you guys are the best...

I am truly thankful for your supportive comments.  Truly.  Since I know you all want to hear more on the Knee Saga, here's what I've been doing this fine day:  I decided to walk around without the cane.  This sounds blissful, but if you could see me, oh dear...I'm not bending the surgical leg yet with a regular step, so it's like a hoppy step from the old leg to the new, which I make sure to strike heel first.  I am also practicing walking around with both knees slightly bent, which I can do better than the regular kind of walking, but I'm sure I look hilarious.  

I was able to go in the kitchen, wipe things up, do some dishes, get a coffee, and get it back to my chair without spilling it.  

Smooth sailing, that term doesn't seem to apply to any of this, so I know it won't be easy, but dang it, I am going to walk.  Even toddlers can walk!  To be fair though, they fall down and get right back up:)

In other news, yes, Evelyn is one of the others who is going to have a baby!  She and Nate were married last May, and are expecting in August!  We are planning a baby shower for June, first babies are exceptionally fun.  Two more grandchildren are expected this year, but I ain't saying who...not yet.  

In other other news, I have so much Easter candy on the kitchen table, and 240 eggs to fill, for Easter Sunday for the kids at church.  I also have a huge bag of candy for Easter Sunday here, for the big basket I'm going to fill.  Those are things I like to do!

Reading some news a little while ago, there was a podcaster (I had no idea who he was) who was interviewed about ICE presence at airports to help the TSA.  He said it was fine, and whatever made it smoother, God bless.  He also said, "I just wanted to get to the beach. I haven't had a vacation in 6 months, so this is well-deserved."  I laughed my head off.  Six months, how is he still standing?  How does anyone go that long without a vacation? 

In still OTHER news, as I mentioned before, Paul and I are going to Phoenix in April.  It seemed like so long in the future when we booked those tickets, now it's sneaking up speedily.  I am unprepared.  I can barely walk, much less walk in Birkenstocks!  Paul said to just wear my water shoes...I bought them for five bucks on Amazon, and they're black netting, they do their job to help me not to slip on the pool deck, but imagine traveling in them....oh dear.  Life is simple when you're a guy, I guess.

I did buy two sundresses online from Walmart, and surprise, I like them both.  I ordered a thin white cardigan from Target, so I can wear that with them.  I am not going to look like a million bucks, but I'd like to aim for at least a hundred:)

It's the little things in life:  I ordered a new rug for over by the door from Target.  I put all these things in my cart, see the total, then hit "save for later" several times.  Something that stayed:  two Matchbox cars for $1.70 each that have "moving parts".  You know, the doors open, the trunk, the hood.  That's how all of them were when I was a kid, so I just had to have them.  

One of my favorite toys when I was a kid was the Tonka Winnebago.  

These are pics from Ebay (My little brother Casey could have made $143 if he had saved this!). The top went over to make a super nice awning...

We would haul that thing down to the beach, with our cardboard box of Buddy-L trucks, and make a campsite, and roads and stores.  I liked to make sand houses with patios and wood fences with sticks.  

So I blog in fits and starts, sometimes, especially when I'm trying to move more here.  Kathryn called me back, I had called her earlier when she was knee deep in homeschooling, so I got up and walked around.  I put away some dishes, and watered the plants, then headed down the hallway to the bathroom.  This is daunting without the cane.  Shh, I do cheat and hold on to walls when I have to.  But.  To get into the bathroom, you have to step up a little bit, and I always bend my "new" knee and step up, and it occurred to me that if I can step up on my knee, why can't I bend it and take a step?  

So.  I did just that.  I have my walker parked in here, as last week the PT suggested I use it to try to get a better gait, so I grabbed that, and walked across the room properly, with the knee bent.  This is HUGE.  I was holding on to the walker, so it wasn't all sunshine and roses, but it's a very big step in the right direction, so excuse me while I sit here and cry a little bit.  :)

It's cold and sunny today, Paul is at the gym, the girls are at work, so it's just the kitties, Sunny, and I here.  I don't mind some quiet, but jeepers, sometimes it's a bit much.  

Anyway, I am not really 100% ready to give up the cane realistically, but it gives me a little confidence.  I'm working on walking like it's my full time job.  I have lost so much stamina, and despite that exercise bike and doing my leg exercises, oh and going to the pool...which was closed today due to no lifeguard, I guess I'm not exactly a chair spud, but not like I was before, for sure.  

You all have a really good day, and again, thank you for kind words.  :)

what can I say?!

