A lucky gal

Today I was sent home early from work. Our work load is down and when there is a light day we are often sent home early. Last night on the news I heard that the average 40 hr. week has become a 33 hr. week. I came home to nearly half of the living room painted. I had imagined the paint color this awful shade of green while I was at work. And was pleasantly surprised to walk in the door and like what I saw. My husband was not in the best of moods though so I quickly exited and went and sat in the back yard, enjoying the late summer sun. Our deck is partially covered with a grape vine that is full of ripe sweet smelling fruit. I'm not a grape person but I discovered that the fig tree was hiding some ripe little treasures and they tasted so good, still warm from the sun and oh so sweet. Full of figs and sweet thoughts I tiptoed past my husband who is still working in the living room and wrote this post. I think I'm a pretty lucky gal.

Labor Day

The decision was made and yes it was the swatch in the middle, called "faded seafoam" by Ralph Lauren. What I am especially excited about is that I bought one of his specialty paints, a metallic finish in a color called "great hall" it goes great with the wall color. I am going to paint the fireplace and front door with this paint. Today is Labor day for our nation a holiday that represents the end of summer. It was begun in the 1800's to celebrate the hard working people of our nation. This year with unemployment near the 10% mark, and many of those employed afraid for their jobs it seems as if we have little to celebrate. But inspite of hardships we must find a way to look above and beyond what might be right it our faces. This year I personally will be thankful that I do have a job. I will celebrate the fact that because my husband is not working he will be able to help me paint our living/dinning room and the job will get done that much quicker! May you and yours have a wonderful day.

Choices

Let the party begin. I've started the fun but frustrating process of picking out a paint color for my living room walls. Being one who has only ever dared to paint with the color white or beige and always thinking of what would be best for "buyers". Except we've lived in our house 12 years and have no plans of moving. It is scary and nearly impossible to think of something in a color. I know I'm already behind the times by loving the color scheme of brown and blue but that is what is going on in my living room. I've been painting various shades on the walls, thank goodness for those little sample jars. This one is too dark, too green, just like my fathers corvette (what an ugly car that must have been!),too blue, just too much color the list goes on and on. Soon I'll be running out on daylight and will have to stop the process. But I am trying to pick one out before the sale goes off tomorrow. I think I'll head back to the living room make a cup of tea, watch some paint dry and try to choose among my many options painted on the wall.

Saturday market

Fall is in the air. We may have some warm days and unusual heat spells. But the smell of autumn is in the breeze. I most definitely knew it when I went to the farmers market today and saw the line up of vegetables and fruits. Pears, apples, melons and peanuts! Growing up in the midwest I did not realize that peanuts were an autumn harvest but they were there in abundance at the market today. I usually go the market on Sundays but tried a different one today. Fortunately my favorite farmer goes to the same market so I was able to stock up on late season heirloom tomatoes. Tonight we are having grilled salmon with a maple syrup/mustard sauce that sounds pretty good and easy. If it turns out I'll pass out the recipe. I think I'll also bake afew apples for dessert, the wind has that chill in the air that makes one want to turn the oven on and fill the house with good smells of something baked.

Imagination

Wandering around my neighbors yard I was enjoying her many rose bushes. It was a relaxing end to a busy week. I went with my camera and lost myself in the magic of the pictures I saw through the lenses and in my minds eye. It was that magic time of day when the sun is low in the sky and the light looks as if it is filtered through muslin. The air was fragrant with the sweet, spicy and oh so delicate bloom of rose. I could only smell it on the wind and when I went hunting for it, it would elude me. What a wonderful way to relax and let go. Coming in the house and looking through my photos the ones I enjoyed the most were the ones of the old tired roses. They have beautiful texture looking like an old tapestry with bead work and I imagined the dried out stamens as little bits of twisted metal. I suppose you have to have an imagination, but try to imagine along with me because they really are quite lovely.

Mid week

Today is the middle of my work week. Things have settled down at work. But I really think it is more that I have settled down a bit. It was really good for me to get away this past week end. I am surrounding myself with positive energy. Instead of dwelling on the negative I think about what I have. At work where many people are negative I've been trying to seek out those who are positive. It helps to have a no gossip policy at work, things have been much quieter! Sometimes it is easy to get in the mind set that your job owes you more than a pay check. I'm trying to remember what I am there for and what I am being paid for and trying my best to do an honest job that I can be proud of. If I'm busy doing my job, full of gratitude for my job and all the blessings I have in my life then how can I have the time for negative thoughts or actions?

Redecorating

Today I decided to show you my home office, since I now have the luxury of blogging from home. My desk actually looks quite neat in this photo, but I don't dare show what the rest of the room looks like. I think if a bomb went off it might be neater. This past week-end I looked through many decorating magazines and was inspired to redecorate my living room. The morning has been spent moving out nicknaks and what nots, putting them in the spare bedroom(my studio). I have a taste for whimsy but want a more sophisticated look. So I am moving out all my "cute" stuff and will only allow it in my studio. I'm afraid that room will become very crowded. I also need to repaint the living room. I am terrified to try and pick out paint. I really don't know why. Its not like you can't change it if you make a mistake. Over all I'm excited about this project and plan to include the dinning room,kitchen-the entire house. But I'm starting with baby steps right now just the living room.