Pergola

We finally got some sun today! We finally got some yard work accomplished. As mentioned in the previous post, we are now working on the pergola before the painters come out in 2 weeks.

This is the pergola, note the gutter and there is a downspout to the left. Why I have no idea. There is no roof on this pergola, so why is there a gutter just hanging from a random beam?


As you can see it was covered in hardware cloth, and every few feet there is remnants of plastic sheeting dangling down. I can only assume this was their roof?

What an ugly sight!

Dan still out there working as we speak. Won't this look so much nicer when the house is done being painted a deep brown, with white trim and the pergola will be a bright white to match!

Uhoh, bad news. Dan was backing off the pergola towards the ladder and this whole portion collapsed and almost took him with it.

He was dangling off the edge of the roof holding onto the eaves with his hands. A kind neighbor came running as he pulled himself onto the ladder.

I told him to avoid complication, we'll just take a saw to the beam and cut off the edge as the portion that fell down was really not needed to make it look pretty anyway.

You knew there had to be some drama didn't you? I mean every aspect of this remodel had something go wierdly wrong! Good thing nobody was hurt!

We relocated the hammock to behind these trees. I wanted the illusion it was actually hanging from them.

My next project is turning this old shed into a pretty potting shed! I've got some great magazine photos I have been drawing inspiration on. Thinking of painting the whole inside white to lighten it up. My dad is going to run power out there so I can have a light at least. Hubby put these old cabinets from the garage up, and is using the old kitchen cabinet's in the garage.

He also started a pantry area for me around the new deep freezer.

Progress

We have a toilet in the main bathroom now. Yeah I know the photo isn't pretty. But let me explain. The other toilet, the only one installed was at the other end of my house. I had to walk down a hallway, through the entry way, around the living room, through the kitchen and diningroom, through the family room just to get to the toilet. Imagine that in the middle of the night. By the time I was done and walked all the way back I was wide awake!

Therefore, this porcelain God is my savior!

I got a little sick of how long the bathroom was taking to get finished, so I hopped on a ladder and started filling in those gaps. After 2 days of me whining on a ladder with a sprained ankle, my hubby jumped in and finished it up for me. Hopefully I can paint it by the end of this week!

Then we can hang the lights, mirrors, and feel like it's an actual bathroom!!!

In the meantime, I've been reorganizing the living room. It felt like I was in a Dr's office waiting in line. The couches were all lined up on one wall. I feel this makes it a little easier to carry on a conversation. And as I have company every Friday evening, and sometimes other days of the week, I think this will work out better for us. I also love that the first thing you see is my piano, which is my prize. My favorite possession at the moment :)


The painters are coming to start the exterior on June 20th, they'll be pressure washing 2-4 days in advance. So we are currently diverting all of our attention to the pergola, which is covered in chicken wire and old plastic sheeting. I'm taking it all down and having them paint the whole thing white. It also has an old gutter attached to the front of it with a downspout. Which is ridiculous because it has no roof on it!
I am really really excited to show you before and afters when the painting is done!
And the best most wonderful part for me is in mid July my grandparents are flying out and will get to see the place all gussied up!

Okay, just looked at these pics and realized I really really need some artwork! Any suggestions?
Oh... and question of the day. How do you organize your tupperware like containers? I currently have mine neatly stacked in a cardboard box in a lower cabinet. I'm really interested in other options! hahaha

New Look

As our home is ever changing, so is our blog! This beautiful new background and title header was created by Melinda at Simply Chic Graphics
Thanks Melinda!

Sewage you say?

So I'm trying to pick out fabric for drapes in our bedroom. These are the two I'm contemplating at the moment but they may change at the drop of a hat. Both are by Amy Butler
sky / tree peony

sand / tree peony

What do you think? I guess you'll have to go back and check out my bedroom blogs again!

In the meantime, I have catnip sprouting on the wire rack on my porch, and potatoes bidding out of my pot by the hose.

My parents bought me the coolest hammock EVER for my birthday! Of course it's been raining nonstop since then so I haven't hardly used the thing yet. But am sooo looking forward to hanging out there under the trees with a book and a cocktail!

Our next project is going to be our shed. It needs to be resided and reroofed. I suggested we move the window slightly left and put a real door on the right to make it prettier, instead of the barn doors that are on the back side. My husband quickly declined saying, " I am not reframing the entire shed." :-P Oh well, a girl can dream can't she? Can't you just see a little white window box with vining flowers under a window and a pretty little shed door? sigh

The biggest event in our life right now is happening here. Remember when we started having plumbing issues on the back bathroom a couple months ago? Well we had found out that bathroom was on a septic tank they had never taken out! And you guessed it. It's full.

I'll skip the part where I tell you about the raw sewage that pumped itself up into the shower stall and toilet and get right to the part where we have to dig a trench through our garage, down the driveway, and angle to the pipe the rest of our house connects to the sewer.
Here's what my garage looks like currently. Good ol Roto Rooter. They are actually a couple of really great guys who have been incredible during the whole process. I am very impressed. They left their teeny tiny tractor behind and I almost took it for a joyride.

The guy was telling me it was hard to feel masculine on a tiny tractor. I said aww it's soooo cute! He grimaced. I just realized I should totally have stolen it to level out that giant bump we have in the front yard.

Happy Birthday to Me

What a glorious week it's been! While my hubby was out of town on work, my giant baby brother came to stay for an entire week.
We adopted a new dog. Her name is Rosie. She's 5 years old, part Australian Shepherd, part Border Collie. And the sweetest girl in the world.

Well, Gizmo is pretty sweet too.

And Charlie makes 3! Isn't it really the perfect number?

My sister and brother in law found a free piano, and helped my dad and brother load it and deliver it to my house! It's out of tune, but the smile on my baby girls face says it all. It's a keeper! After a lot of lysol and scrubbing it's actually in pretty good condition! We've been joking about putting a jar for donations on top, and then playing out of tune until people contribute :P

I'm not sure if anybody remembers what the patio looked like a week ago.. but it was gruesome. We found so much old rotting lumber and debris all over the property, and we had piled it up so it could dry out and possibly burned, or gradually disposed of in the yard debris bin.


Well, my dad came over, and together he and my baby brother cleaned it all up and helped dispose of a great deal of it.

They even hung a tire swing for baby girl.

Isn't it lovely?

The next day we had a garden party for my birthday.

Aren't the flower's lovely? My mom and stepdad brought them and provided this wonderful spread of yummy food!

She's gorgeous isn't she?

And he came home. Which made my birthday the best one I've ever had.

I even got serenaded.

I am so happy we've finally gotten to the point where the yard is clean, mowed, beautiful, and.... look forward to pics of the hammock my stepdad ordered as a birthday present! I can't wait to set it up!!!

Veggies!

Did you know that if you have state food benefits you can purchase vegetable and herb starts for your garden? We didn't? Now we aren't on food benefits, but my Sister in law is. So we went to Fred Meyer yesterday and bought a ton of veggies and I bought flowers. And I spent the evening digging in the garden! I still have a lot of de-grassing to do before the planter boxes are perfect, but I'm happier and happier every day! I have started a lot of veggies from seeds also

Pumpkins!

Corn!

Eggplant!

Artichokes!

Baby Zuccini

Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots, Tomatoes and Peas

Mistress Heather, Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With Lilly Bells,
and Pretty Smells,
And Dahlias all in a row.

I also planted Rhubarb, Strawberries, and Walla Walla onions in the front. Oh, and I started peppermint in a pot. Then from seed we're also waiting on canteloupe, watermelons, lots and lots of herbs and more flowers! My peonies are about to explode, my lilacs are in full bloom along with my deep blue and almost black irises. I'm in garden heaven!

Bathroom updates.

My last post showed you the beginning of the bathroom tile. Let me fill you in on what went down last night.
Here's where he left off the day before.

Yahoo! He finished putting up all the cuts.

Went on to grout. I sponged the grout, but there are no photos of that because I was doing it in my nightie at midnight.

And the finished product is beautiful!

After the grout dried it turned the perfect sandy shade. The bag says to let dry for 72 hours, then we'll apply a sealant. AND I'LL HAVE MY SHOWER!!!!!!

Isn't my husband amazing?
Here's a little before and after action.
Before. Note the oh so 70's accent tiles.

After! I promise I'll post another one once the hardware is up :)