St. Mary

Progress Report

2011-10-30T21:11:00.003-05:00

So - I have been falling into old habits - not posting because things are not done. I have been chastised - friends and family want to see the progress !! And since many came thousands of miles to help me - they are right - they deserve progress !!

After all these years - I finally hung the first pieces in the Grand Salon !

Some assembly required? how about ALL assembly required

Mission at St. Mary

2011-08-16T08:02:00.011-05:00

When the ladies arrived, with tools and plants from their gardens, I said "The Marines have landed"!! They went at my weeds with a vengeance. Jayne ( here from Alabama with Twinkle) did the entire perimeter with that weed whacker - it never looked so good.

Another Jane (friends since college) - from Chicago - this is her idea of working in the garden.

Diane - the garden is her favorite place - except when it's 90 degrees....the heat was relentless.

Bertie (another college friend and Jane's sister) - giving my tomatoes some much needed TLC.

Marcia is a wonderful gardener - we've been friends since we were 14.

Patty , and below her is Mary Kay..... amazing friends.... we go back to when we were 10. And actually I don't think we've changed a bit.

Consultation with The Tin Man.

Mission at St. Mary

2011-08-13T22:15:00.011-05:00

These are just random snaps taken during the week.......some beautiful faces of people I love

( OK - that's me )

Michael and Meghan (both from Laguna Beach) Looking like characters in a Bob Fosse movie

McGiver/Michael

Taste Master/Guardian Angel Diane from Laguna Beach, CA

Darling Randy - Contractor from California

My Meggie

Meghan's oh-so-darling Arnn from Laguna

Mission at St. Mary

2011-08-12T19:33:00.008-05:00

We Got Plastered !!

I have never really used any shades of yellow or gold - but the windows here seem to dictate those colors. I don't mind...it's nice to try something so different. My youngest brother looked around the room and said "well, it's obvious how high you can reach". He would call out on regular intervals "People, remember to feather....keep feathering!"

"I'm feathering, I'm feathering!!"

Long time friend, Chuck, said he couldn't ever hit the nail on the head - but if I could find him some other job.......well Chuck, careful what you wish for !

Each time I would start then stop .... the color would be a bit different. I like it that way

Nancy 's Sweet Daughter Stevie who was also on the ceiling detail and my wonderful
Sister-in-Law Gail who has been here for me since the moving van arrived.

My darling Meghan

I'd forgotten what a monkey she was

My youngest brother Michael for whom I would do anything.

This was step one.........then we blended it all together with the same paint color diluted with water. This was all done with a rag...those pictures will be next. Finally I will go over everything with a copper glaze. Have to play with that a bit .
whew.

Mission at St. Mary

2011-08-07T09:37:00.009-05:00

This dear friend Nancy made it her personal mission to finish my ( well, actually START and finish) my ceiling before all the others arrived. I had been down with vertigo since June 1, and was under threat of death if I climbed the scaffolding. We decided - after trial and error and listening to both solicited and UN-solicited advice that we would chip away all the loose paint but not try to strip the whole ceiling. If it was still hanging on tight - we decided it will probably outlive me anyway. So it was scraped , treated with a rust prohibitor, primed with a metal primer and painted with aluminum paint. Sweet girlfriend looked like the Tin Man.

Nancy's Fearless Son Hunter

The Tin Man

and her Sweet Daughter Stevie

FINISHED !!

(and speechless)

"I get by with a little help from my friends"

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

2011-08-07T09:24:00.004-05:00

This was a birthday like no other:
I turned 60 last month and was wanting to do something monumental - I mean, who wouldn't right? My dear friend, Twinkle, cooked up this scheme.......she had visited last summer and loved the church and knew it would be years before I could ever finish it so she set out to organize a "mission trip" - Mission at St. Mary. Well, it took on a life of it's own and over the next week or two I will bring you up to date.

My friends and family gave me the most amazing birthday E V E R .

Big A** Fan

2011-07-01T11:44:00.005-05:00

Amazing birthday/housewarming gift from my girlfriend .........really unbelievable.

A FUNNY THING.......

2011-06-28T20:05:00.003-05:00

A funny thing happened on the way to finishing my kitchen island:

I got a job. It's the age old story - if you have the time ( not working ) you don't have the money.....if you have the money - you don't have the time.

I am thrilled with my new job but it has taken all my time.....however, I seem to be reaching that level playing field where I may get to do both. This speaks volumes of what's ahead.

ALMOST

2011-01-07T19:26:00.003-06:00

It is so hard to believe that it's almost two years since I first put these cabinets together. The doors were missing - it took a month to get that straightened out....and then things just came to a stop. That was a hard year. And the blogging stopped. This is going to be a great year , I feel it in my bones. When I review my life I see that I seem to live it by decades.....this will be a new decade and a new beginning.

I reconciled with the fact that I couldn't afford marble or granite - the island is almost 12 feet long - by 4 feet wide. I found a tile that is huge and looks like slate and was very reasonable...I can get the job done and always change it down the road as it is an affordable DIY. My neighbor is helping with this stage as it's a bit "big" for me. But he has limited time so it may be another week - but I promise to keep posting the updates.

FROM THE DESK OF..........

2011-01-06T18:36:00.003-06:00

Lots of things going on in the church - and I'll post some pics tomorrow. In the meantime I wanted to give you this visual. This is my new desk......so when I write a post for the blog remember that I am speaking from the pulpit.

MAGPIES

2010-12-31T17:17:00.011-06:00

When most people think of Magpies - they think of a chatterbox. This is true - they are noisy - but they also LOVE shiny, sparkly things and will steal jewelry and like to keep their gems in their nests....I've always thought I'm a bit of a magpie. And though I am usually a bit more restrained, when it comes to Christmas I fully subscribe to the "Pirate's Booty School of Decorating" . The china cabinets are dripping with sparkle and the tree looks more and more like a chandelier. Tomorrow, while I watch college football I will take everything down - so one last look - good bye 'til next year.

I learned last year that I have to decorate the top of the tree from the loft - so here we go......... as you know, the ceiling is an issue and the paint is literally falling off. But it wasn't until I took these photos that I saw the perfect angel flying along with my angel on top of the tree. Do you see her? Very special. So now I think I want to keep that one tin white with her always there........

Then it's slowly moved across the room and finished. This year - the angel fell off the tree - her wings are heavy and I was trying to straighten her - whatever........I let it go for a day and then couldn't stand it so I pulled this 15 foot , fully decorated tree back to the loft - went upstairs and tied her on with a ribbon - and dragged the whole thing back. Didn't lose a thing

As you can see I have begun plastering. I had first repaired the bead board wainscot and the chair rail and had planned on posting photos of all this but lost everything in a hard drive meltdown. I started in this corner because I SO, SO, SO wanted to get this dear antique off the floor. I'm still experimenting with color as it changes all day when the sun moves and shines through the different colors of the windows. I have said that when it comes to Christmas I love to revisit the scene in Goonies when they finally find One Eye Willie and all his treasures....jewels just dripping from everything. YEP I'm a secret pirate.

SMITTEN

2010-12-22T09:42:00.004-06:00

The following post is from my darling daughter on her blog "C Stands for Carrie" It's about one of our adventures when I visited her in Montana last September. If you like crafty, party things - read her blog. She's been building quite a reputation - in a good way ! The kind of reputation that makes a mother proud !!

C stands for... CARRIE: Smitten for My Mittens: "When my mom came to visit me a few weeks ago she gave me a pair of adorable mittens. She then informed me that not only did she make them, b..."

STILL THERE ?

2010-12-19T18:38:00.002-06:00

Many have given up on me , I am certain. Some will find me again. I have had a rough couple of years and seem to be re-inventing myself once again.

I have this angel - I'm sure you have seen them.....she was given to me when I was going through chemo. She is so triumphant ! However, over the last few years she has been dropped, glued together, dropped again ....well, you get the picture. Her head snapped off, both arms were broken (one has never been found) and her hands are gone. My friend Barbara laughed when I was telling her about it and she said - "She sounds like you. No matter how many times she is knocked down - she's back together....you should blog about her - as you !"

That is a bit how I am feeling....I've been knocked around and broken - but I'm still here. I'm picking up the pieces and putting myself back together and you'll hear from me again. I won't be doing give-a-ways and contests and awards - but I'll be in the 'hood.

see you soon

SEASONS

2010-01-14T20:46:00.007-06:00

Well, I said I missed the change of seasons...be careful what you wish for

BABY STEPS

2010-01-13T11:45:00.005-06:00

Baby steps with a HUGE impact........

