Back to work

Today, I'm sad to say, is my last day of maternity leave.  I've had 4 and half months, 3 and a half of which have been with my wee one.  I've got a new job that I'm excited for, but my heart is breaking.  I don't have much to say other than that.  I'm going to make the most of today.

Miscellania

My maternity leave is winding down.  I have two weeks left.  How fast it has gone...and I took a relatively long leave of 4 and a half months (and by relatively long I mean by US standards, not by the standards of the clearly more enlightened European countries where maternity leave is a year).

So what's a girl to do with such little time left?  The LO is getting more agreeable by the day (most days that is) and naps a bit here and there and plays a bit here and there.  I find in the evenings his long nap between 7:30pm and my bedtime is almost strange...my hands feel awkwardly free.  I am sorely tempted to pick up the evil Warcraft addiction during that time.  But what I *should* do is pick up some crocheting.  Or some quilting.  Or some learning to make fascinators.  Or...or...or??  It's amazing how 2 hours of free time seems like so much now.

What I have been doing is cleaning, one room at a time.  The bedroom was first...I've cleared out all clothes that no longer fit and either packed them away for post-baby-weight-loss time or sent off to goodwill.  And I took down the celtic and asian hodgepodge of artwork that has adorned my bedroom walls for a dozen years.  I searched high and low for replacements until it became an obsession.  But finally I opted to frame some old botanicals and such that were sitting unused in the back of my closet.  They look nice, though DH describes them as "granny".

I also replaced the curtains.  I had a lovely batik fabric, which never pleased me as curtains.  I bought some simple charcoal colored linen curtains at Ikea and altered them to fit as dummy panels.  Charcoal will match better with any artwork and any bed linens.  This change DH is pleased with.

So...off to another room and another item on my to-do list.  Cheerio, bloglings.

Another project completed!

If there's one thing I've learned by being a new mom, its that free time is a precious commodity.  Before the LO arrived, I had oodles of free time and I'd fritter it away watching TV, surfing the net and doing generally nothing worthwhile.  Now I value that time so much that I make good use of every moment.  I'm actually...get this...*finishing* projects.  Um...wow.

My latest completion is a quilt for my wee nephew.  Well considering he's already almost as big as my 3 month old son I suppose "wee" isn't the most fitting description.  But the quilt is wee, and so I felt compelled to finish it ASAP before the munchkin outgrows it!  Now that my own LO has finally consented to nap during the day on his own, I've been piecing the top together bit by bit.  And then my darling husband agreed to tend to him for a few hours the last couple of Saturdays so I could really crank it out.  And at last its done, just in time for our visit to my brother's house today.

I love the way it turned out and I must give a shout out to Gypsy Junk for her input when I selected fabric.  She discovered the monkey head fabric, which really makes it.

Welcome 2011

Another year, come and gone...and what a doozy 2010 was!  "The year of pregnancy" I believe I called it in an earlier post.  And the last part of it has been what some baby books lovingly call the 4th trimester.  It's been a bit of a rough go, I can't say my little one is an easy baby.  But he's so perfect and wonderful that I'm sure we'll get through it and be no worse for the wear.

Every year I make resolutions and every year by the time February comes around I have forgotten them. I don't even remember my new years resolution for 2010.  And I only remember 2009 because it was captured here on my little blog.  So why do I continue to make resolutions?  I don't know...the new year can't come without me pondering my life and where I want to be...who I want to be.

What shall it be this year then?  Usually I over-commit...maybe that's why I don't remember my resolutions.  This year I only have one...inspired by my wee bairn:

BE PATIENT

That's it.  Patience.  Not a virtue I have in abundance, to say the least.  More of it would benefit me in all aspects of my life, especially in my fumbling attempts at new motherhood. 

So there you have it.  For 2011 I resolve to say to myself:  "patience young padawan, for you have much to learn".

Happy new year.

Welcome to Motherhood

Well, at long last the little one has arrived.  He's a month old now, and at the risk of sounding cliche, motherhood is infinitely more rewarding and challenging than I had ever expected.  He's adorable...bright-eyed, cuddly, already smiling and extraordinarily gifted at exhausting me...as babies tend to be.  I'm totally in love.

I know it won't be long before he's squirming away when I try to hold him, but oh!  If only the little devil would let us put him down for a moment!  He came out with the natural ability to manipulate mommy and daddy into just about anything.  When he is 2, 12, 22...boy will we be screwed!  :)

In the meantime, I will rock my baby as much as he wants and gaze at his perfect little face.  Any day that includes three square meals, a shower and enough time to check my email and take a nap...that day is a success.  We'll worry about everything else later.

Better late than never...