 So.  I will tell the story of my appointment this morning.  Shall I start with how nice Paul is?  We had to be out the door by 7:15, so he made me a coffee, and carried it to the car for me.  I put on my jean skirt, so the dr. could examine the knee easier, and off we went.  

Warning:  this is very difficult for me, but I will just be totally honest, I felt humiliated.

We used the wheelchair to get into the dr. office, because it is a small haul from the parking garage, and we didn't have all day, ha.  I had x-rays first, then saw the surgeon.  He was stunned that I came in the chair, said it was the first time he's ever had someone four months out come in with a wheelchair.  He said my new knee looks great, he examined my leg, said the ligaments are all nice and tight.  I told him I cannot walk yet, I walked across the room for him, and he said, That's how you walk?!   um, yes.  yes it is.  He took another look at the x-rays, and explained that everything looked perfect, but if there was anything loosening up, he couldn't do anything about it yet, but he seriously doubted that was the case anyway.  He said to walk walk walk, to do everything the physical therapist says, and keep walking.  He then said to Paul Don't baby her.  Get her to walk more.    

I died a million deaths, yes I did.  BABY me?  oh dear.

So his solution to not being able to walk is simple, just walk MORE.

Now, I'm dramatizing this, but on the way home, after a few sniffles, we agreed that he's probably right.  He says my knee is not going to buckle.  He says it's strong and firm.  He says I have to learn to trust it.  We decided not to get a second opinion at this time.  

So.  I got home, and did as much walking as I could, vacuumed without my cane, which was some hobbling and hopping, but I did it.  I did the walking while sqatting a bit, which is what the PT recommended.  I did some step ups on the stool near the bike, and rode the bike.  

Will it work?  We will see.  I plan to get back into the PT, have a talk with him, make a plan, and see if we can get me walking better.  

Sonja called me around noon and asked if I wanted to go with her to Jon and Rosi's house to deliver some diapers, and of course I did!  We got to see the new baby Emilia!  

Jonathan is totally smitten!

I didn't take a picture of Rosi, she just woke from a nap:)

We had Kaia with us too.  Juni liked her.

Home...it was raining out, and is still raining out.  Our warm day was nice, but it's getting cold again before getting warm next week.

Paul made smashburgers for dinner, I wrapped up the rest of the burger to freeze.  The girls had places to go and things to do, so it's just Paul and I here watching basketball.

In closing, please know that if we decide things aren't working with the knee, we have a name of a good surgeon, and we can get in to see him relatively quickly, as we have a relative who works for him.  But, I think we (I) need to try a little harder, knowing the hardware is sturdy.    I am not up to trying harder, but I need to.  

You all have a really nice night!  And thank you for kind words, kind thoughts, and prayers!!!

this fine day...

 ...was Tomato Soup Day.  Cam has been wanting to make it homemade for a while now.  I made some chicken too, cubed it up and put it in some lime juice and cajun seasoning, then air fried it.  I also heated up some leftover meatballs.  Miss Sonja came over with Kaia, they made grilled cheese to go with their soup.  

Sonja put the blankets down on the floor for Kaia to sit on with some toys, and Sunny came right over to lie down.  Sunny has three dog beds, but she prefers a blanket:)

So it was a stay-at-home day for me today, but having Sonja and Kaia here for dinner and the evening was nice.  

Charlotte Claire just put new Seresto collars on the cats and Sunny.  Sunny saw her putting them on the cats, and hid between the couch and coffee table.  She consented so nicely to having it put on, but then went way over to the corner of the living room and is so offended.  Orange Guy is a hunter, and likes to prowl around in the woods, so he has gotten some ticks lately.  These collars are excellent for both fleas and ticks, pricey but effective.  

Bright and early is my appointment with the surgeon tomorrow.  I have to be in the small city in the office by 8:15.  I am not looking forward to it, I am dreading it either way:  The hardware looks absolutely fine, there's no reason why you shouldn't be just walking all over the place.  Or:  It's all broken in there and you need another surgery to fix it all up.   There might be option #3 that I am just not seeing, but...in any case, it seems dismal.  A second opinion might help, might not.  

I keep thinking of the verse And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Galations 6:9.   Because I FEEL weary.  I am sick and tired of this, to be honest.  This fine day, Miss Kathryn went out to Target and the grocery store with all of her kids, and I couldn't even go to help her.  I couldn't have her drop kids off here either.  Sonja went with Char and Cam to a lovely little tourist town on the lake, to the patisserie and then the store, I couldn't go.  Well, I could have, she would have brought me, but I couldn't walk.  

