Standing on the edge

This is not as dire as the title implies......

I am standing on the edge of a couple of CRAZY weeks coming up here.

I have so many little thoughts running around in my brain, I hope I can make some sense of them.  First of all, I feel I have to mention that I have not done a single post on the school musical this year so far.  I began my  blog two years ago during the height of scenery painting season and when I was in full gardening preparation mode.  These two catalysts for my blog have been sadly lacking here.  I feel bad for them, like the older sibling of a brand new baby in the family.....  I know this is weird, but you all should know me enough to get it.

My brand new baby has been my weight loss and my exercise and my new Debi stuff.  Which isn't new so much any more- which is an interesting concept!  This will need exploring soon.

Oh, yeah, crazy weeks.  Of course one thing is the musical that is 2 weeks from today- ohmygosh.  I can't even think about that.  And the end of the quarter is the FRIDAY of the musical- just because the timing is that good.  AND beginning MONDAY morning, I am having a major renovation done on  the livingroom of my house.

Joe the builder is going to be orchestrating this reno; there is already a big ole dumpster in my driveway.  I do plan to take nightly pix of the progress being made.  NEW ceiling, walls, floor, trim, lights, ceiling fan, etc. will be in place.  No structural changes, really, just get rid of hideous paneling and carpet and some sketchy ceiling stuff.  BUT it will be a huge change and improvement for me.  Eventually this spring I will be breaking out my tile cutter and grout and redo my kitchen floor as well.

Today I am going to go fetch myself some switch covers and most importantly,  a ceiling fan for the living room.  YES!!!  Today and tomorrow I am going to pack up my livingroom and figure out where to stash the couch and how in the heck am I going to move around the electronics. I am afraid of electronic things that have cords coming out the back of them.  Not computers- but things like TVs, receivers and crap like that.  DON'T JUDGE ME!!!!  I just want someone to do it for me.....  ugh

So, yeah, I am standing on the edge of a sort of steep hill and I see some real cool stuff down at the bottom, but feel just a little hesitant to begin down that slope.  I know that about half way through it I will feel just a little out of control and a bit dizzy, and possibly a little crabby......  But the sun will shine through!

I find morning to be a hard time of the day, but my favorite time of the day.  I like the peace of a day not yet begun, but I am frequently plagued with worry and self-doubt.  Fill up that coffee cup again, Miss Debi!

This morning I opened my emails to find some of my favorite things- including a new post from a favorite blog of mine- The Smitten Kitchen- for buttermilk biscuits.  Not that I really am craving biscuits, but the pictures brought back a lot of memories. I have that same exact bowl, that was my moms, in my cupboard.  I love that blog, she is funny and a great cook!  I also got an update from Pinterest - "weekend inspiration"- which is something I really need,  but not from Pinterest really, and a few other odds and ends including yet another recipe post for chickpeas....  If I have time, I might try it out.

I have things that I want to blog about, but I am having a hard time right now finding the time.  I just began an art education Facebook page- Mrs. Oswald's art education page- for myself and my students and anyone else who wants to check it out.  It is a bit of art history and other interesting things I can't always cover in art class.  I need a week to work out all the technology based things that I have in the works.  And there are a ton of them.

Anyway, now you see why I feel I am on a precipice!  It may not be quite the same as the looming tax deadlines of the MA, but it feels the same to me.  I have so many personal interactions to have and monitor every day, that I feel like I have almost exhausted my own personal supply of words.....

So in spite of the snow, I am going to strike out to Rhinelander soon, and begin the task of tearing down my house to be able to have it built up again.  And away we go!

Until next time, be a joy giver and don't be too hesitant to start that journey!  :)

Project weekend- a beginning and an end

Projects: we always have a few of them going on!  

I won't even get into the ones that have gone on an embarrassingly long time- ahemcoughcabin- or even ones that I get so much "advice" on that I don't know what to do- that would be the giant hand project.

