Jack Talks

 The delightful Joanna giving words of encouragement.

And then, the talk.  Short, sweet, and to the point. Well done Jack.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie....

Those mouse books should be adapted for DIY projects.  If you are having your floors replaced, you will want to attempt to redo your countertops.  If you are going to redo your countertops, you will need to tear down the tile backsplash.  If you tear down the tile backsplash, you will destroy the wall and have to buy new tile for a new backsplash.  If your old faucet is leaking water all over the old countertops, you will need to replace it so that the water doesn't wreck the new countertops.  If your cabinet is broken and will possibly fall and damage your new countertops, you will need to have it repaired.  If you have the cabinet removed for repair, you might as well paint, since standing on the countertops is easier with the cabinet gone.  If you are going to have nice new concrete countertops you are going to want new, prettier appliances.  And finally, if you a are a slob, and slopping wet concrete all over your floors, your dog of very little brain, will think it looks delicious and eat it all up before you can clean, which will involve a panicked call to the vet.  I started all of this exactly one month ago, and should be finished this week.  Ted was "finished" with all of this weeks ago. 

Missing cabinet, ready for paint.

I had to move the stove away from the wall, several times a day, good thing it is light.

First coat.

O'Dea Gentleman

The dress code at O'Dea, is collared shirts and khaki style pants. No mention is made if the pants MUST  have a crotch, therefore technically, these pants are dress code compliant, and worn daily of course.

Christmas At Home

Before with all the beautiful wrappingness

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full!

Frosty loves to get all around in the wrapping and presents.

Jack got a beautiful ornament from this Ninos, which is perfectly camouflaged by his ugly sweater.

After.

Christmas At The Cathedral

Merry Christmas to everyone, especially my partner in crime! I don't think I could have found someone smaller to stand next to.  I wanted to post pictures of our lovely dinner, but it disappeared at a spectacular rate.  The twins tried ale out of their new horn mugs, acting like they were in Game of Thrones.  After a few sips, they decided Coke was a better drink for a King.

It's Like Eighth Grade All Over Again

I have tried sewing again, after a 40 year hiatus.  The last thing I actually made by sewing was a pair of hideous overalls.  All I remember is the teacher yelling at me quite frequently.  Although, to be fair, I think I was what is now called, a "challenging" student.  I got a sewing machine from Santa three years ago, and have barely touched it since then.  I found a "simple sewing project" on Pinterest, and decided to give it a go.  I was almost immediately thwarted by my apparent inability to refill a bobbin, but in the end I won! I cannot sew a straight line, my seams look like the seamstress was perhaps drunk, and I couldn't control my speed.  I was either sewing so fast that I couldn't pull the pins, or so slow that I thought it would never end.  But I actually finished these cute dish towels, they are supposed to have a cute little tabby on the back so that you could hang them on a hook, but I managed to sew the tabby thing INSIDE the towel, between the two layers.  So no hanging these towels up I guess.  I was surprised at how much cursing is involved in sewing, I don't remember that part.  I am kind of proud of them and I want to make some more, I am going to try to put the tab on the outside, for a change.

Thanksgiving Redux

Here is the sequence of events.  At the aforementioned thanksgiving dinner, there was much consumption, and consequent lying on the couch moaning about never eating again.  Then, of course, the scrounging around for leftovers, a few hours later, followed by frantic leftover eating the next morning, leaving one boy, who gets up at the crack of noon, to lament that he lives "with cannibals" upon discovering the absence of said leftovers. Thus began the campaign to have Thanksgiving again, immediately please.  And so, I cooked all the side dishes again, thankful that we still had enough turkey, and forgetting the corn AGAIN.  Our usual sunday tradition of fending for ourselves, turned into another great feast, in a much less fancy setting, and we have leftovers once again!  All is well.