Part of me wants ANSWERS.  Well, all of me does!  But part of me is whispering, Get oil in your lamp, this is a situation weighed and measured for your best, don't just wish it away!  

Yes, we are programmed for survival, and I think walking is part of that, so there is nothing wrong with wanting to reach that goal, but to wallow in the discontent, that's another thing altogether.  

Anyhow, I have to shower and go to bed, to wake up early....you have a good night, and I'll let you know what the good doctor says!

just hanging in there!

 

Jamie just turned three.  He loves Sunny.  He likes to help feed her.  I know, kids shouldn't be near a dog during feeding, but Sunny likes when Jamie helps her eat.  (Last year when Suri, our black Lab, was on her last leg, and pretty much stopped eating, Jamie came over.  He sat on the floor with her food dish, and fed her one piece at a time out of his hand, and she ate, we couldn't believe it.). 

Old Kitty on the arm of my chair while I held...

baby Samantha!

Ellis was here today too...he just turned one year old!

Grace came over with her four children, Grant, Ruth, baby Samantha, and Maeve

Oh that blue sky!  It was cold out though!  The kids loved playing outside anyway. 

Spring vibes.

A random pic of my five-girls-in-a-row-in-five years:  Margaret Cheryl, Kathryn Grace, Evelyn Joy, Suzanne Eleanor, and Sonja Kathleen.  Margaret was only five years old when Sonja was born, not even in kindergarten yet!  (she went to kindergarten in the fall when Sonja was four months old, then I was pregnant for baby Robert, and he was born sleeping on the day Margaret graduated from Kindergarten, she was six and a half...I obviously couldn't attend, but my sister Cheryl went for me:))(Anyway, all these girls are married now!  Margaret has 3 kids, Kathryn 4, Ev is expecting her first, and Sonja has one baby Kia)

Miss Emily at her house in her wonderful warm kitchen, terrible picture taker, that's me.

Samuel with Jamie and his little Maeve on Sunday

Oh what a day, what a life!  There were 7 grandchildren here for the day.  I somehow managed to make 75 meatballs in a pot of sauce, Cam made the pasta.  (I chopped onion and garlic, and added the oats, crackers, breadcrumbs before everyone came over.  4 pounds of ground beef and one pound of ground pork, with lots of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, three eggs)

I decided that I was going to get up this morning, and I was going to walk.  Enough of this hobbling on a cane.  well.  I watched a youtube video of a physical therapist explaining why one shouldn't walk with one's leg straight, which I do these days.  He suggested waking in a semi squatting position, which I did.  Then I bravely strode to the bathroom, with the cane, but attempted to bend the knee when I took a step, and it sort of buckled, sort of went backwards, it hurt.  It set me back.  

I can't explain it, but I am struggling to walk.  In a few minutes I'll get up again, maybe go on the exercise bike, walk a little bit, but ugh.  It's rough.  I go in Thursday morning.  Tomorrow is the pool, and I am not so sure I can make it, there is so much walking to get into the locker room, then into the pool.  

In all of this, life goes on, and whether I can physically join in or not, I'm still here, and have much to be thankful for.  Yesterday, Miss Sonja asked if I wanted to join her for a trip to Target and Aldi.  Yes, I did.  Well, she couldn't pass up a good parking spot, so she pulled in to it, and I wasn't dropped off in front of the store.  Char had to help me walk across and into the store.  I then went in a...rascal.  Is that what they're called?  A driving cart.  It was kind of embarrassing, but kind of a relief, I didn't have to struggle and hobble, I just drove around, until I was as far back in the store as can be, and the red light went on, and it started beeeeeeeping.  Char came to my rescue and pushed it up to the front while I pulled the lever, it made it to the charging station where I switched it out.  phew.  

I didn't buy much, but I did get four pounds of ground beef for less than $13, which I used for today's meatballs, the packages were half off.  

It's getting dark in here, the girls are in their rooms, Paul is in his office, and I suppose I'll have to get up and turn on some lights.  

You all have a really good night!

Saturday, in the park...

...or rather, in the living room.  My world has shrunk in a way, but I am quite content for the most part.  Yesterday was a rough day though.  I went to the pool, you know the drill...one foot in front of the other.  It was wonderful to finally get into the water.  A close by school district had the day off from school, so there were some kids in the pool too.  I decided to get out of the water early, so the pool deck wasn't so soaking wet, the cane slips.  ("The cane", I cannot be talking about myself and a cane?  Life is interesting!)