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, I purchased fabric to make my dear cousin a lap quilt.  I chose the fabric according to her tastes, cut out the squares, and then stopped.  I grew weary of sewing and took a very long break from that hobby.  For fifteen years, those squares have been sitting in a plastic tub with the rest of my fabric stash.  For the first couple of those years, I got a yearly plea/guilt trip from my cousin about her missing quilt.  "Where's my quilt?" she'd say.  To which I'd shrug and reply "I'll finish it someday".

Well, someday has come.  During the process of turning my sewing room into the nursery, I discovered the squares and thought it might be nice to start a project that had nothing to do with preparing for the baby's arrival.  And today, aside from a small repair to the edging, the Cousin Quilt is finished.

I'm rather pleased.  This is my first quilting project in 5 years, since I made a quilt for my newborn niece.  I'm finding myself having a renewed interest in sewing (or at least quilting) and I already have a quilt ready to piece for my new nephew who is scheduled to arrive near the Winter Solstice, and I almost have enough pink & purple scrap strips to make my darling niece a "big girl bed" quilt for her 5th birthday in February.

But in the meantime I shall wrap this quilt up, with a little note that says "Better late than never" and give it to my cousin as her winter holiday present.  She'll be so suprised!  I know she's long forgotten this project.

Speaking of late...today is my due date.  Baby boy has been baking for 40 weeks and is not showing any sign of wanting to make his grand entry into this world.  Even though he's not officially late for another day, DH and I are going a little crazy with the waiting.  I have dreams about holding his little hands and cuddling him.  I want to meet him, and start our lives together so badly.  Has anyone ever been pregnant forever?  I certainly hope he will not be as tardy as the cousin quilt.  ;)

Nursery, continued

Well, the nursery is just about done aside from some small decorating details. Overall I'm pleased with the results.

I selected some pictures from an etsy shop that I think go perfectly with the fabric:

The rocking chair has been reupholstered and I think it turned out great:

I  considered a big change in the fabric that would make it more matchy with the nursery, but in the end decided that sticking with the original style of the chair would be more appropriate and longer lasting decoratively speaking;

I'd still like to replace this shelf unit, but you know what?  I've spent too much money.  Baby boy will not care that he has an ugly non-matching IKEA shelf unit in his room.  :)

Now I'm just patiently waiting.  Or impatiently waiting as it were.  I wish this baby would opt to arrive very soon.  I'm eager to meet him and start our new lives together.  I should probably work on some quilting projects to keep my hands busy while I'm waiting.  Perhaps I will.

Finishings. Beginnings.

I love finishing things.  Such satisfaction.  I'm the kind of gal that just loves checking items of the to-do list.  Even small completions like using the very last of a shampoo bottle gives me a small sense of pleasure.  What I'm not enjoying however, is finishing off my job at work. 

I have three weeks left of working before my maternity leave begins.  Aside from hoping I can make it that long, I'm totally overloaded and overwhelmed.  I will not be returning to the same position...the job I've held for 8 years.  So I must figure out a way to sensibly hand off this thing I've been doing for so long to someone I don't know.  And I want it to be right.  I want my people to have the right support.  I want to know the projects I've started will be managed correctly.  I'm kind of wearing myself out thinking about it.  So I need to let go. 

I'm going to start working shorter days and just accept that maybe this time its okay if every item isn't checked off the list.  I've even started turning down work - something I never ever do.  It's okay.  Now is a time to start letting go of finishing and start beginning.

October 2nd, begins my new life.  Hopefully, if baby boy is willing, I'll have a couple of weeks from that day until he arrives to nest, rest and ponder.  And how I love October!  It's my favorite month.  Well, maybe tied with June...but it's still up there. Autumn! I love the smell of the dying leaves, the taste of the air, the heat of the afternoon and the chill of the morning.  It gives me that sense of finishing.  The year is winding down to its end, and in a few short months everything begins anew.  And with baby coming, this Autumn will be more special than most.  A new beginning for our lives as a family!  I'm so very excited.

It is secret? Is it safe?

I never was good at keeping a diary.  A while ago I went through my diaries from childhood and found them so empty that I actually threw them away because there was nothing in them worth keeping.  But lately I find myself wanting to write things that are more on the reflective side. Or the creative side.  But the question is...just who reads this thing anyways?  Who is my audience?  Perhaps I should begin each post with "Dear blogger".  Should I hide the blog under my mattress?  In the underwear drawer?  Naw...those are the first places people would look!!

