Tardis has Landed!

Having been introduced to Dr. Who by Ashlee, our family began watching when Matt Smith was the doctor.  We really enjoyed watching as a family although some episodes were just too scary for Declan (weeping angels anyone?) and he would bow out from time to time.  I thought it would be fun to make a tardis someday.  Well, that day has arrived.  I have wanted a cupboard to keep all the backpacks and jackets out of sight.  At a yard sale I came across a tall bookcase when I inquired as to the price I knew I had to buy it even though I no idea where to put it at the time.

Ethan Allen Bookcase only ten dollars

This bookcase fit in right where I needed it to fit and it was destined to become a backpack cupboard.  I began trying to think what color to paint it.  When I found some old paint that was just the blue that reminded me of a tardis I decided then and there, a tardis it would be.

I, at a prior time, picked up a bunch of cabinet doors and I had two that would fit this perfectly.  Eddy attached them and then he painted the first coat. I painted the next coat and then I decided to have Eddy cut squares to adorn the cupboard doors.  I used chalk paint (plaster of paris) which hardend before I could finish painting and I learned the life lesson to not mix more chalk paint than you can use in a day.  I had no idea what the orginal paint color was as the label had faded.  The paint worker thought a certain color was the best match. Turned out it wasn't so I had to repaint the whole cupboard again.  This began to feel like the project that would never end.  I had to re distress it.  I, of course, took no pictures of the process I am terrible at that.  

So I present the Carlton Tardis . . .

Declan about to put away his backpack

Dr.Who has arrived from another place and time?

Archer, "Suprise"

We added a back on it and we just used some leftover beadboard and spray painted it copper.  You know it is a copper box (a police box).

I ordered a vintage style Dalek poster on Amazon and then cut it in half and wallpaper pasted it on the inside of the doors.  The Police Box is vinyl lettering, and the light on top of the tardis is a solar light.  Sign on front door printed on parchement paper and wall paper pasted on to it.

I rubbed some gel stain on poster to age it a bit

All done at last, 

our three bosom friends keep a close eye on the tardis and its coming and goings for me 

The bosom friends above the door are actually bossons made in england back in the day and painted the same shade as the wall color

At night, the tardis light comes on and casts a friendly glow

Cost

Bookshelf            $10

Knobs and Pulls    $14 

Solar light          $5

Poster                    $7.99

                             Paint    $12  

                                       Total   $49.00   

Everything else used I already had on hand        

Luckily a tardis is bigger on the inside so no telling what all I can stuff inside!

Easter

Better Late Than Never!!

Due to unforeseen circumstances (and more than one person being sick a few times) Easter was much delayed this year. There was almost mutiny from the Kids several times over. In the end, there were a few good things to take away.  Everything was half off!! Lots of Candy. In fact, for the first time that I was aware of, the Easter bunny put out pre-made baskets. He told me those were 75% off.

 
Here is the gang with there baskets!

McCoy searches for his egg in the desert.

Declan can't decide which way to go.

Here is quint, Who I might add had the hardest time finding his metallic egg. There are special eggs for each kid, so that the prizes are evenly distubuted. Quint was searching and searching until the wee hours. In fact he even used a flashlight. though not unlike the little ones, Eddy was able to help him track it down.

Declan does some advance scouting for the rest of the hunters.

Zany reaches up high

Zany was very into finding eggs. I must tell the Easter bunny next year to hand out sturdier baskets.

Archy spotted this one, up high all by himself.

Not an Easter without a bunny to nibble on.

What They Wore-Blue and Orange

At our local Bealls store, I found all these orange ties for forty cents each so I bought one for each boy.  They were the odd square bottom ties that I guess no one else wanted but I thought they were cute.  Declan is sporting his new briefcase (metal chess case) that he bought at the thrift store in Tucson.  Declan is more fun to take to the thrift store than some of my other kids because he actually looks for things to buy instead of acting like he is being tortured (not naming names).  Thrift store shopping can be a learned art as those unaccustomed to it can be overwhelmed by the amount of random stuff thrown together haphazardly.  You have to sift through a bit to find the treasures.

Archy was in a funky dance mood and kept being silly and dancing while we were trying to take a photo after church.  I guess that is better than his usual grumpy, sullen, rebellious, refuse-to-smile self. 

Quinton (left), Zany, McCoy, Arch, Declan

Almost there with all smiles

Half smiling

Well four of five is about as good as it will get this time

Maybe manic Archy is a secret weapon to getting everyone to smile.  You should see his dance moves! It would make you smile too.

Fleece Monogrammed Towels

About three years ago, I bought everyone in my family new towels; everyone had a different color towel.  I meant to monogram them but time got away from me and I never did.  We recently all got new towels again and since all the towels are the same color I had to monogram them.  Otherwise "not me" would be leaving their towel all over the house and I would never know who to really nag to go hang up their towel.  Since all seven of us share one bathroom the only way to make that work with towels is to use towel hooks.  Towels dry much better hanging on a hook than a rod and you can fit so many more.  

