As of late...

If you've ever been with me as I go to take a picture you'll know that most likely my batteries are dying or dead in my camera.  It's a curse I swear.  As a result I've relied on our phone too heavily as of late as a way to record our photo memories.  Here's some of our recent phone pics.  And really I'm going to start using my real camera again!  (I'm thinking a fancy smancy new camera would maybe be a real good motivator but likely won't happen anytime soon!)

Painting advice

I've finally painted the used table I purchased.  It was a pain, took much longer than I expected, and really doesn't look so hot in person BUT after all that effort there is no way I would get rid of it now.

If you recall these are the chairs I plan to put around it eventually along with the bench from the first shot above.  I'm wondering what colour to paint the bench???  I was thinking maybe I should just keep it white like the table OR maybe I should do something fun, like the red colour from my chair fabric?  I do have a fair bit of colour in the house and I fear if things are too mish-mashed the house will start to look like a college dorm room.  What to do!?

Really even more exciting (and a lot more important) is the exterior paint job that will hopefullly be happening sooner rather than later.

The house is pretty scary from the outside still.  If money grew on trees I would love to re-side the place but as this isn't the case the cosmetic solution is going to be paint.  The metal railing and stairs are staying as well.  I know this picture isn't great because of the giant pine tree in the way but try and use your imagination.  We plan on replacing all the wrotting wood, opening up the rest of the porch, re-painting the trim and spraying out the stucco with paint.  Also the pine tree on the left is hopefully coming out (Mike's a little hesitant about removing it - I hate how it's killed all our grass and tracks an insane amount of pine needles into the house!)  Obvioulsy the grass and flower bed need a little loving but this will all happen in time too.  I love the bushes (the colours in the fall are amazing) so they will definitely stay.  It's hard to see the wood paneling up at the peaked portion of the porch and house but we're not quite sure what to do with it yet.  It's wobbly and not in straight lines (I think this was done on purpose for some insane reason).  I've mentioned to Mike putting in cedar shanks in its place but his immediate response was NO (why create MORE work he said :)  The roof was replaced last fall and is a dark grey.  The real question I have though is what COLOUR should we paint everything???  The trim will be white and I think we'll leave the red brick as is.  But what about the wood paneling, the cement base on the porch, and the house itself?

These are a few of the colours I've toyed with for the body of the house.  These wouldn't be the exact shades but something in the family.  I like the light blue but in looking at homes while driving around light blue can go VERY wrong if not the right shade.  I think as of right now a deeper shade of blue is my top choice.  We purchased all the paint a couple months ago (I have five 5-gallon pales under my stairs) but in talking to the people at general paint the other day I was informed I have a light tint base and will need to do something quite light.  If I was really set on a darker colour we might be able to exchange it though.  I'm guessing a pale green may be the compromise (and what Mike would like best).  If you've actually read your whole way through this ridiculously long post - WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Better late than never

I love holidays.  I love getting together and spending time with family and I love that holidays always seem to include a delicious meal. 

 Carter reaping the benefits of whipping the cream

PS Mike dressed Carter and took him out to play in the morning while Trev and I were cooking. I looked at the window to see Carter running down the alley (with Mike) in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops!  Don't worry that it was all of 5 degrees out. 

 THE HAM.  This was my first time cooking a ham on the bone and I'm not going lie - it tasted awesome.  All you need is my brother Trevor (the MAN when it comes to meat) telling you exactly what to do.

Pies.  I really should have taken a picture pre-meal and one that included the family but it just didn't happen.  It was fun having my brothers up and Julie and her crew are always entertaining to have around.  Carter ADORES her boys.

 The morning of.  I was so elated when Carter actually figured out the whole chocolate trail thing that the "Easter Bunny" had left and followed it all the way to the living room.

 With his goods.  Of course all he cared about was the truck.

What a stud.  I had every intention to sew an adorable green hounds tooth bow-tie to go with his purple Easter shirt.  But a week later the fabric still sits in my ever growing pile of things to make, hem, and mend.  I will make it eventually and post a picture.  Hope all your Easters were great!