Making our house a home

It's our 8th anniversary in Grand Rapids! It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but it has. We've lived here more than twice as long as anywhere else.

The city has more to offer and has become the hip place to put on a list.

We're fond of it.

We should get out more and explore it, but we're busy working on the house.

We have seen a great deal of the city. There are just so many restaurants we want to try, plus all the free concerts and other art festivals it can start to become overwhelming. Plus it's more fun to do with friends.

Eight years is a long time and I'm happy to be here.

we're going to the chapel...

It's Saturday. We're off to a wedding. It's for friends of ours, Josh and Stephanie. They are a part of the young adult group at our church. They also joined the leadership team for the Sr. High work camp a few years ago. They have been busy finished college and getting jobs. We are very excited for them and are happy to be able to drive across America's high five (that's where they grew up) to enjoy the celebration.

Honestly, we vacillated as to whether or not to go. We haven't seen them in awhile, and it's across the state. It's a Saturday in the summer. There are a lot of other things we could be doing. But, in the end, I came to the conclusion that going to a wedding is showing support for all the weddings we've missed. It's also showing our support for those who can't make it. Next time you can't go to a wedding don't feel guilty; think of it that way. Someone else is going to support the couple. Or the next time you can go to a wedding, remember that you're showing support for those who can't.

summer reading

Whew.

I repeat, whew!

I finished "Anna Karenina". As a friend (and reader of this blog) stated, "I thought I needed to read the classics…" Well Robin, I don't think we do.

I'm not sure how I feel. I googled it after I finished it. That helped. Tolstoy was the first writer to use conscious stream of thought of characters. Okay, I can appreciate that.

I also get that it was one of the first novels to have factual events. It also had a lot of politics and class system viewpoints.

Overall, not my favorite book. It was not as bad as "Vanity Fair", I'll tell you that.

I am definitely ready to move on and read something a bit more entertaining. I am also looking for something written in English (no more foreign writers for awhile).

On my reading list are the Mary Poppins books, and a book whose title I don't remember. It was a gift in a beach bag, and it wasn't anything special. I also have catching up on magazine reading.

Happy reading!

card making creativity

Last night, as a continuation of my creativity, I went to a fellow Quotarian's house where we stamped cards. I've gone there before and posted my creations in a couple of spots (here and here).

The cards seemed to be a little more intense this time and I didn't finish a couple of them. It could have been that a friend went with me and we chatted. I can't do two things at once. It was either talk or stamp. Based on the amount I finished, I chose talk. Maybe the cards weren't anymore difficult than usual.

I have taken pictures and worked on finishing a few of them. I will finish the others and post their pictures all together.

I got a lot of good ideas and am excited to keep making cards.

I've really enjoyed my stay-cation/week off. I had lunch with a friend. I've been creative. I started removing the paint in the guest room. I've read (I'm almost finished with Anna Karenina!) and I've purposefully relaxed. I should do this more often.

today's project with bottle caps

Last month, I blogged about a craft I made from the corks we have collected over the years.

We have also saved bottle caps from various beverages (cream soda, root beer, beer). I had the idea to glue the bottle caps onto the powder room door awhile ago. Today I did it.

Here's the half-way finished product.

I know we don't have enough to do the top half of the door. However, we do have enough to do the other side of the door.

That's for another day.

This took me two hours. By the end, my knees hurt and my butt was sore from sitting on the kitchen floor. I started out on an ottoman, but had to move off of it to reach further down.

It was fun and I like how it turned out. I'm thankful for creativity (no Pinterest for me)!