So, since I've posted last, life here has been busy.
1) School is going great guns! For more details, check my school blog. I'll be posting soon about French and a new (to me!) organizational approach that has been working very well.
2) Work on the second semester of Christendom is progressing.
3) Still getting the house together, but it's been going well.
4) Cooking German food for the first time to prepare to celebrate Reformation Day on Sunday.
So, where should I start? Hmmm …
The house!
Our King's Meadow discussion group meets here three times each month. Usually, we start the year out with the house looking pretty good, and then it gradually goes downhill all year. What's a little more clutter among friends?
This year, I decided that I'd rather work in the opposite direction. So, we did our best to get the house presentable for the first meeting in October, and my goal is that each time we meet, the house is a little more put together, even if it's not something obvious—like straightened and reorganized cupboards. So far, the kitchen has stayed clean and the peninusla has been cleared of all the clutter that's been sitting there for who knows how long. The sideboard/hutch is fairly straightened out. I've been slowly working on clearing off the kitchen desk. Things will look a little out of place tomorrow, but that's because paint is drying on the wall below the peninsula (after years of being half-finished). And grout is drying on the facia tiles that had popped off the island in the kitchen.
Even if I only work for about ten minutes each day, I'm headed in the right direction. Line upon line, again!
I'll post about those other things as I have time.
Showing posts with label house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label house. Show all posts
28 October 2010
11 May 2009
Furniture Arranging Philosophy
Since my dear daughter asked, here it is.
I'd rather that my livingroom furniture be arranged to promote conversation and intimacy than to have everything focused on the television set. I like things somewhat balanced, too. And I appreciate being able to see my baseboards occasionally (otherwise the room feels cluttered - can you hear my daughter laughing as she reads this?).
Before Christmas, I came home from our history/humanities discussion group to find the furniture had been rearranged to make room for the Christmas tree {shock!}. The chairs, couch, and settle were arranged in a way that made conversation difficult and uncomfortable. One had to strain to see others' faces and seating was pretty spread out. I felt unsettled when we'd try to have any kind of conversation, but the television and the tree were visible from every seat.
We recently rearranged things and I like it so much better. Every seat looks at another seat and faces are easy to see. We're having much better economics and logic discussions and I'm getting the urge to read another book out loud to the kidlings. We shift the settle when we watch a movie, but that means we must be more intentional about switching the television on, so that's a benefit. (Not that we watch a lot of broadcast television (hardly any actually), but we were tending to turn on the Roku box too often.)
SDG!
27 April 2009
Apologies
I need to apologize for my lack of posting lately. Life's been busy and I haven't really had time to sit and write.
I had originally set the Constitution posts to appear every other day, but realized that was too fast. I've slowed them down to once per week and want to take some time to go back myself and catch up on the reading and commenting. I find I'm understanding it and remembering it better little by little than I have in the past reading it all at once.
I've got a few posts in the back of my mind that I'm mulling over, and I'd like to begin posting more about some of the money-stretching strategies we've been implementing. I also need to finish my book list. (We're getting ready for a re-finance appraisal on Thursday; I've been re-organizing books, along with the whole house, and will be able to finish that book list next week.)
So, thank you for your patience with me. I hope to be back to more regular posting, soon.
16 September 2008
Life Continues
The wedding was beautiful! Anna was a stunning bride. There were a few stories that made the day charming (not too embarrassing!), which I'll relate later.
I finished my dress at 2:00 on Saturday morning. Then I had to get up at 4:00 on Saturday morning to get ready. (Our new family rule: no weddings before 11:00 a.m.)
Drew and Anna are honeymooning at a timeshare at Big Bear Lake in California. (I can finally let that cat out of the bag!)
We're getting back into a normal routine; or at least, we're trying to figure out what normal is now. I scaled back the younger kids' school work this week and next week is a planned Sabbath week. Since we started so early in August, I can take it easy this week and not feel like we'll be working all next summer to catch up.
I'm still pretty tired, but I don't want to take afternoon naps and then not be able to sleep at night, thereby throwing off my circadian rhythms. So it's early to bed, not so early to rise for awhile until I regroup.
