Again, from the base of stairs, office to left, bathroom straight ahead, family room on right.
Double door entry to office. Unfinished storage room to the left.
Inside office. Closet.
View from base of stairs after paint.
Inside office after trim and paint. Shelves and rod in closet.
How the "family room" looked before we moved in.
Arches added and ready to drywall. View from base of stairs and to the right.
Drywall is up and ready to paint (our job).
Painted and trimmed.
View from family room. Stairs are around the corner to the left. Bathroom is on the right and office is straight ahead with window.
This is how the bathroom looked before we moved in.
The tub and shower surround after the first day.
The flooring is down!
Cabinetry installed.
Fixtures are in.
(I had this picture taped in the middle of my closet door when I was a teen.
Merry Christmas! We woke up to a light blanket of snow this morning. I love it when that happens. I had the funniest dream last night. I dreamt that Brandon and I were seeing some countryside with a man who had been an agent or something in Hollywood back in the day. He was just a new acquaintance of Brandon's and had taken us out for a drive, to show us some places we hadn't seen. We pulled into a long drive to a small ranch and drove up to a sprawling hacienda-style home. I asked who lived there, and he said, as we walked up to the courtyard and he led us around, that I probably wasn't familiar with the actor, but this was one of the homes of Cary Grant. Well, I stopped dead in my tracks and my jaw dropped and I was just amazed. I was starting to say, "Of course I know who Cary Grant is!", when we heard people coming into the home, talking comfortably. Well, in walks Cary Grant, circa "Charade", a little gray on the sides... just perfect. So, our friend introduces us to Cary Grant, and I am just dying... I can't breathe and my heart is pounding and I am trying to talk, but can't. Then Brandon says, "Mr. Grant, my wife is a huge fan of yours." And then the dam explodes and I start talking very fast, loudly, and I say, "Cary Grant...Mr. Grant, I love your work! I have seen most of your movies and I just can't tell you enough how exciting it is to meet you!" And he is looking a bit dubious, I think because of my age, so I try to convince him. "No, really, I remember when I was little and watching "Houseboat", with Sophia Loren, with my Mom while she folded laundry, and from then on I was hooked! And I loved "Bringing Up Baby" with Katherine Hepburn..." At this point he nods a bit, puts his head in his hand and sits down on the arm of the couch, and I realize something (keep in mind this is a dream and Cary Grant really was in "Bringing Up Baby") so I say, "Oh, wait! "Bringing Up Baby" starred Dick Tracy, not you!" (which I think I said given the link between Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, who, obviously, shared the same last name with the fictional comic book detective, Dick.) So, Mr. Grant nods his head and my credibility as a true fan has been blown to pieces. But do I stop? No. I go on, panicky. "But, you were in Charade, with Audrey Hepburn, oh, that was magic! And the one with the pink submarine...what was that called? And "My Girl Friday" (which was actually called "His Girl Friday"), and of course, Debrah Kerr or Karr or however you say it in "An Affair to Remember",and the Hitchcock movie with the blonde! And I saw the last half of one with Katherine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart, and I promise someday I'll watch the first half, and there was one with you on a roof...you were a thief!" And as I am going on Brandon is gently leading me to the entrance and I am just pulling against him, trying to redeem myself. Ugh. So I finally yank my arm from Brandon and walk to Mr. Grant and after a deep breath, say, "I'm sorry, Mr. Grant. It is just a thrill to meet you. Your movies have meant a lot to me through the years. I admire your quick banter, especially with Katherine Hepburn. Your comedic timing was always perfect, and the chemistry between you and your leading ladies was palpable. You were a "Leading Man" in every sense of the word. Even if your character was shady, I just knew you wouldn't hurt Audrey Hepburn. I am a busy mom of 4 kids. Although I don't watch daytime television much, if I do happen to come across one of your movies, the world stops. I just wanted to thank you for that." And Cary Grant takes my hand and says, in his Cary Grant voice, "Well, Mrs. Jensen, it has been a pleasure. Thank you." Then, he kisses my hand, and Brandon leads me away, and I wake up. Wow. Hee hee.
woods, to Grandmother's house we go! This weekend we gathered with Brandon's family and stuffed ourselves. It was fun to watch the kids play and interesting to see the movement and energy slowly return in the adults after the feast. We played games and visited and talked about our holiday plans. We are so grateful for so much!
triumphs and grudges, we expect our family to just take what we say or do and swallow it, whereas we would be so much more careful with those who don't know us so well, those who would judge more harshly. It is a human struggle. I am guilty of it.
She thought a moment, and then answered, "The breakdown and corruption of the family." The women were speechless and just stood there blinking. She guessed they expected her to say wars, the lack of Christian faith, or our world leaders, etc. But her simple answer holds truth. A family is the basic unit of the human race. It is where we come from; it is how we continue. If the family breaks down, becomes disconnected, dissolved, misplaced, disregarded, what does that say about us as a race? Isn't that more crucial than, say, global warming?
The planet will still be a planet, but in what state will we be?
Once again, we are shown the wonder of mountain weather and the truth to local folklore that it will snow just before or on Halloween, every year. It was 68 degrees on Monday, and the forecast said 58, and I fell for it. Ah, well, can't say it isn't beautiful! For my song about this phenomenon, set to the tune of a holiday favorite, click here. Fortunately, unlike last year's 7 degrees, it was a balmy 38, so no worries. The snow was gone by 3 p.m. As you can see, the kids really enjoyed their costumes this year. Chelsea won a prize for Best Use Of Accessories. If there had been a prize for Dressing Most like Your Parent, she would have won that, too.
Chelsea, 2007