Anyway.  I did a lot of exercises in that pool, and when I got home, I had a lot of trouble walking.  Some of it is just muscle fatigue, but my knee was doing a strange thing when I bent it too.  It was discouraging. I was home along for several hours, and decided to make a pot of soup.  You have to be smart when your steps are laborious. You need to take the refrigerator ingredients out and put them on the closest counter, then move them from that counter to the other counter...I got everything on the counter near the stove, went to measure the spices, and dang it I forgot to grab the measuring spoons, so...I decided to just eye it.  That Ambitious Kitchen Best Chicken Soup recipe is a keeper.  Ginger, Tumeric, rosemary, salt, pepper, garlic, chopped onions and celery and carrots...then a cup of couscous...lots of chicken, of course.  

Hobbling around the house wasn't easy yesterday afternoon and evening, but I told myself it would be better today, and it is.  I did some exercises, went down and back up the stairs, and it's better.  Motion is lotion, right.  

Tomorrow we are going over to Emily's house for a turkey dinner.  We're bringing potatoes, and will make mashies in her instant pot.  I was thinking maybe a pan of stuffing too...we will be celebrating Kathryn's 28th and Wulf's 8th birthdays, and Rosi's is today!  So I ordered a few birthday gifts from Amazon, which is my go-to these days, as I'm not wandering the aisles of Walmart or Target.  

Things that make me happy, in no particular order, because why would I introduce order into my life at age 60?:

The new toasted coconut vanilla creamer from Chobani.  It's very low in sugar, and I just use a tiny splash, along with a few splashes of heavy cream, in my hot Americano.  Too much is yuck, as I don't like sweet coffee, but a little hint makes it good.

Paul vacuumed and mopped this morning before he left to work on the apartment.  We bought this new little Shark mop thing, he really likes using it, which is a win!  (It's cordless rechargeable, vacuums a little, then mops, but doesn't mop up the water, it's a $60 mop, nice, but not the kind that vacuums up the water and really cleans the floors, but it is what it is and I'm glad we have it!)

My ice machine.  Paul got me a little ice machine for Christmas, so we always have a nice big bowl of ice in the freezer.  ( The one in our refrigerator stopped working ages ago.)

The grandkids.  Yesterday 4 year old Rhys wanted to call someone, so her mama let her call me.  The other kids all had exciting things to say too.  Sometimes Tennyson talks to me, sometimes he face-times with me, and gets me all dizzy as he walks around with the phone showing me stuff in his house.  

The cats.  They are good companions, yet they seem hell-bent on tripping me ha.  

Paul.  He's so funny.  He is extremely fit and is always swinging 70 pound kettle bells and doing dips on the pull up bar in his office doorway.  He can pull his ankle all the way back to his butt, with his leg completely bent up behind him, he suggested I try that to stretch my thigh.  um.  yeah.  You can't probably do it all the way like this, but do what you can, he said.  My eyebrows were up pretty high, as I agreed to try.  

One thing that makes me so happy is when those buds on the trees magically turn into newborn leaves.  It hasn't happened yet here, nor have the tulips and daffodils bloomed, but it is going to happen soon.  It doesn't stop being amazing, year after year.

Memories of my sister make me happy.  We used to go late night grocery shopping together, and one of our favorite stores built a brand new building, and when they first reopened, they would have these specials on their bakery items.  We thought the announcements were triggered by us walking through the door...All of our donuts are now one dollar a dozen.  Please stop by the bakery and make your selection.  We would look at each other and say things like pinch me, I'm dreaming...and they're probably doing this so they can watch how fast we run over there on the cameras...  of course we were pushing our carts over to the bakery to indeed make our selections, as fast as we could without seeming really obvious.

I like when the girls are home.  I have to restrain myself not to talk to them  too much when they're doing work, it's not easy.  Miss Cam is on the couch right now, with her laptop open.  I don't want to break her concentration every five minutes with things like, oh dear, another Duggar was arrested!  

I have to admit I liked when President Trump made the Pearl Harbor comment to the Japanese PM.  I laughed my head off.  Was it professional and presidential?  probably not.  

I like when my laundry is all done, I have this thing about having lots of pairs of clean undies and socks.  

Crunchy peanut butter.  Sometimes you just need a spoonful.

Hearing from my older kids, or better yet, seeing them.  It always blesses me.  They have no idea.  The married ones have exceptionally nice spouses too, so I love seeing them too. 

