The Rooms Project:

Oh, my aching back. I started rearranging and reorganizing the two back bedrooms on Thursday afternoon. It all began because I needed space to place my finished gifts as they are awaiting to be given or sold. You know, the Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy gifts? That really would have only involved the closet in Nigel's old room but I thought that while I was at it I would go ahead and switch the two rooms all together and make them better. Like things alike was my idea, which is how I like to organize anyway. My friend Doyce suggested that I become a professional organizer, and that thought has crossed my mind. But, if I ever do, I am not moving the heavy furniture!

Room #1:
Here is a before/during picture of Nigel's old room. He hasn't actually lived here for 5 years, but it had his stuff in it. Now that he is all grown up and on his own, I decided to reclaim it and use it for another purpose. And, that purpose is, the Den/Library. I've always wanted our own library, by the way. I gathered most of our books into this one room. There is still another bookshelf in the living room, but it is okay where it is. It holds a bunch of my college text books.

This is what it looks like now. Lot's of books, toys, art supplies and a VCR-TV, hooked up to cable, with Nintendo 64. There is a lot of sentiment in this room. The hide-a-bed couch and quilt were Grandma T.'s, the coffee table and entertainment center were Cary and Susan's, Bob and Karen Byers made me the bookshelf that is under the window, a lot of the baby toys were Casey's, the big plant came from Troy's funeral, Julie handpainted the pot and the plant stand, and the painting came from Uncle Sonny's living room. My girls gave me most of the Mary Engelbreigt stuff, and the postcard picture is from Nanny. That is how I am ... sentimental about our stuff. I'll add new things to our home when needed, but I love the hand-me-downs and gifts the most. Here is the room:



See those two old porcelain dolls on the entertainment center? I bought those at St. Vincent's in La Pine for $2.50 each. Score!





I made the collage picture when I was still living at the camp house. It was kind of like art therapy. Click on the photo to enlarge it so you can see it better. I ended up with 6 kids, 4 girls and two boys. At the time I thought, hey this is wrong, because I had 4 boys and 2 girls. But, now it's right. Prophecy?


Room #2:

This room was the playroom, for when the grandkids, nieces and nephews and friends came over to visit. They were a lot younger 5 years ago! Now it is the guest room. I really like it. It wasn't always this messy! I thought about taking the pictures after I already began tearing everything apart.


The closet holds children's games and gift basket/bags/wrapping paper. The curtains are actually shower curtains came from the Outpost a few years ago. They are lacy and only cost me $5.00 each. I bought the M.E. throw years ago from the bonus money Karen and Greg Biben gave me for watching Joey and Ben. Oh, memories, memories.

My friend Patty made this beautiful
quilt for our wedding present.

I still kept the Star Wars posters. The little pillow in the foreground was one I made from my Grandma J.'s old quilt that she made for my Mom and Dad. The nightstand once belonged to Grandma J.'s mom, Grandma Barker.


My Mom never lets me forget that this dresser is really Nanny's. The lamps were Darlene's, and I made almost all of the pictures.

The LaBranche kids made their
Grandpa Cary the shirts above.

I love being surrounded by love.