So cool to spot tadpoles!

Even though my parents' backyard is kind of a typical suburban lawnscape devoid of much biodiversity, I saw a praying mantis this morning and it was so cool!

Dear My Cousin:

Telling your family your wedding date less than two months out? Suboptimal. Especially when you're expecting your 91 year old grandmother to be there.

xoxox

J

Edit: Actually, the timing just gives grandmother plenty of time to be in a tizzy. It does mean that other people might have conflicts, though.

OMFG, I am done. I still need to mop the floor, and clean out and organize the closet, but I will do that tomorrow.

So much better; it was such a filth pit this morning, and I am not kidding at all.

I'm gonna drink some ice water, finish this smoke and then take a long, cool shower. Then I will take pictures, because I am so happy with how it looks. (Yeah, I'd love to paint and change the window shades, but this was a sweat-equity only room makeover -- we're strapped.)

you can often get paint on freecycle or craigslist for free. If you are patient, you can probably get the color you want.

bacon beer brittle

That's a good idea, msbelle, but I will paint the hallway to upstairs, the kitchen and the downstairs powder room before this room. The kitchen is a hideous green; I'll take a few snaps of it too. HATES IT.

you can often get paint on freecycle or craigslist for free.

Wow, really? That's so cool.

Potato-leek soup is on the stove. The other beets will have to wait until tomorrow.

Just ordered delivery Thai food. I want it NOW!!!

I will say, about my cousin, that I was afraid they would never actually get married because of the Event Planning barrier -- she works a lot and he's out of the country half the time -- so I'm glad they just decided to throw money at it and get it done. (They're getting married at the Soho Grand.)

paint is hard to get rid of because it is a toxic material and so people are often more than happy to give it away. For example, I probably left 10 partial cans in NY.