New Normal

A lot has transpired since last I wrote. I’m so glad I got that one picture of me pregnant. We had wanted to get good pictures with the boys and me and monthly shots of my growing belly, but it never happened. And it wouldn’t have been finished anyway since I barely got into my third trimester before my pregnancy came to a screeching halt. Cohen Robert Simrak was born at 31 weeks gestation, 3lbs 8oz – nine weeks early – due to severe pre-eclampsia. We were both on the verge of death and no one realized how close until after they cut me open and rescued Cohen from a calcified (read “DEAD”) placenta. He…

Phase 1… or 5 or 6

The biggest craze around our house is currently what we call Phase 1 in the construction process of modernizing our old house. It was built in 1920 and has left a lot to be desired. In the past three years we’ve owned the house, we’ve replaced the boiler – converting to natural gas – replaced the water main, the front porch, added and/or updated several outlets, painted, took down wallpaper, replaced some flooring, ripped up old nasty carpets and linoleum, knocked down a wall and put in a sliding glass door that opens out to our deck. We’ve also replaced the ceiling in the kitchen complete with a new fan, outlets and access for recess lighting….

It’s Curtains for You

Are these not some of the most enticing curtains you’ve ever seen?? I can understand if you don’t think so. They are LOUD. But so lovely. My friend’s husband didn’t think so. So she gave them to me. Who just so happens to adore them. Sometimes I just stand in my doorway and stare at them. They make me happy, these curtains. thank you, tiffany.  

Rearranging the rooms

I’ve been wanting to do something different with the Dining and Living Rooms for a while now. Before we moved in, I had decided the Dining Room would be a play room, but we never did that. So with a friend’s help yesterday, we finally moved things around. I feel so much freer and I like how the space is being put to good use. There are still some things we are waiting on. For example, we have a TV cabinet coming to us and a cable extension so that we can move the entertainment system to the other wall. When we do that, the couches will probably be pushed back together in the corner….

Gardens, Etc

A tomato growing in our very small, eclectic garden. This is what I assume to be a potato plant. I buried a sprouting potato that we didn’t eat quickly enough and, I believe, this is what came of it. I don’t know the first thing about growing potatoes, so we’ll see what happens with it. I’m pretty excited about it, though if it really yields potatoes. I think it may take a couple years though to get potatoes to eat. We planted the mint cuttings that Mom sent home with me. It will be nice to smell the mint fragrance while sitting on the patio.

Gardening

Mom gave me some plants from her garden to start my own. This is what I’ve done so far. I’m excited to get the place looking nice.