Mix it up

I am a furniture-rearranger.


As I grew up, 2 or 3 times a year my mom would rearrange our living room, get us all to trade bedrooms, and just generally shake things up. It was so much a part of our household routine that I never thought there was anything unusual about it.

Then one day during my freshman year of college, when I felt like things were getting sort of stale, I set about rearranging my dorm room (which is no easy feat when your room is 70 square feet and most of the furniture is bolted to the floor). After a bit, the hubs (who was at that time 'the boyfriend') stopped by and wanted to know what the heck I was doing. And after some consideration, it dawned on me that a lot of people think of furniture placing as a one-time job. They pick where a chair goes, and from then on, that's where it goes.

I don't think I could live like that. When I get to feeling sort of blah, and the house just doesn't feel right, no matter how well I clean it, I know it's time to move things around and start anew.


I love the 'fresh start' feeling I get when I walk into a room that's been reoriented and shifted around. It makes everything feel new and clean, even when it's all the same-old stuff I've had for ages.

This time, however, I do have something new: a couch.


Thank you, Craigslist. I love it so much, even though it kicks up the old-lady factor in our decorating scheme by about a billion. I need some funky art to hang above it and bring the room's feel back to the land of the twenty-somethings.

Here's to spring and fresh starts, in any form.

Love, J

Lily likes apples

I'm laying in bed reading, and hear a crunching sound coming from the living room. And I think... and think... and think. And I cannot figure out what the bunnies could have gotten into that would be making that noise. I hadn't given them any treats yet that morning, and it wasn't exactly a chewing-on-paper noise.

So I go to investigate. (Just take the disaster-zone state of the living room as proof that these photos weren't staged. If they were, I surely would have tidied up a bit.)




Love, J

Birthday wishing

Is it too early to start birthday wish list? Because I came across this dress the other day, at this shop, and Oh. My. Goodness.


Since I'm dreaming, I'd really just like the pattern for this baby, so I could make up a bunch of them in different colors. And a dress form.

Love, J

From where I stand

From my back porch, I can see:

My dining room set remodel finally under way...



The surprise treats neighbor Scott just dropped off...



Two sweet buns, bonding in the sun...


And the handsome hubs, finishing up some gardening...



Love, J

"Committed" book review - Post edit

Yesterday I read "Committed," by Elizabeth Gilbert. I wasn't much taken with her "Eat, Pray, Love." I wanted so badly to love it, but I got bored and quit less than halfway through. "Committed," on the other hand, held my rapt attention all day and I was able to finish it in one sitting.

I didn't agree with everything Gilbert said, but a lot of it rang pretty true. At least as true as any generalization can ring with someone who's had a finite number of life experiences. It was fun to spend the day really thinking about the institution of marriage, which I don't think I've ever done. I think about my own marriage often enough, but not Marriage in the universal, everyone's-doing-it, how-does-it-work-and-also-why-not, sense. Plus now I have a nice little book to refer people to when they ask why I'm hesitating on the kids/no kids threshold. Because man, does she make the case for 'no kids.'

And in other 'couples' news, the bunnies seem to be settling into a truce-like area. There were a few knock-down, drag-out fights yesterday, but I also caught them doing this mid-afternoon:





Love, J

PS ~ Probably I should finally admit that the job I started last weekend lasted all of two days before I quit. I'm back to job-hunting/goofing off - basically having days like yesterday, where I spend 10 straight hours reading.

POST EDIT:

1. I just realized this isn't at all a 'book review,' it's just an endorsement. But you know what? I'm not in school anymore. If you want to know what it's about/like, you should read it. No more English papers for me.

2. I began my volunteer work with the local fair housing agency this afternoon and I LOVE it. So I've got something to fill my days after all.

Have a good weekend!

Beeswax candle night

Makes the house smell faintly of honey.

Tip: you can find beeswax for cheap on Craigslist.

Playing with his new fingerprinting kit.
(This candle is not one we made, but did inspire our attempts.)

Cooper & step-dad stopped by for dinner
on their way home from physical therapy.

He can *almost* sit up on his own, and keeps improving.

Love, J

Resolution change

I have kept my New Year's resolution. Really.

And at the same time, I have not, because part of it was to account for my progress on the blog, and that has not happened one bit.

And it will not happen.

Because every time I sit down to write about a gifting encounter, I get the worst case of writer's block ever. Writing an account of myself giving a present to someone else and how happy it made them apparently exceeds even my way-higher-than-average tolerance for bragginess. I've tried so many different angles, and trust me, there is no way to relate these experiences without sounding like a totally narcissistic ass. It's bad enough that I've taken on this project partly because of the high I get from people's reactions. To then get online and tell you all how nice I am crosses a line that just can't get comfortable with.

So I'm giving up on that part of the project. But I wanted to explain why, because I know it looks odd to say 'this is my resolution, and I'm going to tell you all about my progress,' and then two full months go by without another word on it.

Love, J