Sister, Sisters..thank God for my sisters??

Not long after my trip from California my sister Suzy called to ask me if everything was alright? I told her things were fine and she said she had been worried because I hadn't been updating my blog. So here I am slacking off again (although this time I do have a broken leg.) I called Suzy today (her and Becky live in Minnesota) and told her that I was updating my blog with pictures of us girls. This picture was taken of me (left) and Suzy (on the right) at my Aunt Ora and Uncle Mike's farm in Hobbs, New Mexico. I know the picture was taken before we moved from Texas which means it was before I turned eight. We dressed up some of the puppies and were playing with them.

This is a photo of me at five months and my older sister Becky.

This is one of my favorites. Suzy, me and Becky under the Christmas tree in 1965. I would have been four. Suzy is four years older than me and Becky is eight years older than me.

This was also taken when I was four. I don't know what the occasion is. but I just love the expressions on our faces.

Me, Becky in the back and Suzy holding my mother's dog Tina. I think I was around 6 when this one was taken. Everytime I see this picture of me it reminds me so much of my nephew Denny.

We look tired in this one. I think we were on vacation but I can't be sure. Again, I may be around 4 or 5. Even though I don't think it is a great one of me I really like how it turned out of Suzy (middle) and Becky(on the right.)

This was the most recent one I could find of all three of us together. I'm sure there were some taken at my Dad's funeral but I couldn't find any. Anyway, from Left to Right it is Becky, Suzy and me. I was around 24 and we had all come home for some surgery my Dad had on his heart. I was going to school at the time for Electronics. I had already moved to Santa Rosa, California. Boy, time sure passing along quickly.

Since both of my sister's live in Minnesota I don't get to see them often. We do talk on the phone but it would be fun to see them at least once a year. Hmmm, I suppose I should make that happen.

Until Next Time

Kathleen

Moving Around Better & Bandon Furniture

I'm certainly moving around better. This week has been exhausting. I went to the doctor today and he gave me a walking boot to wear. I now can walk without crutches. He said I was lucky, and that the bone I broke would eventually heal on its own but it will heal faster with the boot. Also, he said there is a chance the bone could separate if I didn't wear the boot which would mean surgery. Don't want that. Anyway, I am feeling extremely lucky. The boot is heavy and I'm going to continue sleeping in the guest room as I'm afraid I'll clobber my husband with the boot. I need to get use to it. But hey, I can walk now without crutches!!!!

I've discovered that I'm am very independent and don't like having to depend on others. It is nice to know I can though. My husband was just as happy as I was about the boot. He wanted to go to Bandon this weekend. I've decided to stay behind as I'm not sure I want to try navigating those stairs into the house yet. Also, Damian's father turns 80 next month and he wanted to go down to L.A. to visit him. My friend Kris was willing to stay with me (Bless your Heart) so he could go. Having lost both of my parents I really wouldn't want to stand in the way of that.

Anyway, leg is still sore, but I can walk!!!! How great is that!!!! I couldn't believe the bruises on my leg and foot when they took off the splint.

And now on Bandon

This little telephone table is another item I painted over the 4th of July. My friend Kris gave it to me. I think it is so perfect. I used my usual white paint and painted the inside with Laura Ashley, Pale Apple 2 (The kitchen is painted this color.) The throw I found at the thrift store. It has sea shells all over it. I'm going to be replacing the love seat that I threw a white table cloth over with two chairs. Years ago I gave my friend Deanne a little chair I had refinished the wood on (small platform rocker) but hadn't gotten around to the upholstery part. I even had the material but I was moving at the time waiting for the Ashland house to be built and had to put my stuff in storage. Deanne is giving the chair back to me as she is cleaning out her garage and hadn't gotten around to it either.

This is the before on the telephone table.

This is in my little guest room. The dresser I had purchased at a garage sale in Bandon. I think I paid $15.00 for it but I really can't remember. I wish I had a before shot of it because it was very ugly. Lots of different color paint. I used the ICI Swiss Coffee paint and put clear glass knobs on it. The mirror is what I painted over the holiday weekend. I found the mirror at the Goodwill Store (can't remember which one though) for $5.99. I knew it was the right size for the room and the little dresser. The ceiling slopes here so there isn't much room.

