As I type this, I realize that I write a lot about the weather. And my anger/joy that stems from it.
Oh, well.
All I’m saying is that the little chubby woodland creature better known as “Phil” better NOT see his shadow in two days, because I really can’t stand any more of these sub-zero nights and days of dry snow. (and yes, if you’ve never experienced it, snow can be dry. Nosebleed inducing dry. Not that we’ve been having issues with that at our house or anything…)
I mean, why in the world did the first settlers stop here? Did their wagon wheels freeze in the mud, forcing them to stay here until spring, which caused them to forget about the cold until the next year? Was the cold a nice change of pace from the balmier weather they had in Europe? Were they gluttons for Puritan punishment?
Enough said.
On a happier note, I was at the Nashville airport a half an hour longer than expected, so I got the chance to read the winter edition of O at Home. Most times if I’m stuck at the airport, I go pick up a book- but the magazine had some cute home decorating ideas. It also had some ideas that were a little stale- like how to decorate for the holidays- but that’s what I get for picking it up two months after it’s publication date I guess.
My favorite new idea to try? The faux transoms over a window. I have the perfect spot in the kitchen, and I think it’ll help bring more light into the room.
It might be cabin fever, but I swear my house is closing in on me. Every day the walls seem to creep justaninch closer- like that scene from Star Wars on slow-motion. While I love the tiny cozy feel of my house- and am all about the character of my bungalow- I’m definitely feeling the need to gain a little more usable space for my hobbies.
Or to breathe.
Whatever. Ahem.
The basement we’ve been using for pretty much everything? Just not cutting it.
I need sunlight! And if that is not possible because of the eternal night that is Wisconsin, then fresh air! No? Too cold to crack open the windows? Then at least ceilings that touch the very heavens themselves*!
Or maybe just finishing up the attic (with skylights) sometime soon.
Or you know…actually starting the attic- frostbitten fingers be damned.
*I fully acknowledge that cost of heating such a kitchen (or this house for that matter) in Siberia Wisconsin is completely impractical, but a girl can pine over the transformation she saw on This Old House, can’t she? I think so.
One last set of pictures from the Capital. (Btw, the eagles at the bottom are part of the lamps you can see in the first picture. You can’t find those at your local lighting store anymore…)
The devil is in the details…but it’s those same details that makes your jaw drop in awe and appreciation when you notice it.
Or maybe I’m the only one who’s slack-jawed when noticing crown moulding and inlaid wood floors…
Wisconsin’s capital building is a prime example- it’s been renovated within the last 20 years or so, and it’s beautiful. M was recently sworn in- and I was able to take some pictures of architecture and the details…
And yes…that is a badger peering at you from over the doorway.
Both literally and figuratively.
A couple of days ago, our kitchen was put on 24hr black-out status. The “why” is a mystery…but I’ve been feeling like I’m living in 1941 London the last few days.
M had gone into the kitchen on Monday night, flipped the light switch to our recently installed overhead light, saw a flash, and heard a “pop”.
The bulb had burned out, right?
Yet after both bulbs were changed, the light refused to come back on. We checked the breaker box and the light switch (which also operates the still functioning basement lights)- and short of ripping pulling the light down and reconnecting the wires- haven’t been able to find the problem.
And, as our renovation habit requires us to work for a living, by the time we get home from work in the evening the kitchen is extremely dark- making any kind of cooking, microwaving, or food preparation extremely difficult. Getting food out of the refrigerator is pretty easy, but utilizing the little light bulb from the fridge by leaving the door open is just not an option.
Last night I came home to M making dinner by the light of one of our stained glass floor lamps. It took a bit longer than normal- checking if the chicken was still raw was a challenge when the color of the light was yellow and green - but it worked.
So take a wild guess what we’ll be doing this weekend? Just another thing to add to the list!
By a cold of all things.
Everyone here at the Cotterpin House seems to be suffering from a medical malady this weekend. M & I both have obnoxious colds- which gives us just enough energy to move from the couch to the kitchen and back. Even Stella is experiencing a little stomach discomfort- which has been less than exciting to deal with in our sniffly states.