This will really be appreciated by my friends and family who have visited me. As most of you know - I am currently living in the lower level of the church while I s l o w l y finish the upper level. This will eventually be a guest suite - but for now it's my full-time living quarters. It will be wonderful for guests but is a bit crowded for my all day, everyday life.

Yesterday I put together a new bookcase - and cleared the table.........the table where I kept everything, and worked, ate , blogged, scanned, printed, read, ...need I go on ? Everything ( and more!) in that bookcase was on this kitchen table .

I have always planned for this bookcase - but never had the opportunity to pick one up until now. The placement faces the seating area of the suite and hides the side of the refrigerator - and we always love to do that !

AHHHH - it's a good day.

SMALL WORLD

2010-01-07T19:34:00.004-06:00

I live in a little, tiny, drive-thru town of about two hundred - a town that is known by very few people. I was born and raised in a city some 55 miles away. Surprisingly, one of my best friends since high school produced this photo for me ........ a picture of her mom- age 2 -sitting on the lawn in front of her grandma and grandpa's house..... circa 1932. This is the little bungalow across the street from my church - and you can see St. Mary's in the background. Amazing !!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2009-12-18T08:51:00.005-06:00

I know, I know........where the heck have I been !?! Loooong story - in fact, too many stories and I'm not going there right now with one exception: someone has decided to make my blog their personal playground leaving bizarre and sometimes gross comments. My computer had a horrible virus and had to be scrubbed - I lost a lot of stored info and we are suspecting the bug came in through this commenter......or not.....the "not knowing" has made me very cautious and though I know it wasn't St. Mary's fault - I just stopped writing. blah blah blah.....

SO ! a quick update ... Christmas trees are my favorite things - the lights are the first thing on in the dark morning and the last to go out at night - I'm not even sick of the music ! LOVE LOVE love it all. I did realize however(after last year) that I would have to decorate the top of the tree from the second floor loft and then scoot it across the room to its perfect location. I learned that last year when I had to throw things at the top because my ladder wasn't tall enough.

Our first MAJOR storm came early and I never got to any outside decorations - another lesson learned......on the final nice weekend when everyone was outside hanging lights - I was planting perennials. Thinking that the gardening is REALLY done this time.

The storm shut everything down - even the University of Wisconsin closed for the first time in history. By the second day we were getting stir crazy and I had a spur-of-the-moment dinner party - people prepared what they had in their refrigerator/cupboards and we had a wonderful dinner. The buffet was on sheets of chip board on top of my unfinished kitchen island....I promise to update on that soon.

And finally - just so you don't think I've been a slug - my neighbor taught me about preserving and pickling. Pretty impressive - for me anyway. The freezer is full as well - my summer garden bounty. Life is good.

HELLO GOURDGEOUS

2009-10-06T07:59:00.004-05:00

Okay, Okay - I plagerized that title from my friend John....it was a year ago this month ( OH MY - it was LAST month) when he and his wife Karen visited. My daughter had set up my blog and named it St. Mary - and I never did another thing. John showed me how to down load photos and upload to the blog - or is it the other way around..........whatever.......and here I am.

Summer is definitely over ...vacation is over...anyone else feeling a bit depressed? Wandering aimlessly through the garden yesterday, pulling a weed or two , looking for a renegade tomato or zucchini, I realized I needed to "let it go". STEP AWAY FROM THE VEGETABLE PATCH.

I have many unfinished projects - things left undone for one reason or another (mainly one reason - I didn't want to do anything inside when I could be outside), So, I am back on the renovation track. Loading the camera with new batteries, making my to-do list , making the shopping list .

I've already eaten all the Halloween candy so I may as well get to work.

I'M BAAAACK

2009-09-19T20:19:00.009-05:00

I am back and ready to get back to work on the church - but we will continue to post pics of our wonderful adventure on http://www.theafricanqueens.blogspot.com/

a few more days and my body will re-arrange itself

BYE BYE GARDEN

2009-08-25T22:00:00.003-05:00

OKAY ........why has blogger changed stuff - right when I don't have time to figure it out ????HELP

SO I spent the summer in the garden and visiting friends - remember this arbor I was building? It is so loaded I am afraid it will tip over with the first wind. so I am saying goodbye to my garden and to you - for a bit......I am leaving in the morning for three weeks in South Africa...I would love to have you come along: http://www.theafricanqueens,blogspot.com/

see you in a few ....behave yourselves while I'm gone !!

TABLE FOR ONE

2009-07-25T23:13:00.005-05:00

I'll bet you are going to wish you had dinner with me tonight......

my garden just gets better and better and I am actually on my second planting

Who Knew ??

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love working in the garden and picking the food for dinner.....

okay, okay.... a few weeds - whatever

I had this great idea....since I have purple basil and red Swiss chard - I would make a "RED" pesto !! I julienned the zucchini from the garden and tossed it with the red pesto and a bit of cheese - and some slivers of the chard leaves...

I am not a "foodie" or a photographer - but it was really tasty - and HEALTHY !!

I was also ready to try stuffed squash blossoms..
since I am vegan - no egg batter would do so I tried half with a tempura like batter and half sprayed w/ olive oil and broiled

They were wonderful - but not FABULOUS.....
so I will have to perfect this.

But don't you wish you had dinner with me?

FLOWER POWER

2009-07-10T22:00:00.006-05:00

Just a little progress report:

we had some major front line winds this morning - lots of branches down. The sad thing is the farmers' beautiful corn crop was flattened in many areas......
yesterday it was 5 ft tall - today it's 10".

this huge branch didn't break completely and is swinging in the breeze - the neighbors refer to this as "a widow maker"

scary

Remember my friend who gave me the lilies?

She hybridizes them so every single one is different - each a new surprise...... I planted about 125.

everyday gives me is a new present

how lucky am I ?

PLUS - the veggies are coming in !!

MARTHA

2009-07-09T08:31:00.002-05:00

From the moment I arrived at my church I have felt a "presence". Many friends were concerned about my living alone, isolated and so far away from them but I have never felt frightened or worried. In fact, I have always felt protected in my home.

One day I met a local woman who used to go to church here.....she is also a medium - or a channeler. She told me there was an elderly woman who resides here with me. She used to be a "church lady" years and years ago.....she cleaned the place and picked up after the Pastor, maybe did his laundry. She tidied up after the church suppers or meetings.....just basically took care of anything and everything. My new friend told me she just likes to stay here - she isn't ready to leave. I'm told she's happy with me and likes what I'm doing here....we live together quite comfortably. She takes care of me and helps me find things in this mess and boy, do I need that! Over 4000 sq. ft of mayhem - can you imagine losing your car keys in that !?! Once I needed my WD40 but didn't even know where to begin looking - it literally fell from the ledge onto my feet. It became so apparent that "someone" was helping me - I just laugh and say "Thank You, I don't know who you are - but Thank You"

A friend sent me an article after hearing my story with a note attached that said "I think I know who your ghost is". The story was titled "Every Church Needs a Martha" and went on to say Marthas know where the keys are and the cash box, and Marthas clean-up after the dinners etc etc. Well, for those of you who know your Bible - you will know Martha was Mary Magdalen's sister................hmmmmmmm.

That night I turned off the lights and said "Goodnight.......and I think you are Martha. Unless you tell me differently - I will assume I am right" Haven't had any reason to change my thinking - and she continues to help me along, though for the last months she just sits in the rocking chair and watches me working in the garden. It's a classic Bentwood rocker.....my friend tells me she and my mother fight over it.........

"I was here first"
"No - I was"
"You got to sit there yesterday"
"So - you sat there longer"

aahhhh - kids.

THE GOLDEN ARCHES

2009-06-23T21:41:00.003-05:00

SO... I am constucting this structure for all the pole beans and the gourds - dipper gourds and birdhouse gourds. The arbors were purchased for display in my shop. They are cheap and rickety.... ..so I am making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

I am adding extra support and plastic fencing along the bottom 36". I am hoping to make it strong to endure the winter.

And , of course, you have seen my piano guts at the end of the tunnel.

I have one more section to go - and just in time as the seedlings are reaching, reaching, reaching

but it was WAY too hot today

GARDEN PROGRESS

2009-06-23T11:16:00.003-05:00

Both Mother Nature and I are pushing the garden forward

have added solar lights here and there - but need some more

weeds vs mulch - the weeds are winning

lilies and mint and zinnias and ??

it is already 90 degrees - so that's all for today - I am keeping cool in the studio !

CHURCH PIANO R.I.P.

