Cars, Mexican Food and Furniture Moving...

We went to see Cars, with April, Seth and Amare this morning.  Then we stopped at Micha;s for Mexican Food for lunch...

The last part of the day was spent at our house and I talked the troops into moving the Castle into the living room.

Soon, the night stands will be back where they belong.  I will be a happy camper when that is done.  I miss having a good sized bed side table that I can pile things on...

Moving the castle into the living room involved other mini pieces. 

I have just about talked Tessie into giving up the townhouse.  She keeps  harping about the kits under the bed that would be more suitable to her taste and style. She keeps mentioning the Harrison... I keep hoping for something smaller. We shall see...

Anyway, the townhouse has been demoted to a corner of the living room. It has been divested of all of it's furniture and accessories, including about a month's worth of Tessie's aprons. Yes.  She has one for every day of the month. She just doesn't enjoy changing them every day. She says that, if she gets them dirty, she will have to wash them... Not something that she likes to do. 

I am very happy with the new moves. The castle is back where it started in this house.  It still needs some work, but nothing that I can't do with it sitting in the living room.

Walter is going on a golf trip this week so I expect to finish cleaning the castle to make it look at least livable while he's away.

On Wednesday, the witches start building their She Sheds here.  I have to get to work and cut the bases for all of them.  They get to do all of the walls, doors and windows.  I have a feeling that this is going to be a LOT of fun for all. 

I think that I have had enough fun for today.  I am in the mood for a long nap now.

See you tomorrow.

Comparison Working...

It is going to take a few more days to finish trimming the rosemary bushes.... Maybe I should call them trees.  They are getting about as tall as I am... OK.  So I'm short.  They are still getting tall.  They have been in the yard almost as long as we have lived here.

I am getting there, but not quite done yet.

When I came back in the house, I decided to get a little more done on the workroom too.

It isn't looking all that bad.  Just needs some more tidying here and there.

Of course Tessie and Zar would tell you that it is a mess and I should be locked in until it is clean as a whistle... How clean are whistles anyway?  And who is the one that judges when the whistle is clean?

They seem to think that they are in charge of judging when the whistle is clean... I don't think so!

 I knocked them off of the door handle and grabbed the camera in one hand and Tessie in the other...

I sat her down in her favorite chair and snapped a photo before she could get out of frame.

Now I ask you... Which room is worse... If there is a worse one. I can at least walk around in the workroom... Do you honestly think that Tessie can navigate from the chair to the door at the other end of the wall in this room?

I think I win this round.  Back to work.

See you tomorrow, with a cleaner room than Tessie's!!!

Gardening and Refurbishing

Before we get to anything else, I have one confused lizard in the back yard.  I am sorry that the photo is so bad, but I had to take it through the screen. This Ring Necked Lizard thinks he is a squirrel... He has a large piece of apple in his mouth.  I put them out for the squirrels and who shows up and snatches the apple?  Lizzy.  I have a lot of very confused animals running around here!

 This is what the plot next to the back porch looked like this morning... Two hours later...

It looked like this.  I started by cutting all of the weird plants off at ground level. That will probably not get rid of them, but it's a start.  After I did that I started putting potted plants in to cover the area until I can put some real plants there.

Hey! It's better than sticks and stones and weeds.

I am having trouble getting rid of the plants that were there.  As I remember, they were something from Australia... Wherever there is a root, they keep coming back.  Most irritating.

One of the plants that I want to plant in the area is still in a pot for now.  I found it at Walmart. 

It is a Rock Purslane. It is some kind of succulent and the blossoms shoot out on long stems.  They seem to come out one or two flowers each day. 

I have heard the name before, but never seen one.  I am liking it so far.

OK.  I didn't get any mini-ing done this morning. Tessie claims that she did... I think that she simply moved the furniture around to see if it would fit.  It does, so she and Zar quit working and started a LONG break.  It started when I went outside and it is still going on now...

I peeked into the bathroom arrangement and yes it fits, but a bit tighter than I would like.

I got to looking through the stuff that she collected yesterday and found the cup that is sitting on the toilet... It is hard to read, but it says Melvin... I swear that I never bought a cup for a Melvin.  There is no Melvin living here, as far as I know.

I questioned Tessie and she denied ever knowing anybody by that name.

There is something strange going on here.

Who is Melvin?  Not my cup.  Not my problem. 

I am going back to work.

See you tomorrow. Melvin or no Melvin.

Tessie and George...

It took me two days to find my copy of George Nakashima's coffee table.

