Life and Drawers

I mentioned yesterday that life had been a run-away train. Between the house, husband, dog, work, and church, it's a wonder I actually have time to watch TV :) It's about to get a little crazier, too. I don't remember if I mentioned this or not on the blog, but I'm going back to school. The state of Kentucky requires me to have 15 hours towards a Masters to keep my teaching certificate current. I have until next year to get that done. Tomorrow, I will begin my first summer course (yeah, a summer term that starts in April. Whatever). Luckily, I only have to be on campus the first day and the rest is online. For the second summer session, things will get very interesting as I'm taking 2 classes and I'm not sure how much will be online vs. on campus. BTW, I'm obviously getting a Masters in Education, but I will take a few additional hours to have an endorsement as a Reading/Writing Specialist. I'm happy to have a conversation about why!

Anyway, I told you all that so that I can be even more excited to show off my latest project:

No, I did not built that entire thing. No that is not one solid piece. The top section is actually half of a pair of bookshelves my daddy built me when I was little. We've had them stacked on top of each other in the office and they held canvas bins with my crafty supplies (I looked for a picture, but I totally can't find one with the bins). When we started plotting what we actually wanted to DO with the office, we took a few measurements. Turns out one on its side measured the same as the walls on either side of the windows. Thing was, they're still only a few feet tall and we've got some high ceilings. Plus, we were utilizing the tops to hold picture albums and scrapbooks. Our solution? Huge drawers. I thought I may be able to make up how to build it. After all, it's a big box with one side open with another, slightly smaller box without a top stuck inside. However, I felt the need to browse Ana White's plans just in case.

My box is basically the Braden Entryway Drawer Bench, modified for what I needed. I did use 1x12s for the drawer sides and back, but didn't do essentially steps 3 and 4. In step 2, the bottom part is actually at the bottom. Also note, in step 8, she talks about installing the drawer slides, but doesn't include them in the shopping list. The comments also have a few comments about the drawer slides and I agree that a single under-mount is wobbly. I wonder if a side mount would be better? I'll pick up 2 more slides on my semi-weekly trip to Lowe's and go ahead and install 2 for the second drawer and hopefully get around to installing a second in the first (that makes sense, right?).

The rest of the plan includes moving these books to the sideways bookshelves and selling this bookshelf (or at least possibly moving it to the guest room). This wall will get shelves on the wall for my crafty bins and also a secretary-style desk for me to do homework/crafty projects.

This wall will stay relatively unchanged. The lamp will get moved for another drawer/bookshelf unit. The file cabinet and desk/chair will get sold. The drawer on this side will get inserts for hanging files and will hopefully have room to hold old magazines, notebooks, etc.

This gives a better idea of how tall the unit actually is. Not quite as ginormous as it looked at first! Although the drawer measures 29" across and is 23" front to back (deep? wide?)

Room for all of my scrapbooks!

After the second drawer gets built (the rain lately makes it tough to get spread out and saw), the next big project will be a garage work bench and storage!

10 Things I Don't Hate About You

I was tagged some time ago by one of my besties, Michel, for 10 Things I Love. Life has, of course, continued to be a run-away train, with no end in sight so I'm just now getting around to it. A second straight day of thunderstorms will do that to a gal. Plus, I've re-claimed my garage parking spot for the moment, so I'll be updating soon on what has been occupying that spot ;)

Rules:
1) State who gave you this award in your post
2) State 10 things that you love
3) Give this award to 10 other bloggers, listing them at the end of the post,
and notify them with a lovely comment.

BTW, these are in no particular order!

1. My Husband

A little obvious, but what can I say? I kinda like the guy :)

2. Mister

This dog has the uncanny ability to make my day better. Husband's too. He has been a learning experience and we continue to work through separation anxiety, but he has been great the past few times I've left him in the crate while Adam was home.

3. The family cabin

In the 1940s, my grandfather on my dad's side bought a one-room stone cabin on the shore of Batchawana Bay, off Lake Superior, just north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He used it as a hunting lodge and would go with his buddies. As the only doctor in rural Ohio, this was one of the few places he could go and truly be away from it ALL. It became the family vacation spot and I have enjoyed going up every year since I was born. Within the past 10 years we have added a hot water heater/shower, deck, phone line, and just last year a flush toilet. It's had electricity since about the 70s (I think). There's still no TV and spotty cell phone reception (international calling anyway). There's only internet at the Voyageur Restaurant down the road or in town at the Steamy Bean coffee shop or public library. It's a slice of heaven :) We have made wonderful friends with families along the beach and I look forward to telling my kids all of the stories of trouble my friend and I would get into and the history of the place.

4. Our house

I have loved having our house to decorate and make "ours." Even though I sometimes wish for a larger garage or bigger lot with mature trees, for a starter house, it's pretty awesome!

5. My family

I have told Husband on several occasions how happy I am that both of our families get along. Growing up, Dad's family lived in Ohio/Michigan, Mom's in North Carolina, and we were in Alabama, so neither side interacted. It's been great when both sides get together. Our moms carry on and giggle and plot against us while our grandmothers grandmother us. Dads and Pawpaw take care of projects we don't quite know how to tackle. Our siblings join us in shaking our heads at the craziness of it all. (Not pictured in above picture are my mom and Husband's Pawpaw as they are both the ones taking pictures).

6.My Girls

These ladies are amazing. Each one comes from a different place (literally and figuratively) and I adore each one of them. They are all doing amazing things in life and can't wait to be old ladies together

7. Auburn Football

((image courtesy of Fox Sports)

War Eagle. That's all I need to say.

8. Television

(Image courtesy of Modern Family's Facebook Page)

Rarely is there a time when at least 1 television isn't on in our house. Many times it's just background noise, but come primetime, there are several shows I actually try to watch while hanging out on Facebook. Modern Family, House, Parenthood, Wipeout, 30 Rock, Raising Hope, Glee, I could do a 10 Things Post just on TV shows. I wish I spent more time in the evenings reading or otherwise doing things productive. But I don't.

9. Third Street Stuff and Coffee

(image courtesy of Third Street Stuff)

This is the place that whenever Mama Nancy is in town, Michel and I will meet her here. It's barely a block from Transy's campus. While Transy actually built its own coffee shop in the year before we graduated, this place has oodles more character and charm. What initially drew us here was that all of their coffee drinks feature Fair Trade coffee (Google it). Being socially responsible is just part of it. They have a Happy Hour where drinks are 1/2 price and their drinks are already 1/2 the price of Starbucks. Supporting local business, supporting Fair Trade, both on the cheap? Sign me up! Plus, we get to hang out with Hendrick.

10. My Job

(image courtesy of The Curious Edge)

When people ask what I do, it's always interesting to explain. I do a little of everything. Officially, our office is The Curious Edge and we do several educational enrichment things. Most of my time is spent with The Reading Room. We specialize in diagnosing (not me specifically, but I'm hoping to gain that qualification in the next few years) and tutoring students with dyslexia. We use the Barton Reading and Spelling System, which is based on Orton-Gillingham research (they're the language gurus). My kids are so much fun! I love literally seeing their wheels turn as they finally understand printed text. Knowing that the whole world will be theirs is pretty incredible. I actually use things I've taught/learned from tutoring and I went into Kindergarten reading!

I also help out with Club Scientific. When I was laid off from teaching full time, CS asked if I'd be willing to help out since they do a lot of things in school (such as field trips and mini-camps). While it's not my passion that tutoring is, I still love seeing kids "DO" science. I wish science was fun when I was in school!

I'm supposed to tag people, but I don't really feel like it this time around (sorry Chel :))