Painting, Day One! Here it is, after the great paint debate–she chose Summer Pecan, a neutral but a little lighter than Mudpie. It’s hard to be 12. It’s a mixed bag at this age. Some childish sensibilities, some adult. In the end, she was swayed by her bedding and all the advice in your comments. She was impressed! It gave her a lot to think about, and I let her decide on her own.
She also used a color called Polished Maple (one shade darker on the same paint chip card) for her bathroom and for the nook in her window seat. I’ll get some pictures of that tomorrow. It was a long day…. I didn’t get back in there to take pictures later.
We started out early. The two boys were at the house late Friday night, cleaning up drywall dust. They came home, crashed, and I got them up early Saturday morning with egg sandwiches and sent them on their way to the farm while I waited for the paint to arrive with more troops. 52 brought the paint from the city and we headed out there. I followed in my car thinking I wanted my car out there in case us girlies needed to visit working facilities. The road out there was a slippery, muddy mess. My nerves were frayed by the time I got to the driveway, and when I started sliding crazily halfway up the driveway, sure I was going to end up going off the cliff on one side or in the ditch on the other, I hit the brake, ordered Princess to GET HELP, and by the time help arrived (52), I was sobbing hysterically. I am so tough!! He said, “Move over.” I said, “I can’t move over! If I take my foot off the brake, I’ll go off the cliff!” (Insert more hysteria.) He finally convinced me to move over and miraculously (because I had my hands over my eyes) he got us up the driveway without shooting my car over the cliff. Whew. I just need a man standing by anytime I drive up my driveway in bad weather, no problem.
I’m moving out there and not going anywhere till summer and the road is DRY. When my dad was a kid growing up and lived out there, he walked that road (two miles) every day over the hill to the farmhouse where I live now to get the school bus to the high school. I’m thinking, kids today are too soft! They can walk over the hill! They can bring groceries home on their backs! Okay, not really necessary because 16 has no trouble driving down that road. He can drive everybody to school when his mommy is too scared, and even drive his sobbing mommy to the store. What is it with boy-people?!
Look at all that beautiful paint!!
I’d like to say this was a purposeful re-purposing, but it was spur of the moment–yet genius! We got out there and I realized I hadn’t brought anything for a touch-up container for paint. I was doing edging and touch-up all day. I started in Princess’s room with her rolling, me doing edging and touch-up. Only no little paint container to carry around with me. I searched through everything Steve-the-Builder had and was ready to pour out containers or nails, LOL, but nothing really seemed like it would work right for what I wanted. And believe me, no way was I driving back to the farmhouse to get something. 52 came up with this empty milk jug out of nowhere, cut it off, and it was perfect! I loved having the handle to hold the jug by. So there you go, your frugal re-purposing tip of the day!
We were eating gourmet. This was our first meal in our new kitchen. And this is even in the kitchen!
I used the Darby Creek color I talked about earlier for the entire main floor. It really looks like a khaki to me, but I’m sure Darby Creek means something to somebody somewhere…. It’s a rich neutral–rich enough to make great color on the wall, but neutral enough to go with anything for decorating. If I was naming paint colors, I’d call it Gold Brocade. I like that better than Darby Creek, whatever that means. While I was helping Princess paint her room, everyone else was on the main floor priming then starting to roll the color. I got down there later and Princess joined the rolling party on the main floor while I started the picky edging job. 14 kept asking when we were leaving. I kept telling him, “When we are too worn out to go on.” He said, “I’m too worn out now.” He is a go-getter, LOL. Unlike 16, he has no car and no girlfriend to motivate him to work. (I was paying them for cleaning up and painting. Because I am a very tough mother.)
We found him here in this closet a few hours later. Maybe he was too worn out to go on!
About ten hours after we started, we finally packed it in for the night. We got a lot done and we think we can get close to finishing the entire house this weekend. When you’re trying to paint an entire house, so many hands working makes a huge difference. I made 16 drive my car down the driveway (then he had to run back up the hill to get his car) and we all headed home. And found a surprise on the table–brownies from Georgia. Could a day be better? We got a lot of painting done and came home and found brownies.