Tessie had tossed it at the bottom of the pile that she had in the bedroom... I asked her where she put it and she just shrugged her shoulders and wandered away.  I don't think that she wanted to move all of the stuff on top of it to see where it was.

I made this table when I was on a mid century mod kick.  It is one of Nakashima's designs.  I did have to do a little fudging because he used wood that he could cut big slabs from... I managed to get it the same shape as one that he did, but the color is a bit different.  I like this one better.

 I made this one from Apricot wood... I doubt that George ever found a piece of Apricot wood large enough to make a table.  I don't think that Apricot trees get as large as the Oak, Walnut and other hard woods that he used.

Anyway, with a bit of bribery, I finally got Tessie to search.  That was after I had looked high and low in the workroom. A lot of time wasted.

"Tessie! Get Spike off of that table!" It does no good to yell at either one of them.  They are being their usual unruly selves.

I oiled the table with lemon oil. I forgot the legs of the sofa.  Oops! Tessie is hesitating on color.  I don't think that she likes the red as much as she did when she first picked it out... I don't really want to tear up another one of my tee shirts to make it a different color.  I do wish that she would have told me a couple of weeks ago when I got rid of a bunch of old tee shirts. She is eyeing my favorite turquoise tee... Nope.  She can't have that one... If I put it on and it has a big hole in the middle of the back, I am going to know who took it and she may not get her renovations done for a LONG time.

Back to work.

See you tomorrow.

Trials and Tribulations of the Townhouse...

Before we get to the townhouse, I have to show you my favorite hummingbird.

I finally snuck up on Woody and got a photo of his way of drinking... It is so ridiculous that it is fun to watch him try to get at the liquid.  Hey!  Whatever works! He holds on to the outer ring with his toes.  Puts his tail beneath as a prop and  then sticks his tongue down the tiny hole to get at the juice.

 Tessie managed to get the bathroom fixtures down to the closet.  I am not asking how she did it... I think Zapped is the right word.

There is no way she could have gotten all of the pieces down the stairs.  There  is no way that she could have gotten them through the bedroom either. 

Anyway, she now has proof that the plan will work... Yes... I took photos for her.  It's easier than arguing.

She is thinking of using the mid century mod furniture that I made a couple of years ago. 

Only one problem, I can't find the slab coffee table that I made to go with them. I have been searching high and low for the past hour.  It's nowhere to be found so far.

I do believe that the table and chairs are going to have to go back in the bay in the kitchen.  If they stay in the living room area, there is no room for the couch.

I am going to have to make another chair for that set.  I only made three before, because that was all that would fit at the time.  I think that Tessie will be able to get four in there now.

With it open, there will be a better traffic pattern on the ground floor. 

No. I didn't do anything on the castle this morning... Tessie was demanding...

Back to work.   

See you tomorrow.

Me And Tessie Cleaning... Apart!

I worked on Sleeping Beauty's room this afternoon...

I am going to focus on one piece for this entry.

The table that sits at the end of the bed...

If you don't know how to do marbling, here's a shortcut. 

After all those years up on top of the bookcase, this didn't look too good.

However, it was a piece that could stand a good scrubbing.  It is a Formica sample from one of the lumber stores.  They can be cut with a scroll saw.

Yup. Many years and still scrub able. I just took a toothbrush and some Colgate Toothpaste to it and it is like new.

The little pot in the center refused to move, so I scrubbed that too.

I put the table back where it belonged and it looked almost like new.  The other pieces on the table got the toothbrush/toothpaste treatment as well and they all came through it just fine. Even the tiny shells in the semi-tiny shell made it through without a scratch.

I did cheat a little and put a coat of lemon oil on the covered dish, to shine the plastic up a bit.

Every once in a while I peeked in to see how Tessie was coming with her renovations...

I should have stayed in the bedroom with the castle. 

I ran and got the camera to make a record of the fact that Tessie can move walls all by herself.  I am not needed! Yay!!!

The only problem that I can see is that she moved everything from the bottom floor to the middle and top floors...

I guess she figures it's one floor at a time.

Just a couple of seconds after I took the last photo, she gave a mighty "Heave Ho!" and the wall that she removed went bouncing to the floor and across the room.

As I said.  I think that, as long as she is working on the townhouse, I am going to stay out of the way. 

I may get some yellow plastic tape and have it printed with "Keep OUT!  Tessie at WORK!".

Then I am going to stay as far away from her worksite as possible!

See you tomorrow.

Neglecting Tessie...

I should never leave Tessie home alone. I went to Wednesday Witches this afternoon.

