Baby  Luke!

Here are a few snapshots from Baby Luke's first few days.   He is quite the cutie and is lucky to have such an adoring big sister and big brother.  He is starting to sleep some 4-hour stretches, but people are holding him much of the day since there are many loving arms around.

Baby Luke and Aunt Mel (sort of)

David and Katy

Katy and  Luke

Aunt Mel and David

Oma from Katy's Perspective (yeesh)

[Bob the Tomato t-shirt]

Father's Day, 2010!

In honor of dad, I'm posting two important things.  One is a picture of Dad with his World War II buddy, Freddie, during his Honor Flight about 18 months ago.  This great picture was taken at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.  It is a favorite of mine because it reminds me of the great respect and honor we owe our dad's and all the veterans who have fought to preserve our freedom.

Artsy Finish for an Old Chest of Drawers

My dad made this chest of drawers for me in about 1963 when we moved into the house in New Carlisle.  One of the drawers has a bottom in it that is made from a scrap of panelling from the lake cottage in Indiana.  So this has been around a while.

I used it in my room during high school . . . and painted it yellow.  I lined the drawers with some 60's kind of contact paper in turquoise and pink with big flowers.  It was psychedelic!!  Later, I painted it pale green to go with baby stuff and used the chest for my kids things.  When Emily got her own bedroom furniture, it moved to another room; and I used it to store sewing projects.  Eventually, Melanie borrowed it for her clothes in an apartment at college.  It kind of has a legacy with the family, don't you think?

Melanie brought the chest of drawers home a few months ago.  She didn't need it anymore.  It sat in the garage with it's pathetic, flat latex finish in pale green and it's ugly contact paper in the drawers.  With so much of my life in it, I wanted to keep it.  

I went to Home Depot and found a technique they call "Crackle" which looked kind of neat.  I stripped off several layers of paint and took the contact paper out.  Next came the crackling technique.  

Here's the result.  The chest is in the foyer awaiting hats and gloves and the card games we play when the family is around.  I kind of like it.  Greg is not so sure.  He can't believe I did this on purpose!

What do YOU think?