Weekend in Higgins

We spent the first part of Easter weekend up north at Justin's parents. They live on Higgins Lake, which has become one of my favorite places in the whole world over the last several years (much more on that is sure to come this summer!).  It's always so nice to get up there, even in the cold weather... a total break from our busy lives here, because we can't take all our day-to-day "stuff" with us.  This trip we checked most of our normal activities off the list... visit Pottery Barn outlet on the way up, sleep in every day, eat much too much, take a trip to Wal-Mart, eat at G's Pizzeria... but we also added something I can't believe I've never done before... drive all the way around the lake.  Higgins Lake is pretty big and the Remsings are on the east side of it, so I had never even seen the west side from the shore.  Taking our cue from the snowmobilers and ice fisherman who were driving their cars out onto the lake, we decided to have a little walk and enjoy the beautiful day!

The lake is so clear and beautiful, the ice looked like pool water... clear aquamarine in the sun.  In some places we could see straight down. Even though we had a lot of fun walking around, it made me more anxious than ever for summer to arrive so we can get out there on the boat!

We came home on Saturday night and spent Sunday with my family. Stephanie and Jason got ENGAGED on Saturday, which made things a little more exciting... I can't believe my baby sister is getting married! More on that, I'm sure, will also come.

Monday was a bonus day off and we spent it doing house projects... Justin worked in the basement and I gathered materials to spruce up the living room.  And by the way, on that note, thanks to NO ONE for suggestions!  I've managed to come up with a couple of little solutions and will soon be making new pillow covers in very spring-y shades of green, among other things... I'll put up some pictures when they're done. I can't WAIT for spring to GET HERE!

Time for a change

I don't know about you, but every year right around this time I start itching for a change in my house.  This year, probably due to recent events, that feeling of restlessness is even more prominent.  On Saturday, Justin was gone and I spent the entire day at home... and for several hours as I cleaned, I thought of spring, and of what can be done in the house to reflect the freshness of this new season (even though it's not quite here yet... and sadly, probably won't be for awhile).

This is our third year here, and for the past two I've wanted to switch out the pillow covers, rugs, and even curtains in the living room for the spring and summer.  I love everything we have already, and I love how the warm colors and fabrics keep me cozy all winter, but come March and without fail it starts to feel a little... well, heavy, I suppose.  

Case in point:

We got this canvas about a year ago after a VERY long search, and I love it.  It was pretty expensive, so I don't want to just swap it out for something else... but it has a decidedly late summer/fall feel and also limits decorating options.  All the bedrooms and the bathroom incorporate a pale, smoky blue, which over the years has become my favorite color in the house--very soothing--but I can't work it into the living room/dining room/kitchen because of this print!  That probably wasn't very smart.  Here you can even see the Charleston lantern photo, a little attempt to pull in the blue... notice that it completely clashes!

The pillows and curtains...

And the rugs:

And another view...

Soo... what should I do?  I'm longing for the light, airy feel of a new season.  I think if I focus on a grass green with some bold prints, I can get away with leaving the canvas.  Maybe put up some sheer white panels and cover the pillows with solid green and green and white prints? I've never been a huge grass green fan, but right now I'm so stifled by the endless winter that I can't stop dreaming of warm summer nights and all the colors and breezes that come along with them.  Justin just rolls his eyes at me, but this year I'm doing it... it's time for a change. Ideas, anyone?

Recent projects

We've been busy bees lately and I wanted to share... first, a baby book I made for Erin and John, whose little Logan should be here within the next month.  I saw someone at a shower receive a handmade book like this, purchased from a certain specialty store, and decided to get one for Erin. But when I went to the store there was only one to choose from (which, of course, is no choice at all), and it wasn't that cute (not to mention astronomically priced).  So I gave it a shot myself.  I know I thrive on creative projects like this, because for an entire week I stayed up late and worked nonstop--getting supplies, choosing colors, building the cover, writing the content, strategizing the best methods of binding--and loved every minute of it.  

There's plenty of space to record all of Logan's stats and milestones as they happen, as well as flat paper bags to hold papers and other souvenirs.  Pretty fun!

Second is the evolving basement project.  Amber and Steve (Justin's sister and her boyfriend) came for a weekend to do some construction. Steve is a builder and we were pretty impressed by how quickly he hammered this thing out!  All day Saturday and all day Sunday he and Justin worked, along with the help of several great friends from church. They built two walls, ran electrical, framed in all the duct work, added two new doorways and moved one, and drywalled the entire ceiling, new walls, and staircase.  It looks awesome!  It's also starting to look more paintable and I'm itching to get started... although I know the mudding and sanding will be a long process first.  Hopefully Justin can get started on that in the next couple of weeks.

I'm holding my breath hoping that the mudding at least can get done before baseball season starts... otherwise Justin might be too preoccupied!  As for me... I need to find my next creative outlet.  You would think my job would do the trick, but there's just something about paper, an Exacto and Modge Podge that you can't get anywhere else--even on a 24" Macintosh display.  :)

Sticking around

I've been thinking about this blog a lot the last couple of days and whether to shut it down completely (it's funny I would even give it that much thought, considering it's still a mostly secret blog).  Anyway, I was looking at it just now, thinking how much I like the color palette and the header I designed, and how blogging could kind of be fun, when the title on that header caught my attention.  Justin didn't like it when I first typed it out... too dramatic for him.  But tonight it made me realize that yes, our life together is fun, hectic, crazy, and beautiful--but also sometimes tragic, and confusing, and sad.  We recently experienced an unprecedented tragedy when we lost our baby at 12 weeks, just as we were on the verge of announcing our pregnancy to the world--which is why I'm now thinking about deleting this blog I worked so hard to create in celebration of that little one.  I don't want this to be an awkward post, and I'm not looking for a pity-party... it's just got me thinking about how life is all these things, good and bad, and somehow I have to believe they all work together to make the big picture even more beautiful. Hmmm... sounds like something I've read somewhere before.  "In ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him."  That's a hard reality to accept with our grief still so new, but we do face the future with hope, and a renewed sense of unity in our marriage, realizing just how much we are a team, and trusting God to heal and restore us.

Maybe I'll just delete that first post, where we proudly (though secretly) charted the news six weeks ago, and keep the rest going.  I'm sure the world is dying to hear about our basement remodel, and to see pictures of the navy blue paint and the flowers I plan to plant when spring finally arrives. I know one of these days there will be a new baby on the way, and many other good things in the meantime... probably even some more sadness as well.  So I guess as far as the blog stratosphere goes, we're here to stay.