It's about TIME!!!

It's been exactly one month and one day since my last blog and please believe me that it's been hard for me to keep you in the dark this long but I promised George that I wouldn't say anything until we actually SOLD the Harvard house and that meant...going to the closing and CLOSING THE DEAL!!! Foolishly, I agreed and because I know myself...all in or all out..., I knew I couldn't keep my finger from telling everyone that we had buyers for the house...so I just closed it down and put my fingers to the grindstone.

Soooooooooo...........WE SOLD THE HARVARD HOUSE!!!.... It's official and it's a done deal!  Whewwwwwwwwwwwww!  So it is a bit bittersweet that I begin again.  We are 100% out of Harvard and 100% in Martha.  Last night I did the opposite of what I've been doing for the past 5 months... after loading the last of the minutia, and cleaning the house we got in the truck at 2:30am, said goodbye to the holder of our hearts and family for the last 20 years and drove TO Martha.  We rode in silence and I think we both were trying not to let the other see the tears but when George unlocked the front door he looked at me and said, "Well, we start the next chapter now!"  So without further ado...

What have we been doing for the last 31 days?... Packing, packing, more packing, sorting, moving from here to there and back to that room over there ... NO, the other room...ugh... oh wait...there may have been a few updates since the Sewing Room...let's see.

THE MASTER BEDROOM...
(This room comes with a warning...If you do not want to be inundated with overwhelming awe, I suggest you not view these snaps!  This transformation is hard for most people to grasp and I'm just warning you... you're gonna wanna stay here!)


BEFORE...view from the hallway door...(there are 3 doors in this room...that's crazy talk!)

 Fireplace....

 View into the Mini Bar Area going into The Lounge

 So as you can see, we have lots of chipped trim and dirty cream colored walls.  I didn't get any snaps of the ceiling, drats!  It wasn't pretty but that's all been taken care of now...

 George working on ceiling...He looks so happy! : )

 Someone liked borders...the 80's called... they want it back!

 You can sorta see the ceiling in this snap... and you get a better idea of the trim work needed...ugh.

Ceiling light... hmmmmm...

So please fasten your seat belts...it's gonna get bumpy...

Walls get the first coat of "Pink Blush Morning"...

Day light shot with trim, ceiling and walls all painted... see the "hanging light fixture"

 Natural light is wonderful...

The floor was sanded down to barewood and then we "pickled" it.  We used a "pickling white" stain and sealer... It gives it that white washed look... look at the shadow of the Jade plant... I love it!

 Furniture moved in... the bed is READY!!!

 Sorta blurry but you're getting the vibe...

 My new reading area...

 This gives you a good view of the chandelier... and the floor.   The picture in the black frame was done by George when he was in 3rd grade... LOVE LOVE LOVE...

My favorite picture... Taken by Alfred Eisenstadt in Paris... The whole title is... "A wide range of facial expressions on children the moment the dragon is slain"  I absolutely LOVE this picture... It's printed on canvas and measures 30 x 40 to give you the idea of size... I pretend that I'm the one wearing the babushka and that George is the boy with his arm in the air.  
Well, I've fallen asleep twice while trying to finish this... I've got more to show you and promise it won't be so long between posts.  Thanks so much for all your inquires and nice letters and notes.  So glad to have closed one chapter and opened the next and am very thankful that you are along for the ride.
Peace,
Cherie and Martha.

Sunday is the new Friday!

Guess what?  Sunday is the new Friday!  I know I said that I would reveal "The Lounge" after Friday night at midnight...and here it is Sunday night and I've yet to reveal anything!  Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... it was just that kind of weekend.  Actually, it was a weekend like I've not had since we've bought Martha.  I swear that I had every intention of finishing on Friday night but George said "NO".  He wanted some attention and wanted to give me some attention so I closed up early and we went out to dinner and I actually went to bed BEFORE midnight!  (That's crazy talk!)  Saturday morning was spent with my sister, visiting Estate Sales where we got some WONDERFUL finds...you'll see some in my snaps tonight!  The rest of the afternoon I tried to get the room done and it wasn't happening... so without further ado... Let's see what we've got here...