2009-06-23T11:08:00.002-05:00

This is what happens to old pianos in my world:

It was in bad shape and I don't even play - but the piano was too beautiful to chop up for firewood - and no one would take it away. HMMM didn't mean to be so poetic . Anyway..........

I had it "gutted" and now it is garden sculpture

The beautiful walnut piano itself will be re-fitted and used to house my CD player and all that jazz in the Salon.

SCULPTOR ELLIS NELSON

2009-06-10T08:19:00.004-05:00

Several of you have asked about the sculptor I mentioned in my Versailles post; he does not have a website but here are links to some articles about him. His name is Ellis Nelson and he is well known in the area. I have a dear friend who is moving and had an estate sale last weekend and she advertised an Ellis Nelson for sale........people lined up hours in advance - the first man in line snatched it and left a lot of sad faces behind him....mine included.

So if anyone wants a sculpture......stop by the church for lunch and then pop on over to the Morel Capitol of the World ( !!! ) and meet Ellis.

When my friends John and Karen, were here last September they bought a big snail and sent him back to CA to live on the deck.

http://www.muscoda.com/ellis-nelson.html

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/ellis_nelson/index.html

VEGGIES

2009-06-07T08:09:00.005-05:00

Again, I am hiding vents. I have planted all types of lilies along with echinaccea, sedum and herbs: mint, dill, sage, oregano, five different basils, chives....... I am sure there will be more.

also fennel, green onions and white onions

I LOVE tomatoes - I have six different heirlooms plus a variety for sauces and canning . Twelve different types, seventeen bushes total

Swiss chard in the bright colors

This is Linda's jalapeno

Zuchinni squash and yellow squash

also green bush beans and wax bush beans,
cucumbers and beets for pickling

whew

The first thing in the ground was rhubarb - a gift from a friend's garden. My first lesson : "Look Up" I planted it in a perfect location, I thought ....I didn't know that you had to look"up". I had put it under a tree limb where the birds all love to sit - and poop.

So, I moved it here.

I am Vegan - and have a true distrust of chemicals in my food. Truly, why do we have a cancer epidemic? That's for another blog.........but you can understand why the planning of my own organic garden makes me positively giddy. I've had great help from my new friends here -the members of the Bloom City Garden Club. They generously share their knowledge and their plants !

VERSAILLES

2009-06-07T07:12:00.009-05:00

The Formal Gardens. Well, even Louis and Marie had to start somewhere...........

This focal point will consist of three concentric circles - 2', 4', and 6'. I found this in a catalog for strawberries - but it will do just fine for flowers. The completed circle will be about 22' diameter.

For you City Slickers....living w/ a septic system sucks (gotta love THAT alliteration!) because it is visually obtrusive , you can't have anything too heavy on top of the system (it could crack) and you can't have any trees or large shrubbery as the roots could creep into the pipes.

This has a sprinkler which runs to the top and looks like a fountain WOOHOO

I didn't have enough dirt to make this pad totally level - but is good enough for now. I have plans..

There is a local artist who does great metal sculpture and that is what I will put in the center of my circle. The kids say they never know what to buy me for my birthday so this year I can give them a big hint.

Oh....I just did.

DIRT

2009-06-06T19:53:00.008-05:00

I am beginning with a prehistoric lawn. Weeds and weeds ..... and it slopes from north to south and from east to west.

My goal is to camouflage all the venting that goes with the septic system. I also hope to create a level area on this slope - just a little one so that I can pretend I have a garden.

and then there are the veggies.......

I am sad that I didn't have anything in this photo to give you a sense of proportion - I would guess that mountain was about 6 feet high and 12 feet long and 8 feet wide..... it was huge.

It took me two days to move this dirt to my "landfill" area. Me, a wheelbarrow, two buckets and John with his Radio Flyer.

A literal "drop in the bucket".

This was hopeless

so I had to throw in the towel and bring in the big boys

and P.S.

why do I have to put a blanket over my tomatoes in MAY !??!!

EXHAUSTION

2009-06-05T21:47:00.004-05:00

I know this will be boring for some of you - but I have been in the garden for weeks and am finally having some results.

I am dealing with a pre-historic lawn.
Dinosaurs walked on this slope. I have dug up patches of crab- grass, crack- grass ...whatever you call it for WEEKS. I am my own landfill.

Tonight I can barely move my arms - but just want to tell you I am alive and this weekend will bring a bit of rain and force me inside.

One day we did have just a light mist....but I kept on with the good fight. In the words of Bill Murray in Caddy Shack ...I said to my neighbor " I don't think the heavy stuff is coming down for a while yet" !!

Manana

WINDOWS ON MY WORLD

2009-05-06T18:28:00.006-05:00

Sometimes I spare you a post of my progress because it's so BORING -
All my lower level rooms have these glass block windows and they are a mess !! Each one has to have all the cruddy old concrete - or heavily sanded grout - chiseled out.

Then I fill all the sides with foam insulation. This expands and cures over 24 hours - I then go back with a razor and trim all the excess.

Next I cover all the edges and old grout joints with white latex caulking.
After another 24 hours - back again to trim all the excess..........

I then paint....this was a sample color of blue which I am NOT going to use in the studio....but I figure the windows will need two coats so I am using it as a base coat.
Very boring, I know, and THAT'S why I haven't posted
(and of course - when the sun shines - you know I'm in the garden)

IN THE GARDEN

2009-05-01T14:14:00.003-05:00

Yeah - that's me
I encourage you all to spend the month doing the same

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg4YrOlAkds&feature=PlayList&p=8503758C2061F58B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=64:

PROGRESS REPORT

2009-04-19T18:06:00.004-05:00

Some of you may remember last July my girls came for a visit. They were great help! Here, Carrie is washing the old upper cabinets from the Church Ladies' big kitchen. I commented that I didn't have time to paint them but it really didn't matter as it was just my working studio - no one would see them. WELL..... now that has all changed and it is going to be my hat shop ....so now I am trying to make things a bit prettier.

I found this green print that I used in my last shop and I decided to skirt all those shelves - hiding all the crap - I mean, wonderful inventory.
I LOVE this print - it is so perfect with Grandma's dressing table skirts. And also found this wonderful stripe which will go on chairs.
When I say "found" I mean found in my closet
(Yeah...kind of a fabric junkie)

Yes - Ladies and Gentlemen - 22 lineal feet of shelving now skirted with fabric ...washed - starched and ironed - hemmed and gathered and hung on cafe rods.

Maybe next you'll see the TOPS of the shelves

But I am making headway - Decided to hang all the photos down here - they make me smile and keep me company

My children are my tonic.

I'm on a roll !!

MIA

2009-04-14T08:41:00.005-05:00

Some of you know that I was in Chicago for some days and I found a great source for used art........ they liquidate hotel furniture. I don't want the art - I just want the multiple frames - it was perfect!!

And had to hit Ikea on the way home

Well, the natives are getting restless as I have been MIA. It is that wonderful time of the year - banks, appraisers, taxes, etc, etc. I have also been spending many hours preparing my soon-to-open Etsy shops. I need to get working so I can adorn St. Mary's in a manner to which she plans on becoming accustomed.

I am building the vanity in the guest bath and though I know conventional wisdom says "NO THEMED ROOMS" I'm doing a bit of that anyway.......... as many of you know - I lived part-time on the island of Anguilla - it's in my blood.

Besides - it's not like this is a normal home anyway !

Right?

Stay tuned

HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND

2009-04-10T08:56:00.003-05:00

However you choose to spend your holiday

Mr. Wiggs and I send you our best wishes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1tf2TPheE8

WEEKEND PROJECT

2009-03-22T22:34:00.000-05:00

Still in the studio -

I found the dressing table skirt from Carolyn's Hat Shop ....also used in my hat shop. I hung a 48" x 16" shelf on the wall - then washed, starched and IRONED (eeeek) and gathered and tacked.......

TA DA

I love these colors - it is a teeny bit faded - but so 1950's.

If you look at the lower right corner of this photo you can see the table skirt

The second table is by Grandma but hidden by the hats and plants

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

2009-03-21T11:50:00.000-05:00

I have photographed my progress in the studio as part of my renovation - but all you ribbon and hat junkies will have to visit my Carolyn Hats blog for your next fix ......you'll find that and all the loveliness of the millinery business over there. It is so exciting for me to have made the decision to re-open the hat shop. Though it will be mainly on-line ........ it is a vocation that feeds my soul. Please visit Carolyn Hats as I "re-invent the wheel".

