(no subject)

[norsegirl]

Haven't accomplished too much in the last few days. Just sitting on the couch working on baby gifts. I'm getting very close to completion on at least a few of them. I'm sure you all remember the longship from way back in June. I finally got all the soft pieces ready for the viking mobile for one of my brothers. Just have to cut down some dowel, drill some holes in it and string them all up and it's fininshed. That sure took longer than I figured it would.



Once this is finished I just have to get him to send me his address. I've been asking for a few days now with no response - sigh.

This week I've also been working on keeping the kitchen clean and that has been a bright spot in the house. Not waking up to a pile of dirty dishes really is a nice, cheap gift you can give yourself every morning.

Yesterday I bought another plant. This time I bought an indoor one that doesn't need to be replanted. I picked up a spider plant for the baby's room to help with air exchange and keep her healthy :) It didn't look too hot in the store, but when I got home and trimmed off the dead foliage it cleaned up real good. In a few months I'll split it so we can have spider plants all over the house. I'm not sure why, but I really, really like spider plants. Good thing since they are one of the best air cleaners you can buy, and cheap too since you never have to change a filter.

This weekend's goal is to get the entire main floor cleaned. The kitchen is mostly there (just a bit of clutter because I'm installing more shelves in the laundry room, so I've had to move some stuff out of the way in there). In the dining room I just have to put away the laundry. I tell ya, the big table is the BEST THING IN THE WORLD for folding laundry. The entire dining room should take maybe 10 minutes to restore to gleaming perfection. The living room is another story. It's a complete disaster with clutter everywhere. We'll probably have to spend the bulk of the weekend on this room. I do think it is a goal we can achieve though. I'd like to make a dent in my sewing room (hang the blind and some shelves) but if that doesn't get finished I'll just continue to close the door and not beat myself up over it.

Next weekend is the upstairs and some last-minute cleaning and we'll be all ready for my sister's visit and the baby. A lot of my friends have had or are having their babies early. On one hand I'm a wee bit jealous. On the other hand they're all getting c-sections or inductions, so I'm constantly reminding myself that patience will be rewarded when it comes to my recovery time.

Comments

[rectangularcat]

I have three, yes three, spider plants where the litter boxes are. Forgot about them being air cleaners.... *laughs* can't imagine how worse it would be!

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Do they clean smells? I know they exchange CO2 for O2 and capture some pollutants, but I've never heard they get rid of stinky.

Still have to say I'm glad to have pets that poop outside. ]

In other news, your giftie is almost done too, but I'm thinking I can save a bundle on shipping if I hold on to it and ship it from Canada when I go home in September (or maybe I'll send it ahead with my sister in 3 weeks just in case we don't end up going home). Do you want hints or even a picture of what it is or do you prefer surprises? I'm definitely not sharing what the purchased bit is (so you'll have something to surprise you), but I could let you know what I've made if you like.

[rectangularcat]

Actually, you may be really surprised how much cheaper shipping is from the States to Canada than Canada to Canada. USPS really has great rates. I remember buying my grandmother a huge floor fan and it was cheaper for me to mail it from Seattle than from Vancouver. I think both have quote functions on their websites too for parcels.

For sure post pics of what you've made - while I love surprises, your blog entry now will be more substantial than it will be in a couple of weeks *grins*. I am so excited to get something handmade. I found a bunch of sweaters my grandmother knit for my teddy bears and I hope they will fit baby!

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Looks like you're right about the shipping. If I can find a box the right size I can ship it from here for super-cheap. Might take forever to get there, but I can live with that. Their rates for tracked packages (like our passports) are crap though, and that was the last thing I checked.

I was going to take a pic of the item and have the post all ready to go for after you received it if you wanted it to be a surprise. Either way it will be posted eventually, so it doesn't really make a difference to me. It is nursery decor though, so if you were planning on starting on that in the next few weeks I could send you a pic so you can decide where to work it in to the plan.

[rectangularcat]

Even their forever option is pretty fast - really USPS rocks!

Pic would rock, we kinda started on the decor thing last weekend when it was super hot and all I wanted to do is be in the car and go shopping! *so excited*

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

It's not quite done yet. I have to get motivated to go out in the hot garage and get all sawdusty to cut and drill the dowel and that just didn't happen this weekend, but it will probably happen tomorrow. But here's a preview of all the non-wooden bits.



Obviously I'm on a mobile kick, and kitties just seemed right for you. X-shaped frame, kitties hanging from the corners and mice and ball from the middle. Fronts and backs are embroidered, as are the bottoms (after all, that's what baby will see). No small parts baby can choke on (nothing but fabric, stuffing and string, no beads or other spangly bits), but probably shouldn't be played with like a stuffed animal as it's not exactly washable either. However, if it falls into the crib it's not a hazard.

[rectangularcat]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Best present ever! *glee* I had been looking for a cat mobile for a long while too! You so rock! Thank you Thank you!

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

And yes, I remember the heat from when I lived there. On the rare occasion it did get hot the beagles and I often went to PetSmart for an hour just to hang out there. On the hottest days Jason would sneak the beagles into his office. They always got massively over-fed on those days.

[rectangularcat]

Only redeeming thing is that she poops about once every other day so it's not too onerous.

I don't think spider plants clean smells - it is more of a matter of luck that there three we have are in that room really.

Spiderplants

[firefred.livejournal.com]

Yes, these plants are cool - we have them both inside and outside. They multiply like crazy and are totally drought-resistant. They're also great in the winter if it gets below 32 (zero). They seem to be dead - but they always come back in the spring. It's too bad they don't clear up bad smells... (I cleaned the cat toilets today).

I think your longships are great!