And the saga continues

First of all I hate to complain when I'm not even doing the work but damn, if these contractors don't get finished soon I'm going to lose my ever loving mind.  Mark and I could have done it ourselves in this time frame but we hired a professional so it would be done in 2 to 3 weeks.  We now have a bet on when they will actually finish and I think Mark may win.  He said this Thursday and I said Saturday but I'm hoping that he wins this bet.  They did finish the laundry room so at least I'm back to doing laundry again but I lost my special tile.  Just a quick reminder here's what I ordered

 

But no one explained that this company only sells the tiles as a mixed lot like this....wth?  Seriously I fell in love with the tile they displayed at the store so I was heartbroken and back to square one.

I mean who does this all random in a small space?

 

Oh well it was back to the tile store to beg, plead and shop for new tile.  They don't normally allow returns on special orders but I think they just felt sorry for me.  I couldn't find anything I loved so I went the classic style way which probably is a better choice as much as it pains me to say.  We had the existing white cabinets moved to the same wall as well as the washer and dryer.  Still thinking I want to find a soapstone or granite countertop in charcoal or black to put on top of the appliances but I have agreed to wait a while because Mark's worried it'll make the room look smaller.

Added new lights

 Spent some serious time finding just the perfect knobs for the cabinet doors

And the rolling laundry cart

Now what to do with this cabinet.  I think it's just to jarring in it's stained finish.  I'm always in the "don't paint nice wood pieces" but I'm thinking about painting it charcoal or even a white.  This isn't a fine antique but it is a nice piece that someone made in the 1980's which is perfect for cookbook storage or as Mark calls it "Donna's Porn".  What are your thoughts?

 

 

And now the latest sweet baby picture of Zeva at 5 months old and her favorite snuggle toy, Sparkle the Elf.  She's just so stinkin cute that I can't stand it and I've got to get back home to see her. 

 

Well Mark's off to bed again in the guestroom and complaining all the way.  We miss our bed and Clarice does as well because I caught her napping up there tonight after the guys left.  She crawled under the quilt on my side and snuggled down amid the mirrors, trim, faucets, ect....well you get the idea.  She wants things back to normal just like we do so keep your fingers crossed that Mark wins the bet!

 

Do something this week that makes you smile....like looking at Zeva's picture!

 

 

 

 

Remodeling Suxs!

Well as we all know remodeling is hell!!!!  Between the guys not showing up, weather and running into unexpected issues it’s not been fun.  The contractor said 2 to 3 weeks but we’re already at 2 weeks and nothing has been accomplished except the rough in plumbing….damn at this pace Mark and I could have done it ourselves.  Well except for the issues they have run into with the plumbing pipes not being as accessible as we all thought they would be and the demo work would have sucked because there was a lot of tile to remove along with the huge shower pan.  Ok so maybe I need to cut them some slack.  I did make them cookies this morning …..Two types so they are liking me a lot today.  So here is bathroom before and keep in mind that it was one weird setup.  You had to walk thru the shower to reach the whirlpool tub and it was a double shower with lots of wasted space….I think they were going for a spa look but it was very closed off, dark because the shower walls absorbed all the natural light from the windows and just awkward.  It wasn’t a small room but it sure felt like it.  The remodeled bath will be bright, open spaces that will function so much better. 

If you look in the mirror you can see the wall to the shower which was the first thing you walked into when you opened the door.  The wall used to go to the ceiling but they shortened it about 2 feet a couple years ago and I can’t imagine how dark it would have been then.  There was no door on the toilet area so if you forgot to close the main door no privacy.  I forget to close the door about 90% of the time since I’m home a lot by myself and afraid someone might break into the house and hide outside the closed door waiting to get me.  Mark thinks I should rethink my tv show watching if that’s what I’m scared about. 

Can’t wait until it’s done and the guys are out of my hair because getting up at 7:00 every morning, showering, dressing in real clothes and doing my hair and makeup is getting really old.  And when they don’t show up I don’t know it until after I’ve done all that  stuff.  And the dust flying around everywhere and being unable to live upstairs until they are done is starting to drive me nuts.

Alright enough complaining now on to things that make me smile:

Back yard visitors that stop by daily

Clarice climbing a tree

Or maybe a little rock climbing

And then there are new Zeva pictures from Valentine’s Day

Ninny (my momma) and Zeva napping together in the recliner

Wearing the outfit I got for her VDay gift

Can’t afford any thing in this picture but love, love, love it all anyway.   I have wanted a punched tin pie safe and a corner cabinet for as long as I can remember but haven’t found “the one” yet.

But I did find this treasure yesterday at Goodwill for half off the $5 price tag.  It’s a complete set of patterns from 1961 for cross stitching, rug hooking, quilting, ect…..They were never used but that is going to change soon.   Its individual sheets of patterns and instructions all in this box not in book form so easy to use. 

So I’m off like a herd of turtles to retrieve Clarice from upstairs again.  We’re using a baby gate on the stairs to keep down here but when they guys are doing plumbing work it’s hard to use it since they need access frequently so not worth wrestling with it.  Well except the part where I have to go retrieve her to keep her from trying to sneak outside when they leave the doors open.  

Laundry room remodeling, Stitchy Fun and More

Ok guys and dolls told ya I'd be back later this week and gosh I have a lot to tell y'all about.

First of all, I mentioned the cabinet I bought for the laundry room in my last post but didn't put the picture in.....duh!  It was handmade 1991 and the cherry finish is wonderful so no painting it.  I needed a cabinet that would tuck in the little spot where the washer is because it's being moved beside the dryer...thank goodness.  The laundry room is just an awkward space and the washer and dryer doors opened into each other which was such a hassle when moving clothes because only one appliance could be open at a time.  So we're moving the washer and dryer to the same wall, moving the white cabinets to the one wall, removing built in ironing board, installing soapstone countertop over the appliances, adding the cherry cabinet for cookbook storage and finally replacing the tile. 
Realtor Before Pics:

 

This is the tile that I have ordered for the floor which Mark just hates.  It looks like an old painted farmhouse floor and I really wanted it in the bathroom but since he very strongly objected I comprised by just putting it in the laundry room.  It will have very, very small grout lines and the walls will be painted a very pale grey.  The contractors will hopefully start next week!  They've really got to start next week because the garage is filling up quickly with bathroom cabinets, lighting, bath tub, ect.....Things are stacked on top of each other and I expect them to start falling every time I walk out there.

 

I picked up my framed finishes yesterday and I can't wait to figure out where I'm going to hang these beauties. 

Song of Spring by Blackbird Designs

Easter Parade by Blackbird Designs on pale yellow linen.  I'll display this one seasonally since I'm basically out of wall space.

Sunflower House by Blackbird Designs is really a stunner!

 

Good news is the snow is melting away finally and I was able to get out Monday morning to meet the contractor at the tile store.  Bad news is that I slid back down the driveway several times in my attempt to get out.  I slid into the stacked stone on the driver's side and scuffed the wheels/tires and put a couple of scratches on the back fender.  Now my driving skills are questionable on a good day but add in the snow/ice and I was set up for failure.  Mark was just very grateful that I didn't slide over on the right hand side of the driveway because that's a straight drop that ends with the house.  I told him we could have gotten the bathroom remodel done by insurance but I would have hated to file that claim.  Seriously the truck isn't scratched that bad and I learned that when it snows, I stay home!  He got the car out fine with no problems so it can be done just not by me. 

 

He leaves again on Sunday for a week so Clarice and I will be moving to the basement during the remodeling project so we won't be in the guys way.  I'm looking forward to getting it done but dread the mess and moving all our crap out of the bath/bedroom.  I mean I just got the boxes unpacked and now I'm packing stuff back up?  Daniel thinks it'll take them 2 to 3 weeks to get both rooms done so I can stand it for that long.  I'm sure it would have taken us at least 3 months to do it ourselves and that's if we didn't kill each other during the process.

 

I don't think I ever posted the final pictures of the kitchen island with the paint and top installed.   I love it!

 

And finally a new picture of Zeva!

 Zeva and her daddy

 

So this week do something that makes you happy or makes you smile which in my case is just looking at pictures of Zeva all the time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Days Finally

Snowy days, snowy nights and I love them all!  Since most of the country is experiencing this winter storm I won’t go into details but I have been dreaming of what being snowed in would be like in our new home and I was not disappointed.  The view of the mountains is really a peaceful sight and since we are so far up there is nothing but quiet soft sounds of the snow falling.  I’m really in my happy place in the mountains!

 

I know I’ve been neglecting my blogging lately but computer and blogger problems keep popping up for me.  Mark worked on my computer last night so hopefully this will clear up the issues at least for a little while.  He says it’s nothing I’ve done or downloaded but just some glitches so crossing my fingers that it’s fixed now.

 

We survived Christmas and got to spend a glorious week in AR with family.  I got to meet my great niece, Zeva and I spent every minute I could holding her, feeding her, snuggling…..  I just fell head over heels in love with this sweetie.  I thought when Zared was born that I would never experience love like that ever again but then Rachel, Kelton and Josi came along to prove me wrong…..and then there was ZEVA and I know my heart exploded.  She looks just like her grandpa (my brother, Jeff) and her daddy (Zared) but she is just a doll baby.  I cried when I met her, I cried when I left her and I’m tearing up just writing this post.  I really need to get back to AR next month to see her again because she’ll grow up faster than I can blink an eye and I don’t wanna miss a thing.  Yes, cue up Aerosmith 

 

 

 

Don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

 

I have spent some time thrifting lately and I have found a couple of real treasures.   The Habitat Restore runs a silent auction a couple times a month featuring antiques or unique collectibles.  I had never participated in one until earlier this month.  They had an amazing store cabinet that still bore it’s original stenciling advertising silk threads and I just couldn’t resist bidding on it.  They also had a painted step back that was great but I just wasn’t sure it was actually old or a made to look old from India so I bid low on it.  Well long story short this jewel came home with me!  Right now it’s on the front porch but I’m sure it will end up in multiple places while I own it because it’s fantastic!!!!!

 

 

Also the local Hospice thrift store runs estate sales….what, what????  Yep and they are looking for volunteers so this may be my calling in life.  I got an application and as soon as we get a break in the weather I’m going to submit it.  I’ve been looking for something to allow me to meet people, be useful and give back to the community and this sounds like a perfect fit for me.  I’m really excited!  But in the meantime, I also bought a couple of things from the first sale I attended and I think they are real treasures.  We are going to use the cherry cabinet in the laundry room when it’s remodeled next month (more on that later)  and it is just really nice.  Mark found a signature and date on the bottom so it was handmade in 1991 and all solid wood not particle board.  I had first thought I would paint it but after looking it over again at home, we have decided that it’s perfect patina is just too nice to paint over.  I also picked up this little egg basket which I put on the old chair on our staircase.  I also made the Old Crow by La-D-Da into a pinkeep stuffed with wool scraps to sit there.  It’s hard to see because I used such a dark chocolate linen but it’s really prim perfection.  I stitched the crow when we first moved to Germany but just had never done anything with it.   As soon as I set the basket on the chair I knew exactly what I wanted to do to set it off.  I really like how it turned out.  And finally I got this little metal sewing machine.  Now you know there has to be a story to go along with all my purchases and this one is no different.  I was at the sale and I had already bought the cabinet and basket when I saw this little little beauty sitting at the end of the counter.  I asked the ladies if that was sold or was it being held for another shopper and they had no idea.  We talked about how people set stuff aside then forget it and leave or another shopper nabs it before the original shopper gets ready to buy then they get yelled at, ect…..I said I’d wait around a little longer to see if anyone came back to claim it.  This sell is held in a commercial building so it’s big wide open space and you can see all the shoppers so I asked around if anyone put it up there but no one knew anything about it.    There weren't more than 10 shoppers so it was easy to ask them all about it.  I waited and waited and waited then finally this guy came walking back into the building and I recognized him from being there when I first arrived..... At this point in my stories, Mark starts saying “Just wrap it up”….anyway I asked the guy if he set it aside and he had so I told he’d almost lost it because I wanted it.  We stood there for a couple of minutes chatting and he said you can have it!  He said he had no real plans for it and if I liked it enough to wait around for it then it should be mine.   I was just thrilled and I know nothing about it other than it just spoke to my heart.  It looks great in my trencher with my tomatoes and strawberries on the front entrance hall table doesn’t it?  I’m a firm believer in what goes around comes around so if you are a nice person someday it will pay off for you and that was my day.  So here's the egg basket and Crow pinkeep

The one below I snagged off the net so could see the design better.  I hate that my phone distorts color so much.  Anyhoo the picture said it was stitched by The White River so want to make sure I give her proper credit since her stitching is just perfection.

 

 

I have been stitching quite a bit on Prim Sisters School of Needlework by Pineberry Lane.  I won the kit on ebay and should finish it up this afternoon while watching Elementary.  Then I need to pick my wip of Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs which I put down to stitch a couple of charts that had loaned to me by a friend.  

Alright enough for now but will blog next week about the master bathroom and laundry room remodeling saga that is starting in a week.  We’re not doing any of the work ourselves and I’ve hired a contractor so hopefully I won’t get hurt during this process.  Forgot to mention but I took quite a fall at the estate sale when Mark and I went back to pick up my cabinet.  We had it on a rolling platform and the lady working was helping Mark exit the building thru a roll up door which wasn't open high enough for the cabinet to clear it.  In my rush to save the cabinet and possibly my marriage since he would have killed me if it knocked him off the loading dock....wrap it up....I got tangled up and fell against the wall and thankfully two china cabinets that were empty.  Also they were sturdy enough to break my fall without falling over themselves.  I swear I get more clumsy every day so now you see why I said I hope to not get hurt while living in a construction zone. 

My happy Place

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone but the pounds I gained will linger on and on and on.....  We at the Harris' household don't do Black Friday shopping trips but we do the annual Harris Home Project since Mark has a couple extra days off.  Lord forbid we just eat big, lay around watching parade or football wearing our jammies but instead we work ourselves silly doing remodeling projects.  The timing was perfect since the last moving boxes were unpacked ....insert eye rolling here.  Anyway I didn't like the kitchen island because it was just to much WOOD and looked like a big box in the middle of the floor.  It had good bones and I knew it could be transformed with my vision and Mark's mad skills.  We've ordered a black  granite slab for the top which we were lucky enough to get from the remnant pile at the stone yard but it'll be later this week before we can pick it up.  Here's the before: 

And here's the midway after:

It's now painted a taupe and just waiting on the gorgeous black counter top. And here's our little supervisor who made sure we got it done correctly.

We also finished the craft room and I got it all unpacked, put away and even had time to get the guest room done.  Whew it's no wonder that I'm exhausted but it's so worth it.  Just look at these pictures and imagine just how big my smile is when I look in that room...ahem closet but I'm still thrilled with it. It's kinda hard to get pictures because it is a small area but here's my favorite space.

 Gifts from my DMQ's make the space even better!  Dana is such a talented artist and she did the drawing after one of our trips so wish I had even a 1/10 of her talent.  And Kathie got me the sign on the door which is just sheer inspiration because it's so ME!  I love any and all things crafty...stamping, scrapbooking, cross stitching, rug hooking and just look at all that glorious wool....drool just waiting for me to get busy

Not sure if you can tell but I glued vintage yardsticks on the shelf edges and I've been collecting them for years just never quite sure what I was gonna do with them.  As soon as the shelves went up the light bulb went off that this was why. There are ones from AR, TN, GA and even IN including one from Grandmother Harris' home that I've drug around for 27 years never quite sure what to do with it. 

Grocery store chip rack to use as my inspiration wall, repo French drying rack to use as a ribbon holder and lots of jars both old and new to hold everything and the best part I only bought the shelves because I already owned all the other stuff.  Damn I have a lot of stuff STILL after all this purging.

Now here's the guest bedroom so we are officially open for business.  Quick everybody pack your suitcases and come visit us! 

That was our Thanksgiving weekend so what did you do?