I operate saws now.

I began this post over a week ago and I've had very little time to come back and work on it. There's been much happening with school starting last week, as well as our continued home improvement. I've had a difficult time getting back to finishing this. 

Last week we finally finished the top part of our bookcase makeover. It was Saturday that the hammering stopped. It was divine. Cleaning up is ongoing, but I'm gonna get through the final showing of the top of our makeover...still have the bottom to do. Oy.

These words began a long time ago, and I'm not changing them....  

In the ongoing process of our home makeover, the bookcase in our den needed a facelift. Painting it seemed futile knowing that a new coat of paint would just be a bandaid. So, in a brainstorming moment a few weeks ago, Caitlin said to me, "Why don't you make it look like shiplap." And a brilliant idea was born. I love shiplap! I think the world currently loves shiplap! Next I brought John in for a design meeting, we discussed wood types, cost, paint or not to paint. Then we bought some wood for a test, and so began the process of changing the look of our bookcase. We looked at a few kinds of wood, including cypress, and in the end chose pine since it was inexpensive and it was going to be painted white anyway. John, cut it, I painted it, and we weren't happy with the look. It was all uniform and therefore almost the same as what we had. Then he suggested we rasp the sides to roughen it up a bit, and voila! It was perf. 

Then we ran into an issue at the top of the shelves. It's always been too much of an overhang at the top, so I decided to have a long distance design meeting with Carrie and after some discussion, another good idea/Lucy moment was born. I can't explain it as good as I can show it so....

I hate the overhang part at the top of the front of the shelf and wanted it to go away, so we decided it needed to be cut out. 

It doesn't look like this anymore. 

I went to Melanie's to borrow her reciprocating saw. Yes it is hers and not Randy's. When I pulled into the driveway, I saw this Vue car convention, so I took a pic.

Billie June and I were riding when I got the saw, so I took it to John, who I thought would then start reciprocating. When we pulled into the carport, he was outside working. I thought, "Aww, he's still working." When I asked him what he was doing he said, "Working on something." Hmm I thought maybe he was making something for me. So Billie and I continued on our way and after some time passed, I dropped her off and headed home, sooo excited about the reciprocating I KNEW had taken place. Walked in the house and John was sitting in his chair. There had been absolutely NO reciprocating done! And I said, "There has been no reciprocating done!" And he said, "I was making something." Then, he said something I believe no other husband in this century has ever said. 

He showed me this... 

This is him showing me.

I think he may be giving me the finger.

I asked what was that thing he was holding and he said, these words I will never forget. "It's an at ladle." Me, "What's an at ladle?" And he actually held the stupid thing up again and said, "It's this!" Then I said, "What is that?!?!" And he said again, "It's an at ladle!" You see where this is going... Then I very calmly said, "I'm gonna use it to beat you if you don't tell me what an at ladle is!!!" And then he said, 'It's helps with spear throwing."Oh, I forgot we needed one of those. 

I live with this all the time and people think I'm the high maintenance wacko. That's so incorrect. 

Because I was annoyed AND I didn't want to "admire" the at ladle he'd made, the next thing I did was...I got the step ladder and the reciprocating saw. I've never used a saw in my life. It's just not what I do. They make me nervous with all the blades and the noise as well as the ability to cut off appendages. But I wanted the reciprocating done and that was that. So I took a deep breath and went for it and cut the first one out. I MAY have gotten the top of the inside of the shelf (it's since been painted and you can't even tell) and I may have cut a piece I wasn't supposed to cut. BUT. I did it. I think John was shocked. It was getting late and so we decided to stop until the next day and he decided a different blade might be better for me to use. So the next morning he went and bought another blade and I eventually cut the rest of the shelves out. 

See for yourself.

The middle one is cut as you can see here.

The next day I cut the rest of them out. Love it so much better. 

There was more sanding I had to do and then John came in to do the finishing work....that's not my strong suit....and voila! It became fabulous. The finished product is coming... 

Then on Tuesday we got a picture and a text from Becky in Ohio and the following ensued.  

Then on Wednesday I had to run errands and found this clock I like....

And this clock I love....

I think it would be better if it said, Time to be gorgeous.

More of the bookcase magic happening. 

Yikes! Lightening at the beach!

When I went to look for the at ladle after John went to bed, I found it RIGHT NEXT TO HIM on his nightstand. I guess it's like the day after Christmas morning for him.

Things in place with some empty shelves! I love empty stuff!

Next we have to redo the doors, get new hardware and paint the bottom. That starts this weekend. Also a new face for our fireplace will be had and this phase of our remodel will be finished for now.

Then we have to finish demo on...then re-tile our back shower. In the next year our bedroom will need new carpet, which means popcorn ceiling removal. And the list just goes on and on and on....

In the meantime, I'm learning new kids names and habits and I'm happy to report a pretty smooth beginning to the school year. But many children each day! 

I'll close without a picture of a recovering Lydia, but so glad to know she's home and on the road to total healing and recovery.

Thank you Lord for all things huge and small.  

I'm off to work. I hope to be blogging more often in the short future.

