Real quick

I finally got my new drapes ironed and hung last night. We were waiting to find time to get some new curtain rods. I was originally going to make cornices to go with them, but I don't think I'm going to. I've got a project I can use the extra material for I think. We bought new decorative rods and matching metal tiebacks. Here's a picture. I think they turned out great. We love them! Thanks Laura! Here's a picture of one window:

Hambone

Here's the new kitty...The other cats have accepted him pretty well...in one of these pictures he's lying right next to Furball. They're almost touching (gasp!). I think he's going to be a good addition. He's about a year old, so we're taking him to be fixed on Wednesday. He is pretty underweight, but I'm sure we'll fix that! His fur looked pretty stringy and rough the first couple of days, but he's looking better everyday. And he seems very happy to have a good home. He's very affectionate. I'm glad to have him...The first picture is from the first day we had him, the second is from just a few minutes ago. Here he is:

Happy New Year!

Well...in a couple of days anyway. I know it'll be a busy few days for us, so I thought I'd get a post in now. I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas. We were a bit worn out, but really enjoyed getting to see everyone. I just hated that we had to leave so soon. I really miss getting to hang out with my whole family at the same time.
We have a new addition to our little family...a feline one. So, now we're back up to 4...bordering again on "crazy cat people" status LOL. I'll post a picture as soon as I download one from the camera. Kind of a long story about how we ended up with this one, but he's really a sweetheart. He loves me...even more than Mark. Which is significant only because the others all prefer Mark to me. He's a bit malnourished looking, but I'm sure we'll fatten him up in no time if our other cats are any indication. Oh, and we've named him Hambone (yes, Laura, I got that from you...hope you don't mind).
We're having a New Year's party at our house. We did last year too, but we didn't have much of a turnout. This year is looking like we'll have a rather large turnout. Which is fine with us! We'll just have to line people up on the floor in sleeping bags because I don't think anyone will be leaving. We've got a lot to do before Sunday afternoon, but we're looking forward to it. We love having parties.
And here I'm going to get little thoughtful...Laura, you may want to avert your eyes LOL!
I was thinking last week while I was driving all over creation for work...I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. I would never have thought I'd have ended up where I am...geographically, professionally or emotionally, but I'm very, very happy. I love Martin, I love our house, I enjoy my job, and my marriage is great.
I think I had a very false idea of what marriage would be and I've really let go of that idea. It's nothing like I thought it would be, it's much more mundane I guess, but that's not a bad thing. It's just much less dramatic and much more secure and comfortable. And while I see Mark ALL the time since we work together, we've adjusted to that and I understand now when he needs some space. So I give him a little space and I find that I need a little space too. So it works out. And while sometimes we get on eachother's nerves, I don't get so wound up about it anymore. It's just nice. I'm very comfortable and very happy.
But it's not just my marriage, it's me. I just feel comfortable with me. I just am who I am I guess. I've changed alot and I realize that, I'd say it's all been for the better. But I don't feel alot of need to change now. I'm sure I still will, that's kind of inevitable, but I'm comfortable being me now. I have a confidence in myself that I never had before and it comes in handy at work and in my social life. I think I have more friends now than I've ever had, and I really enjoy the circle of friends that Mark and I have. I think that's a lot of the reason why I like Martin so much. It's just all so nice.
I'd say there are still things missing in my life, but I struggle alot less with that. I just feel much more peace than I ever have before. Every now and then I'll catch myself thinking about all this and it almost catches me off guard...this is what happy feels like. I know it all sounds very cheesy, but I've struggled alot with depression and I honestly thought I might never really be happy, that I'd never know what it meant to be happy. So, it makes me stop and think and it makes me extremely thankful. I had moments of happiness or contentment before, but now I have moments of not being happy or content. Because by far these days I am content way more often than I'm not. Life is good and that's such a great way to start the New Year. I wish you all the same! Happy New Year!

Home again.

Because I'm sick again. I went to work because I felt better this morning, but now I feel like I'm about to suffocate. So, I'm trying to concentrate on something besides the fact that I can't breathe. So, you get a blog entry out of the deal.

