What a difference a little paint makes!!

The exterior has finally been painted....they still have the trim to go, but what a difference!

After Sunday's Paint Job!

Before being Painted!

Finally....DRYWALL!

The guys were working on the drywall today....here are a couple pictures -

2 Years Ago Today....

2 years....doesn't it sound like it's such a long time?  It does to me too...except on days like today.  It's been 2 years since my miscarriage.  Everyone handles things differently...and maybe for me...since I still don't have my baby...I haven't handled it all that well.  Don't get me wrong...I'm okay and have moved on, but on days like today...it feels like it was just yesterday that it happened.  Was there anything I could have done different?  I know in my mind it all happened for a reason, but it's definitely something that has affected my life, how I think about things and it's something that I will never forget and that I never care to experience again!  I am sure if I had a baby right now...I wouldn't think about it nearly as much...but since I don't, it crosses my mind pretty often.  Not necessarily the miscarriage, just all the things that surround being a parent.  I wonder....Have I made good choices?  Will I find the right man?  Am I ready to be a mom?  Will I make a good mom?  How will I balance my work and raising a baby?  Will I be able to get pregnant again?  WHEN will I get my chance?  I think about being a step mom....a single mom...adoption, fertility issues...will I have to have surgery again when I get ready to have a baby?  I think it's okay to wonder all of these things.  Fertility issues and miscarriages stink....if you are blessed enough to have a baby...be super thankful!

Miscarriage happens so often to so many women ...more than once....and women move on...it's pretty incredible really.  We are strong....much stronger than men, I think:)  Happy Sunday....

Wall to Wall Sisal?!?!

I took off work yesterday to get some "house" things done.  I needed a day off....I've been waking up at night worrying about "things" so it was nice to have a busy day outside of work where I didn't think of those things all day (not that I didn't start back up at 4 am today!)  Anyway, I went to a shop in downtown Franklin called Foyers and Beyond (you can find it here).  For anyone who doesn't think they like carpet, go here.  This store is amazing...it will make you want to carpet your entire house.  I worked with Donna (the owner) and she is super cute and super nice.  Here's the issue....my carpet budget is tiny.  I have about 2 choices everywhere I go.  BUT...here's the good part...carpet can always be upgraded later on!  The other good part...Donna suggested sisal.  I've been a big fan of wall to wall sisal, seagrass, any natural material for a while.  It's showcased on a lot of the blogs I follow.  Many people aren't brave enough to try it, but when you have a budget like I do, sisal looks like a double fudge sundae (i.e. really great) compared to the other choices!  Here is something like what I picked out -

Sisal or Seagrass carpet.  Photo from Pure Style Home

And here is this look in a room layed wall to wall -

Again - from Pure Style Home

This carpet will go in the master bedroom, guest bedroom, and upstairs.  I have read it's kinda hard to walk on, but it will have a built-in pad and some do not have that, so hopefully that will help.  A big reason I like it, besides the fact that it looks so lovely, is that you can easily layer rugs on top.  I love the idea of layered rugs and Donna at Foyers and Beyond can make you some AMAZING and very reasonable rugs.  I've definitely got my eyes on a few that she has in her store!  Plus I already have some pretty good rugs...and for the moment, I have no kids and no pets.  Hopefully that will change (still deciding about Rocky the kitty), but I think this is my best option now.  I still haven't made a decision about the basement carpet.  I have some berber and just basic "loop" options, but I haven't gotten excited yet, so the search continues.  Here are a couple more pictures -

from Pure Style Home.  This helps me imagine the "twin" room
upstairs...it's the same set-up

From Pure Style Home.  Isn't this nursery lovely!!?!

Anyone have any thoughts about wall to wall sisal? 

More pictures....

