july {photo a day}

Note: Although I posted this in January 2011,
I am backdating it to July 2010.

{photo a day}

mostly capturing life

july 1 - lovely butterfly, exquisite detail

july 2 - a pot of vincas, 

pretty colors all summer long, way into fall

july 3 - the flag

focusing on the pole that i spray-painted

loved seeing Old Glory wave

july 4 - sunday school teacher memories

july 5 - a pretty bulb for my outside light

july 6 - eating desserts for birthdays

allison's cheesecake - yum!

july 7 - wed night at church

love that window design

july 8 - a gift

he had a birthday

july 9 - checking out construction

making my bedroom wall more cohesive

july 10 - yet another trip

I probably spent more money at Lowe's 

than anywhere else last year.

july 11 - snaggle tooth niece at church

july 12 - paint cards

turquoise decision mistake

why did I think that the bright tone would coordinate with muted colors?

july 13 - first painted room

painted over later...

(thought that was my "light at the end of the tunnel" ha!)

july 14 - new growth

potato vine grew like crazy

july 15 - another butterfly

beauty amidst the chaotic days

july 16 - crown date

i attacked the old trim with a screw driver and hammer

dust and debris. no eye covering - mistake.

july 17 - my fortune cookie words

i hope to do that.

july 18 - sunday summer dresses

squinchy-eyed, sassy, sweet nieces

july 19 - card kit stickers

a crafty break to make cards

july 20 - making way for the new

laundry in the kitchen on the way out...

july 21 - sheetrock supplies

the light is overcoming the dark

july 22 - the sunset 

across from Lowe's, on another evening trip

july 23 - lesson learned

i believe in paint samples now

july 24 - sheetrock aftermath

july 25 - light in darkness

july 26 - bring on the white

crown + beadboard = big smiles

july 27 - kiddos at play

fun moments, laughter, love

july 28 - LR love

well spent money

july 29 - ladybug trail

baby shower for twin girls on the way

july 30 - paint party

friday night of kilz intervention

july 31 - ceiling drops

lesson learned on the eyes - wear glasses.

paint specks drop when putting kilz on ceilings. 

paint + contacts = bad idea.

31 photos and 31 memories...

free advertising

A new website is launched -

 advertising is definitely the key -

especially the word-of-mouth, grassroots type.

So, I thought I would share a project I finished in the AM hours.

A calendar page print - using a collage to showcase different vehicles.

Of course a few more location tweaks are added for print.

Photo-wise, two are mine

 and I adjusted the other four taken with the dealership cameras.

Sigh - I sure could use a new car....

investment

In the middle of my extensive house renovation,
I had the opportunity to make a different kind of investment...




Lightroom 3 - yay!!!  I love it!
I actually left the software unopened for a few weeks, but I finally
opened it Wednesday night.
And I happened to splurge on some presets because they were on sale
a few weeks ago too.
So, hopefully I can go back to some photo editing soon.

light and bright

Much better than the dark panel walls...

The sheetrock is finished - except for a few touch ups

 and going over it one more time to remove any dust.

Then it is time for primer and paint!

wish i were there: her day

Today is her birthday and I wish I were in the upstate so that I could tell her "happy birthday" in person.  I clicked through memory lane and I have SO many photos of the special times with Randa...from childhood to this year.  I remember the March weekend, the Botancial photo shoots,the hammock, the mountains, the beach, my house, her house, and so much more.

Three years ago (time has added up too fast) - we celebrated her birthday in style.  It turned into one of the most memorable nights ever.

Hope that #24 is just as special for you Randa!

love ya much - d

the hall bath progress

While I checked on the sheetrock hanging last night at my house,

I also had to check out the progress in the hall bath.

 Yesterday had some big changes:

- a new plug-in

- new trim around the window

- the medicine cabinet/mirror removed

- beadboard panels and moulding on the wall

New flooring is definitely going to help the looks.

But this in-process stage is still fabulous!

I am loving the wall treatment!!!!!!!

This bathroom is also going to have another update:

a recessed cabinet with built-in open shelves above it.

A super-nice family friend is working on this bathroom.

(who also completed my bathroom addition, updated my master bedroom,

installed my front door, and a lot of other misc jobs)

Tonight, I am going to shop for some more supplies.

The people at Lowe's are probably tired of seeing me; 

I am tired of going too.

 (I know my way around too well now.)

After shopping, I need to clean some white doors and apply a coat of kilz.

The to-do list items are finally shrinking some...

high gear :)

After the "slowly but surely phase" of my house renovation -
this week is turning into a whirlwind.
And I have many photos from past projects, but not
enough time to journal about them.



Monday - I saw this progress:

• floor covering bought for the hall bath
• some kitchen cabinets removed
• window trim removed in the living room
• living room windows cleaned
• crown moulding installed in half of the house

I am loving it - even though my photo is SOOC and needs some lightening.



Tuesday -

People were lined up (thx to my bro-in-law) to come for sheetrock
estimates, cabinet/counter tops, electrical, etc within the next week.