Last night I finished another scrap page. This one's for May. This is the only page I've done that Mark said something about (positive or negative). He likes this one I'm pretty sure. He came up behind me last night while I was working on it and told me I was doing a good job (awwww). It's a good thing he said that because I was getting a little discouraged. You just never know how Anne will take something. I'm sure she'll appreciate the effort I've put into this at the very least. Anyway...May is the mothers page. I spent a good hour searching for a picture of Anne and her mother. Mark got home when I was about 3/4 through. I finally had to ask him if they didn't get along or something because I found ONE picture of the 2 of them together and that's it!! There were a few that they were both in, but there were always other people. I didn't have this problem finding ones with she and her father. Not that there were a ton, but there were at least a few to choose from. So, when you see this layout keep in mind the pickins were slim.

I got the pictures scanned in for the June page. That would be the fathers page. I had a different problem with this one. I found several pictures of Anne and her father, but all but one of them were from when she was a teenager or older. This being a problem because I wanted the ages of the children in the pictures to be in the same ballpark at least. And Mark's dad died when he was 10, so all the pictures of the 2 of them are when Mark was pretty young. Even at that there aren't that many. I'm sure there are more, but I think Anne has them. So, I'm using a Halloween picture which seems a little odd for June, but it's kind of a sweet picture and it's the one Mark wanted me to use...I think it's one of his favorites. So I'll post that too. I'm rambling, so I'll get on to the pictures now!

I got 3 months worth of calendar pictures finished today! Woohoo! I didn't get any done yesterday, so I had to make up for it. They probably aren't my favorite scrap pages ever, but I guess they can't all be masterpieces, right? LOL

I'm really not feeling very well, but doing my best not to let a little chest cold get me down. I've got too much to do for that. I had all the usual weekend stuff to do, plus some extra things. Yesterday I got my hair cut then I had to make a trip to Wal-Mart. I dread Wal-Mart on a normal day, but there were 5 times the number of people there yesterday. It was really kind of ridiculous. I got through it though. Then came home and took a good nap. I wasn't feeling well at all. Then we went to a party at Tracy & Stephanie's house. We didn't stay all that long, mostly because I wasn't feeling 100%, but we had a really good time. We're usually the ones having the party it seems like, so it was nice to go to a party! We met lots of people and got to hang out with our friends. Tracy, if you're reading this, we had a GREAT time! Thanks for inviting us!

Today I decided I had to get some work done. So I started the laundry, which unfortunately is still going. Mark and I went out to lunch then I did some scrap pages and wrapped the rest of the presents. With the exception of one gift I'm still waiting to get (UPS) Christmas is ready to go! Oh, but I do have to re-stitch Mark's stocking before I can actually put anything in it.

I guess that's enough rambling...I'll leave you with the 3 scrap pages I finished today. If you have any input on these (and Laura, I'm sure you will ;)) let me know!

March:

July:

August:

Quick note...

Ok people...I'm blogging my butt off here and I've got NO comments. Ok...I got one comment a few days ago. If this is how it's going to be, I'm going back to once a week. Got it? LOL

Edit: I didn't mean to be pissy about it, I was just wondering where everyone was. I'm not sure what the problem was with posting comments to my blog. I did add a security feature, but that's been several weeks ago...it's just the squiggly word thing. I'm going to assume it's working now, but if it's not, someone please let me know. Thanks!

April layout

I swear, I should've just sent the pictures to Laura and let her do my layouts...We've been working on them using Hello to communicate. Here's April:






















That's all for tonight...Happy Friday!

Fun little project

This is my accomplishment for the evening...I saw this picture of Anne (Mark's mother) as a little girl and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. This is going on my Easter (April) calendar page. I haven't done the page yet...but I'll post the before & afters of the picture. The color may still need to be toned down a bit...y'all tell me what you think. I really enjoyed doing this...I may have to do another one! LOL Doesn't this picture remind you ever so slightly of Jennifer?

Here's the before:



















And the after:



















Let me know what you think! Have a Happy Thursday!

