New house and loads of projects

On February 28, we moved into our new house.  It was a house with fabulous potential, it just needs some updating and personalization.  What you will see below is the before and after to what we have done as of today, March 14, 2020.  Some of the "current" views will evolve and possibly change completely, they were put in place to get us in a "home" environment and not a "you have much to do" world, I will tell you when that applies next to the photos.


First of all, I will tell you that we got possession of the house around 5pm on February 26. We could not do much on that day because it was almost dark.   The movers came early on February 27 and I really only wanted to keep them 2-3 hours....so the goal was for them to move all the furniture and we would move the boxes and other stuff ourselves.    We had to be out of the house on February 28, so we had to get busy and get things done.  What a whirlwind!

Many of the first photos here are from the realtor site because I had NO time to get before photos due to the moving timeline.

the living room

the living room is very large

the living room, I loved the kitty in front of the fireplace

the living room from another angle

I call this the "foyer", it is the space between the living and the eat-in kitchen

to me, the kitchen is simply a dream, except the flooring

2 photos of the hall bath

bedroom #1, the future guest room (I have not done much in here yet)

the fabulous linen closet in the master bath, holy cow

master bath double sinks

the carpeted master bath, ewwww 

the master bedroom

bedroom #2, which I had big plans for

The Bonus areas.....

 the sunroom

Add caption

 the room upstairs

Now for the fun part, making it ours. Below you will see some of what we have gotten done in two weeks.  The first thing was to transform the bedroom across the hall from the master into a closet.  We needed this because the house had only a few closets and we have lots of clothes and shoes.  The plan was to do one side for her and one for him and on the 3rd wall add my 43 pairs of shoes and my dresser....on the 4th wall, I planned to add shelves I have not added the shelves yet), ties, jewelry and an antique mirror with handpainted elements around it.  I want the room to have one purple wall and three gray walls.  In the above photos, this was bedroom #2.

I will have to add the gray walls next....and we are planning to rip up the carpet.  

Next up was the sunroom.  I wanted this to be my studio from the first moment that I saw it.  I have tons of art supplies and my crafting is loud, the isolation of the room makes it where I can create out here at almost any time.  I still would like to paint in here, but I am not sure what color as of yet.  At least, for the time being, I can create.  On the other side of the sunroom, I made a cat perch (so they can watch the birds and play with plants) and a library/sitting area.  It is going to be nice out here. I can tell that cats like this room the best of all.  

 the cats on the second day, you could tell they loved this room

Next up was the utility room.  I had just a small amount of turquoise paint left (the bath color from our last house) and I wanted to use it somewhere. I decided to lighten up the utility room so that I could use all my old laundry room signs I had made.  I would like to get crown molding for all the rooms.  

 the utility room before

Next up, the eat-in kitchen.  I wanted a square table here because the light fixture was at a weird angle and because the area was my gallery/command center area.  Olive has already fallen in love with the stools. I still have to find room for the trash and recycle cans.  I have changed out the fall flowers and put on display the spring flowers.  

 the was before we got the table

 The was the way it looked on the realtor site

 how it looks right now, I have to paint that cart if it is going to stay, but I really don't want it to stay.  I desperately need a coffee bar.

 looking from the kitchen to the family room and dining areas. It is a very nice area, and currently has Bobby Ewing on the tv.  The curtains are coming down as soon as we can figure out what we would like.   

Moving right along to the next steps done...I have not painted anything else, but I do have every frame up that I wanted to get up on the walls. I still have no idea what color I want to paint things. I have tons of swatches but have yet to commit to a thing.  Anyhoo, the next photos are just us living in the house until we figure out the next steps.  

 right as you enter the front door, there is oak floor under SOME of this room.  I am not yet sure how much.  Pay attention to the front door, it will one day be a different color or a different door, we are not sure yet.  I think I will paint it first.  

 the corner near the front door

 the master bedroom, this will soon be a green shade, I just don't know which one.  We do have new curtains up in there.  We placed some over the bathroom doorway too (there is no door), I plan to put a barn door there.  

 the Cat Room, the room under the stairs.  They stayed here the entire first day we lived in the house and it is the perfect spot for litter and cat food.  

 door leading into the cat room

 the walls are very scuffed, the room needs to be painted. 

I will be back later with more updates.  Hopefully, soon the bathroom carpet will be GONE!

Review: I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom

I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom by Gregg Oppenheimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Non-resident Library Cards, year 3

Every year I do a little research on which libraries across the US will give you an affordable non-resident card that you can obtain without visiting that specific library.  For many years I used the Free Library of Philadelphia, and I will tell you it has been by far my favorite for choices of books and how they not only had a large catalog, but they would also let you request items and often they would purchase it.  I am sad to report that today I discovered they no longer let you buy a non-resident card.

Last year I got a card at the Brooklyn Public Library.  I switched because BPL had many Hollywood books that I had been wanting to read for quite some time.  They have some very unique, very old titles that I had never seen before.  For the last year, I have read every Hollywood book that interested me so I was going to switch back to FLP (Free Library of Philadelphia).


Fairfax County Public Library (Virginia)--you can apply for a card online and it is $27 a year.  Here is the link to their Overdrive site if you would like to look at the catalog before you commit.


Houston Public Library-their The information listed is not clear if you have to show up in person or not to finalize the card, so I would check before you purchase.  $40 per year for a non-resident card.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library-It looks to me that you can do this one solely online and get instant access.  The fee is based on the current tax base and so right now it is $45 per year.

Enoch Pratt Free Library-This one seems like it could be a day or two delay because you have to download the application and email it to the library.  The current fee for non-residents is $50




There are a few more libraries with non-resident cards, but they were all over $50 which is my limit (Austin Public Library and Orange County Public Library.  After looking at the catalogs of the libraries that I found that will do non-resident, BPL has by far the most selections.  I will be renewing that card.

Review: Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have waited for my e-book turn at the library for what seems like forever. I was kind of sad that this book was so good because I devoured it in two sittings (only because I had to fix dinner for the fam). I pretty much fell in love with Kya from the first moment that Ms. Owens introduced us to her. As I watched her age I saw her do things that I don't think I could ever do and accomplish things I have only dreamed of doing.

The ending made me both sad and happy all at the same time. I won't spoil it for you, but if you like books that will warm your heart along with a little murder then this book is for you. If you don't like the murder part, don't worry, that is not the main topic of the book, at least it wasn't for me...for me it was SURVIVAL. This book was all about survival for me.

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Review: Dear Edward

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had no intention of finishing my February Book Club pick in one day. I had no intention of devouring this book and staying up way too late because I could not put it down. I had no intention of falling in love with this story, but I did. First of all (please don't read this if you have not read the book), I do not like airplanes, not one bit and I had an idea that what happened would happen because of the big plane set up, but I never once wavered in the love that I was experiencing while reading this book. I had so many emotions. Not so many tears, but I had so many emotions....and I am sure that I wore a shocked face for much of the time I spent with Edward Adler. We are barely into the new year and I already have read 2 books that I would pick either of them for the "pick" book of the year.

If you have not read this one, you must.

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Review: Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History

Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History by Maureen Orth
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

oooh this one is sick and twisted. I remember watching tv during all of these events and I tried to make sense out of what this guy was thinking. This book only left a few answers since Andrew seemed to left no answers in his wake. The sheer magnitude of his evilness towards people he said he was friends with, admired and one (possibly two) that he never even met...is just surreal. Don't read this one if you are squeamish.

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Review: Spy

Spy by Danielle Steel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Danielle Steel is a very popular writer, yes, I know that, but this book really wasn't for me. I read it because it was supposed to be about a girl spying for the British government during WWII, which happens to be a genre of books that I LOVE....well, I must say there were lots of plot lines that could have been explored. A lot of endings that I created in my head that I thought would have made for a better book. I just did not enjoy this. I am not that romance novel girl, I really should not have picked up this one.