I believe only my best friends and my husband are even aware of this little blog.  But I also think we as a society are growing so accustomed to sharing ourselves online, that we get lulled into a false sense of security that only people we care to share with will witness our online selves.  Those facebook posts with four letter words or questionable content; that picture after a little too much tequila; that profile picture of me, 6 months pregnant, flipping off the camera man.  Will I now add innermost thoughts to the online version of me...for anyone out there in the twisting nether of the interwebs to see?

I suppose I shall, come what may.

The Nursery Obsession: A journey nearing madness

Since the very moment I found out I was with child, I became obsessed with how to decorate the nursery. Well, if I am to be honest...it's something I've thought about plenty even before I knew we were expecting. DH along with many others have made such points as "the baby won't even use the room for the first year" and "by the time he cares what its decorated as, he'll have outgrown it and you'll have to do it over" and "but, it's yellow". To these naysayers I have three words. I. Don't. Care. It's my first (and possibly only) baby, and I want the room to be just so. Or, at least as "just so" as a tiny room on a non-designer budget can be.

When we first bought this little house, we thought that one little bedroom in particular would make a lovely nursery. In the meantime we used it as a guest bedroom/sewing room/dumping ground. During each other room's face lift, it carefully and selflessly offered a home to all the furniture, artwork and miscellaneous goodies that needed a place to stay. You may remember this little gem of a room from such posts as this and this.

DH has been amazingly tolerant of my obsession with this room's important future. He talked me out of some rather silly ideas by suggesting that he install crown molding. *Splash*!! It's my hearts desire to have crown molding in every major room in the house so I wasn't about to say no. And let me tell you something...installing crown molding is a bitch. I will be eternally grateful to DH for doing it.

Here he is, hard at work:


And I gotta say, I love the way it turned out. He's so good:


Soooo, the next step. I get many "what's your theme?" questions from folks who are thinking of gift ideas and such. I had a most perfect theme in mind for a girls nursery...that involved toile (love) and gingham, and whimsical art work. I didn't have many ideas for a boy, until some swatches of fabric arrived (I ordered them when I thought we were having a girl...that's a story for another time). Among them was this fabric. DH said "hey, I like that one!" and I thought...maybe I can have my toile nursery afterall!!! Inspiration #1 was born.

Inspiration #2 came in the form of this antique rocking chair, which incidentally my mother has a picture of HER mother being rocked in it by my great-great grandmother. It's like 100 years old and aside from needing reupholstery is in great shape:


The fabric makes me think of a whimsical, fantastical circus that might have come to town back in the day when great-great granny was rocking her first baby in this very rocker. So I'm thinking a bit vintage, a bit whimsical, a bit circus.

My darling mother in law suggested that she make a quilt that includes the fabric of choice and some others that she let me help select. I'm making curtains and probably some cute little pillows and a gingham dust ruffle for the crib mattress. Sewing projects!!

I wrestled over the furniture decision in a very big way. My original intent was to find an old fashioned wood crib on Craigslist and pair it with a shabby chic style dresser (that could double as a changing table). But the safety factor of old cribs hindered that plan...as did DH's distaste for the shabby chic style of furniture. In the end we got pieces from this set, which will work nicely and the stain of the wood is just right.

I also debated for a long time over the choice of rug. DH wanted to carpet the room, which I refused. I would have liked something subtle and a bit old fashioned looking like this pottery barn rug, but it was too expensive. I'd hate to clean spit up off of a 400 dollar rug. In the end we went with this option. A bit contemporary for my "theme"...but I figure it keeps it from being too serious, is a fun pick for a kid, and has all the right colors in it. DH likes it which is always a plus. And the price was right.

So much progress has been made, and still a bit left to do. DH installed a light in the closet (he's such a rockstar) and is in the midst of painting it, and we've got some shelving to install in there. I've moved on to the next mind boggling decision....artwork. I've got some ideas for a direction that are keeping with the theme.

Phew!! Stay tuned...next time there will be pictures of the final product!!

Time

It doesn't seem like its been over a year since my last blog entry, but low and behold it is. I've been distracted, initially by the lure of social networking (a.k.a. Facebook) and then by many other things that have taken up my time and energy.

In reflecting upon how time passes I've realized how little, in retrospect, the aspects of our day to day life matter. Sure, they seem of utmost importance at the time..."I have sooo much on my to-do list for the week" or "we are doing such and such this weekend" but when you look back upon the years do you remember those random weekends or to-do lists? Those particular stressful days at work that seemed so critical at the time? Those little obligations you rushed around for throughout each year? I find that I don't remember those things, which is almost surprising when I think about how much stress and worry I put into the details of day to day life.

In looking back upon years past, what really stands out are the more defining things. Where I lived, who my significant other was, where I worked...and of course the big events of the year. I can tell you about the vacations taken, if I moved, and if I changed jobs. I can tell you if I quit smoking, who I loved, who I lost. When considering any given year, its those things come to define that year for me. Not the little concerns.

