Wood Fiber Refresh

Deb had her grandsons for a week for Spring break and asked if I would fill in for her.  Not a problem.  Just inform me of what I may not know.  She had most of the paperwork finished so I didn't need to do anything other than time cards and loads from Mattoon.  Jeeps called with an issue that took me a bit to resolve regarding a split load but that was about it.  A few loads showed up on Monday and Tuesday.  By the end of Wednesday I was looking for things to do so I cleaned her office.  I moved and vacuumed behind everything and suddenly it dawned on me that I have paint at home and I could give the place a new facelift with a coat of paint.

The last time the office was painted was when the addition was constructed.  That's quite a few years ago.  Probably more than 12 years. 

I found a full can of paint at home as well as my ceiling white and loaded up the truck.  I was shocked that the ceiling took two coats!

It isn't a very big space so it didn't take very long to cover the walls.

I liked the new color but especially the white ceiling!

Finally I thought some artwork would make a huge difference to the general look of the place.  There are a couple extra pieces of the photograph of the property so I put one up above Deb's computer.  I believe her home property is in the background.  

Then I added this old barn piece and a calendar to fill the space between the windows. There was a bracket for a computer monitor there which we no longer had so I removed it, filled the holes and made a much nicer looking space.

Then I focused on the dark entry hallway.  I primed and painted over the dark paneling.  

I think it makes a huge difference.  The next day I came back and painted over the vinyl wall covering on the opposite wall.  No before picture but rest assured, it looks so much better.  Another piece of artwork there and it makes the whole space brighter.

Then my brother tells me that he likes what I've done and he wouldn't mind me painting over the dark paneling in the work room.  Done!  Of course I couldn't stop at one wall.  I needed to do the other three walls and the ceiling.  I did leave the wall with the wildlife paneling as it has character.  I need to take some after photos.  It looks so much bigger and brighter.  Of course, part of the bigger is that I cleaned out a lot of junk!  Another painting project accomplished!

It remains to be seen if I will continue with that project.

 

The End of a Season

It has been a really fun year watching our granddaughter, Cami play basketball.  With such a small team, he had opportunity to play on the Varsity team as well. 

We have such a week conference that she was able to play Varsity a lot!  The only real competition was Manawa and although the games were hard fought, they did split and share the conference title.

I've seen her confidence increase as the season went on.  

The season ended in Edgar in the semi-final regional game.  We were most interested in this official who spent more time bent over than upright.  He didn't move very much and was rarely in position to make a call.  I believe with officials all calling the infractions in their own area the outcome may have been different.  Either way, it was a fun season to be a part of.

 

Oral Surgery is Fun

Tom had a tooth that never erupted through the skin.  I knew about it from the time he was a teenager.  The tooth was very close to the sinus and the oral surgeon said he didn't want to touch it.

Fast forward to this past summer.  Tom had a dentist appointment and Laurie said he flinched as she cleaned his teeth and got near that spot.  Dr. Walsh said it needed to come out.  

I was to find an oral surgeon and there are just none that take his insurance.  Oh wait, there's one in the Milwaukee area.  Not driving down there.  Then I thought about what it would cost and decided to make an appointment with the same oral surgeons that removed the wisdom teeth of all our children.  

We went to have the tooth removed and the surgeon said the tooth was partially through and the x-ray she had didn't give her a very good look at the way the tooth was positioned.  She wanted to do a 3-D scan which was only available on the east side clinic.  I made a new appointment.

He had the tooth removed and I was told what a good patient he is.  The 3-D scan was referred to several times during the procedure.  So much so that the surgeon said we didn't have to pay for it.  That's a savings of $200!  Tom told us that the surgery was fun.  What a guy.  Who thinks being in pain is fun?  I gave him drugs for pain for several days.  Only once did he tell me that he had a little pain and that was about day 3.  

I came home from watching Eddie the day after surgery to find this site.  His ipad was still playing whatever he had on and he was sound asleep.  He didn't even hear me come in the house.  

