Treasure Tuesday – The “Normal” Life

Dear readers,

I didn’t think I would be away from you for so long! I hope you all had wonderful holidays, and that your new year has started well. It’s been since before Christmas that I blogged anything, and there’s so much to tell you!

We’ve moved into the new apartment (almost completely) and are settling in here at the Tri-C (Christian Campus Center.) Today is the first day of classes, so I’m interested to see what it’s like now that the building will have people inside. We’re connected to the coffee and tea house, so the apartment should smell delicious at all times, and there will always be something for me to do, should I need something to do. So far, I have revamped 2 message boards in the building, reorganized/picked up the large bible class and study room, rearranged the billiards room, restocked the pantry with 2 loads of food, and restocked and rearranged all of the tea in the cafe.

Now I’d like to get the apartment decorated, since we plan on having company on a regular basis. In fact, we’ve already had company over at least half as many times as we did at the old apartment. Moving in was no easy feat – the place was in pretty grimy shape. So, after lots of scrubbing, we only need the shower head replaced, the tub caulked, the ceiling in the bath fixed, some ceiling tiles replaced, our oven coil replaced (it tried to light itself on fire!) and the office needs a fresh coat of paint. It looks like a BMX rider tried to do tricks off the wall in there. I’ll post pictures as I make progress on the place!

Next, Mom is moving, too – into our old apartment, conveniently. So, it will just be 2 months of one giant move for us. Lots of lifting with the legs, my friends. I can’t wait to move her stuff this weekend, and then have a giant estate/moving sale the next. I love a good estate sale – especially when it’s your own and you can purge your life of “stuff.”

Now, on to the treasure! Thanks to these wonderful curators for including our jewelry and (one of our newest items) an antique Tennyson collection:

Read A Good Book Lately? by fleachic

Harmony, Serenity, and Beauty by bohemienneivy

Share the Love,

Chelsea

Whatever Weekend – Grandma Joy and Grandpappy Happy & Why I (Still) Love to Color

Well, it’s raining here, so the garage sale we’ve been planning for weeks has been postponed to next weekend. I guess that means I’ll have time this weekend to finish my Halloween projects, and look around to see if there’s anything else I can sell (because I know there is.)  I bought some poppies from the dollar store to add to our Wizard Of Oz trunk decorations to make it “3D.” I’ve really enjoyed this project – dealing with a bigger canvas than usual makes me feeling like I’m coloring a giant coloring book. 

Coloring is kind of a tradition in our family. Someone gets sick or has to stay in the hospital, you bring them a coloring book and crayons. Someone’s having a bad day? Coloring book. Bored? Color. You get the idea. When Mom was sick, I got her an Alice In Wonderland coloring book and some Crayolas. I ended up coloring the most pictures (at her request,) but it helped me escape for a second, and it gave her something pretty to look at. I remember the first time I learned to color the way I still do now, with different strokes, shading in the picture, filling in the lines. I’m still a little kid, just in a bigger package. 

I tell you that, because want to tell you about my Aunt Joyce. She’s an artist living in Las Vegas, who has recently branched out into creating a series of kids’ coloring books. The books are based on two characters, Grandma Joy and Grandpappy Happy, who travel around the United States with their grandkids to teach them about each state through experience. Aunt Joyce also dresses in character as Grandma Joy, and visits kids in school to teach them about the U.S.

Grandma Joy, talking to the kids about Alaska.

She just opened an etsy shop, alstoncolors, for her educational coloring books. So far, Nevada, California, Florida, Texas, and New York are available for purchase. I can’t wait to see her shop fill up! She’s doing great things for her community, and now she’s branched out internationally. I think it’s pretty awesome and inspiring. The books are great for boys and girls, and would make a fun Christmas gift, so check out her shop!

All this talk about coloring makes me hungry. I think I’ll go have some toast and strawberry jam. Enjoy your weekend!

Share the Love,

Chelsea