New Floors!!

Here's our new wood flooring in the living room.  LOVE IT!!!  Bertelli Flooring did the work.  And such a fine job they did.  They had to blend it with the old and then refinish all to make it look like its always been there.  The view above is from the front door into the living room (where nasty carpet was).

Above is the front room and the fireplace.  They really did a fabulous job.  We stayed at Bob's mom in Chicago for the last 4 days while they put down the several layers of finish.  When we returned on Tuesday, it was all done.  The clean up was great.  I barely had to dust anything in the kitchen!

Above, is the master bedroom.  Can't wait to get everything back to normal.  We now are waiting for the painter.  He will caulk and paint the floor boards since they had to be removed to put down the floor and then nailed back on.  So while he's here, we will have him paint the living room, entryway and dining area.  So, we continue to live in the basement.  Worth the wait!!

This is the color for the dining area, kitchen and entryway.

The swatch in the outlet cover is the color for the living room.

This is the swatch for the master bedroom.  Sorry they really don't come across very well. Which is exactly how I feel about choosing wall colors....absolutely a leap of faith!! But, I'm excited to see how it all comes together.
We donated several things to Salvation army,so the living room really will be a 'blank canvas'.  Don't even know what will be going in there!
While we were in Chicago, we took Grandma Strug to Beloit to visit with Lauren.  It was still a 2 hour drive from her house to get there.  But it was a beautiful day and she got to see the college and Lauren, of course.

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On Sunday, we celebrated Marianna Belko's birthday.  Marianna is Bob's niece-in-law. She and husband Matthew have 3 kids and live in Crown Point , Indiana.  Matthew is Bob's sister, Carol's son. Anyway, we had lunch at Olive Garden, not too far from their house.  Also there were Grandma Strug, Carol and her husband, Marianna's parents, Anna and Mario and Mariannas sister Riata and her significant other, Jerry.

I don't know why I have two of the last photo.  But when I get rid of it, the one above then repeats..weird.

Watch Those Dryer Sheets!!!!

Well, I don't usually blog twice in one day, but I'm making an exception to make a public service announcement.  Watch where those rogue dryer sheets end up!!!

This pile was pulled out from under our dryer!  This afternoon, Bob and I were both smelling something like diesel or gas odor.  We thought it was coming from the construction site next door, but it just kept hanging on and not going away! Finally, we checked the dryer.  I always clean my lint screen and wash it every six months or so to get rid of the dryer sheet build up.  But we were thinking we had a leak in the dryer hook-up or something.  So Bob climbed on the dryer and looked behind it with a flashlight.  He pulled out a couple of dryer sheets and a sock or two, but nothing major. Then he looked UNDER the dryer with the flashlight.  OH MY!! We used one of those 'grabbers' that old folks have to reach something on a high shelf. (It was my dad's). He just kept pulling out dryer sheets and giant dust bunnies...YUCK!  I guess about 7 years worth.

Our washer and dryer are in a rather tight space, so thorough cleaning under and all around isn't a common occurrence.  But, I think its time we start, don't you? Evidently, the sheets and dust bunnies finally piled up and blocked some kind of air exchange...Yikes!!

You're welcome.

Getting Ready.....

Here's my living room these days!!  Its waiting for new hardwood flooring.  We had hoped for it to begin April 21, but its been pushed back to May 1.  Oh well, we are ready!!  We have moved our 'living room' to the lower level.  We also had the Salvation Army take away the big entertainment piece (actually 4 pieces!), the china hutch (now, where to put everything!!), and two couches that were downstairs.  And, as we continue to move stuff around, we keep finding more things that don't need to be here.  I'm guessing we will be calling the Salvation Army soon.

Of course, now that everything is out, I want to paint (Bob wants to shake his head).  I'm thinking grays, but can't decide.

So many choices!!  And, of course, if I paint the living room then I have to paint the entryway and the kitchen (don't tell Bob!).  Oh, and don't forget our bedroom because we are putting in new floor in there, also.  Makes me tired just thinking about it....

