Sunday, July 08, 2007

Nice Weekend

Something trippy has happened.

It is hard to really explain, but it feels as though something has shifted.

Yes, the May LIDs have moved out of review. Yes, a lovely jade bangle found its way onto my wrist (full story later). Yes, we've got a few out-of-town vacations (did I really say vacation?) planned. Yes, we are having ourselves some FUN! Yes, something has shifted.

What is up with all of this?

I do not know.

Soooo, we decided to honor the passing-through-the-review-room marker with tasty and lovely treats.


The fern you see on the counter will make its way to the garden to commemorate the day! It is a Five Finger Maidenhair Fern...thankyouverymuch. How much luckier can you get than FIVE fingers? Maybe not in China, but around here? Five is a very, very lucky number!

The second bedroom/nursery/baby's room has been sitting for some time. This poor room has functioned as an extremely cluttered guest quarters for years. It has been a place to hang moth eaten trench coats from the 80's, store miles of audio-visual wires, throw krippity-crap when company is here for dinner - that sort of thing. I am very proud to say that this weekend - the lonely, purple room began its transformation.

The beginning....it always starts with cutting in.


I don't have anything against purple. It is a very nice color. But, the shade that the former owners chose for the room and the semi-gloss shine is what I didn't care for. Buh-bye Blackberry Sherbet.

I was excited to get the painting party started for the obvious reasons and because I had our cassette player to keep me company. It took a little extra time away from my task, but I pulled out my tape collection to choose my soundtrack for the job. Does anyone else still have their tape collection? I just can't seem to give mine up.


So many of these tapes are compilations that I made in the 80's and 90's. Loads of memories in these dusty boxes.

The one that I chose to accompany me was a recording from a college radio show that I did AGES ago. Peter Murphy, Midnight Oil, Erasure, the Dead Milkmen, Suicidal Tendencies and...does anyone remember the band Eat? Yep, I still sound like Minnie Mouse the DJ. No wonder I never graduated from AM to FM.

Unfortunately it was the last time I listened to that tape.


I have carefully rolled those tapes up after years of overuse. But this time...this weekend...it was time to let go.

R.I.P.

So Jzboy got on the ladder and the rolling commenced.


Of course Iris had to get in on the fun...


By Sunday night, all the priming was complete. It took two coats to make that purple go away. And, that ugly spot on the right? That was some kind of crazy Frankenstein crack that Jzboy is oh-so carefully fixing. He is a master with plaster, that guy!


I'm thinking that we'll actually get to put color on the walls next weekend. Will wonders never cease?

The color is called Peach Organza. It is just the weensyiest bit of peach - mostly it looks pretty off-white. I think that it is going to be beautiful.

Yes, something shifted in our world and I'd say that it is kinda working for us. Whatever is going on, I sure hope that it continues.

37 comments:

"M" said...

Yes, something shifted for me, too. Isn't it grand to see a bit of progress? Glad you are starting to have some fun again. Can't wait to see the finished room project.

walternatives said...

I'm so happy to hear about The Shift - happy to learn, too, that you've begun painting the nursery. YAY for you and Jzboy (with help from Iris)! And congrats, too, for that clever jade bangle finding its way to your lovely wrist...

Jacquie said...

Ya know, I thought a saw a jade bangle on your wrist somewhere and was gonna ask......

Do tell!

Can't wait to see the nursery progess.

M and M said...

How great that you are starting on the nursery! That is wonderful news. Can't wait to see the progress!

M and M said...

Oh - and I don't have my tape collection any more. I don't remember getting rid of it, but I don't seem to have it...

Mamacita said...

Its called progress, my friend. I have a bunch of tapes called "Christie's Car Tapes." I don't have a tape player in my car anymore.

C's Mom said...

I hope it continues too because it seems pretty righteous and zen!

I love the color you painted over but, yeah, semi-gloss in the boudoir does not ding my bell either.

Jade on, W

kitchu said...

Dead Milkmen, Suicidal Tendencies... SO long since I've heard them as my tape collection is long gone as are ALL my LP's...sad, sad story.

Love that something has shifted. I love shifts that feel positive.

Keep painting. Can't wait to see the paint go up, sounds wonderful.

Beeb said...

I feel the shift, too.
I think the paint color sounds divine - and I know just the rug that will look real purty in there!

Jen said...

It's going to be beautious....can't wait to see the new color. You are moving onward, you can see the shift in your writing and all your activities. I'm so glad! And, you got the bracelet!!! Very cool. It looks fabulous on your wrist. Maybe you got some good juju from China earth in that bracelet, contributing to the shift :)

M3 said...

Excellent progress (matching room AND sorbet-covering).

Nice soundtrack musicgirl. :-)

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm, I would have loved a copy of that mix - as mine all unraveled years ago. RIP, indeed.

I love hearing about The Shift. It's taken a while for it to sink in with me. I'm looking forward to seeing the nursery progress!

4D said...

Those shifts happen unexpectedly and things look new. I am happy for you and the room is gonna look great.

Keep smilin!

Beth and Shayna said...

Yippee, I am glad something shifted for you. Are the planets aligning more for you, or is it the sunshine of the season? Whatever it is, who cares! I cannot wait to see the finished room for buttercup. The color sounds wonderful. I can't wait.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad to "hear" the happines in your voice!

Anonymous said...

I am chalking The Shift up to the jade. Absolutely, it's The Jade, working its juju.

I am so glad you're beginning the big nursery re-do. I can't wait to see more...!

