Old Chests

I bought this old chest at a resale shop here in town. At my old house, it was upstairs in my office. At my new house, it's the coffee table in my living room.

My daughter and son-in-law both love antiques, which makes the fact that they bought my 106-year-old Victorian so perfect. I showed them the trunk and they both fell in love with it. When I showed it to them, I was secretly stifling a laugh because they had no idea they were looking at their Christmas present. But it looked so good in my office ... and then when I bought this house, I knew it would look perfect in my new living room. So, I (selfishly) kept it for myself.

Did I feel guilty for keeping it for myself? Yes

Did I feel guilty enough to give it to them? No.

A few days after he saw my trunk, my son-in-law texted me a photo of a trunk he'd found ...

Now that he has a trunk that astoundingly similar to "mine", I don't have to feel quite so guilty at keeping the one I bought for them. In my defense, however, they didn't know I'd bought it for them, so it's not like I gave it to them and then took it back!!

Is Your Cat Stressed Out?

I read an article entitled "Five Signs Your Cat is Stressed and How to Relieve it". I no longer have a cat (Olivia is living with Thing 1 now), but I do have experience with cats, so I've added a few thoughts of my own about "cat stress". Keep in mind, I do love cats (because as you read this, that won't be very clear!).

Here are the five signs your cat may be stressed:

1) Urinating Outside the Litter Box

While this needs no further explanation, I found it humorous that the article said that (among other things) the cat could be stressed due to rearranged furniture or loud noises.

Article's Solution: Take your cat to the vet.

My Thoughts: I'm sorry, but I have enough stress in my life without stressing over how the cat will feel should I decide to rearrange my furniture. And those loud noises that probably stressed Olivia Out? Well, they were typically because SHE knocked something off the table ... on purpose! Life is full of rearranged furniture and loud noises. Deal with it. If that's not possible ... get rid of the cat.

2) Decrease in Appetite

The article said that a decrease in appetite is not normal, that cats don't go on diets.

Article's Solution: Take your cat to the vet.

My Thoughts: Well, that certainly explains Olivia's rear end! But, if you can't find a quality food the cat will eat ... get rid of the cat.

3) Isolation

The article said that cats are often mischaracterized as "aloof animals that avoid interaction with other pets and people".

Article's Solution: Take your cat to the vet.

My Thoughts: Cats are aloof animals that avoid interaction with other pets and people ... unless they want something. If you want a pet that will interact with you, get a dog ... and get rid of the cat.

4) Excessive Grooming

The author makes a distinction between fastidious grooming and excessive grooming that leaves a raw or bald spot.

Article's Solution: Take your cat to the vet.

My Thoughts: Olivia isn't awake that often, but when she is, she spends a lot of that time grooming. Given that she spends many of her waking hours licking herself (then puking up hair balls) and has never licked herself raw ... just how long do you have to lick yourself to lick yourself bald? Honestly, I don't think she can stay awake long enough to lick herself raw! If you have a cat that isn't supposed to be bald and it is, it's time to get rid of the cat. 

Side Note: If you have a (creepy) cat that IS supposed to be bald, it's time for your family to get a new human!

5) Aggression

Aggressive actions could mean your cat is stressed out.

Article's Solution: Take your cat to the vet.

My Thoughts: It could also mean your cat is psychotic and it's time to get rid of the cat.

So how are we to to deal with cat stress? Good question!

Articles Solution: Obviously, as the author of the article made abundantly clear, you should take your cat to the vet! You should also play with the cat regularly, set aside an area or secret hiding spot for the cat to escape to, and provide high quality cat food.

My Thoughts: Most cat owners would love to play with their cat ... but their cat is aloof and avoids interaction with them most of the time. And about this "secret place" that only your cat knows about ... doesn't the fact that you create it mean that it's not a secret? And finally, the quality food conundrum. I don't know how "quality" Meow Mix is, but that's all Olivia wanted, so I'm guessing it's the McDonald's of the cat world. Thing 2 bought Meow Mix for her, but Thing 1 feeds her something else ... something probably more nutritious (and apparently helps digest hair because she doesn't puke hairballs as often). But, Olivia doesn't particularly care for that food, so there is a marked decrease in her appetite.

So it all comes down to this ... you could spend a lot of money on vet bills, toys the cat won't play with, and food the cat won't eat ... OR ... you could just get rid of the cat!

I FINALLY Figured Out What to Hang in the Kitchen

After having to scrap the stemware rack and buffet table idea for the kitchen, I spent countless hours scouring the web looking for inspiration as to what to hang on the wall behind the island. I also needed something to hang on the wall with the tv. I had designed a very pretty cabinet to house (and hide) the television, but I don't possess the skills necessary to build it, and my to-do list for Superman is already pretty long. But, the television hanging all by its lonesome looked "unfinished". It needed something to combat the nakedness.

The internet yielded no ideas, so I headed out, determined to find something to make that wall more interesting. I finally decided on iron scrolls and sconces. I've had this idea in my head for a long time, but was afraid it would look too busy. After it was hung (thanks to Superman), I chastised myself for not doing it sooner! 

One wall down, one to go.

