OK...I know it's time we got back to work

So we started by getting the parging done. Jim just didn't want to do it and there were a couple of homes in the neighbourhood taking advantage of a parging company's presence and we did too.

In addition, we bought a few lilacs and wild roses, create bedding plots for them that will, hopefully, hold some moisture and planted them. After roto-tilling, we covered the disturbed soil with the black anti-weed cloth and then covered that with washed rock. As you can see from the picture of the lilac twig, they are very small. Keep your fingers crossed that they are hardy and fast growing, as we are planting them along the driveway to try and keep the snow drifting to a minimum.

The Blades On The Fan Go Round And Round

This afternoon, Jim installed the ceiling fan in the sunroom. It is a brushed steel fan from Monte Carlo Fans called the Discus. This week we will trot off to Timberland to see if we can find some trim to finish off the peak of the ceiling on either side of the fan.

Good Grief, Is This Ever Going To End?

The only difference between these pictures, taken two weeks ago, and now is that we have more snow and only half of the driveway is still showing as we are stuck in a winter storm that has been harassing us for over a week. Where has the promised "Big Melt" gone? Why are we still mired in winter? Will this ever leave? This time last year people were already on the golf courses.

Since it's Been a Couple of Months...

I decided it was time to share something, as we really haven't accomplished too much. Of course, we took a quick break and attended a wedding in Costa Rica which has helped us to deal with the brutal winter that Mother Nature has bestowed upon us. I haven't included weather updates this year as all I would be saying is more snow, more wind, more icy temperatures. Suffice it to say, I have been stuck in my own driveway twice and housebound three times as the drifts have been too challenging for the car. We are a little worried that we may have flooding issues in the spring as we have so much snow. This time last year we were all concerned about the ongoing drought but I have a strong feeling that we will be mosquito central this year.

This post I get to talk about my accomplishment and not Jims. I have managed to finish the livingroom drapes (lined, no less). I will confess that I am procrastinating with the diningroom ones but they will be the same as the livingroom and, honest, I'll get down to it next week.

The band of blue in the fabric "swatch" is actually more navy and matches the blue of the sofa while the green is very close to the colour of the walls. The fabric was only $5/meter at Fabricland which made them affordable. I will have enough left over fabric to make a couple of cushions for extra colour.

It's 2011...Where Has The Time Gone?

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Yep, Jim managed to get the tile on the tub surround finished before Christmas...just...the night of Dec 23 to be exact. It looks great and it is so nice to have two fully functioning bathrooms.

Now it's time to clean up all the little, piddly, unfinished things like bits of trim and a couple of cold air returns before we tackle finishing the basement.

The Shortest Day of the Year

Here it is December 21...the winter solstice... the shortest day of the year. Our sunrise was quite spectacular even though it didn't occur until 8:47 AM and the sun will set again at 4:17 PM. With only 7.5 hours of daylight, no wonder we feel depressed. Our daylight hours will gradually increase until we finally reach, approximately, 17.5 hours at the summer solstice.

Given the diminished daylight, my Roma tomato plant is doing quite well out in the sunroom. We will start a new tomato in late February and hope that the existing one keeps producing until the new one can take over.

A Tiling We Will Go, A Tiling We Will Go...

I know it's been awhile since we last updated the blog but honestly, nothing has happened. However, it is time to get busy and finish up all the outstanding jobs, inside, so that, should spring ever return, we'll be ready to turn our attention to the much needed landscaping. A friend reminded us the other day that we don't have a single tree or even a weed large enough to be called a shrub, on our property. He thought we were taking the "bald" prairie a bit too far.

Currently, Jim is working on the tub surround in the ensuite bathroom. We decided to use white, subway tile and in a herringbone pattern. We knew it would be more work than putting it on in a more conventional fashion but, we didn't know HOW MUCH MORE! It is very picky,fiddly work that requires a great deal of tile cutting when you get to the edges but it will be worth it. Jim seems to be unusually happy, lately...could it be because he doesn't turn on the vent fan while using all that glue?