Today, we do it all over again. You? What are you doing this weekend? We have extra rollers, you know.
Kim A. says:
Good choice of paint colour, Princess! I’ll bet it’s going to look awesome when finished. And hey, when you tire of the bedding and change it, you can just repaint the walls. :rockon:
I see you went with Behr, which I happen to like — good choice there too. Also a great idea for a touch-up container, thanks to #52.
Oh, I *hate* that finicky painting, Suzanne! I don’t mind using the roller; it’s kind of fun. But cutting in? Touch-ups? Trim? Ugh, can’t stand it. Kudos to you all for getting so much done, and good luck today. I can’t wait to see pics once it’s all completed.
Nothing so arduous for me this weekend, unless you count shovelling the 4 to 5 inches of snow we got yesterday morning. (March certainly came in like a lion; it had better go out like a lamb.) If I repaint in the house it won’t be until at least May, when it’s warm enough to leave the windows open.
-Kim
On March 2, 2008 at 5:25 am
Cyndi B says:
I love the color Princess chose! SO happy to see everything moving along for you guys!
On March 2, 2008 at 7:24 am
Melissa says:
I like Princess’ choice of color for her room. It’s going to look great with her bedding.
On March 2, 2008 at 8:56 am
kacey says:
I like those rich neutral colors. Good luck with the painting again today. I bet there are some sore arms and shoulders in that group!
On March 2, 2008 at 9:13 am
margie says:
Love the colors! The gold looks really nice next to the front door. I’ve a similar color on my living room walls. On one wall, I used painters tape to mark stripes and sponged the gold lightly and made a really neat effect. It was in a transitional area where the room changed to the stairway and then to the kitchen without the ceiling breaking or clearly defined areas. So on the bottom of the stairwell (the bottom of the downward that you pass on the way into the kitchen) I taped more stripes, and used the blue in the kitchen mixed with some white to make it lighter and more stripes!!
Princess, I love the choice you made! Remember too, if you decide you don’t like it, its just paint. You know maybe stripes would be nice in her room. Make a accent wall or use them in her wonderful window seat? Let the main color set well and lay the tape on lightly and then sponge with a soft hand. hmmm
i love to paint.
:snoopy:
On March 2, 2008 at 9:19 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
She actually asked about doing stripes in her room! I think it would look nice, especially since she did an accent color in her window seat nook anyway, but I told her we have an entire house to paint right now, LOL. We’ll come back and think about special effects after we have the whole house painted. We have to hurry up and get out of the way of the flooring. It would look neat, I think.
On March 2, 2008 at 9:22 am
Tori Lennox says:
Princess made an excellent choice!
I don’t envy you all that painting fun.
On March 2, 2008 at 9:24 am
Fannie M Wiggins says:
I am not a good painter. :wall: You would NOT want me helping with this important job you are doing. :no: My hand/eye thing doesn’t work for some reason. I see but the hand doesn’t follow so I have a mess. Hope everything goes smoothly today. You might actyally make that March 8 goal. Good luck and good painting. :hug: to all.
On March 2, 2008 at 9:33 am
Fannie M Wiggins says:
😮 That should be *actually*.
On March 2, 2008 at 9:35 am
Treasia says:
very nice choice of colors throughout the house.
On March 2, 2008 at 9:57 am
Maryann says:
You can come and paint my house when your done,
I hate painting. 😆
On March 2, 2008 at 10:23 am
Claudia W says:
I really LOVE the color Princess picked out. I may try to find that one for my front room, IF I ever get around to doing that. Can I borrow your boys? I promise not to wear 14 out too much. My frontroom is small!
Your house is going to look fantastic. I’m glad it’s all of y’all doing this, because I’d be in the same place 14 is for the most part!
On March 2, 2008 at 10:39 am
annbb says:
Love Princess’s choice of paint color – her bed linens are going to look beautiful in her new room!
