Earlier this week Mr. Décor spent several hours in the attic. The next morning he announced “The mice are using the area from the garage to the house as a super highway.” This is definitely a sentence now on my list of things I don’t want to hear. Yet at the same time I’m thinking this:
This latest gem is just the tip of the iceberg with our cottage. There is so much that needs to be done with this money pit house that I will have blogging material for the rest of my days. It was and is overwhelming. This past week I sort of just shut down. There was/is so much to do that I had no idea where to start. While everything is technically unpacked there are piles of things that still need to be put away, pictures to hang, books to be shelved, curtains to make….I did none of it. For three days I woke up and said “Nope.”
Instead I said “Let’s start this years Christmas crafts!” Which required trips to Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Joann’s. Yes, let’s bring MORE stuff into the house. But really nothing motivates me faster to set up my craft room/office than the possibility of getting glitter everywhere.
So it’s chaos at my home. Yours too? I am still managing to keep up with the laundry and feeding my people. They don’t seem to mind the mess because everything has a bit of shimmer to it
So too life can be messy, but God can help bring the glimmer back into your life.
Something more is coming on November 30th.
Will you be sparkling?
Laura
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:16
Oh you have been working so hard, hopefully you can ignore a lot and have a little fun for a change.
Well, I sure am glad to see still see your humor coming through it all – this post definitely put a smile on my face.
Laura I am keeping the holiday decor very simple and uncomplicated this year. Plus I feel really good about it!
Sometimes less is more and for me this works right now!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
I love working on holiday crafts and sewing. It makes everything else more fun….and ME more fun, too! Hugs, Diane
Everything will be ok soon! In the meantime, I'll pray for you and for the chaos to settle. By the way, I love your holiday crafts!
You're such a strong person, Laura; I'm sure you're bound to feel overwhelmed right now. I would probably be pulling my hair out! And I hate mice, too, so I can relate to your frustration there!!
You do have a lovely storybook cottage, but I also understand the stress of having so many things that need fixing/repairing/updating. It's the same at our house, and it's not nearly as cute as yours. 🙂 It is home, however, and we want it to be attractive, inviting, and the best that it can be. There is that little thing called “money” however, that always seems to get in the way. 🙂
I know you'll get it all sorted out, Laura; just don't be too hard on yourself. In the meantime, we'll all enjoy seeing the beauty that you create in your new abode.
Hugs,
Denise at Forest Manor
Hi Laura! Oh honey, I know exactly how you feel and my house is so much as you're describing! I have a basement (never had one before) and most of the piles are down there, but I have a place to put stuff. I need shelves! Lots of them! One day, one day, I tell myself and you too, Dear One! You're a hoot!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Your post made me smile – cute pictures! We recently had a mouse in our garage. I guess it's the time of year they start coming in – ugh! I am the same way about buying things. I have been trying to get things in order for Thanksgiving and instead of cleaning and organizing, I went to Michaels and bought a bunch of stuff for Christmas. Now I have more to put away! Oh well! Enjoy your week!
Shelley
We had to fight some mice once. My hubby bought a boat load of traps and checked them everyday. He also spent some time with a flashlight looking for their entryway from the outdoor world. They can fit in a hole the size of a pencil! Find their entry point- calk it- fill it and keep vigil on the traps. Re-check where you blocked their access frequently because they'll keep trying until you kill off enough of them. We had chipmunks getting in our garage through the overhang/soffit area. The mice don't like aluminum foil so it can be stuffed in small holes.
Relax about the house- your family is first and the holidays are breathing down so time to shift gears! Time for twinkly lights and sparkles!
Oh friend, Laura, you are singing my song. I start each day with a prayer to take the steps where HE directs me and then I don't feel so quite overwhelmed. We've discovered mice, a bat, a snake {still wondering how it got on the second floor} and an opossum. I am waiting for the morning I open my eyes to see a cow staring back at me. “Green Acres is the place for me…”
Mice? Just throw a handful of glitter on them and voila!! They're part of Christmas! (bad humor). No mice in the Leaf lake house but I recently found a spider in my bed!! eeek!!! glitter, where are you??
Take it easy dear, you should look and see that sparkle for sure around you. 🙂
Glitter is a fine distraction from all the “To Do's” that must be done. At least you are in your new house before the holidays begin and you can choose to do as little or as much as you want. I know I would feel exactly like you, probably worse, since you seem to have been taking all of this moving stuff in stride. I would have lost it a long time ago!:) Hang in there. We had mice, too, and they did finally go away. Yours will, too!
xoKathleen
Nothing is more important than celebrating the holidays with family and friends! Not even painting walls or unpacking boxes. I have moved three weeks before Christmas, I had our son a few days after Christmas (he was two weeks late) and I have celebrated with black plastic shelves for kitchen storage, a bathtub sitting a few feet away in an alcove plus bare sheetrock and vapour barrier for kitchen walls the year my hubby got sick and we couldn't do any more all fall. But it never stopped me from preparing a festive meal, welcoming guests and hanging some lights and tinsel. In fact, it made the end of a difficult year less stressful and definitely more memorable. I hung a chalkboard with an elf on the unfinished wall with the message 'under construction'. My baby boy has been an amazing blessing. DH has learned to manage his illness and even to slow down and enjoy the holiday season. I always try to make the best of whatever and never forget to be thankful for what has been accomplished and received. With a heart as full and generous as yours, I know this must be the way you celebrate too. Save the pity and sorrow for those who need it. We have glitter, glue and love!Love and hugs being sent plus prayers that all will be happy and calm for your celebrations! 🙂
I've been renovating my Cottage for four years… and even in the middle of renovation, every year, I stop everything to do a little Christmas decorating… I think it's very important to know you can decorate even if the house is unfinished… Put some glitter on your moving boxes!