the baby has landed....

it will be a real test of family love and acceptance this week, because we did not get the house cleaned as we wished, nor stuff put away like we wanted to. Steven sick, I fell and sprained my ankle pretty well yesterday while taking the dog to the salon, john working, evan working and school.....
They have landed at LAX and are now visiting Grandma in Alhambra. I did get most of my collection of paintings up in the living room last night. they look really good in a horizontal line on a large blank wall. Two I picked up at goodwill, two were painted by my aunt, and one is a fragment of a larger, damaged painting from the 1800's that was frame (got that at an antique store in SC.)
Praying for good weather tomorrow....they are predicting some rain in the am, our outside park picnic for 60 friends and family is at 1pm. food is ordered, and we cannot fit that many folks into our house.....sigh....

Only eight weeks to go....

My son,his wife, mother in law, and toddler(!!) are coming out to visit Oct 29th,and staying for a week. We are going nuts out here trying to get the place cleaned up, repainted, and spiffed up in general for the visitors. Unfortunately, our house is a bachelor pad for three guys (hubby and two sons), and am the part time housekeeper it seems. I am rearranging my expectations for how I wanted the house to look, but hopefully it still will be comfortable, welcoming and non-toxic (oh those dirty sox!)
We finally got the 20 year old couch out to be recovered, husband finishing up patching and sanding and painting the living room, and I am getting to put up art work I have collected over the years. The couch and walls are neutral,and the art is basically folk art style in bright fun colors. I have been afraid to hang stuff on the walls for years, and now I am just going for it!
I did get a chance to decorate the top of a wooden box with collage last night. Couldn't find the new batteries for the camera, so tried to scan it. It is a bit out of focus in one corner, but when I put it up for sale, I will take a decent photo! I usually prefer bright, jeweltone colors, but was in a pink mood for this one.