If These Walls Could Chalk

When we were first shopping for a home, there was one feature I knew for sure I would add: a chalkboard wall.  Even though nowadays as a college instructor I use a whiteboard, the kid in me who used to play "teacher" loves and misses chalk.  Emmie loves it, too!  She draws while I cook.  Fun for the whole family!

You can buy chalkboard paint at your local hardware store.  We got the kind that you can have dyed various colors.  Instead of traditional black, we opted for dark grey to match the yellow/grey color scheme we have going on in the kitchen.  We have one thin wall without cabinets that juts out a bit into the room.  It was just right for a full-length chalkboard.  The top is for the grownups and the bottom three feet is Emmie's canvas.

We use it for all kinds of things!  Bruce has done large drawings (he's arty like that) to amuse Emmie.  For my birthday party, he turned it into a giant birthday card that all our friends signed by the end of the night (I took a picture for posterity).  Right now, it's a huge To Do list of stuff we want to buy or accomplish before our housewarming party next month:

I wrote the first three and Bruce says, "Those aren't projects.
They're things to buy." Isn't that how all projects start off?

The dryer has nothing to do with the party, but last weekend my father and brother brought over an old dryer they had in their barn.  It still works.  I cleaned it up, but we need to get the proper attachments.  Bruce is a little hesitant about hooking up a gas dryer.  One day, right after we just bought the house, Emmie and I were home all day by ourselves.  Bruce works for the gas company, so he scheduled someone come out to take a look as a precautionary measure.  It just so happens we had a leak in the laundry room caused by the previous owners' carelessness.  It could've been dangerous.  So understandably, Bruce is worried that something could go wrong if he installs the dryer himself.  We've got to get it working soon, though, for when the cold blows into Illinois, there won't be any more hanging clothes outside on the line.  Unless we want to wear icicles!

Let's see how many more items I add to the list and how many actually get done.  We've been busy every weekend practically all summer.  So far in September our schedule is fairly light.  It would be great if I can cross everything off before the party, wipe down the wall, and draw a cute Welcome sign for all our guests to see!