Marys Church will continue to be the saga of this huge renovation project. Again, it is something that makes my heart sing and there will always be updates on the progress. ....and I imagine that will continue for years!!

Finally - all other personal musings, OMG moments and general silliness will come from the Verandah.....that is my home base. My family and friends like to know what is going on out here in the Midwest and this is my way of reporting to all of those interested parties without boring the rest. HEY! not that my life is boring by any stretch....but it's not for everyone.

Back to the studio !

STUDIO PROGRESS

2009-03-20T17:19:00.001-05:00

And the tassels just keep on coming !!

I am actually putting them all in a closet so they will stay relatively clean.

For any of you ribbon junkies .......I found this shoe rack and it works for big spools of ribbon - and then the smaller rolls or the delicate vintage pieces go in the shoe boxes. I am embarrassed to say how long it took me to get this done - and also that there is still MORE.

12 rows - each row a different color

All these beautiful things have made me realize I need to re-open Carolyn Hats

Aren't they so lovely?

TASSEL ISSUE

2009-03-12T07:02:00.000-05:00

I would always laugh when the kids would tease me and tell me I "had issues" ....... well, after unpacking these boxes of shop inventory I would have to admit that I had "tassel issues" - oh, yeah.

I love these with the bee-skip on the top and little bumble bees buzzing around.

Back to the studio!

PROGRESS PART DEUX

2009-03-08T17:59:00.001-05:00

Still unpacking and sorting in the studio......
let's talk TIARAS. Can't have too many ! Sometimes I wore them cleaning house - ( in a ballgown......). I always had an assortment at the shop for that last minute birthday lunch

so far I have found eight.

The supply of vintage hats is endless

I've unpacked most of the wooden blocks so I can begin to prepare for the big clearence

they all need a bit of TLC

another of my favorite models

the taupe hat with ribbons was one made by Grandma - my aunt found it at Goodwill.

The studio is 15 x 28 and one end will be for all my hats and supplies. I LOVED making hats .... there is not a big demand for them these days - but I will always be prepared !

I haven't even begun to unpack the ribbons - they will make you weep. I have a fair stash of both new and vintage trims , some are even left from my mom and grandma.

I love this photo of Grandma - it was in the early sixties and this is the shop where I would decorate the windows with Genevieve.

I will do posts about Carolyn Hats some day soon - but on my other site - on the Verandah.

PROGRESS REPORT

2009-03-08T12:28:00.000-05:00

Such a gloomy day here.......and after reading comments to my last post I realized I was falling into the old habits.......waiting and WANTING things to be done. I have to relish the small things - so that's what I am going to do for the rest of the day !

This is my favorite painting done by my girlfriend Barbara - The Little Geisha was my gift when I left Laguna.

I love coral - always have........I know it goes in and out of fashion - but I am a junkie, can't help myself and I'll always be addicted. I have these pulls on my closet doors.

This morning I hung the shade over my bed - after scraping and cleaning the ancient glass block window....WOO HOO
another small job done!

As some of you know I spent some years working in Anguilla and kept an apartment there for awhile. This little guest suite where I am living is where all things Caribbean have come to rest. Normally orange, hot pink and aqua blue would not be in my living quarters - but it worked at the beach !!

I love these beaded lampshades in the stylized coral pattern.....I am a bit of a magpie.
Need to find new bases for them - but at least I found the shades !

Another small victory!

more to come............

DADD

2009-03-07T21:04:00.001-06:00

I have DADD :
Designer Attention Deficit Disorder

I am jumping around from room to room depending on what gets delivered - or which rooms are warm....
so today was my little kitchen in the guest suite

I am living in this 450 sq foot area - it is great for a guest room - but a bit tight as a living quarters

I have functioned with these two shelves for 8 months

Today I finally have cupboards !!! Didn't get the lower cabs in - but it is a start

HOW HAPPY AM I ??!!

"AFTER ALL..........

2009-03-01T18:07:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is another day. " (said Miss Scarlet)

I have been hunting and gathering, collecting, buying for my shop and design business, hoarding and storing for 35 years.
I packed things away 4 years ago.............
and I thought I was going to get it all sorted out and pretty by tonight?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

TIME FLIES

2009-02-28T08:50:00.000-06:00

The week has flown by and I have nothing to show for it. But I have been busy ........no, really - I have been hard at work. My studio is still a disaster area. It is open to the front entrance which is drafty and I have put off working in there because it was FREEZING. The stairway is a wind tunnel. This week had some warm afternoons ........so I am on it. My goal is to post photos of my fabulous workspace this weekend

This is the lovely Genevieve. I can't put that accent over the "e" so just say it like Maurice Chevalier. She lived in my grandmother's and mother's hat shop. Grandma would let me "do" her windows and as young as five - I remember putting hats and jewelry on Genevieve.

She had a terrible fall in the sixties and I repaired and repainted her - so that face was done by a 12 year old with a magic marker.

I unpacked her yesterday and found that she did not travel well. I don't know if it was the move or the moisture from the leaking trailer - but she needs major surgery.

I would imagine she is from the 40's......but I'll never know.
Someday I may reproduce her and handpaint a different face on each one - what do you think?

See you later!

SPRING IN MY STEP

2009-02-20T10:21:00.001-06:00

There's no Spring in the air.......but there is in my heart. I've told you all before - I pretty much live in a fantasy world. So I am planning my garden. My new friends here are lending me books and advising me along the way.

I LOVE the Flower Fairies. Since this whole midwest gardening thing is new to me - I am really going to keep a diary....no, REALLY I am !!

No more tropicals for moi.

But tulips and peonies and violets
OH MY

WELCOME HOME, MR WIGS

2009-02-19T10:07:00.000-06:00

I know the weather man says it's still below zero - but I am MOVIN' ON.

Mr. Wigs has been in the lower level - scaring the crap out of the workmen for too long.......he needs to take his rightful place in the Great Room (or should it be the Grand Salon?) and welcome in the SPRING.

That's our plan and we're sticking to it.

I know a gentleman would never sit on the table but he just needs to stretch a bit.

We've both been MIA along with the cabinet doors.....just been in a slump. But today is a new day and we are up to the challenge. I've had a bit of flack from my fans (okay friends and family) because I haven't posted for too long. I think my daughter may have even been shaking her finger at me over the phone....gee, wonder where she learned THAT ?

Anyway - WE'RE ON IT !! More later

DOORS M.I.A.

2009-02-08T16:23:00.000-06:00

just playin'........ but sometimes I need to take a break and do someting pretty..........

I finished assembling the cabinets for the island - but the doors were MISSING. I can't believe it ! 7 doors !! So now I have to deal with THAT.

The island will be almost 12' long with a double sink at one end and the cook top on this end.

I haven't decided what I am going to use on the top

but at least these are done and the hall is clear again - now I just have to get those doors!

For Kris-Tell-Klear :

here's the full view of the altar rail - it's 12' long

the altar itself is long gone - it was a simple raised platform - this was the only thing worth saving........and the lectern which will be used in the future.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

2009-02-02T17:49:00.000-06:00

I needed a break from cabinet building - had to work a different set of muscles. This is the altar rail which I saved and have future plans for - but in the meantime - while I'm finalizing a design for bookshelves - I am using this. It's about 12 feet long so I have filled the bottom and just stacked the larger books and surplus on the top.....tempting to leave it this way.

DAY BY DAY

2009-02-02T17:32:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling pretty good about this. My friend John said to stop being creative and know that it has been engineered to go together as the directions indicate. Pay attention and follow the steps. You've probably surmised that he's an engineer.

Next he'll tell me to color inside the lines.

(but he's right you know)

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

2009-02-01T17:46:00.000-06:00

There was a wildcat stike on my desk - everything mechanical walked off the job after my last post.

The next day my best partner-in-crime from SoCal came to visit and we had an 8 day pajama party - how lucky are we??

She is a wonderful designer and slapped me around for being cranky and we did great work - sorting things - clearing off the backgammon table, placing art and finding the Scrabble game - all of equal importance.

Now she is gone and I had the computer fixed and am back on task.

Though I'd rather being doing something more glamorous, I am actually excited that I am going to assemble the cabinets for my island in the kitchen.

It is a bit scary - but I know I can do it - I just have to go slow because I am still not that strong. I THINK I am - but, no.

It's also hard for me to get down on the floor.......actually it's hard to get UP from the floor and tomorrow I will strap on the knee pads.

Getting old is creepy.

I have faith - take time to read the

DIRECTIONS (man, I hate that) and it will all work out.

