My husband and I have always been do-it-yourselfers. Until the last few years. All those years of climbing ladders and such have taken a toll.

Somewhere between 15 to 20 years ago (has it really been that long?) I decided to redo the kitchen, breakfast nook, hallway, and utility room. The cabinets were baby blue and I could no longer deal them. In the 1980s when the house was built the wallpaper, painted cabinets, and heavy drapes were a thing. (I see them coming back again, everything does). But it was time for a change. So, meticulously, I removed every cabinet door and painted them with two coats front and back on the kitchen table at night after I cooked dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, and worked all day. It was tiring, but I could do it. Then I ripped off the wallpaper and painted the walls an aqua color. The woodwork was already white. I was very happy with my work, though I didn’t quite get all the wallpaper backing off in a few places. (I didn’t know it would cack and peel later. Now I do.)

In the last few months I decided it was once again time for a change. This time I hired it done. They are to repair the ceiling and cracks in one corner, texture and paint the kitchen and breakfast nook walls. We hired the florescent lights to be taken down and replaced them with recessed lights that hug the ceiling and are much brighter. But that created a spot to be repaired and painted. So, bring in the painters.

This time the walls will be tan with white woodwork and my precious Navajo rug will be moved from the office to the breakfast nook. The kitchen will be very light so it will need some color and I am going with a southwest look in rust and turquoise for accent colors. I will eventually recover the seats at the table to go with the new look. I’ve done that dozens of times as my colors in the room change. I also have some off-white linen curtains to hang. It will be a new look and maybe the last one. These old bones are tired. Even though I’m not painting, we moved furniture, took down pictures and are dealing with the mess and cleanup. That is enough for me these days.

What are you reading/writing/painting this week?