The Right Hand Side of the Chart

With a new organizational chart out last week, we looked to the right hand side of the chart.  We were three in, but there was at least one vulnerable person over there. The general rule from GE was that those positions on the far right of a chart were the most likely to be axed. This was a new one to me but seems to be a univerally accepted unofficial rule that has a track record of being accurate. So look out for the righ hand side!

A Full Year and still painting

We have been here just over a year now and the outside is getting into shape. The inside is slowly being painted too. The pause was one of constant moving that rather makes painting something that is done to make the house ready to sell. Well we do not have a move in the near future and I wanted some painting done for us to enjoy – a novel idea in the life of a Corporate Gypsy but I wanted some rooms looking like we lived here not rented.

So far the family room and through the kitchen and cats/entry area have been done. The base is ‘realtor yellow’ with a slightly darker yellow in the accent areas.

The dining room was next and we did that in classic burgundy colors which will be a pain to paint over when we sell, but we like it anyway. Next is the lounge which is in the undercoat stage right now – white going over a dark green which was ok but the carpet is dark blue. We think this might have been the original color too which is strange.  The main rooms downstairs are supposed to be done by Christmas and right now we are on target.

So we enter the second winter with a garden revamped and some progress on the inside. I very much want to get the basement sorted into some semblance of a utility room and cupboards this winter while himself paints the master bedroom area.

To keep up with the garden, visit www.katesgardenjournal.com

The Past Garden

I am a gardener and hate leaving the gardens that go along with the house. It has become part of the routine though to get as much done the first year, so that maybe I can get a few years of enjoyment out of the shrubs or fruit trees. Last week though, I had an email from the new owner asking about the garden and what to expect.

Apparently she has lived in apartments and is looking forward to learning about gardening, which is great because I know she will at least enjoy some things, attempt to keep it healthy, and hopefully put her mark on the garden.

Past gardens have not been so lucky. The Ohio garden had a mature herb and perennial bed, a rose garden and vegetable bed plus some trees. We got a card from the neighbor shortly after they took over – ‘they took a chainsaw to everything that was above ground – but they missed the bulbs!”. There is now an ugly above ground swimming pool in the garden which takes up all the back yard – tasteless.

Garden though are ephemeral and that is part of the Corporate Gypsy life – I make them, sometimes change them, and sadly leave them to the new owner who sometimes enjoys them.

Realtor Yellow

It was time to get some painting done to freshen up the place, and we had our usual discussions on what color the kitchen should be. We knew we wanted yellow, so for the most part that meant a pale yellow, but I wanted some color in the alcove and other accent areas.

The first comment I got was ‘we would have repaint it when we move’ – err excuse me? First we are not moving, I don’t think anyway, and I would like some color in the house. When you get a house ready for the market, it is always a neutral color throughout. Realtors do not recommend accent colors as that may put off buyers. I look past the color scheme, but apparently most do not. This house is painted a pale lilac type throughout with some suggestion that butterflies were stenciled in the bathroom and they have been obliterated with the pale mauve color.

So far then, we have the pale yellow. One of the kids called during the week and asked what color we were painting the kitchen, and pale yellow was too vague – I told him- Realtor Yellow and he knew exactly what shade we had used, but which prompted to ask the ever popular question – why? are you moving?

The good news is that it does look fresher and I may get my way with the alcove if we can find a color we agree on.