Maybe it’s because of the imposed limits of mobility, but I’ve been noticing all the little things that have piled up over the last few months, and I’m itching to get some deep spring cleaning/spring to-do’s done. Yes, I realize spring isn’t for another three months- but the dinged up porch, the squeaky floorboards, the tacky linoleum in the back entry- all are acting up in desperate cries for attention. And it’s bugging me that I can’t do anything about it.
Sigh. Maybe next weekend. (insert sad music here.)
In other news, M was crowned sworn in at the Capital building this week. Very exciting and momentous, and a great opportunity for me to gawk at some gorgeous architecture. Pics to come later this week…
I never thought I would utter that phrase in Wisconsin, but there it is- the last few days we’ve had thunderstorms rolling through the area. And while I would love to believe that this will be par for the course for the rest of winter, I know it’s just a cruel, cruel joke that Mother Nature is playing on all of us Northerners.
“What? You get a couple of days of spring weather, and you think you’re in the clear? Ha! The foot of snow I’m going to dump on you next week will wake you up from your spring gardening plans!”
Doesn’t help that I’ve received catalogs from two separate gardening supply companies urging me to ORDER NOW for the spring planting season…At least all those pretty, pretty, depressingbecauseit’llbesixmonthsbeforeIseethose flowers will help me to cross off one of this year’s house resolutions.
And I’ll just pretend that I’m getting a jump on planning my garden and flowerbeds as I try to ignore my frostbitten toes…
…for getting the insulation put up and the conversion officially started.
Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Because, while I’m excited about getting to use a very generous Christmas present from my parents, (it’s light enough for me to move around, compact, and can do both nails and staples!! Everyone together now: oooh..ahhhh) and that all our nailing needs are taken care of for the foreseeable future, I’m also a bit intimidated about tackling the next project. It’s going to be a tough one- most likely full of blood, sweat, tears and a second job.
So, on one hand, energy efficiency, a cute new tool to play with, and a good start to the attic conversion…On the other hand, itchy insulation, creepy dark crawlspaces filled with spiders, and God only knows what kind of mess the last owner tried to cover up. Did I also mention the spiders? Definitely not looking forward to the spiders.
Pictures (not of the spiders, but the attic) to be posted before the fun begins!
While I realize much of the red and white I saw in Nashville could be directly linked to the holiday season- it’s still a color combination I love…cough, cough, my wedding colors, cough, cough.
I especially like it in unexpected places, like the antique store we visited while in town…
I knew the New Year was coming, but I was not prepared for it.
For some reason, (traveling 25 million miles in 2 days? too much rum? being thrown into freezing weather while still in shorts?) I was caught off guard when the new year rolled in. I’d blame it also on a time delay, but when you only travel directly south, and then directly north, you don’t really have that excuse either. Alas.
Anyway, back at the bungalow, the improvements patiently waited for us. So, in addition to my resolution to floss more often, I’ve added our house resolutions for the year- in roughly chronological order.
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Start and finish insulating the attic area
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Get estimates on installing a half bath on the second floor. Immediately abandon the idea if it costs more than the down-payment on the house.
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Install built-in bookcases, skylights, wall boards, electrical outlets, etc., into the newly insulated attic area
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Finish out/Decorate the attic space for use as office/spare bedroom
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Install new front and back doors on the house
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Expand the downstairs bedroom closet into the existing pantry space so I can actually hang up some of my clothes like an adult
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Plant lilac bushes along our backyard fence line to disguise the ugly fence/alley/garage
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Paint the mentioned garage so it doesn’t look like a shack- better yet, replace the one car garage with a two car garage so M can stop parking on the street
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Remove the rusty shack that is pretending to be a shed, but is just an oversize playhouse for the squirrels, rabbits and lawn furniture
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Install a new patio/pergola so our patio furniture doesn’t get a new home every time we need to mow the lawn underneath
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Design and move forward on a kitchen renovation
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Including new counters, cabinets, sink, and faucet
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Rip up the ugly (seeing a pattern here?) orange linoleum and refinish the hardwood floors lurking below
At this point, provided M & I haven’t killed each other, it will most likely be 2020…but it’s something to work toward. The renovation I mean. Not the futuristic date.
Or the killing the spouse thing.
Anyone else need a New Year’s margarita?
