New Hutch and Coat Closet

Thanks to the wonderful cleaning lady I mentioned I was able to make significant progress on the coat closet. While there are still no coats in it, they are coming. I needed to put the shelves in to visualize the space before I could even think about adding the closet rod for coats.

I will admit that my method for projects is unconventional. It has a tendency to create issues because only I know what is going on, but it ends up working out 99% of the time (the first attempts at this closet being in the 1%).

It all started after I complained to my mom about the issue with the closet, the studs, and the tendency for the anchors to come out of these walls (yes, they are installed correctly, it seems to be the walls. Even the painter and handyman have mentioned it). I had been meaning to hang shelves made of black iron piping in the dinning room above a piece of furniture. For numerous reasons I hadn’t gotten around to it, it turns out to be a good thing. Once I had complained about the closet issue, my mom envisioned similar problems with the shelves and had a minor panic attack (which I did not witness).  The next thing I know we are visiting her and she shows me a picture of a hutch exactly like what I wanted in the dinning room and tells me it is my Christmas present and will be delivered next week. I was a bit stunned, but it was exactly what I had wanted and needed for the space, they say the Lord works in mysterious ways.

Now what does this have to do with the coat closet?

Well I had already bought the iron pipe and had had it so long I couldn’t return it. Turns out it is exactly what I needed to do to organize the closet. So I started my giant jigsaw puzzle and viola, shelves! They are not adjustable like what I had wanted, but that wasn’t going to happen.

Thanks to the lovely new hutch in the dinning room and the shelves in the closet all the kitchen and canning things are out of the guestroom closet!

Now I just need to decide how to do the coats and this closet will be done.

Yay!

Two more projects done thank to one very, very nice early Christmas gift.

Spinning in Circles and Cleaning Ladies

After about three months in bed or on the couch from morning sickness, my house was sad and pathetic. There was numerous projects that had needed to get done and didn’t, it was dirty (at least by my standard), and full of crappy boxed food.

When I finally started feeling better I became overwhelmed as to where to start.

Did I finish projects so the house was better organized to clean?

Did I clean so the house was clean?

Did I start cooking more?

I decided to start on projects for one main reason, most food and cleaning supplies still made me sick. You have seen some of the projects posted on the blog.

Unfortunately no matter how “organized” I got by finishing projects it didn’t feel like anything was getting done. I was spinning in circles trying to keep up and overcome all the cleaning that needed to be done.

Then in one magical week two things happened. First I went through all the cleaning supplies and if the smell made me sick I throw it away, then I ordered more all-natural cleaners. Second, my mom and grandmother decided to hire a cleaning lady for me.

I must admit this did not start off on the best foot. I didn’t appreciate a stranger coming into my house and telling me what “needs” to be cleaned and why. I know it needed to be cleaned and I knew why… that’s why we hired her.  Its not like I enjoyed the house this way, I’ve been sick. She still likes to offer “helpful” suggestions (they aren’t helpful really because I tried them and it didn’t work…) and she moves things, but I am very grateful that her love of cleaning has allowed me to get back to things I love.

And visible progress has been made in the house!!

I really am grateful for the cleaning lady, she is a godly lady who loves to clean and care for people and uses the gifts God gave her to do just that. It has been a wonderful reminder that God designed all of us with different gifts and loves so that we can help each other. I'm so glad He designed a woman like her because He certainly did not design me with a love of cleaning and He gave me mediocre skills at cleaning.

Now that cooking doesn’t make me sick I remember why I chose to cook from scratch. It makes me so happy to cook. I love sitting down to dinner knowing it’s not a bunch of chemicals from a box. I also love that the house smells yummy most of the day.

Now hopefully by the time baby gets here the house is how I envision it and all the crappy food has vacated the premise!

Ole Miss Longies

Last time we where in Memphis Vince and I popped into Michael’s for some yarn to make longies.

I let Vince choose the yarn.

Lets just say Vince is brainwashing our child into being an Ole Miss fan from the very beginning.

I am not a huge sports fan and I never understood dressing children up in fan gear.

I told Vince if he ever doubted I loved him, these pants should be proof I do!

I used Patons’ Classic Wool Worsted in colors Bright Red and Navy.

In the past I’ve used Patons’ Classic Wool Roving, but they didn’t have the colors Vince wanted and it turned out this was easier to knit with.

I think I got carried away and made them a bit big, but I should be able to roll up the legs. Vince says that means the baby can wear them longer.

He is very happy about the pants.

Happy Birthday Vince

Today is a very, very special day.

On this day 29 years ago the most amazing man was born (I am a little bias).

Today is Vince’s birthday!

For some reason when I go to describe this wonderful man I am always left speechless. I could tell you he is funny, kind, smart, handsome, godly, loving, and generally an amazing role model, but that can never do him justice. So trust me that he is an amazing person!

I first met Vince in a summer Latin class at Ole Miss, I had seen him in another of my classes but he was very quiet and sat in a corner, which made him easy to miss. The Latin class was small enough that he was forced to talk and interact and I am so thankful for that.

I still remember an incident where a fellow classmate asked me a grammar question, then tried to convince me that I was wrong. (First dear sir, do not ask someone a question just to tell him or her they are wrong, that’s rude. Second, that was one of the few things I knew well enough that I was certain I was right.) I remember thinking “I know I’m right, but am I? He is very sure.” After this arrogant… I mean sure of himself student awkwardly lectured me, Vince finally spoke up and told the guy firmly “she is right.”

That was the first time Vince ever spoke to me, years later I reminded him of it and he said he doesn’t remember, but he did remember the guy and said I was probably right.  After that I only ever spoke to Vince a few times before he graduated, I must point out every conversations was sweetly awkward. Vince is extremely shy by nature.

Its funny how God’s plans work out. At the time I first met Vince I was seeing someone else, long story short, by the time that ended Vince was in Greenville, MS teaching and I decided I was not going to date for a very long time. Why you ask? Because I had to find myself… that’s a joke, I knew who I was I just needed to actually be myself and wait and let God show me to the person I was supposed to be with. He is a much better matchmaker than I am.

It was during this waiting period I got a friend request from Vince on Facebook. At first I thought it was a little funny since I hadn’t seen him is a long time, but I accepted because I remembered he was a really nice person. I think God was trying to point me in a direction and I wasn’t quite getting it yet. Then a mutual friend was talking about how Vince was teaching and I was confused how the quiet guy in the corner was a teacher. On a whim I messaged him to see how he was doing.

It turns out we are not only both classicist nerds, but also farm nerds. We talked and talked and finally Vince asked if he could see me the next time he was home.

Clearly the first date went well, as did everyone after that.

 Early on I asked him about how he saw his future and he saw it on a farm with animals and a family. Others might think its odd but that was the thing that told me he was the one. Over time I also learned how deep his faith ran. He wasn’t just a casual Christian in name only. He will tell you he could and should do better, but his faith has inspired and encouraged mine.

I am so blessed to have him in my life and I am so grateful our son will get to call him daddy. I look forward to many more birthdays to come.