Stacie Rife Bailey's Bliss

Another weekend gone by...

Another weekend filled with house stuff.

Today it must have been close to 90.. at least it felt like it.. and Jeff worked so hard on the house from dawn til dusk. He is burt-out stage but still manages to muster up the strength to put his all into this home. It will definitely be something he will be able to be very proud of when he's done.

Yesterday I did a little spring cleaning.. cleaned all the venetian blinds---oooh what a job! I can't wait til we get wood shutters in here! Then last night when I went to bed I felt a kink in my neck,, well it turned into a full blown-can't turn your head-owie today!

I am hurtin today,, don't know what I've don't but it sure smarts!

Well... off to take a HOT bath and try to ease this neck!

I will post more pics of the house --hopefully tomorrow!

PlayTime

Jeff and I took time out tonight for a little playtime.

We went to Daniels Broiler House Restaurant in Seattle for dinner.

Oh what a fabulous dinner, and even better service. HIGHLY recommended! This is one of our favorite places to go, but try not to frequent it because it's a little pricey.

TGIF! It's been a busy week at work, and it was nice to take some time off from the house -- and pull Jeff away from it for a little bit because he'll be goin' strong again for the rest of the weekend!

It's late, so I am off to catch some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's

Beautiful Day!

Today was such a beautiful day..

Close to 90 and blue skies!

Days like this you wish you could work outdoors!

I feel as if Jeff and I have lost our summer so far! We haven't even used the boat at all this summer! Jeff spoke of it earlier in the day today,, leave work early and go for a boat ride, but it didn't happen. Too much going on at work!

Maybe this weekend if it's nice we'll get a little break.

Although Jeff has started the South side of the house and I have a feeling he'll keep on it till it's done. He will definitely need a nice vacation when it's done!

Jeff may reach his goal!

Well so far it looks as if Jeff is going to meet his goal.

That goal would be having at least 3 sides of the house stripped, sanded, and the windows trimmed by the end of July. He finished up the last (of the 3 sides) window trimming this weekend. That means 1 side to go, and some touch-up on the other 3 sides.

I have so say I am amazed! So far most of the people we have talked to that have done a project like this THEMSELVES (and NOT had it hired out) have said its taken them longer than a year to finish,,,, more like 2 or 3!

It IS quite the project, but sometimes Jeff never ceases to amaze me with the work he can do with NO training... it has all been by trial and error. I wish I had his persistence!

So it looks as if we may have a painted house THIS summer, and not next!

YAHOOOOO...

of course the work is never ending... there is still a lot we need (want) to do to the house, but at least the outside will look SO much better than it did...

We are thinking about DARK blue with white trim...........???????

(something you don't see too often).... but we are still looking...

All for now.. off to bed!
(I made it through Monday!)

:)

Always loved dogs!

I found these old pictures and when I was looking through them realized how all my life  I have always been a dog person.

My childhood buddy was the black and white dog named "COW",, yes a dog named Cow. She was the best dog! I lost her when I was 12 and was DEVESTATED! I learned at 12 how hard it can be to loose an animal,, but the times you share with them are always in your heart forever!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home!

"To know how sweet your home may be, go away but keep the key"

It feels SO good to be home, especially in the sweet NW. There is no place like it here!

My trip home was LONG, but uneventful. (a good thing)

I don't know what it is, but I seem to attract 55+ year old men that love to chat! Everywhere I went a 55+ year old man wanted to strike up a conversation with me... which is okay, but by the time I got to Chicago (a layover there) I just wanted to chill. Either I have a sign on my forehead saying "please come talk to me, I wanna hear your life's story" or I look like a psychiatrist. ??? Who knows????

All I can say it is SO darn good to be home with my family and sleeping in my own COMFY bed. I didn't sleep hardly a wink while I was gone.Last night being in my own bed I wouldn't have awoken for anything!

I spent the day unpacking, doing laundry, and SCRUBBING the house! More to do tomorrow, but at least I have most of it done!

It is nice to get away from home every once in a while, because it makes you appreciate it all the more when you return!