And these items were marked off by the end of the night:

• estimate on sheetrock. big changes!! but bummer on the cost. :(
• estimate on refinishing the hardwood floors
• trip to Lowe's - buy sheetrock (28 pieces!) and supplies
• cleaning windows again (a time consuming chore!)
• remove the rest of the trim in the hall, living room, kitchen
• move some washer/dryer stuff from the kitchen

(yipes - on the holes, but necessary demolition)



Wednesday (today) -

The sheetrock is going up...good bye dark, hello light!
By tonight, this living room view is going to look much better! yay!!


(the trim is gone and the windows are much cleaner.
they used to have orange gook all over the white.)

And I need to post the results soon, so that I can show something bright
instead of the dark panel that I do not like.  I originally thought I would
keep the panel, but then I dreaded the thoughts of painting it, while
investing money on my hardwood floors.  I am probably trading my
want for stainless steel appliances in favor of sheetrock.  But, I can
deal with white appliances because these changes should increase the value of my home.

I am not the jumping up and down kind of person, but I am super excited.
And I can't help but smile and breathe easier.....

light at the end of the tunnel

In this case, I can say that I see the light at the end of the hallway.  I see daylight, some progress,

some hope that I can end this renovation process soon.

Hopefully soon, the whole house will look as good as the bright room that is shining at the end of my dark hallway.  I wish that I would have picked the lighter shade paint of this turquoise/aqua color...but maybe the house needs something bold and bright.  

If/when I have little guests, the bright colors would work well for them.

Of course, this room will look different with some furniture and accent colors. 

The other rooms will have a more muted, "mature" look. 

I would maybe have another room to show this week,

but Sherwin Williams did not have the paint in stock yesterday. 

Several changes I have to look forward to include:

1) new crown moulding installed (monday)

2) white doors replacing the dark

3) light paint colors

4) some new window casings

5) closet shelving

I had a bathroom added to the master bedroom and it is almost completely finished. 

Next week, it should have a closet door, exhaust fan, light, switch cover, and a few

other miscellaneous items added. I kept the hardwood floors in there, so I will have

to wait to say that the addition/renovation is complete when the rest of the floors

are ready for the refinishing.

The master bedroom is nearing the end of the construction phase also.  This bedroom

is a combined room (two bedrooms were made into one before I purchased the house) and

it took some adjustments to make it look better.  The bathroom added basically sealed

the house into a two bedroom home (without tearing down brick walls.) 

Since the new bathroom is functional, the original (only) bathroom is in a gutted phase.

After that renovation, the kitchen is the major project left on the list.  I also have to 

decide about the washer/dryer placement because I do not want them in the kitchen.

This week, my spending on the house is going to go over a "scary amount."  :(

But, I think that the renovation process is over the half-way mark.  And although I

know that my life is going to change, I am ready to see if I can adjust to the new normal.

After some overwhelming days, the glimpse of completion is definitely uplifting.

special lady, special day

this lovely lady has a birthday today

 a special cousin, great friend

inspiring and encouraging

thoughtful and caring

she's all that and more

Happy Birthday, Livy!

love much - d

paint colors

I have some paint color options for my house.

And...

my guest bedroom should have a pretty color wall  -

-

-

-

today! 

yay!!!!! =)

Think you can guess which color? ;)

I did not realize that the "house renovation"

would turn into an overwhelming process.

But it has - and an expensive one.

I am grateful that at least one room will look better today.

A couple of rooms in the house still have a construction zone look -

some rooms are still untouched, and

I still have another month or more with renovations.

Sigh...

However, I am glad that my "landscaping" is basically

 finished before these rainy days; the rain water should help

 with establishing all that I have planted.

I do have one negative issue because of the rain -

the water level in my frog-pond pool is steadily increasing. :(

These days,

my thoughts are scattered -

my brain is overloaded with decisions and life -

and needless to say,

my to-do list is longer than ever!

So, I am grateful for Someone

who hears and listens to even me.

Jesus is my Rock.

I couldn't make it without Him!

his birthday

today is my daddy's birthday

someone loved,

appreciated,

very much

this week we have celebrated -

eating, talking, spending time together...

creating memories to last another year

today is her day

Today my oldest sister has another birthday;

she's one of the constants in my life.

Number-wise, she is 8 years older than me right now.

As a little girl, she carried me around on her hip -

I smile when I look over those photos now.

A defender, protector

sister and friend

Someone to talk to,

Someone who encourages –

She is a strong person – positive and outgoing

She can let things go and not let it bother her

I wish I were more like her

My brain is tired today

and my photos are not organized for a cumulative photo post.

So maybe I can do that later....

For now, Happy Birthday to my dear sister Allison!

much love

- d

the flag waves

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

- Francis Scott Key

and the flag waves at my house

put up July 3rd

so that i have something patriotic

i LOVE it!

happy 4th of july!

on this Independence Day weekend (and always) -

i am thankful for faith and freedom...

may

God Bless America,

this land that i love!