Harrington House

Some "Real" Mistreatments...

...meaning "I just mistreated real curtains."  

Last year, I bought some black and white ticking curtains for our master bedroom from a catalog.  I bought the longest size they offered (84") knowing they were still not long enough like I like.  So, for the last year, I have dealt with this...

YIKES!  Highwater curtains!  It has been driving me crazy!!!!  But I had some obstacles standing in the way.  For instance, we have picture railing around the room that really prevented me from hanging the rods any higher (which I usually like to do anyway).  Had I been able to do that, I could have considered adding on a decent-size chunk of complimentary fabric to either the top or the bottom.

I tried ring clips (yes, wrong color ones), but that didn't work either.  I'm all about beautiful fabric panels ending in a puddle on the floor.  However, because these are sturdy twill, it just looked wrong.

So, I have ended up taking the ring clips (and, yes, I did use the wrong color ones...you hardly notice them now, I promise), and clipped the back of the rod pocket.  I'll show you.

Since I'd had these on the rod, the pockets were already fluffed out, as you can see.  I thought about ironing them flat again, but I think I like this better. 

I took the back part of the opening of the rod pocket...

...and clipped it to the back of the rod pocket about 2 inches in.

After I had done both ends, I spaced out the rest of my ring clips on the rod and decided where the middle clip should be using really exact measuring...eyeballin' it.

Then, I finished with the other clips.

And I always like to extend the rod a little more and move one or two clips to the outside of the rod holder.  I just prefer the way it looks when it's all done.

 

I love them so much more than before!  I like that little poofy deal at the top that makes it more interesting than just hanging on the rod.  And the best part is the length looks so much more appropriate.

(For lots more on window mistreating, fly over to Nesting Place where it originated.)

Just another little tidbit...

I had found a neat piece of wood at an antique store and didn't really have a place in mind to use it.  I'm pretty sure it was one of those decorative pieces that used to sit on top of an old dresser.  It had been repainted and distressed, and it just caught my eye.

I finally decided to hang it upside-down above the shower stall curtain rods to hide them.  (Thanks goes to my husband for hanging it for me, because my attempt wasn't so solid and, let's just say, I'm lucky I didn't sustain a head injury when I was getting out of the shower one day.)

  

I was so excited the color of it plays well with the toile in there.

"Yes, I realize I'm huge."

Can I have the t-shirt that says that?

And on the days when it's dirty, I'll wear the one that says "No, I'm pretty sure there aren't twins in there."

Apparently, everyone (well, mostly) feels compelled to tell me about how large I am.  Of course, I am large.  And just to prove it, I'll show you this...

Wow, right?  I picked up a shift at the hospital on Friday night, and before I left for work I wanted to take a picture of my drawstring.  It's not tied, y'all.  And my pants are staying up.  If your drawstring pants stay up even when they aren't tied...  Well, it's time for some bigger pants for this momma.  

I've been day-dreaming of the weather we had last week...when it was so warm outside.  Wasn't that wonderful??

Now, it's cold, cold, cold again.  Mike told me this morning that it was supposed to be 85 here next week.  Then, he told me he was only joking.  It was not at all funny to me.  I'm ready for that so-hot-and-humid-you-can-hardly-breathe weather!  Oooh, that's my kind of summer!  

 

After church today, we were downstairs eating, and well, even though Amelia is a big eater, she loves to run and play with the big kids even more.  So, we sat down and ate while she was running and tearing with the big kids after some balls.  Apparently, Mike and I both thought the other was keeping an eye on her, because after a bit we realized we had no clue where our child was.  After searching downstairs where we were, we split up, and he took the upper level, and I searched on the main one.  Oh, I found her in the sanctuary...on the stage... playing with a CD player...with a Halls cough drop in her mouth, paper and all!!  There are a dozen (more, really) scary parts to that story.  Am I a bad mommy?  How in the wide, wide world am I going to take care of TWO??  I reckon I've got about another month and a half to figure that out...pray for me.

After we got home (and Amelia was safely tucked in for a nap, mind you), I finally fired up my new sewing machine!  Yea!  After messing around with some scraps, I'm trying to finish up the sink skirt for the powder room.  (All you real seamstresses out there, please don't make fun of my hideous hem job!  I'm working on it!)

After I get this hung up and Mike hangs my light fixture, I'll post pictures of it all hopefully in the next couple of days.  

Crunch Time

The countdown has started.  I am now in the single-digit week countdown till Sugar Bean's due date!  I have 8 (and a half) weeks left!  

I simply cannot believe how quickly this pregnancy has passed!  There were days in the beginning (when I was so sick) that I never thought I'd see the light at the end of the tunnel!  I do love being pregnant, though.  All the sickness, the discomforts, the weight gain, the wardrobe that consists of two pair of pants that fit...it's all so very worth it.  At this point, I just feel comical to look at!  I feel so big and cumbersome most of the time.  If I move too fast, I feel like I'm picking up momentum, and if something gets in my way, I'm liable to put a dent in it!  But, like I said, it's all worth it ten times over.  

