The Destruction of a Tree

Yesterday morning I was getting ready to leave for the office when I happened to look out into the back yard. Everything looked good except for the Sweet Gum tree that took such a long time and consideration before I bought it. This tree also housed those wonderful Orchard Orioles that are rare in this area. Their nest is still there waiting for their return.

I swapped my shoes for boots so I could go out in the dewey grass to see what was going on with this tree. I was appalled when I got there. All the bark on the trunk from about 6" above the ground to about head high was laying on the ground in strips and dust. The ground around it was churned up with some imprints the size and shape of a deer.

I had to be at work, so I left Husband a note to get in touch with our tree guy and ask about this. He returned the call in the evening so I got to talk to him. He said that if this would be any tree but the Sweet Gum, he would say the tree is a goner. However, the Sweet Gum is an ancient and very strong tree and there is a chance, though it be quite slight, that it might survive this rubbing. He told me to protect it from more rubbing and wait until spring to see if the tree survives. If it leafs out in the spring it will surely live. He also told me to protect any other trees with a less than 3" diameter trunk from rubbing. Apparently there is a buck in this area that has decided that my property is in his territory and killing my trees is his way of proving it.

OK, if this is to be a territory battle, I'll show him who owns what here. Where's my gun! At this point, those big boys around here with the 16 point racks don't impress me, especially the one who attacked my tree! But the idea of venison in the freezer does impress me.

I can only wait to see how and if this Sweet Gum survives the winter. In the meantime, today, Husband will be going around caging all our smaller trees until they get to big for the deer to want to rub. We did put coyote pee on all those yesterday to protect them until today. My back yard smells awful!

More On the Bedroom

Last year I had all this work done to the bathroom. Now, I want to finish the entire suite including the flooring, paint, trim, and closet. That's a lot of finishing.

I want to put up a crown molding in the bedroom and am seriously considering a wainscoting as well. I want to get new baseboard that is 6" high instead of 3½". There will be a new oak floor in the room as well. There's a problem with the floor. The flooring we put in the rest of the house is no longer available, so we will have to find another floor very similar. Finding the natural oak is easy, but the manufacturer no longer carries that type of floor. Right now I'm leaning toward a Bruce plank floor about the same thickness. My next time off the job, we'll be heading some distance away to Lumber Liquidators to see what flooring they have. Yes, this will turn into quite a search before we finally find what we are looking for. Then installation will have to wait until we have other time off the job.

I want tile flooring for the bathroom and a new vanity. Then the bathroom will be considered finished unless I decide I want to paint it again.

Last but not least, I want that bedroom closet redone. I want an organizer (a nice one) fitted in so that there is no mess or junked up floor. It is a beautiful, very large closet that is a mess right now. Husband is having a conniption right now because of the price of the organizers I'm looking at. This is my house and I want it the way I want it.

After all this, I want to finish the rest of the house, probably with the same paint colors. The girl at the paint store did give us an idea for the kitchen which will probably be done almost first. We want to color wash the one wall in there and the half wall under the bar. She said we could use our chosen colors to do this with just the cost of a glaze to mix in.

I'm excited about getting started on these projects.

Let's Talk About Paint

OK, now that summer has turned into autumn and the garden is on it's down side for the season, it is time to get ready for the winter projects that will help wile away the hours until spring. This winter, I'm planning on redecorating the bedroom.

"Oh, you say. But you've only been in that house for almost 7 years." Yes, this is true, however, when I first built this house the paint color was one I loved in another house. In this one, it looks drab and gray. It's also been almost 7 years since the 5 yr. carpet was put in and it really needs to come out! The carpet in my office smells like dirty dog and yes, I want it out of here!

So, we are now looking around to see what we can do and can't do with the master suite. I want that room done first since I spend a good deal time. Besides, I already have the new bedroom ensamble.

I have picked out the paint colors which involved two trips to the paint store for paint samples and chips. I think I've finally figured out which colors I want for the bedroom. Of course, the paint will be from a line of the Benjamin Moore paints. I tried the one from Lowe's and am so disappointed with it, I'm ready to give up on that paint completely. I don't care if it's half the price of Benjamin Moore. I have heard from friends that Home Depot's paint is even worse but I don't see how that could be. I guess it's just that if you've used Benjamin Moore once, you're spoiled on it. http://www.benjaminmore.com/ At least I am.

The biggest problem that I ran into is the fact that I have the house already painted in a Benjamin Moore color called Kitten Whiskers #1003 http://www.myperfectcolor.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=MPC0005353. It is a an off white taupe and needed something that would blend seamlessly with this color since I was planning on keeping it on the ceilings where it is now. It has a touch of gray in it which makes the entire house look gray and I'm not really pleased with this color. Husband has already told me he wasn't painting the ceiling and because of a problem with my neck, I simply can't. So, I had to choose colors that would compliment my new bed ensamble http://www.boscovs.com/StoreFrontWeb/Product.bos?quantity=1&itemNumber=46660&type=Product Croscill Ashwin Comforter Set. I also got chocolate shimmer drapes to go with this and a valance to finish each window. I have to get the blinds that will probably be custom made from JCPenney and I need to find a chocolate door panel for the french door.

Anyway I regress. After three tries, I finally think I found the paint colors I like. I picked out a wall color called Broken Arrow #1026 http://www.myperfectcolor.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=MPC0005378 and a trim color called Tucson Winds #1024 http://www.myperfectcolor.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=MPC0005376. Now, I have to decide what finish for each of these paints; Eggshell, Satin or Semi-gloss. That could be another three trips to the paint store. What I like about this paint store is, not only do they sell the paint that I like, they are very helpful with ideas and familiar with the types of paint. Right now I'm thinking Satin for the walls and Semi-gloss for the trim. But, I haven't purchased anything yet. I may change my mind again until I finally buy something.

New Artwork

I've gotten a rare order for cards. So, at least someone likes them. Anyway, since I don't get many orders, I do a lot of custom work.

I've hesitated about putting these on because of friends who've had trouble with folks copying their work and plastering them on other websites, or in once case, the front page of a local newspaper! I've been getting pretty lax at signing these pieces, but for the sake of this blog and my website, I'll start doing that with small pics I put on here.

Anway, with all that said...
For those of you who love Sunflowers. The mirrored sunflowers on the background are flowers from my garden which I deemed not all that good for the main subject.


This rose is Brigadoon. I don't have it in my garden - yet. But believe me, it's one of the few Hybrid Teas that I will be getting. This is such a lovely rose and I understand that it is fabulous in my area. Like Gemini, this rose is a must for my garden. The picture of the rose was taken at Hershey Botanical Gardens and though it didn't place for me in any of the contests I entered it i, it is most beautiful for my cards.

This card was made with a picture I took last summer at Hershey Botanical Gardens. It is also the winner of "Princess" (a court win) at the American Rose Society Photo Contest this spring. To date this is my top win. So, of course, I had to turn this lovely photo into a card as well. I think all of my new cards are lovely. And if you notice, they are all signed.