Pretty Snappy Looking Garage

Jim has been working a little each day to get the garage mudded and ready for painting. Yesterday, he managed to get the priming done so all we need now is a paint sale for the finish coat. Nothing fancy…just white. After that, he’ll trim the windows and another thing is done.

In his spare time, Jim has been helping one of our new neighbours, across the street, crib his basement. The concrete will be poured next Tuesday (weather permitting) and then the concrete forms will be available to move over to Farrell’s so that the cribbing can begin on the shop. “Shop”, you say. “What is this about a shop?” Yes, we are going to add a back walk-out shop approximately where the shed is now and that also takes advantage of our hill to create a walk out for an under-the-shop garage.

This project just seems to grow and grow.

There was this paint sale…

We decided to try and clean up the yard and make the property look a little less like a construction zone. Looks like we have a ways to go, yet but luckily, at least for the shed, Canadian Tire had a paint sale. Jim and I suited up in our best anti-mosquito wear and one lovely, calm morning (there aren’t that many) we painted the old shed. It looks pretty snappy.

For the present, it will stay where it is but we have designs on moving it into the back yard sometime this summer.

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.