Starting the paint job... The color is Seedling Moss and it is such a soft green. LOVE IT!

Look at the ceiling fan!  HIDEOUS!!! 

 And NOW... Forewarning... the Lounge is not completely done...but it's not far from done! The feel for the room is "Hopper-esque" The Hopper painting NIGHTHAWKS is the focal piece and it's not up yet because of a framing issue but I hope to get it finished tomorrow night...sooooooooo.....

Small Hopper Prints

New wall sconces... that yours truly installed!

Close up

Old fan...that sorta was hanging on one side...

New fan...that took me 3 hours to install!

 So I forgot how much I dislike installing ceiling fans.  I love their function but putting them together and then working with old wiring is a HUGE PAIN IN THE @#$%.  That said, I love the new fan and after I did a few Tai Chi moves and some "Open & Close" movements, I was able to return to the fan and the wiring as a much calmer and centered Project Manager.  I can now state that I changed two wall plugs, installed two new wall sconces and a new ceiling fan...making me feel like a true apprentice electrician.  Seriously, I am feeling a bit more confident in my electrical work... that might be dangerous!!!  LOL...

Love this old slide holder box...the drawers are metal !

Beautiful Radiator  

Hello Lounge of the Year!!!

 So I still have to hang the curtains, install the tie backs get all the door hardware back on and then a few other loose ends... but I totally feel the vibe of this room... LOUNGE... LOUNGE AROUND... HAVE A SEAT AND ENJOY A BEVERAGE IN THE LOUNGE!  Are you getting the vibe?  What do you think? I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of the round wall!!!  Promise to get those for tomorrow's blog.  Hope you enjoyed this reveal... #2 is almost DONE and I'm moving on to the main floor bathroom...because.... H E L L O.... the plumber starts this week!!!  OMG... OMG... we are gonna have running water and a place to go bathroom other than a bucket!!!  So ExciTed... So Happy!!!
Thanks for checking in on us.
Peace,
C

Your lips are SEALED!

Well, I couldn't wait to get on and see how many bids were rolling in for those wonderful light switch covers... there had to be at least 10 -15 bids, you guys had to be going crazy fighting over those gems!  WAIT... WHAT??? NO BIDS, NO REQUESTS?  WHAT?  How could this be?  Who doesn't want a Sponge Bob Square Pants light switch cover?  Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... I see, You don't!  HURTFUL!  LOL LOL LOL

Just didn't want to make you miss this crazy guy... how could you not smile looking at this...one more time!
So the cabinet is done, added another coat and put the shelves back in after I sanded them and then put some stuff on the shelves!  I don't have a picture because my camera battery died... I'll get one for you tomorrow.  I know how bad you want to see my supplies!

The next thing I'm about to tell you is between you and me.  This means you are NOT to talk to George about this!  If you're wondering..."Won't George read this?"  PLEASE... he thinks I'm nuts telling you this stuff now.  So I found myself in the master bath ... I know I know... I said I'd stay on track and I am but I just walked by and thought I should check on that wall with the cabinet above it....

Disclaimer - I asked and you gave your suggestions and I will keep the cabinet but I am going to move it to a different wall.  It will look better and serve my uses if I place it on the east wall instead of where it is.
Back to the wall - So I was looking at the tile and trying to examine the grout because I'm not thrilled with how there is no space between the tiles...and then I sorta pushed one...and uh oh... it came off the wall. Shhhhhhhhh.... I had to grab it and the one next to it.  It wasn't my fault.  I was just checking the grout line...with a screw driver and a spatula....and a hammer.  See that black line under the cabinet?  That's what I'm talking about...they just fell out!  Here's where it gets amazing.... You have never seen tiles this thick!  Seriously! They are almost 1/2" thick...