Catching up on cooking, cleaning, and organizing the house. And planning my next sewing projects: the Hawaiian shirt Drew wanted for his birthday in June (he's so patient!); a couple of cotton day dresses from Eliza and Melody's wedding dress patterns; a lambswool and cashmere blend, navy blue, winter shawl (beautiful and warm!); a reversible brown with polka dots wool jacket with removable long sleeves; jammies; a regency gown for Judith (which she'll help make - home ec. dontcha know?); and maybe one for me, too! (The Pride and Prejudice Ball is coming up soon! - ignore the weird dimensions on the website - it's pretty cool even with the weirdness!)
I posted a link in the sidebar to my formerly called .mac, now MobileMe (hate that name! - how narcissistic can I get?) Photo Gallery. I posted some of my rose and miscellaneous flower photos. I'll let you know when I've got wedding pictures posted.
I guess that's it for now. I've got some boxes to sort through.
SDG!
22 May 2008
Busy Day
Joel needs a hair cut.
I want to finish my stays.
I want to finish fitting the bodice of my dress so I can cut out the fabric.
Need to straighten the kitchen to prepare to paint the kitchen this weekend.
Jared's graduation announcements are ready to be addressed and need to go out within the next few days.
Judith's dress needs to be measured, a mock-up of the bodice needs to be made, and then we need to cut it out so she can start sewing.
Rebekah and Ben haven't finished their bathrobes yet. Eliza is almost finished with her sleeves and then I'll take a picture of the two girls in them.
All that to say that we have lots going on and I don't have time to post anything thoughtful.
SDG!
I want to finish my stays.
I want to finish fitting the bodice of my dress so I can cut out the fabric.
Need to straighten the kitchen to prepare to paint the kitchen this weekend.
Jared's graduation announcements are ready to be addressed and need to go out within the next few days.
Judith's dress needs to be measured, a mock-up of the bodice needs to be made, and then we need to cut it out so she can start sewing.
Rebekah and Ben haven't finished their bathrobes yet. Eliza is almost finished with her sleeves and then I'll take a picture of the two girls in them.
All that to say that we have lots going on and I don't have time to post anything thoughtful.
SDG!
17 March 2008
Gadgets, Gadgets Everywhere
…but nary a tool to use! I've been developing a more sane philosophy of kitchen gadgets than I had before. Well, actually, I can't say I really had one (and that was the problem), but I think I do now!
Since 80% of the work is done by 20% of the tools, part of my new philosophy is to limit my gadgets to things that perform more than one task. I'm not completely sure that this proportion is written in stone or absolutely accurate, but common sense says that a tool that does more than one task will be more useful than a single-use gadget.
So, for example, I got rid of my apple peeler/corer/slicer. By the time it's oiled and set up, the apples have been run through it, the little pieces of remaining core have been cut out of the slices, I've mopped up the gallon of juice that's dribbled all over the counter and the floor, cleaned up all the nooks and crannies of the machinery, and put the thing back in its box, I've spent more time and effort than it would have taken to simply peel the apples with a veggie peeler over a paper towel and then sliced them with a paring knife. (Besides, it's more fun to try to peel an apple without breaking the peel (which I can do most of the time) than to wind the ap/c/s - the kids have contests to see who can manage the longest unbroken peel.)
Instead of replacing our toasters, both of which were recently tossed out because of fraying cords, we're looking for a toaster oven, maybe one with a convection setting. We'll be able to toast as well as broil, bake, and roast (handy for lunches and won't heat up the kitchen as much in the summer). And the toaster ovens we're looking at can handle six pieces of bread, so we'll only need one. We had two four-slice toasters because of the size of our family.
Now, I'm not taking this too far. I am keeping a few single-use gadgets. For example, my Trini-tea automatic tea brewer. We use this every morning when we get up for our quiet time; I set it up the night before and simply push a button for a perfect pot of tea. It may only have one use, but it's used daily, unlike the apple p/c/s which was only used every six or twelve months - and not at all the last few years as I have many veggie peelers and many children.
As explained above, the ap/c/s really isn't that easy to use. The set-up, maintenance, and clean-up it requires cause more work than it saves. I have a few other gadgets that are also difficult to use because of awkward design, or they don't do, or don't do well, what they claim to do. They haven't lived up to the hype! If I have to fight to use something, it will sit in the cupboard taking up space and never be used, no matter how 'handy' the advertisements said it would be. Those are going, too!
So, most of my kitchen tools will have more than one use, or will have one quotidian task, and be relatively simple to use, and therefore will be used much. The kitchen will be uncluttered and more useful, as well as more fun to use.
SDG!
