Party on Nootka

It was our annual block party this evening which also called for taking our annual group photo!  I think we live in the very nicest neighborhood.  Our neighbors are a wonderful mix of lovely people and we are thankful.

Reached My Limit

My boys like to drink water and this is a healthy and proper thing to do.  They also like to drink water, leave the cup randomly on the table or counter and then forget which one is theirs.  Then they take a new cup.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.

This had to stop.

The mother ran out of patience with this untidy habit.

My solution was to give each child a 'spot'.  Their cup may live in this spot only and they will only take out ONE cup per day.  

Rinse and re-use, I say!

No Turning Back Now!

It has begun!

New Looks

Thanks for your input....the winning door is number 2 on the previous post.  I think it will be beautiful once it arrives.  I'm not good at making decisions so I am glad that Keith is.  I get overwhelmed quickly so it's best if someone narrows it down to just a few options.  Of course, this isn't the end of the choices that need to be made because it's a wood door and we'll have to choose paint.  Ugh!

As the cool weather settles in we spend much more time in our family room.  After living here two years now I still felt it was 'undone' and had a wee fit one day and went shopping.  After my solo shopping trip where I became overwhelmed (surprise, surprise) with too many choices I knew I had to go again with a friend with good taste who can make decisions!

I came home with an armful and Keith has been very busy moving furniture around, holding up pictures here and there and hammering lots of holes in the walls.  Of course one thing led to another and all of a sudden I am ordering an electric fireplace online from Costco.  WHAT?! 

We moved a sofa table from the living room to the family room which left a gaping hole.  I had always wanted to cozy-up that space.  It's a chilly room at the best of times so with the combination of the new door, a fireplace and new roof I do believe it will become a lovely warm reading space for those winter evenings. 

Here are some pictures of the project...

The new fireplace (website photo) Isn't it pretty?  I can't wait for it to arrive.

 We moved the photos from the wall opposite..

 

...and put the sofa table in that space.  The mirror has yet to be hung.  I had Keith hold it up there so I could take a picture and think about it a while! 

 

And some new art which I wasn't sure about in the store but just love on my wall.  It adds some much  needed color to the room and helps give it that 'finished' look I was hoping for.

Guess!

As a part of the 'spend all the money you possible can and then a little more more' scheme, we're getting a new front door.  Can you guess which one???

Trimming the Tree

Did you think that was a Christmas post?  Hope not!  We did some tree trimming but not of the holiday variety.  We talked about removing three of the six pines trees on the south side of our yard ever since we moved in.  Today we finally made it happen.  Keith had a co-worker come over and cut down three trees and top the remaining ones.  The amount of light in my back yard now is delightful!  Maybe this will improve my moss issue too.  Bonus.

 

 Before

 After

 The pile of debris

 Firewood for some lucky person

 My shade loving hostas won't know what hit them.  Perhaps I'll move them and plant something new here next spring.

And then the chipper/shredder came and make quick work of all the branches. 

Done! 

Stay tuned for more home improvements coming our way.

Mini-Makeovers

Something had been bugging me for a while.  We had beds in our house without head or foot boards.  They were just mattresses with box springs on a metal bed frame to get them off the ground.  It didn't look right...unfinished.  I had it in my head to at least get William and Chad's beds 'finished' this summer.  I scoured the web to discover that these items are not easy to come by when one is on a budget!  Even Ikea let me down. 

I kept my eye on Craigslist too without any luck.  Then I heard about a moving sale not too far from our home and we actually knew the family that was moving (read:  I am fussy and like to buy used items from people I know) AND they had posted pictures of the items that would be for sale online.  I immediately spotted a single bed that looked like a good possibility for my plans.  Fast forward to the moving sale and we discovered that not only was there one bed for sale, but two since they were bunk beds at one time.  We snapped them both up for $50!  One was painted grey and one was the original white and in pretty good shape.  Solid wood too!  We immediately drove to my parents to raid the paint closet and came home and started sprucing up the headboards.  We decided to leave the foot boards off the beds because the boys are tall (and getting taller!) and it's better if they can stretch out and dangle their feet off the end if need be.

 

 Here's one of the headboards after I cleaned it.  If you click on the picture you can see some 'graffiti'!

 Sanding in preparation for priming and painting.  Keith basically did all the work after that.  I tried my hand at painting (it LOOKS easy and fun) but discovered I don't really have a knack for it.

 And the finished product in Chad's room.  The bed just looks so much better now.  Chad also took this opportunity to rearrange his room.  I like it!

 Below is William's headboard and his mattress is missing!  We took his mattress and gave it to Liam since we are buying him a new mattress before he comes back in September.  Liam had been sleeping on a foam type mattress that was 10 plus years old and really ready to retire.  We'll keep it in storage for sleepovers.

Now we just need to finish Nate's bed and the guestroom bed.  If you hear of any good deals around...let me know!

An Expensive Week

Many weeks, maybe even months ago the freezer section of our fridge started becoming a bit warm.  The ice cream was too easy to scoop and the bread was sort of soft.  We didn't really pay too much attention until earlier this week we noticed that the ice cubes were melted.  This problem could no longer be ignored.  Due to the recent heat wave it was a bit difficult to tell if the fridge compartment was cold enough because it seemed cold compared to the air temp in the kitchen.  Mind you the milk wasn't as chilly as I preferred!  I bought a thermostat and was rather aghast to find the fridge hovering around 10 degrees.  Proper cooling should be at a minimum of 4 degrees!  We tossed a lot of food we thought might have been compromised.  Fast forward to a quick evening of fridge shopping and two days later this beauty was delivered to our home. 

I'm so thankful we have a back up fridge in the basement for the essentials.  It's a tiny fridge generally filled with just our milk jugs and pop etc but we loaded that little thing up just as tight as we could.  Now we have to wait 24 hours for the new one to come up to proper temperatures.  I can't wait to go grocery shopping (did I just say that??) and stock up for my hungry family again.  We've been limping along for a few days on very simple meals!

 

I had thought I wanted French doors but after testing them out at the store I quickly changed my mind.  They feel a bit fussy to open and close and the storage space in the doors is a bit inadequate.  We were happy with this rather simple Samsung.  I'd rather have a base model of a good brand than a fancy model of a crappy brand that will break in a few years.  Our old fridge was only 9 years old....can I be an 'old person' and say that they don't make things like they used to!

Back to What Works Best

Last summer our gas mower died and we had decided to replace it with an electric mower.  There were a few reasons.  I hated the pull cord of a gas plus the inconvenience of making sure you always had gas on hand to fill the tank.  I grew up using an electric so I was comfortable mowing around an extension cord and it was always ready to go!  No gas needed.
Well, we used an electric for a year and found that it was not suited to our yard at all.  The engine simply was not powerful enough to cut through our thick grass (okay, I am a over-generous with the fertilizer!) so you had to walk r-e-a-l-l-y slow so the engine wouldn't bog down.  Our yard is huge so I didn't like the time it took to mow it.
Now we are back to a gas mower.  We got a great deal on a Craftsman with a Honda motor at Sears.  You will think us weird but we 'fought' over who was going to try it out first this morning.  Me, I just like mowing and Keith just likes machines.  So, I graciously let Keith have the privilege because I know for sure the novelty will wear off for him and it'll be back to me and the boys mowing regularly.  Instead I attacked my ever growing patch of chickweed with a vengeance and re-seeded some bare patches.
My parents bought our electric off of us as theirs was decrepit and falling apart.  Dad just happened to stop by to pick up the mower as I was baking so he was the lucky winner today of a fresh cinnamon bun!

Dining Room - Check

After looking for a buffet to complete my dining room for a long time we finally found the perfect piece at Ikea.  I had actually seen this piece a year ago but wasn't sure about it at that time.  After shopping around our local furniture stores I realized that the price of this buffet was quite reasonable and it's solid wood to boot!  Rare for Ikea furniture.

So as you can see it barely fits but no matter, it's there to stay!

Thank you Keith for assembling the 30,000 pieces.  You're a keeper.

And the lovely artwork is an original oil painted by my Aunt Herta.  Love it!

You can check out some of her work here:  http://hertaeringallery.weebly.com/

Christmas in April

With my Christmas gift from Andrew which was a gift card from Homesense I bought myself a full length mirror.  We'd be without since our previous house so it's nice to be able to see how tight my pants are all at once!  Ha ha.

Two Years Here

It just hit me the other day.  We have been at our house for two years now!  I would like to say we are completely settled but alas...not quite true.
There are some rooms that look like we just moved in yesterday.  So many bare walls because I cannot make decisions about décor.  Empty spaces because buying more furniture is not quite in the budget.  The garage is a mess and Keith has his life planned for the next 10 years working on my 'honey-do' list!
One thing I am spending a portion of my tax refund on though are blinds for all the upstairs bedrooms.  We did the main floor and bathrooms when we moved in and it has bothered me a bit that they don't match! 
OCD...I know.
So, I am happy that are getting measured today for new 2-inch blinds and will be rid of the nasty one inch beasts!

Warm As Toast

I went downstairs on Friday morning and thought the house seemed a bit chilly.  I put the thermostat up to 20 degrees and after a few minutes nothing happened.  So I furiously started pushing all the buttons and decided that our programmable thermostat probably needed fresh batteries.  So amidst the morning rush of getting out the door I was prying off the cover and popping in new batteries.  At this point the program on the furnace was going to put the temperature back down for the day so off we went and I didn't give it another thought. 

When I got home that afternoon I noticed the house had a definite chill.  I went to check the read-out and it was a brisk 18 degrees.  Keith had been in and out all day and hadn't really noticed the house being so cold.  At this point I knew it was not good news.  We went to actually go and look at the old beast to find the pilot light out.  After calling my friend (who's hubby is a HVAC technician) and trying his advice we were still without our furnace.  The pilot light would NOT stay lit.  Thankfully we have our gas fireplace and our bedrooms upstairs all have electric baseboard heaters.  This morning Keith did a bit more research on the internet (what ever did we DO before Google?!) and found that it could simply be a case of needing a new thermocoupler.  Not sure what that is precisely but I do know that one's furnace needs one to work!  This part cost us all of $10 and Keith was able to replace it easily.  Thank goodness!  So we are all toasty warm and happy that we avoided a nasty expense right before Christmas.

The End.

 

Love Thy Neighborhood!

Boy, oh boy do I love the street we live on.  We experienced our first ever block party yesterday.  There is really no better way to connect with people than over food.  It's one thing to wave at your neighbors in passing but to really chat with them and have a laugh bonds you in a different way.  I know now that I will be more quick to pop across the street for a chat. 

Ever thought of organzing a street BBQ in your neighborhood?  I highly recommend!

Yet Another Home Project

This time the issue was my stall shower in the ensuite.  It's a small space and a bit dark so I didn't notice that the caulking had pulled away from the tile on the corners.  Keith used my shower a few weeks ago and told me that it was leaking into the wall and it needed some attention...STAT!  So I gave up showers for a few days so it could completely dry out.  No, I used the main bathroom shower!

Keith set to work sanding off many layers of caulking so he could apply a new coating properly.  Of course this took a long time because Keith is a perfectionist and when he does something it's done RIGHT!  So now it's done and have my girl shower back.  One day we'll just rip it out and replace the whole thing but that's a long term dream.

Home Project #547

After we had a new fence put in last year the guy offered to sell Keith two extra panels so we could replace a rotten section of fence between us and the neighbors kitty-corner to our yard.  We bought them and then they sat outside for a year.  This bothered me because they weren't stained and I wanted them stained and installed so they didn't get ruined in the weather!  So this summer I asked Keith very sweetly if perhaps he might find a day to get this project done.  And since Keith knows what's best for him, he got to it on his first day of holidays.  I hope these neighbors are appreciative since we didn't charge them a cent for the supplies or labour of replacing a shared section of fence!  I doubt they'll even notice as it's behind their huge hedge and they are generally too busy partying in their outdoor pool to consider anyone else!

Found It

I'd been hoarding my Home Sense birthday gift card for the perfect item for my front hall and tonight I found it!  Now I'd like to find a small decorative lamp and it will be just right.

Year 1 Anniversary

We have been in our 'new to us' house for one year now.  It's felt like a year....we've experienced each season in this home and are getting to know it better.  Summers are nice and cool on the main floor and basement.  The upstairs is horribly hot.  Winters are toasty warm on the main and the basement is even warmer but the upstairs is freezing.  The house is quite sound proof and it's not often I hear the rain or wind during the night.  All in all a good house!  We have accomplished a lot in making the house 'ours' but I feel we do have a long ways to go yet.  The bare walls abound and there are many empty spaces that just need something...but I don't know what!  All in good time, I tell myself.  Patience!
Here is some of the transformation thus far....

 The entry hasn't been changed dramatically but the floral faux stained glass applique was removed and the paint color updated and of course the new baseboards.

 The family room was painted and received a new sofa set and area rug.

 We found a home for the two bald guys (our invaluable moving help!!!) and patched up the grass.  Keith worked very hard to install his hot tub, build planters and extend the patio

 The livingroom/dining room received new carpet and paint and 2-inch blinds.  The empty walls are crying for a decorator's touch!  Oh and unlimited access to a bottomless bank account.

 New carpet and paint for the entire upper floor, more 2-inch blinds on the landing window and new baseboards.

 Keith did a beautiful new wood trim between the living and dining rooms.  I can't wait to get a new buffet in the space in the dining room.  One day!

 The man cave already had decent paint and fairly new good quality carpet so we didn't do too much there.  Just a new sectional and it's one of our favorite rooms!

Future projects include getting our office/computer room in order.  Making a guest room with a proper bed and some yard work is really needed. 
It feels like home and we love it.

Good Job Team!

I'm really proud of my family.  That pile of tree branches was completely overwhelming but with two days of hard work now behind us, it has been completely taken care of.  We cut, sawed, clipped and bundled a whole lot of tree. 

The first day of dealing with 'the pile' the boys had overnight guests.  Their parents told me to put them to work if I wanted, so I did.  They were all good sports and after a solid hour of helping I set them free to play!  In this picture, Liam look like he's going to take a bite of of that stick and Andrew looks like he can't quite believe how big that pile of branches is!

 Day two and we were back at it.  As you can see from the truck in the background,  we inspired the neighbors to prune their ornamental plum trees.  Actually everyone was out in their yard working like little bees today.  It was a very friendly atmosphere.  About six neighbors came and thanked Keith for pruning that over grown cherry tree!  They were very complimentary...about the job he did.  He does have an artistic eye so it is pruned into a nice shape.

 Liam had his own 'special' way of helping.  Let's just say he was there for entertainment purposes only!

And here is Liam with the final bundles all ready for the yard waste pick up truck on Tuesday.  Thank goodness for Keith who is handy with knots and was able to bundle up the branches quickly and neatly.  We also have about 10 full yard waste brown bags to add to that so the truck driver will have his work cut out for him!  And what a glorious day it was on Saturday.  Toasty warm at 16 degrees which is great weather to do yard work.  Our wonderful neighbor lady even brought us some warm, fresh from the oven muffins to give us energy to finish the job.  I have to say that this neighborhood is all that a neighborhood should be!  I love it.

Overdue Trim

At our old house we had a massive cherry tree.

Much to our chagrin, our new place also had a massive cherry tree!   We decided that it needed a haircut in the worst way.  Keith rented a saw and after about 4 hours had this tree looking neat and tidy again.

 Going

 Going

 Gone

Now, what to do with these branches.  Anyone have a chipper/shredder they can lend us?!