Rummaging Around

I do not often go to rummage sales. Almost never. I have decided to rethink that position on certain items. You see, on Friday evening we were driving around in Hibbing and I said to Josh "I think I would like to go to a rummage sale, to look for a table to paint red" (thank you Colleen, for the tip:). Two minutes later, we are lost and looking for a sale that seems to be nowhere in sight. Why this sale? I guess Josh likes a challenge. I do not expect much from rummage sales, and usually walk in and out in about 5 minutes. Clearly that is what Josh was expecting, and hoping.
Not this time- I saw this sewing cabinet and fell in love. Yes, it is old and somewhat beat-up. Yes, the finish is wearing off. Yes, I have not taken my sewing machine out in years. I intend to, I really do. Plus, it is ideal for my own personal desk, for all of my bill paying and school work doing needs.
It does not look like much from the outside- where do you put your legs? But just look at the storage capabilities inside. With the doors open, it is a perfect desk, with plenty of leg room. The top has two pieces that are removable, for the sewing machine. Or they can stay there, for the laptop. Whichever. Love it!
I love that this is solid wood, it is strong and will last. Someday I will refinish it, maybe. Maybe not. I love the old look of it. Yay for rummage sales, at least this time!

The cherry on top? It cost $5. For real!

PS- I also went to a rummage sale the next day, and got some beautiful new ceramic tile to redo the entry way floor, and make it larger. Josh finished the grout last night, maybe I will post pics someday. Maybe not. Anyway, I got 115 tiles for $10. Love it, love it!

Cabin on the Lake

We spent yesterday at the family cabin, swimming and cooling off after a warm week (warm for Minnesota, of course:). The kids had so much fun, spending the day in the nice, cool water.

Emma loved being in the baby floatie- she would hum the entire time she floated- a sign of utter happiness! She also loved being on the beach in the little sandy "pool" her sister made for her, and throwing rocks in the water.

Grace is our little fish! She would spend all day, every day in the water. She also has no fear, hence the life jacket! She was in heaven, and it was rare to see her out of the water. She built the most beautiful sand castle, complete with landscaping.

Ben loved the water, and spent a lot of time with his remote control submarine, AKA rescue boat. Thank heavens for the boat, mommy was towed to shore more than once by the yellow rescue submarine. Ben also loved fishing- casting off the dock. He is still waiting for the "big one".

To share with you the beauty of the day, I had to show you the view off the dock- this view has not changed in the thirty years that I remember being there. Utter peace and quiet, especially on a Thursday. It was a great time, and so much fun seeing the cabin as I did when I was younger, and as my children do now.

"red"ecorating

Well, I guess that red is my new favorite color, or at least accent color, in my house. I love it with green, with brown, and with yellow, white, __________. You name it, I love red with it. Not really orange, but sometimes. You know what I mean. Anyway, this is the new look of my kitchen. It was a very yellow yellow, which made me smile, but it was time for a change. I found the cherry curtains, and decided I love the retro-50's look. I really need a ruffly apron, just for in the kitchen. I also love green, and decided to put red cherries with a soft green. The result- a happy, calming, but fun kitchen. The counter tops are black, so the green helps to soften the color a bit. I love it, but cannot get a picture that shows you the full effect. You get what you get, and you don't get upset. It's something, right Melissa?;)
And this is a continuation of my new found love of red as an accent. Not an entire room- what is it, an OR? An accent- say it with me. So my living room was brown, and not a pretty chocolate brown, but tan. The vanilla of browns. The floor, the walls, the furniture. ALL OF IT! The only color was the prints you see above. Love my Kim Parker prints, but you could barely see them on the tan wall. So I matched found a color to compliment the red in the prints, and we painted only the wall that they are on. I LOVE IT!!!!! It makes me smile all day, I just love the color, and the way it warmed the room up. Did I mention how great it makes my prints look? They POP! Now I just need some window treatments, to bring the other window into the color love. I have color love. The love of color.

Yay red, as an accent, of course. Anyone have any idea what to paint with the other half of the gallon?

Meet Jack

This is Jack- just Jack. I thought I would introduce him. He is our new, three-year-old goldendoodle, and we love him! He is technically Ben's dog, but we share. Chores, mostly.
Jack is 75 pounds of dog, but thinks he is about 25 pounds. Dog on your lap, anyone? The kids love him, we love him, and Daisy, the little dog, is mixed. They love to play all day long, and then pass out at night. However, he listens, so he has more freedom. He sits, and stays. Most of the time!

Well, that is Jack. Our new moose, uh, dog. He is much furrier (is that a word? If not, I think it should be) than a moose. But not much smaller!

Doctor, Doctor

Yes, it has been awhile since my last post. I am sure that you have missed me! And I am sure after you read this post, you will understand where I have been. And this is just a taste of what we have been up to!

2 weeks ago today, Ben had some tests done at the hospital in Duluth. Everything is fine, but the testing was certainly an experience! He had an EEG, which went quite well. And then he had an MRI with sedation. Which means that they drugged my little boy until he was unconscious, so that they could take pictures of his brain. You would think it would be easy to sedate a 39 pound kid, but not if that child is Ben. Every time they would say "when he is asleep" Ben would say " I am not going to sleep- I don't really like to sleep". And he meant it. It took them 3 doses to get him to sleep, because as soon as he would start to drift off (pass out) another machine would make this super loud beeping and Ben would wake up and say (slurringly) "what's that?" and they would drug him again.
After waking him up 3 hours later, Ben could not sit up, stand up, or move without falling over. He threw up three times, before we had to give him a med to counteract the nausea and vomiting from the sedative. Good times, I tell ya! He literally could not stand up or walk all night, and the second med made him high as a kite! Higher than a kite, probably. It was a sight to see- he was actually very funny! So he is fine, and life went on.

Yesterday, we had plans for a fun day with the kids- we were going to the Minnesota Discovery Center (fka Ironworld), to Lowe's for red paint for the living room wall, and then to Pizza Ranch for a fun dinner. However, while at Ironworld (much easier to type), we got a phone call that Josh's uncle was in the hospital, and about to undergo a major surgery. So we hunted down my parents, switched cars (and kids) with them- thank you mom and dad- and headed down to Duluth. We spent the evening in the waiting room with many family members, and were able to find out that he is doing well, and we hope that he will continue to heal.

Today, we were going to bbq in the backyard, and just enjoy some much-needed beautiful weather. At about 4:30, I hear Ben yelling for me, and then see Josh laying in the yard, holding his head. He had fallen while jumping off of one 4-wheeler in the garage, and hit his head on the other 4-wheeler. Blood EVERYWHERE!!!! Gushing from his head (TMI?). Why was Josh on the wheeler? He was getting a volleyball from the rafters. Why use a ladder when you can fall off of a 4-wheeler??? Needless to say, we spent the evening in urgent care getting staples in Josh's head. 4 to be exact, with no numbing meds. Just the staples, and a nice tetanus shot to top it off! Don't worry- he is doing fine, we just have to watch him for altered consciousness- you know, odd behavior. How do I discern that from regular (still odd) behavior? You know, like standing on a 4-wheeler? And then jumping off and cutting your head open?

So we have been busy, and I have had enough doctors and hospitals for a while, thank you!