Since 80% of the work is done by 20% of the tools, part of my new philosophy is to limit my gadgets to things that perform more than one task. I'm not completely sure that this proportion is written in stone or absolutely accurate, but common sense says that a tool that does more than one task will be more useful than a single-use gadget.
So, for example, I got rid of my apple peeler/corer/slicer. By the time it's oiled and set up, the apples have been run through it, the little pieces of remaining core have been cut out of the slices, I've mopped up the gallon of juice that's dribbled all over the counter and the floor, cleaned up all the nooks and crannies of the machinery, and put the thing back in its box, I've spent more time and effort than it would have taken to simply peel the apples with a veggie peeler over a paper towel and then sliced them with a paring knife. (Besides, it's more fun to try to peel an apple without breaking the peel (which I can do most of the time) than to wind the ap/c/s - the kids have contests to see who can manage the longest unbroken peel.)
Instead of replacing our toasters, both of which were recently tossed out because of fraying cords, we're looking for a toaster oven, maybe one with a convection setting. We'll be able to toast as well as broil, bake, and roast (handy for lunches and won't heat up the kitchen as much in the summer). And the toaster ovens we're looking at can handle six pieces of bread, so we'll only need one. We had two four-slice toasters because of the size of our family.
Now, I'm not taking this too far. I am keeping a few single-use gadgets. For example, my Trini-tea automatic tea brewer. We use this every morning when we get up for our quiet time; I set it up the night before and simply push a button for a perfect pot of tea. It may only have one use, but it's used daily, unlike the apple p/c/s which was only used every six or twelve months - and not at all the last few years as I have many veggie peelers and many children.
As explained above, the ap/c/s really isn't that easy to use. The set-up, maintenance, and clean-up it requires cause more work than it saves. I have a few other gadgets that are also difficult to use because of awkward design, or they don't do, or don't do well, what they claim to do. They haven't lived up to the hype! If I have to fight to use something, it will sit in the cupboard taking up space and never be used, no matter how 'handy' the advertisements said it would be. Those are going, too!
So, most of my kitchen tools will have more than one use, or will have one quotidian task, and be relatively simple to use, and therefore will be used much. The kitchen will be uncluttered and more useful, as well as more fun to use.
SDG!
14 March 2008
Book Review: A Perfect Mess
This was a fun read asking some serious questions about the place organization holds in our lives. The thesis is that perfection in organization not only isn't possible, but even if it were, it isn't worthy of the lofty place it holds in popular culture. A certain level of messiness is inevitable and even healthy.
The authors delve into many areas of life to support their point, from the way businesses and hospitals are run, to the atmosphere of our homes. Even though some of their side points and applications are somewhat liberal in their assumptions and gave me pause, I agree with their foundational thesis. It reminded me much of George Grant's Gileskirk lectures on the messiness of the Middle Ages and the untidy yet high calling of living in covenant community; also of Wendell Berry's contention that modern and efficient isn't always the highest good.
It helped me to remember not to compare myself with my ultra-organized friends, something that I've been doing unconsciously for years. There are areas of our home that are cluttered beyond usefulness, and those need to be dealt with (and by God's grace are being dealt with), but I really don't have to sweat the areas that are a bit messy, as long as they still work. Those areas express some of the things that are most important to us as a family, those things that make our home unique and give it personality and warmth.
As someone who has struggled with organization for years, I found this book to be a refreshing zephyr blowing across the clutter, reminding me that some things are more important than neatness and organization.
SDG!
(Can you tell I've got a bit of time on my hands this afternoon and am able to finish up and post some of these things that have been hanging around as drafts for the last few weeks? ;-D)
Blooms!
Spring has sprung. The freesias are in bloom …
… as is the calla lily
We've begun clearing weeds from the back yard to prepare to plant some veggies and flowers in the edging around the yard. I'm looking forward to garden fresh veggies and fruits!
SDG!
… as is the calla lily
We've begun clearing weeds from the back yard to prepare to plant some veggies and flowers in the edging around the yard. I'm looking forward to garden fresh veggies and fruits!
SDG!
12 March 2008
Whoa, Nellie!
If you call me on the phone, this is what will ring.
The phone we had in the kitchen before the new countertops didn't match anymore. Besides, I wanted a corded phone. If there's an emergency during a power outage, I want to be able to call for help; corded phones do that, cordless phones don't. I know touchtone dialing is supposed to be faster, but come on, does it really matter if I save 10 seconds each time I call someone? I've actually lost so much time searching for cordless phones that had wandered away from their cradles, that this is proving to be a net gain in the time category. This phone also won't cause lost calls because of batteries that run out in the middle of a call. And we'll save the time and frustration of having to run to the electronics or battery store to replace worn out batteries (one less errand to run and one less trivial detail to remember). It's also not possible to hang up on someone by putting my cheek too close to the receiver.