I finally finished these two rings.  There is a tutorial for them on You Tube.  The instructor's site name is Bronzepony.  All one word.  She does some very nice tutorials.

 Of course, after I took the photo, Tessie grabbed one of them and put it over her bun.  Then she declared it a "Pillbox Hat".  I thought sure it was going to be another crown...

No.  I still have not gotten it back.  She is holding it hostage until I work on her townhouse.

Speaking of which, she has now emptied out the bottom floor and is threatening to take a sledge hammer to the walls that are in the way of the open floor plan.

I am trying hard to ignore her and go on with the castle... It is not working well.

I did hide the only mini sledge hammer that I could find.  I hope that she doesn't know of another one, or there will be no house left when she finishes her idea of mini demolition.

I am going back to work on the castle the first thing in the morning.  No Tessie allowed on the site. Maybe she will demolish the whole townhouse and then I won't have to re do it.

Back to work.  See you tomorrow.

From Tessie With Love....

Tessie here... OK... I have control.  I used the mesmerizer on Casey and she is typing whatever I say.

I used it on her this morning and dragged her into the living room. 

I made her stand in front of my townhouse and take photos. Then I told her what I want done on each floor.  NOW. 

 She is not going to give me the castle, so I want my house re-done.

We will start with the living room and kitchen.  I am saying OPEN FLOOR PLAN in her ear, every time we look at it.  Maybe she will get the hint.  I hate the dark kitchen that can't be seen, except through the windows.

Then I made her look at the bedroom.  That's not to bad.

However, when I get up to go to the bathroom at midnight, The bathroom being on a different floor is a pain!

Maybe she could put a smaller bathroom where the closet is and then make the bathroom a larger closet.  Most of my aprons would fit in there if that were the arrangement.

The roof garden is the only part of the house that I really like. I have to make a list of other things I want done.

Don't tell Casey what I did....

OK, Casey here... I let her think that she was in control.  I really wasn't mesmerized..

It was just a way to get her off of my back whilst I finish the castle. She just doesn't give up.  I need a break.

I may have to do some of each for a week or two.  She wants all new furniture for the living room and an open floor plan for the first floor.  Big plans for the whole house.

I hate to admit it, but I have never liked the layout of her townhouse. Maybe if I work on it a little too, she will be a happy camper and easier to live with. 

It's either that or kick her out, house and all.  I probably wouldn't live long if I tried to do that.  So...
Appeasement is in order... We are going to have a heart to heart talk.  No mesmerizer anywhere in sight.  Wish me luck.

See you tomorrow.

Good Movie... Bad Move...

We went to see "The Accountant" this morning.  It was really good.

When we left the house, Tessie had her new crown on and was dreaming of things to come...

I was a bit worried.  She was carrying the mesmerizer around like a scepter.

 I should have known better than to leave her with that...When we left, she was making the new kitten that she got at the Halloween party bow down to her and then sit up and beg...

As I left, she shouted after me, "Where's MY castle?

"I only have a townhouse and it only has a slate floor and rock foundations.  I need a castle!!!  All stone and marble."

I ignored her and went on my merry way...

When I got home, she started in again..."Daisy's cottage looks more like a castle than my townhouse".

"I want my castle... It has to be grander than Daisy's dinky little house! And I want custody of the family dragon!!"

Then she went into the workroom and started expanding on the theme.  "You have plenty of rocks in your quarry. These would cover a LOT of castles!

To add insult to injury, she went into her bedroom, dragging one of the zebra chairs. "This would adapt into a very nice throne if you just put gold leaf on it and sat it on a pedistal.  Now get to work!"

How did I get myself into this? Oh! I remember.  I made her a crown this morning...

Somebody help!!!

I am going to go hide now.

See you tomorrow...

The Clean Up Crew...

Now that the Skeleton Crew is gone, we of the clean up crew get to work. 

I had to take all of the party participants home. 

Tessie left Zar where he was.  He must be getting old.  He fell asleep about 10:00PM.  He still hasn't budged. He has Spike to keep him warm.

Tessie actually started cleaning the closet.  She announced, "It's much easier without all of those extra aprons. 

I have the feeling that she is, as a grandiose gesture, going to give the Skeleton Crew each an apron... I am hoping that will mean that she will let me off the hook for making aprons for a while.

 I had to check and make sure that there were no more party goers upstairs. 

No party goers, but a very dirty floor.

I spent the morning deep cleaning our real kitchen.  The microwave hadn't been moved since well before the cancer came into view.  Now that it is gone, I am slowly, but surely getting things in the real house back in order... Step by step.