The process:  I found a font that had the least amount of curves possible and the letter Q looked good, sometimes the letter Q can look weird.  I printed out the letters and cut them out, then I pinned them to the fleece and cut that out.  I then pinned the fleece letter to the towel.  After experimenting a bit the best way to attach it was to simply satin stitch around the outer edges of the letter.   It took about an hour and half to do all seven towels.   I have washed them several times on hot and they have held up really well.  The fleece is nice and soft, too, if you dry off with that part of the towel.

Fleece monogrammed towel

A whole families worth of towels

This was so easy and fast I don't know why I waited so long to do it.  What else should I monogram next?  I just love the accountability it creates. 

 "Not me" can't get away with leaving the towel out now!

Small town excitement

On my way biking to the Library for work,  I was about to get into the road when I heard some terrible noisies. It sounded like grinding gears.  I turned towards it and what did I see? Why a giant tractor, pulling a dangerous looking thing. As I watched I saw the passenger side back tire jiggle its way down the axle and into our neighbors fence.  Both the little dogs who live there and the driver looked surprised and shocked. Luckily no one was hurt, just the fence a bit. (the dogs could still not escape).  The man had forgotten his phone and He used our store one.  Off to work I went.   Once I got back the road was closed as men and tractors gathered to fix the problem. I took these with my kindle so forgive them, as it doesn't have a rear facing camera, a lot of blind taking occured.

The wheeless tractor, now propped up with blocks. In the right hand you can see the attachment being carted off. 

Lots of men turned out as is their way.  The far back tractor was trying to get the wheel up off the road. 

Blocking both lanes of traffic now. 

A fouth truck turned up, though this one has a winch, on the right. The wheel is back on the ground as they discussed welding options.

It took them until the next day to get it fixed, off the road at that point.  Most exciting thing I've seen all week!

Declan's 5th Grade Band Concert

Declan the Saxophone Musician

With the arrival of spring, come the all concerts that go along with it.  Declan is a member of the fifth grade band, which is the first year a kid can be in band.  Declan really enjoys playing the saxophone. He is quite good for a first year fellow and his set of powerful lungs come in handy for puffing on the sax.  This group of band kids are quite good musicians, in fact, their teacher said in all her many years of teaching this 5th grade band has gone the farthest in the music book.  They sounded quite good I was impressed having been to other past band concerts (Quinton's 5th grade).

Declan far left, second row

Look at that concentration

Miss Kay and Declan

Some of Declan's biggest fans were able to attend his concert, his Great-grandma and his Great-aunt Rebecca.  Declan was very happy they could attend.  He is a kid who appreciates an audience.  (Not pictured but also in attendance: Ashlee and Nona.)  He had quite a fan group.

Grandma, Declan, Aunt Rebecca and Zany

Nail Polish Cupboard

 Having collected far to many nail polishes I really needed a cupboard to store them.  One day when I was driving to the grocery store I noticed a pile of cupboard doors on the side of the road abandoned.  I didn't think twice I quickly crammed them all in my car since the price was really right-FREE.  Once I had the doors I started looking for places I could use them.  There was a small space right outside the bathroom that I thought would be ideal.  It was only about four inches deep but four inches is just right for nail polish.  I had Eddy build the frame using the found cupboard doors.  I had some vintage wrapping paper to use for wallpaper on the back of the shelves.  I just painted wallpaper paste ($5 bucks at home depot for a tub of it) then put the paper on smoothing it out then I painted a layer of wallpaper paste over the top of it. 

Here I am painting on the wrapping paper-looks fun 

These are all the wrapping papers before the cupboard goes in

Cupboard installed

Look at all that storage

Room for Medicine and Perfume

Lovely Nail Polishes in their new digs

I have even more doors just looking for a home.  I am keeping a lookout for any other tiny space to accommodate a wee cupboard.

Cost of project:  FREE 

Reid Park Zoo

A while ago, we went to tucson to remedy the fact that Rhi and Eddy have been terrible parents, and haven't taken the kids to the zoo in years. In fact this would be the first time for Zany, and who knows how long for Archy.

Before the fun begins Dec, bought himself a Batman hat that had Harly Quinn on the inside brim.

They decided to jump in with both feet and become members, Archy and Zany are pretty excited!

Eddy points out a creature.

We were quite pleased that babty Mandy was still on display, we were worried that he would be gone for his nap, so we raced right there. 

Zany and elephants

Sadly I can't remeber what animal this represented...but you would listen on one end

And on the other, Eddy speaks words of wisdom.

Archy pets a snake

We were quite surprised to see Dippin Dots on sale.

Rhi smiles like it is the nineties, Look closely and you could see a Nona

Mccoy at the Lemurs

It was hot, look how crowded it was today! We will need to go back and do a better job of taking pictures!! As Quinton was with us but made nary a photo bomb.