At first, I looked for the kind of rotary phone my grandmother had, from the late 60's or early 70's. They're out there, but that style just didn't seem to fit with the new kitchen (although I must say that I love the idea of the red rotary cell phone that resembles Mémère Bert's old phone (except for the color) - yes, you read that right - click on the link if you don't believe me, but don't forget to come back!). I looked at candlestick phones. Jared wasn't excited about going that far back in time. The antique candlestick phones come with a subset that contains the ringer and are quite, quite pricey; reproductions include touchtone dials set in a circle instead of a square (not my idea of an authentic reproduction). I kept looking, following links, checking out websites, and finally found this reproduction. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. It isn't just functional, it's a work of art.
This phone also a reminds us to stop and think about all the claims of contemporary society. Do cordless, touchtone phones really save us time? How much time? Is it really necessary? What's wrong with trying to slow things down a bit? Is what society is selling worth the price? Sometimes yes, sometimes no; but either way, I don't want to embrace trends thoughtlessly.
The phone is reminding us to slow down a little. Slower is good. (And, I don't even mind answering telemarketers' calls anymore. ;-D)
SDG!
The phone we had in the kitchen before the new countertops didn't match anymore. Besides, I wanted a corded phone. If there's an emergency during a power outage, I want to be able to call for help; corded phones do that, cordless phones don't. I know touchtone dialing is supposed to be faster, but come on, does it really matter if I save 10 seconds each time I call someone? I've actually lost so much time searching for cordless phones that had wandered away from their cradles, that this is proving to be a net gain in the time category. This phone also won't cause lost calls because of batteries that run out in the middle of a call. And we'll save the time and frustration of having to run to the electronics or battery store to replace worn out batteries (one less errand to run and one less trivial detail to remember). It's also not possible to hang up on someone by putting my cheek too close to the receiver.
At first, I looked for the kind of rotary phone my grandmother had, from the late 60's or early 70's. They're out there, but that style just didn't seem to fit with the new kitchen (although I must say that I love the idea of the red rotary cell phone that resembles Mémère Bert's old phone (except for the color) - yes, you read that right - click on the link if you don't believe me, but don't forget to come back!). I looked at candlestick phones. Jared wasn't excited about going that far back in time. The antique candlestick phones come with a subset that contains the ringer and are quite, quite pricey; reproductions include touchtone dials set in a circle instead of a square (not my idea of an authentic reproduction). I kept looking, following links, checking out websites, and finally found this reproduction. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. It isn't just functional, it's a work of art.
This phone also a reminds us to stop and think about all the claims of contemporary society. Do cordless, touchtone phones really save us time? How much time? Is it really necessary? What's wrong with trying to slow things down a bit? Is what society is selling worth the price? Sometimes yes, sometimes no; but either way, I don't want to embrace trends thoughtlessly.
The phone is reminding us to slow down a little. Slower is good. (And, I don't even mind answering telemarketers' calls anymore. ;-D)
SDG!
01 March 2008
Kitchen Progress, VIII
The last tile has been laid. Most of the grout has been pushed into joints, although we still have some facia pieces to do and a few touch-ups (and we're almost out of grout (hmm…that sounds like it should be in a poem) - I think we're going to need just a few more ounces than we have; it'll be close). The backsplash, island, and desk have been de-hazed. We're going to experiment with stone and grout seals before applying them. The boys are beginning to clear out the scraps from the backyard, which means it will stop looking like a construction zone and we can enjoy some time outside before it gets too hot.
I hope to get some pictures of the finished product posted within a couple of days.
I'm so thankful the end is in sight! It'll be nicer than I can express to have a real kitchen again and to be able to cook. We're still organizing (our living room still resembles the inside of a kitchen cabinet), but it's going well, as is sorting through which gadgets to keep and which to jetison - my new kitchen-tool philosophy is a post for another day.
SDG!
I hope to get some pictures of the finished product posted within a couple of days.
I'm so thankful the end is in sight! It'll be nicer than I can express to have a real kitchen again and to be able to cook. We're still organizing (our living room still resembles the inside of a kitchen cabinet), but it's going well, as is sorting through which gadgets to keep and which to jetison - my new kitchen-tool philosophy is a post for another day.
