Summer.

I should be happy dancing.

But I'm just too tired.

Some random updates.

I took my mom to Disneyland. She had a great time. We went on Soarin', then over to DL for lunch at Carnation Cafe. The Refreshment Corner piano had "Michael" listed as the player so we had our hopes up that we would get to see Michael Pollock, our favorite Disneyland piano player. But it was the first of several cruel jokes of the day. We did see him walk by one time but never knew where he was playing. Instead we listened to Eric who has no charm and poor technique. Then we checked the program to see when the Billies were playing. Turns out that after decades of five shows daily, the park has them alternating with a comedy show and the Billies weren't playing at all that day. Later we got on the train (no small feat for Mom) and rode around the park once, then halfway to get off at Toontown so she could watch another favorite, the Princess Fantasy Faire Coronation and storytelling. Closed up. Castmember said that was only for the "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion. Finally we settled on Main Street (again, hoping Ragtime Michael just might make an appearance but instead enduring Eric) in time for the parade. After three years of the Parade of Dreams, this cheap knock-off on the Block Party Bash from DCA (without the great floats) was another disappointment. Still, Mom is perfectly happy enjoying the flowers, music and people-watching, so she was happy with her day.

This is the view from my window. Cecile Brunner survived her late straightening and pruning and is rewarding me with a full flush of blooms. The miniature roses are blooming, as are the hydrangeas (which are in pots under my window.

Unfortunately, I can't see any of that from where I sit at my computer. This is what I see from here:


Same old same old.

I moved into this room when my oldest moved out for good (we think). At first it was just to be my office/sewing room. Then I got tired of listening to my husband complain about my snoring (he snores, too) and decided to sleep in here. It was, after all, to be a very temporary arrangement since we were planning to move to Utah - uh - last year. The economy has halted all plans for that move and I can't stand this cell any longer.

I need to create a "nest" instead.

So that's the summer project. I've been analyzing and evaluating and planning for weeks and I think I'm ready to get started. I'll be in town through July 31 (last day of criminal grand jury duty) and am hopeful that I will be able to finish it before I leave.


So, some "before" pictures.



This whole table - out. All it is is a drop spot. It fills so much with "stuff" that I can never work here. Today's plan is to sort and store - temporarily - the stuff that's on here. And under here. The printer has a space - temporarily. This is where my bed will go.


This cupboard is full of stuff I never use. (The bottom section is full of doll greenware. I was partially finished with several dolls when the teacher closed up shop. I love porcelain dollmaking and am hoping to find someone to fire for me - I've done it for years and don't need lessons, just a kiln. ) Because I never use it I parked a couple of scrap-n-store cubes in front of it. Plan is to put the greenware into permanent storage in our rented storage unit until I find someone with a kiln. I'll move the bottom cube of the storage unit elsewhere, then use the bottom part of the cabinet for sewing and stitchery project storage (which is part of what's being sorted today.) The upper part of the cabinet has a doll and several decorative boxes that I plan to use in the final nest. I'm going to put the top scrapbook storage cube (it can be divided into sections) in that closet, then put the Iris plastic project boxes with projects in there. I'm thinking my BOM quilt projects maybe?

Part of the challenge is deciding what will stay and what will go. Claire Bennet will stay, but I think I will hang her behind the door since she doesn't really "go" with the planned decor. The Marjolein Bastin stuff stays, although my current plan is to buy some Ikea cabinets with glass doors as a display case for this collection. Tinkerbell stays, but I think the fairy pieces may make their way into the fairy garden where they belong. The wallpaper goes.


Walt goes (sorry Walt) and the DL mugs will be put into use. The DL 50 Thomas Kinkade print will stay. Somewhere.

The fairy display stays (isn't that cute?) but the rest of the stuff on this wall will go. This is the wall - in fact, this whole wall, corner and five feet onto the other wall) is where I am adding new storage - wall cabinets and scrapbook storage - and desk area. Haven't quite decided on the desk arrangement yet. I might have to make something, but the rest has pretty well come together in my mind. I have a little extra $$$ coming my way this summer from my union stipend, grand jury payments ($25 a day plus mileage - oooohhhhh) and BTSA mentoring stipends. If I'm careful, I should be able to make it work.

Work being the operative word. I'd better get to it.