Rolled Out The "Red Carpet"

I prefer to think of the new carpet as "dark pink".

Here is a closeup,

I'm sure you will agree...
I spent the week tidying up the place, remember that I always like to have a "good showing" the first time someone sees the house and after that...anything goes.

I knew it was time past time to dust, so that means rearrange in my world. I knew I had to pace myself, so I left the furniture where it was, but took everything off the mantel.

Great now what do I do with all this??? This is it.
Here is what is left. I wish I had taken a photo of this chandelier before I had Dave take the wiring out, turn it upside down and make the bulb holders steady enough to hold the candles. Originally I bought this thinking I would hang it upstairs, but sometimes a person has to improvise... Too bad now I will have to go looking for a different one to hang upstairs...

and while I was changing things around dusting


Something different on this wall at the bottom of the stairs.

I had help one day from Lisa and Isabel, we decided a major overhaul of the shop was in order so... thankfully the next day my friend Marcia came to help me finish the project. Between shows and sales the shop transforms into a storage unit/catchall and was quite a challenge to transform.

To say I was a little tired, might not adequately describe what I was feeling. I had these clever little patches that you can stick on "where you hurt, so I had a case of them and stick I did. One night I hurt all over so I got into bed and covered myself. Next morning I peeled them off, took a shower and started at it again .
I noticed later in the week I had some new "varicose veins" on my knees. This didn't really surprise me because boy had they hurt... I thought I would get a little sympathy from my friends, so I whipped up my pants leg Saturday morning to show my "battle scars". They were pretty impressed with the first knee, but one of these girls with great vision said, "it looks like ink or tape more than a broken vein." All of a sudden it dawns on me, tape residue from those miracle patches... But I really did have a sore knee. Good thing I have friends to keep me under control, and even to advise me about adequate personal hygiene...

From left to right Lisa, Martha, me (the one with no glasses) and Isabel.

What great friends these girls are, they came early, stayed late and made sure the blogger party flowed smooth and all our friends were well taken care of, (I was busy nursing my bum knee.)

Naturally I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked, but I'm sure if you check the rest of the girls blogs they will have some to share as well.

I did manage to get a few shots I thought you might enjoy.
Pam and her 2 beautiful daughters, Mindy and Stacey. They couldn't stay to make crowns, so we sent them away with scepter/party favors.

Julie and ChristaI had never met them in person and I really enjoyed getting acquainted. Their crowns turned out wonderful!

You might recognize Sylvi, she was having a day with her adorable daughter Cecelia. They came a little later in the afternoon, and it was such fun laughing with them.
Sylvi and Isabel

This is a great example of why you shouldn't take pictures facing the sun. My excuse might be, we so rarely see the sun, I didn't realize...

Although the pictures aren't great, the time we had together was wonderful.

I had to rush out as soon as the party was over, since I had a little issue with my schedule... Yeah I double booked the day... Said I would be in charge of a high school dinner at church for 100... Good thing I had help there, but I did manage to make 100+ cupcakes to feed the hungry.

And about those aches and pains...