Snow Day

Louisiana, like most of the U.S., has been blanketed by ice. Trey got a snow day off from school today, and I am milking my paid vacation days before my last official day of work next week.

Above is the first thing I saw when I finally stepped out today around 3 p.m. Why we never use our garage, I will never know. Maybe it has something to do with all the junk still piled in it.

Speaking of things we don't need, Trey and I finally sold this 100-year-old post office box we've had in the corner as a decoration all these years. That same day we sold our Airstream and armoire. I must say, selling all of your stuff can be pretty great for the savings account.

So we've been celebrating a lot lately. This is a photo I took of Trey today at our favorite yogurt place.

This is me at that same yogurt place today feeling sheepish about the fact that, once again, I've cheated on my "diet." I'm going to workout now.

The Beauty of Losing it All

Photo by Bushie

Ah, look at this scene. A lone bird on a bare branch. A bright, clear day. Peace. Tranquility. Unfortunately these qualities haven't resembled my life lately. Instead, it's chaos, clutter and messes in the Crowe household. That's because Trey and I have unearthed boxes from the garage and storage in an attempt to pare down -- way down.

As we will move in about a month to temporary housing, where we'll stay until we move to Austin in May, it's necessary for our backs and sanity to get rid of as much stuff as possible. It's unbelievable how much junk we had -- and still have left to go through.

Above is the pile of things we got rid of the other day. Now more than ever it is clear to me that purchasing and collecting things you don't need is a waste of time, energy, money and useful space, which is probably why it's been so easy for me to dispose of the stuff. However, figuring out what to do with cast-offs can be tricky. Trey and I have decided it all goes to either Goodwill or the trash. We are relying on Goodwill to (hopefully) keep most of what we donate out of the landfill.

If you think the first photo was bad, this pile (above) was collected from a single closet. Shockingly, or shall I say appallingly, there is probably three times as much for us to dispose of. To think that Trey and I moved all of this junk from our old house to our current home and then proceeded to store it for three years without so much as missing it is a little sickening. What was the point of keeping it?

I only wish I had the photos of the table full of stuff I gave away a half year ago. That would really drive home my point. But I think exhibit A and B will be sufficient for the time being. Every haul we rid ourselves of I get closer to grasping a more lasting feeling of peace. Clear the clutter; clear the mind.

By the time we move I hope to have only five boxes of personal items, not including clothing (although my wardrobe is sparse, too). I promise to take photos on moving day to hold myself accountable to my one reader -- or two?

Imitating Art and a Project 'How To'

 Image found online.

OMG! I found online a painting of the older version of my car -- same color with the black convertible top and all. I'm dying to have a painting of my car just like it. I guess I'd better get out the paint and brushes then, because at this point I don't have the funds to purchase original artwork.

Image found here.

And speaking of getting taking matters of home decor into my own hands, here's another art piece that I'd love to try to recreate. For the longest I've wanted to paint a room in my house either black or midnight navy. I think art like this would look amazing in a room like that.

Since I have home decor crafting on my mind, I thought I'd share another project I'd like to try my hand at. These pillows by Helkat Design look easy enough to reproduce. While I haven't tried yet, this is how I'd do it.

Materials

♥ Raw canvas fabric

♥ Fabric paint

♥ Off white thread

♥ Sewing machine

♥ Crown, vine template

♥ Scissors

♥ Pillow form in desired size, shape

Directions

Wash the fabric first, then press it. Draw lightly with pencil onto the fabric. 

Printing and cutting out a template from online will help, or draw and cut out your own template for symmetry. Fill in lines with fabric paint. Sew fabric around pillow form. Enjoy.

Week-Ending Review

See Monica? See Monica play dress-up in her closet. See Monica take a grainy picture of herself. 

Just so you know, I don't always refer to myself in third person. I'm practicing for Saturday when I have to interview tots at a carnival-type fire safety event. Kids intimidate me. I never know if I'm going to make them cry or latch on to my leg. Neither outcome is comforting.

Craft: Jewelry Making

 All photos taken with my scratched up iPhone. 

