Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real: Extreme Makeover Edition

Capturing the context of contentment ~ Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

Ok, I exaggerate just a skosh.  But if it works for TV...okay, fine, I probably should not do it...moving on...

Anyway.

We are in the thick of renovations here this week.  It has not been fun.  We've had at least three meltdowns from various family members, more evenings eating take-out while standing over the kitchen sink than we care to remember, piles of tools and debris everywhere and countless nights ending with us flopping into bed exhausted and sore.  But it's getting done.  At least, that's what The Viking says.  I can't see it; all I see is the mess and the endless list of tasks still ahead.  That's why he's the leader!

That being said, Pretty has been hard to come by this week.  Of course there's been beauty to behold: I live with three very beautiful people, after all.  And we did have a particularly beautiful and tantalizing day (in that "Spring won't be here for months yet, but this is what it will smell like" kind of way) that made us all stand with our faces turned toward the sky, close our eyes and breathe deep.  But I was not able to document it.  I've been particularly busy.  For reasons we've already discussed.

BUT.  I did find some Happy, Funny and Real (heck--I am lousy with Real).  And this is why we're here!

Happy

Yes, this is bread.  Bread makes me happy.  Why?  Because I made it!  I have been begun to realize a long-time aspiration of making my own bread.  I haven't worked up to making it every day, but I'd say I'm up to half of each week.  Most of the time.

I'm still working out the kinks, but if nothing else, it's helping keep Calvin fed each day.  He was always complaining of being hungry and wanted me to buy all kinds of horrifying snacky stuff.  And when I'd say, "Have some bread and butter or bread and cheese," he'd wrinkle his nose.  But then I found that he's wild about homemade bread and now our lives are forever changed.  I don't even have to suggest he get some bread and butter.  And he's not complaining much anymore.  At least about that.

Funny

You may have to look a wee bit closely, but this is what I see out of the corner of my eye every time I'm slicing something Nutmeg is particularly fond of.  Usually it's when I'm preparing or slicing meat.  This time it was her absolute favorite: carrots.  She's a dog who's mad for carrots.  Calvin has recently used them to train her to do a new trick.  She'll do anything for a carrot!

Funny (and a pretty decent segue into Real)

Here's some of that demo I told you about.  It was all about bathrooms this week.  And this was what we found when we tore out the shower in the upstairs bath.  This photo does not do it justice.  Yikes.  Even scarier was Redheaded Snippet going, "I like the colors.  And the stripes."  Heaven help us.

Real

The downstairs bath and laundry room.  This is mid-project.  It is now finished, but I am just too dang tired to walk in there and take photos.  We replaced the floor, pulled wallpaper down and painted everything.  It looks great.  Maybe I'll have photos next week.

This is what happens when you have to replace the floor underneath your washer and dryer: they squat in your living room.  Delightful.

We also decided to finally fill in the door to nowhere.  Long ago it was a closet.  Now it's a gaping hole in our living room wall with debris in front of it (and a pretty cute future vicar).

And, apparently, when you fix up your house, your tools and other gear tend to overflow from the area being fixed and into every corner and everywhere you need to look and walk.  I spent hours cleaning and packing our bedroom today because it was the only space I could find that was semi-peaceful!  All of this clutter is making me nuts!

But...in spite of it all, I'm still content.  And I thank this weekly exercise for that.  Have you found any contentment this week?  Why don't you share it?  I think you'll be glad you did!