Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!
Hey all you faithful visitors, I have an invitation for you at the end of this entry:)
In the meantime...
Tuesday's cleaning spree turned into my quarterly spring cleaning escapade (or as close to spring cleaning as one can get in a "house of projects"). Somehow things here seem to quickly multiply in all the dark places like the closets and dresser drawers and toy baskets. 
It drives me batty. Why does the road to simplicity have to be so complicated and tedious, lol!?! I've hauled out of the playroom several garbage bags full of unused toys and now I'm working on clothing. Next? The art/coat closet and the master bedroom closet. The laundry room needs to be tackled yet again because it seems to be the catch all for all kinds of things...
Not ten minutes ago, I neatly and carefully put away the girls clothing in their dresser drawers. I pulled all their clothing out a few days ago to sort through them and they've been in a pile in my bedroom until now. Zoe has already come to me twice in the last five minutes to show me two different shirts she's going to wear tonight. That means there are about eight shirts on her bedroom floor now. Multiply that by three daughters...This is why a mother's work - and laundry - is never done. So I'm going to take a few more days to finish up my spring cleaning and spend some time with the girls while they are on spring break, which begins the week after next and ends March 31st:)
Until then, I'd like to ask - beseech - plead - implore - BEG (lol!) all of you visitors to drop me a line here. I know all about lurking and I'm quite good at it myself. I realized today when a good friend commented on her own last entry..."Does anybody read this???" that we all like to know when others stop by to "visit" with us:) If you're really, really shy, feel free to drop me an email at twilightmama@hotmail.com. Otherwise, I'll be looking forward to "meeting" all of you for the first time right here!
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30 comments:
Hi! I really like your artwork.
The need for feedback/attention is probably one of the big reasons we run a blog. You might try adding a site counter such as www.statcounter.com That way you know if anyone's visiting, even if they don't leave a comment.
Hi! I found your site through the message boards at HGTV after doing a search about painting cabinets. I was looking for moral support in painting MY oak kitchen cabinets. I'm still picking out a paint color, but am definitely eager to see how yours are coming along!!
Well, you already know I visit! But I'm with you...who are the 60+ people visiting my site everyday? It's so fascinating...I want to know more about them, what they like, and what they'd like to see more of...designsponge did a survey about a month ago, and I thought that was a great idea!
Yes I read. I found your blog through HouseBlogs.net. Keep up the great work. I'm not a member of HouseBlogs, but I do make home improvement entries in my general blog at http://www.ragon.org/ser/
Hello everyone! Thank you so much for introducing yourselves...it's so nice to meet you:) Ben, I wish I could take credit for the art...My name is actually Kim Bouldin and the artist's name is Kim Parker. (I know that's confusing when I only post my first name...) I only wish I had her talent! Her art makes me feel all warm and sunny inside:) I agree about feedback being a primary reason to blog. I love to hear comments and opinions and questions and answers to my questions. It encourages me to keep on writing:) Oh, I do have a statcounter and a sitemeter - they're so nifty! I guess I want to be able to put faces and names to all those numbers and statistics and locations...When I see that someone from Smalltown, USA has visited the site 28 times, hehe, I'd like to be able to personally say Hello and Thanks for visiting, hehe!
Mom Underground! Was it you that recently made a post at HGTV about painting oak cabinets? Someone did and I sat down and started to write a reply, but - life with kidlets - I don't think I got to finish posting my comment...Anyway, my thoughts were to just Go For It! I grew up with the same oak cabinets that we currently have and while I appreciate that it's a nice, hearty wood, I'm just not crazy about how it looks as stained pieces of furniture/cabinetry. Someone mentioned that it will be really hard to cover over the heavy graining of oak and that's true, but I actually like being able to see the slight texture under that paint. I like the fact that the cabinets LOOK like painted wood. After I get this dreaded spring cleaning finished and our hardware comes in, I'll finish up painting and distressing a couple of doors to put on the one set of cabinets that we have actually completed (hubs hasn't gotten around to messing with the weird angled crown moulding yet...) and then I'll post pictures. I'm really, really pleased with how it looks so far. Just so you know, you definitely have my moral support! You'll have to let me know what color you decide to go with and share photos when you're done! And thank you so much for introducing yourself! I hope to "see" again!
