While putting up the Christmas decorations today (yay!), we somehow got on the topic of snow — which took us back to the first time my hubby took our unnamed daughter sledding.
She must have been around five or six, and she had her first loose tooth (it will soon become clear why I associate those two events). And that front tooth was really, really loose — at that nasty point where it was just hanging by a thread, but she refused to pull it.
It just so happened, that day was the first big snowfall of the winter, and while I was at work, he bundled her up, and strapped her on her brand new disc sled (the kind you can’t steer, but can go really, really fast).
Let me preface this story by referring to a previous post about how accident prone my hubby is.
And a little more background: This is Kansas, and we’re a little challenged when it comes to good sledding hills where we live, so Topher adopted the role of sled dog and towed our giggling daughter diligently through the deep new snow.
They were having a blast! She’d scream “Faster”, and Topher, the sled dog, would sprint faster. This went on and on for a while, until “the incident”.
Topher got to spinning in circles while she was at the end of the rope, speeding up around him. The dizzier he got, the more speed she built up.
Until she let go.
The kid went sailing toward the house at mach 2 … right into the trash can, face first.
That’s their story. All I got was a phone call right before I left work. I pick up the phone and hear Topher saying “Now when you get home don’t freak out. It’s not that bad.”
Let’s just say, “not freaking out” isn’t what happened next.
I hurried home to find my little girl with a massive goose egg over her right eye and a missing front tooth. Not the best look, especially when (ready for this?) this was Saturday and school pictures were on Monday.
It does get worse though.
Sunday night, I put her hair in rollers to prepare for picture day and hoping her cute hair would distract from her new black eye and missing tooth. After I was done I was on the phone telling my mom I should have made an appointment to get my daughter a haircut before pictures, but I didn’t have time.
The next morning, I got up and went into the bathroom to get ready and something caught my eye. In the trash can were way more dark curls than any parent wants to unexpectedly see. Oh Please No, I thought while running into my daughter’s bedroom.
But Oh Yes, she did. She chopped off her beautiful dark curls all around her forehead. She had heard me on the phone and decided to cut her own hair!
How was I going to salvage this? So here she was in her pretty pink dress and patent leather shoes — with her big black eye, missing tooth AND her Edward Scissorhands haircut.
Needless to say, I bought the least expensive picture package, and when I dropped her off at the teacher’s door I saw the horrified look on her face as she said “oh my!”
Oh my indeed, I thought as I walked back to my car hoping CPS wouldn’t be calling for an explanation. Also for months after this happened, it seemed like anytime we were out somewhere public, my daughter would loudly ask “Hey, dad remember when you gave me a black eye and knocked my tooth out?” causing everyone to turn and gawk.
I would like to say this was the only accident that happened while my hubby and daughter where home by themselves, but sadly there were several more — but those are for another day.
Speaking of pictures, here is my latest completed project. It is an antique desk with carving on both sides. I stained the top of it a dark walnut and painted the bottom with turquoise chalkpaint, distressed it, glazed it and coated it with clear wax. It’s a great size and has wonderful old hardware. I will be listing it on craigslist tomorrow for $125.
Before: In classic Shanna style, I forgot to take a before picture. Luckily, I found this one. It’s the upside down desk on top of the other yet-to-be-completed desk.
After: And right-side-up.
Joy says
Shanna you did an amazing job I love the 2 tone with the brown and the turquoise leaving the top natural was a great idea!
Shanna says
Thanks Joy!
WEST FURNITURE REVIVAL says
LOVE YOUR RESTORATION, I WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE IT , IF THAT WOULD BE OK WITH YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
LAUREN
Shanna says
That would be great! Thanks so much!
WEST FURNITURE REVIVAL says
Not sure if you saw the feature you can check it out here.
lauren
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com/2012/11/revival-monday-89.html
Shanna says
Thank you so much! That’s exciting!
Carlene@Organized Clutter says
Great job on a great piece. Love the color.