Laura's Tag

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Wrapped (unwrapped?? How boring!)
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like both, but my tree has white lights b/c Mark likes them better.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Yes, we have some that grows in a tree in our front yard, Mark shot some down last weekend. We also have a MistleToad that Mark hangs in one of the doorways...but that's totally different.
5. When do you put your decorations up? The weekend after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Sweet potato casserole
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child- Getting up early, early and everyone opening gifts all at once.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? 4th or 5th grade I think.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Just the ones from Mark (we open gifts the night before any occasion, I don't know why. It started with our wedding gifts to eachother and we've just continued it for some reason...like we just can't wait any longer to give eachother our gifts:))
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? White lights, old ornaments from Mark's family, some really old colored beads (also from Mark's family), beaded snowflake ornaments I've made, ornaments we made in school, ornaments Mommy gave me through the years, and a couple ornaments Mark and I have gotten on our vacations together.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love to look it, hate to drive in it. Not because I can't drive in it, I'm not bad at it...other drivers just scare me.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but I don't particularly like to.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I've had many favorites...too many to list.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family. The holidays have always been about family to me. Mark hasn't ever been a big fan of the holidays for understandable reasons I won't go into here. So, last year and this year, it's been very important to me to share my idea of Christmas and family with him and to build our own traditions together (thus the opening presents under the tree on Christmas Eve).
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pecan pie
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Probably breakfast at my grandmother's house. I've never missed it and I'd never want to miss it.
17. What tops your tree? An angel holding 2 candles (lit up) that my mom gave me.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Definitely giving, I just love the look on a person's face when they open a present from me that they love.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? They're ok...I don't go out and buy them by the boxful. Give me chocolate instead please.

Progress

I finished wrapping all the gifts I had tonight! Woohoo!!! AND...I got 2 calendar pages done. Well, I did one, Laura did the other. So, I'll post them below. One is December (this should look familiar from Laura's blog...it's almost identical except the picture, the words and I think she moved one element. The other is February...I used Mark's grandparents' wedding picture as well as his parents' and ours...tell me what you think...

Have a great Wednesday!!

December

February

Quick post

I'll make this quick because I really need to get to bed. It's nearly 11...so if I wait to much longer I'll be worthless tomorrow at work.

Unfortunately, I haven't made good on getting my calendar picture scrap pages started. I did get all the pictures scanned in last night, which took a good amount of time. Tonight I didn't feel like doing much. Mark only worked about 1/2 a day since he wasn't feeling well. I think he's like I am on sick days. He didn't feel good, but I think he got a little bored. So, he had a roast in the oven when I got home. That was nice! I spent most of my evening on the couch, but I did get some more gifts wrapped. I've got to get a couple more boxes and then I can finish up. I'm *almost* done. I did decide I didn't like what I'd gotten Mammaw D., so I found another one online and ordered it tonight, now I just have to remember to take the first one with me to work so I can send it back. I also finished shopping for Mark today (online), so as soon as those things get here I think I'm officially done...Haven't I already said that like 4 times?? I really mean it this time, unless I find something else Mark has to have. ;)

I don't have much else to post, but I did scan a couple cute pictures of Mark in last night, so I'll share those...these were both taken on our farm. One at the pond (which looked better then than it does now...and I think then it actually had fish in it), the other right by the driveway at the corner of the house...enjoy Mark in all his cuteness...

Anne, Mark and Mark's Grandfather Templeton

Mark fishing at the pond.

Weekend report

The weekends just don't ever last long enough, do they? I didn't do much of anything Saturday...laid on the couch and read most of the day. I had a really bad day actually. I won't go into it...poor Mark did his best to cheer me up. We did get out of the house for a little while. We went to Union City to get one last gift (for the guy Mark drew at work), then we went and bought me a new pair of running shoes (finally), we made a stop in Fulton for some beer (good beer, otherwise we could've bought it in Martin) and then we stopped by Anne's (Mark's mother) house to fix her phone for her. I'm not sure what the problem was, but I think Mark got it fixed. We stayed and chatted with her for a little while...she was in rare form. It was very entertaining! I love it when she's like that...she's got such a dry sense of humor (drier than Mark's) and she cracks me up sometimes.
Today Mark hasn't felt well at all, so he's spent most of his time in the recliner or in bed. I didn't feel all the great, but decided I had LOTS to do, so I got to work. I did ALL the laundry (last of it's in the dryer now) and all the dishes. Took out the trash, etc, etc. Then I got to work on the calendar I'm making for Anne for Christmas. I got the calendar pages done, now I just have to do the corresponding picture pages. I started looking through the photos I had already scanned in and decided that they would look boring just stuck on a page, so I'm going to do digital scrap pages for each one. I already had a couple done that I could use, so I altered them to fit the page correctly. So I think that leaves me 8 or 9 left to do. I downloaded some digiscrap freebies from Shabby Princess and scanned another picture in, but I haven't actually started creating the rest of the pages yet. I'm going to have to start one tonight so I can keep up my momentum or otherwise I'll procrastinate until the week before Christmas, which isn't that far off. I'll try to post them as I get them done. The ones I've already done, you've already seen on my blog, so that won't be new and interesting to anyone. I think if I can get one a night done, I should be fine. Then I'll just have to get them printed and take them to be bound down the street from work. Better get started now...I've still got gifts I want to get wrapped tonight! Have a great week everyone!