Laurie, I hear you! Though I feel like a hermit sometimes working inside this project house so much, lol, I'm very much a people person and want to know all about everyone...like you say, what they like or don't like, why they visit the site, what they might be looking for, and so on. Doing a survey is a great idea...we should try that ourselves! I'm so happy to have a fellow "rancher" following our progress here - thanks for coming and keeping up with the chaos, Laurie, hehe!
Hey Bryan, you posted your comment when I was creating my novel length comment, hehe! It's great to have you here and thanks for the support...I may not always post it, but it does get discouraging at times - the mess and how much more we have to go...whew! So every vote of confidence helps so much! I'm going to check out your site - thanks for sharing the link with us and saying hello!
Hi Kim. I am somewhat new to reading your blog and I found it linked from another blog but I can't remember which one. I recently had my 5th baby and bought my first house. Needless to say I don't get alot of time but reading home improvement ideas is my after the kid's go to sleep guilty pleasure. I really just like to get inspiration from others because now that I own a home I seem to have lost all my decision making skills ! Keep the great ideas, I love seeing everything you do!
Hi Kim,
Like you, I've been spending a lot of this week sorting laundry and going through my daughter's clothes (will she stop growing already!!). If only she could keep it down to two outfits a day I'd be in heaven. It gets so bad I realize that half the time, I'm probably washing stuff she only 'tried on'. It will be nice to get my washer & dryer hooked back up soon -- although I have to say, a Laundromat is good for doing 6 loads simultaneously (provided you can find enough machines that are vacant).
The slide show you've got is great, by the way -- you present a lot of ideas in a small bit of real estate.
Enjoy your spring break (and don't spend all of it cleaning now!)
Make that...however many moms it is now that is sorting thru clothing and cleaning out "places" in our home! 5 kids here to keep up with. Love everything about your site kim, and im following closely the progress with your beautiful cottage home that is coming along fabulously! I dont miss an entry! Hugs to you and your sweet little family! ~Ali~
Hi April! Contgratulations on the new little one AND recent homeownership! Hehe, I know what you mean about losing decision making skills. This is our first house - bought after ten years of marriage and 3 kids. All the years that we were renting, I had all these ideas...even kept a scrapbook of photos of everything I wanted to do when we finally bought a house. Now that we are here, I've never been so indecisive in my LIFE! The sheer volume of paint cans (I call them quart and gallon sized samples) piled up in our garage is evidence of that fact, lol! I understand! Hopefully you can learn from all the mistakes we've made so far, lol! Before you know it, you'll have a little time to dedicate to projects here and there. I still have a five year old at home (the other two are in school) and it's so hard trying to keep up with the projects and the needs of a little one. That's one reason it takes so long for us to get things completed...but that's ok. We'll be here for a long time and the children grow up so fast! Today, in between folding laundry and washing dishes, I was helping Zoe decorate her homemade "Mouse Trap" (a shoe box with a hole in the top, covered in glitter and sponge painting and a sign that read "All Mice Invited"). You may not get to work on many *house* related projects now, but I'm sure you have your fair share of child related projects to keep you busy! Stay in touch, April!
Hi Kim,
Yep, that was me on HGTV asking about painting cabinets. My username is mrsanniep.
See you around!
Hi there- another lurker here- I think you've done a great job on your blog so far. I will stay tuned!
Hi there, Shauna! Hehe, I completely understand about washing "tried on" clothes...drives me batty! By the time the *clean* tried on clothes are put in the dirty laundry hamper with all the other stinky clothes, they HAVE to be washed agian! Ahhh...life with little girls, eh? And I've said the same thing about just a couple of outfits a day, lol! Today when I was sorting through things, I contemplated only keeping *7* outfits per child a week (7 sets of pjs, 7 short sleeved tops, 7 long sleeved, 7 pants...) but then I thought about all the "accidents" that occur daily like the spilled drinks, paint catastrophes, or potty incidents gone bad...yep - four outfits daily is almost a must! But we can dream, can't we?! Good to see you!
Hi Ali! Isn't it a neverending process? I know you completely relate, having 5 little ones of your own. I have a hard enough time with three...I'm especially in awe of those with more who can keep up with it all! Kids' stuff does have a way of invading all parts of the home, doesn't it? I had to smile, though, when my FIL stopped by tonight to pick up the girls for their weekly Grandpa Date. I apologized to him for the mess all over the house (also for the kids clutter, art projects - glitter, glue, contruction paper, paint strewn all over the kitchen table and floor...). He told me our house looked like it was filled with kids who were happy and having lots of fun...and isn't that what matters? As much as I 'ooh' and 'aah' over the fresh, CLEAN, tranquil homes that I see in magazines, I have to remind myself that if there are kids that live in those homes - after the photographer leaves, all craziness breaks loose, lol! Thank you for the hugs, Ali!
Ah, I thought so, Mom Underground! I need to go and catch up with the decorating board...it moves so quickly that one could easily get behind after a day!
Hey Jocelyn, thank you so much for your compliments and for visiting! I've read your blog, too, and have also enjoyed reading your comments on the other reno blogs:) You guys are about like us...just trying to get as much done as possible on the weekends! Your two-flat is really coming along beautifully! I appreciate you dropping in and saying 'Hi!'!
I read your blog frequently. Love watching your progress. I think you're doing a fantastic job on your home!
Hi Poppy! It's nice to meet you! I popped in to see your new blog - I hope you enjoy the world of "blogging" as much as I do!
Hey Kim, you know i take a peak from time to time. We are so much alike we've got to talk more. I'll try to get pics of my trim up soon, but I've been out of town. It doesn't compare to what you guys are doing though. Keep up the good work, and don't forget to take breaks or you'll get burned out.
I always read your blog...it is one of my favourites! Never comment though...but you did beg LOL
a canadian fan
Hi Kim-I've been reading your blog for a while and enjoy it so much. Been preoocupied lately with knee surgery scheduling-on June 5th-Yikes! Haven't been doing much work in our home lately with the knee problems so I am living vicariously through your improvements which are very impressive. I really like hearing of your time with your girls-my daughter is 25 now and it seems like she was just a little girl. Enjoy these moments with them.
Chris
man.. after reading all the other comments, i've just about forgotten what you wrote in your blog!
I am looking forward to the warmer weather so that i'll have more energy for my own spring cleaning (if i dont get too busy with portraits anyway.) I love cleaning and organizing when the warm breeze flows through the house. :)
Canadian fan- I'm so glad I begged, hehe! How nice to meet you!
Everyone, meet Margo! She is the one that so kindly volunteered to be the first one to submit some of her projects for my new reader submission project page. (Check it out!) Isn't she so creative?! Margo, I can't wait to see some photos of your bathroom trim:) Doesn't it make such a difference? I do so relate to people who see potential in almost anything, who have creative ideas and just decide to take the plunge and go for it! I'm looking forward to seeing more of what you've done. I've looked at your other remodeling photos and I'm so impressed! Great job!
I know what you mean about getting to the point where you burn out. I do that - I'll work like mad on something for a long while and then I get to the point where I don't want to go anywhere near the project again for a couple of weeks. I keep trying to remind myself..."Slow and steady..."
Thanks for dropping, in Margo!
Hello, Chris! I'm so sorry about the troubles you've been having with your knees:( I know you will be so glad when your surgery is behind you and you can start recovering and moving on.
Yeah, the wee ones are growing so fast. I can't believe that I don't have *babies* anymore. Now all of my friends in their 30's are just now having babies and I (who had mine in my 20's) have such "big" girls - one is 11! Take it easy with those knees, Chris...in no time you'll be working like crazy on your own home again!
