Friday 29 July 2016

Celebrate the small things

This week we have been in chaos at home! We are having new windows and front door fitted and it has sort of taken over everything. Moving furniture and cleaning up afterwards - amazing where all the dust creeps to! On the plus side they are looking great and will be so much easier to maintain than the old wooden ones that were starting to rot. It has also made me clean some of those places that often get forgotten about - you know, like behind the TV! I want to wash some of the curtains before I re-hang them but the weather hasn't been great this week so I haven't managed that yet. Hopefully over the weekend, seems a shame not to whilst they are down anyway. Windows are important aren't they? Sort of like the eyes of the home I always think.

We caught up with some friends we haven't seen for a while in the middle of the week. The evening brightened a little and we had a stroll on the beach and a nice meal in a bar.

I surprised myself yesterday and wrote a short story! 2700 words just flowed and it felt good to write again as I haven't done much over the last month. It was a surprise because I had no intention of sitting down and writing it at all - I hadn't thought about it or planned it . . . then a first line popped into my head that I rather liked and well . . . 3 hours later a story written. It's in the crime/psychological genre which isn't something I usually write at all either. So another surprise there! I guess it's always good to try something new and when the muse strikes who am I to argue. My next job this morning will be to revisit the story and actually see whether there is anything there worth working on further!

As well as the windows my daughter has decided to renovate some old furniture this week. She really likes the shabby chic type look and we picked up a couple of little tables on Monday for a bargain price. She also bought the jugs. They are so pretty and apparently quite old. She is going to keep make-up brushes in the small one and some flowers in the large one (the middle sized one is undecided yet!) Anyway it really inspired her to try the technique herself so we went and bought a couple of tins of chalk paint and off she went. She has already given an old blanket box a new lease of life and the bookcase in the back of this picture is next on her list.



Then there's a little table that we were about to throw away and a pine mirror in the bathroom . . . anyway you get the picture. As long as I don't come home one day and find everything painted! We are having a switch around of bedrooms soon as our eldest is taking the huge step of buying a house with her boyfriend and she will be moving out soon so most of the pieces she is renovating will be for her new bedroom.

Looking back over the week there's been quite a lot going on really. Hoping for a sunny weekend and a break from the drilling and hammering . . .

Happy weekend to you all and thanks for stopping by.

       

       Thanks to Lexa and her lovely co-hosts
            L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge 
     Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog



20 comments:

  1. Hi Suzanne - lots of happenings going on - new windows and doors ... all the better to see her first and be ready to greet your 'leaving the nest daughter' when she visits ... clean curtains will be the icing of your cleaning.

    Well done on the new story - hope it satisfies when you take another look ...

    Enjoy all the happenings - clever daughter with her refurbishment ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you, Hilary. they are looking really good.

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  2. My, you have had a busy week. hope the week-end you can relax a little.
    Yvonne.

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  3. Glad you cranked out a short story like that.
    We've had new windows and doors installed. Made a big difference on our electric bill.

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    1. Read the story again today and have to say I'm quite pleased with it.
      Good to hear it reduced your bills, Alex.

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  4. WOW!!! When inspiration hits you go for it!!!!! Congrats!!!

    Love your daughters makeovers!!

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  5. How cool about the short story!! That's fantastic. Congrats!! Love the tables and jugs. Your daughter has great style.

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  6. Congrats on getting that short story down! Your daughter's restoration projects are beautiful! Hope things are calmer for you this week. Construction is a pain, but it's always so nice after it's done.

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  7. You have great things to celebrate this week, Suzanne. The table and jugs are gorgeous. Your daughter has an amazing talent. Congratulations on your new windows. They must be beautiful. Have a great week.

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  8. Going right to town at your sea. Awesome when the words just flow and a story does show.

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  9. Holy cow! What a huge list of goings on in your world! Despite the dust and dirt, I'm sure replacing the windows and door will be well worth it. Yay for your imaginative, creative daughter and her decision to re-make the old instead of buying new. Congrats to your other daughter and her new house! Wow! Have a wonderful weekend, Suzanne. :)

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    1. Oops - I forgot to congratulate you on the short story. Big yay for experimenting with a new genre and writing so much in one day. You rock! Keep it up!

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  10. Chalk painting? I love the look of the white tables with flowers. Is there a tutorial somewhere? I found your blog through the CTST bloghop. Hope you have a great weekend! www.dianeweidenbenner.com

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    1. Hi Diane, thanks for stopping by. If you look up Annie Sloan you should find lots of info and links to find out more about chalk paint and techniques. Have fun!

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  11. The painted furniture looks beautiful--like things I see in our antique stores here. Congrats on getting that short story written. I've been mulling over a new story, but there's been no time to write notes even. I hope I don't forget the details.

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    1. I hope you get to write your story soon, Tamara. Thank you for stopping by.

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  12. Hi Suzanne,

    What a lot to happen in the space of one week! I'm impressed that you somehow found the time to do a short story. Your daughter did well with that furniture. Very nice, indeed.

    I'm typing this and listening to the rain. Oh well...

    Take care,

    Gary

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