Yeah, so now I have to get up and walk around, do some squats, get on the exercise bike...I'm making it sound like I'm all fit and in shape, ha.  I find myself seeing other people just walking, and wondering if they know how lucky they are...wondering if that will ever be me, just walking without even thinking about it.  I hope so!  I can't give up, although I did say to Paul yesterday, if I were a horse you'd  have to shoot me.  Don't worry...I am not in the depths of despair.  I do get tempted to feel sorry for myself sometimes, but I truly fight that.  There is just too much to be thankful for.  

You all have a nice Saturday! 

here we go again...

 to physical therapy.  I haven't been in a few weeks.  I missed a week because we were traveling to Norway, missed another when we just got back, now this week here I go again.  I am not too dramatic in saying how much I dread it, I hope.  I'll be honest, I am not at peace with this whole thing yet, mentally.  This morning, I was cleaning the stove top, and washing the window behind the sink (how does that get so spattered?!), when it occurred to me:  I am the only one who can help me.   Others can encourage me, say what they will, but I am in charge of what thoughts I let reign.

  It doesn't feel like feeling sorry for myself, but I guess it is.  Today, for example, Sonja and Kai came by and picked up Char and Cam, and went to Trader Joe's.  I LOVE Trader Joe's, only go a few times a year.  But, even if I didn't have PT this afternoon, I would hesitate to go, it's always crowded and I'm wobbly.  Yesterday, Darius was going up to the hospital to bring some lunch to Jon and Rosi, and said he'd pick me up if I wanted to go see the baby.  I had to decline, for one because there is so much snow up there, making parking lots treacherous, for two, I didn't know if I could walk down the corridors and through the lobby...seriously.  I didn't go to the pool today because school was delayed for two hours, we got a bunch more snow last night, and I didn't know how well cleared the parking would be, again, it's too difficult to walk with that cane in the snow and when it's slippery.

So life goes on, and I can't do what I want to do, and I wonder if I'll ever get better than this.  

Oh wah, everyone has their trials, and I KNOW God is good, so here lies the battle.  I'm just being truthful here.  I have not given in and decided to be miserable, but it also doesn't mean I'm automatically all happy about it.  So I'm fighting to be thankful and not weighed down by the "what ifs".  

The frozen pool...

Several inches of new snow last night, and yes that is the patio table upside down, it was windy too!

It IS pretty...but ugh.  It takes me forever to navigate across the deck and down the stairs when it's slippery.  Paul shoveled and put salt down, but I am not jumping up and down about going out there to PT today.  He said the sunshine feels good though, so there is that.  :).  

See, I never wanted to be one of those miserable old people, cranky and complaining.  Now I see why they get that way, but I still don't want to head there ha.  

And...here I am, home from PT, had dinner (Paul made tacos!), and I'm in my comfy chair.  He is installing the new stove hood/vent.  I haven't heard any swear words yet.  I offered to help, he said he's got it.  :)

Before, with the black hood...

And, after, with the stainless...it's the little things:)

So.  I went to PT, and since I hadn't been in a while, I had to fill out a questionaire, and I sat down and talked to the therapist.  He looked up what a hinged knee is, asked some questions, and told me they were rare, like a zebra pulling a cart, and not a horse.  In any case, I have an appointment next Thursday with the surgeon, and have some questions for him.  I will call the PT place afterward, or stop by, and we'll plan accordingly.  

I measured great, good bend, good extension, did all the exercises, but the walking...nope.  I can't seem to bend the knee while walking, it's straight and like a wooden leg.  He had me squat a little and take some steps, but something feels really off when I do that.  So.  Next step, see the surgeon, get the x-rays done, and see what he says about it.  If it's just a matter of "everything is fine, just do things, it won't hurt anything...", then we'll see.  I hope there isn't anything broken in there!

He actually suggested getting the walker back out, trying to walk more naturally with it, for practice, at home.  ugh.  But I will.  Just to see if I can get smoother.  

So that's the story.  I can say this:  I feel heard now.  I feel like it isn't just me.  I've put in the work, I've done the exercises, there is something off.  It could just be because it's a hinged knee, and it's normal for it take so long with it.  

Anyway.   

Emilia Mavis...

Jonathan carrying the carseat to leave the hospital...how is he 21, married, and a dad?  It's like warp-speed happened when I wasn't paying attention.   I'm super proud of Rosi, she was a champ, Jon said.  Birth isn't easy, biggest understatement ever.  I cannot wait to meet little Miss!  

You all have a really nice evening!

welcome to the world!

 I am not posting a picture of baby Emilia yet, as they have not sent out any announcements yet, but she was born yesterday, and she's beautiful!  I had a hard lesson in it, as I found myself anxious, knowing they were in the hospital and the birth was imminent, then not hearing anything for a few hours...when she was born, and I saw a picture, I cried.  She is so beautiful, and what a miracle a newborn baby is.  

My hard lesson was a memory of when I was having Emily, 41 years ago when I was just 19 years old.  My m-i-l was there at the hospital in the waiting room, and the nurse kept telling us she was asking how we were doing, she was there all day long...and now I wonder why on earth didn't I have her come in to see me while I was in labor?  Even for a quick hug?  Now, being in her shoes, I understand so well how much that would have meant.  

Now we have 19 grandchildren.  

Ben and Ashley have 3

Molly and Josh have 3

Sam and Grace have 4

Margaret and Adrian have 3

Kathryn and Darius have 4

Sonja and Oscar have 1

Jonathan and Rosi have 1

And, three more this year!  I'll tell when I can tell! 

I didn't go anywhere today, woke up to at least four inches of new snow.  It was cold and windy too.  I've just puttered around, vacuumed, washed dishes, did exercises.  Miss Char stopped at the store on the way home from class.  It's so strange not to be going places all the time, but it's SO challenging to walk through a store...especially when you have to go through ice and snow in the parking lot, and just to get to the car in the driveway.  Hopefully it clears up by tomorrow, I have pool, then PT in the afternoon.

I don't usually eat lunch, but today I decided to take the last bit of corned beef and red skinned potatoes and chop them into a hash, browned up in olive oil in the iron frying pan, with an egg cooked on top.  It was SO good.  I didn't eat most of the potatoes, but they were good.   

My two youngest children who aren't even "children" anymore...Miss Charlotte Claire is 19, and Miss Camille Anaya is 18, they are grown up college students.  I can't believe it.

They went to D.C. this past weekend, and spent some time in the Nat'l Museum of Art.  

In other exciting news, our new stove hood/vent arrived today, and is in the box at the foot of the deck stairs.  Paul is working on an apartment we need to rent, putting in a new kitchen faucet, and re-installing the toilet after putting new flooring in the bathroom.  Our present stove hood is only a few years old, but stopped working, so we just ordered another one, not black this time though, stainless steel.  

The apartment is almost finished, so Paul can start doing more here, ha.  When you own a home, there is always something to be done, whether it's just maintenance or updating things. (add in a few rental houses, and ugh!!!!)  Springtime brings yard work, and then there's the pool to work on.  We have it on our list to put in new countertops, as our are original to the house, which was framed in 1991, moved in in 1992.  They're blue with wood trim edging, and I actually don't hate them.  We were thinking to go with wood countertops, but now are reconsidering and thinking to do formica/laminate that looks like wood, some of the new ones look absolutely convincing, and are far easier to take care of.  We never had a backsplash, and I want the PVC beadboard, all the way up to the bottoms of the cabinets, I love the timeless old fashioned look of it.  I'd like new tile behind the stove too.  We have a white porcelain divided sink, and would like to update to a large one bowl white sink.  (Our sink is nice, but it is wearing out along the edges, porcelain chipping off!).   I also want the cabinets changed around...we built this house ourselves, and when I say WE, I mean mostly Paul and my brothers Bob and Tom.  We had newborn baby Joseph, our fifth child, when we started framing, he was ten/eleven months old when we moved in.  The kitchen cabinets:  two got switched around and put in the wrong places, and every so often it bugs the heck out of me.  You might never notice, but once you see it: 

This first cabinet is supposed to be the same size as the second two.  (also, that's where the vacuum cleaner landed after I vacuumed up a muddy mess AFTER I had already vacuumed, someone's boots:)(also, that's how the counters look right now, oops)

(there, I cleaned off the counters a little!)

See the cabinet above the clock?  That's the one that belongs with the other two, and the wider one belongs over that clock, matching in size to the lower one.  It's not the end of the world, but I would like them switched, for once and for all, before we put up the bead board.  Or whatever backslash we decide on:). (The tile behind the stove was blue like the countertops, with some printed tiles with baskets of flowers on them, I kind of wish I hadn't painted over them...)

Anyway.  Projects beget projects, and we aren't moving anywhere, so we may as well make our space as nice as we can, for as reasonable as we can.  Right now, I have chicken in the air fryer, but the girls are in more of a hurry, as they are going to help with the little kids at Activity Club, so they are making street tacos with chicken that Char cooked up last night.  

Paul is home now, since it took me all the live-long day to write this.  :)

You all have a really good afternoon!