goin' green

Kitchen walls are a terrible thing to waste. Two years ago, or so, my dear daughter Katie convinced me to paint a part of the kitchen green. I call it "tennis ball green." It popped! It caught the attention, for better or worse, of every visitor.

It also made the other kitchen walls glaringly drab and dingy. Four kids with a penchant for flinging shoes and book bags, one dog, and endless family life and celebrations had taken a toll on those poor walls.

So when a "two gallons for one" card from my favorite paint store arrived in the mail, time was of the essence. To paint. Deadline: April 30.

I am nothing if not indecisive about many things, including selecting paint colors. You'd think it was an earth-changing decision, like whether or not to invade Normandy.

"It's just paint, for crying out loud!" I scolded myself. And so, color selected: two shades lighter than "tennis ball green," it is "mint chiffon." Very 1950's-ish sounding, don't you agree? Makes me want to put on some pearls and an apron.

As hubby left on a business trip yesterday, I swung into action: Paint, stir sticks, spackling, sandpaper, rags, newspaper, brushes, rollers, an extra lamp.

Seven exhausting hours later, the first coat was complete. I even moved the refrigerator! About 11 p.m., I was comatose on the couch and awoke two hours later, feeling as if I'd run a marathon. Admittedly, I've never run a marathon. But I didn't feel so good.

Off to bed and surprisingly, I awoke refreshed and ready for coat #2. A piece of cake! It's done. It's green. And now the breakfast room is looking awfully dingy, too ...

Note: my friend Lisa observed that "you always do these projects when Bill leaves." Yes, I do, and I love it. In a skewed way, it feels like a little vacation. Go ahead and analyze me.

during ...




... and after!