SDG!
28 February 2008
Kitchen Progress, VI? VII?
Oh, well, I've lost count!
Started grouting last night. The desk just needs the corners and it'll be ready to be sealed. The backsplash behind the stove is newly grouted, as is the island; they're drying now.
Drew began installing the facia pieces last night and they look wonderful!
Been too busy to post pictures, but I'll try when I have time.
Started grouting last night. The desk just needs the corners and it'll be ready to be sealed. The backsplash behind the stove is newly grouted, as is the island; they're drying now.
Drew began installing the facia pieces last night and they look wonderful!
Been too busy to post pictures, but I'll try when I have time.
27 February 2008
Progress…Finally
At about 8:30 last night, the saw decided to work again. At that point, we cut everything we needed to complete the desk, the island, the backsplash, and the window sill. We were able to cut a few more strips for the counter fronts, but the saw started pulling to the right again, so we gave it up.
Drew and I stayed up until 11:30 working on the island. We had only two pieces of tile left to lay and … we ran out of thinset!
I'll pick up another bag today - we'll need it for the fronts anyway.
It's also time to start grouting. This afternoon, I'll finish cleaning the grout lines in the desk and start the grout there. I also want to work on the backsplash behind the stove. As soon as that section is grouted and sealed, we can move the stove back into place permanently.
I'll keep working to post pictures as I have time around school and the work itself.
SDG!
p.s. We've been told that the tile saw will be retired once we return it to World of Tile, so I'm glad to report that no one else will have to try to cope with this persnickety piece of machinery.
Drew and I stayed up until 11:30 working on the island. We had only two pieces of tile left to lay and … we ran out of thinset!
I'll pick up another bag today - we'll need it for the fronts anyway.
It's also time to start grouting. This afternoon, I'll finish cleaning the grout lines in the desk and start the grout there. I also want to work on the backsplash behind the stove. As soon as that section is grouted and sealed, we can move the stove back into place permanently.
I'll keep working to post pictures as I have time around school and the work itself.
SDG!
p.s. We've been told that the tile saw will be retired once we return it to World of Tile, so I'm glad to report that no one else will have to try to cope with this persnickety piece of machinery.
26 February 2008
Stalled…Again
Nathan and I worked this afternoon and finished the desk {and the people rejoiced!}. We got all of the backsplash done {and the people rejoiced!}, except one little tile next to the fridge that needs to be trimmed. We got the window sill done {and the people rejoiced!}, except the last three tiles that still need to be cut.
And why didn't we finish those last few cuts? Well, I'll tell you. The saw stopped working this afternoon. {sigh} We haven't been able to get it turned on since about 4:30.
We were hoping to lay the tile on the island tonight and got all the inside pieces cut and laid out last night {and the people rejoiced, some more}. We couldn't lay that tile last night because we'd run out of edge tiles. {'nother sigh}
If it wasn't for technology, we'd be done by now!
SDG!
And why didn't we finish those last few cuts? Well, I'll tell you. The saw stopped working this afternoon. {sigh} We haven't been able to get it turned on since about 4:30.
We were hoping to lay the tile on the island tonight and got all the inside pieces cut and laid out last night {and the people rejoiced, some more}. We couldn't lay that tile last night because we'd run out of edge tiles. {'nother sigh}
If it wasn't for technology, we'd be done by now!
SDG!
25 February 2008
Backsplash, V
I'm not sure why, but that bottom tile doesn't really look nearly as out of place as it does in the pictures.
We're tackling the island tonight, and we'll finish the backsplash (just a little more to do on that, but I'm not sure which tiles go where, so we have to wait for Drew to get home from work. We also need to put on the vertical front pieces and the window sill pieces. Then the tile saw goes back and I start grouting and sealing. {whew!}
SDG!
24 February 2008
Backsplash, IV
I've been trying to upload progress pictures all afternoon, but sunspots are interfering. We're making great progress, but we're done for tonight as it's now too late to use the saw. I'll keep trying to post pictures. It's turning out just beautifully!
23 February 2008
Stalled…
The tile saw has a warped blade. We're still marking tile, but have only gotten one cut (and we may end up not using that one). Drew is going to check at Home Depot, but their saw rentals cost a bit more than World of Tile's. Unfortunately, WoT doesn't have any more saws available this weekend.