Can you believe it?  It's amazing!  They are super heavy and yet delicate at the same time.  I sprayed some cleaner on one of them to see how they'd clean up and they are beautiful!  There is much more green in them than you originally see and I think I'm going to end up liking them.

I love all the crazing on them and now I'm thinking I will have to incorporate a soft green/blue wall color in the bathroom... not to worry....it won't be "Mint Green" like your Grandma's bathroom, it's gotta be a bit cooler than that with hint of both.  Somehow I've gotten off track, do you see how easily this happens?  Now you're off track too!  Back to the office/Bedroom #5.

So here's the check list to keep me on track this weekend....

1. Finish painting outside of the cabinet
2. Wash all the baseboard trim
3. Lightly sand the trim
4. Paint the trim
5. Wash and remove all the staples from the windows
6. Lightly sand
7. Paint the trim around the windows
8. Replace broken window
9. Fix the window rope on one window
10. Clean both windows and storms
11. Mud the walls where needed
12. Sand the walls where mudded
13. PAINT THE ROOM - CHOSEN COLOR IS...(DRUM ROLL PLEASE) - 

Okay, another disclaimer...actually 2 disclaimers - This color is Martha Stewart's Paint called Enamelware and my friend Rene used it in her kitchen and every time I see it, I smile. It doesn't look like this on the walls, it looks happier, with that said, I think it is soft and will look awesome with white trim and a white ceiling!  As I stated before, this room is getting carpet due to major flooring issues... Don't have anything picked out for that yet! My other disclaimer is this... I am not allowed to know the name of the color of paint... This is a bad thing for me because I have chosen paint I'm not always thrilled with because I loved the name of the paint!  Have you ever done that?  OMG... it's wrong!  So from here on out, I am not allowed to look at the name, just choose the color and then look at the name.  This is where you're not allowed to tell George... I didn't do anything to the tile, it just fell out and I didn't get Benjamin Moore Paint for the office because I wanted this color... Enough said.

I am writing this in the waiting room at OSU Hospital while my beautiful daughter is having surgery. (We welcome positive thoughts - Send them her way - it's free) I am off today and tomorrow and will help her get set up today when she gets out and then plan on working on Martha for the next 3 days.  My highest hopes are to get thru #14.  Do you think I'll make it?  Can't wait to find out if I can.  

Last note - When you stop by to see updates or just want to sit on the porch, do not forget to bring me a large Diet Pepsi with lots of ice!  Martha makes me thirsty.

Thanks for stopping by.

Peace,

C

Let the Bidding Wars Begin!

So here we are... my fear that you think I'm not working hard enough or getting enough done and wondering..."What the hell is Cherie doing?  Eating bonbons all day, lying on the couch watching Love It or List It, How long could it take to paint a little, tiny built in wall cabinet?  C'mon, get busy... get something done!!!!"  Please Please let me explain...
As the PROJECT MANAGER my plan for this is to try and stay on track in one room...and then the problems begin...for some reason, I keep finding things that are "shiny" and pulling me away.  Tonight was different... I stayed on track and look what I have to show for it!