Later to the taters.

The kitchen and Lake Eerie

Well people, the kitchen has been sanded and painted and I've survived it. It took me about 8 hours of painting yesterday to get it all finished. There's nothing to see yet since I still have much to do before it's mildly presentable. I say that because the cabinets are staying for now, and they are bad. But, I'm choosing to look at other stuff instead of the terribly outdated cabinets. And everything on me hurts due to 8 hours of up downs on a step ladder. 

A few in my fam are heading west for the weekend, although I'm not sure why since the weather is hotter there than here. It seems like a hairbrained scheme to leave very hot weather for even hotter weather. But we are loading up and taking this show on the road. Since I only have two weeks til school starts back, this will be my swan song trip without needing to secure a sub for myself. 

Meanwhile, I'm posting pictures from our trip to Lake Erie. It was a huge highlight of our trip. And there's a story about it.

Lets get started...

After our lovely ride down the center of Amishhood, we made a beeline for Lake Erie. My girls have a penchant for making things happen. This is how the entire scheme went down. They had a whispered discussion about something they wanted to do. Then they made it become reality. That's how we found ourselves on our way to Erie. I don't know why they chose to do it that way, because I was always on board to see as much of the Northland as possible while there. But it's how they roll. 

Just to recap...on that morning we went to McConnels Mill, found the Amish in the early afternoon, and at about four we started the drive to Erie. John's sister was with us that day so there were seven for the 1 1/2 ish hour ride. It was an uneventful drive and shockingly not unlike Louisiana in terrain. Once we arrived in town, a small controversy began that ended well. Here's how it went. 

We rolled up on some water and I was thinking, "Oh, there's Lake Erie." It's logical. We were in Erie, there was water, there were boats. BUT. It wasn't.

We saw a restaurant, decided to stop, put our name in for an outside table, and John and I thought we were prepared to settle in for a lovely sunset. Not so fast. During that whole process the girls were atwitter because they knew what I did not and that was....we were on the bay and not the lake. OK, calm down. It's fixable. The biggest problem was that John had seen a menu and was delighted to see some weird fish on it. Walleye maybe? Or a mackerel? I don't know. 

Anyway, the girls came up to me (the go between) in a panic saying this was not where we wanted to be and they wanted me to break the news to the dad and the sis. I did, and while John was a little cranky because he wasn't gonna get his sockeye salmon? I don't know. We loaded back into the car and by using GPS guided by Caitlin or Olivia, determined to find the lake. I'm very happy to say we did and it was worth it. 

Scroll and see. 

The first restaurant had duck in the name and adorable baby ducks out front. That's all I remember. 

We had an ahhh moment when we finally found the lake and walked down to it.

It was a great decision to continue looking for this place we found. 

A couple of selfies to document the day. 

I love this picture. 

Then with John and Gretchen.

The last time I got new glasses they told me I needed some stupid something that makes my lens look blue and they are stupid. The doctor people and my blue glasses are stupid. Hate the blue.

Fabulousness in lighthouse form.

Get ready for another.

Because it's rare for me to take pictures of my kids in front of a lighthouse. 

As the sun began to set we were happy to stay and watch until it sizzled into the lake, but then as John's sister and I were talking she told me she had to be at work at 7:30 the next morning! We had to make haste! We still had to eat and drive back to Butler and then she had to drive to Pittsburgh! It was a long day for sure, but totally worth it. 

It was gloriously lovely and beautiful and serene. All the good words.

As you will see, I had a hard time culling the sunset pics. 

As we were leaving, there was a photographer and a couple coming to take photos in front of the set. It was gonna be good and I wish I could have seen them. Sigh...

Then, some people got goofy.

And while we were heading away from the lake and looking for food, they took multi pics. 

We stopped at this super cute place. 

Was it Sara's? Was it striped bass? I don't know, but I'd definitely go back cause it was yum.

We ordered in and ate out and it was a lovely experience all around. 

Had to use this even though Beba's eyes are closed. 

Prepare for selfies and such. 

Cute pic. Bad blue. 

Then the girls saw this car and an opportunity. 

There are lots of these because they make me laugh.

Emma hopped in for a ride.

Then they were crusin...

Just a couple more...I guess it would have been more believable if you couldn't see Caitlin's feet. 

Emma! Never get out of a moving Flintstone car!

Then a pic with the hot dog man.

One more.

Then Debbie Downer got in and it wasn't as much fun. What. A. Munch.

Not even gonna play.

And as the sun set on our few hours in Erie, we were happy to have seen it and spend time there. 

It was a good day to be there.

And now time is drawing near for me to leave town and sweat. I suspect there will be lots of that happening. And while I'd say I'll write about the trip when I get home, we all know that's just not true. I've had a difficult time keeping up with my blog while doing home improvement. 

Or ever. 

Or at all.

Was it musket? 

But I think that's a gun.

The fish mystery will continue until I care to find out what it was.

Peace out peeps, my ride is here! 

Safe travels to all and good news for one tomorrow. 

Only good news. 

God bless us all and keep us healthy. Amen.