We're taking the under-cabinet lights off and the boys will pop off the counter on the island while the girls and I clear off the desk and then they'll take that apart. The plywood and hardyback boards are already cut for those, so they can start putting all that together. Since the tiles for the desk have already been cut, we can begin laying those as soon as the underlayment is ready.
Step-by- step, we'll get this done.
SDG!
p.s. I'm getting other ideas, too! I think we're going to paint the kitchen/dining room a light and medium shade of sage/greyish green, with a honey oak chair rail and window & door trim. Our windows are all simply set into the walls, without any trim, sills, or framing. They've always looked bare to me and I'm looking forward to highlighting them. Of course, now Drew is thinking that before we do that, it would be best if we had better insulated windows, which would drive down our cooling costs in the summer.
We're taking the under-cabinet lights off and the boys will pop off the counter on the island while the girls and I clear off the desk and then they'll take that apart. The plywood and hardyback boards are already cut for those, so they can start putting all that together. Since the tiles for the desk have already been cut, we can begin laying those as soon as the underlayment is ready.
Step-by- step, we'll get this done.
SDG!
p.s. I'm getting other ideas, too! I think we're going to paint the kitchen/dining room a light and medium shade of sage/greyish green, with a honey oak chair rail and window & door trim. Our windows are all simply set into the walls, without any trim, sills, or framing. They've always looked bare to me and I'm looking forward to highlighting them. Of course, now Drew is thinking that before we do that, it would be best if we had better insulated windows, which would drive down our cooling costs in the summer.
22 February 2008
Here We Go Again!
Woo-hoo!! Drew is laying out the line for the bottom course of backsplash tiles.
As soon as the boys are finished with dinner (canned ravioli for the kidsters, tonight), they'll start setting up the tile saw and the canopy on the back patio. For some reason (probably having to do with our sanctification), it seems that whenever we rent the tile saw, we have cloudy, cold, wet weather.
The cuts for the backsplash will be easier than the cuts for the counters were. We're also hoping to get a bit of an assembly line going, with Nathan and Drew cutting and me actually sticking tiles to the wall. Benjamin and Judith will take turns cleaning out the grout lines between all the little mosaic tiles while the thinset is still wet. We're hoping to get all the cuts done for the island this weekend, too. We'll lay it out with spacers on the peninsula and cut everything we need to cut. Then we can continue to lay tile on the island, desk, and desk's backsplash after we return the saw and with no time deadline looming over us: a batch of thinset here, a batch there, and soon we'll be done!
I hope to post pictures and updates as the work progresses, with photos of the finished product when all is said and done. If you care, keep checking back. If you don't, well, I think I can live with that.
SDG!
As soon as the boys are finished with dinner (canned ravioli for the kidsters, tonight), they'll start setting up the tile saw and the canopy on the back patio. For some reason (probably having to do with our sanctification), it seems that whenever we rent the tile saw, we have cloudy, cold, wet weather.
The cuts for the backsplash will be easier than the cuts for the counters were. We're also hoping to get a bit of an assembly line going, with Nathan and Drew cutting and me actually sticking tiles to the wall. Benjamin and Judith will take turns cleaning out the grout lines between all the little mosaic tiles while the thinset is still wet. We're hoping to get all the cuts done for the island this weekend, too. We'll lay it out with spacers on the peninsula and cut everything we need to cut. Then we can continue to lay tile on the island, desk, and desk's backsplash after we return the saw and with no time deadline looming over us: a batch of thinset here, a batch there, and soon we'll be done!
I hope to post pictures and updates as the work progresses, with photos of the finished product when all is said and done. If you care, keep checking back. If you don't, well, I think I can live with that.
SDG!
15 February 2008
Delay
Drew was hoping to finish tiling this weekend, but the rose mosaic won't arrived until early next week. I'm okay with this as I'm feeling a bit under the weather right now. (The kids went to Gileskirk alone today - a first!) It's also another rainy, cloudy, cold day and the guys would have been miserable outside cutting tile.
~~~~~
I'm still re-organizing the kitchen, but I'm stumped about how much plastic to keep. We don't use plastic containers or plastic wrap in the microwave. I don't like drinking out of plastic (with the exception of my pink kid-lit-themed Nalgene water bottle from Powell's Books as it's so much harder than typical plastics) and I'm not sure I like the kids drinking out of it. We don't have little ones who drop and break glasses and such (at least not often). I'd like to kiss plastic-days good-bye, but Drew and Anna take leftovers to work in plastic containers. I'd rather they used foil-covered plates and bowls, but I don't think I'll be able to convince them.
