A Break???

Not likely! Things in our nest are still needing to be done. A week was not enough time, though we DID get a couple of the things on our "want to do" list completed. I messed up the date Niki was coming. I thought it was Thursday the 10th, but it is Friday the 11th. It was fine either way, but the extra day, means extra work, which really is a good thing. Can you tell I am trying to convince myself? I am tired. Yesterday we painted. I really dislike painting! And sponge painting is not my favorite. I have feather painted, sponge painted, rag painted. My last home had this style of painting all over the place. I am more a solid color kinda girl because of that.
There is LOTS of sponge painting to look at now. It did not turn out "bad" and actually Sweetheart really likes it, so that is the important thing. I did paint the walls in the upstairs hallway a solid in the same "Peanut Shell" gold/tan as the sponge painting. Oh, and the entire house smells like vanilla. No paint smell at all! Zach thought I was baking something! The additive is a great thing. I will never paint without it again!!! I think there were 6 scents to choose from.
Maybe I need to add a 3rd color, like a cinnamon sponged very lightly and sporadically. It would maybe have more of a wall paper look then. We are not professionals by any means and reaching 17 feet up with a sponge on the end of a pole while standing on a ladder was not an easy task! This paint job also meant a color change. The entryway was predominately blues and pinks. With the gold tones added, I needed to change things. I am thinking my Spring wall hanging will be a center point in an arrangement over my couch when my mom takes back the portraits I have hanging there now. In the meantime I grabbed a picture from the basement. It is my sister's so I will need to replace it too, but for now it is mine. I also placed a birdhouse and a family picture there, along with a little candle I got in Galena. I could never find the right spot for this candle. It is perfect here.
The picture is of my husband's family at their first homestead in Malta, Illinois. It is not far from here. I need to ask my MIL where they came from. I believe this was their first home in our country, but I could be wrong. In the picture there is the horse and the wagon has runners on it. You can see a little snow on the ground. The entire family is on the porch or in the yard. It is a GREAT picture!!!!

Today, Sweetheart will paint in the upstairs hallway. I did it all, 2 coats, but close to the ceiling is his job. He can do it free hand and not get paint on the ceiling or need to tape! He will also mow the yard. I plan to do laundry, my basic household duties, and shop. Grocery shopping and a trip to pick up some cloth napkins that match my dinning room. I want to pick up new rugs for the entryway to replace the blue ones that no longer match. My blue ones are in really good shape still, but I have other places I can use them. The rug by the back door was losing it's "grip" and sliding all over the place. The runner can go there. The large rug can go in Zach's room to cover a "sin" on the carpet...a box of red jello he tried to "make" in his room a couple of years ago. What is it with my kids and carpet??
I received a beautiful note card from Debi in the mail. She was just thinking of me. I was very touched. Thank you Debi! More than that, I have been in such a quilting slump. No motivation, which is really bad since I need to have my swap in the mail by the 30th! The beauty of the card gave me a spark. I am feeling that pull to my quilting needle.

Beautiful. It is breathtaking to me. Like a mountain scape or an ocean view, the beauty of a quilt is inspiring beyond words. Well, I pray this desire lasts a few more days, because my priorities at this moment only allow for a minimal amount of time to quilt. Next week, though, I will have the time!