That's all for today

What I really want is this.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

2009-01-18T09:53:00.001-06:00

I awoke this morning to find that I had been tagged by Larkspur at Garden Mother. The instructions were to open my photos and go to the fifth folder and select the fifth photo.

here it is - maybe I'll get an architectural award.

This blog is all about the renovation so these photos are not pretty by any stretch........but this has been a good exercise for me. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the scope of the project - or upset at the lack of progress - or lack of $$ which would allow me the means to make it FABULOUS. Some times it's a creative drought.

But this photo review has reminded me that despite all set-backs - there is progress !!

This was two offices in the back of the church - added on in the sixties. I tore down the wall between the two and added a full bath and closet. It is the California Suite - initially had guests only from California. I know that will change - but I think the name will remain.

Work in progress - but comfortable.

BUUUUURRRRRRR

2009-01-13T09:23:00.001-06:00

I think I'll just keep a kettle on all day. The wind chill was -20 when I woke-up ..... and may get to -40 on Thursday. I think today's project has to be sealing little cracks and insulating around old drafty windows - oh yeah.

This wonderful tea kettle was painted by a local High School student and I found it at an art festival. LOVE the student exhibitions!

Stay warm - stay cool - whatever.......

THE PROXIMITY AWARD

2009-01-11T14:44:00.000-06:00

"This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers ! Deliver this award to some bloggers who must choose some more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I would love to give this right back to Joan ...... but that would put us back in the sixth grade

"You're the best" "No, you are" "No, You" "Na-a, YOU are"

So in the category of life time achievement awards I have to thank Joan "for the love of a house" and Willow for agreeing to interview me.

Now I would like to pass this on to a few women who have welcomed me to their worlds as well:

Content in a Cottage - Rosemary -for her incredible daily posts. Rosemary has such a wide range of interests - she always amazes me and I am flattered by her interest in me and my church.

A Perfect Beginning - Joyce lives not far from me and we are alike in so many ways. She has a loving, gentle perspective on life and I hope someday we will meet.

Canyon Wren Cottage - Sandra was the first to recognize my blog and follow it and I found so many of you through her. I have loved her postings about her home and our "real"lives.

Paris Atelier - Judith has been such a cheerleader for me....maybe because I told her I think I was French in a past life. She has an amazing grasp on the French - both their culture and history. I am in awe of her intelligence and grace at such a young age.

Show Me Vegan - Lisa is so young and bright - she makes me think I'M COOL. Embracing the vegan lifestyle after the big "C" has not been easy - but she always has something wonderful for me to try and keeps me encouraged - without even knowing....SURPRISE!

FULL MOON MAGIC

2009-01-11T13:47:00.000-06:00

Wasn't the moon incredible!?! As a Cancer - I am more affected than many. Luckily we had clear skies all night and it followed me from room to room ....I think trying to let me know something was going to happen. I sleep under a glass block window and in the early morning I awoke and for a magical moment there were 20 full moon shining over me. And this morning I found that my new friend Joan from "for the love of a house" had sent me this award.

Thank you so much Joan and yes, flattery will get you everywhere.

This is such a new world for me - didn't even know it existed until a few months ago. I think it was Willow's "Blog of Note" award on my page that caught my eye........I clicked on it and this whole universe in my computer revealed itself to me. Yikes. Somehow, one by one, I have found you . And some of you in return have taken the time to know me. Now I have to go digest all this ...... and my brunch.

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW

2009-01-09T19:07:00.000-06:00

I am so happy to be interviewed by Willow - but as we all know - it's because I raised my hand and said "Pick me Pick me"....at least I'm honest:

1. How in the world did you come about living in and restoring an old church?

I lived in Orange County, California for 30 years and most of those years were spent in a planned community. It was a lovely home and a great place to raise the kids, but as an Interior Designer, looking out my kitchen window and seeing a tract house exactly like mine was sad.....I could use so many words - but basically, it made me sad. And even though my last 5 years were spent in the quintessential beach cottage in Laguna, I vowed that when all darlings were finished high school I would search for a wonderful, unique place to live. I was raised in Wisconsin and that is where I set out to find a church, barn, schoolhouse, cheese factory, mill ..........ANYTHING that was not a tract house. So I happened upon the church - yes, it was a "drive by" and here I am !

2. Did you leave the sanctuary section of the church as is or did you section it into rooms?

Basically, I left the church sanctuary "as is". I added a loft at one end of the church which gave me a master bedroom upstairs and created a ceiling for the kitchen downstairs where I could have recessed lighting and a vent for the cook top. But in the loft, the walls are only as high as the incredible tin cornice. When you are on the main level there is no visual break because I wanted to be able to see the whole ceiling.

3. If you could have dinner with an historical figure who would it be and why...

I wish I were smart enough to impress everyone with some little known, eccentric genius - but I'm not. As a designer, I would have to look to someone who had great knowledge of ALL aspects of architecture, design and landscaping and that would Thomas Jefferson. I would sit at his knee and be the student. Well, for dinner I would sit at his table.

4. Other than your loved ones, what is your most treasured possession

Is this a fair answer - my imagination ? This is what allows me the vision for designs - and transports me. I basically live in a fantasy world. My clients tell me how they want to live and I am able to translate that into their realty.

5. Before blogging, what, if any, was your main mode of personal expression?

I am not really an accomplished blogger. I started my blog solely as a diary of my progress on the church for all my family and friends. Prior to this I have enjoyed all aspects of design . My degree is in Interior Design and I have worked in that field since '76......but I am also a third generation milliner, and enjoy everything having to do with the arts and design. I once had a Christmas card that said "If it doesn't move - decorate it".

Now - here is your chance to be interviewed:

1. Leave me a comment asking to be interviewed

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions ( my choice of questions)

3. You will update your blog with the answers to these questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post

5. When others comment and ask to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

GREAT BEGINNING

2009-01-05T17:12:00.000-06:00

After a trip to Chicago - I returned home to
A GARAGE
I am so excited !! Don't have electricity in there yet so the opener doesn't work ...but I am thrilled. I have to use the back door for my only entrance right now and it has become increasingly depressing.....the garden tools were bad enough - but add shovels and car tires !!

Tires and shovels and rakes - Oh My!

There was freezing rain while I was away so everything is covered with a sheet of ice....very scary.

My back steps looking from the lower level

This is where recycles and trash pile up. When I had to have snow tires put on the car - this is where my regular tires had to go....there or under the Christmas Tree.

This is what greeted me upon entering...now you understand why I was so determined to get a garage

What a great project to have to start off the new year.

A Clean Slate

I may even get to make it pretty....
imagine that .

(ALMOST) A NEW GARAGE

2008-12-30T21:46:00.000-06:00

WOO HOO
My Garage body parts arrive at 7a.m.

These guys were incredible!

I have been shoveling snow off this pad for 5 weeks - I am so HAPPY this is finally going to be installed. Mother Nature has not been our friend.

Do you think she's still mad about the trees?

By 10:00 the walls were up and they began to put the roofing in place.

This "street side" of the church with the parking area was so big and flat - I am so excited that the added bonus of the garage is some dimension - some interest to this facade. Can't wait to landscape!

It was cold and slippery and I retreated several times because it was just too scary to watch.

The siding went on quickly - it "almost " matches the 165 year old siding that is on the church.
I am VERY happy.

Unfortunately it began to snow and they called it a day.

I have days when the weather wears on me and I miss Laguna Beach and I miss Anguilla. I have found a wonderful blog - Lime in the Coconut- and whenever I feel this way I go to Linda. Just the title page makes me feel "at home". She posts a beautiful photo of a wind blown palm and it transports me. It is not that it makes me homesick - it simply feeds that part of my soul. If you missed her holiday blog with photos of her home.....have a Rum Punch and enjoy the ride. It is such a refreshing break from formality....bright colors, inventive accents, a home where warmth and humor flourish.

HOLIDAY FAVORITES

2008-12-27T18:46:00.000-06:00

Just a little something to take your mind off your post Christmas let-down.

Next we'll get worked up for New Year's Eve.

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

2008-12-21T09:05:00.000-06:00

Maybe I should have spelled "SCARVES".
Maybe I should have stayed in Anguilla.

It's an inside job today - the wind chill right now is -34

yes -34

you read right -34

This is my temporary kitchen - pretty limited. Like the telephone cords? It's the communications hub of the home.

The stainless sink unit will go into my studio when the new cabinets are installed.

And this is my total storage for food, pots and pans, small stuff hiding in the big bucket. The window sill is deep enough to hold cannisters but it's so cold I keep the matchstick blinds dropped down all day........all I can see is snow anyway.

and these are the new cabinets - just waiting for me to put them together! I've been walking past these boxes for 6 weeks......have to get worked up to start this but I'm thinking today is the day.