Amanda, I'm so with you on the having a nice clean, organized home...windows open, breeze flowing...*sigh*. You gotta love spring! I do dread the heat and humidity of the summer when we'll be forced to turn on the air and close the windows. Let's enjoy spring while we can! Oh, I'm happy about all the flowers you have growing now...you should take more photos - I'm sure they're beautiful! Our poor landscaping is just pretty much being ignored while we try to get these indoor projects completed. I'm hoping for fresh mulch this year to keep the weeds at bay, lol, but that's just about it! Love you, dear!
Hi Kim. Another reader here. I found your blog while searching for info on spray painting a ceiling fan. We have really enjoyed your blog so far and look forward to more project pictures.
As for spray painting the fan, your blog inspired me. I will tackle that job soon and let you know how it goes. christina in GA
Hey Kim, I know what you are saying about feeling like a Hermit. My hubby got a little cranky with me recently and said I was going to lose all my friends if I didn't start hanging out with them again! So, I've promised myself I'm going to make more of an effort, between work, school, and remodeling it's hard to keep a balanced life! However, some day I'll be done with this house, and I'll want to have a party or something, so I gotta make sure I have people to attend the party!!
Also, I thought of you the other day in Borders when I saw the new periodical Cottage lifestyles (or whatever the name was, I'm guessing you know about it). L.
Hi Kim!
I found your site at HGTV Message Boards when I was looking for a yellow paint. You were so kind to share your LR color and it is so pretty.
I think you have a beautiful home and I really enjoy seeing the progress you have made.
This is a wonderful place to get ideas and share!!
Thanks:)
Hello Christina! Yeah, I'd love to hear how your fan turns out! It's amazing the difference paint can make. We didn't spray ours but the finish still came out nice and smooth, thank goodness! Thanks for visiting our site!
Laurie, I've never heard of that magazine...I'll have to check into it! Oh, about getting together with friends, I'm so embarrassed to have many over, lol. I love having dinners and getting together - it's just doesn't seem very cozy and inviting here yet. (Our living room floors are just plywood now-eek!) We do have one to three people that we get together with here weekly...they're very use to the state of disarray here, hehe.
Hey there, Debbie! It's nice to meet others that love cottage style as much as I do. Have you found just the right shade of yellow yet? I wish I had the courage to show folks how NOT beautiful most of the house is, lol. It's like a giant puzzle with a few pieces added here and there. I can't wait until the whole thing is "put together" and I can think it all looks nice. Until then, I'll just show what we've done to the house "piece by piece":) Thanks for dropping in, Debbie!
Good Morning,
I just found your blog and I'm loving it. I'm an "old" Grannie who just moved to a nice apartment and am trying to get my country look back with what I have to work with. Not allowed to paint, remove carpet, . (Thats a NO NO in apartment living. LOL) and fun things like that.
I'm really enjoying your "adventure".
Well, hello, L! Thank you for joining us in our "mis"adventures here, lol! Aww, I know all about apartments and renting. We've had our home here for almost three years, but before that, we were apartment dwellers for 10 years. I think all that "not allowed" affected me in a big way, lol, because we moved here, I couldn't wait to start taking everything apart and changing whatever could be changed!
Have you ever visited http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ ? There mission is "Helping people to make their apartments better places to live." I thought you might enjoy it! Thanks for introducing yourself and I hope to hear from you again!
I just found this blog, via the 'Cottage Living' web site. I'm hooked my Dear, and am going to pass the link to this site, to others. Thank you from another cottage lover. Although -sigh- I'll never live in one. -sigh-
Nanci
'o_foruse_o' on Live Journal
http://o-foruse-o.livejournal.com/
Aww, Nanci, that's so sweet! You know, tecnically I don't live in a cottage in the "architectural" of of the word. I think cottage can be just a way of living. Simple and warm and cozy:) Thank you so much for visiting and referring this site to others..it's really appreciated!
Kim
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