I'm such a blogging bum....I love stalking other blogs, but I can't get motivated to post on my own!  L-O-S-E-R.  Okay...all that aside...there has been a LOT going on lately with the house.  I have bought some fun things...fabric included....finalized cabinets....possibly finalized granite (I'm still waivering a bit)...been to talk to a seamstress (whom I loved) about making pillows and some bed stuff....and more.  Here are some fun pictures...

yesterday's view from the guest bedroom:)

The beginnings of a fireplace!! 
I'm standing in the kitchen here and looking into the den!

 On this next one...prepare yourself.  Because I am on a tight budget...and because I am painting the brick...we got remnant brick that doesn't match!  Take a look...pretty fancy, huh?!?!?  See those fancy dark red bricks mixed in with the light pink ones??  The second picture should give you a better look. 

Now isn't that just a FUN look??  I kid...I hope they paint it VERY SOON! 

The weather last weekend was great...it has me longing for spring and a yard to dig in!  I did have a productive weekend...thanks to my niece and nephew!  Here's a few pictures from last weekend....Grace helped me oil my teak table (a craigslist find), and Clay started sanding a headboard for one of my twin beds.
AND...we painted a frame..the picture inside is one of my favorites!  It's my mom when she was the homecoming queen.  Wasn't she lovely??  (And she still is, btw)

Freshly oiled teak chairs! 

I asked Clay to "rough it up" to get it ready for painting...
he got it down to the bare wood!!

This is my mom when she was in high school....gotta find
a special place for this in the house!

Hope you guys have a great rest of the week....I'll be back sooner than later! 

Update on the House....

A LOT of progress has been made on the house....take a look -

January 22, 2011 - starting to roof the house!

January 29, 2011 - The roof...including the shingles are on
Trim is up and windows are in!!!

January 29, 2011 - view of the back

January 20, 2011 - starting to frame for the fireplace....

Everytime I go out to the house, I just get more and more excited.  I dream about curtains and pillows almost every night these days!  It's actually quite annoying b/c I have had trouble sleeping....I feel like a kid at Christmas!  I have made a lot of progress with decorations...bedding...fabric...etc. lately so that has been fun too.  I picked paint colors (Porter Gale Force, Earl Gray, Spiced Vinegar, Heavy Cream & a couple others) and have purchased some fabric to hopefully make some drapery panels for the dining room.  I also bought some great fabric to recover some french arm chairs that I bought off craigslist as well as some to make a couple pillows and a throw for the master bedroom.  LOTS of projects to do over the next month or two...plus packing....and moving!!  I plan on using a lady in cookeville for some of the sewing projects.  The skirt I made (or attempted to make) at the sewing class I took last year didn't give me too much encouragement for my natural sewing abilities. 

The house is in target to be finished by the beginning of April.  Fingers crossed....I'd really like to move in by April 15th (my birthday) at the latest!  I also had my frame walk this weekend.  I picked where the electrical outlets and other stuff like that would go...we talked about the fireplace and custom desk area and how all of that would come together.  Seems strange to choose outlet locations, but it's time to start the wiring inside.  Apparently you have to have certain types of outlets for certain things....like I want a freezer in my garage and they have to put a dedicated outlet for that.  (I'm buying part of a cow....for steaks and stuff....yummy!)  They also started plumbing and they will start the brick this week.  They will also spray the trim this week...and order the cabinets.  I have a few more light fixtures to pick out and get ordered.  It's going to be a busy couple of months.

I hope you guys enjoyed this great weather these past couple of days.  I spent some time with my sister and the kids and we had a good time throwing rocks, making calzones, reading books, etc.  Carter is starting to say more words now (like "ook"...i.e. book) and he crawls at lightning speed.  Here is one picture of him from tonight -

Have a great week.

Katy

Just Pictures....

I'm feeling kinda worn out this week....so I'm just going to post some pictures.  Enjoy! 

Yes....this is me shoveling SNOW out of my house!  Snow Snow go away!

January 15th....second floor is framed...starting on the upstairs!

Front view...finally...something I can walk in!!! YAY!