I went out to the she-shed this afternoon to see how Kip was coming along. He is doing a great job! There is still a lot of work for both of us to do, but it’s about to get fun.

The walls are covered with four inch pine furring strips. they look like knotty pine. They’re a real light color and because there won’t be any windows, I’m going to stain them with a light stain.

I’m not going to complain about the “no windows” thing. The she-shed has double doors in front that take up space and I’ve come up with a couple of ideas for the ceiling that I hope will bring the feeling of the outside in. I’ll see what you think.

The ceiling has plywood held up by 2 x 4 rafters. They (the ceilings) are flat on 2 sides. Those areas could be used for storage. they’re kind of like a low loft. the ceiling is vaulted in the middle. I’m thinking of painting the rafters dark brown and the plywood light blue. Then I will stencil some clouds and birds up there.

The first pic is of one of the flat sides. The second is of the vaulted space in the middle.

The picture below is just to show the brown rafters. I couldn’t find a picture with the ceiling made from plywood.

There will be no chandelier or balcony. This is to show the clouds on a blue ceiling. Mine won’t look exactly like this because I’m not going to air brush the clouds on. I’m going to use stencils.

Bird and cloud stencils.

Painting the concrete floor is going to take a lot of work. You have to clean it with a special cleaner and seal it with a special sealer. I’m still looking for a cozy round rug,

There is already a storage cabinet and a shelf in there to display my display stuff.

Kip just ordered a combo air conditioner heater that will go in the wall, and Heidi gave me a really cute little duraflame fireplace that looks neat and also puts out heat.

What do you think? I’m open to suggestions

A great big thank you to all those who attended the Cedar Creek Literary Club meeting this morning to watch my presentation. You touched my heart.

For those of you who missed the performance of the hour, here you go!!

Part 1 is 25 minutes long, part 2 is 11 minutes. The big revelation is in part 2…

I’m kind of a last minute Lulu. I try to tell myself I work better under pressure, but I’ve been known to lie to myself.

I’ve been under a self-imposed time crunch; one being to put together a forty minute presentation to the Cedar Creek Literary Club. I’ve spent a significant amount of time in preparation which might not necessarily be a good thing. I have added and removed things so many times, who knows what will come out of my mouth? I’ll let you know how it goes after next Tuesday.

I didn’t write a blog blog for today, but I do have some exciting news. Kip has started the she-shed remodel. I’m pretty excited and can’t wait to decorate. There will be lots of painting and staining to do, but that will be part of the fun.

Well the girls at Pearl’s Fashion House/Runway/Farm don’t let any hay grow under their feet. They are already planning a fashion show followed by a square dance. I guess you could call the place a halfway barn. Let’s take a look and see how they’re doing.

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Grace: Pearl, do you want me to get all of those hot dogs out of the freezer? We can sell them at the square dance. I don’t think I’ll make any chocolate cake, though. I think I’ll bake some peanut butter cookies. I’ll need to buy some peanut butter. Do you like creamy or chunky?

Pearl: What? I don’t care. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.

Grace: I don’t think fish and peanut butter cookies go together. We better not serve hot dogs, either.

Pearl: What? I meant there are many decisions to be made and much planning to be done. I like to delegate. I’ll need some time to buy my outfit.

Grace, you seem to have the food under control. Get a couple of bags of ice, too. We’ll serve some kind of drinks.

Grace: I know! I’ll see if Llama Mama has some fresh honey. I’ll make tea with honey and lemon.

Bee Keeper/Aunt farmer and part time Llama Mama.

Ladies in Waiting: When does this thing start? What is this thing anyway? Where are we and why? Why are we wearing sunglasses?

Lav: Don’t you know a fashion barn/runway/farm when you see one?

Airy and Windy: I’m sure glad I brought my air cigarettes. This place is making me nuts. I know! These people are a pain in the neck!

Queen E: I brought horses for the barn farm.

Annie: Whose driving, You or me?

Pearl: Something is missing.
Grace: I’m confused

Hilda: Is anyone having a birthday?

