Bedroom alcove.....

is complete!!!!

I know this isn't a very good picture,

but I really wanted to show y'all how the

bedroom alcove turned out.

(photo from Ballard's online)

I wanted new art for the tiny space.

Something brighter to lighten things up.

Devon found the print for me

(the one above on the right)

at Ballard's Backroom.

On sale~of course~for $100.00!

Our biggest score was the Lewis headboard

from Pottery Barn.

We found it at the Pottery Barn Outlet.

Normally it can only be ordered online or by catalog

and costs $300.00 plus $79 shipping and handling.

Devon had printed out a coupon that Little Pissy had sent her

so I was able to get an additional percentage off.

(photo from Pottery Barn online)

This brought the cost down to

$128.00!!!!

MAJOR score!!!

Then I went online to order the slipcover for the headboard.

They were on clearance.

Colors and sizes were very limited.

I was SO fortunate in that I was able to get

the size I needed in the color I wanted

for only $79.00!

After shipping it was $100.00

So I was able to get the EXACT upholstered headboard I

wanted with the slipcover I wanted

for $228.00 when normally

it would have cost over $500.00!!!

Now to find the perfect little throw pillow with

just a touch of yellow to replace

the queen bee pillow.....

Yes, again.....

I spent Easter weekend sick in bed with a sinus and ear infection.

I'll be spending this weekend the same way.

Since it was only 2 months ago (to the day) that I was last at the doctor with this same thing, she wanted to put me on a different antibiotic. I was surprised at that. She said, "well, if you get another one soon we'll have to switch."

Really?

In other medical news: I had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon this morning. My left shoulder/arm has been bothering me for months. I've been through a course of physical therapy~didn't help. I've tried several different treatments and none of them have worked. Consulting with a surgeon was the next step.

X-rays were taken and a bone spur was found on my shoulder. After some range of motion testing it was determined that I have "frozen shoulder" and that arthroscopic surgery would be required soon. An MRI is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. This should show if there is any further damage, such as a rotator cuff tear. I see the surgeon again on Thursday for the results and to determine the course of action.

As crazy as this may sound, I'm actually looking forward to this. I'm SO tired of waking up at 2 or 4 in the morning from the pain in my shoulder/arm..... not being able to put my arm behind my back or over my head....shampooing, blow drying and flat ironing my hair is painful..... performing what should be a simple task like making up a bed and ending up in excruciating pain.

Movements that a person normally does without giving it a second thought? Those things hurt me.

Let's not even talk about how difficult it is to get dressed and undressed.

Enough whining.

I'm going to take some Nyquil in the hope that it will know me out for the night.

So yesterday on the deck.....

I was playing around with my new laptop's camera, trying to get a good picture of Gracie and me.

Here are the results:

"No, Mom! You can't make me!!!"

SO close! ...and then she turned her head.... :(

"I'm doing it, but I'm not happy about it."

Sigh

Oh, well.

We can always try again.

Or I can just give up.

B is for "Boring"

That's what Devon said about my blog tonight. haha!

And she was sitting on my couch on my computer when she said it!

The NERVE! ;-)

I'm sorry I've been SO bad at updating.

Since March I've been working almost full time.

Then I got Gracie 5 weeks ago.

We started obedience classes 4 weeks ago.

I've been going to physical therapy for my shoulder twice a week for the past 4 weeks.

In between all that, I've been finishing up the decorating of the deck: shopping for chair cushions, buying plants, repotting them, shopping for yard art,

hanging lights, etc. It's been fun, but has taken a lot of time.

Not to mention keeping my house clean, doing laundry, taking Gracie for walks (short ones) 3 or 4 times a day....

So basically?

I've been living like a normal person.

What's new with y'all?

Sneak peek of view from the deck:

I know it looks weird, but those balls

of light are the sun shining through the trees.

"A" is for Apple

The verdict from the computer repair guy gave me the verdict: at least $325 to repair my laptop and it might last one to two years. It has multiple issues. *sigh*

~or~

buy a new computer.

I've decided to buy a Macbook.

I've only ever owned a PC, but I used Devon's Macs all the time, so I think I'll be OK.

Hopefully I'll be up and running soon and able to visit everyone's blogs.

I miss y'all!!!!

My computer is going for repairs

ACK!

What will I do?!?!?!?

Really, I should have taken it in a while back. I've been putting up with the issues it's having because I didn't want to be without it.

*sigh*

Time to suck it up and have it fixed.

Not sure how long I'll be without it.

In the meantime.....this is what I'm gonna do:

(Picture of AWESOME tray taken
@ Target at Atlantic Station.
No, I didn't buy it.)

Gracie's 3 week anniversary

was yesterday.

We celebrated that by discovering that she's terrified of thunderstorms.

In the middle of the night.

I have to be at work at noon
when really