I still had to figure out what to hang on the wall where the stemware rack and "eat" sign were originally intended to hang. It had to be something low-profile so as not to impede traffic behind the island, and I wanted something unique. After roaming the aisles and putting things in and out of my cart, I finally decided on this ...

I love the look of these shelves, and they provide room for some of my stemware. The wood shelves and black pipe tie into the shelves above the cooktop quite nicely, don't you think?

Before I bought the stemware rack, I had envisioned rustic wood shelves hung by black pipes attached to the ceiling and the walls. I've seen photo's of it, and knew it would look amazing, but something that heavy would be a big deal to hang. I needed to find a less complicated solution, and I believe I did. This is the perfect compromise ... I got the rustic shelves and the black pipe detail I love so much!

Slowly but surely, the house is coming together. I fell in love with this house the moment I saw it. After living in my previous home for sixteen years, I was sure it would feel odd to call someplace else home ... but it didn't. Even on the very first night here, it felt like home. I still look at houses for sale online ... and I still like mine the best.

Is This Not the Most Useless Sink EVER?!!

I was looking at bathroom vanities online the other day and came across this one. It's a whopping 5" deep. Unless someone has bought into the tiny house fad, I can't imagine anyone  (especially a woman trying to get ready in the morning) using a vanity this small in their main bath. I can only assume it would be for a second bath.

When I saw it, my first thought was that it must be really inexpensive, but it's not ... it's almost $400. I admit that's not a fortune, but you can find a wide variety of normal-sized vanities at Lowe's or Home Depot for a lot less, so its size, rather than its price, is the selling point.

If this is all the room someone has for a sink, someone needs to have the courage to pull them aside and tell them ... gently and lovingly, ... they don't have room for another bathroom.

When You See It ...

Take an ordinary picture of a grumpy Thing 3 ...

Flip it upside down. 
Do you see it?

Here ... let me give you a hint ...

A perfect heart!!

$29.70 for a Full Tank of Gas!

Back in December, right after my son was moved from ICU to a step-down unit and I was finally able to leave the hospital and sleep in my own bed ... I got gas for $1.959 a gallon. It was the one of the few things that made me smile during those dark, scary days and nights. I smiled again the other day when I filled up for less than $30. Paying almost $30 for a tank of gas 20 years ago would have made me cry ... now I do a happy dance!

Sometimes Criminals Just Make it Sooooo Easy!

I'm not a criminal mastermind, nor do I play one on tv, and I don't pretend to know how their (obviously) brilliant minds process thought ... but if I'm planning on stealing something or robbing someone, I'd probably ditch the girl with the fishing pole first. Or, I might have her hide the fishing pole someplace safe (I sure don't want some low-life to steal it!), and come back for it later. At the very least, I would have her wait a few blocks away, or tell her to go home and that we'll meet up later. But, like I said, I'm not a criminal mastermind, so far be it from me to second-guess their wisdom!

Kitchen Shelves

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Superman hung the shelves in my kitchen last weekend. There are still things around the house to hang (mainly in the living room), but this is the project I've been most anxious to see completed. I love the look of the wood shelves against the brick. 

The "eat" sign isn't going to stay above the microwave. And speaking of microwaves, I need a bigger one ... that one looks like a toy sitting there! I swapped microwaves with my daughter when I moved here. She had a black one, but needed a white one, while I had a white one, and needed a black one. I'll get a larger microwave, but this one works for now.

Okay ... back to the "eat" sign! It will one day be hung on on a different wall in the kitchen, but that's on hold until I decide exactly how I want that wall to look. I originally planned to set a narrow buffet table against that wall. A stemware was going to hang from the ceiling above the buffet, and the "eat" sign would be hung between the two. Unfortunately, I underestimated the necessary walk-room behind the island. The buffet was in the way, so I had to move it out of the kitchen. If I hang the stemware rack there without the table to protect the real estate beneath it, people will hit their head on the glasses, the glasses will fall, everyone will inevitably be barefoot, someone will need stitches, I'll be in my pajamas (or in bed), it will be raining ... or snowing, etc. 

So, no ... that won't work at all! We'll have to move to Plan B ... except ... there was no Plan B.

Thing 2 and I brainstormed and figured out a better place to hang the stemware rack ... so now I need something else to fill the emptiness on that wall. Hopefully whatever I find will allow me to hang the "eat" sign there, too. When I'm out shopping or just surfing the web, I've been keeping an eye open for ideas, but nothing has spoken to me yet. There's no rush. I'll find the perfect something (or somethings) eventually. It doesn't help that I'm not looking for anything in particular ... but I'll know it when I see it ... and then I'll know what Plan B is!

More Apple Dumplings

I made apple dumplings the other night. These things are amazing, and so easy. The hardest part is cutting up the apples. I think I'll try it with peaches next ... that sounds even better!

My recipe can be found here.

Am I Team Left Twix® or Team Right Twix®?

I just ate my first Twix® candy bar. It was free and I needed chocolate. The kids like them, so I thought I'd give it a go. After I ate it, I decided I'm not on either Twix® team. 

So ... not only did I eat my first Twix®, I also ate my last Twix®. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. And I still need chocolate.