feet from him at one point he was beautiful!

Dove again proves to be very athletic.

Dash was "Foot Boarding" as he called it.
Then he would pull the sled up for his sister.

I tried the slope they were using it was a shorter less steep slope,but...
It had a bump that jarred my low spine hard. I did not like that slope but...
it was fun for the kids.

Dove and her Daddy

The snow was getting a bit sloppy.

This is a cross view of the high slope that I went down twice.
I did three runs total, Daddy Man did 5 or 6 runs and the kids 12-15.
A lot of climbing and fun!

This is a view of the parking lot.
Off to the far left is the highway with maybe 5 cars on each side of the entry road. Ours we were grateful to say was one of them.
God is good!

The last run of the day.
I flew like the wind!

Phot Hunt *Free*

The South wall in the living room is...
Free from Green.
It is 6:35 P.M. We just finished the wall that was our target for the day.
The children had a surprise to learn we had no Hockey today. When we arrived at the rink it came to our attention that the schedule skipped a week!
We all went out to Taco Bell be a family lunch out.
Then some very thoughtful and generous friends took the children for a play date for three hours and we hit the task full on.
I had purchased all the supplies except the paint on Friday. Beloved went up an acquired the 10 gallons of eggshell in "swiss coffee" for the walls, and 1 gallon of semi-gloss for the floor boards.
Dash has had a bath and is watching a movie in our bed. And Dove in on her way to her bath.
Mr Uncommon and I are uncommonly tired! Wow that was just one wall but it had the most detail work to do and the highest ceiling.

Spackle, prime, and let it roll!

I just got in here at noon. I left at 8 A.M. . Had a good few moments to center myself at therapy in the darkened room with the kindness of a young technician who tapped on the door with two warm towels from the dryer...too sweet or maybe just perfectly sweet. He even tucked in my feet. It just touched my heart with the kindness. I felt so much more calm afterward.
I had time to overcome the ainks of the morning. I was able to see myself into my day as to what path to follow in the tasks of the adventure I am on.
I had an awesome discussion of the things of the spirit and the tri- unity of our beings. We spoke of great things of the heart, deep and meaningful. He is a beautiful young man with a heart exiting religion and finding relationship with God, as his new adventure. He is searching. Having many times spoken with him and listening to him share without correction or judgment he is now more readily opening his heart up. He said he really enjoys our visits and always want to ask my take on things. What promise this young man has. To search ask quest after a relationship rather than a set of rules. He wants grace I think and just is learning more about it. I felt like I had some time in a garden scattering seed and trimming the hedge row.
I went to the Home Depot a large home improvement store for home owners. I was able to learn about a 20% off sale they are having on paint this weekend. So I got the samples of the various whites and some basic things. I got two 12" wide rollers and cheep pans for them for the faster coverage they offer. Perhaps another man may come to help roll it out. I will use the 9" rollers for they will not be too heavy. I'll just be doing the lower walls. With my knee I can't do the ladder any more. I was able to get the primer to knock out the deep rose in the master commode stall. I got all I need except the paint. We can choose what white to use tonight and I might go up and have it mixed tonight or early morning. We have a fellow coming over tonight with a son, and or maybe with his sweet wife and both children, I'm not sure yet just who is coming or how many so I have to get up from here and set to task.
I stopped by the stuff mart and got some painters tape on a clearance! Too cool!
For lunch I enjoyed that meat loaf...MAN! I'm a good cook! :) It really was enjoyable!

Our day is full of dark clouds ,
cumulus deep grays and powder silvers and a fair bit cooler that it was yesterday.
It is so pretty.
I trust it will dry up real soon so we can have a day or two to get some of the painting done.
Beloved and the children will both be off on Monday so we have a three day weekend to work.
I would love to take the children up to the snow country to play. Maybe Sunday? They have Ice Hockey on Saturday. We paint in the afternoon on Saturday and Monday. That will give our bodies a day of rest and the kids some needed attention.