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Review: The Glittering Hour: A Novel

The Glittering Hour: A Novel by Iona Grey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the first pick of my 2020 book "club" pick. I was nervous about picking it because I was asking people to read with me. About 5% into the book I was afraid I made a mistake picking this one, but no I was so wrong. About 10% into the book I realized I really needed to know about Selina and this Alice person. We were traveling through time, but I wasn't sure how these two girls were connected. I had to know about Selina, Theo, and Flick. I needed to know how their antics were going to translate into what kind of adults they were becoming. I don't want to spoil something for you so I won't tell you much more. I will tell you that this book is about the Bright Young Things and what high jinx they get involved in and how life happens to them and they have to become adults. It is also about a woman, Selina who is trapped in a world of wealth and "putting on airs". Selina longs for an escape from this world, but how will she run away from it? Once she finds her path the proverbial rug is ripped out from under her and she has to re-think all of her dreams and desires.


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Did I achieve my 2019 goals?

In January, I wrote that I wanted to accomplish these items: 

How did I do?  

 I did mail more cards, I also sent more through the work mailbag and hand-delivered some.  I would like to increase that activity for 2020 because I do like to let people know I appreciate them and it gives me a chance to use my Cricut more.  

I did not make a hardcover book. I worked instead on perfecting my book journal. The whole goal of the hardcover book was to make a Moleskin type book of my book journal.  One of my pals suggested that I make a stamp instead and stamp inside the book that I already liked.  That is what I did.  I LOVE my book stamp.  I can stamp 3 entries on each page.  

I did indeed go to Halifax.  I took a cab to the cemetery, I think I took a photo of all 120 graves.  I also got the book that accompanies the gravesites.  Well, I got the book for Christmas and at this writing, I have just started it.  I think it will be great to go along with my photos.  I only recognized a few of the names there so I am looking forward to learning about some of the others.  What was so sad about the whole thing, other than the fact that 1500 died that night) was that there were so many unmarked graves in Halifax.  Someone's loved one is buried there and no one knows where they are, it was just sad.  I also look forward to what the book has to say about all the unmarked graves.

I have done better with not eating candy. I need to work on junk food and pies and cakes.  That will be my goal for 2020. To consume less sugary foods.  

The last two goals I achieved, at least I had the photos organized until October when we went to Halifax and NYC. I need to start with October and start organizing again from there.  As for the books, my goal is always to read 100.  At this typing, I am up to 118, and I hope to finish one more so that my total ends in the 19, the same as the year (I know I am weird).  

I completed one more lifelong goal that I can't talk to anyone about yet, but I never thought it would happen and I did it!!! I am super excited to tell everyone about it when the time is right to tell everyone.  

2020 Goals

Re-read some Fitzgerald (after all we are entering the Roaring 20's)

Keep the photos organized and up to date

Restarting a former goal of backing up phone photos once a month to the external

Read and review 100 books

Do a book of the month and publish it on FACEBOOK to see if folks join in and read with me.  Also, I have written a 2020 Reading Challenge that I want to publish and see if folks will complete that with me as well.

De-clutter my garage

Start working on my book

2020 will show some changes for our family, our son will graduate high school and who knows what we will do after that.  See you in 2020.  

Review: Me

Me by Elton John
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I loved it not just because I like Elton's music, but this is a book by a celebrity that isn't pretty. It is honest and in spots, gut-wrenching. There are scenes that make you want to smack Elton upside of the head like Cher did in Moonstruck and say "snap out of it". Then there is there are the scenes with the mother. I don't want to spoil it, but she was terrible! I won't tell you how or what he did.

Elton has always been honest about his addiction to drugs and in these pages, he takes down that short road to addiction, then later he takes us on the long journey to sobriety. He is very honest about how the need for more drugs felt and tells us about the people left in the wake of his unhealthy path.

I devoured this book because I loved everything contained in the pages. Elton's storytelling was interesting, fun, sad, hilarious and to me, time well spent. I don't think you have to be an Elton fan to find the book interesting, but I think you will enjoy the ride more if you are.



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