Speaking of painting, I have been working on the buffet that is in the entryway.  I used the color Graphite by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  Looks pretty good, if I do say so myself.  It used to be white.  I left the top and knobs alone.  The lower picture is the before.  Who knows where it will end up?  Perhaps it will be our TV cabinet in the living room.

Needless to say, there will be some new furniture in the living room, just don't know what yet.  Just waiting for those floors to get done....

Margaritaville!

Well, here I am with good friend ,Deb and a giant margarita! We were at Casa Azul in Coralville. The drink must have been 32 ounces! Just enough for two!  We were out for the evening with our hubbies.

It was a nice change of pace for Bob and I. We are in the throws of getting ready for new hardwood flooring in our living room and bedroom. Lots of sorting and giving stuff to Goodwill and Salvation Army. I tried listing stuff on Craig's List, but not a lot of takers. The floor guys come on the 21st of April to start the process. Tomorrow, the Salvation Army comes with truck to take several large items. I'll try to put on some pictures, soon.

I'm BAAACK...

Sorry to be gone for so long.  I am having problems with Blogger.  I hope this will be posted, but can't say for sure.

I've been trying to get my pictures of my little vacation posted.  Friend Jackie and I went to Florida for a couple of days!! It was soooooo warm! It was so delightful!  Here we are with Jackie's friend, Linda in Fort Myers Beach.  Linda and her husband, Jim, graciously took us out on a boat for a 'tour' around the island, then we walked around the beach area and back across  bridge (which I walked across!).

 

 

We also had lunch at a restaurant called  Snook Bight Marina. 

The food was yummy, but our waiter was a space cadet.  He put in the wrong order so we ended up with an extra Burger and fries!  Took them 'home' for supper.

All in all, it was a great day! And the weather could not have been any more pleasant.  Here are some more photos from the day..

Walking across the bridge!!!

 

A friend on the pier.

The bridge from the boat..

Dolphins were frolicking here, just not when I took the picture..

 

We had arrived in Florida on Saturday to visit with our 'quilting' buddy, Kathy and her husband Ross.  They were renting a place in Punta Gorda.  Kathy had e-mailed the Door County quilters to come down for a visit.  So, one -30 degree day, Jackie and I decided that we would do it!!

This is the lovely place where they rented.  Its call Burnt Store Marina. It is a huge area with all sorts of homes and condos. 

 

 

Unfortunately, Kathy's mother passed away the morning we arrived.  She was in her 90's and in a nursing home, so it was not unexpected.   But, they had to fly back to Iowa on Monday morning.   They graciously let us stay at the house while they went back. Jackie and I rented a car for Monday thru 5am Wednesday (the time we needed to be at the airport!).

 

So we tooled around Punta on Monday afternoon and had lunch at Laishley's Crab House, on the beach.  Below, is my sad attempt at 'selfies'...

I am wearing new earrings that I got at the gift shop downstairs.  Made of beach glass..lovely!

We also went to another area called Fisherman's pier, I think.  Lots of shops. Then we saw the sign for Peace River Nature Preserve, so we thought, 'what the heck?" It is an area where the Peace river enters the Gulf.  Unfortunately, EVERYBODY decided to go that day and there was absolutely nowhere to park. So we drove through the parking lot and saw the white sand beach and lots of boats. 

We did manage to see quite a few manatees when we visited the marina at Burnt Store.  They were 'hanging out' close to shore where the waters were warm.

We also saw an alligator sunning himself in someone's back yard canal, but I didn't get the picture, Jackie did.
Then, on Wednesday, we flew back to Iowa.  BRRR.  So, I got this beautiful spring arrangement from Costco as a reminder of what is ahead...I hope.

  Stay warm!!

Something's Weird

I am having an awful time trying to write a post on my blog!  I usually use my little tablet/computer that is upstairs, but for some reason, it refuses to give me access to the window to post on Blogger.  Weird.  And, because I am not ten years old, I am unable to come up with the technical answer to the problem.  So, I am using the laptop in my sewing room.  I hope I can get the photos I wanted to show you.  But, again, I am not ten....So here goes.