So here is the end and the beginning of projects from Memorial Day weekend. I like to start with a mission accomplished!  I recently started working on my mom and dad's old patio set.  I really like the look of this set, it is well made and pretty cool, it is just that sitting in the incredible heat of my parent's cement porch, it had degraded.  The strapping had broken down, the paint was peeling, the cushions are kind of disgusting.  But the curves of the frame are cool.  So, I decided to rescue it and refinish.  Last fall I ordered some repair straps from a patio furniture online place, and I picked up some spray paint at a home center. I also picked up some new cushions on sale last fall, but am  not convinced they are right... At any rate, I finally convinced the MA to FIND the freaking metal brush already, so I could start removing the old paint.  I used sand paper for a while, but the metal brushy thing worked better.  Thanks, toots!

BEFORE!

Sanding and sanding

Starting the spray painting

Side by side

Most of the straps applied to first chair

It took several days of sanding, scrubbing, spray-painting, painting some more, retouching the paint, flipping it over and finding more places to paint, and oh yeah, moving the crazy things in and out of the garage about a million times.  Then the "fun" job of putting on the new strapping.  The plastic straps get applied with the use of a drill, boiling water, a minimum of 2 people and the patience of Job.  It was not a difficult maneuver, but it was tricky.  I want it known that since I actually read directions, I was right!  You do not need to know what I was right about, but let's just let that be known!  HA!  After the MA and I survived the replacement of the straps on one chair (actually, the remaining 3 had not been painted) the rest of them were completed with the help of one of the kids- the eldest Mad-son to be exact.  Good thing, too, cuz, seriously, that fake patient voice about makes me want to....       oh never mind.  It's all good!  :)

Jon, Sarah, Fred and of course Ruger

The straps are cut about 2 inches short, then they are boiled and stretched. CRAZY!

With the painting done, the plexi is applied to the table frame. 

HAHAHA, Ruger was exhausted after all that work

BUT, it got done and that is what counts.  Turns out that 3 people work out even better than 2 for putting on that crazy strapping stuff.  Glad Jonny and Sarah were kind enough to pitch in!  And you will notice the wayward dog or two as well!  THAT was a satisfying job well done!



Also, as I noted on Facebook, hell has frozen over and the garden shed that had been a dug out pile of gravel for 2 years is actually underway!  There is actual fill and concrete forms.... shut the front door!  There was a transit involved!!  And there is talk of bringing in a cement truck!!!!  GASP!  Stay tuned for further updates..... now if I could only get some interest in finishing off the actual house!

I always think of my dad when the tractor is running!  

Things always seem to get done quickly when the Builder Joe shows up!

Spreading and shoveling!

Sarah Jane running the transit- it is easier to do than I thought!  

Surveying the job so far 

So the forms are up and it is almost ready for a concrete pour!  My giant hand is almost ready for concrete, too, I should get it ready so I can steal a few buckets for the base.  Well, we now know what my first summer project is going to be!  Along with some closet cleaning, some weeding, um socializing with my dear friends, working out, walking, running.........  Hmmmm, I have to start a list!

This is how far the hand is!  Just gotta add some rebar and finish some wiring

Until next time, don't forget to be a joy-giver!

What I did over my spring vacation......

What I Did Over My Spring Vacation

By Debi Oswald

So what did I do?  Oh yeah, that's right!!

CHAPTER 1  Snow Day!!!!

 We got an EXTRA day of spring break because we got dumped on by a huge snow storm!  That was awesome!!  The weather guys had predicted a big storm and then they backed off and said it looked like we would get 8 + inches, but not the 14 that was predicted at first.....  WELL, they under-forecasted!  YAY!  School was called off and I did lots of picture taking.....  you can see them here................ and also  here.....................  and to taunt the people who did have to go to work .........here.....................

Oh LOLA!!!  Your sinking!

Mystery of the disappearing mailbox

Snow shoes on the butterfly chair- they got a workout this weekend

Jacpot waiting for me!

CHAPTER 2:  SHOPPING BABY!!!

So, it was really nice of the weather to cooperate with my trip to Wausau to do a little shopping.  I of course like to shop with a friend, and Luann is the perfect traveling companion.  She and I talk the entire time during our travels, enjoy the same sorts of things and I have come to discover that Luann is a wonderful stylist and personal shopper!  After picking out lots of things to try on, she kept bringing things for me to try on!  

