SFGirlByBay - love her style!

I've been following Victoria's blog - SFGirlByBay for some time.  Here is a tour of her place in San Francisco (where I loved living for 8 years!)...enjoy!

They make it look so easy!

Channeling Martha

I saw this tip posted on Martha Stewart's Web site and thought it was pretty clever! 

I'm always trying to figure a way to keep labels fresh and dry in the garden...mainly because I can never remember what plant is what!

I did a lot of planting at LaNa this past weekend of vegetables and flowers and am hoping I kept my seed packets to try this at home tonight!

Baby Blue Jay #51

Bird Center of Washtenaw County

logo from BCWC

On Saturday, Lola and I rescued a baby blue jay that had fallen out of one of the pine trees at LaNa.  The parents weren't far away and were, obviously, very upset.  The bird was still a nestling and in order to survive needed to be with its parents OR a rescue center. 

Baby birds need to eat every 30 minutes, and while the parents seemed to be feeding it on the ground, it was in danger of coming into contact with a dog, cat, raccoon, etc.  We needed to get it off the ground and with the help of a bird volunteer in our area, we created a nest out of a hanging pot and leaves that the bird happily snuggled into.  Unfortunately, the mother was also tending to other birds in the nest and we feared our little one wouldn't make it through the night because of the falling temperatures and that hadn't yet developed feathers. 

We called the Bird Center of Washtenaw County and were thrilled that they could take "him" in.  This center is incredible and the volunteers went out of their way to show us their setup and share information with Lola.  Our bird was tagged #51 and put in a "nest" of his own where he will be rehabilitated.  The baby birds were all on one table in individual nests where they are fed every 30 minutes from dusk until dawn by volunteers.  Whew - who knew?!?! 

The setup also included tables with birds that were learning to fly and take care of themselves for the "real" world. 

Just incredible!  THANK YOU to the Bird Center of Washtenaw County for helping our little guy and all the others that are injured, orphaned, needing some extra assistance, or have survived a HIGH fall from a pine tree like #51. 

The best is that we are welcome to check-in on his well being and to also visit.  Yeah!

#51

spring cleaning of lana...

spring cleaning in both the house and on the blog!  i've updated the site to make it a little "cleaner" looking.  hope you like! 

TGIF!  enjoy your weekend!!  xo

my april...

...celebrated my niece's 5th birthday!

...booked a caterer and photographer for the BIG day!

...went to visit my brother-in-law in DC for Easter!

...finished basement sitting area...photos to come!

...attended a kindergarten open house and potluck dinner for my niece at my old gradeschool! 

...enjoyed a wonderful spring evening for drinks and snacks at Arbor Brewing!

photo credit: LaNa

kitchen update!

the cupboard doors are off...the cupboard contents are out (and all over our living room!!!)...a new light fixture is in...and painting will begin tonight!  i am hoping to have some during and after shots for you this weekend!!

until then, enjoy this spring picture taken on the Mall in DC...

Photo credit: LaNa

t.g.i.f.

Photo credit: LaNa

kitchen makeover has begun!

After a quick lead paint test (none = yeah!!), we are ready to move forward with a mini facelift for the kitchen.  The cupboards look like they may be the original to LaNa built in 1948.  They had YEARS of paint on them and on the hinges.  When I moved in, I figured I would add to the paint as did everyone else...not wise, but it was quick and easy.  However, that one last coat of paint did the cupboards in and they haven't closed shut for 2 years!  It looks like a movie scene where the cupboards are swung open by the resident spirits!

My Dad has asked to take care of them many times, but I assumed there would be lead paint somewhere in the layers.  So, I've just lived with it...until now!

The kitchen is a bit dark for me, love the color, but it is feeling gloomy.  The itch to brighten it up finally got me to pick-up a lead test at Lowes.  SUPER EASY and SUPER CHEAP!  And, to my dismay, no lead showed in the layers tested. 

Hence, the makeover begins!

Here are some photos as we took down cabinet doors.  All the dark green (tornado watch it is called) will be replaced with a clean, crisp white.  Dad has already scraped doors down to the original primer and sanded all the grooves so that they will close properly when reinstalled.

He was also able to use a heat gun to get the paint off the hinges, so we won't have to worry about buying new and can continue with my love of reuse!!!

The painting will begin this weekend!

Peaceful and inspirational living...