Inside the "office" cabinet - BEFORE

More inside the cabinet - BEFORE

With the doors shut - BEFORE

So here's how it takes so long... and my plan from now til Sunday... Until the plumber is hired and we have water, I have to work on things that won't be effected by pipes or plumbing or anything water related.  That leaves me my office, George's Den and the dreaded tack and staple removal...not to mention the yard work ... and 95 other miscellaneous things.  So I'm planting myself into my office or the room officially know as Bedroom #5. This is the only bedroom that is going to be carpeted due to flooring issues.  That's do-able.  The ceiling will not be what I want but due to MAJOR ceiling issues it will remain the type of ceiling that it is, which is just like a certain Harry Potter character - we do not mention it's name...but it rhythms with "frop-ceiling" UGH. Don't worry, I found some cool tiles and they will make a hot mess, WORK!   So there is a bit of "mud" work to fill in som
e holes, trim to clean, sand and paint, walls to wash and paint, cabinet/closet to clean, sand and paint and some window repair/clean and fix work and then it's DONE!  I should be able to knock this out in 3 nights...hmmmm... So I start by cleaning the inside of this built-in.  In 1 hour I have managed to get it cleaned.  It was so dirty gross that I realized that it has never been cleaned or washed since 1907!  MARTHA!  That's GroSS!!! 
Hour 2 - Sand the trim and the frame and parts of the inside walls that have gum and sticky stuff on them and the two shelves.
Hour 3 - Sand the trim and the frame and parts of the inside walls that have gum and sticky stuff on them and the two shelves.Hour 4 - Sand the trim and the frame and parts of the inside walls that have gum and sticky stuff on them and the two shelves.You have got to be kidding me!!!
Hour 5 - Finally able to wash the walls again and begin painting...OMG... this is the first thing I will be painting in Martha!  THIS IS HUGE! Let's have a look, shall we?

Here's what it looks like now.  Clean and Fresh!  Ready to hold all my office supplies!


Here's another shot....
Okay, it might need another coat.

So there you have it!  I've painted something, cleaned something, sanded something and I have an almost finished project!  Are you excited?  I know I am!  I also got side tracked by some of the beautiful light switches and they are so beautiful that I think that I am going to show my generous side along with my savvy business side and offer these for sale to help defray the plumbing cost... so I want you to get your credit cards out and get ready to bid on these unbelievable light switches... be warned, they probably all will go into a bidding war frenzy... Don't hold back.. start bidding and bid HIGH!  I will pay for the shipping so bid even higher..

Number 1 - Let's start the bidding at $500.00  - LMAO LMAO 

This is a true beauty and look, it's for a double switch but can be used as a single too for an added bonus!  Let's start this one out around $700.00 - OMG... OMG... it's worth it...really.

Number 3 - Now this is a real gem!  I'm thinking if your name begins with an "S" , you'd be a total fool not to bid on this keeper!  Let's start this one at $1000.00 - hey, it's monogrammed!

Now let this be a valuable lesson to you... Light switches like this don't come around often...(thank God) so start bidding and BID TO WIN!

Sorry, it's late and I'm beat and now I can't stop laughing!  Don't worry... more to come.
Peace...
C

We're all Mad here

So...here I am, back from California and ready to go over and see Martha... it's only 2:08am..George says NO! But it is my birthday so I should be able to do whatever I want!!! With that being said, I need to tell you a non-Martha story...with a Martha update or two thrown in for good measure.

This started a little while ago and it wasn't really a story to tell until I went to California.... My hair has been a hot mess since April when I had an experience that was a "different" hair experience. I've been trying to grow my hair out into a "Bob"  all one length and I don't know what's going on but my hair is just not cooperating.  It breaks and is fly away and thin and where there is a color that is in between black and white....some might say that "Grey" word (of course just a few strands) those hairs are thick and have a mind of their own!!!! I told you that this wasn't much of a story...

So I find myself in California for work - National JA Conference which was a wonderful experience for all the kids and their families, and I look at myself and think "what am I thinking with my hair like this?"  UGH!
So when I has some free time, I walked across the street to a Hair and Nail "Salon" (I use the term loosely) and I'm greeted by a small man with ivory slacks and a matching ivory shirt, slicked back black hair, lots of gold jewelry and a very thin mustache who pointed and his finger nails, raised his eyebrows and then tugged on his hair like a question. I said I wanted to get a haircut and he shouted out something in Spanish and all 5 of the ladies sitting in chairs stood up and he waved his arms and one of them came over and took me by the arm and sat me in a chair.