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I was very productive yesterday. Today, not so much. Yesterday Mark and I drove to Paducah and finished up our Christmas shopping (except for our gifts for eachother). We got to Paducah right when the mall opened,which made the experience ALOT better. There were plenty of people, but not the usual mobs you see this time of year. We had one store to go to there, so we did that and looked around at a couple other places. Then we went to World Market. I don't know if any of you have one of these, but we LOVE that place. Especially the food section. After that we went to PetSmart because we're dorks and we buy Christmas gifts for the cats and the dog. Yes, they have their own stockings...They should be very pleased with their gifts this year. Last we went to Books-a-Million and stocked up on books because we were both out of reading material. In between all that I managed to get lunch at Olive Garden, which was enjoyable. When we got home I went to Wal-Mart and then wrapped a few Christmas presents. Then we changed the sheets on the bed, did some laundry, ate some dinner.
Today, I've done nothing really. I spent alot of the day on the couch watching the America's Next Top Model Season 7 marathon. Mark read...he wasn't so into the show :)
I did a little more laundry, but not much. I think I needed a day to just vegetate.
This week is Mark's birthday (Wednesday). He doesn't want a cake, he says. He just wants brownies, so I'll make those Wednesday evening...they're best warm. I think I'm also supposed to take him out to dinner, which I CERTAINLY don't mind. And that's about it...I have NOTHING to blog about, so that's all you get. Have a great week everyone!

I'm done!!!

Well...mostly. With my Christmas shopping that is. We've got a couple of little things to buy for Anne, and I'm making her a calendar and I've still got a few things to get for Mark, but other than that - done, done, done! Ahhh, it's nice. Now I just have to start wrapping. I've been putting that off.

I also finished addressing my Christmas cards, except for a few. I must have miscounted because I'm short a few so I'll have to get some more. I imagine I can do that tomorrow afternoon. I hope to get those ready to go next week. I'm not sure I'll get them sent by then, but I'll get them ready at least.

I don't have much new other than that. I also finished the Christmas cards at work (which I designed and printed myself). There may be a few stragglers I'll need to finish, but pretty much done. We'll have the annual seal and stamp party tomorrow afternoon so we can get all 300+ of those off.

Laura, glad to hear you *might* have opened the pattern today ;) I didn't even think to send thread with all that. Sorry.

Man, I'm boring tonight, but I hadn't posted in awhile, so I thought I'd give y'all something! Have a great weekend!

Back to work!

I have had such a nice, relaxing weekend! I hate that we weren't able to be there for Thanksgiving on Saturday, especially since the phone didn't even ring the whole 1/2 day we worked on Friday. What a waste of time! I was, however, able to get a little Christmas shopping done. Now I'm down to 3 people to buy for...well 4 including Mark. I have several ideas of what I'm going to get him, I just have to decide which big gift it's going to be and then get that and a few small things for his stocking.

Our Thanksgiving went well with Anne on Saturday. Mark roasted a huge chicken (no...not one of ours!) and we also had mashed potatos, peas, corn, turnips (ick!). Fruit salad for dessert (Anne's diabetic and refuses to eat anything sweet, even if it's just Splenda). Mark did all the cooking except for making the mashed potatos. While he was finishing up, Anne looked around the house. I think this is her thing when she is invited over. She wants to look at everything! Which is fine, I guess...the house is still technically hers. So, she wandered around and looked at all the pictures and stuff. Then she asked me if I had any family pictures on the computer. She is very intrigued by the computer...so I pulled up Daddy's website and showed her a few. Daddy, I need some of the really old ones, like in the Garrity family album...the Cavanaugh's, etc. Then she asked me if I could find this out of print book for her...which I did. It's a 2 volume reference book on exotic plants...she's likes that sort of thing. She was pleased I could find it, and I'm pleased she asked...that makes buying her Christmas present alot easier! It's a little on the expensive side, but I'm just happy we can get her something we know she specifically wants!

The rest of the weekend we spent cleaning up the yard and lounging, nothing interesting, but much needed relaxation. Unfortunately, it's back to work tomorrow...blah.

I'll leave you with a scrap page I did of our house. This picture, according to Anne, was taken some time in the 1850's. It's so neat to see how the house has changed over the years. Thanks to Laura, as usual, for your input on this page. I hope everyone has a great week!

All elements and paper: Iron Orchid

Almost Thanskgiving

We had the BEST Thanksgiving lunch at work today. I made 2 pies...chess and chocolate chess, neither of which I'd ever made before and they were GOOD...the chocolate probably could have cooked a tad longer, but it tasted very good, it was just a little gooey.

Laura, the fabric has been purchased!! So RELAX!! Mommy found some at Joann's...I haven't seen it, but she had a swatch of the fabric for my chairs with her and said it matched perfectly. So, I told her to get it. And she got the lining too. For a really good price I might add. I still need to get some contrasting green fabric, but I haven't exactly decided how to do that yet. I think it's just going to go on the valance/cornices, so I'll be doing that part anyway. So, as long as I remember to bring the pattern with me Thursday, you're all set. I'll try to remember to go ahead and put it in the car so I can't forget it.

In other, WONDERFUL news...Nan gave Mark an extra day off so he can take off the day after Christmas. That way we won't be so rushed. So we don't have to go back to work until Wednesday after Christmas. I need to know everyone's plans for that. Are we going to do what we did last year and go to Mommy & Daddy's after Mammaw's? Did we do dinner there? I know Jennifer and Laura have other places to be, so let me know so we can plan accordingly...Oh, and Mommy and Daddy might want to know to be prepared too ;) I'm hoping everyone can be around on Christmas Day, because that's really the only time we'll have to spend with everyone. So, let me know!

The weekend already?

This has been a bit of a weird week. I went home sick (stomach bug...woohoo!) on Tuesday afternoon and didn't go into work at all on Wednesday. I don't know how I ever stayed home before...I was bored out of my mind! So I worked on painting the trim in the hallway. We have now pretty much finished that project except for the ceiling and trim. That might get done tonight, but I kind of doubt it. I also got a lot of my Christmas shopping done online thanks to an IM session with Laura. I think, except for Brent, all of the kids' gifts are done. Of course, those are the easiest ones really. I have a pretty good idea of what the rest of the gifts are going to be, it's just a matter of getting around to shopping for them...online or otherwise. Mark is a bit difficult to buy for and I've got to come up with 2 for him...birthday and Christmas. I have ideas, but I'm not sure which way I'll go with it yet. I better get on it though, his birthday isn't that far off!

Mommy and Daddy are coming to visit tomorrow and miraculously the house has stayed pretty well clean and straightened up all week. Mark's just been in cleaning mode. So, I've got to do a few things tonight to de-cat everything for Mommy's sake. Not that it'll help much, but it will help and it needs to be done anyway. I dread doing it because it makes my allergies nuts, but it helps in the long run. So, I will vacuum and Febreze Allergen Reducer everything within an inch of its life. I was noticing that the drapes needs lint rollered, so I'll do that too.

My friend Tonia is supposed to get back to me today about fabric stores. Her father does upholstering (sp?), so she was going to ask him if he knows of any fabric stores nearby. If he does, hopefully Mommy and I can check those out while they're here. I'm sure Daddy and Mark can find something else to do that will be more entertaining for them. I'm down to the wire on getting fabric for Laura to make my drapes. My deadline is Thanksgiving. I can't for the life of me figure out why it's so hard to find solid color fabrics, but I will find it...I just hope I can get it done in time. I do have a Plan B...different curtains for a different room. Hmm...Laura, I didn't tell you about that, did I? LOL Probably easier to make than the drapes, which is why I was saving that project for myself.

And, in work drama, our new sales rep quit yesterday...I think he found a better offer, which is unfortunate because we all liked him alot. So, the search is once again on for another one or two sales reps. We just can't seem to find anyone that will stick. Ugh!

Ok...I've seriously been slacking on my posts. I'll try to do better next week. Have a good weekend everyone!

Shopping, shopping and more shopping...