When I think of 2004, the thing that defines it was our first trip to Europe. 2006 equals our wedding+honeymoon, and two moves to my memory. When thinking of 2007 I remember some important people I lost and buying our first house.

When looking back upon 2010, undoubtedly I'll think of it as the year of pregnancy. I found out I was pregnant early in February and we'll welcome our first baby in late October. Consequently much has been left undone this year as I navigate the waters of baking a baby...the joys of it and the array of discomforts. Little else has been in my mind other than this baby boy...looking forward to bringing him into the world and figuring out how the heck to take care of him without totally screwing him up.

So here I am. I've got no completed projects under my belt for this year (though the nursery - formerly known as the yellow room - is seeing some improvements; posts on that are forthcoming), my garden is overrun with weeds, and my laundry pile is literally up to my shoulders. I like to consider it practice for when the little guy is actually here and I have a better reason to let the to-do list go.

Yet something in me decided perhaps I should start this blog back up again. Perhaps I'll look back at my posts in a few years and instead of just thinking of this as the "year of pregnancy", I'll have more flavor and color to my memories of this time. For once time passes, you can't get it back.

Eastlake Lavender

Finally got around to painting the office. When we moved in this room had dingy walls with holes, rotten windows, old granny curtain rods and the nastiest carpet we'd ever seen.


I had originally intended on painting this room green. But I couldn't find a green I liked that wasn't too matchy-matchy with the bathroom, which is right next door. A trip to the Legion of Honor art museum inspired me to consider lavender.


DH did a lovely job installing some baseboard that matches what we've installed in the rest of the house. It sets off the wood floor beautifully.


I love the new color. It's perfect! I hung some linen curtains and the light filters through so nicely. I do plan on putting blinds underneath, but the lovely blinds I have now are just a tad too big...so I'll have to find something else.


There's a bit of thinking on furniture to be done in this room. I'm getting the corner table from my mom that goes with my grandpa's too-small desk which I'm going to refinish and re purpose into a sewing table. Either that or I'll make that my desk and use my current desk as the sewing table. Something. I need to find a way to store my enormous computer tower on the floor so it's not so in the way. And shelves...oh boy. I'm not sure what direction that will take, but a replacement of my mismatched particle board collection is in order. We need lots of storage, as we have lots of books and media that we like to store in this room.

This is the last room of the house that needed painting! I have some trim to finish, but other then that the painting of the interior is DONE!

Dying for vacation

I'm loving this weather, despite the fact that having no AC in the house makes me wilt a bit. It's given me spring/summer fever in a very big way. This morning as I walked from my car to the BART train, something in the breeze made me think of camping. I can't wait for camping!!!

In the meantime, our vacation fast approaches. Next week I fly to Boston to meet DH where he will be working that week. We are taking a long weekend to be tourists in the city. I'm so excited! I've never been to the east coast, not counting JFK airport. The forecast looks to be in the 60's and some sun, some rain....so we'll definately bring umbrellas. At least it will be warm-ish despite the rain so no problem.

I've got a little game plan for us, and my friends at work who are from Boston are going to give me some restaurant and bar names of local spots that they recommend. Did I mention that I can't wait? I LOVE traveling!

Spring Planting & Junk Beds

Well, I finally got the majority of the warm season crops planted. Sunday I finished ripping out the very last of the winter veggies. We went to a BBQ at the lovely gypsy junk's house and I made a huge salad out of the last of the lettuce, spring onions, over-wintered carrots, beets, beet greens and some random stuff from the fridge. I also sauteed up the last of the sugar snap peas. Boy were they tasty!!

I turned all the beds well, amending with some yummy compost (alas, store bought. Our garden resolution for the year is to start actively paying attention to our composting). Then last night after work I planted corn, zucchini, beans, early girl tomatoes, cherry tomotoes, sweet basil, thai basil, 4 different kinds of hot peppers, spinich, romaine, arugula, mixed lettuce, swiss chard, carrots, beets, sunflowers, cosmos and zinnias. Phew!! The tomatoes, peppers, annuals and basil were all saplings I bought at the nursery. I started my seedlings too late this year...they need at least 3 weeks before they are ready to go out. Once they are, I'll mix them in with the rest or put them in wine barrels.

I have one wine barrel that is empty and I haven't quite decided what to put in it yet. The hops are starting nicely...at least the nugget and the new variety (forget the name) are. The cascade hops (which were our big producer last year) are doing nothing! We've added compost and fish emulsion etc...but nothing. Not sure what's going on there.