I was looking all around trying to take it in and figure out what was going on. I told Carmaleena that I wanted a short, cute, fresh, YOUNG looking cut.  I did NOT want an old lady cut!  She was nodding the entire time and then said something in Spanish and the next thing I know there are 4 women feeling my hair and sentences rolling off their tongues and tugging and lots of head shaking.  The entire "Salon" is filled with Spanish music and I'm the only customer. She sprays my hair wet with a spray bottle and starts cutting away. I decide not to look while this is going on...it feels lighter and she seems to know what she's doing,  I open my eyes and then I am surprised to see that all of my "colored" hair is on the floor and I'm not longer a blonde but a salt and pepper old lady!  Something I have found is that when you get your hair cut, the stylist always want to make your hair look "NICE".  I don't want my hair to look "NICE"  That's just not me.  I told her that.  She shook her head and gave me the "no"  then she said another thing I didn't understand and I said that I wanted it shorter and she shook her head and put her hand up really high in the air and said NO.  This meant that I am too tall to have really short hair.  So I said okay... I was looking at the mirror and started messing with the style and she slapped my hand down and sprayed some dollar store hair spray on my new do. Nice puffy in the back and some high sides.  hmmmmm... I walked up to the register and the lovely man told me that it would cost $14.00!!!! You could have knocked me over with a feather.

I walked across the street to Target and bought a box of hair color. In 30 minutes, I had a new hair color and a new cut and I'm a new woman...with a new old house...and I look like a woman with a new hair color and a new cut and I'm a new woman...with a new old house...  From here ...there is no telling what I can do!  I went and got my haircut at a place where I don't speak the language by women that had no idea what I was saying and it all worked out! Let that be a lesson for you!

On a Martha note... Fun news... the first thing I've ordered for her arrived while I was gone...getting my haircut... not super exciting but look!!!

This is the shower curtain for the downstairs bath!!!

So So excited!  We have a shower curtain!!!!

Thanks...for letting me ramble on and on...back to Martha tomorrow...promise!

Peace,

C

While I'm gone...

I am amazed at how much I miss Martha!  Oh the beauty of California and all of the interesting people I've met and their stories... It breaks my heart and I am again reminded of why I work for the Arthritis Foundation... I am frustrated all over again hearing how long it takes to get an appointment to see a doctor and then to find your diagnosis! These parents are hurting, waiting to get their children "fixed"...and on and on...and then I go back to my room and start wondering what is going on with Martha...  Is she lonely without me?  Does she think I deserted her like everyone else?  I know you think I'm being silly...and I am but it's true.  I had dreams about walking around in the rooms putting pieces that I have in my suitcase in each room...weird...

So I promised you some fun pictures... Look what I have... These are pictures from a website that was trying to sell Martha in 2000...so about 13 years ago... Let's look...

The porch with working lights and lots of stuff!

Here's the Receiving Area all fancied up!
 

This is the 3rd floor...hmmm

This is the area we called the BAD ROOM  because it was so GROSS...

Bedroom #2... Decorating style??? Uhmmm okay well, NO

Bedroom #3...more of that floral...omg...

This is the laundry/canning kitchen/not sure but it does NOT look like this now.

Master Bath...a bit over decorated but okay...

Coming down the front staircase...

The dining room all fancied up!

Bar in the Family room...hmmm

Shows the the room in the family room area...party time!

Coming down the front staircase

OMG OMG  the APPLE kitchen!!!

LOOK LOOK... The fireplace isn't painted! ! ! OMG... So different!!!

Well, there you have it.  We got a peek into the house when it had a family that loved her...even though they had no design ascetic...maybe it was just the times...ohhhhhhh shutter! But you can see that she was loved!  So, to follow up, the tile vote seems unanimous,  WE ARE KEEPING THE TILE.  The cabinet got mixed reviews... but I think we will keep it and see what I can do with it and if that doesn't work, I will put it elsewhere.!
You guys are awesome and wonderful and have great insight...you know the forest through the trees type of thing.
Got to get to my meetings... I'll check back in tonight with some more exciting and fun updates!!!
Stay cool...
C