Have we finished?

I have just discovered, having downloaded the photos this evening, that whilst I have 'before' photos, I don't have any 'after' ones so I think I will leave pictures of the conversion until tomorrow and write myself a note to remember to take photos of the new room furnished.

The carpet waiting to be fitted!

The carpet fitter did a grand job yesterday, all done in half an hour (again, just why did we think we could do that ourselves?).  Needless to say, N and I were straight to work moving pieces of furniture from various locations in the house into their new, and hopefully permanent positions.  Oh, it was good to begin reclaiming the house once more.  There is more to do, and I think quite a bit of decluttering (again) in the process but there is such a sense of relief that the building, decorating and renovating is, for us at least, completed.  By the evening we had quietly collapsed into our chairs.

We had visitors last night, complete with birthday-eve excitement - the anticipation of nearly being seven was almost too much to bear!  These grandchildren seem to be growing up way too quickly; the eldest will be into double figures next year.  But it's lovely to be able to cosy up on the sofa with one or the other and have the latest electronic game patiently explained ;-o

Sunrise yesterday morning

It's been clear and bright for a couple of days, but chilly.  We're quick to winge about the drop in temperature but really it's nothing compared to the snowfalls that eastern American has experienced this week.  A couple of new England blogs I read had photos of snowmen, so we really shouldn't complain too loudly (but we still do).

I had a mammoth baking session yesterday while we waited for the carpet to be fitted.  A loaf of wholemeal bread, soft bread rolls, a tea loaf and a batch of ginger biscuits.  I think I may try adapting the biscuit recipe as the basis of chocolate chip cookies, the ones I made with the grandchildren during the summer weren't quite right but these were wonderfully chewy and I think would work well.  

Having had a bit of a block with the wedding cushion (a bit stressful as it must be finished by Monday), today I just sat down at the machine and sewed, successfully.  I think it must be something to do with the fact that finally 'the sewing room' is actually beginning to look like one, and therefore far more conducive to sewing.  That is probably just as well as there is a huge pile of projects waiting to be started and/or completed.  I had such grand expectations and hopes of a handmade Christmas this year and I don't think I will be able to achieve a great deal (I was told yesterday it's now just five weeks to the day - oh dear).  But then I stop and think what we have achieved since we moved in here and I guess I shouldn't feel too despondent.  A bit of perspective is what's needed, I think, and we'll get that over the next few days.  In the meantime, we're sorting ourselves out, yet again.