In three months, M and I will be taking an extended renovation vacation to enjoy the splendors of Europe. Specifically, three months exactly from today, I’ll be enjoying the beauty of Venice.
Sigh. Venice. Sigh.
Gotta love that. Happy Love Thursday!
June 26, 2008
June 25, 2008
Demons of Efficiency
When I was a kid, my dad’s work schedule changed, allowing him a day off in the middle of the week- which meant that he could go run errands and take care of general requests while mom was at work. One week, he picked up my younger sister early from school. She was thinking “Yay! Out of school early!”, while my father was thinking “Yay! Help with the grocery shopping!”.
The trip to the supermarket ended up taking three hours. I’ll wait while you digest that. Yup, three hours.
It seems that they tracked down each item on the list, in written order, criss-crossing the store approximately 50 times.* Ask my sister about it, and you’ll get a colorful story about having to row a Viking ship to the beat of a drum.
In many ways, I feel our home renovation list is similar to that long-ago odyssey to get some groceries. Except, as soon as one item is complete, another is added to the bottom of the list.
We’re having a small get-together this weekend, so naturally I want the house to be in the best shape possible. In my wildest dreams, I won’t have to say “Sorry about ____/Please forgive ____/We’ve been renovating and are not quitedone yet.” (which roughly translates into “Um, yeah…those holes in the wall? Been there for about 6 months- and may be there if you visit 6 months from now…”) We’ve made great headway this week on the list- including getting most of the porch painted, the garage painted, and some trim installed- but I also feel like we’re furiously criss-crossing the store to gather information, supplies, tips, and finished projects, just to race in the opposite direction again.
Maybe that’s just the nature of home renovation- especially on a house that has so many projects to tackle. I know grocery stores have maps- do home renovations have maps too?
*I’m happy to report that my father is MUCH better about grocery shopping- but to this day will lovingly be reminded of past transgressions from my younger sister.
June 22, 2008
Kitchen- Before and Afters
It took me a few weeks, but I finally was able to taken “final” pictures of the renovation of the kitchen.
That is, if you take “final” to mean there are a few things still needing to be done- but that the kitchen on the whole is 99% useable…which I obviously do.
Before- and yes, that was all there was…
And after (almost!)
Interested in more before/after stories? (I promise they aren’t all mine) Haveone of your own? Be sure to check out One Project Closer. They’re having a contest of before and after stories to help support Habitat for Humanity! It’s a great cause, and a great way to support them
June 19, 2008
The Cotterpin House had a farm…
Today was CSA day!
Let me back up a bit…
This spring, M and I were watching PBS (because we’re some of the few people left in the United States without cable <gasp> ) and saw a segment on community supported agriculture (or CSAs). Haven’t heard about them? Yeah, me either…
The premise is that a local farm offers members of the community a “share” in their crops in exchange for a set share price each week. You then get an equal share in all the produce for the growing season (ours is 20 weeks long). If the season gets rained out- everyone gets a smaller share. If the growing season is great- everyone gets to share in the extra food. Turns out there’s all types of CSAs available- veggies, fruit, honey, eggs, even chicken and beef.
Anyway, we saw the show and thought it was cool that the money you pay for fresh food is going to support little family farms- not some nameless mass conglomerate. And we I was tired of running out into our yard to scare off the rabbits feasting on our garden. So we decided to join up.
And were deemed non-CSA worthy. I guess they require blood tests and fiber counts, and as we subsisted on jelly beans and stale Christmas candy up until that point, we didn’t make the cut. Just like high school all over again.
Ok, it may have been because we were about four weeks out from the first delivery, and all the farms had full lists…but I think the former had a bit to do with it too…
Anyway about a week ago we got an email that a share was open- with our first choice farm! They liked us, they really liked us! Or we had the cash they needed. whatever. don’t judge.
So today was the first official delivery…We got lots of herbs, maple syrup, radishes, and a ton of beans. Next month? Cucumbers, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes, beets, lettuce, carrots, and more radishes. Anyone want a salad?
