The tile we chose is a 14″ x 14″ porcelain tile that has a look similiar to flagstone. It runs from the living room, through the kitchen, and into the TV room. We also had tile laid in the hallway, all of which matches the tile we had put in our bathrooms 2 years ago. The colors on the wall are not as intense as they appear in the photo. The living room and TV room are painted a pale green, while the hallway and the kitchen are painted a pale aqua. We are very pleased how well browns in the carpet, couch and valance’s goes with these colors.

After much discussion we decided to tile the fireplace. It had small reddish bricks around the opening and it had been laid crooked. Overall I never liked it from the day we bought the house.

Once finished and with the pencil border around the opening of the fireplace, we definately loved it. Eventually we want to buy some new logs, this is a gas fireplace, or maybe a different type of display all together.

It is so wonderful to see a straight line of tile from the living room through the kitchen and into the TV room. Makes it so easy to keep clean too! Thanks to Joe DeCillo and crew for a great, timely job!

Carpet on top of tile on top of more tile showcased the original once sought after wood grain tile linolium. It was interesting to watch the whole process of taking out the carpet, linolium and tile. 2 unawesome discoveries in the living room led to a short delay on the time frame and a big kaching on the pocketbook. The living room has a fairly large crack across the middle of the room. Where the crack is the biggest there was a rise of about 3/8th of an inch. In about 3 hours Joe DeCillio’s company ground down the 3/8″ rise. The large kaching to the pocketbook came when we discovered subterranium termites on the living room wall. Several years back we dealt with another nest of subterranium termites in a different area resulting in opening and drilling the inside of the wall and in the floor concrete. Always unpleasant stuff. Early next week the job continues….

As you can see the retreat area is just off the master bedroom and now where my computer desk is situated. The words “sleep dream inspire” on the archway were a rub on I bought at Lowe’s.

In the retreat area the window looks out to our narrow side yard. The yellow painted chest was my sister Dee’s as a child. I hand painted and left her signature written in red ink on the inside! The chair is a treasured keepsake; it was my grandmothers, handed down to my mom and then to me.

From the viewpoint of the bed you can see the vaulted ceilings in our bedroom. The patio door to the backyard is on the left, the master bath and hallway to the right. The area above the closets screams for a big screen TV. Let’s not get greedy!

Looking towards the master bathroom and down the hallway out towards the rest of the house.

As you enter the master bedroom from the hallway you see the patio doors leading out to the backyard.

The new and improved craft/guest room. We have a full sized-full height blow up mattress that we place in this room for guests. I made the scalloped toile curtains, the design is of children playing outdoors and one of my favorite pieces of fabric. The adorable face pillow is on loan from gf Beth and hard to give back to her! The beads on the wire silhouette frame are from Disneyland !!!!

The wicker seat is vintage and something I found at a garage sale for $20.00 It has a lot of room and currently stores blankets. And Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and that is a christmas tree in the corner which holds all my Tinkerbell ornaments. Jason’s trophy from high school track sits beside the vintage dolls, not sure how he feels about that

A trip to Lowe’s to pick up more supplies for the next project, our master bathroom which will pretty much have the same products installed: porcelain tile, small sandalwood vanity, and marble sink. The smaller vanity gives us more foot space, which in these smaller bathrooms is so important. Thank you so much Joe and company! We are already thinking about what we want done next, when you have time in between your big remodel jobs!

This adorable chandelier hangs above the table and doesn’t really offer anything in the way of actual light yet it looks so sweet and was just what I wanted. Valerie, a dear friend, helped Jerry and I figure out how high to hang it. I think it finishes off the space very nicely.

Many people know very little about Fibromyalgia, and even fewer probably know that it has a long list of symptoms. I am among the many I am sure who have this horrid disease, to have a lot of those annoying symptoms. One of the most frustrating symptoms is being hypersensitive and startling easily (jumpiness). If you google Fibromyalgia you will find this symptom along with a few more that seem to go along with it, such as hypersensitive to light and sound. After years of doctor visits with many different specialists, being poked, prodded, and tested until my hair stood on it’s end all over my body and screamed “hell no more”, I have been told that I have probably had Fibromyalgia since I was very young, just never diagnosed earlier. Upon further digging on the net you might find that some sites claim that hypersensitivity can be linked to stress, trauma, post stress disorder and so on. I suppose also, if you knew my complete history, you might think the later would fit. Or at least add to it.

My most wonderful husband Jerry, can attest to this very annoying symptom, that of being hypersensitive. Over the years he has had to put up with me screaming out of fear just because we met in the hallway. Ear piercing loud screams if I didn’t hear the pitter pat of his feet on the carpet or tap tap on the wood floor before hand. Last night was no exception.

I’d like to add also that I believe in ghosts. Now that makes it interesting, doesn’t it? I think my most wonderful husband thinks I might be a bit crazy when I admit to that. Oh well. Can’t win them all. I’m not sure of my earliest encounter with a ghost, but I will share with you that when Jerry and I went out to sea to sprinkle Jimmy, our first son’s ashes, at sea, Jimmy spoke to me loud and clear. I came right home and wrote a poem about it. That very day. I’m telling you all this because it adds to the whole hypersensitivity issue. See what I mean? Want more?

About a month ago “someone” was flitting around the house while my most wonderful husband and I were watching TV. I never knew who it was, and I usually do know. At first I was scared, then I calmed down when I realized they weren’t out to harm me. And, my dear sweet deceased brother Richard came by for a visit a few weeks ago. But I digress. That will be for another day. Another blog.

So, as often happens, and as I have gotten older and can’t hear as well, Jerry can unintentionally “sneak up on me”. He’s tried many a tactics over the years. Sometimes he’ll say “boog-a-boo” as he enters a room, alerting me he’s nearby. Other times he’ll start talking before he actually is in the same room as me. He tries all sorts of things to make it be known he is nearby, probably so I won’t scream. Loud. Like I did last night!

I was entranced in writing a blog. Not this one. The night air was hot, so we had our big industrial fan blowing the cool night air in through the open patio screen door, making it hard to hear anyone, anywhere. Afterwards Jerry said I was looking sort of in the direction of the doorway, not that I was aware of doing that. Then without seeing him, I looked the other way. It was then that he said to himself “Oh boy, I am screwed.” I am not sure why at that point with that thought running through his head, he decided to lean in close to my left side and patiently stare at me. All the while I was unaware that he was even in the room. See where this is going? Ready? Wait….wait….

YUP! I screamed so loud and long that my voice hurt! And Jerry’s ear drums were pierced with the awful sound that echoed out the screen door into the night. Blood ran down the side of his whiskered face. (Ok, I am exagerating) Our neighbors probably thought I was being murdered. Maybe they thought about calling 911. It was that kind of scream. Long, loud and meaningfull. And embarrassing.

After an “episode” like that happens I am usually so embarrassed. At the time I am truly scared. My heart is racing as if I spent 30 minutes chasing Tom Cruise. I’m breaking out in a sweat like an old menopausal lady, and I have the look of true fear written in every wrinkle. Charming right? Oh well.

There is usually lots of apologies said, then some laughter, and hugging. My most wonderful husband is like that. Very understanding. Well, except about the ghost thing. But we don’t want to go there again. Do we?

ps The photo at the top of this blog is of Neil’s Mercantile in Standish, CA. My husband and I grew up about 1/2 mile from this now boarded up building. We used to wait for the school bus at the corner, not a lot of fun on a cold winter morning. I added this photo because it is said to be haunted. Cool. Google it. You’ll see. Or go here:

http://www.ghostweb.com/standish1.html