Author Archives: Vale

In For A Penny, In For A Pound

30 Jan 2011

Wanna see the re-organization project that derailed my movie plans on Saturday night?

Here’s some background: I went to Ikea last Wednesday to pick up a bookcase. The project idea was stow my cookbooks in the nook behind my swinging door. I found a small bookcase that fit the space pretty well. The module piece was in the budget ($40), but didn’t come with a bottom level. If I wanted the bottom piece, it would cost me another 40. Really? Yeah, thanks IKEA. Very EFFIKTIV of you. I skipped out with just the main piece.

The resulting problem, is that I had to use the existing surface of my built-in for the books. The paint was peeling and dirty and awful. Peeling paint makes me want to run away.

So I used the paint remover (Jasco was best), and took off a bunch of paint. Then I got to some really weird red-stained wood stuff. Blood red. After poking around, (spending Way too much time trying to make the red surface nice enough to paint), I realized it was a layer of linoleum, and I could actually remove it! We uncovered and unscrewed the metal nose-piece, and it came up easily.

Sigh. What have these People been doing to my house through the years! I swear. I took out metal flashing, more patches of linoleum, contact paper, nails, … Eventually we got to the bottom level – wood.


Here is my lovely “After” photo. It was all worth it. I like my house a little more than I did before!

So what weekend project shall I tackle next? I’m all warmed up. :)

Chinese New Year 2011 – Kick Off

29 Jan 2011

Today we decided to head to China Town, a week ahead of the holiday to maybe avoid some crowds. hmmm. We stumbled on a great little event, although nothing about SF’s China Town is very little.

I looked it up: Celebration of Chinese New Year in San Francisco kicks off with the Chinese New Year Flower Fair. Each year, the Flower Fair takes place the weekend before the lunar new year holiday, so that families can come to the flower fair and purchase their traditional holiday plants, flowers and fruits.

There was also lots of bamboo, gladiolas, citrus, blossom branches, and red and gold swag. There was a terrific mini-parade of marching drummers – all girls is gorgeous dress! I really wanted this cool little pinwheel thing for Lucy. We saw it a few times from afar but I couldn’t find where it was for sale. Don’t you hate that. I’ll keep looking!

Mark had his iPhone, but I had no camera. Bad Mommy! Never leave for China Town with out your camera. Those were the few pics we took. Oscar chose this:

Happy 100 Days

28 Jan 2011

Oscar and his schoolmates celebrated 100 days of school on Wednesday.

I guess it’s a school-wide thing, because I heard a couple of teachers wishing each other “Happy Hundred Days!” as I walked Oscar to the lower yard. They play games with the other K classes, and have a class party. Pretty cute idea I think.

Oscar had special homework the night before. He had to count up 100 small things (all by himself) and bring them in in a ziplock baggie:

And then of course Lucy had to get in on the act – she found her own:

I made a card for the teacher that said Thank You a hundred times. Oscar loved it and showed it off to his friends. Ms. Ruth said she’d never received one of those before.

And THIS MORNING, Oscar said he’d like to try the kid “drop off” line in front of school! Heaven! On the way to school, I said “This will be so great”. He said, “Yeah. It’s already a hundred and two days, mom. This is good practice for first grade. That’s commin’ up quick you know.”
So First ‘Drop Off’ was a success!

update- Ms. Ruth put her card up on the whiteboard!

Ouch!

27 Jan 2011

Poor Oscar. The floors in our hallway are HIGHLY in need of refinishing. He was shuffling his feet along… But he was fine during removal – no tears (Lots of protest, shuddering and other drama though).

I’ve warned him many times not to drag his feet in the hall, because it happened to me. My giant splinter was a lot worse than this – some how it “fish-hooked”. Luckily I had Dr. Peter and Nurse Madie to assist. I limped for two days.

Does anyone have a good rec. for a Floor Refinisher?

12 Years! Happy Birthday, Booker and Hoot

23 Jan 2011

Our labs turned 12 today! Whoo Hoo!
We had a party for them at their favorite spot – Lake Anza in Tilden Park.
(The back side. No dogs allowed near the front side.)
Here’s the “invitation” I sent to the family:

It wouldn’t be a party without SweetKiera! She baked goodies for the dogs and the humans.

Lucy was so excited when we arrived! The dogs were too. They got to swim and fetch – what more is there in life? Oh, well there’s sniffing pee, but they got to do that too.


Georgia got in on the action, although she liked it where she could touch.

Here’s a few more good ones. We had a great family day. (Booker is sacked out on the rug right now.)


I Heart Mini Boden

22 Jan 2011

I continue to have a love affair that is out of my league –
(well, budget anyways). I first found Boden when Oscar was little, and I was searching for a clothing source that did boys clothing well. And back then they weren’t this pricey. Or maybe I just had good luck on sale days. Anyways now the secret is out.

The spring catalog came yesterday. The boys stuff is good, but now I flip the thing over and read from the other end: GIRLS! Ohhh, its just so fantastic. Here are my picks, in case we win the lottery.