June 15, 2008
Dad the Handyman
Growing up, my father was a bit of a handyman and carpenter. He fixed leaks, jerry-rigged solutions, and kept the house functioning with some sweat and duct tape. As I grew though, so did his knowledge on home improvement- and he move onto heavier carpentry, including furniture building, deck building and major home improvements.
Naturally then, my minor role as “flashlight-holder” grew into “beam-steadier”, “vegetation hauler” and then, “general assistant”. While a teenage girl isn’t so happy to be put into such roles, I was surprised to find in my first college theater tech class that I wasn’t completely confused when the scenic manager was describing the difference between a jigsaw and a radial arm saw. Or why 2×4’s aren’t actually 2″x4″. And that you only messed up a project if you couldn’t find a way to hide it.
From there, a love/hate relationship with carpentry and home improvement flourished. From building my first coffee table to tiling my backsplash, my dad has given me the skills (and more importantly, tools!) to get the job done. And luckily, my house has been the main beneficiary.
Is it any wonder then that the smell of sawdust reminds me of my dad?
Thanks Dad for all the help! Happy Father’s Day!
June 12, 2008
The Water Down-Under
As mentioned before, we’re having some rough weather. Severe weather watches. Flood watches. “Auntie Em” watches. And M and I are on basement watch.
Which is about as fun as it sounds.
We don’t have a sump pump (insert ominous music here)- just a center drain- so this past weekend we had a few trickles minor streams of water from the base of the basement walls to the drain.
Again, about as fun as it sounds.
It wasn’t standing water though (thank you baby Jesus), and wasn’t very deep (thanks again baby Jesus), but it definitely put a crimp in my movie-of-the-week Saturday night television plans.
What can I say…I’m an exciting girl when I’m on my own for the weekend- M was off doing fabulous/important National Guard stuff- like watching it rain from a Humvee…
Other than our Picassos, we don’t have a bunch of stuff in our basement, so clean up wasn’t too bad. I’m not liking the pool smell that permeates the house when we turn the air on due to the disinfectant, but it’s better than black mold crawling up my walls, so who’s going to quibble, right?
So, after sealing the cracks with industrial strength goop, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the streams will be reduced to drops- or best yet- nothing at all.
We’re scheduled to get up to two additional inches of rain tonight- so we might be sleeping in shifts until the goop proves itself.
So, um, is anyone having good weather so far this month? If you are, would you mind some water-logged house guests for a week or two?
June 8, 2008
Rain, Rain, Go Away
We’re on day three of torrential rain- with more expected this afternoon. Needless to say, my backyard is literally underwater. There have also been reports of cars floating away in intersections- and flash flood reports across the city…kind of puts a damper on the landscaping/exterior painting I wanted to get done this weekend!
June 4, 2008
Roadtrips on the mind
Maybe it was the long winter.
Or maybe because it’s actually starting to get warm out and I can practically see the grass growing beneath my feet.
Or maybe it’s just the call of the wild.
Or the call of the road.
Or the call that if the renovation gets to be too much we can just hitch up our “spare bedroom” and camp out for awhile.
But this? So cute. I stumbled across it while looking for cheap vacation spots…And it’s not like I’m even an RV kind of girl- I was a strictly camping in the background while twirling around in my pretend-tutu type of girl…
But still, it’s probably because of the retro look that I love…that and the hatchback kitchen. What’s not to like about a HATCHBACK KITCHEN?!? Impractical during a rainstorm? Well. Yes. But still so cute.
June 1, 2008
Renovation Vacation
After taking a mini-vacation from all things renovation related, and to recover from a summer cold, the husband and I are back in full swing this weekend- among the things completed:
Door jamb stained
Quarter-round trim stained
Over-the-Sink light purchased and installed
Garbage disposal purchased (not installed)
Annual flowers purchased and planted in our porch containers
Japanese maple tree purchased and planted
Garden weeded
and a couple of afternoon naps in the recently discovered sunshine…
There’s still plenty to do- including the finishing touches on the kitchen. Hopefully most of it will be done this week- pictures included.