Here we go! The runway is complete, and the dressing rooms are fit for queens. Pearl made sure of that. Everybody is helping out. It does seem a little strange that after Hilda’s brilliant compilation of information that resulted in the decision to start the Pearl’s Fashion House/ Runway/ Farm business; she mostly goes around singing happy birthday. Oh well, to each there own.

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Pearl: I’m so excited. I can’t wait to walk down the runway modeling my own fashion statement and then describe the designs each of our models is wearing.

Grace: Where are we going to get the designer clothes and the models, Pearl? Has anybody thought of that? I have no idea where a person would even start to look. I saw some ladies at the Dollar General that looked pretty nice. I believe they had hats on, too. When is Queen E. supposed to get here?

Pearl: Grace…Have you ever heard the fortuitous words spoken by some guy who wanted a baseball field on his farm? He said, “Build it and they will come.” We just have to put our heads together and make it happen.

Essie/Ellie: Well, so far, I’ve been able to get a chicken and a donkey. Is a donkey considered a farm animal? There’s a guy down the street that’s considering giving us an ant farm. He said it’s a good one. I got some hay, too, but I don’t think chickens and ants eat hay.

We don’t eat hay either…Is that a skunk in there?

Pearl: Where’s Hsomething, Essie? I haven’t heard her singing in a while.

Essie/Ellie: She said she has a lead on some designer clothes, but no models want to come to a runway in a barn on a farm with no people to watch the show.

Oh PU-LEEZ The bingo girls are back for the fashion show

“Do you think I would look good in that red one?”

“We’re twinsies, Pearl!”

lll

 

It appears we have come full circle. The bingo idea turned out to be a bingo bust. The savvy bingo players weren’t very forgiving and after receiving cheaper than dirt prizes at Pearl’s place, they left. No one was too hopeful they would be back.

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Pearl: I refuse to let this temporary set-back get me down. I’ve got a HUGE barn and there has to be some way I can turn it into a money making investment. Now…Who has a good idea?

Grace: Well, everyone seemed to enjoy my baked goods. I forgot to push the hot dogs, so we have a freezer full of those. I’m sure they’ll keep until the fourth of July. Hot dogs and the fourth of July are just like America and Apple Pie. Only it’s different.

Pearl: Close your pie-hole, Grace…Sorry, please close your pie hole. Does anyone else have any clever ideas?

Pearl the dog and Mouse have gone into the living room to watch Lassie.

Ellie/Essie: We could make a skating rink out of it. Do you know how to skate, Pearl?

Pearl: Hsomething… You don’t say much do you?

Isn’t there an idea or two rolling around that pretty head of yours?

Hilda: (The name Pearl can’t remember)…Can I speak truth to power, Pearl?

Pearl: Are you asking me?

Hilda: I’m glad you asked. I have done some feasibility studies on your barn. Allow me to show you my analysis. It considers the relevant factors, including economic, technical, and legal, etc. I have converted them all to generalized flow charts. I used these to ascertain if a business will succeed or fail.

Pearl: I can’t wait to see what you ascertained, Hsomething.

Hilda: The business most likely to succeed in your barn conversion, is (drum roll, please) Pearl’s Fashion House/ Runway/farm.

Pearl: Far be it from me to question an analysis based on relevant factors converted to generalized flow charts. What do we do first, Hsomething?

Hilda: We need to get all of those bingo tables out, put a runway in for the runway models, find a fashion icon that wants to have a show here, advertise, and get some farm animals, like goats, chickens, cows, and sheep.

Pearl: I like to delegate. Essie, you find us some farm animals and some hay. Farm animals like hay.

Grace… call Queen E. and tell her we need her to come across the pond ASAP. Maybe she can get those two crazy pilots to bring her…and tell her to bring a lot of hats, and maybe a few crowns.

Grace: Land sakes! this is going to be a lot more fun than Bingo. I never did really catch on to that game. I like Clue and Rummy. Remember that time we popped popcorn and played games because there wasn’t anything good on TV?…

Pearl: Does anyone have any questions? Never mind. Don’t answer that. Let’s all meet out at Pearl’s Fashion house/ Runway/Farm in about two hours…and wear something nice.

Mouse: Well, the farm animals could be interesting. What do you think, Pearl the dog?

