Floored

Of our little home office project, DH said that things would be changing rapidly now, and he was right. The painters are finishing up, the hardwood floor is just a few hours old, they're sealing the tile on Thursday, and on Friday we get electricians!

Lately we've enjoyed watching pedestrians stroll by and glance inside to check on our progress. You see, we're in a sort of fish bowl right now, since we have this big naked picture window displaying the goings-on in the kitchen.

Reagan and Lolita were living in the walk-in closet last week, and this morning I rolled them into the foyer. The cats are still comfortably appointed in the guest room. Occasionally they walk through the office and loudly meow their approval--or disapproval--we're not sure which. Frasier's had quite a few comments on the Tigerwood flooring today.

And I'm learning things, or at least making an effort to learn things. I visit with the various crews before going to work each day. Just this morning, for example, I heard a new term from Ted, one of the painters.

TS: My husband wanted me to remind you guys that there's another door out on the patio. It just needs one side painted.
Ted: Oh, well, we'll be dipping all the doors, so it'll get painted on both sides.
TS: (calling DH) They say they're going to dip the doors. What on earth will they be dipping them in?

When I got home, they were outside stripping the doors. I'm still trying to figure out if you dip them to strip them, or to paint them, or what. Perhaps a kind reader can enlighten me.

A Bittersweet Chocolate Thanksgiving

Our home office renovation project continues, and we're hopeful that we'll be able to see our dining room table in time for Christmas dinner. I'm happy to report that the Dyson is OKAY! We cleaned up the filter, and that breathed new life into it.

Now, finally--the fun part! Color Girl came by day before yesterday, and after I painted a few samples of various shades of deep brown, we selected a color palette of Lenox Tan, Putnam Ivory and Bittersweet Chocolate. It's a good thing StickiBun won't be here until tomorrow--he would be trying to eat this scrumptious-looking paint.

The chocolate color will frame DH's African Cherry veneer panels, and he's applying the first coat now, while I wait to see how my cornbread dressing is turning out.

Our friends Sweety and Mithu gave us a box of chocolates yesterday, so we're having a chocolate-themed celebration.

We hope you all are thankful for many things this week. We are thankful for the time we've been able to share with each of you this year, and we wish you a peaceful, fun and memorable Thanksgiving.

Teach a Blonde to Paint . . .

DH: What are you doing?
TS (brush in hand): I'm about to paint this door. It's been ugly for years, and it's messin' with my chi. Every time I go through it I think, "I have got to paint this door."
DH: Well, you can't just paint it like that.
TS: Why not?
DH: You haven't done your prep work. That paint's all chipped and the door's a mess, and if you paint it like that, your fresh paint will just chip right off, too.
TS: Oh, no . . . so how do I do prep work?
DH: You have to take off all the loose paint chips and then sand the door.
TS: Oh, my. So we're talking about a half-day project instead of a one-hour project. Do I get to use the power sander?
DH: That could be arranged.

Much later . . .

TS: How am I doing?
DH: You paint like a girl.
TS: I AM a girl.

Still later . . .

TS: I'm finished! What do you think?
DH: Couldn't have done it better myself.
TS: WOW! I've never heard you say that! I'm so happy--even if it isn't quite true.
DH: But it IS true.

Remember: Give a blonde some paint, and she paints for a day. Teach a blonde to paint . . .