I’m bettin’ bet all of you will miss your little farm house just a bit once you’re gone and in your new home.
Suzanne – you do you have time to write your novels? I know – you never sleep!
ann
On March 2, 2008 at 10:41 am
lintys says:
LOVE the colors! Rich, warm, earthy, beautiful! I love Princess’ choice. It’s gonna look great with her bedding.
On March 2, 2008 at 10:49 am
jenn says:
I think Princess will be very happy with the Summer Pecan shade. It will go great with the bedding she chose, and is a sophisticated enough shade that if she wants to change her theme someday, there are any number of directions she could go with it!
I’m in love with the Darby Creek shade. It’s making me contemplate re-doing my living room accent wall. Hmmm…
On March 2, 2008 at 11:05 am
Amie Stuart says:
I LOVE the color in her room. I have a similar color I did almost my entire house in! I’ve been itching to do some more painting–I think it’s that spring is in the air! Good luck finishing up. I think the house is going to look great!!!
On March 2, 2008 at 11:30 am
Estella says:
I have lived in this house for a year. Got the living ara painted. Still meed to paint the hall and tne bedroom. Maybe this summer?
On March 2, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Renna says:
Despite being as careful as possible, I managed to pick up the crud from someone, somewhere, so I’m not doing anything industrious this weekend. I am enjoying getting to move into a new home vicariously through your blog, though. Phew, I’m pooped just reading about the work involved.
On March 2, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Renna says:
Oops! I forgot to say, I love the color Princess decided to use! :thumbsup:
On March 2, 2008 at 3:26 pm
coquet's cache says:
Saturday morning: Nuffin.
Saturday afternoon/eve: Work.
Sunday morning: Nuffin. And a shower.
Sunday afternoon: Nap. Jones for cupcakes, but take another nap.
yep, life is sure comin’ at me fast.
On March 2, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Anastasia Rabiyah says:
I love the colors you all chose!
My husband and I have purchased land and plan to build our home (soon…). We’re waiting on site plans from the architect…and wating, and waiting. I’m sure you know how that goes. I hope to have a small orchard and chickens as well.
Congrats on the house. I know you can’t wait to be all moved in and settled. That’s exactly how I feel and we haven’t even broken ground yet!
On March 2, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Susan says:
I love the choices Princess made! :purr:
On March 2, 2008 at 5:55 pm
catslady says:
I love the colors and there are so many pretty colors that you’ll be able to use to accent it. I hate the rolling and love doing detail but my family gets impatient with me because I want everything to be perfect!!!
We went and picked out a wedding cake today – took over 3 hours to come up with something but it’s going to be an original. This lovely lady has been making cakes for 36 years. Tomorrow we meet with a DJ, then the flowers and finally the photographer!!!!
On March 2, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Bayou Woman says:
Tell Princess I really lover her pecan colors! Things are looking like home, aren’t they! I know you all are so excited to be so close!
BW
On March 2, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Remudamom says:
You’ll just have to get a horse up there so you can ride up and down the hill instead of driving!
On March 2, 2008 at 10:04 pm
April says:
It looks GORGEOUS!! Great paint choices. I can’t wait to see more photos!
On March 2, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Becky says:
Ooh, I love it!
You can do pretty much anything you want with that color, too.
On March 3, 2008 at 8:40 am
Kim W says:
How COOl is THAT?! You must be so excited to see such progress…and…to have done so much of it yourselves. You…and the kiddos…will always remember this and it will make it that much more special. Isn’t it funny how we can have great vacation memories, holiday memories, but it seems like the memories of when the family pulls together and really works hard to get something of lasting value completed, that it means so much more and becomes some of our faovite memories!
Looking forward to more up-dates.
Blessings from Ohio…
On March 3, 2008 at 12:48 pm
jean says:
The picture of your son was my favorite. How sweet is it that a kid his age can still just fall asleep where ever he wants. He’s a good sport for letting us see him. Or doesn’t he know about it?
On March 3, 2008 at 3:51 pm