This was the last day of an extended weekend. I spent hours in my backyard art studio, thinking crazy thoughts along the lines of, "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to stay here after all." Thwak! Palm to forehead. What is wrong with me?!

I finally restrung a necklace that broke a couple years ago. Don't ever accuse me of procrastinating. Ever. Then I made a necklace with this awesome pendant (above) that I bought forever ago. It's double sided. The image reminds me of a vintage polyester shirt I had when I was a teenager. It was a long sleeve with buttons and a sewn-in poly-shirt. The inset shirt and back of the long sleeve had a geisha on it, surrounded by an aqua and black retro geometric shape motif.

God, I can't believe I ever wore polyester. Yeesh. Thankfully my friend "borrowed" the shirt -- as awesome as it was -- and I never saw it again. She was always jealous of me having that shirt. Can you blame her? I couldn't. We remained friends.

It's time now to indulge in some serious girl time (as if the aqua art room and jewelry making weren't girlie enough): chick lit and The Rachel Zoe Project.

I could hug myself.

A Walk: Where Shall We Go?

Trey and I often take walks in our neighborhood. We're creatures of habit and don't wander off the beaten path much. During our strolls, our conversation usually turns toward the future -- as much as I tell myself to stay grounded in the present. In nine months, Trey will graduate with a second degree, and we're both all but sitting on our hands in anticipation of the day.

For as long as we've known each other I've wanted to move away from this town. Somehow I got stuck here. It sucked me in like quick sand while I flailed about trying to extricate myself. We don't know where we're going, and Trey doesn't really care as long as it's close enough to home that he can drive in on weekends.

As for me, all I know is I want more than this. More, more, more. I want to live in a city where the word isn't apathy, as it is here. I want a place where people are inspired, creative, a little idealistic and a lot open minded.

I've come to the conclusion that nowhere is ideal, but it can come a lot closer than this town. We flipped a coin the other day. It was for shits and giggles, really, but the coin voted for Austin. I think I will, too.

After Party

Our Saturday evening, as per the previous post, evolved beyond the kitchen. Me, Dad, Peanut and Lulu joined the party on the patio out back. Peanut (above) kept Trey company.

The home-brew beer stewed and steamed a couple of feet away and infused the area with its pungent hops aroma.

From clockwise left are Dad, Richard and Trey.

There was plenty of brew to go around, smiles and laughs. The night wound down at our dining table with Richard and his wife, (my bestie) Mary Drew, sharing a pizza.

A Simple Saturday Brings Us Together

It's my first Saturday at home in weeks -- a good feeling. I laid on the couch and took in the home view. Saturday mornings offer -- for me -- the best moments in life. It's like this: no obligations, my husband, my dogs and me ... in the living room ... TV on ...  several cups of coffee. It's beautiful really. At times I feel like scrapping the cable bill, but then, it's just easy comfort. It's really a tough call, you see.

Today started in true good-Saturday fashion. Trey and I watched a travel show, Bordain?, and then we took the dogs for a walk in the neighborhood. The morning was unseasonably cool, and the girls -- Peanut and Lulu -- were uncharacteristically calm on their leashes.

Rather, I should say Peanut was calm. (Lulu is always a good girl.) Peanut is part chihuahua, part Dachshund. The chihuahua in her comes out at times, causing her to be all jumpy, kind of like bacon cooking on a hot skillet. The girls trotted side by side. It was heart-breakingly cute. I imagine that if they could talk they'd sing all along the way.

"Dum, de, dum, de, dum."

"Doy, de, doy, de, doy."

"Ooh! A squirrel!"

Later, my dad came over. We made a late lunch -- Mexican breakfast tacos. Meanwhile Lulu begged for morsels of food.There she is (above) giving the innocent eyes to her daddy, while grandpa cooks. After lunch, Dad and I made Mexican wedding cookies, taking breaks to catch some college football on the tube. Peanut sat in grandpa's lap whenever she could.

While all this action was going on in the kitchen, Trey was in and out, prepping to brew beer in the backyard with a friend.

A new propane tank, a crawfish boiler, plenty of beer to drink and he was set.

And so were Dad and I.