Dreams and Epiphanies: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Lee's 60th birthday!

Here's the birthday guy with four of his six siblings . . .

Left to right: Laurie, Rina, Mary Ann, Robert and Lee . . .

Left to right: Moi, my younger brother, Al, and my half-sister, Carely. I think this is the only picture that I know of, in which the three of us are together . . .

My sister-in-law, Mary Ann, reminding Lee that humor is the best anti-aging weapon . . .

Happy birthday, darling!

Monday, September 3, 2012

The "before" pictures were taken on July 9, 2008. We had just put in the flooring and freshened the room with paint and new bedding. After four years, the comforter was looking a little ragged so we bought new bedding in preparation for my sister's visit this past summer, but since this was John's room, I dragged him to the store to pick it out. It's been fascinating to watch the evolution of his taste and his flare for organization. This room is so John.

2008 . . . John's favorite color has always been green, but when we bought this bedding he was deep into green. Everything had to be green, his blanket, his clothes, his backpack, his pencils . . . green, green, green . . . I was a little bored with it . . .

NOW . . . While he still loves green, he's experimenting with other colors. I almost fainted when he picked out this plaid quilt from Nautica. I would have been O.K. with whatever he picked for his room, but, boy, am I glad he picked this one! I really like it! I have a weakness for both, quilts and plaid.

2008 . . . This was the first room in the house to have the wider molding installed at the base of the wall. It may seem like a little thing, but it really added a nice architectural touch to a bland, contemporary space. Lee has slowly replaced the trim in most of the house now . . .

NOW . . . From IKEA - a two-shelf "Billy" bookcase that can also double as a nightstand. John chose the black-brown finish. The lamp is also from IKEA.

2008 . . . This dresser was my husband's when he was a boy. Besides the sentimental value, it was built so well that it will be around forever . . .

NOW . . . The empty wall is now covered with a copper etching project that my son completed at school and a Macbeth poster from a recent production . . .

Here's a closeup of the copper etchings. John also made the frame - an aluminum one with embossed marks that mimic the ones on his etchings. It makes for a very finished work!

2008 . . . The desk and study area are reflecting John's emerging interest in things oriental, with bamboo growing in a pot, green and red boxes placed together, chinese symbols for Harmony, Happiness, Serenity and Peace, framed in jade-green linen . . .

NOW . . . I took these pictures after John left for college in August, so his printer is missing. He's added bookcases from IKEA - the good ol' "BILLY" bookcases in black-brown . . .

He's also added a memento/vision board to the right of his desk . . .

Here's my favorite item from his board . . . It's a bumper sticker that at first glance reads "EARTH" but upon closer inspection you can pull out the word "ART" from its center. John is majoring in Fine Arts and Education.

The green floating shelf has now been replaced with a black-brown shelf with brackets from IKEA. The red pencil holder to the right, was one of John's first projects in clay . . .

He still has it now . . . It reminds me of the John Hancock Building here in Chicago . . .

John even made the pulls for his ceiling fan. He made the glass beads in his little basement workshop.

This room has been a haven and an art laboratory where John's tried out his latest interests. While I'm happy and proud of what he's doing now, I miss him. There's no way that such a strong, creative personality would not be missed.

I am participating in PHOTO OF THE DAY at Two Peas in a Bucket and METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY at Between Naps on the Porch.