I'm kinda hitting that mid-panic state where I'm worried I won't get everything just so before the baby arrives.  I have so many things I want to get ready and do.  My list is every bit of two miles long, and I'm slowing down by the day!  Last night, I had some SERIOUS Braxton-Hicks and some cramping in my belly and my back that lasted for several hours.  Drinking water, changing positions, laying on my side...nothing changed it.  I was terrified that I was going into labor early!  I had very few and very mild BHs with Amelia Kate, and this time around I've had some good ones.  I'm hoping that means I may not have to have Pitocin this time...  ;o)

So what do y'all think I'm having???  I always like for people to guess...it's fun for me!  Boy or Girl?  (I wish I knew how to add one of those polls to the side of my blog, but I have no idea how to do that.)

 

This past week has been a really great week.  Last Sunday, we started our "Fireproof Your Marriage" course, and it's being led by our former pastor, Kel.  We were so excited that he was going to be the facilitator because, as he says, he is "passionate about the sacrament of marriage," and it is so obvious!  Even though some of the things we discuss are so seemingly simple, it really is eye-opening because I know I don't always do/say/act what I should do/say/act.  

Just in this first week of doing The Love Dare, I have really learned quite a bit about myself...some of which I'm happy about and some, I'm pretty ashamed about.  I'm truly thankful that we are having this opportunity to do this class.  Inviting our Heavenly Father into our marriage even moreso than ever before and asking Him to really lead us on the path He has set for us is an amazing experience in faith and love and obedience.  (Like I said...the ideas are so simple, but I know I've been a slacker at times.) 

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering...the guys are doing the dares in order 1-40, whereas the ladies are mixed up.  There are a handful that we do on the same day, but mostly not.  Have any of y'all out there done The Love Dare yet??  I highly recommend it, even if you are the only one doing it.       

I managed to get some dishes hung (imagine that, dishes!) in the powder room.  (Are bathrooms off-limits for hanging dishes???  I surely hope not.)  I'm in search of some majorly chunky black satin ribbon to hang behind this trio of dishes.  I've looked everywhere I can imagine, and I haven't found anything chunky enough yet.    

As soon as I fire up my sewing machine and finish the window treatments and sink skirt in the powder room, I'll post it.  I know it's been a gazillion weeks since I started this room, but I've been tied up.  I need to line these in a bad way so the toile print stands out.

We've spent most of the week cleaning out the two attic spaces and our garages.  I would post the befores and afters of those, but I doubt anyone would care to see them!  Haha!  Although, we are mighty impressed with ourselves, I must say...

I hope y'all have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

WHAT! It's Not Summer Yet?!

This seems like the longest winter ever!  Summer, come already!

I have been just craving strawberries and biscuits for weeks, so I picked some up yesterday, and that's what we had for dessert last night.  I was worried they would taste like, well, grocery store strawberries, but they were surprisingly really, really good! 

  

After I mixed some sugar with them, I had them sitting on the dining room table till the biscuits were done.  Some time later, I noticed that Amelia was being awfully quiet.

Oh yeah...she had found the strawberries...

 

Using the spoon didn't last long.  She eventually just started grabbing handfuls and shoving them in her mouth.  Now, my girl loves her fruit...and when you cover it in sugar, you just can't expect her to leave it alone.  ;o)

When she finally realized I was behind her, she turned around and looked like a chipmunk!  I was laughing entirely too hard to even get a good picture!  (Plus, I figured as fast as she was plowing through those strawberries, I best put the camera down and get me some before she ate them all...)  

New Curtains...Yea!

Earlier this week, I finally got around to hanging up some new curtains in the living room.  I wanted to change what I had in there previously because it looked so fall-y.  So I found this fabric, and even though it has that chocolately background, I thought it would look good for the spring and summer.  I have a green sofa in this room, and even though it is solid, it has NOT been easy trying to find fabric that I like with it.  

I have been slaving over these window mistreatments...  Ha!  (If you haven't mistreated anything, you have to start.  It's so easy and quick and inexpensive.  And fun.  And liberating.  And beautiful.)

The lighting in this room makes it so hard to get good pictures, day or night.  These don't do the fabric any justice.  It's really beautiful, and it has changed the whole look of the room.  I'm not sure what type of fabric it is, but it has such a pretty feel and nice drape.  I love it!

I am eventually going to put some fringe along the selvage of these, but until then I just rolled them in to hide them.   

Love that poof at the top!

Thank you to the Nester!  And thank you, Mike...and Amelia, for helping me!  ;o)

Now I need to find some coordinating fabric for some pillows...