This is the other big job - picking the paint off the tin ceiling.

I think I'll alternate - one is an overhead job and one is a sit-down job

First, one more cup of coffee.

WHITER CHRISTMAS

2008-12-19T18:07:00.001-06:00

With all the snow and then sub-zero temps - I never got out to the deck to string lights on the trees. Last night was my last chance - snow was not deep and it was warm (25 degrees) - I knew if I didn't do it then - I wouldn't do it this year.

Lookin' good.......

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

From my lower level - this is what I woke up to .............the window sill is at ground level.

yikes

you can barely see my neighbor's roof

WHITE CHRISTMAS

2008-12-18T10:19:00.000-06:00

I am sure this is boring for many of you - but for me, having been in CA for so long .........
well I just can't get enough of these beautiful images.

All my trees are still standing - leaning a bit after this last storm - but still standing.

Tonight will bring a BIG storm

My garage was supposed to be installed on Monday but may be delayed now as they are falling behind due to weather

My little neighbor girl said

"It looks like Toyland"

BEDTIME STORY

2008-12-09T21:13:00.000-06:00

This is a different Christmas Story - but one I promised my daughter Meghan that I would tell....it's a family classic.

I am not proud of what I am about to tell you - but neither am I going to apologize ......if nothing else, I am honest.

We had a wonderful family room with an 8 ft mantel over the fireplace....a large artificial tree and a 6 ft bay window in our eating are. These areas were festooned with garlands and lights and ALL the ornaments the children (3) made through the years.... AND all the ornaments given to them through the years. There were Disney Characters and storybook characters and Cool Whip lids with photos glued to them. There were frames of yarn and buttons, decoupage and needlepoint, lots and lots of popsicle sticks and balls of spray-painted macaroni. We had the bread dough characters made just for us, gingerbread men and flat, felt snowmen......candy canes, choo-choo trains and on and on...................... It was a history of our family and I loved them all. I loved them all in the family room.

then in the living room there was MY tree. I LOVE my tree...it is void of color - it is nearly naked and you can see the trunk and the branches...I liked to call it the "architecture" of the tree. I have used the same gold and silver striped ribbon for 20 years....the same gold and silver beads and the same pearls for 20 years!!! I have only a few ornaments , mostly clear glass. It is like recess from Christmas . It is not a status tree or a decorator tree - it is a simple, clean, sparse, lovely but unpretentious tree.

When I opened my shop in '98 - I needed the artificial tree for the display so all the kids ornaments were hung on the garlands in the bay window and over the fireplace. In '99 when it was time to decorate Meghan said "lets hang all the stuff on the big tree".

"But then we won't have things in the family room"

"Yeah - we have plenty - I want my ornaments on the big tree this year"

"But these ornaments always look so great over the fireplace"

The debate went on and Meghan (by then an adorable teenager) SCREAMED at me that I never really wanted their help and hated their stuff and stormed upstairs and reaching the landing she turned and yelled "YOU'RE A CHRISTMAS TREE NAZI" and hurled an ornament over the balcony at me.

I ducked. I was stunned, furious and mortified ....because she was right.
I begged her to come back down - she wouldn't - so after all the ribbons and pearls I hung every one of the childrens ornaments. And when I lit the tree - it was beautiful.

It was a day or two before we spoke - when I was given the chance I apologized and told her she was right and the tree was beautiful. She said "Really ?? Because I was thinking YOU were right - it looks like crap".

And that is the story of Yours Truly, the Christmas Tree Nazi.

Happy Holidays.

WALKIN' IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

2008-12-09T13:58:00.000-06:00

For my CA friends - this is S N O W. Under this mound is my GMC.

Some wonderful neighbor had already plowed my new slab and cleared a parking area - but I had to dig out the car and the mounds of snow around it

The doorbell rang early....school was closed. The churchyard has the longest hill in town and has always been the destination for sledding so the kids were asking permission.

a relic from summer

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

2008-12-08T07:26:00.000-06:00

The trees outside have been "righted" and are still standing a week later. The snow has continued and the temp has rarely been above 15 degrees so I haven't finished the lights. IT IS REALLY COLD and I am NOT used to this.

Turning attention inside - decided that I would get the biggest tree I could find so as to distract from the mess. Didn't really think that through. It is so tall that I had to just throw stuff at the top - literally - what ever stuck stays.

Not my best work

TA DA

I did, however, love the effects of seeing the stained glass through the tree.....I have no color on the tree so wherever you see blue and purple and bright green - that's the glass showing through. I do love that.

Bought these lanterns in CA in '06 and they have been packed away since then. Fun to finally get them out........washing all those glass panels - not so much.

MOTHER WAS NOT AMUSED

2008-12-01T20:11:00.001-06:00

The snow started in the afternoon - then the wind picked up......... by morning 2 trees were down and one is leaning.

Need to make some adjustments tomorrow if the snow stops

I guess I needed to be reminded who was in charge

IT'S NOT NICE TO FOOL MOTHER NATURE

2008-12-01T19:46:00.001-06:00

It's hard to put this in perspective - I need a human. The green trees are about 12 ft tall - the white ones are 6 1/2 ft.

Since all the bushes had been trimmed there was no place for me to string Christmas lights and seeing as this is my first holiday here - I was NOT going to be cheated out of decorating. I went to the local tree lot and bought trees and put them in stands in the front and on the back deck.......HA!!

I had great helpers - if I had to get down on the ground like that I 'd never get up !

THANKSGIVING

2008-11-27T20:47:00.001-06:00

It is Thanksgiving Day and I have SO many people and things in my life for which I give thanks.

The blankets were pulled off the new slab yesterday and the message I put in the wet concrete seems so appropriate for the day.

AAAAAAAA-M E N !!!

NEVER SAY UNCLE

2008-11-27T20:33:00.000-06:00

The snow melted (mostly) so I took advantage of the weather. People actually slow dow when they drive by - I'm sure they're all talking about the crazy Church Lady who is still working in the garden

This is going to be a new entrance to the garden flanked by trees

Two weeks ago my friend Nancy and her son Hunter helped me get these last trees and pines in the ground. I always have great plans but I could never had done it all without their help. I bought the mulch but the weather turned before I was able to cover the plants - so this was a reprieve

I'm so excited!

CALL ME CLEOPATRA

2008-11-27T20:24:00.000-06:00

" 'cause I'm the Queen of Denial "

just having a little "Oh My God" moment. There was snow everywhere and it was warm and sunny in CA ........so - while the world was buying snow tires and Christmas Trees - I bought a car load of palm trees and ferns.

I feel much better

MONDAY WAKE-UP CALL

2008-11-26T10:39:00.000-06:00

What a difference a day makes

and now it begins....................

SUNDAY SERVICES

2008-11-26T10:24:00.000-06:00

I know I have many months of work ahead - but at least I am at a point where I can have people visit . My girlfriends actually ASKED if they could come out for lunch - I didn't even have to bribe them...........AND they brought the lunch!

For a bunch of Catholic schoolgirls who spent years in church........this is our new alternative for Sunday Services mea culpa

We sat and chatted and laughed and finished the afternoon with coffee, tea and biscotti.

It was delightful.

GARAGE 101

2008-11-19T20:39:00.000-06:00

I haven't slept in days.........I am out of my element building a garage and the weather adds major concerns. Do I need a curb? some say yes - some say no ...windows, no windows, what if it snows..........on and on....
The first trucks arrived at 6:15

The ground had been covered with insulated blankets since last week.

The bobcat tore out all the existing asphalt and then the loads of gravel arrived

The cement truck arrived shortly after sunrise

I went with "no curb" and hope I won't regret it

AHHH......

breakfast of champions

how did we get anything built before ---
Mountain Dew ?

They said they were working but I think they're doing the Electric Slide

final buff

and

DONE

NOW I WAIT FOR THE GARAGE !!

ZONED OUT

2008-11-19T20:22:00.000-06:00

I have hopes for building a garage....after having over 100 inches of snow last year and with the Farmer's Almanac predicting even more this year..........I am panicked about living alone with no garage. "Digging out" is not on the top of my list.

Because my church was dropped on this site so long ago - I have to go to the county and apply for a variance. I have to present these photos and show that I have no options for the placement of the garage.

The hearing goes well.....it's so easy when you just tell the truth.

ONWARD

GOT GAS?

