Sunday Music

Haunting.  I heard this phrase often as a child; as an adult I think it's a two-edged sword.

8:11 am: Enjoying My Front Porch

But I do have to get up early to do it because at 8:11 am it's already 89 degrees (F).  In creating this landscape around our home, my request was for plants that attract butterflies and birds.  I'm so grateful for that, as I can sit here and see several types of butterflies, black white, yellow, orange.  I don't know their names, but I certainly enjoy their beauty and grace.  

Bird song is everywhere, mourning doves cooing, quail calling to the family and hummers chirping at each other.  Just a moment ago, I saw a cardinal in the top of the tree across the way.

Now I see a  rabbit on the walking path.  We have a love hate relationship with them, as they eat plants. Having lost several to their voracious appetites, I think I've finally figured what to plant that they won't eat.

Hope you find beauty where you are today.

The New-Old Airstream Sofa

Before

After

I didn't do this job myself but, it there is a next time, I think I would tackle it.  Especially now that the cushions are continuous and the foam was all replaced.  

I also replaced the fabric covering on the walls with a heavyweight vinyl.  Those of you with Airstreams will know what I'm talking about.

 

  This is just heavy cardboard covered with fabric which I covered with vinyl (I did not remove the original fabric) using hot glue to secure it.

This piece is on the wall along the dinette.

I did the same with the wooden pie shaped pieces on the ends of the upper cabinets but used my trusty staple gun to attach the vinyl.

Here are some pictures of the process for the ends of the upper cabinets.

Quick, easy project, big impact.

I need some photos of the pieces actually in place.

My work is never done.

How to Make a Mistake

As I said in a previous post, I no longer get too bent out of shape about "mistakes" made in the creative process.  In fact, I don't usually call them mistakes anymore because I looked up the definition of mistake:

1. An error or fault resulting from defective judgment, deficient knowledge, or carelessness.

2. A misconception or misunderstanding.

Nahhh, that's not what it is, it's more like an unplanned detour onto a scenic route.  Creating something is rarely, if ever, a straight shot from Point A to Point B and you get in trouble when you try to make it that.  I've learned so much from those detours.

Like this shade.

I wanted to change the light above the dining room table.  The one I had originally bought from Home Depot was serviceable.  That should tell you right there that it had to go.  And, I broke it before we ever moved in when I bonked it with my big hard head.

 How boring is that?

I found a shade of suitable size and shape at the, you guessed it, thrift store.

I removed the black and gold trim and was on the lookout for fabric.  I walked into Hancocks one night and something in the right colors caught my eye.

This is the right side of the fabric and it's more rust than the red  it looks here. I love the great big print.  I liked the "wrong" side of the fabric better and decided to use it.

That great big print was the problem.  It is a REGULAR print. I hadn't measured the shade (what?  me measure?) and when I did, I found that the bottom circumference was 1 inch larger than the top.  That means I would have to cut the fabric on a curve...which means the print would be all whopperjawed.  Look, I'll show you what I tried.

See those big darts?  Lampshades don't typically have darts. But that's what needed to happen to keep the print running level.  Not at all attractive, would you agree?

What to do?  Go to your stash.  And looky what I found

Similar colors, graphic print but the key is it's an IRregular print.  I've had this fabric for a long time (it's probably older than my firstborn) and am thrilled to finally have a use for it.

Mistake, nahhhhhh.

2 Bikes, a Canoe and

This!

More here.  (great music by the way)

Thanks to Kent at Tiny House Blog!

Order, Order, Order in the House, Please!

I have photos of projects and new acquisitions to share with you and NO CAMERA CORD!  And of course the cord for the camera is the only one like it in the house, no robbing from Peter....


I guess I will have to remove the card and use the reader...now where did I see that ?

Every One Has a Story

One of the best things about my job is the people I get to meet.  Last week I got to talk with someone who does radio carbon dating and had been involved in dating the Shroud of Turin.  I've met folks who were part of the Hubbell project and the Mars rover and who work on missile systems.  One skill I have attained from those many experiences is engineer recognition and no, it's not the pocket protector, they think in a way that is to me, very different.

I've also met minor celebrities and sports figures.  Interestingly enough, they aren't that interesting.  At least not to me.

Many of our clients are well-traveled, sometimes by choice, sometimes for survival.  Tucson has become home to many refugees and I have learned of cultures that I was unaware even existed. I had no idea of the plight of Karen refugees,  nor what was going on in Eritrea and Somalia.  The story of the Lost Boys of the Sudan became more than a sensational TV soundbite as many of them settled in Tucson.

Then there are our travelers from just south of our border, most are here trying to eke out a living doing work which is much harder than what I do, in much worse conditions, for much less money. 

I have learned that if I am willing to listen, everyone has a story.  In my 30+ years of attending births and taking care of new families, I have on a few occasions had bad experiences with people.  But only a few.  Birth is a time of vulnerability filled with stress and high emotion, not all of which is good.  But I can truly say that the positive experiences far outweigh the negative.  I have learned of places to which I might never travel, unimaginable strife and the cruelty humans can inflict on one another.  But I have also learned about hope and the strength of the human spirit.

I have been changed by each story, each situation, each birth.  I've learned that despite place of origin, or DNA, or language or religion, at the moment of birth, we have more similarities than differences.
 

Bringing a child into the world is the greatest act of hope there is.

                                                                                                Louise Hart

Vegetarians need not apply

The spouse has the craziest, most varied job in the world.  And he LOVES it! That's him wielding the A7 branding iron.

What kid growing up in the 60s didn't have some dreams of being a cowboy?

Just a few things

We got the Airstream sofa back from the upholsterer today!  Remember, it looked like this:

I have no after pictures yet as the sofa is still in pieces but should have it back together soon.  I can tell you there are NO flowers.  We have a vacation coming up in about 6 weeks, can't wait!

A recipe:  the spouse made this Mediterranean Portobello Burger for dinner on Memorial Day and it was wonderful!  Try it... no really, try it, you'll like it.
 
Another house plan that I love: Joseph Sandy 350 sq foot house  Efficiency with style.




Click the MondoBeyondo button to the right to find out what else I've been up to.

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Ahhhhh, just in time for summer...

Which in Tucson means the only time I can sit on the front porch is early morning or late evening.  But that's OK, it'll look pretty whenever I get out there.

I can say that the paint cost more than any one piece of furniture, and a couple of the pieces were a few different colors before I settled on the current colors.  I used to see those missteps as failures, now I see them as necessary detours on the road to ahhhhhhhhhhh.