OK... Another floor that really needs cleaning!  The rooftop garden is in bad shape.  Rocky Raccoon is still drinking.  He seems to do that, party or not.  Maybe it's because he has to put up with Tessie all the time.

Anyway, after all of the kitchen cleaning, I am going to wait until tomorrow to do the floors in Tessie's Townhouse.  I do them a LOT faster than she does, so she just waits until I am in the mood.  Tomorrow Tessie!

See you then! 

Let's NOT Get This Party Started!!!

Tessie invited the Skeleton Crew to stay at her townhouse until Halloween...

It's not going to happen. 

They moved in last night and this morning when I got up, there was a party in full swing!

One of the skellies is passed out in the swing chair.  Another is amusing herself by wearing one of Tessie's aprons and playing with the rubber chicken.

It seems that one and all wanted to meet their late relatives...

I went up to the second floor and Tessie has engaged one of the skeletons to clean her closet... Remember the one that was half in the bedroom and half in the closet? 

She let one of the skeletons wear one of her aprons and a mob cap for cleaning purposes.  It doesn't look to me like there is much cleaning going on... The one in the chair has taken a liking to Tessie's new hat.  Just wait until Tessie turns around and gets a load of that!  There may be a small war soon.

And the guy that was sleeping in Zar's bed yesterday is sleeping in Tessie's today...

On the top level, the lady from the shower, yesterday, is taking a bath today... She must have gone without a bath for a long time in her last life. Cordelia is patiently waiting with a towel.  I think that Tessie put her up to it, so that the skeleton wouldn't leave to many rings in the tub.

The ones in the  potions room are the ones that I am most worried about.  Uncle Reggie is keeping an eye on them, but who knows what their occupations were in their former lives...

I am thinking that it might be a good idea to lock them all in a box until the day before Halloween.  Elsewise there might just be a bit of trouble around here.  They all seem a bit suspicious to me.

Now where can I find a box that will lock and keep eight trouble making skeletons out of trouble, until Oct. 30?

I am off to hunt for a nice prison cell.  See you tomorrow.

Having Fun Now!

 OK.  I finished six rows on the basket yesterday.  I am pleased with how it is coming along.  With the ceramic bottom, I think that I can put a plant pot inside and put it on the patio. No harm done.

I did a bit more on the rug and then switched to the bag that I started last month.  It is going slowly, but Tessie is urging me to finish, so that she can go somewhere...

When she started nudging me about that, I switched directions again.

Maybe she will stay home if she has to tend to her garden...

In moving the townhouse back to the living room, the roof garden got a bit messy and the railing that Tessie has her hand on fell off.  It was only attached by the end posts.

This is an odd angle to take the photo from, but I was to lazy to go get the step stool.  From here you can see one of the lights that I got at the Dollar Tree.  It doesn't show when you are standing even with the house. 

I just noticed that there is still a pot tipped over.  It must have been Rocky Raccoon's doing.  I guess I should go stand it upright while I am still thinking about it.

Back to work.

See you tomorrow.

Finding Tessie...

"I don't have to go and you can't make me!"

I grabbed Tessie by the scruff of the neck and carried her back to her new location... She threatened to zap back to the bedroom, house and all.  Why didn't I think of that instead of having Walter and Seth do it yesterday?

Anyway, I threatened her with no cookies for a week and she caved. Then she went roaming around and ended up in the closet... It is a bigger mess now that we moved the house.

She was looking for something.

So was I.  I misplaced this bracelet about a month ago.  It's my all time favorite and I was worried that I might have lost it somewhere.

I did the beading and then added the clasps from an early 1900's watch chain that I had lying around.  Broken chain. Good clasp.

It was in a bead tray that I had been working in.

Kota agreed to guard it until I get bored with cleaning. 

I found out why Tessie was raiding the closet.  The bedroom and the closet are as if a hurricane has gone through.

I looked in the workroom and there she was.  Back in the chair.  This time in disguise.  I forgot that I made her this cloak when I first installed the top "wallpaper" in the potion room.

She seems to think that nobody can see her in it.  As long as she stays in the chair and in the potion room... And she must stay silent at all costs.

Hey! I'm going along with it.  It will keep her quite for a long time.  If I don't slip up, she will sit there for the rest of the morning... It is inevitable that she will get hungry around noon.  Then she will come out for lunch.  I will ask her, "Where were you all morning?".

With any luck, I will be believable and she will go back to hiding as soon as she eats... I get a lot more done when she is in invisible mode. 

Back to the workroom. 

See you tomorrow.