2008-11-19T18:42:00.000-06:00

All that was done to prepare for a new propane tank.....I switched the position of the tank with hopes of building a garage.

LANDMARK WEEKEND

2008-10-26T18:33:00.000-05:00

I had three amazing things happen this weekend:

#1 It was Homecoming Weekend at the UW and I went to the game. Last year I had to catch the special trolley for people who couldn't walk to the stadium and then take the elevator to the upper deck - only for those who couldn't walk up the huge ramp. THIS year ......... I walked the 7 blocks from where we parked the car and up the huge multi-level ramp and up to our upper deck seats. I try not to dwell on the whole cancer thing .... but this was such a huge accomplishment ..... I just BEAMED. I was with the same friends I went with last year and they saw the difference as well and it was just - well -wonderful.

#2 WE WON.

#3 I came home and the semi was GONE !!

I am only sad that I wasn't home to take a picture - you know how you see a friend and know something is different but can't quite put your finger on it ? And then you realize they shaved their moustache that they have had forever? I turned the corner and thought there was a change - but it took me a few minutes to realize ...........THE SEMI IS GONE.

John and Jessica and their dad came to help me take down the old ramp.

and at the end of all that hard work - they got to go to a great Halloween party.

THANK YOU JOHN AND JESSICA

POWER-unPACKING

2008-10-24T11:09:00.000-05:00

Logically - I know I shouldn't be unpacking when there is still so much construction to be done - but emotionally I am so tired of living in rooms filled with cardboard boxes - I don't care.

Somethings put such a huge smile on my face - it makes it all worthwhile..........

finding my mom's ironstone and my white candlesticks made my day.

some people think they are branches - but I think they are white coral .....whatever

I had forgotten about all these wonderful fabrics I bought in Marigot on St. Martin. But I was still in California at the time..........not workin' for me in Wisconsin in the winter.

Looks like slipcovers to me

HOMECOMING

2008-10-24T10:58:00.001-05:00

It's UW Homecoming this weekend - I hung the rod in the laundry just in time to wash and hang all my Cardinal Red

now if you all put your hands together and clap - maybe we could win

HISTORY LESSONS

2008-10-23T08:34:00.000-05:00

This buffet was dismantled 8 years ago - when I began to put the pieces together Matt said "Hey, I remember that " and the striped chairs are pre-Civil War parlour chairs used in my first design studio and the faux bois arm chair was in my second studio

"Sweet, sweet-
memories you gave to me -
Sweet, sweet-
memories you gave to me "

I LOVE these chairs .......there are so many tacks and staples in them that they are falling apart as I work on them. My mother and grandmother had a millinery business and these chairs were in their shops - many locations from 1920 through 1969. Then they came to the house - the apartment - the nursing home and now they get to retire at the church. They will be waiting for you in the California Suite.

THIS AND THAT

2008-10-23T07:58:00.000-05:00

It really is like Christmas - this is an old wedding trunk with the initials on the left and the date - 1826 0n the right

My grandmother's loom has been in pieces for twenty years and I don't know how I'll ever get it together........I am thinking of calling the UW. I learned to weave at the university when I was a design student - she was so fascinated by the whole process that she took lessons and bought a loom. She was about 83 then. What an incredible piece of work - not the loom .........
grandma !

Matt had his turn

All these chairs have to be re-covered. I try to strip all the fabric and nails, etc etc from one or two a day....then I will surrender to the local acupuncturist

ouch

Unfortunately I found that the semi was leaking quite a bit in one area ....this lovely old piece will have to have a face lift. We are in the middle of Amish country and I have talked with several about furniture repair and cabinetry - it is a great adventure and I'll tell you more about all that later.

OUCH

2008-10-21T08:49:00.001-05:00

My Heroes

JJ is an Iron Man and Gail was born an iron woman

they were amazing

-

and Matt has super- strength as well so
"THANK YOU THANK YOU"

I have also had other incredible friends help me but I didn't have a camera at the moment to record the events - somehow I will get them on this blog.

These concrete pedestals have been outside in the elements for over a year so they were even heavier than usual......like the table in "A Year in Provence"

Matthew actually groaned when he saw them - he has moved them several times - but never up a flight of stairs - it was scary.

ahhhh ........

remember those steel I-beams?

beginning to understand ?

MOVE THAT BUS !

2008-10-21T08:21:00.001-05:00

The truck is EMPTY !! I can't believe it. This dining table top was the last thing. Some of you will remember fabulous dinners on this table - it is ten feet long and weighs a TON.

I had girlfriend JJ and sister(in-law) Gail volunteer to spend a day helping me - I don't think they had any idea what that would involve.

Luckily my son Matt was visiting for a few days because I was basically useless. In fact - they told me to get out of the way.

You know -
I think I could have been SOME help........

that right side could have used me.

Anyway - it is all in the church and I can begin unpacking and sorting.... there are things here that I haven't seen in years -it's like Christmas.

The chairs are back.

SMALL VICTORIES

2008-10-08T22:33:00.000-05:00

I am officially "up to date" .... from this point on I am reporting progress in real time.

this weekend was about small victories

in my laundry room (okay - it's a closet) I hung this rack for the ironing board and iron and stuff.... the joke is - I did it for Gail because I don't iron unless my life or career depends on it.

I hung the rod in the old hall closet and now I have a real coat closet for my real coats - and I hung it higher than normal so there is plenty of room for my winter boots.

Remember - I have been in Southern California for over 30 years - coats and boots are an exciting new thing for me.

LIFE IS GOOD

OCTOBER '08 OLD HABITS DIE HARD

2008-10-08T22:16:00.000-05:00

I have found myself falling into old habits....I don't want to post photos because things aren't "done". I gave myself a lecture in the mirror and a reminder that this is all about sharing the journey and showing the progress. So please remember - things are not done - all is in transition - and enjoy the ride.

The California Suite is open for business -
everyone is welcome.

but not all at once

SEPTEMBER '08 CALIFORNIA SUITE

2008-10-08T08:29:00.000-05:00

I have guests arriving from SoCal this month so I need to get crackin' on this guest suite on the main floor. I can't get away with mattresses on the floor like I did with the girls.

The shower is tiled......the top row is a little rough 'cause I'm short ( and getting shorter every year apparently) and it was too high......so when you come for a visit - just don't look up.

Not grouted yet...

yes - I bought a jig-saw. I am a woman with power tools. I also bought a belt .... well, it's not really a full tool belt like the guys wear because that would just be cocky - it's more like a holster.

I used the sink as a template but doesn't it look like a huge hard hat?

I found this cabinet that used to hold a television and put the sink in that - I sanded down the top and now need some bling for the handles. Also will have to re-fit the insides - take out the speakers and put in a shelf........

but it works for now !

AUGUST '08 DANCING WITH THE STARS

2008-10-08T07:50:00.000-05:00

I was sad after the girls left - who wouldn't be? They are such a tonic for me. Of course we have a complete role reversal now .........they left me with all sorts of instructions - don't do this, don't do that .. lock the doors, don't climb the big ladder. HA

I had several trips to Chicago in August for some design work and took advantage of that time to have the floor done in the main room.

Unfortunately the runner down the center aisle of the church and in front of the altar had been glued down. It took HOURS to get that black spongy backing off the floor. You can see faintly where the wood is lighter - that was the runner.

This photo gives a good sense of proportion - the bead board wainscot is 36" high - entry door is a standard 6'8" - my new doors are 8' and the big window at the end which was originally the exterior wall of the front of the church is about 12'6".

I feel like I should have a big dance before I mess it all up with furniture.

The floors were not "stripped" - they were just refurbished. All the years of scrapes and spills are still visible and I like it that way. There are a few patches and weak spots but we all have those , right?

JULY '08 BESSIE

2008-10-03T10:12:00.001-05:00

what can I say ?

She had a good life here at the church for a few days
but she broke her leg
so we ate her

JULY '08 MY GIRLS VISIT PART DEUX

2008-10-03T09:03:00.000-05:00

Meghan arrives and is starving so we stop for dinner on the way home - she is mesmerized by the digital photo in our booth - or maybe it was just jet lag.

Also - we stopped for dinner because we have no appliances....manana

WOOHOO

the next morning we get a stove and refrigerator - this is in the little kitchen in the lower level guest suite where there used to be the HUGE Church Ladies kitchen.

You see we got just enough tile grouted so we won't have to move these things again.

after we picked up Meg - we stopped for gas....I got fuel - Meg bought junk food and Carolyn brought home a dairy cow........you'll see more of Bessie later.

They each bring something different to the table - always have and always will !

