The Throne

 If you grew up in the 60's or 70's (maybe before then....I wouldn't know!), more than likely you had a bulletin board jammed packed with pictures, ticket stubs, and homecoming mums.  Fast forward to the wonderful world of home computers and internet and you've probably been introduced to "Pinterest."  It is a virtual home bulletin board on the net where you can "pin" favorite things to your personal virtual bulletin board.  Warning: you can spend hours upon hours looking through it.  Looking for a recipe?  More than likely, someone has "pinned" it.  Want a card idea?  Why, yes I do.  It's on there.  Photography? Vacation spots?  The list goes on and on and it can get costly.

Recently I came across a Better Homes and Garden bathroom idea on Pinterest.  The shape and layout of this BHG bathroom looked just like mine.  Even Boy noticed. (speaking of Boy, I have to go pick him up....be back in a moment.  Pretend you are listening to Muzak music while I'm gone.......). I'm back!

I wanted to show you the BH&G idea.  I tried to use things I already owned and cut down on a bathroom redo cost.  Unfortunately I couldn't find towels in that color or curtains so I went on a low-cost bathroom redo hunt.

http://www.bhg.com/bathroom/decorating/bathroom-decorating-ideas/

Look at the layout of their bathroom and look at mine.  Almost identical!

Blank slate.  Don't you love the toilet bowl cleaner in the photo???

Ta.....Da!!!!!
 

I made the curtains out of inexpensive twin sheets (on sale!).  The only costly item was the bamboo window shades and I'm just that anal-- I HAD to have the exact bathroom in the BHG or as close to it as possible.  I didn't change out the medicine cabinet.  I kept my hospital metal variety-- although I'll keep my eyes open for any sales.  I also did not add decorative molding around the windows.  Little at a time.  I'll get it...some day. Thinking back, I could have made a valance in a brown fabric or bamboo fabric.  Note to self:  it doesn't have to be exact!!!!  Any who that's my recent project.

I love my new redo.  Spring is such a happy time for new beginnings. 

Spring is busting out all over

Yes, I'm allergic to most pollinating things.  They make me sneeze.  They make my throat hurt.  They give me headaches.  But once they bloom....ahhhhhh....sheer beauty.  As a child, I begrudgingly following my Mom around garden stores.  I just did not get flowers or wanting to BUY AND PLANT the things.  Didn't God provide beautiful wildflowers (aka weeds) in our yard?  Why work and till the ground when those puppies would sprout and bloom all over the place?  I just didn't get it.  It must be an age-thing with me.  Like broccoli.  I  despised-- no  h.a.t.e.d. broccoli as a kid.  I tried feeding it to the dog.  When the dog refused to eat it, I knew that crap would not go down my throat.  Funny thing. I love broccoli now- fresh broccoli and even the frozen broccoli, but not that broccoli that comes in the frozen box.  It just smells weird and reminds me of the broccoli of my childhood.  Yuck.  Still can't stomach that smell.  And guess what?  If you let broccoli go in your garden, it sprouts a pretty little flower or zillion!  Again, God's great beautiful flowering world.

Here's a little glimpse of all the flowering things in my yard.  Yes, I did buy most of them.  Another funny thing--- I love garden stores and all things blooming (except my allergies-- they do not like all things blooming!)

Enjoy!

I forget it's name!

I do not know why I can't remember this plant's name, but I love it.  So pretty.  It's sister (to the left) is a sickly child, but she is making attempts to come back to life.  She is a pink variety.  I love pink; wish she'd get her act together and bloom!

Striped geranium.  Pink, of course!

Oliver just had to be in the photo too.  See him?

Mandevilla.  Don't they look like pink lipsticks?

Now those lipsticks have opened!

Yum! Bell peppers

Pink (what else) hibiscus

double bloom red amaryllis

more pink and red

Happy Sunflower- Happy Strawberry!  I've always wanted great big sunflowers in my garden

petunias and pansies. Hubby bought these (notice they are not pink?)

pretty orange Gerber Daisy.  That's a tomato plant beside it and a tomato is in the gerber daisy pot

close up of green tomato

more bell peppers in the making

Happy Friday, Grainiacs.  Hope all is well with you.  For those in colder climate, come on down and be a snowbird!

More catching to do

Yesterday I posted pictures about Boy and Cosmos got a little jealous!  He wanted you to know that he also honored Boy in Boy's accomplishment (actually Cosmos had no say in the matter-- I pulled the Momma card on him because quite frankly he smelled!).

Whaddya mean I smell?

He was getting a little hairy around all open parts of his body, if ya know what I mean?  I love those traveling vans that come to your house and park in your front yard and beautify your pet and then ring the doorbell when all is said and done.  You just can't get more lazy than that!  Love. It.!!!!

And ding dong....guess who is lighter and happier and smiling?

ME!!!!!!

The groomer had to cut his beard a little strange.  Hubby and I are reminded of Stripe in the Gremlins.  Thankfully it is growing out because late at night, that dog freaks me out.  Thank you 1980's movie!

little tuft of white hair doesn't show up well, but look at that beard- Stripe, right?

got this photo off Bing images

Stay tune for tomorrow's before and after pictures!  I love spring.  New beginnings. New sprouts. New life.

Would you like fries with that "catch up?"

