November Photo A Day Challenge - Day 3

Topic of the Day

 

is

 

"Me  -  Age 20 - 50"

 

 

 

 

More Progress on "The Little Library" AND on "The Book"

source: goreydetails.net

and that's the philosophy that led me into this project.

And I still stand by it.

It's impossible to explain to anyone who doesn't already feel this way - but to those of us who feel comforted by books, it's hard to imagine a life without them.  And most of us don't even want to imagine it, truth be told.

So.

Progress!


It's beginning to shape up and look more like a little library.

Donald has finished putting the bookcases together.

Next comes shifting and sliding and moving them to where they're going to live and then anchoring them to the walls.

Yippee!!

One little sidestep took place during all this.

Remember that pile of "stuff" that was under the bed?  I've been frettin' about all that.  But I found this cupboard, which Donald put together and we've put it in "The Little Library."  The first thing I'm planning on doing (once it's been anchored) is putting the stuff that was under the bed in here.  Cross your fingers that at least most of it fits!

Then I get to start putting all the books in order and getting them on the shelves.  They won't all go in this room, of course, but at least now (maybe) there will be enough room to have them fairly nicely shelved through the house and not in the mess they are now.

source: http://www.facebook.com/Trying God's Patience

AND - - -

While Donald was busy doing all this hard stuff in The Little Library, I was busy writing. 

I'm now, I think, moving into the final third of "The Book."  After not writing a single word all week, there was apparently a lot of stuff making its way into my head and storing itself in my brain, 'cause the words just came pouring out.  And I'm still loving the story, still loving the characters.  Not loving all the words, but for now they're working, at least.  And this is, after all, just the first draft - but a first draft that I keep tinkering with.  I can't seem to just write straight through without going back and tinkering.  But I do feel as though I'm moving forward.  And that's a good thing.  Right?!

source:  http://www.facebook.com/Trying God's Patience

A Story About A Guy And Some Shelves

I met Donald in 1984.

We had just started dating when he came to my apartment one evening to watch a Braves game with me.

I was a huge baseball fan - he was not.

While we were watching the game I noticed he seemed more interested in the hanging shelves on the wall surrounding the TV and I thought, "oh, goodie, he's interested in the books."

After awhile he said, "who hung your shelves?"

I, very proudly, said, "I did."

and he nodded.

We watched the game a little longer, and then he said, "Did you use a level?"

I looked at him like he's lost his mind.

"A level?  Why would I have a level?"

"Well, 'cause you like to hang stuff."

"No, I don't really like to hang stuff, but I just do it 'cause I want it done."

"So.  What do you use to make sure your shelves are level and stuff won't fall off them?"

I grinned.

Mistakenly thinking he was applauding my handiness, I walked across the room to where I had a pottery Tic-Tac-Toe game sitting on a table.  I picked up one of the pottery "O's" and handed it to him.

"I used this."

He just looked at it and held it for the longest time before he finally looked at me and said "This.  You used this as a level?"

Still grinning and still proud as punch, I said, "Yes!  Pretty smart of me, huh?"

"Kaye, this little ball is not round."

"Yes, it is too round."

By now he was laughing and NOT trying to hide it.  "It's not round enough to act as a level.  Actually, it's pretty flat in some places."

Me, being me, snatched the little ball and put it back where it belonged.

"I think the shelves look great.  I love them. AND, I'm pretty damned proud of myself for hanging them all by myself."

"I'm pretty impressed that you did that too."

He shook his head and said, "But Kaye, those shelves are crooked as hell."

I was crushed!

"They are not."

"Yes.  They are.  But if you're happy with them, that's what counts.  So.  What did you hang them with?"

"Toggle bolts."

He nodded.  "Do you have a lot of tools?  Other than a level - I know you don't have a level."

"I have a hammer and I have a screwdriver.  My dad gave them to me."

He nodded.  "What else?"

I think I looked at him like he was nuts here.  "That's all.  What else do I need?"

"Just one screwdriver?"

"Yes."  (I probably said this pretty sharply).

By now he was up looking more closely at the shelves and he did exactly what I was praying he would not do.

He picked up the one book I was hoping he would not pick up.

It was one next to the bracket I had had particular trouble putting up.

He wasn't looking at the book, he was looking at the hole surrounding the bracket.

"Wow.  That's a pretty big hole."

"The toggle thing didn't want to go in."

He nodded.

"I really had to fight to get it to go."

He nodded.

"What did you finally do?"

I cringed.

"I used a spoon."

"A spoon."

"Mm hmm.  And don't think I'm so dumb I don't know you're making fun of me here.  I don't want to talk about this any more.  I'm sure you would have done a better job."

"I am not making fun of you.  I'm just - - -  admiring your creativity.  And, like I said, I'm pretty impressed that you did all this all on your own.  Really.  But I'll help you the next time."

And, unbelievably, by now I was actually laughing.  Because, yes, the shelves were crooked as hell.  Even I could see that.  And yes, some of those holes were awfully big.  So - somehow, while my feelings could have been hurt, the man made me laugh.  And made me realize how good it felt to laugh with someone.  At myself.  Someone I liked lots.  

And sure enough  -  several months later we decided to move in together (very long story for another day), and he did hang shelves for me.  A lot of shelves.

We moved again and he hung shelves.

We moved again and he hung shelves and put together bookcases.

We moved to Boone in 1996 and he did it all again.

And now he's putting together more bookcases.

When I offer to help, he always says, "I'll holler when I need you."

And he does, always, holler when he needs me, but it's never when he's working on shelves.

And, he's still making me laugh.

even at myself.

That little home project . . . . Part 1

So.

You know we're working on a little home project.

Converting the little guest room into a little home library.

Some of you asked for before and after pictures.

I'm an idiot!

I love before and after pictures and can't believe I didn't think to do this all on my own!

I was sure I had pictures of the guest room, and I know I must since I take pictures all the time - of anything - of everything!  But I'm not able to come up with one.

So we'll start an "IN PROGRESS" blog about the library with some pictures I took today (I have a love/hate relationship with the timer on my camera).

The bed is down and now lives in our storage building.

All the stuff that was stored under the bed is now scattered here there and yonder with final resting place(s) yet to be determined.  (It was all under the bed for a reason, you see).

The bookcases we ordered have been delivered and are still packaged and cluttering up another room.

So far, I've put primer on the walls, and I've painted the ceiling.

Today is "Paint The Walls" day - Hooray!!

And pretty soon (Hooray!), we'll put the bookcases together (well, that would be Donald), and arrange them in the new little library (Whoopee!!!!!!).

And then, we'll start taking all the books off all the shelves and bookcases throughout the house (that would be me), DUSTING them, sorting them, and putting them back on shelves and bookcases throughout the house (because the little library isn't going to hold all of them) alphabetically rather than the oh so haphazardly manner in which they're now shelved.  (My librarian friends would die).

And I'm excited!   'Cause then I get to decorate the room, which is something I love to do.

It's going to be wonderful and I am going to adore it!

More later, but right now I have to get back to my painting.  This project is interfering badly with my time at the gym!!!  And my reading time!  And my writing time!  EEK!

Don't be messin' with a woman on a mission!

From Our House to Yours - - -

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Thanksgiving !

I have an awful lot to be thankful for - 
especially this year.

Hubby Donald . . . 

Mother Hazel  . . .

(I'm guessing this is where I got my "silly genes."  You think?!)

Best pal Harley . . .

 

and the rest of our family and friends.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS