Ashley needed a rocking chair for Evan's nursery.........................and I searched for a long time before I found this.
All the other rocking chairs looked slightly flimsy - this one screamed " big comfy rocking chair " to me and when the ad read " We used this for our children " I knew I'd found THE one !
But it needed a makeover -
I started by painting it Graphite from ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT ™
Next I added some 3 inch foam to the seat to make it thicker and to hide the indentation of previous bums LOL ! ( it also felt way too low - adding 3 inches of foam gave the seat a little height )
Ashley's favorite pattern is Chevron - so I bought some grey and white fabric to reupholster it with and then lightly sanded all the edges.................and then finished it all off by personalizing it with his name
It's quite a big chair ( it may end up in the living room instead of his nursery )
But it's incredibly comfy !
And that it has a history of rocking babies to sleep makes it even more special, don't you think?
But for now we'll get it delivered so that Mama can test it out!
A little bit of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™
A little bit of Chevron fabric
And a whole lotta love.................
The thought crossed my mind that IF they have another one and IF it's a girl - and IF they don't mind too much - I'd like them to call her EVA - then I could just replace the N with a heart or something LOL
You all have a wonderful day everybody !!!
Much love,
Me
Lolli - AKA
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The last month has been insanely busy...................
I did furniture for Evan's room - including a rocking chair makeover that I haven't had time to post about yet.
I finally finished the front ( enclosed ) porch
We built a deck ( with an incredible amount of help from the boys )
Had a baby shower ( and all that that entails )
Worked on the backyard so that we could accommodate roughly 50 or so people.
So...............this past week was kind of a lazy one for me.
You know when you just collapse in a heap?
Anyway,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I made salad one night and asked John if he could snip some basil off the plant outside.
John says - Sure !
John says - What does basil look like?
Suzan says - Tell me you're joking !
John says - laughing - Of course I am.
He was gone quite a while so I went out to see what was taking so long
HOLY COW - I'm still laughing 3 days later.
There he was...............foraging around the planters - .bent down and sniffing all the plants trying to figure out which one was basil -
Can you picture it ???
He finally looked up as he was holding on to some Rosemary - NOT THAT ONE!
John says - I know - I just like the smell.
LIAR - LMHO
I pointed to the basil and he grabbed some and came back in
Suzan says - You really didn't know what basil was?
John says - Of course I do !
Suzan says - What were you doing - just taking time to smell the herbs?
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My desk faces the street ( from the second floor ) so I can see what's going on out there if I'm sitting at it.
We bought a new lawn mower so the old one ( in perfect working order actually ) was put outside on the curb along with the garbage ( knowing someone would grab it )
On garbage day a man pulled up in his van and came out to take a look at it.
As he was wheeling it around I yelled out from upstairs
:" EXCUSE ME SIR - IT WORKS GREAT STILL - PLEASE TAKE IT !!! "
The man jumped and looked all around
" I DON'T WANT THE GARBAGE MEN TO TAKE IT - IT'S IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER "
The man now is frantically looking all over
' UP HERE! " I yelled down -
Finally he looked up and waved - grabbed the lawnmower and took off.
John says - I wish you wouldn't do that
Suzan says - What?
John says - Scream like a banshee from the upstairs window - DON'T YOU KNOW YOU PROBABLY MADE HIM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE??????????
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I'm in a stump over Trump.
How is this happening?
And I'm not being facetious ..................I really want ot know - HOW. IS. THIS. HAPPENING?
Enlighten me.
Please?
When Megyn Kelly mentioned all the nasty mysogynistic comments he's made about women - and he pointed out that it was only Rosie O'Donnell - the audience erupted into laughter and applause.
Then he went to twittertown on Miss Kelly herself and everyone got upset.
I really AM confused by it all..............is he allowed to denigrate some women but not all women?
Can he only make fun of overweight women?
Gay women?
Women with dark hair?
What ARE the rules here?
Other than entertainment value I don't get what he stands for politcally.
Other than build a wall and make the Mexicans pay for it ( great in theory - sort of ridiculous reality wise )
He wants to make America Great Again by implementing "really good" changes.
Surely that's not the criteria for a good speech on policies? Shouldn't he - oh I don't know - MENTION WHAT THOSE CHANGES WILL BE?
Can you imagine what he'd say about Angela Merkel if she disagreed with him about something?
He'd probably break twitter !
As Lindsay Graham so eloquently put it - " it's all gibberish "
You know, if every ounce of ego was worth a dollar - he'd be worth..............oh wait forget about that.
Anyway I DO so love a good circus !
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Our mail man will no longer be bringing our mail................we got the keys to a group mail box up the street.
Another job made redundant.
You young ones won't remember but I grew up with a milk man....................he delivered our milk every morning..............along with eggs and butter and sometimes my Mother would leave a note - as a special treat and there on the stoop would be sitting ice cold chocolate milk first thing in the morning.
I also remember Tellers in banks.
Is it any wonder there is an epidemic of anti social disorders today?
There's very little interaction left, period.
I wonder if schools will be made redundant in the not to distant future - every child will be provided with a computerized curriculum .................as a voice on a computer tells them which book to open - no interaction with other children.
Too many of them already play virtual games .............instead of actually kicking a ball.
Some things are better today - but the ones that are not terrify me..
Our grands ( mine by the heart - John's by blood ) play soccer.
I asked Amelia a couple of weeks ago if she had won her game.
Amelia says - We're ALL winners !
Lolli says - I know you are - but who won the game?
Amelia says - We don't have winners and losers because we're ALL winners !
Oh dear Lord - we're going to be a whole society of Donald Trumps one day.
What happens when they lose at something in real life and have no way of handling it?
Doesn't losing sometimes and winning sometimes build character?
Or am I just being too old fashioned here?
How can you ever know if you suck or excel at something if you win everything you attempt?
Can you imagine what the FIFA games will be like in 20 years?
They'll have to give everyone the cup !
If you think some of today's sports people act like prima donna's - b-b-b-baby you ain't seen nothing yet.................
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So........I had the above mentioned shower and NEVER TOOK ANY PHOTOS OF THE DECORATONS!
What kind of a blogger does that?
One who was so stressed out that she could barely see properly.
But I DID get this one !
and this one
and this one
and those are just some of the gifts - they went on well past where Chris is sitting -
I also made a gift card " tree " - where Babies-R-Us gift cards were attached to branches - all $1360.00 worth of them - plus they received cash in cards - holy cow - I've never seen anything like it in my life!
Those balloon swags?
I made 4 of them.................one of my fingers is scarred forever from tying them in knots !
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They're calling for a hot one this weekend..................really hot.
With the humidity it's supposed to be over 100 degrees...............if any of you are looking for me I'll be in the pool for the next 48 hours ! I keep saying that but I don't actually do it -
This weekend I intend to !!!
Well first we're off to buy those French Doors but then I swear to you that's where I'll be :)
Have a wonderful one everybody -
( summer's flying by so quickly it makes me panic )
Love to all
Lots of it
Me
Because everything tastes better over there.................I thought I'd show you what we used to grab for a quick lunch ( along with almost every one of the 30,000 attendee's ) at the fabric shows we went to.
Every now and then I'll make them here at home
Parisian Hotdogs ( & frites of course )
I thought I'd surprise John with them !
A hot dog in a baguette !
( the thought just occurred to me that although I don't post a lot about food - when I do it's always something extremely fattening and unhealthy )
John's on a ciabatta kick ( normally we buy baguettes ) so I used that instead.
You warm the bread in the oven - just enough so that the outside is slightly crispy -
And then you dig a hole through the center
When you buy these in Paris they're on a long baguette - I made small ones.
You can either squirt your mustard inside the bread - or spread it on the weiner itself - and insert it into the
hole ! ( of course it's dijon mustard in Paris - I was out so used French's which I prefer anyway )
Simple, n'est pas?
You can even cheat and add some of that tres gauche North American red stuff on your frites !
And that little difference between a hotdog bun and a baguette? Magnifique mes amis !
AND THEN?
John came home with these ( because 10,000 calories wasn't enough for dinner ! )
Bad Monkey Mais Souffle ( popcorn ) -
They are to die !
The company started here in Montreal - by 2 brothers who used to be called " bad monkeys " by they're Mom..................Gourmet popcorn never tasted so good.
Popcorn after a Parisian hotdog you may ask?
Well it's perfectly acceptable if the popcorn is CREME BRULEE flavored !
We sat outside on the deck eating our dinner -
But we may as well have been sitting outside the Notre Dame Cathedral - or that's what I pretended anyway
I think Bad Monkey ships to the States if you'd like to try them ( this is not a sponsored post - just someone who loves popcorn ) they're link is HERE
Last night was the first time I tried it - incroyable ! ( incredible ! )
Here are some of the flavors
DARK chocolate
Strawberry
Jalepeno..................
Bonne journee everyone !!!
Hugs,
Me
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I bought this well over a year ago.................
but was terrified that it came with a " spirit " attached to it............................you can read about that HERE
( and the comments are far more interesting - and hilarious - than the post itself )
And so it was banished to the garden - facing the pool - where it sat exposed to the elements for well over a year...............
When I finished giving the front enclosed porch it's makeover I decided it was time to bring it back in -
As terrible as it was to put it outside and risk it being destroyed forever ( along with the ghost that came with it hopefully ) it came back in with the most beautiful " washed " patina !
I think whatever was attached to it has left the building..............or maybe it's swimming around in the pool
In the meantime I'm glad to have this beauty back inside where it belongs :)
Have a wonderful day everyone !
Much love,
Me
( the Ghostbuster )
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We worked for 3 weeks solid on the backyard ..................for Ashley & Chris' baby shower.
As a family affair - we built a deck for extra seating ( with my contribution being the planning and decorating and the " bossing " ) A simple straight forward deck - we don't even have railings ( it's very close to the ground )
this is the area we placed it in ( from the original MLS photo's )
And though it's not that large a deck - I found a way to seat NINE people comfortably in a " conversation pit "
The furniture was bought from IKEA - ( the last 3 seats from one store - and the last 2 seats in another - we were soooo lucky )
Across from them I placed 3 cedar folding chairs that I bought in the winter off Craigs List - I think I paid 25.00 for all of them )
I remember John telling me I was nuts for buying outdoor furniture in the middle of the winter - but like childbirth he usually forgets all about it ...............
John says - That was a great call getting those chairs
Suzan says - And you thought I was nuts !
John says - I never said that
But he did ...................
They're so beautifully weathered that they may be my favorite things on the deck !
When I have some time I'll make cushions for them - but believe it or not - for hard wood chairs they're really comfortable !
I had another chair that we weren't using - it's a faux leather so it's perfect for outside and the same color as the cushions - so out it came
I filled the corners with plants ( that we still need to plant - they're perennials that were on sale ) which filled the spots up perfectly since they were out of the corner seats AND tables when we got to Ikea. I'm hoping this line continues next year because I'd love to add to it.................they have benches too !
We made the coffee table from extra wood we had on hand ( you can read about that HERE )
John says - NOT WITH THE BRANCHES IN A VASE AGAIN!
Suzan says - I LOVE branches in a vase - and they're free - why do you fight it?
John says - Because they're all over the house - and I'm constantly being poked by them
But the branches in the vase are staying !
I took advantage of the other side of the deck ( because we can never have a spare inch anywhere - a spare inch is a wasted inch in my opinion LOL ) and placed a small bistro table
And of course a vintage ( possibly antique ) door !
That table? Was the same color as the furniture - but I bought it many years ago - and black worked best at the time - now it's pretty beaten up and time to sand it all down - no paint brush will ever touch it again !
Anyway this corner still needs a lot of tweaking....................but the conversation area is FAIT ACCOMPLIS !!!
Simple but perfect for us - AND WE HAVE A DECK - HOLY COW - WE HAVE A DECK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( and next thing on the list is installing French Doors from the dining room so we have indoor access - right now the only access is from the kitchen and through the mud room )
Guess where I'll be today ?
I'll be going back and forth from the deck to the
And then back to the deck again !
Though the pool's on the other side of the garden completely - if you're sitting on the end of the sofa you can catch a glimpse of it. - but I'll give you a close up instead :)
The reno's on the inside have been nothing short of a nightmare.............
But this back yard has been a dream come true -
When we're inside we sit around grumbling about how much there's still left to do -
and then we step outside and have to pinch ourselves - we're so grateful - and now
with the deck we're pinching ourselves so hard we've got bruises ......................
So I plan to spend a day in dreamland - with black and blue marks all over my body
Let me know what time you're coming over - there's enough room for 8 of you !
You all have a glorious Monday !
Much love,
Me
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The below observation is my opinion - and is not necessarily shared by fellow Canadians.
Our television sucks.
Wait - I take that back - our Documentaries are really pretty incredible - but other than that?
Our television sucks.
Most of us watch " American " television because..................well it's superior.
The other night John and I watched a game show.
The concept of the show was all right I suppose - but after sweating their brains out for half an hour the grand prize was a tent.
Let me repeat that - a FREAKING tent.
American game shows send people on holidays to Hawaii or some other beautiful beachy resort - and we get a tent?
" Here you go - now go find yourself a camp ground buddy "
I've seen shows where they win a year's supply of SAUSAGES ..............Oh Canada we can do better than that. I would have had to fight the urge to whack him in the head with one of them !
It's absolutely pitiful to watch. And if you didn't know better you'd think you were watching an episode of
SNL ( whose creator - by the way - is a Canadian )
The contestants are always stiff and formal ( and kind of nerdy ) nothing like the people I know anyway.
And the clapping of the audience is " tinny " because there's only 20 or so people sitting in it, I'm sure.
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So I went dress shopping this week.
First I HAVE to say that I've never seen this condition on another living soul but I've developed a DONUT on my stomach.
Most people get " tires " - I've literally got a huge donut - with my belly button the hole in the center.
I stood in the dressing room staring at it in fascination.
Then I shed a tear because it means I can absolutely never eat another donut as long as I live.
Here's what my reflection looked like ( because the reflection was far worse than the " real " me )
But it's such a gorgeous dress that I bought it anyway.
John says - Oh - that's a beauty !
John says - Try it on - I'd like to see it !
Suzan says - I'M NOT PUTTING IT ON - LEAVE ME ALONE !!!!!!!
John says - WTH? What did I say?
Suzan says - GET OFF MY BACK ALREADY - I'M NOT PUTTING IT ON
John says - Why the hell did you buy it and why is it hanging on the outside of your cupboard door.
Suzan says - It's a reminder..............I can't eat donuts anymore
John says - You're slipping over the edge..............
You know for years and years people always told me I was too skinny
Well.............. HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW??????????????
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We were in the car............and another one pulled up beside us at a red light.
The guy was drinking a coffee in a cup the size of a bucket.
John says - Check out the exhibitionist beside us.
My head whipped over
Suzan says - He's not an exhibitionist ! He's just ridiculous
John says - He IS an exhibitionist !
John says - He's the EPITOME of an exhibitionist !
Suzan says - Well he's not showing his penis or anything
John says - NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE THE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH !!!
and so we bickered about THAT for a good 5 miles or so.until we got home and he looked it up in the dictionary.....................he's right - crap - I hate it when he's right ( thankfully it's not that often )
I seriously always thought an exhibitionist was someone that showed their private parts.........
And this topic was just a little fluff - you know - filler
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Have you seen the new trend?
Apparently it's taking the internet by storm
I don't know about you but I'm thinking when we have to walk around with gumdrops growing off the tips of our fingers - we've exhausted all ideas for nails - really - it's just time to admit defeat and go get a French Manicure.
Watch there'll be a movie about it next - like Edward Scissorhands -
it'll be called Edwina Marblehands.........
They look just as lethal to me.
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I'm titling this section
" THE WORLD IS FULL OF A$$HOLES"
Have you ever considered what it would be like to walk into a body - through a giant anus?
NO???
What exactly is wrong with you?
Japan has an exhibit where you can do just that.
It makes me want to vomit a little in my mouth.
I find it vile..................
Oh look kids !
You can even see what it produces !
And then Mommy will take you to get bubble nails !!!
At least when North Americans enter a human body - they do it in a dignified manner - through injection -
What tiny little bit of interest I've ever had in science has just flown out the back door.
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I had to blow up 144 balloons.
For Ashley's shower.
I didn't have any problems blowing them up - ( because after about 20 of them I ran and got the electric inflater we have for the pool floats - worked like a charm ) but it was tying the knots that killed me.
I don't recall that ever being a problem before but it certainly is now............my fingers looked like
Godzilla's the rest of the night.
John says - EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO IS OVER KILL !!!!!!
John says - 10 balloons or so would have been ok - but no we have to have hundreds
Suzan says - I'm swagging them - so I needed a lot
John says - You're what-what?
I'm not sure if this is a British thing or not - but he always repeats the " WHAT "
Suzan says - swagging-swagging them
I'm halfway through as I type this up ( but I'm typing it up Thursday - so in real time they're finished.
I hope to God anyway.
If I'd waited till I finished tying knots in all of them I wouldn't have been able to type period.
Here's the half.
And since my fingers have been rendered useless I think I may glue a balloon to each fingertip - start a trend
Wish me luck everyone - there's a lot of people coming..................
( and can I just tell you I'm dying a thousand deaths because the downstairs bathroom hasn't been touched and it's a hell hole ? I might just use the balloons to cover all the walls in there ! ) Would a tent/outhouse be too tacky do you think? I should have tried to win one on a game show !
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Oh ! John just pulled a doozy - just in time for me to sign off with !
He just walked in with some back cushions for the outdoor sofa and loveseat !
Earlier I had been complaining because they're not very thick at all - they'll do for now but they're pretty thin.
Anyway John had told me in the middle of the week that he thought they were fine.
Ok so in he walks tonight and tosses down 2 pillows and with disgust -
John says - You're right - these are complete crap - they should be ashamed of themselves for selling them
Suzan says - You said they were fine!
John says - LOOK AT THEM ! THEY'RE AS FLAT AS A PANCAKE !!!
OMG - I thought I'd die !
They're pillows so they were vacuum packed - of course they were flat !
Suzan says - They're vacuum packed
John says - Where do you come up with these things?
Suzan says - They vacuum pack all their pillows - it saves space
John says - I've never heard of such a thing
I'm still giggling
You can see for yourself - they ARE thin though
But they're SITTING ON A DECK THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST WEEK !!!
Have a wonderful weekend !
Hugs - with just my arms because as you know - my fingers.............but now I'm just repeating myself.