Last day in IN

Today is my last day in Indiana (for work purposes--definitely not pleasure)

BUT....If I would have worked this trip out a little better I would have planned a few vacation days to stay here a little longer and brought my husband. It would have been nice to drive to see the great lakes, search out some antique stores, and see the mid east...??? Is that what they call it here?--OH,, and maybe caught a live show of Oprah,,although I don't think Jeff would have been to keen on that (too much crying for a mans man)

It was a trip worth it,, I learned a little,, got to experience extreme humidity (again), saw some amazing lightening storms and yes... get to bring home a box o' bugs for mixed media art work!

 

Gotta love those "finds" and people willing to bring more to YOU without thinking you're nuts!

~~~I am thinking setting them in resin with some antique photographs and some acrylic white paint????~~~

I leave tomorrow morning,  I just hope I don't repeat my trip out here.. sitting on the 90 degree tarmac for 2 hours in Chicago! NO THANK U!

I am hoping Jeff will treat me to my fav. restaurant in Seattle when he picks me up tomorrow afternoon! Ohhhh that would be great..

Of course I found a great sandwich shop the last day I'm here! Darnit!

My boss (big boss) told me I was welcome to stay another week. Which... would have been nice for training purposes,, but Jeff needs me at home... RIGHT JEFF???? If I would have known ahead of time I could have stayed longer I would have planned on it. It is a great office, great people, and I only wish I could bring them all home with me to work in my area. But to live here,,, nah,, I LOVE the NW!

Sight seeing and a BUG FIND!

Well today after work I went out to dinner with a few of my co-workers and then one of them took me on a little sight seeing around Ft.Wayne,IN.

Some of the homes here in the more historic district are gorgeous.. Of course I LOVE old homes,,, and wish I could snatch up one of these beauties.

I only got one picture of a home here.. as it was dark out, and we were just driving by...

For what Jeff and I could sell our house in WA for we could pay CASH for 10x the home here... hummmmmmm something to think about.. (but not for too long)

Although I would LOVE to work directly with these people EVERY day and would LOVE to buy a home here,, I could not deal with the humidity or being land-locked.

I wish I could have taken a few more pictures of more of the homes...

Here is a picture of a church downtown Ft Wayne.

I visited one of my co-workers homes here in Ft Wayne, and when we got out of the car the loud piercing sound reminded me of the noises the Cicada bugs make.

My co-worker said they were locusts. Whatever they were they abandon their outer shell.. which of course to me is a TRUE FIND to use in my collage work. (I am curious about them and when I get time I will research a little more on the Internet)

I think my co-worker thought I was a little nuts.. I collected 2 shells to bring home with me, and when I got back in the car realized I should have grabbed a few more, so I asked if he could bring me a few more to work tomorrow. BUT anyone who does any kind of mixed media work, knows what a "great find" this is! LOL!

Here is a picture I took of them when I got back to my hotel room .. they are kinda creepy looking ,, but at the same time fascinating!

I just hope I don't have nightmares tonight that they come back to life or something! HA!

First day

First day on the job in Indiana went okay.Not quite as productive as I would have hoped, but it was good to see my co-workers. They are all very nice, intelligent, and supportive. So far so good  but, I haven't gotten used to the time change yet.. I think it will take at least another day!

After a days work I scouted out the nearest mall. Average mall--nothing special. I also found there is a Crafting store called Hobby Lobby right near my hotel. I browsed around there for a while --sure wish they have one of these where I live... puts Michaels to shame!

After the hobby store I went to Chili's restaurant and got some food to go (horrible food!) Won't be going back there anytime soon! Should have stuck with Wendy's or Arbys!

I had to laugh..

On all the stairwell doors in the building I worked in today had this sign posted on them....

Just something you don't see in Washington State!

It is HOT here,, in the 90's and HUMID!!!!

It makes me thank my lucky stars I live where I live!

I had the most beautiful view of Mt Rainier (in WA) on the way to the airport... another reason I thank my lucky stars I live where I live....

Made it safe

Made it safe to Indiana.

Although it was a LONG day.............

I am just glad I arrived safe!

We spent 2 hours on the tarmac in Chicago in 90 degree weather! Not fun!

I hope to gleen whatever information I can from my co-workers in Indiana. I just want it to be a trip worth while.

But,, I can already say I miss my husband and dogs. :)