Whew! Today wore me out! I can't remember the last time I spent the whole day shopping. I spent my birthday money plus a little more, but I think I did well. I'm not even going to try to find picture of everything. I got 1 pair of pants, 1 suit (pants & jacket), 2 shells to go underneath my suits, 2 skirts and 2 sweaters. I'm rather pleased with myself ;)
While I was at the mall I went to Gymboree and got Madeline & Caleb's birthday presents....Toys for Christmas, clothes for the birthday...Here's what I got for them.
I was able to get 2 pairs of pajamas for Caleb because they were having a good sale on those:

















And then I got an outfit for Madeline...I just can just see her in it...so cute:













Before all the clothes shopping, I went fabric shopping for the drapes Laura's making for me...not fun and I didn't have much luck either. Very frustrating!

After all the clothes shopping I had to go to WalMart...so let's just say I've had enough shopping to last me for quite awhile. AND every place I went today was SO crowded. It was like shopping in December. It took me 30 minutes to get a parking spot at the mall!

I don't know where the week went. This is a good thing, though. It didn't seem to be going all that during the week, but now it seems like it flew by. Nothing terribly eventful happened at work and at home Mark and I continued to work on the house some. Mostly cleaning things up and getting things back in order. Last night we took some extra furniture up to the attic and Mark swept floors and dusted a little. He was certainly in a cleaning mood! Not that I was sharing that feeling...I wasn't. He moved the trim and closet doors from the library out to the shop last night so he could trim the doors down some and then we can paint them. While he worked on that, I cooked. I believe it's the first time this week that I've cooked! We had beef stroganoff, which turned out really well. After dinner Mark was buzzing all over the house straightening things up and cleaning. I sat down at the computer to scan a drapery pattern in for Laura so she can see what she will be getting me for Christmas ;) Then I talked to Mommy and Daddy until we were all 3 about to fall asleep.
So that's about it for last night.

This certainly hasn't been the best week. My birthday, overall, was pretty crappy. It was a nice day outside and everyone at work remembered my birthday and spent a large part of the day teasing me about being 30...which they can do because all but 2 of them are OVER 30. Anne (Mark's mom) stopped by the office that morning and gave me my presents and chatted with us for a minute or 2. Then Mark and I went to the Pub after work for a few minutes. We hadn't been in quite a while and we thought maybe we'd get to see some friends, but there wasn't really anyone there, which was disappointing. So we went home. Mark made me a pizza on a flour tortilla (one of his specialties) and then fixed me a huge piece of birthday cake. About 8:30, I decided I'd just had enough of the day, so I went to bed. Birthdays just aren't that much fun anymore. Not that Mark didn't try, he did. He took me out on Sunday and baked my cake and gave me a present on Tuesday night. Maybe that was the problem...my birthday was just anticlimatic. It was depressing...and it wasn't that I was turning 30. It would've been depressing if I had been turning any age. Anyway...it's over. So, tomorrow I'm off to Paducah to spend my birthday money on myself! And hopefully find some fabric for the dining room drapes...which I think is going to be a challenge. Maybe some retail therapy will be good for me.

Still going...

Yesterday Mark took me to Jackson for my birthday dinner. We had Japanese...and oh my gosh it was good! Not Kobe's good, but really good. Before that we did a little shopping. I can't believe the money we spent this weekend, but 90% of it was for the room (library). We bought a roman shade for the exterior window. It's red to tie in with my Van Gogh (Field of Poppies) and add a little color to the room. It looks very nice. Also, since that room has no overhead light, we bought a floor lamp. So, except for painting the closet doors and getting them rehung, the room is complete. Furniture and all AND we got it all cleaned up and the books neatly arranged on the shelves. That gave Mark a chance to exercise his OCD tendencies. He put all his paperbacks in alphabetical order and the non-fiction books in order by subject. This was kind of a long, drawn-out process, but it's done. Mark really was in rare form this weekend. He usually gets up pretty early, even on the weekends. Usually he spends that time before I get up lounging, reading, watching TV, or on the computer. This weekend he did laundry, arranged the books, cleaned up the dining room (where all the books and knick-knacks had been sitting while we were working on the room), cleaned the kitchen, polished some furniture, etc. He even arranged some bittersweet in a vase for our fall table centerpiece. He did a good job with that too. I was quite impressed. He got a ton of stuff done. I did far less, but still had a productive weekend. I'll post some more pictures when I get a chance to take them.