The yard is really coming alive!! This might be my favorite time of year. The "lawn" for lack of a better word has not yet turned straw yellow, and looks pretty with the tiny wildflowers peeking out of the grass. The beds are clean and full of baby plants. Everything is green and fresh. Bulbs are popping up everywhere. The air smells like lilac & freesia. I love it!! Soon the apple tree will be blooming, covering everything with white petals.

I told DH last night that possibly my favorite part of the yard is what I affectionately refer to as my "junk beds". The back patio has an L-shaped strip of soil around it at the foundation of the house. The soil is poor and chock full of nasturtium, which I like...though it takes some attention to keep from taking over. These are my junk beds. Normally I plan everything. The front yard I give thought to because people see it. The raised beds I plan out because they are edibles. The large backyard plantings I plan for because of the dogs. But no planning for the junk beds. I just throw shit in there and whatever works works. I love it, it's liberating to not plan for once. And they look gorgeous. Over the last couple of days I transplanted some flowers from the raised beds that were still going strong. I also threw in some soil mixed with black-eyed-susans, echinacea, bright yellow alyssium and some wildflower seeds. I wonder if they'll take? So much fun.

Well I guess I'd better actually work, before big brother decides to block blogger as well.

Almost Finished

Bathroom Before (several before pics are available in previous posts):

Bathroom After:





I'm pleased how our little face lift came out. What we did:

- ripped out old shower doors & replaced with a vintage style l-shaped curtain rod
- repaired water damaged plaster
- replaced window
- sanded and painted all the woodwork & cabinet white
- repainted the walls to cover the institutional blue
- replaced the toilet with a new low flow model
- replaced the rotting mirror on the medicine cabinet
- replaced light fixture
- added beadboard

Still left to do:

- paint hall-side of door and reinstall vintage doorknob
- touch up of green paint
- paint new base under cabinet
- add robe hooks and large towel bar
- window treatment
- hem second shower curtain to complete the "surround"
- hang some artwork

:)

Yay.

Wainscoting

The wainscoting is coming out nicely. We still need to add the chair rail, caulk and paint it.

Early Spring

I love taking pictures of flowers, and with our new (to us) digital SLR camera, they come out sooo much better then with my old point and click!

On a less bright note, we have a hearty infestation of gray aphids. I've been pulling certain things that are crawling when I see them and hosing the rest with strong streams of water. And hoping that when I clear all the beds that they won't immediately return.

Moments after the rains

I was lucky enough to have about an hour of daylight left when I got home from work today, and so I went outside to do a much needed doggy-cleanup and take some pictures.

Broccoli is pretty when it flowers, though I was sad that I overlooked eating this one:


I think the fava beans are happy. And lordy the tiny snapdragons starters that I planted last March are practically becoming their own forest. I've never seen such healthy snapdragons. I plan on pulling them out as they've kind of taken over, but now that I know they take such a shine to my yard I'll just start some new ones. Bulbs are peeking up all over the place, and the flowers in the eco-lawn seed are popping up happy as can be. Gee, I guess we should mow evenutally.


I've never had a fava bean, but I hear they are tasty. They smell lovely, like sweet peas and I love thier little black throats.

The rains should return tomorrow, but at least I got a moment to enjoy the yard. More rain is good, yes.

Let there be [bathroom] light

Before:



After:



I'm pleased. We discussed getting a new medicine cabinet, but all those we looked at were chintzy or too big etc. Instead we replaced the mirror and clasps on the old one, cleaned it out, and painted it. I'm glad we did.

In other news I'm still not satisfied with the bedroom window treatments. I like the fabric, but not happy with the style of the panel. I'm going to get a new double rod and put sheers underneath, then add grommets at the top for some rings. I think that will please me more.

Well, I'm off to prime some beadboard and to visit with friends...not necessarily in that order!

Journey of bathroom painting

The bathroom began blue. An institutional shade of blue. And it had a nasty spot in one ceiling corner from previous water damage (which DH skillfully fixed). We didn't like it.



And now came the question of what color for the walls? I suggested white, but we already went all-white route in the kitchen and DH thought it would be boring. So we discussed perhaps a light green. So after many moons of swatches hanging on the walls, we chose a very light yellow-ish green (after all the tile accents are yellow). Bad idea. It glowed. The room next to it glowed. Bad.



We quickly developed a new plan, a sage-ish green instead. I'd seen a lovely cottage bathroom in a magazine that had the white/sage/yellow scheme and I really liked it. And we are pleased. I love it.



Now I'm painting the trim and cabinet white, which looks lovely. Next comes the installation of the wainscoting. I can't wait to see how it will look!