The other day Timothy decided to take some pictures of our house to send to his friend in Arizona. I have been working on writing all of the time. Looking at the photos was a wake-up call for me. This house needed to be whipped back into shape. Here are a few before and after shots.
Kitchen BEFORE:
Daniel’s sleeping bag from the scout camp out is draped over the kitchen chair. I don’t know why. The island is doubling as a pinewood derby workshop because the garage workshop is too cold to work in. This was the picture he was ready to send to his friend. Oh help us.
Kitchen AFTER:
This is a house tour for Timothy, so he’s posing in a few of these shots. Sparky, confused, wandered into many of our shots. The finished pinewood derby car sits proudly on the kitchen island.
Craft room BEFORE:
Let me just say that this room is beneath the stairs and it will never be pristine because craft rooms are work spaces. This week, though, my craft room was a dumping ground for every project. There are costumes, monster hats, family history photos, slides, notes, and general clutter from the kids keeping me company. The 100 year old photograph of my great-grandmother sits on the table so I could photograph it and so she could be in my thoughts as I write about her. Yes, oh yes, he was going to send this photo to his friend.
Craft room AFTER:
It’s not magazine quality, but who wants to live in a magazine?
Mark’s bedroom BEFORE:
Mark’s bedroom after
Basement reading room BEFORE:
The impossible puzzle that we have been working on since December sits prominently in the middle of the room. Just one day later Daniel manned up and finished it for us. We are ready for a new puzzle!
Basement reading room AFTER:
The puzzle is gone and Timothy shows us where he sits when he reads each day. Here are a few other views of the big basement rooms.
Aren’t you so glad you get to see a picture of our huge sofa today? It’s better than doing dishes or attending to other things, surely!
I won’t show you all of our messes, but here are a few more shots of the house so you can see where I have decorated and where I have not.
I believe in having computers in family areas. When my kids Skype with their friends, there’s always a mother looking over their shoulder, even if it looks like she’s just making dinner. I don’t believe computers make for good decorating, but it’s worth it. Can we ever be too vigilant about computer use in our families? Richard hates it when I ask rhetorical questions. I hate it when I come home to find that the kids are online when I’m not around.
April is my home repairs and decorating month. Caulk, paint, decor, plants… they’re on their way!!!
Some of you will be pleased to know that comments are currently being accepted. I’ll probably stop soon, so take your opportunity while you can.
We also have a cello sitting underneath our grand piano.
Love the grandma pic spotted in your craft room (didnt that hang in your room when we were growing up?) and Axels ship on your mantel! And I’m impressed the boys beds were made in the “before” pic. What good kids!
What a motivator, I usually have to invite a crowd of people over before I can ‘see’ all my messes that I’ve diligently ignored while working on other more fun projects. AND then the house is a mess again afterwards. — I do have to say Your house looks beautiful before and after – but “clean” is the prerogative of the owner to decide. I think the candid – most unflattering angle of my body shots that my kids take are the most embarrassing. — thank goodness for the delete button!
YAY, comments!
Your house always looks beautiful, whether it be sparkling clean or loved and lived in.