I know it has been a while since I wrote on this site and that is because most of the things I have been doing are connected to me being Mrs. Iowa, so I have been writing on that site instead. Check it out at http://www.mrsiowaamerica08.blogspot.com/.
Well, I wanted to catch up on a little bit of what I have been doing (when I'm not being Mrs. Iowa). I recently got around to laying the new linoleum tile in the back part of my kitchen! It feels good to have that done! Most of the sheet linoleum was tore up anyway and we were using carpet squares to cover the floor. I have taken pictures but need to develop the film before I can post them (yes.....I use a 35mm film camera, not digital). I hope to someday soon put in new flooring in the entire kitchen. Finances don't allow it at the moment, but it is on my list of things to do!
I have already started my next project and that is knocking out a portion of the wall between the basement door/ bathroom hallway and the kitchen. My plan is to open up the space above the shelves so it creates more of an open feel. When I am done, the existing wall will be about 7'-4" high. The existing wall goes to the ceiling which is a 10'-0" ceiling, so there will be approxiamately a 3'-0" open space above my shelves. I am excited to finish that project and find myself punching holes in the wall whenever I get the chance! It's certainly not a pretty sight right now, but, boy, is it fun to demolish something!! After I get the wall project done, I will tackle putting a decorative tile backsplash around the stove area and the sink area. If you are familiar with the layout of my kitchen it makes a little more sense why I am only doing those two areas. My sink area is recessed into a small alcove area and needs something to brighten and spice up the space. My stove is actually located right next to a wall, so I find myself constantly washing the wall and in the process I have pretty much stripped off all the paint to reveal this ugly hospital green color underneath! It's not pretty! Not only will the tile serve as a nice accent in the space, but it will be functional as well. By doing the stove area and the sink area I will also be "connecting" the two spaces as they are in two seperate rooms. I may have to scan the drawings of my kitchen into the computer so I can post it here for you to see the entire layout. Before I can do the tile, I will be painting the kitchen a vivid sky blue with all white trim and cabinets. With the new flooring, paint, tile and a few small cabinets, I think the kitchen will be much more conducive to resale of the house (in the future!)
Once I get the kitchen done I will be tackling the bathroom upstairs! I want to tile the entire floor, as well as the walls surrounding the tub/shower. I would also like to add a floor drain, so we can eliminate the totally encompassing shower curtain. It competely encircles the tub. I suppose it would make more sense why that is, if I told you that we have a free-standing clawfoot tub. I think in order to get the floor drain in, I will have to hire someone, but I am hoping that maybe I can enlist some family members to help me lay the tile (when the time comes).
Now on to my gard
en! We are finally getting some sweet bell peppers! And, wow, are they good!! They sure beat anything we have ever bought in the store! I have also planted some spinach and radishes for fall harvest. I was really surprised with how fast they germinated and are growing!! I really need to make my garden bigger next year!! I want to include tomatoes, onions, more bell peppers, carrots, beans, sweet corn and maybe even some potatoes!
I have been making slow progress on Wyatt's sandbox. He is pretty content just playing in the dirt right now, so I haven't really "attacked" this project yet. I have a shallow hole dug showing the boundaries of the proposed sandbox and Wyatt plays pretty happily within that space.
And Louis has been let off the hook this fall, too!! He was suppose to tackle the big pile of carriage house timber and burn all of it. Well, our neighbors, Mark & Joelle, have been more than happy to burn all that wood for us and Mark has the pile essentially all gone! Now the next phase in "removing the carriage house" is to dig up all the bricks that were the foundation and transfer all the rock that was inside the carriage house to the driveway (or a seperate rock pile for future use). My backyard is actually starting to look like a yard!!! I am so happy!
Come for a visit and you can see all the progress we are making!
Well, I wanted to catch up on a little bit of what I have been doing (when I'm not being Mrs. Iowa). I recently got around to laying the new linoleum tile in the back part of my kitchen! It feels good to have that done! Most of the sheet linoleum was tore up anyway and we were using carpet squares to cover the floor. I have taken pictures but need to develop the film before I can post them (yes.....I use a 35mm film camera, not digital). I hope to someday soon put in new flooring in the entire kitchen. Finances don't allow it at the moment, but it is on my list of things to do!
I have already started my next project and that is knocking out a portion of the wall between the basement door/ bathroom hallway and the kitchen. My plan is to open up the space above the shelves so it creates more of an open feel. When I am done, the existing wall will be about 7'-4" high. The existing wall goes to the ceiling which is a 10'-0" ceiling, so there will be approxiamately a 3'-0" open space above my shelves. I am excited to finish that project and find myself punching holes in the wall whenever I get the chance! It's certainly not a pretty sight right now, but, boy, is it fun to demolish something!! After I get the wall project done, I will tackle putting a decorative tile backsplash around the stove area and the sink area. If you are familiar with the layout of my kitchen it makes a little more sense why I am only doing those two areas. My sink area is recessed into a small alcove area and needs something to brighten and spice up the space. My stove is actually located right next to a wall, so I find myself constantly washing the wall and in the process I have pretty much stripped off all the paint to reveal this ugly hospital green color underneath! It's not pretty! Not only will the tile serve as a nice accent in the space, but it will be functional as well. By doing the stove area and the sink area I will also be "connecting" the two spaces as they are in two seperate rooms. I may have to scan the drawings of my kitchen into the computer so I can post it here for you to see the entire layout. Before I can do the tile, I will be painting the kitchen a vivid sky blue with all white trim and cabinets. With the new flooring, paint, tile and a few small cabinets, I think the kitchen will be much more conducive to resale of the house (in the future!)
Once I get the kitchen done I will be tackling the bathroom upstairs! I want to tile the entire floor, as well as the walls surrounding the tub/shower. I would also like to add a floor drain, so we can eliminate the totally encompassing shower curtain. It competely encircles the tub. I suppose it would make more sense why that is, if I told you that we have a free-standing clawfoot tub. I think in order to get the floor drain in, I will have to hire someone, but I am hoping that maybe I can enlist some family members to help me lay the tile (when the time comes).
Now on to my gard
en! We are finally getting some sweet bell peppers! And, wow, are they good!! They sure beat anything we have ever bought in the store! I have also planted some spinach and radishes for fall harvest. I was really surprised with how fast they germinated and are growing!! I really need to make my garden bigger next year!! I want to include tomatoes, onions, more bell peppers, carrots, beans, sweet corn and maybe even some potatoes!I have been making slow progress on Wyatt's sandbox. He is pretty content just playing in the dirt right now, so I haven't really "attacked" this project yet. I have a shallow hole dug showing the boundaries of the proposed sandbox and Wyatt plays pretty happily within that space.
And Louis has been let off the hook this fall, too!! He was suppose to tackle the big pile of carriage house timber and burn all of it. Well, our neighbors, Mark & Joelle, have been more than happy to burn all that wood for us and Mark has the pile essentially all gone! Now the next phase in "removing the carriage house" is to dig up all the bricks that were the foundation and transfer all the rock that was inside the carriage house to the driveway (or a seperate rock pile for future use). My backyard is actually starting to look like a yard!!! I am so happy!
Come for a visit and you can see all the progress we are making!
