The Next Martha Stewart

Many of you know I am a fan of Martha Stewart.  When I have time, I try to watch her show or visit her website & marvel at her never-ending perfection.  Because I, too, have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I understand how gratifying it would be to live in a house where every project undertaken has ample workspace, every drawer is beautifully labeled, and every tool has a matching handle.  But, alas, I don't live with Martha.  I live here in the real world, where not only are my tools un-coordinative, but usually found left under the kids' craft table, or some other non-labeled location.  

But Martha & I are alike in so many other ways.  Take her assistants, for example.  Everyone knows that she would be nowhere without them.  Well, I have assistants, too.  Mine just happen to be around 3 1/2 ft. & 2 ft. tall.  

It was so unfortunate that there was no video camera on this morning to tape me packing up a box to ship.  I had my shortest assistant helping me, and while Martha could do a great segment on what it would be like to pack a box at her house, I could have done one for the rest of the world.  I'll try to describe how it went.  

First, I went to the computer to print out the label.  My helpful assistant was at my knee the entire time. When it was printed, I cut out the label neatly with the recently-found scissors & placed the label on the desk while I finished packing the box.  Once the box was packed, I turned to retrieve the label, but my assistant had beat me to it, label in hand, now nicely crumpled and slobbered-upon.  No matter--in the real world, little obstacles will come.  So, I flattened it back out & dried it off the best I could.  Next, I went to get the packing tape & returned to find my little assistant sitting in the box. So, I carefully removed her & began closing the flaps neatly just as she snagged the tape & took off running with it.  This is where I demonstrated remaining calm in moments of mounting frustration.  There would have been some great footage here of me chasing her thru the house & finally getting the tape only to find she had caused the roll to come off the dispenser & the tape closed onto itself.  Here is where I would have had to cut to commercial break while I spent several minutes trying to find the start of the tape again.  

So, after that, I knelt down, using my knees to hold the box together while I taped it closed, all the while with my assistant trying to climb on my back.  Finally, I finished the box, which showed no evidence of the fiasco that had just transpired.  It really would have been a great segment.  So sorry you missed it.  

As I said, I am big fan of Martha.  But I could teach her a thing or two.

My two shortest assistants hard at work.

"I know my imported spices are in here somewhere!"

GRANT'S BIRTHDAY!

Grant turned 11 on Friday (Ahhh!) and it was perfect timing for the Harlem Globetrotters to be in town.  So, we took Grant & a few of his close friends to the game for an unforgettable night.  We were invited to go early to a pre-game session with a few of the players to hear about the history of the team & take pictures, etc.  Grammy & Papa came as well to be with Grant.  The game was a lot of fun!  When it was over, all the boys were able to go down to the court to get their basketballs signed by all the players.  Grant demonstrated his unique ability to squeeze through a huge crowd & make his way to each player in record time.  Papa & Grammy & Denise & I watched in amazement from the stands where we could see his red striped shirt darting through the masses.  When it was all over, we had a little "tailgate birthday party" back at the truck.  Grant is still talking about it all, so I guess we succeeded in making it a memorable occasion.  

I'm posting some of the best pictures.  Dave & I are still learning this camera, so some are not as focused as others!  

I've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

No, this post is not about Dave & me :) .  It's about my house & me.  I was just noticing about myself that this is the first January in forever that I don't have the urge to revamp, redecorate, reorganize, or just redo something in the house.  I haven't bought new accessories for the house in months.  The baseboards seem to be begging me for a new coat of paint, and the master bathroom walls are wondering why I haven't made good on my promise to paint them as well.  So, why do I procrastinate?

I'm dreaming of a new love.  It sits here on my desk, promising to deliver abundant opportunities to decorate, organize, & accessorize to my heart's content.  It's my new & improved house, begging me to start building it.  But, lo, I am forced to wait. Wait for permits & engineers & surveys & such.  The agony!  

And yet, I do feel guilty for my discontentment.  My house has been so good to me here.  I recall how it supported me as I changed the paint color in the family room 4 times --in one weekend.  (And yes, Dave supported me, too, though I think he wanted to shoot me.)  It has stood strong, giving us very little to repair thru the years.  It has kept its dignity, never giving in to the pressure of having crazy skeletons & ghosts outside at Halloween or inflatables in the front yard at Christmastime.  For this I will be eternally grateful.  So, I think, for the debt I owe to my love at 8560, I will vow to find an owner worthy of its charm.  And when I find that person, whomever she may be, I will gladly suggest a paint color for the bathroom that will work beautifully. :) 

Just a few updated pics of the kids & their cousins during the holidays...

We went bowling on Christmas Eve with David, Amy, Paul, Maggie, & Callie:

Then a few days after Christmas, we met Kelleigh & Bradley & the boys in Chattanooga as they traveled thru on their way home: