Our House

We've been floored! (in the bedroom only)

2010-11-14T07:15:00.000-08:00

Here is Bobby putting down the glue. It looked like chocolate frosting, but it didn't smell like it.

This was after 10+ hours of labor. A 1-day project that wasn't too bad except for all of the squatting we had to do. AND the glue was next to impossible to get off. When you tried to peel it off, it took your skin with it.

But considering the results, it was all worth it. Wouldn't you agree?

Here are some pics with furniture. This flooring is a strand bamboo. That means they kind of shred the bamboo when it's young and press it into boards. It results in a really beautiful textured look. You can't see many of the bamboo knots. It's also known as being really strong and good if you have pets.

One last thing-this post is dedicated to LISA CASCIOLA because every time I see her, she gives me a hard time for not updating our blog often enough. I'm sorry. I would say I'll do better next time, but I don't want to raise your hopes too much. Lisa-let me know when you see this. I need to know you haven't given up on us yet.

Update series-Mexico!

2010-06-18T12:39:00.001-07:00

Bobby put in our last kitchen light fixture.
Even better, he did this when I was still on vacation.

In early June, Bobby and I took a trip to Mexico with some friends. It was wonderful and here are some of the items/influences we brought back with us.

Everything in this photo (except the piano) is from Mexico.

This is a photo Bobby took in San Poncho (a super adorable town with a great beach.)

We bought this jug at a shop our friends took us to in Bucerias.

The shop also carried these Katrinas-skeletons in fancy clothes. They are usually standing up, but Bobby liked the sitting ones. I already wish I had bought more of them.

Katrinas have nothing to do with the Day of the Dead-it's more of a response of the poorer Mexicans to the richer, fancily dressed Europeans that started coming 150 years ago. 'You may look fancy now, but we'll all look the same when we're dead.'

These drawer pulls look like I should have bought them in Mexico, but I actually bought them in Fish Creek, WI.

I call this my Love Dove (even though I know it's more of a religious piece.) I found it at the same place where I bought the Katrinas and pitcher. Sadly, that shop will not still be there if we ever go back.

Publish Post

Outside stuff

2010-06-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

We've been able to devote some time to our landscape. You can also see most of the other changes from this picture.

We added a couple of hydrangeas. Can you tell which was planted last fall and which was planted this spring?

We added some herbs leading up one set of steps to the house. Two kinds of thyme and two kinds of sage.

Most recently, we added this planting at the corner of our driveway and sidewalk. I used a combination of native and non-native plants.
Threadleaf coreopsis, Missouri primrose, Turtlehead, Purple poppy mallow, Bush's poppy mallow, and Blue star aster.

Bobby made this planter for me. I used it for spring plants, but some didn't do so hot.
Maybe fall will be better.

Butternut squash that is supposed to grow up the nylon grid (with a little assistance from me, of course.)

One of two trellises that I'm using to grow cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, and cantaloupe.
In front, I've added several pepper plants, mint, and various flowers.

Earlier in spring, I couldn't stand waiting for things in my yard to bloom, so I mixed some flowers with herbs and put them into planters.

2010-06-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our gorgeous bathroom is almost finished. What we lack in space, we try to make up for in style. Sage green walls, white fixtures, white subway tile, and a blue/green/white glass tile accent around the shower.

We also have a guest bedroom now so you can come visit. I have a quilt in the works, but it's being professionally finished. Hopefully it will be on the bed in a month or two.

So long to the rustic plywood counter top.

2010-01-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

After quite a bit of work fabricating them , I installed the new Corian counter tops over the weekend. It is a big improvement over this and this.

Tile Update

2009-11-28T18:48:00.000-08:00

here is the latest on the master bath.

Yes, 2 in 1 day

2009-11-15T15:39:00.000-08:00

There used to be 2 other trees here, but they are mostly gone. The tree on the right is new and looks much better when it has leaves.
Another picture of our new autumn blaze maple
Our new deck railing
From the front

I seriously plan to be a better blog manager, so here are pics of what we did this weekend. You will be pretty well caught up after this post. I'll make posts on FB when I add pics.

Sorry it has been so long. Enjoy pics of the interior.

2009-11-15T15:26:00.001-08:00

Stair way between 1st & 2nd floor

Part of our bedroom and our (now big) dog, Oliver
Our bed set-up

Bathroom we currently use
Eventual half bathroom. We used the old knotty pine on the walls.
T.V. area
Non-T.V. sitting area
Kitchen prep area
Dining area

Decked Out (Continued....)

2009-05-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

Decked Out

2009-05-10T10:46:00.001-07:00

Here is some footage of the new deck we built which covers the front porch that I shot with my new FLiP camera.

We will be posting some photos of other angles as well

Siding Update

2009-02-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

You may not know this but January is a pretty long cold month. After many freezing nights out in the snow on the scaffolding we've done it. The siding is done.

Dog Blog

2008-09-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

We got ourselves a dog, its a long story (basically he was adopted by our neighbor for a week who then decided, she was going to send him back to the adoption agency because she cant handle a dog in her life right now. So... we took him). His name is Oliver he is a 3 month old Lab/Golden Retriever mix.

Insulation and Beyond

2008-09-29T09:45:00.001-07:00

A lot has happened since we last posted. We are now fully insulated, drywalled and about halfway "mudded". The cabinets are ordered too.

2008-07-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Just a note to our faithful blog readers: We reopened the comments section for anyone to read because we love to see your encouraging and funny comments. Recently, there has been some spam/virus activity on blogs. If you're reading the comments and it asks you to click on a link, don't do it unless you know the person who wrote the comment.
Now on to the main event:This faucet works! We can not use any toilets (because we don't have any), but we can make mud.

This tub is in the second/common bathroom in the second story. Behind it is the laundry room.

This is the new stack (for our non-existant toilets) and our water pipes (in the stylish red and blue). We used PEX instead of copper piping.

The furnace-OOOHH, AAAAH

One of Maura's tomato plants.If Bobby's lucky, she'll share with him.

Windows and Walls

2008-06-18T19:31:00.000-07:00

Roof, Windows,Stairs

2008-05-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

Sunday-Tuesday

2008-05-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Mind Blowing

2008-05-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday's work

2008-04-23T19:17:00.001-07:00

This is what we had by the end of the weekend. Thanks and love to everyone who helped: Pat, Tom, Sean, Patrick, Jack, Wes, David, Guy, Jake, Jon, Sharon, Tess, Jan, Bob, Wayne, Bonnie, and Molly

These are views from the second story.

The demolition went on this weekend. Here's what it looked like by 9 in the am. Big thanks to Pat, Tom, and Sean.

Yesterday's update continued

2007-10-21T19:49:00.001-07:00

Before and afters, and our new friend

2007-10-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

Our neighbor leaves his dog outside all day, if he's not careful we may recruit her to help us.

Demo Updates

2007-10-11T19:32:00.001-07:00

Second story, pre-demo

discovering the old walls

The Living Room

2007-10-08T20:20:00.002-07:00

This is how the house started out "sick and disgusting" according to Maura

This is after a few days of work

Here it is. Our House

2007-09-30T19:57:00.001-07:00