Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Tiger by the Tail


Clara and I have taken the tiger by the tail: we have started painting the living room. It was so hard to start, knowing that the minute we did we would make the room worse, oh so much worse. And there would be no way out besides finishing the whole job.*

It's such a big room and we have to do the ceiling. And we have to do the bookcase. And did I say how big the room is, and how many four over four windows it has?

My mental radio these days is tuned only to the painting station, where I hear constant status reports, expert predictions, and dire warning from various parts of my brain.

Bear with me. There may not be much sewing done the next few weeks.

*Giles, why can't you live at home and paint for me?

16 comments:

Shelley said...

Painting any room - even a small one, like the bathroom - is a daunting task. Some time I'd love for you to show us what is a '4 over 4' window. Windows are the eyes of a building, I think, and living in a country with dark winters I've come to really appreciate the light they let in. Brits are practically fanatical about natural light. Good luck with the painting. Think of it as a new kind of exercise - painting yoga - or something. I'll look forward to seeing the lovely results!

Kim @ Starry Sky Ranch said...

Brave, brave woman! Daisy looks so tiny in there. : )

Kate said...

I look forward to the living room results. :) I just painted my living room.

Eileen said...

I feel your pain. The worst part of painting is not the actual painting, it is ripping the room up and then putting it back together!

Carolina Gal said...

I'm right there with you....I need to paint my hall and ceilings again soon. I keep finding other things that "need" doing first, if you know what I mean.
Daisy looks so tiny in this picture. Those bookshelves must be huge! Can't wait to see the finished project.

Lisa said...

Oh, Anna - the ceiling!!!!!!! Oh, my goodness. Daisy looks like a little dwarf in that photo, which is what you intended, of course.
So, you're painting it white? That bookcase wouldn't fit in our *house*!
You see, I'm talking a lot but unable to say anything useful - the only thing I can offer is this: I'll pray that it will be smoother and "less worse" than you are dreading. And you know this - that you are going to love it when it's finished!

Lisateresa

Anonymous said...

What color do you have in mind? I am in the process of deciding new colors at my house, too. We are do-it-yourselvers and I'm just trying to muster up the courage to just "jump in" and get started!! Ya'll can be my inspiration :) Looking forward to seeing your finished project. Blessings, Carrie

ruth@gracelaced said...

Wow, that is a big room! High ceiling and big window allow for such lovely light...no wonder your photos are always "glowing."

Frogdancer said...

I'm successfully avoiding the same activity.

Too much soap making and quilting to do instead...

Amy said...

It must be the painting season: I just finished painting both of our bathrooms. Tiring work (especially when you are doing it late at night to just get it DONE already!), but SO satisfying to see the room transformed from not so pretty to: beautiful!

I even philosophized as I worked about preparation being so important in life :). Good stuff.

Have fun!

Margo said...

You are such a good writer! It's so true - the tiger, the mental radio, all of it. Or maybe, ha, I'm especially affected because we're making plans to paint our living room pink in the next few weeks. After I finish the drapes.

I'm cheering you on from a distance - and making guesses as to the color you chose.

Mel said...

I would love to come and help you paint, if Bella would feed me some of her lovely cooking during the breaks! I love that bookcase! It would not even begin to fit in my house!

LISA said...

I'm with Mel...I'll come paint for cooking and singing too.

It is sooooo hard when those big handy boys leave home. I keep asking my two if they will please come help their Mama when they are completely gone (not just at school). I hope by the time this happens I won't actually do it...even when I really want to.

Lucille said...

It's painting the kitchen I'm dreading. The upheaval!

Rie said...

Can't wait to see it!! I'm sure it will be beautiful.

Anonymous said...

You'll feel so accomplished once you've finished! A fresh coat of paint is such a pleasing sight in a room :)

Remember to think elephants while you work on such a daunting task: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite a time!"

More like "one brush stroke at a time," but it works ...

Related Posts with Thumbnails