I Just Keep Getting More Purdier

YES! I'm icing.

I've iced till my eyeball is frostbitten.

A Matter of Prespective

Not everyone is finding our weather objectionable.

Makayla and Hailey were delighted to go outside and build a pint-sized snowman with Grandpa...

...while I stayed in and played invalid. Here's today's slightly puffier, more colorful eye. Last night it was too dark for anyone to see the extent of my injuries as I picked myself up from the sidewalk. I didn't realize until I got into my car last night that the liquid pouring down my face was blood, not water. Today it's harder to hide the results from my little fall.

Other than picking kids up from school, I'm going to go hermit.

In Over Our Heads Comes To A Slight Pause

Stan has now fixed all of the cracks

 repaired all of the water damage

and finished the priming.

This light in our  entry wall was green. Yup, green. It was cool in the early 90's. Stan spray painted it a groovy bronze.

Random alert! This isn't a picture about painting. It's just a lovely sunrise from this morning.

Although if I could paint it, I would.

Next comes the all-important choosing of the new wall color.

I finally settled on one, set up the ladder, and spent the afternoon painting.
What happened next did not involve a ladder. 

Just a evening meeting at the church, a sidewalk, and some ice.

Followed by a trip to the emergency room, five stitches, lots and lots (and lots) of blood,  

and a slight headache. 

So.
Embarrassing.

 

I did have the good sense not to lose consciousness, saving myself the inconvenience of a scan and an overnight stay.

I've been promised a black eye and a 2 1/2 inch scar. Just between you and me I'd rather not have a permanent reminder of my lack of grace....

In Over Our Heads And Making Progress

Last night Stan was suppose to be at the temple with the youth, but they cancelled due to the 10 feet of snow and -50 degree weather we've been enjoying.

That is good news for our little project because suddenly, Stan had an unexpected free evening to finish drywalling over the old lights

and touching up a few spots

 and still leaving me enough time to clean-up. I don't care how much protective plastic you put down, there will still be dust, spackling, and popcorn ceiling everywhere.  I spent hours filling garbage bag after bag with tons of heavy remodel garbage just in time for

 the grandkids to come. Makayla asked as I was getting her out of the car "Is your house still crazy?" Actually, I managed to uncrazy most of it

 and Makayla helped me clean up the rest, scrubbing dust and spackle off of the windows.

 Makayla got a tiny water spot on her pants while spraying water on the windows, and of course, being Makayla, wanted them washed, dried, and pressed.

 After we picked up Hailey from school, she was equally eager to help wash windows.

How is it that kids are so excited to clean things (especially if it involves spraying something), and so reluctant just a few years later to pitch in?

All of that spraying and scrubbing wore us out.  Just a quick nap, then

 eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow I paint!

In Over Our Heads

 It's been a little while since we finished The Great Duplex Remodel and we've been looking forward to our next project.

It's a project I've been wanting to do since we bought our house  26 1/2 years ago.

Although the duplex paint has only recently dried on my work shirt, I'm eager to jump into a new remodel. Stan is equally excited to have me push him into the same remodel.
Yup, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 Yes, kids, we're finally getting rid of the popcorn ceiling.

We began on Saturday and spent several hours preparing...

...then dug right in. About 20 minutes into the scrapping, we got a call from our trailer house renter, complaining that his fridge had stopped working and all of his food was melting. Stan left to evaluate the problem....

 ...leaving me to work alone for a couple of hours. Kids, you know how fabulous my balance is, and will be surprised that I don't actually remember falling off the ladder Monday. Actually, I don't remember Monday at all.....

Stan finally returned. Turns out the renters had never vacuumed under or behind the fridge, and even more puzzling, had turned it down to "1". Stan showed them how handy a vacuum is for cleaning fridge lint goobers and suggested trying a higher cold setting, like  "5". Renters are interesting.

It took only 8 hours to clear the ceiling of all that popcorn and turn our floor into a dusty, muddy mess.

By the way, our chairs were too big to move downstairs. We've decided that keeping your living room furniture in the kitchen is a bit awkward. We probably won't stay with this look.

We are also updating the lighting while we're making a mess. These lovely 1980's lights have seen a lot of use over the years. We've turned them on and off probably a billion times over the decades. They've been on for millions of hours. In the nearly 27 years we've lived here we have NEVER had to replace a light bulb from this fixture. We've come to the only reasonable conclusion--they are powered by elves riding little elf generator bicycles.

Stan had to actually pry the wood molding off to get at the bulbs.  Apparently the builder was in cahoots with the elves and knew we'd never need to replace a burned-out bulb.

Stan looked for the elves, but they must have heard him coming and cycled off.

The space the lights are in is about 18" deep, 6' long, and 2' high. Stan will be sheet rocking it over, but not before we stash all of our gold in there.

You can't even buy this plexiglass panel that covered the light anymore--we just know we're going to become rich by selling our two slightly used panels online.

The new lighting will be recessed canister lights, spaced around the living room, giving us all-around better illumination.  Unfortunately, Stan doesn't like me sticking my fingers into electrical sockets, so I'm consigned to watching for the rest of today.

 

I thought I'd go to the mall, or library, or find a good restaurant to relax in while Stan slaves, but something about driving around on ice-covered roads in 4 degree weather is just not that appealing. I'll probably just stay home and give Stan helpful suggestions. He loves that.

Stan would like all interested people to know that nope, he won't depopcorn or rewire at your house so DON'T ASK!!!!

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion to the Jones's Project!

Newly Twenty-Two

Little Ashley grew some of the more funky Jones hair. This is what Ashley's hair was like for the first year or more of her life. She also loved to blow raspberries. The photographer couldn't get her to stop blowing raspberries long enough to snap a picture, so he immortalized it instead. This is the way I remember Ashley--you just couldn't help but smile when you saw her.

Ashley, 9 months

Ashley's hair had improved markedly by the time she was 2 1/2. She still had the cutest grin.

Ashley, 2 1/2

Ashley loved to wear swimsuits or Shelly's old dance costumes 24/7. If I wouldn't let her wear them, she'd sneak them under her church dress, pajamas, or play clothes. I was sure she'd grow up to be a swimsuit model.

Ashley, age 5

Ashley has always been a happy, easy-to-live with kind of girl.

Ashley, age 8

She played volleyball and basket ball growing up, but just couldn't overcome her sympathy for the losing team. Sports weren't as fun for her as the other girls--she just felt too bad when the losing team cried.

Ashley, age 12

Ashley's hair color has mysteriously ranged from black to platinum blond over the years. I wonder what color it REALLY is?

Ashley, age 15

Ashley has always loved horses. We are happy McKay knew the front end of a horse from the back so that Ashley would marry him.

Ashley, age 14

Ashley never lacked for interested young men in her life. No wonder! She is beautiful, inside and out.

Ashley, age 17

If Ashley had (emphasis on HAD) one fault growing up, it was her less than stellar driving record. We had no idea when we handed over keys to our sixteen year-old how many cars she could (and did) hit, dent, high-center, and lose control of during her 2 short driving years at home. We are glad she left that all behind her!

Ashley, age 16

Ashley has always made us smile.

Ashley, age 17

We love you, Ashley! Have a happy birthday!

Ashley, 19 with McKay