In our testimony meeting he told everyone that he had Oreo surgery and it was fun but that he will never do it again!  Apparently it wasn't all that fun after all.  :-)
 

The Almario Home

Dan and Lauren Almario purchased a home in Bonduel.  They closed on February 1st and decided they needed to make some improvements before moving in.  All the flooring was torn out making way for new wood laminate.  Lauren wanted the place painted.  She picked a color that is basically white.  Then she picked a medium blue color as an accent.

The really interesting thing about this house is that whomever painted it last did not remove any switch plates or outlet covers.  They painted right over the top!   

Then there are these two closet doors that were painted.  The mirrors weren't removed.  Why would they be?  That's way more work than removing a switch plate. 

I really like how the blue turned out.  It is a splash of color that's needed with all that white!

We painted the east wall in the living room the same blue color. This built in book shelf in the same room looks so good with the blue background!  I carried this little splash of blue to the bathroom cabinets and it is also in the kitchen.  It may also get carried yet into the family room.  There are drawers there that could be the same splash of blue. 

The family room is knotty pine.  I'm sure it would be beautiful if someone hadn't tried to stain it a yellowish green color.  It reminded me of the color of baby poop.  It is now painted that same white.  The house has been refreshed and looks so good.  It was a labor of love for them.  Sammi worked with me and without me some days so we could get it done.  I hope they love their home!
 

White Out!

One day while painting at the Almario's home in Bonduel it began to snow and I knew it was time to go home.  

It didn't snow a lot but it surely blew around and made driving difficult.  I drove at a speed I felt comfortable with but many behind me felt the need for speed.  The roads weren't slippery but as a vehicle passed me, it blew up the snow until it was a white out!  Then I really slowed down.  

 While I did get home safely, I thought about how long winter is.  I'm feeling the need for Spring!

Easter Tree

When we purchased this little pencil tree after Christmas I never thought I would have it up as long as I do.  I took all the hearts down that had pictures of my family and loved ones.  

Since I think St. Patrick's day is silly I skipped it and went right on to Easter.  I thought about the true meaning of Easter being the resurrected Savior and decided that He needed to be the theme of the tree.  

I think I could use a few more photos on eggs but it makes a statement and it is a reminder of what the Easter season is all about.  No chicks and bunnies on this tree.

 

Reba Concert

Several months ago Pat purchased tickets for us to go see Reba McEntire in concert.  It was scheduled for the same day as our temple assignment so we got some subs for that Friday night.  We went out to a new place for us to eat.  Then off to the Resch Center for the concert.  We parked on another street so we could make a quick exit and didn't have to pay for parking. 

The warm-up act was a woman named Hannah Dasher.  She was crude and crass and I would not ever recommend her.  She had a potty mouth.  She had an ok voice but nothing to write home about.  Apparently her talent lies in song writing.  But she wrote and sang a song where she used a$$ many times.  Not impressed.

I wish I could have gotten this QR code closer to get her playlist.  Oh well.

I've always like Reba's music.  She puts on a great concert.  She plans her music so it is in categories and she makes the change of clothes to fit that category.  

I told Pat that as long as we go to concerts I do not want floor seats.  First of all, everyone is on the same level so you will have to look around the heads in front of you.  Secondly, they all stood for the entire hour and a half concert.  What if I get some really tall person in front of me?  I'll stay in the cheap seats where at least I can see what's happening even if I have to watch the jumbo trons at times. 

At one point she sang a series of spiritual songs.  She said that her faith is what makes her who she is.  I love that!  The only bad thing was some doofus behind us was grumbling about her singing them.  Everyone else seemed to really enjoy that set.  I know I did.

She ended her concert singing "Fancy".  She came out in this long beaded, sparkly dress.  I knew that there was something red underneath it as it wasn't even a little bit form fitting.  I was right!  She threw that over dress down and the crowd went wild!  She gave a great concert and I'm glad we could go.  I was sure it would be delayed once again because of Covid.  Glad it wasn't.