A typical autumn school day

Math manipulatives

 

 Some to count

 

...and some to eat.

A little coloring

 here

and there

a bit of geography by way of a game

{Where do gnomes go for vacation?  .....Nome, Alaska, of course.}

 and coffee for the college kid.

Dan says if you tip your head to the right a bit - it looks like a Scotty dog in the foam. 

Do you see it?  What do you think?

. . . . .

 

Hoping you are having a perfectly cozy day on this last day of October. 

The Secretary

I was actually shopping for a small dresser, but when I saw this secretary desk I knew it would make a great little upstairs desk....a mini office ~ cheap, very functional, but UGLY.

Function alone isn't enough - we need beauty.  Beauty + utility = Beautility.

Compared to other secretary desks this one is kind of chunky and bulky so I thought a lighter color of paint would help.   I used chalk paint on this project.  It looks great.  I also used it on a coffee table, but honestly, it hasn't held up the way I need it to.  {It wasn't Annie Sloan's paint, so maybe that is why, or maybe we are just hard on our coffee table.}

There are so many ways to paint furniture.  I've tried spray paint, but that method is really smelly, usually takes 2-3 cans, and there can be spatter.  I've tried acrylic craft paint, but brush marks are obvious and it doesn't cover well - it's perfect for the Shabby Chic look.  Chalk paint is the new rage, but definitely needs the wax finish.
I decided not to use any of these methods, but used interior latex paint in a satin finish.  A sample size pint was $4.99 at my local Ace Hardware. 

This piece needed some thorough cleaning so Eric made up a solution of water and ammonia and used 00 steel wool to scrub off all the grime and oil.   He also removed all the hardware.  Since we were going from a dark to light, we decided to apply a base coat of a white sample we had on hand.  Using foam brushes instead of bristle brushes helps to lessen brush marks. 

We chose a light gray for the outside and a fun aqua/teal blue for the inside, the hardware, and the sides of the drawers.  

   I love the contrast of the hardware against the gray, and it gives a hint to the inside. 

 

The cubbies on the inside were a challenge to paint! 

Since this was going to be my little "office", Eric drilled some holes in the back for USB phone cords and my laptop cord.  The phones fit perfectly in the cubbies.  He's so clever.

 

 

And here it is. 

Before

After

 

 

I'm tickled pink aqua blue!

 

 

My latest project

This is my Craig's List find.  My laptop will finally have a home,

but not before a little make-over.

 

I have a plan.

I have paint.

I have a handy husband.  :-)

 

Stay tuned...

First things first

It is quite dark now in the early morning hours, and there is a chill about the house too. 

Although my body would love to stay inside my soft, warm bed and savor more sleep,

my soul yearns for a different kind of comfort.

 

 

"The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep.  The body does, but not the heart...

we replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer." 

- John Piper

 

We all know that life can be hard, and relationships can get messy.

But Scripture brings clarity to my otherwise blurred vision.

It reminds me that there is joy in spite of circumstances,

and thankfulness to always be expressed to a great God, who has all in His control,

and wisdom to be found, if only I would ask.

I cherish the quiet time I have in the morning to renew my mind and soften my heart. 

 I've learned something about myself over the years....  I need a lot of sleep,

but I need God more!

. . . . .

 

 



"Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love

that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days."

Psalm 90:14

 

"I will cry to God Most High.  To God who accomplishes all things for me."

Psalm 57:2

 

"Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders.  Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.  Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.  Remember His wonders which He has done."

Psalm 105:2-5

The perfect autumn day

The perfect autumn day would be:

 

where the skies are a beautiful blue with white puffy clouds,

where it's warm enough for t-shirts,

 

which is just right for swinging

 

and trampolining,

and where pinks

 

and yellows

 give way to orange.

The perfect autumn day would be filled with farm friends

 

 

and sweet fellowship

 

 

and the most fun seasonal thing to do

 

 

which yields pure, delicious, golden goodness!

 

Cheers!

 

That would be the perfect autumn day...

and it was!

Me-oh-my and pumpkin pie!

 

I really never thought I'd see the day when I was excited about these gas prices. {Costco}

  Oh my!

some pumpkin pie?

 Just a couple of things we saw while we were out today. 

Hope you are enjoying your weekend.   :-)