Encouragement helps

Thank you so much! I knew that if I put out a call for help, it would come!

As a result, I got a lot done yesterday.

First, I tackled the hats, scarves, and gloves drawer. I just cleared out what we won't use, the chewed hats and the one-off gloves.



Like scb, I didn't want to tempt fate and actually pack it away.

Then, I tackled the coat closet proper. I took everything out and washed down the floor and walls. I went through the pockets of all the coats and discovered the family prefers to keep its gloves stored in its pockets! I removed two coats for my husband to decide whether to keep or toss (both filthy, one leather and one suede, both require professional cleaning) and he decided to keep just one of them. Hooray!

before:


after:


I didn't tackle the shelf with all the games and picnic items except to take one game down and give it to a friend of my daughters who was visiting.

The big job, though, was the back door entry way.

This is it.

The floor is usually covered with a large black mat.

Not terribly large, is it? I'm taking the photo from the door to the kitchen. To the left is the stairway to the basement.

I decided to rip out that old crumbling linoleum.

Here's a close-up of the pattern. It's almost contemporary again, isn't it? I like it.

It wasn't all that hard except where someone had nailed it down in several places: getting those out was a challenge.



I've asked my husband to sand it--and then I think I'll paint it.

Today, I haven't a lot of time to spend, my son and I are going to see a theatre production of The Three Musketeers today. That will be a welcome break.