To Paint or Not to Paint?

The past 3 months we have debated what to do with the fireplace in the living room which is darkish and dirty looking even after scrubbing and the bricks look like they have hieroglyphics embedded on them. So what to do. We got an estimate on covering it up and putting on a mantle - about 4,000.00. I don't think so. After researching on the internet (there were as many "go for it" as there were "don't do it") we are still undecided. We checked with our real estate agent and she said the "selling" factor would only be impacted if we painted it a wild and wonderful colour. We would paint it the same colour as the walls - we want it to disappear for now rather than jump out at you when you enter the room. We are waffling on it - which to me says that maybe we should not paint and just try to disguise. Most people living down here are used to fireplaces anyway, so the state of ours probably won't even fizz on them. Here are some pictures of "it". "It" looks better with the white painted board which was masquerading as a mantle now removed. We are waiting for a beach picture to be framed which we plan to hang in the middle of the fireplace to hide the brickwork. So far this is what we have. We still plan for an accent table (for guests to set their beverage down or whatever) and a couple of floor lamps as there is no ceiling light. Although I suspect there might have been one in the past - as there is a light switch on the wall just inside the living room which does nothing. Maybe it was just a "practice" switch :)

I have been trying to use the sunny days to work outside and rainy days to work inside. And to date there have been more rainy days than sunny and our temperatures are still below average. Everyone is saying that it has been late for planting. Tomato plants just went in the ground on June 20. That's what I love about garden centres - everyone talks to everyone else about how the gardening is going this year. Here are some outdoor pictures, now that we have the deck set up and some flowers in, trees cut down and grass cut.

Any company coming this summer are invited to use the BBQ all they want - morning, noon and night. It even has a side burner. I must get a few more deck chairs. It is really nice in the mornings - it is quiet and you can hear all the birds chirping - a nice way to start the day with breakfast and coffee out there (if it is not raining).

We have been on the road almost every weekend visiting the Maritime churches. Dad talks about PACE and then presents the message. It is scary though, when my parents' friends all come up and welcome us back and of course ask about my parents. I was mentioning this to another couple who commented on how there seems to be a generation missing. And now there is a younger generation up and coming and "doing church" differently. And we are so glad to see it happening.

Dad spoke at Hammonds Plains (outside of Halifax) on June 9, then we had Father's Day off (except that we made spaghetti pie and served homeless people in Halifax at a place called the Ark and can you believe this - while John was out front serving - he met the principal of Quinte Christian High School (whom he knew) who was there with about 16 kids on a school trip and serving at the Ark was their first assignment). Small world eh! Then on June 24, we were in Fredericton, NB and on July 1 we will be at Halifax Christian Church, then leave on July 2 to fly to Kansas City, Missouri for the North American Christian Convention (PACE has a display booth) where we will spell each other off for 12 hours/day. I'll post pictures of that when we get back.
That's all for now - love you all. Mom & Grandma

P.S. Hallelujah - as of June 23 our temperatures have made it into the 20's - finally some heat.