Scripture Sunday

Rose garden January update

2016 first quarter goals, getting the master bathroom redone, and getting a rose garden started here.

 

 

  

 

 

The bath is well underway. 

 

The rose garden spot has been picked.

 

The bricks have been relocated. 

 

The newspaper is down to kill the weeds/grass.

 

Coffee grounds and egg shells are periodically being thrown in as organic fertilizer.

 

The plan is that three roses bushes will sit in front of two Carolina Jasmine vines (yellow) and two Confederate Jasmine vines (white) that are recovering from being severely trimmed back last year but usually grow up the white fencing.

 

Next step soil will be purchased and spread and then some type of mulch or hay will arrive and be waiting ready for the rose bushes.

 

That's the plan, at least.  

 

I'm linked here

 

 



Scripture Sunday

master bath

 For some reason, I have been struggling making my 2016 goals and I think I've decided to mentally break this year in quarters. The first quarter is going to be focused on getting the rose garden up and running and finally finishing the bathroom.

I'm feeling a strong pull to get the home office up and running well but I think its just because I'm stuck in the master bathroom. It has been put off, pushed back and gone for long stretches being ignored, so the pink steamer and I absolutely can not stop now and re-direct energies to the office. And its just not the office's quarter.

"I am doing a great work and I can not come down" Nehemiah 6:2. Maybe its not as serious as Nehemiah but, when I am on the ladder, this is what I am telling myself. 

Much like the guest room re-do,  my focus has been pulled away by other things, getting house ready for a week worth of company, I'm working overtime, and life in general is getting in the way and its taking some time. Meanwhile, everything is in disarray, dirty and out of place and the ladder has been in the way for weeks. I can't take it out and put it away yet. Its so fun and rewarding to get a project done, but also frustrating when in the middle of it. 

And I keep wondering why I don't just suck it up and hire someone to do this for me.... for whatever reason, I haven't. Proverbs 14:23: "there is profit in hard work" and "let him labor, doing work with his own hands... " Ephesians 4:28. One of my friends has made this bathroom work into a spiritual life lesson. I can't go that far myself, but I think about that correlation when I'm on the ladder. For whatever reason, I am still on the ladder doing it myself and not coming down.

There is some success to report. Currently, there is almost no wallpaper left on the wall. Only one small spot remains. I have started to go back over everything to get the patches of glue that remained. Then I have to go over it once again with a little sandpaper and then it will be ready for a primer. I am planning (hoping) this will all be done by March.(yikes! a deadline!)

I have picked the color (I  think) which is a major accomplishment. Even picking a color took some work. I originally thought I was painting yellow. I swatched a least six yellows but couldn't find the right one, then moved onto blue. Again, after putting up several test spots, couldn't find a blue. Next was grey.... and.... finally....a color has been picked.

 

 

I have also made some other decisions. There will be white fluffy bathmats and shower curtain. I already have the curtains and curtain rods.  The curtains are a light gold colored with medallions and match the ones in the attached bedroom (like these but in cream and gold). 

 

I also got my first gift for the new bathroom. My friend got me a candle and some handmade soap.

 

 

 

So...2016 projects continue.

 

 

 

Im linked here with Home Matters

 

 

 

I am linked here with Friendship Friday

 

 

 

I'm linked here with tweak it Tuesday

$27.25

 

 

The damage from one church craft fair and yard sale. I spent a little more than I usually would, but it was for charity and I couldn't ask for a discount. Plus my cousin was in charge of organizing the event and I wanted it to be a successful event. So....

Stained glass butterfly: $2

2 mini muffin tins with 24 muffins each $4

2 ice cube trays $1

2 soaps. $1 for a big one ($4.99 at TJ Maxx)  and $.25 for the little square one that is  $7 from l'occitane

A little silver lamp with a fuzzy cream shade for my kitchen $5. I had plans of spray painting the lamp a bronze color, but the silver is growing on me.

A handmade plaque with a cross made from barb-wire $10. My original thought was it was going in the upstairs guest bathroom, but it is currently in my dining room.

2 tall and very heavy iron candle sticks $4

Scripture Sunday

Weight Watchers Chicken Salad

I have been making this Weight Watchers Chicken Salad forever and everyone loves it and no one knows it Weight Watcher recipe. I deviate a little from the recipe (no carrots in mine or ginger).  

 

Its the best recipe, one that has developed into just chopping and throwing it in.  I have long since stopped measuring, just add what looks good to you....

 

chopped apple

chopped grapes (I add both green and red)

chopped Walnuts

chopped celery

chopped red onion

chopped chicken (I use rotisserie or baked chicken breast)

a little mayo

a little greek yogurt

a little salt and pepper

 

and that's it.