I have been on a 'wool stitching' tangent these last few days.  On a recent trip to The Woolen Needle, I purchased a quilt kit, Jaeleen's Garden.  It looks like a ten-year project, if you know what I mean.  But it is stunning!

  And in my enthusiasm, I picked up a couple of other kits thinking I would practice embroidery stitches first before I begin the quilt.  When all of this got to my sewing room, I discovered MANY more kits that I have purchased 'to practice my embroidery' and promptly tucked away.  I even found one that I had started a few years ago and now I can't find the pattern. SOOOO, I made it my mission to finish all these 'practice' kits before I can begin on Jaeleen's Garden.  And that's what I have been doing this week.  The weather has been very cooperative, in that it has been nasty and very cold.  So I have been stitching away....

 I'm still stitching a table runner that has a cardinal sitting on a pine bough (of all things!), and you can see in the next photo what is happening to my thumb...

So I'll keep you up to date on my progress.  So much to do...so little time. So much pain.

January Happenings

I am doing my first KALs.  This is Focus Pocus from Knitpurlhunter. It is a

pair of socks, knit two at a time on circular needles.  The challenge for me was to read a chart.  I started out reading it wrong and did not get this mirror image pattern.  I kept staring at it thinking something was wrong, but then I think it looked right.  So on week 2 it was obvious that I had read the chart wrong so I ripped it all out and started over. Now it is correct and I am all caught up.

The wrap and turn heel is done and I am doing a twist stitch (kind of a cable without the cable needle) in the foot. This Thursday we get the final installment for the toe of the sock.  I have enjoyed this KAL because it has challenged me to read charts, learn the wrap and turn heel, and use this Twist stitch (which still feels very awkward).  The yarn  is CoBaSi by Hikoo.  It is a cotton, bamboo, silk blend.  The best part is that I am using the Skacal Sock Rocket 40" circular needles.  They are wonderful!  No fighting unruly cables!  I'm getting me some more!!
I am also doing a KAL through Jimmy Beans Wool.  This is a Downton Abby theme using Lorna Laces yarn.  I'm sorry to say this hasn't been quite as 'fulfilling ' as the sock one.  It will eventually be a shawl, but there is a lot more knitting and many lace patterns.  And I have yet to end up with the same number of stitches between the 9 markers, so I'm not as happy about the outcome so far.  We'll see... (sorry, no pictures.  Too busy ripping out...)

This last weekend was Common Thread Quilt Shoppe's 9th annual Sew In.  Wow!  Nine years!!!Who knew?  Had a great time, as usual!!  Got to sew with my 'peeps' Jackie and Jess.  Sat by Kandy, Barb and Kathy....an unruly bunch if ever there was one! But, oh so much fun!  We missed seeing Sally (who always get the prize for 'farthest away').  No excuses next year, Sally!

After hours and hours of sewing and yakking and eating, this was the end result!  Oops!  Kandy was the first to point it out to me....gleefully, I might add!  Oh well.

Today was Gourmet Group at my house.  Always a challenge to come up with a menu that is interesting, tasty, and can be prepared between 9:30 and noon.  And, because of the Sew-In on the weekend, I was running around town on Monday like a crazed gourmet, trying to find my ingredients and prepare the house for 7 (2 were gone) women in my kitchen with sharp knives (got them sharpened at the Sew-In). My 'theme' was Moroccan food and Middle Eastern markets are not a common sight in the Iowa City area.  The one I thought sounded the best was no longer in business...after I had traveled across town.  Pulled into the parking lot of one on Mormon Trek  and drove away again because it looked scary. Finally went to the one in Coralville across from the Post Office.  Very small, and a little scary but I persevered and found the Orange Blossom Water...sheesh!

We had a yummy meal and everyone seemed to enjoy it!  Now I don't have to think about it for another whole year! YAY!!!! 

On Sunday, Lauren returned to Beloit for spring semester.  Kind of a sad time...she really had a great vacation and didn't want to leave her Iowa friends.  But, she too persevered and went back.  The good news: Spring break is in about 8 weeks or less!

And hopefully that means WARMER WEATHER!! OMG! what's with all this arctic blast?  Stay warm everyone!!