I can't believe how long it has been since I last blogged!  I figure it's time to play ketsup, er Catch Up.  Have you ever played that game?  Boy was telling me the other day that the idea that you can never catch up on sleep is a myth.  I'm too tired to look it up!  He finds all sorts of little jewels on the internet and will correct me at every moment.  Ah the pleasures of having all sorts of wisdom at your fingertips (literally) with a push of the button.  I do not want to hear any previous generation complaining about child-rearing!  Just be thankful you didn't have the internet.  When you said something, you could feign intelligence and your kids listened (maybe doubting you, but having to go to the library to research said info was just too timely!!!)  You know what I mean.  If my Mom said something that I didn't think was correct, I just thought "aww, she doesn't know what she's talking about" but I couldn't prove it!  Now! Thanks to Al Gore and his invention, kids know for a fact that we parents don't know what we are talking about!!!  I digress.  This post was going to highlight one of the reasons I haven't blogged in a while.

Back to french fries, I mean, catch up.... For those of you who do not mesmerize your time on Facebook, here are a few pics from the Eagle Court of Honor.

He has grown up so fast.  Sniff sniff.  I'm going to cherish all the snarkisms and bantering because pretty soon, Hubby and I will be empty-nesters.  And then we are going to Disney World!

Something new

Be sure to reread my last post. It has an added happy ending!!!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Happy Spring, Grainiacs!  and Happy Birthday to my father-in-law.  And Happy Birthday to Mr. Rogers.  There is a lot to celebrate on this fine day.  Number 1: it's a new day.  Yesterday and all it's trials and tribulations and successes (I am not all gloom, doom, and agony on me!) is done.  Today is a new day for successes and to get happy.  In celebration of spring and Mr. Rogers, this will be a happy post.  Speaking of happy, have you seen the official video of Pharrel Williams' song Happy?  You need to watch it; I guarantee you'll have a smile on your face.

Yesterday I spent most of the morning making Eagle Court of Honor decorations.  I'm really hoping they look A LOT better when set on the table with the other decorations because right now Kitzilla thinks they are some type of snack.  And truth be told, they do look like something some animal has regurgitated!!!

A scout is thrifty.  Yep, this is looking pretty thrifty!!!

I'm off to buy another plant to add to this sad, sad thing

Who me?  No! I'm not messing with the decorations.

Caught!

Have a happy day, Grainiacs.  I'm off to work on another Eagle scout project.  I'm really adding this to my resume!  A Mom of an Eagle Scout should get more money.  :)

I had to edit and add this little nugget.  I went to Walgreen's to print photos of Boy's Eagle Project and "Happy" was still stuck in my head.  At the check-out I received coupons for various items and this!!!!!

Now tell me that doesn't make you smile!!!!!!

Thank you very much!!!

It just hit me today (I know some of you have known this all along!) but I'm spoiled.  There, I said it.  I've admitted to one of the cardinal sins-- I'm a spoiled brat.  I love a clean house; I just don't want to be the one cleaning it!  I love to eat well; I just don't want the one to be cooking it!  I want nice things; and yes, I'd be more than happy to buy all of them (problem is, the bill comes due each month-- a hard reality when you're living on a pastor's salary with 3 in college!).

On the way home from taking Boy to college, I turned on the Broadway channel.  Fiddler on the Roof is celebrating its 50 years.  "If I were a Rich Man" played and instead of singing along (something I usually do) I really listened to the words.  He's right!  Would it change some vast eternal plan if I were rich????  Don't you just love Tevye?  He seems to be spot on.  If he were rich that would leave time to do the very things he wants to do....pray ..... and sit with learned men discussing the holy books.  "That would be the sweetest thing of all."

The grass is always greener....

If I had time, I'd.....

If I had more money.....

If I were skinnier....

If I were...

If things were different...

If....

If....

If....

Christians celebrate the season of Lent.  It is 40 days leading up to Easter.  It is a time of reflection.  Most Christians focus on giving something up for Lent.  I've always questioned this practice.  I know we give it up because Christ gave up so much for us, but Christ died once.  The resurrection happened.  Does Christ really want us to suffer for Him?  The answer is no.  Do we really need to give something up only to start it back after Easter?  I give up chocolate for 40 days and then pig out on chocolate in my Easter basket.  What have I done?  What happens when I fail at giving up chocolate for 40 days?  What if it winds up being like those New Year's Resolutions?  I tried.  I fail.  I feel guilty.  No, I really don't think that is the type of reflection and giving something up that is fruitful.  We have enough guilt going on, don't we?

What if instead of focusing on giving something up, we focus on adding something?  If I give up chocolate for the 40 days, then I'll add giving the money to an organization that works with addictions.  If I give up eating red meat, then I'll use the money I'd spend on a steak and give to stopping animal cruelty organizations.  Or something like that.  If I'm focused on giving something up, I'm focused on myself.  If I give up and add, that focus is shifted to another.

Getting back to Tevye (and me for that matter), he (we) are already rich.  We have loving families.  We have loving friends.  We believe in a God who loves us unconditionally and blesses us in our wealth and in our poverty.  I'm not so sure that Tevye would have spent more time in prayer or sitting and discussing holy books, just as I'm sure I wouldn't either.  Oh yes, I'd have money to pay someone to do the cleaning and the cooking and the organizing and the...... but then maybe I wouldn't.  I might spend that money on myself and never even think of the other.  Wouldn't that be a shame?

You don't need lots of money to help others in need.  How we spend our limited time; how we spend our limited money is representative of who we are.

Sorry, didn't mean to get all preachy this morning.  Thank you very much Broadway channel and Tevye!!!!  :)