Patricia Krank says
You’ve done an amazing job on your little desk. I love the color combo. Thanks for sharing. Patti
Nicole says
Love the color and great find on the style of dresser! Fun story about she who shall not be named 🙂
Ele erickson says
Love the colors!
T'onna says
Fabulous job! That shade of blue is gorgeous, and I LOVE the top of the desk! I’d love for you to share this at my link party Submarine Sunday. It’s open until Friday @ 11:59pm. I hope you’ll stop by!
T’onna
http://www.navywifeypeters.blogspot.com/2012/11/submarine-sunday-7.html
Diane says
I love the way the desk turned out. The top looks great and I love the contrast to the blue color. Great find, wasn’t it?
Shanna says
A little birdie told me where to find it!
Faye (MacGIRLver) says
This is a gorgeous desk and you did a great job! Love the colour choices.
Faye
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
I”m a huge fan of turquoise and am drooling over this desk. Its beautiful!
Chris CRITTENDEN says
This desk is gorgeous! I love the color, the design of the desk and especially the stained desktop. You are amazing!
Cynthia says
I love the color and the lines of that vintage piece. Really well done and what a great find!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says
That is one gorgeous desk!
Scribbler says
Great story! My baby is now 45 years old, and I still marvel that he lived to grow up!
This desk is fantastic. I love anything turquoise.
Lindsey@BetterAfter says
Suuuuuch a pretty color! Gorgeous! And I have to share my funny sledding story. So I was probably seven months pregnant with my second child. We took our first child, then four, out sledding, to like, the steepest mountain we could find. It was actually near the Brian Head ski resort in Utah. The sledding hill ended abruptly into a parking lot, for some stupid reason. Well, my husband and my sister were taking turns pulling my son to the top of the hill and catching him down below, while I stood around and watched like a pregnant potato. Then my husband decided to take a break without telling my sister, who had hauled my son up to the top of the hill and let go, without anyone at the bottom to catch him. I watched in horror as this all unfolded, and frantically lumbered over to stop him as best I could before he met his doom into the side of a parked pick up truck at the bottom of the hill. I spread my legs out and braced myself to stop him, and as he zoomed closer and closer, I started to panic, because he was really going fast, how could I ever stop him?! So I just helplessly held out my arms and ended up punching him square in the face, which laid him out on his back, causing him to go right through my legs and straight into the parking lot, caught only at the very last possible second by my husband who had miraculous bounded back into the scene. I fell down and peed my pants a little.
Shannon says
I have just spent a few hours on your blog and I’m hooked!!!! I love the desk it’s beautiful, and the color is the color I have been looking for FOREVER! Would it be rude to ask you what the name of the paint color you used? I would really appreciate it.
Jayne says
Saw your desk at Cater’s Cottage, it’s beautiful, love the color!
Shanna says
Thanks Jayne!
Tammy Killough says
Oh my….this is GORGEOUS!!!! ~Tammy
Christie says
Love this color combo! Thanks for sharing over at My Monday Muse! If I remember correctly, I never got your address to send you the lovely Gift you won for being featured! Oh My! Please email me at Christie@CartersCottageInteriors so I can send a little holiday cheer to you!
Christie~
Terry says
Gorgeous piece in a gorgeous color! Wow! Love the boldness of it! and … paired with that dreamy gold frame ….drooling! lol! If you feel like joining in one more link party Making Broken Beautiful furniture party is happening right now over at the Curator’s Collection. It runs every Thursday thru Sunday. You do lovely work and I’d be happy to host your talents! I hope you will come and inspire!
Have a wonderful day!
Smiles!
Terry
The Curator’s Collection & Making Broken Beautiful
Ashleigh says
Great rehab on a classic piece! It looks absolutely stunning!
You should share this post on my weekly linky : )
http://www.twentysomethinginthe2010s.com/peace-love-linkup-006/
Amanda @ The Kolb Corner says
Love the color you chose! Really makes the desk stand out. Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!