Christmas Eve Desk and all that jazz....

I got to see my mom this Christmas for the first time in three years.  Needless to say I was a bit excited.  We arrived the evening of the 23rd, and on the 24th my mom and I took David's Durango last minute shopping and we were raring to go!  I don't know what other moms and daughters are like; but my mom and I call each other from Marshalls weepy eyed because we can't show each other our latest find, or laugh at something ridiculous we've come across and tried on just for dramatic effect.  Somehow it's not nearly as funny if my mom isn't there to snort and cross her legs to keep from peeing she's laughing so hard.

Anyway...I went to Bend Oregon this Christmas.  We went shopping on Christmas Eve. AND...I stumbled upon a swap meet.  Sigh of goodness.  Outside the swap meet was a gorgeous old fashioned desk, good bones, real wood, lots of scratches etc.  I snuck a peek at the price tag....$35????!!! WHHHAAAT? Inside I went, and didn't  come up for air for an hour even though we were on a tight schedule, stores closing early for the holidays and all.  I called David, just to warn him that he wouldn't be enjoying the TV in the middle seat of his Durango on the way home because I'd taken up the whole back of the car with the desk...BUT I also made sure to emphasize the fantastic swap meet deal I had gotten.  ( I didn't mention the bracelets, necklaces, and ring I'd also snagged).  Poor guy, a desk was enough.

My mom and I cackled our way out of the parking lot, narrowly missing killing pedestrians on Christmas Eve of all days...Desk created quite a blind spot.  She made it home from Oregon to Ca in one piece and a few days later I attacked her with my sander and some paint and glaze...You guys-she is my favorite piece so far.  (Did I mention my other desk got ruined in the NY-CA move? well it did).
She inspired me to paint a few other pieces in the same colors...and now my guest room is almost complete.

My Mom's Christmas decor wasn't so bad either...see where I got the artsy fartsy bug?

Throne for the Big Mac

My second Craig's List quest was of the upmost importance; a throne for the most amazing gift I have ever received....an Apple Desktop.  David bought it for me as a house warming gift with underlying tones of "this is a kick in the ass, you said you wanted to learn photography and blog I bought you a camera, now get on it with this perfect computer-you basically have no excuse now..."
The poor thing sat in its' box upstairs for a few months collecting dust.  I was too scared to take it out, because even the packaging was intimidating and expensive looking.  I kept telling him I couldn't start blogging or editing photos until I had a desk for the computer; it was just too pricey to set up on the coffee table.  Finally after searching, pickiness, and weeks being a complete coward I found a desk for $40.00 on Craig's List that some competition hadn't already snatched up. I had leftover paint from the dressers, so after all the weeks of denial and excuses (you see once it had a throne I had to actually start blogging etc.) I sanded and painted the desk in a matter of an hour.
I will be honest with you-I hated it at first.  It is still not what I wanted it to be...not worthy of Big Mac.  David has a Mac 13" laptop that seems so wee compared to mine thus the nickname.  However I had to get it done and in working order....

So now Big Mac has a less then worthy throne; but hey at least I'm blogging.