It really was. The storm which started in the early morning and ended that night begain by knocking my neighbors lovely old birch within inches of their house. They spent they day chop chop chopping it into bit sized bits and loading it into a trailer. That night a GINORMUS pine fell directly onto their new car meanwhile TOM called to say that his tree was on fire. It was. So after the Fire Department left – with the tree still on fire – I called Ben who was out of town and a fireman – to see what we should do. It was electrical and about 9pm. I didn’t find his words, “wait for it to explode and burn itself” out to be very comforting. About 10 TOM and I met up in the alley, the fire was getting bigger and as we pondered our options – it exploded – Tom passed out and I peed my pants. Okay, that’s not true, but we did almost have a collective heart attack. Both of us seeing our significant others handling our estates and blowing our insurance money. I told TOM “well, at least the fire’s out – but I think you’re responsible for knocking out the power for a complete city grid.”

 
It started with the Fridge
You know those photos of neighborhoods destroyed by storms, but there is always that one lone house that remains unscathed? That was us. Except for the power. A funny thing happens when you lose your power, you begin to believe that it will return any second. But then seconds turn to minutes and minutes become hours and hours turn to days and the next thing you know everything in your fridge smells like it died a horrible death, you’re talking to yourself and eating a gas station hot dog for dinner. SO – I ran, I read, I cleaned. I couldn’t drive because the Jeep was in the garage and I couldn’t open the garage door, or get the bike or the cooler. I couldn’t work, vacuum, watch tv, listen to music or use my phone. That whole early to bed, early to rise bullshit should really have been “early to bed because there is nothing else to do.” Ben returned on day 3 of the outage and started bitching about it two hours later. Really? I’ve been here alone for 3 days! Power finally returned the evening of day four and I now know I would not survive on Survivor.

Since the fridge was empty and clean and on Craig’s list it was a perfect time to buy. Which I did. Black and the ONLY model that would fit in the space. Same problem, different room. It makes it easier to make a selection when you only have one choice in the style you want. French doors are awesome.

A month of Saturdays
After the fridge came in, I had to keep moving. The first Saturday was spent emptying, cleaning and organizing all the cupboards. I also cleaned the oven, isn’t there some kind of prize for that? No? There should be. I spent a lot of the day wondering why I have so much stuff.

The next was spent painting walls and art.

The third was spent sewing the drapes (after hours of looking at fabric) and shopping. I was going to keep the old bench and table and paint them white, but…I found an extension table which I loved that fit when small and grew when needed. Huh…anyway. It was expensive and like all good things in Chicago (Hi Clay, I miss you). Which sent me to IKEA. Poor, poor Ben. They had a nice table, responsibly priced, but not in white. I was NOT allowed to paint the new table and I’m trying to listen, even though it’s hard. So I sent Ben off with my list while I painted the bench. Ben hates the bench. Noted here, can we please stop talking about it – I went with birch…like the cabinets…at least that’s what I thought. He returned (sporting that look he gets when he is not happy – the kids have all seen the “look” it’s not pretty) and we put the table together. It’s a lot litter than the cupboards and I’m not convinced. Then I open the chairs, not the right chairs. Go figure, he confused Bojne with Borje. They couldn’t have named them something else? How about Sven and Ole? Now I’m sunk. He ain’t going back, this I know. Not white, not the look I wanted, he hates the bench, I’m thinking about it. I have to deftly weave Marina into this blog, I promised her, so to see Marina’s look when she eats peaches, click here.

This Wednesday – okay, it’s not a Saturday – geeze – but I had a break in work and jumped on it. I had accepted the fact that the table and chairs were staying…so I decided to decorate. I covered the chairs with the drape fabric which I love – spray painted the bottle and candlesticks, spend $$$ at Pier One (accessorizing is hard) and put it all together. Please note I have new dishes, glasses and silverware from varying locations (see photo on home page). I figured after 10 years and four mismatched sets I could splurge. Which I did.

It’s Déjà vu all over again
As you can see I moved the, as Casey called it “bullseye” art to the kitchen. Leaving the wood frames empty. I just realized this is the third time I’ve moved these. It probably makes more sense to get 6 more – they weren’t that expensive and I did like them in both the living room and the den. Anywho, I moved the pallet wood frames to the wood wall and bought a piece for the living room (next blog still framing). While shopping for fabric I found this set of 8 mirrors, (Esty) and added them – in the dining room. AND I painted the art piece in the kitchen while I “REinvented” the large painting at the top of the stairs. I’m thinking the reason I never get anything done is that I never leave anything finished. Searching always searching… probably something to think about.

ROOM 10 – it’s a miracle…
The basement is last. I’m scared. I don’t think I’ll be posting before photos – too horrifying (think Blair Witch Basement). I can’t believe I thought I’d was going to finish the whole house in 10 months. NOW – The “plan” is to finish and at the end of September have an open house for blog readers, friends and family. There will be alcohol and of course cake. I’m hoping this will motivate me… Does anyone have a hazmat suit I can borrow?