We took the pictures down in the kitchen.
The nail heads look like flies on the wall.
Sorta funny the way things sometimes look so much different than they truly are.
Just got to pull the nails...
Sorta like the lies that flood ya
when you brave the battle fields you face.

Good Morning

Mental note...
Keep thinking about the things that I have heard and witnessed in Him. All of the amazing miracles that happen every moment of every day.
Do not be moved by the reports of fear and terror and dread among the nation. God id God!

Just wanted to give

your heart a squeeze.

Mr.Uncommon

I love you!

Little Dove and Dash Hawk

I Love you

Out to you Shorty Bear

Have a wonderful time

under the umbrella of His raining love.

Love is kind!

Love is patient,kind, long suffering, gentle., and so wonderful!

Good Morning!

I fried the children a treat of breakfast sausage. Dash ate almost the whole plate!
It felt wonderful to make the morning special for them.
Did I ever get a thank you...Dove crawled up on my lap legs curled and just soaked up all the loving energy afforded her. Wow it was so wonderful. She is a quiet giver of thought and love. Very introspective. That was a real pouring out to me. I feel so warm and wonderful. It was like when I held her as a baby. I thought to treasure it deeply. They grow up so very fast.
Dash had a visit from the Tooth Fairy who left him and "I owe you" for $5. (Daddy Man said they are not getting an allowance and felt very generous). Dash was upset at first. Then after he understood and went back into his room to decipher the letter he returned a new man full of the character of a grateful heart.

Mr Uncommon and I are having a normal morning (except I got to sleep in a bit). I'll take the children to school.

I'll pack them a gift in the lunch of a beating flashing heart and a box of chocolates.

Dash loves those cherry tomatoes and Dove the blueberries. I treated them with a jar of sandwich pickles for the lunches. They do love pickles.

Beloved is working a morning and taking off at 11:a.m. to come and get me.

I'll doll up and make a card for him after the kids are off. He is going to take me my favorite lunch at Pai Wai (fresh stir fry). Then we shall have an afternoon alone.

I Made cupcakes for the kids.
This will have us rested for the evening...perhaps a game night or movie night together.

The kids will give their Teachers each a "keep pen" I made, and keep on hand for such occasions. They will have the carmel apples I made yesterday for movie night tonight.

I Made a supper last night that we all just barely touched. I'll amend it with some Jello hearts. these Jello molds are 75 years old or so they were the treasure of an elder who passed them on to me.

This is the meat loaf I spoke of. I use grated zucchini and my ground beef, sage sausage,egg and ground oats (I make a course flour from cut oat). At last half hour of baking a organic tomato ketchup is then baked on it. It will be served with baked russet and baked sweet potatoes.

The kids had a school skating partly last night.
Daddy man had overtime so he found his supper in the micro wave and met us there.

Dove won a pass for 9 of her friends to attend a skate for only $1 each on Saturday but it is not going to be able to work unless we do it in the evening due to the Ice hokey lessons in the morning. I am not sure her little legs can do both in the same day!
Well it is time to go pretend to be "Ester" preparing for my
Beloved King :)


See more Thankful Thursday's over at
"sting my heart"

Oh Sweet Motherhood

Dove greeted me with this fine Valentine that she wrote out in cursive. It is so cute. The words on the candies make up part of the sentence. Her spelling is creative. I love this gift. She was so excited and vibrant of smile when she handed it to me.

Well there is dancing in the streets!
That old tooth finally gave up the root hold!
Dash came to me and asked me to try to pull it again with just my fingers. so I had a moist paper towel and it pulled right up and out. Sorta creepy feeling though.
He went off into his room to ask God to give the tooth fairy a message.
I told him I have it on good report that they are pretty close friend.
Now my kids know that I am the tooth fairy , but we still enjoy a little fiction. They know the difference between truth and fiction. We are pretending on purpose.
He really went into his room to pray.
He wrote and her letter.
"To the tooth fairy , Happy Valentines and have a good day ..Love Dash"
"By the way its going to rain tomorrow... there are cumulus clouds outside now, it was cerise "....says Dash
:)