This is the before shot of the mirror. The chair off to the right I will be refinishing soon. No bum ankle is going to stop me.

Until Next Time

Kathleen

Update on Under the Weather & Bandon Furniture

Well, I'm still hobbling around with the broken foot. I can't wait to get the cast on this Thursday. I'm going to take the day off as my foot seems to swell when I start walking on it during the day. I think I'm having an allergic reaction to the plastic on the splint. I've always been allergic to some plastics and don't usually think about it but something is going on inside there. Anyway, Thank you Dave for the comment. You didn't leave me your email address so I don't know how to get in touch with you. I'd like to compare notes on getting through this little bump in life so please leave me your email address.



On Bandon Furniture



Remember this little stool. Well, I finished it and used the material I was going to use for the curtains in the bathroom. I've decided that I may keep the old pillow case curtains. I'll just finish them off correctly and use lace for the shower stall. When I held the material up in the bathroom it seemed like too many different colors. I think the stool will be just the right amount to give it a splash of color. After all, I have some much color on the walls in there.

Remember this is how the stool looked when I picked it up at the Goodwill Store. I must say it was a big improvement with the paint and all.

This is the one dining room chair I have for the table. I'm going to look for other chairs to paint white. I was pleased with the way it turned out. I used an old mint green pillow sham for the seat cover. The picture showed up on the pale side and doesn't really give the true color.

This is what the chair looked like before. Cute lines and a comfortable chair but not much else to get excited about.

I'm not sure how much else I will be able to do for the Bandon house until I get my foot fully recovered. Leave it to me though, I'm not one to set around for long without a project to do. It seems even shopping isn't that easy as I get tired fast. Working all day yesterday wiped me out. Oh, well . . . Onward we go.

Until Next Time

Kathleen

Ouch That Hurts

Well I have gone and broke my right ankle bone and it hurts. Friday I was just about to leave for work and decided to check out the back yard for the yard work I was going to be doing over the weekend. I stepped off of the back step and down I went. I only recall my right foot sliding under and I heard a snap sound. I lay there and cried and of course no one heard anything. I finally pulled myself up and crawled into the house. My little Lucy looking through the window in the door the whole time with this little worried look on her face. I waited until the time my husband normally gets up and I called him down stairs. We called the insurance company and where I work at and I had to crawl to the car. My knees and hand were already pretty banged up from the fall but you do what you have to do. Anyway, I broke the outer bone right by the ankle and I can't put any weight on it. I don't get a cast until this Thursday (I guess they wait for the swelling to go down first.) I've been trying to learn how to walk with crutches. Which with my vertigo problem isn't the easiest thing in the world. Actually, I don't think it would be that easy even without vertigo.

My husband is playing nurse maid so he brought me breakfast in bed this morning. I've taken over the guest bedroom as the bed is a little easier to get in and out of.

Yumm that was good. The dishes we call the weekend dishes as we will use them from Friday night on. The first piece I ever purchased of this Rose Chintz was a small platter in England and I brought it back in my backpack on the plane.

A nice cup of tea to finish it off. I do have lots of Bandon pictures to share with you this coming week. I'm still going to try and make it into work as I have some important things to take care of this week. I'm not sure how I'm going to do all this until I get the regular cast on. This could be tricky. If any of you have some tricks on how to deal with a broken leg - please share them. I'm not going any where.

Until Next Time

Kathleen

Smokey Ashland

The smoke from some of the 800+ California fires has billowed over into the Rogue Valley. Here is the view from the second story deck in Ashland. It looks like what I remember of Los Angeles.

I apologize for the long delay between postings. The smoke has flared up my allergies going at full force. I literally am surviving on coffee and Red Bull. Well, I'm trying to give up the Red Bull because it is suppose to be so bad for you. Even with all the caffeine I'm still sleeping most of the time I'm not at work. The meds and the side effects from the allergies make me feel foggy and sleepy.

I'm heading to the coast this Friday. I promise to have new photos next week of progress inside the Bandon house. I can't wait to get over there. Hopefully, to clean air!!

Until Next Time
Kathleen