Hi Pepe: I just LOVE the items featured in your article today. I would love to work with clay but my granddaughter snags it whenever I have it in the house and I end up baking little dinosaurs and such. One day, we painted beach rocks and she made legs out of polymer clay and we baked them. Turned out cute, actually. How is it done with the clay in silver frames? Is that clay too?

Mobiles are one of my absolute favorite things! Constantly in motion yet quiet and beautiful.

Thanks for this wonderful series!
Kay

I've always admired these paper cuts. So clever.

It is amazing what can be done with clay! Kudos to those who do it!

Chicago, Illinois (downtown)

I can't believe you have energy to keep going! You must be the Energizer Bunny! I'd have needed time to recoup from the first floor, then the second, and here you are already on the third! Our first house had beautiful woodwork like this one you have now and I can't tell you how many times I wish we were still there. It was perfect when we started out, but w-a-y too small when we had four kids, and now it would be just perfect again. Enjoy the rewards of your hard work. There is such a sense of pride in a job well done and doing it yourself. K

Fabulous! I especially LOVE the sock kangaroo!

The reason why newborns wear hats (they'll probably put one on in the nursery that looks like it was cut from a roll of some medical stuff) is one you already know: We lose most of our heat through our heads. Since newborns have proportionately large heads and many have trouble regulating their body heat at birth -- voila! -- a hat is a good idea.

I will tell you, though, that I swaddled my firstborn as though he would die if I didn't. I worried when I put him to bed that he'd be cold and put those sleepers on him that covered his feet. I'd get up and cover him during the night. When he was finally able to talk, I think one of his first phrases was "I'm hot."

He seems pretty normal now, though; I don't think I did any permanent damage to him :)

I think thisis just exactly what everyone is looking for!

Tim. Tim. Tim. No face masks? That is toxic dust! Take care of yourself! The varnish is nasty going down, and no less nasty coming up. All those tools look so familiar! You guys are doing a great job! It would cost thousands to have those floors done professionally! You will find a million and one uses for the little sander; great investment!

Are you living in this house yet?
Kay

The keywords to your funk are "looking back." It's been the same in my life. The current crisis always seems like it will not have a positive outcome. But, "looking back," it will seem there was a reason for it and it will be crystal clear! You have a positive attitude, evidenced by the lovely things you've chosen to highlight, as well as the fact they all seem to have positivity associated with them in one way or another! Great article!
Kay