Since we are color people, I'll let you in on my color choice for the nursery because I know you won't scoff: it's called Mt. Rainier. It's dove gray. R. thinks I'm nuts painting a kid's room gray, but I'm going to perservere and see if it works. Heh.

K said...

I'm glad your enthusiasm has been buoyed. I'm so eager to see the finished room. I'll stay tuned...

Anonymous said...

Your shift is exciting and wonderful-good. Oh, the dusty tape collection. I can't get rid of them, yet I'll never listen to them. I would like to get some on CD now.

So, what's up with the jade bangle?

Katie J said...

Hoorah! You're beginning to see the light at the end of the long tunnel.

I was soooo into making mixed tapes and had a decent amount of Dead Milkmen, but I can't seem to remember Eat. Love Yaz though.

tundrachica said...

Sounds like a good and much needed shift...I love the fern to add to the garden for celebration. What a good idea!

I no longer have the tape collection (hubby does) but I do remember all those groups and makes me want to go cruisin' around the mountain looking for cute tourist boys.

Tamara said...

Sounds like you are kicking butt and taking names! Whoo hoo- I think that's a definate shift when the nursery gets it's first coat of paint. Can't wait to hear about the jade bracelett....

Shannon said...

Oh I so love my tape collection! So sad about your mix. Those pink/yellow tapes were alwasy so flimsy. Ahh, Peter Murphy's Love Hysteria was *the* album to listen to my senior year in HS.
Peach Organza sounds very pretty. Good to hear things have shifted...(and not in a Maxine the card lady way!)

Mariah said...

I really need to get going on Sloan's room...it just look like a staging area for a bad YARD SALE! lol!

dreamer said...

Ah, the shift, yes, the shift. We had it too.

I must side track and mention something totally off track... we have the same granite...

Ok, back to the post.

We too started on the nursery,we'd been waiting to unpack the crib from the demolition company with the motto, seriously, of "the careful movers". The box, destroyed and retaped together, the crib, not a dent or scratch on it and the hardware was still in the original package.

We unpacked it, but just leaned it on the wall. It's progress. The rest will come this fall when it's not so freaking hot.

congrats on the shift, it is remarkable.

dreamer said...

oh, hey, I forgot... do we have tapes?

NOPE.

But we have E's grandfathers original reel to reel and all the reels he had, nearly 80 of them. It's awesome.

atomic mama said...

Many a yellow and hot pink vintage Memorex mixed tape have been played the past 2 weeks - the back-drop of our flooring installation project. We still have a huge collection, but have been weeding some old tapes out since we got the vinyl & cassette tape MP3 burner from Costco. Great machine, that! Congrats on the shift and the jade - do tell!!!

Debra Sue said...

Shifts are nice. Welcome to Reality - Buttercup is comin'!.

Huzzah! for the Jade. Pretty, pretty. Tell us all about it. Pictures please.

No tapes here, but my BFF from high school swears to me she still listens to my infamous 80s mix in her ancient CRV! Perhaps she'll send me a copy...

Anne Marie said...

Yay, Yay, Yayyyy!!! Peach Organza (oh shoot, was that it?) sounds like a fun, fun color for a little one.

You know, I don't have a whole tape collection, but I was carrying around 10 or so I just couldn't get rid of. I think in this last move I finally ditched them. And one of them was that same kind of blue, pink and yellow tape in your pic. Loved those!

Pink Velvet Mommy said...

The "shift" is a good thing. Can't wait for my turn at the "shift" Congrats on being out of review, and in record time I might add.
Glad you listened to a little Erasure....oh how I loved them in college!!
The room is going to look great, and I can't wait to see the finished product.
by the way, I love your granite, I love mine too "persian brown" but I love the dark that you chose, looks great with your cabinets.
I could see the jade bracelet in one of your landscaping pictures. Please do tell of how you aquired it.
If you come to TX for the floods, you must call me!! I will drive up and buy you a cup of joe.

Operationtigerlily said...

Did you know The Cure is touring?? I thought I was dreaming it when I saw them perform on some show a few days ago. I looked up their site and they are in full tour mode right now. Who knew?

Your nursery is going to look simply gorgeous when you are done. Have fun!

aimeeg said...

I'm very glad for the shift. The room is looking great!

Tammy said...

It must be starting to feel REAL. Soon, you will be looking into your baby's face and these days will just be a memory.

Glad to hear you're doing so well.

Please post pictures of the nursery when you're done - peach sounds lovely.

Joannah said...

I'm glad you have shifted to a new place of peace and satisfaction. I can't wait to hear about all the fun you're going to have!

Headmeister said...

Shift away, sista! Glad to hear it - OH - and I LOVE the bands you listed!
I can't wait to see how the room turns out!

BTW - how's the book? :)

Drea said...

wow! this shifting is sure a good thing! Can't wait to follow the progress!

JMCS said...

What a fun weekend! What a beautiful fern and I can't wait to hear the story about the jade bracelet. I bet it was a jzboy gift.

The room is really shaping up great. I am looking forward to more pictures as it transitions from spare room to Buttercup's room.

I totally know what you mean about the ol' tape collection. There is just something so darn wonderful about those old cassettes. They are very hard to let go of. So many wonderful memories. Do you remember taping songs from the radio too? Oh, the good old days.

Hugs,
Jonni
:)

Joelle and Chandler said...

OK - first of all, doesn't it feel good to get started on that room? woo hoo

Second, you are obviously not aware of the fact that purple/ lavender is the new Black - and you want to get rid of it? hahahaha