Monday, November 12, 2007

Fun Monday #3

This week's Fun Monday is being hosted by Hootin' Anni's. And what do you think she has us doing? We're playing Mother May I! (At my age. Wow). Our assignment is to take 30 giant steps (in any direction) away from our computer and STOP! Then we'll take a picture of what we see. After that we take 15 baby steps back from there and STOP! Look in any direction and take another picture. As she says, it's all about our first glance after the steps.


I'm starting at my upstairs computer and (very carefully) taking 30 giant steps downstairs. This is the fireplace in the living room. It's a major thorn in my side at the moment. When our 1887 Victorian farmhouse was remodeled in early 2000 they did some odd things. The kitchen is all modern birch and stainless steel and this fireplace surround is kind of minimalist art deco. You can't really tell from the photo but the surface is textured. We've been planning to tile it since we bought the house last year, but still can't decide on tile. So some of the samples sit up there while I change my mind on a regular basis and use both the mantle and firebox as storage space in the meantime. (I think the dog hair on the floor brings out the yellow of the walls, don't you?)





15 baby steps
from there puts me in my entryway. All the mail piled up on the table means I've just gotten back from a week away. If you look really carefully you can see (unsanded) patched plaster all over the place and (just left of the door) a paint swatch of the very pale green we're going to paint this area once the plaster is dealt with. (I may be painting with one hand and hanging on to my walker with the other by the time that happens). I don't work to feed my kids. I work to buy plaster patch.





So there you are. This concludes my game of Mother May I? (And now I'm going to go and clean my house). Check out the other Fun Monday participants for their interpretations of the theme. Go on - it'll be fun!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's saga of The Saab Sisters on the Road.

Say that three times fast. I dare you.

31 comments:

Serina Hope said...

In my previous house we worked to buy plaster patch. I like your entryway, clutter and all. It is very cozy. Have a great Monday!

Anonymous said...

If I was still on the Coast, my pictures would have been interior shots too. But this place is pretty small.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Oooo...that fireplace will look lovely in tile!

Dumdad said...

Welcome back. Make sure you pick up your award from my blog.

ChrisB said...

I laughed at your comment 'working to buy plaster patch and hanging onto your walker'. I don't want to be pessimistic but when we moved into our 1851 Victorian house back in 1986 I thought we would get it right in 5 years~ wrong~ I retired last year and it's still not finished. Poor hubby is still having to work to pay for things and he's now 70!!

Flowerpot said...

looking forward to the next saga of Saab sisters.....!

Anonymous said...

I can't get this post off my bloglines, it show up as new every time I check. I don't know if I'm the only one who has this issue.

It says it was published after it was updated, maybe this it the problem...

Akelamalu said...

Welcome back Correspondent I sure missed you. Can't wait to hear all about it!

laurie said...

i love that colored glass in the transom.

and....are you sitting down? ... our living room is that shade of gold, too.

we went with green tile for our fireplace. i'll have to send you a picture. it's not small and shiny, like the green you are considering. theyr'e larger, and matte.

i love it.

not that we have to be twins in everything, you know.

Mya said...

Hey welcome back RC!
Thanks for letting me indulge my nosey streak - I usually have to wait until dusk and pretend to take my (imaginary) dog for a walk to get a peek into people's houses, through their uncurtained windows. I get some funny looks.Your house looks lovely!
Mya x

Diana said...

What a great idea! I'm assuming you can turn corners with the 30 giant steps, yes? Otherwise I'd not be able to do that anywhere in my house without running into a wall.

Anonymous said...

Call me nosey but I just love looking in other people's houses. And yours is well worth looking into!

Crystal xx

Anonymous said...

I love the colorful tile! You saw my walls are yellow (in several places in our house), and that multi-colored tile would fit in beautifully here, I mean at your place ;). You sound like you're a co-queen of good intentions.

No wonder the road to hell's paved with them :/.

My babysteps and giant steps were the same size on my staircase...otherwise, I might've hurt myself :/.

Kim said...

The transom above your front door is really beautiful.

The tile will be gorgeous on that fireplace, whichever way you go.

Pam said...

i think the fireplace would look lovely w tile..except i'm thinking larger sized. we refaced the fireplace in our old house w tile to cover the brick and it turned out great. i think it really helped w selling the house lol

Jo Beaufoix said...

RC, your house is tres chic.
I love the mediterranean colours with the yellow and the red print, and your hall is beautiful. You can't beat bare wood.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Oh, Hooray, you're back.

Unknown said...

Your pile of mail is so like my pile of mail. And I think the fireplace will be great with tile.

Tiggerlane said...

I have lived in our 1903 Victorian bungalow for 14 years - I have a TON of unfinished projects! It's all good!

Sandy said...

Dog hair enhances any decor! Not that you asked, but I like the brown and rusty colored tones for the tile. Green just seems a little cool for a fireplace. Thanks for sharing.

the planet of janet said...

i have decorated with doghair as well. mine, however, is black and white. very easy to accessorize!

cool pix!

Anonymous said...

Oooh - I love those starfish on the mantel!

Anonymous said...

Your house is beautiful! Glad you are home safely.
XOXO

Hootin Anni said...

Pretty...and very simple in design which for me, makes it all the more pretty!! Those are starfish? Wow.

bichonpawz said...

Your house looks very nice, warm and cozy....reminds me SO much of my stepdaughter's Victorian!

Unknown said...

Love the rooms! I especially love the fireplace. think it will look great once you tile it. PS - We were able to but some very nice slate at a Restore store and saved a ton of money.

kitten said...

When we remodeled our home they guys helping us took out our fireplace while we gone. I got upset, because I thought it would be nice to have. I guess that's all in the past. mmmmmmm! What color? not sure what the rest of your colors, but the red looks good. See my living room is done in water blue with deer pics and my kitchen is done in summer ivy. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

No dogs here, but I wouldn't feel at home without a whisp of cat fur floating by every once in a while!!!

And I wish I only had one bit of clutter! My husband hasn't figured out that you actually open the mail, not just pile it up for me!

Bren said...

Oh, I love your entryway! Also, love the starfish on your mantle. I have a coastal themed bathroom with shells and sand dollars and starfish.

the rotten correspondent said...

Oh, I'm so late. Catching up is hell. I'm never going away again.Well, not until this weekend. But after that never again.

Thanks to everyone for commenting and playing Fun Monday.

If I haven't gotten to your blog yet I'M SORRY! I'll be there!

Pamela said...

A very good mother may I!

I will come back and read your travels when I'm feeling better (bit under the weather... but I saw your desert shots on the way in)