02/02/2022 – To Do or Not To Do

Waiting © Colehauscats.com
Waiting © Colehauscats.com

While Mom waits for a job interview or offer of some kind, I thought I’d sit here, where I never sit, and remind her she was in the middle of painting rooms over a week ago, and while that was a whole lot of boring, especially watching the paint dry, I think she needs something to take her mind off unemployment.

Call me a helpful girl that way.

Talking to the paint can © Colehauscats.com
Talking to the paint can © Colehauscats.com

Don’t worry, paint can. I’m working on busting you out of closet jail soon, I swear!

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Here’s a quick view of the color difference Mom’s making around the house. On the right, the old cappuccino color in the kitchen. On the left, the true cream color. It almost looks white, until you see the walls against the white ceilings. That’s when the cream jumps out at you. It’s bright, yet soft and elegant.

Back in 2010, when we thought we were being forced to move to Boise within three weeks, Mom painted the entire interior from top to bottom “complimentary designer colors” for that time. All brown tones; Latte, Cappuccino, and Mocha. That’s a lot of brown. Before that, we had a lipstick red livingroom, a hand-applied, limestone-aged fresco look in the kitchen including ceiling. The entryway and upstairs was in soft apricot with a dark apricot feature wall. The main bedroom was hand-applied, rag rolled moss green shades with one green bathroom and one in gray. The office was, and still is for the moment, a pale teal, and the Cat Den was dark cream over dark teal painted wainscoting.

We love color. Still do. But you do what you gotta do and with the resources you have to do them. The resource here is Mom’s ability and fearlessness to climb tall ladders. She’s determined the entire interior will be true cream except the main bedroom and bath that was painted a soft gray called Etched Glass with a feature wall painted Ash Blue. Hands down, it’s now officially the most relaxing room in the entire house.

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A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2021 – No post
2020 – No post
2019 – No post
2018No Groundhogs, but…
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015Helping Quint Help
2014 – No post
2013Bridge Dreams
2012 – No post

Posted in Pia | Tagged | 8 Comments

01/31/2022 – Waiting

Quint and Olivia waiting © Colehauscats.com
Quint and Olivia waiting © Colehauscats.com

What are you two doing?

We heard that January is leaving and February is arriving. Like anything else that comes and goes, we’re expecting they’ll be noisy and we want to be prepared, you know, in case we need to dash upstairs and hide under the covers. So, be quiet please. We’re waiting, watching, and listening.

Okay . . . Goodbye January. It was fun, had some heartbreak, and was reasonably fast. February, save the snow this year. Or at the very least, save it for the weekend. And as for ice? Um, no. Just no.

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Mom’s waiting to hear back from a couple of jobs she applied for. If Dad’s 3 1/2 year job search experience is any indication of how things can go, she’ll expect a big fat goose egg in the way of responses.* Mom is highly motivated, though, and can sometimes make things happen. Sure, those things might not be what she wanted or expected, but changes don’t always have to be bad.

*Dad got a job some two years ago but it’s a very low paying one and he continues to hunt for something he can do (he can’t stand upright for longer than ten minutes) that’s 40 hours a week and pays more than just over minimum wage. You’d think anything office-y or computer-esque would fill the bill. Apparently not so much around here.

Chin up, says Viola © Colehauscats.com
Chin up, says Viola © Colehauscats.com

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A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2021 – No post
2020Cats Who Sing
2019 – No post
2018Three Words Wednesday
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015 – No post
2014Viola Says…
2013 – No post
2012 – No post

Posted in Olivia, Quint, Viola | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

01/28/2022 – Wake Up Friday

Sleepy boy © Colehauscats.com
Sleepy boy © Colehauscats.com

Mom, do we have to get up today? Really? Let’s just sit here for a moment and think about that decision. My vote is to sleep all day!

Well, Quint, you’re certainly welcome to nap your day away, but Mom’s sitting downstairs thinking about things and choices. Luckily for you, she’s leaving the quiet, comfy upstairs all to you. Sweet dreams!

A Quint coffee mug © Colehauscats.com
A Quint coffee mug © Colehauscats.com

With her trusty old Quint coffee mug filled with good, rich coffee some sweet Friend of Colehaus donated (and arrived anonymously), Mom will wrap up her thinking some time soon and go back up to snuggle. Snuggles will be the rule today.*

Helpful Tessa © Colehauscats.com
Helpful Tessa © Colehauscats.com

Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll keep an eye on my brother while you’re thinking.

Sure you will, Tessa. We can see how you’re doing just that.

*THANK YOU, dear anonymous coffee donator! The box arrived without a tag or slip inside to know who specifically to thank and we didn’t want anyone to think we hadn’t received their gift. Thank you, THANK YOU!

Because sometimes the stars misalign and things outside of our control do their own things, sadly, Mom and the entire assembly warehouse company she worked with, about one hundred employees, were laid off Wednesday morning. The economic downturn due to Covid finally caught up with them.

This is her fourth job layoff since she started work at age fifteen and it never gets any easier. She’s still weepy and in shock and can’t believe she may never see the people she’s worked with for going on three years ever again. They all were her long workday family, and that job and building was her second home.

Understandably, she may be a bit down for a while. Then, when she’s over herself, she’ll get out there and find something else. She has no other choice. Plus, Mom believes you’ll do what you have to do and that’s that.

Meanwhile, it’s snuggle with kitties time!

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A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2021 – No post
2020 – No post
2019 – No post
2018 – No post
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015Mysteries Abound
2014 – No post
2013Kissing Wars Oh, how we miss these!
2012 – No post

Posted in Quint, Tessa | Tagged , | 14 Comments