Luckily Meghan was so exhausted the fact that we were "camping" without window shades made no difference to her - but it was the first order of business the next day.

Little did she know that 6 hours earlier she didn't even have a bed

07/08 MY GIRLS VISIT

2008-10-03T08:32:00.000-05:00

Carolyn arrived first and got right down to business. I told them both to bring one dress for my birthday - and the rest WORK CLOTHES.

they were fabulous.

Carrie could not get over how high the river was and the amount of flooding. Their visit was a month after the rains and homes were still standing in water. I received an email awhile ago that said "Where are the rock stars for Iowa and Wisconsin?"

My builder(who packed this trailer to the ceiling) was very apologetic and said the mattresses were in the very back and there was no way I would be able to get to them.

He didn't realize who was dealing with.....

Carrie wasn't pleased with my determination either - but then SHE had a bed. I had to find those darn things before Meghan arrived !

SUCCESS

LUCKILY HER FLIGHT WAS LATE

07/08 BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER

2008-10-03T07:04:00.001-05:00

My "pre-birthday" dinner was a classy affair in the midst of the rubble - ending with a FINE birthday cake from Dairy Queen.

Hey - we worked hard all day
we earned it

note my mom's antique goblet in the foreground

she was with us too

Meghan did a great job helping with the floors
she's a natural

Carrie worked in my studio
these are the old upper cabinets from the Church Ladies kitchen. I took off the doors and was going to paint them white - but I ran out of time and - who cares? I'm just going to fill every inch of them with junk anyway ........ yeah, but it's good junk!

grouting is messy!! - and now I feel guilty for all those times over the last 35 years that I made some guy use two different colors of grout........

of course I'll still do it.

It's my birthday and the rule is - I get to choose the activities for the whole day

WOOHOO - sun's out - let's GARDEN

okay - the weeds got away from me a bit - no, I'm not on my knees -

we'd had a big storm and some huge limbs broke off the tree ......my trimmer was no match for the branch........neither of them

I have never mowed a lawn....I'm working up to it. In the meantime we just whack down the stuff any way we can.

For a group that had to wash their hair in the kitchen sink.....I think we clean-up mighty fine.

We are off to the big city to meet my brother Tim and sister(in-law) Gail for my birthday dinner.

06/08 LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED

2008-10-03T06:41:00.000-05:00

FINALLY - I get to do something fun. After all the months of demolition and structural stuff - I want to do something pretty. It's an adventure because I've never done any of these things -but I've certainly been around the process for a million years ! It seems that something must have rubbed off along the way ........

"Ya Think?"

The lower-level guest suite will be the "Anguilla Suite". That island is such a big part of my life and the lives of my friends - I know it will make everyone happy.

The main level guest suite

now THIS is exiting - I won't have to go to the gas station any more!! Like my curtain?

06/08 A PUBLIC HANGING

2008-10-02T19:45:00.001-05:00

I have to accept that I cannot hang all the doors and remaining drywall myself and I bring in the big boys. However - I did tile the floors!!

This closet is in the bedroom in the lower-level guest suite. Because natural light is limited I chose to use this closet as a room divider rather than put up walls.

One of three closets in my studio

All of the lower level and the main floor guest suite is finished with drywall, texture and paint.

Guest suite has original windows which also need to be painted and trimmed.

the closet and bath

it's actually starting to look like a house!

A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

2008-10-02T19:19:00.000-05:00

Yes I need some help from the pros

The rock is up and the taping done - but this main body of the church will have plastered walls. I'm leaving the wonderful beadboard wianscoting though it will probably get a new coat of paint. The plastering is something I am going to experiment with myself because I want it to look old but not contrived.

yes, someday this will be my fabulous kitchen.

the drywall crew left a horrific mess and then disappeared......but it's not the end of the world. For the most part I have been very pleased with my workers.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

2008-09-30T08:18:00.000-05:00

Most of the problems or puzzles that have presented themselves to me have been "amendable" This is one of the few true disappointments I have encountered.

This amazing ceiling had been painted but the MLS stated that it was, in fact, copper. I asked to have this fact verified before signing the contract and was assured that it was true. After months of construction - it was time to deal with the ceiling.

Because of the delicacy of the panels I chose a new process rather like sand-blasting, but using baking soda. Much kinder to the surface. Well...as you can see........the ceiling is tin.

It is still wonderful - but tin rusts - as it already had and so the guys pulled off the job. They didn't want to be responsible for enlarging the holes that were already there due to years of leaking roof.

I am sad - it was an honest mistake - but when I make a mistake , I take responsibility for it. Also, in addition to having a ceiling less that I had hoped - I have life long maintenance concerns.

But how do you sue a church ?

there's a lightening bolt with my name on it

03/08 BIG MONTH - HUGE !

2008-09-28T20:20:00.000-05:00

I have no interesting photos to go along with this month that relate to the church - I probably could find a few of Anguilla ( okay - I did ). I had passed all my inspections and the dry wall followed all that insulation......

In early March I had my final chemo-therapy treatment and closed the book on the most surreal year and a half of my life. And then I did what anyone would hope to do - I flew to the Caribbean and met my friend Twinkle and began a five week celebration. Okay - maybe there was a little work involved as I did have to finish her villa - and a few other friends came and went - but mostly it was -P-A-R-T-Y- and I earned it.

02/08 BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

2008-09-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

And WET !

February 2008

OOPS

my future watercloset in the loft

laundry room

During the torrential rains of August my builder pumped 80 gallons of water out of one corner in the basement. After months of construction and a long break over the holidays - it was time to insulate. We consulted with several and finally came up with a plan. Due to the greatest snowfalls since records were kept, we had many starts and stops - but finally got the place tightened up.

Closed-cell, waterproof spray-on foam insulation went in below ground level...... open cell, spray-on foam insulation above ground and blown-in cellulose in the attic. I had bats in my belfry for over 150 years so you can imagine what they had to clean out first. I stayed in bed that day, too.

In this main room, where there was some old fake paneling (can't even use the word "faux"),
the crew cut holes and then filled the cavities with the foam. In those areas where I said you could see daylight - this foam insulation would expand and ooze through those cracks on the outside.......my newly painted lady has taken on the appearance of something from a horror movie. I'll have to get photos before knocking it all down.

08/07 THE PAINTED LADY

2008-09-27T08:52:00.001-05:00

The three most beautiful words in the English language -
PAINT MY HOUSE

The local cowgirl/house painter was not much over 5' tall but she could scale that scaffolding in a heartbeat. I didn't have her take off all the old paint - I was afraid it was the only thing holding the siding together. But she washed and scraped and brushed and painted. Looks rather rough and old which I like.

"RING MY BELL"

2008-09-26T22:04:00.000-05:00

One of the joys of having the church is to watch the faces of people ringing the bell. I haven't taken as many photos as I should - I'll try to do better.

Everyone who comes to the church be they friends, workers or delivery men......they all do it, at my insistence. When the electricians were running new wiring from the living room to the foyer they had to go through the steeple in the attic space. They sent the new guy - Kyle K. - up the ladder and as soon as he got in the space - they would ring the bell. Much like Lucy holding the football and PROMISING she wouldn't pull it away......
they said they wouldn't do it again - but you know they did. I bet his ears rang for days.

Sometimes it's a bit trying...."Hi - we want to ring the bell today" "Hi can my friend ring the bell? "HI! These are my twin cousins - can they ring the bell?"

Luckily the neighbors have all said they love hearing the church bell ringing again.

09/07 WHERE'S THE POWDER ROOM ?

2008-09-26T21:08:00.000-05:00

In the steeple .........where else?

The addition to the front of the church, also done in the 60's, serves as a large foyer and encloses the original stairway and entrance through the steeple. I was fortunate to find the plans for this addition and suspected that there was a void in the exterior side of the space.

After punching a hole in the wall with my bare hands - or maybe after the college dude cutting a hole with the saw - we found there was just enough room for a legal powder room - very fun.

"Excuse me, I have to go to the steeple".

08/07 LOFTY IDEALS

2008-09-26T20:40:00.000-05:00

Laundry Room
pantry under staircase
stairway to Heaven

The only change to the main body of the church I made was to add a loft. I didn't want to build any walls that would interrupt the view of the ceiling. This loft will be the master suite and form the ceiling for the kitchen which allows recessed lighting and a fan over my cooktop. The two wing walls will support the loft and give me a place for two pieces of furniture. The staircase is a bit hidden and I have managed to tuck a small laundry room in the corner and have the bonus of a pantry under the staircase.

How lucky AM I ??