Well, if this is the most important decision I have to make today, that's a pretty easy day, so I'm not going to fret about it. If you have any suggestions for something more stable than plastic, yet less spillable than foil covered plates, I'd love to hear them.
~~~~~
I'm still re-organizing the kitchen, but I'm stumped about how much plastic to keep. We don't use plastic containers or plastic wrap in the microwave. I don't like drinking out of plastic (with the exception of my pink kid-lit-themed Nalgene water bottle from Powell's Books as it's so much harder than typical plastics) and I'm not sure I like the kids drinking out of it. We don't have little ones who drop and break glasses and such (at least not often). I'd like to kiss plastic-days good-bye, but Drew and Anna take leftovers to work in plastic containers. I'd rather they used foil-covered plates and bowls, but I don't think I'll be able to convince them.
Well, if this is the most important decision I have to make today, that's a pretty easy day, so I'm not going to fret about it. If you have any suggestions for something more stable than plastic, yet less spillable than foil covered plates, I'd love to hear them.
13 February 2008
Backsplash
After a trip to World of Tile last night, we've changed our thinking about the backsplash. It's finally coming together - at least in our minds.
Seven inch square Beach set straight on the bottom, followed by a row of 5/8" square rose marble tiles, then more Beach set on the diagonal with accent tiles of green marble. Then another row of small rose marble, finished with Beach. We'll use battiscopa tiles at the top once we move out from under the cabinets, as the rounded edge will give it a nice finished look.
We're also going to incorporate the rose (1x1 here) and green marble into the island.
The rose really brings out the rosy brown hues in the Beach tiles, but I'm not sure how green happened as it's most definitely not my favorite color, but it'll be gorgeous. I think I've figured out green: it's either absolutely beautiful (dune-grass grey-green or tropical ocean blue-green) or it's just hideous (lime and the greens used in army fatigues). There's no such thing as a mediocre green.
SDG!
Seven inch square Beach set straight on the bottom, followed by a row of 5/8" square rose marble tiles, then more Beach set on the diagonal with accent tiles of green marble. Then another row of small rose marble, finished with Beach. We'll use battiscopa tiles at the top once we move out from under the cabinets, as the rounded edge will give it a nice finished look.
We're also going to incorporate the rose (1x1 here) and green marble into the island.
The rose really brings out the rosy brown hues in the Beach tiles, but I'm not sure how green happened as it's most definitely not my favorite color, but it'll be gorgeous. I think I've figured out green: it's either absolutely beautiful (dune-grass grey-green or tropical ocean blue-green) or it's just hideous (lime and the greens used in army fatigues). There's no such thing as a mediocre green.
SDG!
12 February 2008
Kitchen Pictures
Not done yet, but here are current progress pictures.
This one shows a bit of the mess of thinset on the counter, but it also shows clearly the missing front piece. The other pictures are farther away and you can't see what's missing so well. Drew is working on a brilliant way to support the tiles while the thinset dries so they stay level and even. We didn't cut enough the first time we had the saw, so the front will have to wait until we rent the saw again.
This one shows a close-up of the counter between the stove and the sink with my tea maker and the new bottom cabinets.
The sink and the peninsula.
The view from the dining room.
This is one idea for the backsplash. Probably not this particular tile (only three in stock at Home Depot and all chipped - not very good quality), but we hope to find something like it a World of Tile. We'll also outline the diagonals in a 5/8" dark brown swirly-patterned tile, with more of the Beach on the bottom and on the top.
SDG!
This one shows a bit of the mess of thinset on the counter, but it also shows clearly the missing front piece. The other pictures are farther away and you can't see what's missing so well. Drew is working on a brilliant way to support the tiles while the thinset dries so they stay level and even. We didn't cut enough the first time we had the saw, so the front will have to wait until we rent the saw again.
This one shows a close-up of the counter between the stove and the sink with my tea maker and the new bottom cabinets.
The sink and the peninsula.
The view from the dining room.
This is one idea for the backsplash. Probably not this particular tile (only three in stock at Home Depot and all chipped - not very good quality), but we hope to find something like it a World of Tile. We'll also outline the diagonals in a 5/8" dark brown swirly-patterned tile, with more of the Beach on the bottom and on the top.
SDG!
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