Here are a few things, some I did buy and some I did not.  It was so much fun to try clothes on that fit well and looked good on me.  

Lunch at an awesome little cafe called Becca's! 

Debi and Luann at Becca's in Wausau

 

Size 10!!!

Hot new boots on SALE!!!  

Nice, but did not get

MINE!!!

Also mine!!

Vegetarian Mediterranean Salad- lunch!!

CHAPTER 3: PAMPERING DEBI DAY

Seriously, if you don't know why Debi had a pampering day you have not been paying attention!  

I planned for this day a couple weeks ago!  I spent lots of time at the gym today, in many various rooms!  It was so much fun.

No pix of the 2 hours I spent working out (awesome) or the HOT STONE MASSAGE!!!  (even more epically awesome) - It was a wonderful way to spend the morning!!!

The massage was followed by a nice little poor man's  lunch at my favorite diner- The Pal.  While sitting there with the MA and Joe the Builder, there was some activity out on the sidewalk nearby.  There was a massive snowpile right on the sidewalk, which I guess wasn't too much of a surprise.  But what WAS a surprise is the fact that a guy was  shoveling the snow off of the sidewalk into the street- right in front of my car!!! And I was parked in!  Fortunately, the vehicle behind mine left before I was done.  You just never know!

WTH????

At any rate, this wasn't the end of my day, I went BACK to the gym and had a glorious little pedicure later.  ahhhhhhhhh!  It was a good day to be Debi!  :)

Best little seat in the house!

Hot pink baby!!!  with sparkles

CHAPTER 4: Company for the weekend

Saturday brought Number 2 son, his wonderful gf, Sarah Jane, and of course Ruger and Toby!  What a nice time we had.  Lots of goofing around, outdoor hiking through the snow, shooting of catapults through the house.....  Lol, all kinds of things.

Checking out the snow depth and tiring out the dogs!

Target practice and scope sighting in

Ruger and Toby

Action shot!!

Mikey and Ruger

Sunday found us hiking back to the cabin where the MA and Bob the Barber are working on the spiral staircase.  Next step is the railing to tie the whole thing together.  

Debi and Greg

They had so much fun!

CHAPTER 5:  Homemade pizza

So a great friend of mine on the loseit site gave me a recipe for an awesome, different pizza!  It is a pizza without tomato sauce and it is a bit unconventional in it's ingredients.  So I made a whole wheat crust, then used the second crust to make a more conventional pizza plus the White pizza!

They were both really good!

I'll put in the recipe later.....

Wheat Pizza dough

Rising!

Heat that pizza stone!!! for an hour at 450

Prebake pizza crust for about 5 minutes

OOOPS forgot to take a photo of the finished pepperoni pizza!  It went fast

White pizza- sliced cooked potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and onions, crumbled bacon, thyme

Add mozzerella cheese

OMG, good!!!

This is all I needed! Well, there might have been a beer involved!

CHAPTER 7: BENCH PRESS!

I have been working on this for a while!  I was told that I could bench press over 100 pounds, so I have been trying that.  A month ago, I attempted and didn't quite make it.  3 weeks ago, I had been sick and had an epic fail.  So after working really hard including freaking pushups (drop and give me 50!) I finally accomplished it!  Not only that, but I went beyond the 105 to 115!  I am so happy!!
I went on to finish my chest and tricep day with some adrenaline (and am feeling the effects of it today) and then ran again.  I have been working on running for several months. It began with little spurts in my walks, every 2 weeks or so.  Then I progressed to once a week.  Well, lately I have been on a streak, so I planned to run 2 times a week and work up from there.  I have skipped that completely and am running (intervals) every other day now!  If you knew me from before, which many of you did, running and I were not on speaking terms.  Maybe to the phone!  But that's about it!

The amazing thing is how good it feels.  Who knew???

105

115!!!!

I finished off the day later with a walk in the snow, and had a 1200 calorie burn day!  I have never done that before either.

And that is what I did on my spring break!!  And I found a lot of joy.......

Until next time, be a joy giver!