This picture isn't a particularly compelling one - I was trying to capture the connection between Grant and Rita but it didn't work out like I'd envisioned. The moment was lost and life moved on. Now that I am reviewing it, I can see so many other stories lurking around the edges.
The chairs along the side of the wall. It's a somewhat long and tender story about where they came from and I may write about that at a later date. The reason they are not at the table is because I wanted to recover the seat cushions. A quick little project. Ha. After sweating over the process and finally finishing a few cushions I tried to pop them back into place. They no longer fit. They now are sitting along the side of the wall, waiting for a trip to the upholsterer and some professional help.
The open kitchen cabinets. Similar story to the chairs. Old cabinets+new paint=quick, inexpensive facelift. Not so much. After hours and hours of sanding and painting the new paint made the doors too thick and they will not open without ripping the veneered edge off. We now have open cabinets in the kitchen and nicely painted cabinet doors sitting in the mudroom, waiting for something...I just don't know what that something will be. A few grand and a trip to IKEA?
The rag on top of the swing. Rita is a stealth spitter-upper. You don't know she's done it until you see the puddle on the floor or down her newly changed outfit or YOUR newly changed outfit. There are spit rags everywhere around the house for the wet cleanups on aisles 8, 9 and 10.
Sticker on the swing. This is how Anna tags. Tonight Russell had three stickers on his forehead, I noticed a few on Grant's back, several on my shirt, and a dusting of them on the floor.
Jam on the table. Russell and I like to make breakfast for the kids. Pancakes, waffles, eggs and toast, oatmeal, muffins...that kind of stuff. When you ask them what they would like to have...9 times out of 10 they will say cereal. What gives?!?
Art supplies on the window sill. I have moved my supplies upstairs and have been working in my art journal (almost) every day. Sometimes I can only swing 30 seconds but even at 30 seconds a day that's what...find a calculator...a little over 3 hours over the course of a year! That's a big chunk of time.
Relatively clean floor. This is my biggest moment of genius. Early in my pregnancy I decided to set money aside each month to hire a house cleaner after Rita was born. I have never had a better idea in all my life. The bank account says my time with this angel of mercy must soon come to an end but the time she has spent here has been worth every penny and appreciated 10 times that amount. To clarify the "relatively clean floor" - the floor is pristine when she leaves but it attracts gunk as soon as the kids walk in the door. I don't care - I know she'll be back in 6 days and 23 hours and then all will be well.
So there it is, our life in a picture worth a thousand words. Or 546.
