To Do List...Tiling

Thank you This Old House!  I got the tiles glued to the wall yesterday, tomorrow GROUT!!  This time I'm going to color the grout grey to start with.  Last time I ended up going back and painting the grout, because it was too light, this time I will try to get it the right darkness to start.

I decided to make more of a backsplash behind the stove.  I'm going to make a removable backsplash for behind the sink, really soon...

So here are the pictures:

First the prep. Which really takes the most time.

Halfway done

 And done! Well I have to wait for the glue to set, so grouting happens on Sunday. Did a really good job cleaning the stove while it was out (not as bad as the first time we took out the stove, but it was nice to clean thoroughly none the less.)

To Do this Weekend!

Not in any particular order...

Gear/Craft Room---

• Craft table 
• Get legs at the ReStore
• finish installation
• paint
• Drawers shelves= http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/diy-bookcase-0609
• Buy drawers at ReStore
• Organize
• Complete Mountain Mural

Just have to finish the dark grey

Kitchen---

• Finish tiling border  http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20336947,00.html

Need to do the other side of the kitchen...

  GARDEN!!

• weeding
• weeding
• killing grass
• weeding

 Get Ubuntu installed on other laptop... http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

Allergies

So...I've been having weird reactions to some foods (itchy tongue, etc.) and some more intense reactions to seasonal pollens, and I've never done well around cats. 

Since I have health insurance again I decided to go to the allergist.  Talking to the Dr. she thought I might be allergic to soy, dairy, shellfish, and had me do a blood test.  Results = I'm allergic to nothing (food wise).  Phew.  I wasn't going to give up cheese or tofu anyways.

Then I figure I should look at these seasonal allergies.  I loose my voice about twice a year completely congested but with no other physical symptoms, so I thought it was allergies, since a cold would make the rest of me feel yucky too. 

I went in and did the huge amount of skin tests leaving my entire back very itchy.  I already knew my skin was very sensitive, the nurse decided that dust mites and grass she needed to recheck, and they both came up very positive on my arm.  With pollens, dogs, cats, showing up positive on my back.
I went back a couple days later to talk to the Dr.  and got the dog lecture (very unrealistic) and decided to do the blood test to just be sure. (And there was some discrepancy about what was actually tested on my arm...)

So I got the phone call on Friday with my blood test results and apparently I'm not allergic to anything... I'm not convinced, I mean if you've seen me when seasons are changing I definitely look allergic, my eyes start flowing when I'm mowing the lawn, around cats my eyes are super itchy and sleeping in a house with cats is often difficult.   But I also don't want to go back to the Dr. and pay another $30 copay to have them not tell me anything.
Of course, I'm going to start doing research...
http://www.brighthub.com/science/medical/articles/74487.aspx

http://allergies.about.com/od/allergies101/a/allergytest_2.htm

http://www.everydayhealth.com/allergies/allergy-blood-testing.aspx?ipc=B00448

I'm not sure what I'm going to do.  I'll probably call and ask to clarify the difference between my skin tests and blood tests and for a copy of the results.  I'm definitely annoyed with this whole process.

Father's Day Cards (& Mother's Day a little late)

I am very anti- store made greeting cards.  Yes I'm sometimes that lazy and buy them, but mostly I'm cheap and know I can make something more entertaining myself...

These are the mother's day cards I made.  (T helped.)

And using the website posted I made these 2 cards for Father's Day...

Toxic Chemicals against fleas and ticks?

Ok, lots of research here.
Vet recently gave me Comfortis for flea and tick prevention, when I raised concerns about the topical meds and the dogs gnawing on each others necks (where topical meds are applied.)

I also recently got a message from a friend who's dog has started getting seizures and is looking at other options...

So now I begin the research myself.  Not making a decision yet, but looking at options.

http://www.bark-n-blog.com/2008/08/22/holistic-veterinarian-dr-blake-on-comfortis/

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-safe-is-your-flea-and-tick-killer-212009.html

http://www.simplesteps.org/greenpaws-products#/h/+/+/672

Pots...

So I'm going to try out decorating my indoor pots now. Since there is already a plant in it, this might be a little more difficult.

I did the twine around the top again.  Decided to add blue yarn in with the twine. I like how it turned out and starting on the diagonal made it seem faster. 

Decorating boring garden pots - CHECK

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2010/04/tutorial-decorating-pot-with-jute.html 

Done and done, my version, part 1, actually on a plastic pot, needs more than 1 dot of hot glue for me to feel comfortable...
-> http://twitgoo.com/uy9mt