Parental Visit = Home Improvement Time!

Many people dread the arrival of their in-laws or even their own parents. Me? I love it! Mom and Dad arrived last month to a dreary, rainy Norfolk day and I promised them it would clear up. Well it didn't. In fact it rained for five days straight. Welcome to Virginia.

But. Considering they come from one of the sunniest cities in the country, they weren't so bummed. In fact they took one look at my house and came up with a mile long list of "ideas" to improve it. Not sure if this was an insult or opportunity but I favored the latter and went for it. Three weeks and 42 visits to Home Depot later our house is looking much more presentable. Thanks Mom and Dad!

I've included a few "way before" pics so you can see what everything looked like when we moved in. It seems more impressive that way. I think. 

Squeaky clean front door all ready for fall! Sorry, don't have a before picture but just imagine a door. That's all. :) 

New flowers!

"Way Before"

"Before"

"After"

Freshly painted shelving, fireplace and back wall. Dad had back surgery four weeks before he tackled this project. He did it while I was not home, I think he feared I wouldn't let him do it otherwise....

Mom lengthened the curtains...yay!

Some pumpkins and gourds we picked up from a farm stand on the Eastern Shore. The front one is called a fairytale pumpkin. It's adorable!

Mom has an eye for this stuff!

The pumpkin I painted at a paint-your-own place while Colin's sister was in town. If they celebrate Halloween in Africa, I think this would fit in.  

A rearranged bookshelf.

"Before"

"After"

Colin told mom he flew around the Statue of Liberty a few months back. Now he has bigger plans!

A more esthetically pleasing display in the kitchen! 

"Way Before"

"After"

"After"

Okay so the pot rack went up a few months ago, but I never posted it. Mom still felt the desire to clean it. She was on a roll. 

Curtains! 

Mom decided to teach me how to make curtains. I credit her for most of it but at least I have an idea of how difficult it is now.

"Before"

Naked Windows = No No in mom's book. 

After: Fully clothed windows!

So there you go! In a few days I'll post a few pics from our travels with the folks as well. What a great time!