Pearl the Dog: I just hope Queen E. doesn’t bring those Corgis. We have enough dogs around here.

Since Pearl obviously wants to be the leader of the pack, she’s taking on the responsibility of assigning everyone their duties. Someone has to call the bingo balls, someone else has to sell cards, which could be a difficult thing to keep up with. There is a small charge to get in, and people can buy hot dogs and drinks.

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“I guess it’s a unanimous decision not to allow smoking except for air cigarettes, “Pearl said. “Too bad I can’t charge for the air. Oh, well. You can’t make money on everything.”

“What are my duties going to be, Pearl? Can I sell hot dogs and drinks. Maybe I can make some of my special chocolate cake, too. I just love parties, any kind of parties…well except for Tupperware parties. I don’t have the room for anymore Tupperware.”

“That sounds good to me. Hsomething, would you like to call out the numbers? People are less likely to give you a hard time if two of them happen to call Bingo at the same time. I hear they cheat.

Essie, would you sell and verify the cards? You’ve gotta be quick and you’re quick.”

“What duty are you going to be responsible for, Pearl?” Grace was suspicious.

“I’m going to be the hostess,” she said. “I’ll wear my chic outfits and walk around chatting it up with people and making them feel comfortable and relaxed…Oh, and at the end of the evening, I’ll count all of the money.”

“I’m supposed to be the chic one, Hsomething. Would you mind taking your bingo balls and standing over there?

The pictures above were taken one hour into the first night. The entrepreneurs had no idea just how seriously bingo players took their bingo.

One and one half hours into the night!

“BINGO!! WHAT’S MY PRIZE?”

“HEY! I CALLED IT FIRST. DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME?”

“NO WAY, GIRL. YOU GOT A NICE BOTTLE OF BUBBLE BATH. ALL I GOT WAS A DRIED UP FRUIT CAKE! ”

“WHERE IS THAT LA TI DA LADY THAT WAS WALKING AROUND. THIS IS ON HER!”

“I GOT A TORN CARD. THAT’S GOT TO BE BAD LUCK.”

“What does she mean by that, Mouse? Where did you get that tire?”

“I found it in the back of this truck. It’s going to be a long night, Pearl the dog. I might have to roll this home.”

“That doesn’t make sense, Mouse. If you want to, you can get inside my camper topper with me. I don’t bite.”

Help me get out of here, Mouse. Those people are crazy. There’s only one thing I can do to save our business, Mouse. I’m going to have to make another elixer. I’ll call this one Elixer Spritzer.

Uh Oh…looks like we’re treading into dangerous waters again..Pearl the human is bored. That’s usually when she gets herself and everyone around her into some sort of awkward situation. I’m almost afraid to go on. I said almost.

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“Grace, you know how bored I’ve been. Life has no meaning. I need a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Something that makes me feel like I’m contributing to society.”

“Well Pearl, we’ve done five or six different things to give you a reason to get up in the morning and feel like you’re contributing to society. We almost got run out of town with that last one. My ‘Dear Grace’ advice column struck a few people too close to home and your Elixerfixer sold a little too well, and boy did they get mad when we ran out.

“I know, I know, Grace, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I’m pretty sure I’ve hit on something this town needs…a bingo hall! Just the thought of having our own bingo business makes my old juices flow. What do ya think, Grace?”

“I can’t imagine imagine anything more exciting than seeing the look of joy on someone’s face when they hear, ’15 under I…I-15,’ and they realize they have a row with those little dabbers on every number and they can holler, BINGO! ”

“They’re called dobbers, Grace, not dabbers. Okay then, do you have any ideas as to where we can rent a building big enough to be a bingo hall?”

“Hmmm. I know! What about that old barn on the edge of town? The only thing is, it might not have a bathroom.”

“let’s fire up the Jeep and go check it out, Grace.”

“Can you believe our luck, Grace? That old barn even has a little kitchen and a bathroom in it. All we need to do is sweep out a little hay and we’re good to go. I might even conjure up a refreshment that has a little Elixerfixer in it. We’ll have to think of another name.”

“I can’t wait to get it opened, Grace. Do you think Hsomething and Essie will help us?”

The new Essie/Ellie