The Pole

When we bought our house, we also got an old HAM radio pole (all of the other equipment had been sold before we moved in).

It was a very tall, very old, very gray pole that stuck out from the roof...and I thought it was ugly. Luckily we were able to have it removed fairly easily... with the help of a CRANE.

Wa La

No more pole.

Barn Doors part 2

I spent the weekend painting and after all that painting, my right hand had a permanent CRAMP-it hurt for 2 days. But look at my lovely barn doors for my closet.

 I ended up painting them white because I was afraid.  Afraid to paint them red or black or stain them brown because I didn't want the room to look smaller or feel like a dark hole -just call me fraidy cat.

Since Monday was the 24th of July, I didn't have to go to clinicals. I couldn't make myself paint ANYMORE so I read a book.

It was wonderful, easy to read and it made me laugh!  I would recommend this if you are looking for a real life romance novel. 

The Hall

Can a Hallway be pretty and calming...I think so! I wish I had a before picture of the hall but I don't, so just know that it was dark and dingy and blah.

The stain is the dark walnut like the rest of the floor, the wainscoting is a satin paint in white and the upper wall is classic gray by Benjamin Moore (same as the master).

I chose this track light from Ikea because someday I am going to have a picture collage running down the entire hallway.

The wainscot only took Bart an hour to put up...but then it took me 2 hours to prime and paint.  Next time I will prime and paint before it goes on the wall.

Barn Doors

Over the last couple weeks Bart and I have been trying to finish up the master bedroom.  We've finished painting the ceiling and walls, put up case and base and refinished the floors. Bart put up a new ceiling fan and moved the bed in, so the last projects to that need completing are the crown moulding, closets and then all then all the spackling and touch up paint on the trim. Have I told you that I HATE touch up? 

The closets before were basic, old sliding doors with cabinets that were too high for me to reach.

So we tore out the old doors and then the cabinets and then we were at a loss for what to do. Since we took out the cabinets that left us with an 8 foot opening...not a standard closet height or width.

Then came my inspiration (Bart was very skeptical). I wanted to create barn closet doors with some old shelving that Bart had pulled out of the furnace room and was going to take to the dump.

With a little of Bart's magic, those nasty old shelves turned into beautiful barn doors for my closets. The hardware we bought from Home Depot for $5.97 a hinge and we did have to buy a couple extra pieces of wood.

Now my only dilemma is should I paint them white or leave them rustic.  What do you think?

Painting the bedrooms

Bart feels like he has two full time jobs-being an engineer from 6-2:30 and home renovator from 3-9:30.  So when I can, I jump in and help...but that usually means PAINTING. Now I don't paint like Bart does or like they do on HGTV.  I was taught to paint by my parents (who still use oil) and that means prepping your walls and ceilings takes 90% of the time. I like my walls to be soft and smooth which requires feeling your walls and then sanding and spackling and sanding some more and then damp wiping and then sanding and spackling some more...because you've missed spots.  I don't understand how people can paint in regular clothes!

There are a few tools that I LOVE to use when prepping and painting a room.  The first is a mouse sander.  It does the sanding for you...all you have to do is move it around your walls.  It even can get into the hard to reach area.

The next is THE GREATEST INVENTION EVER. Introducing the shur line tool. Only $4 from Home Depot. This has revolutionize the "cutting in process.  This tool is quick, easy, and it gave me a great line in between my ceiling and wall...much, much, much better than cutting in by hand.

I always worry about choosing a paint color-I am hoping that you too have been indecisive about paint before. Once I finally decide on a general color, I "HO" and "HA" over what shade and if it will be too dark or too light and how on earth I am supposed to choose from such a little paint sample.  Well I finally decided on a Benjamin Moore color called Classic Gray for the master and boring white for the 2nd bedroom (I want to try wallpaper in there). By the way, have I told you that my favorite color is gray? I think I am going to paint the entire house shades of gray.

After many hours of painting 2 coats on the ceiling and 2 coats of paint in each room, our rooms went from this

and this

TO this

Master

AND  

2nd room

Bart also put up the baseboard in both bedrooms, so they look much better. We still have all the spackling and touch up painting to do from putting up case, base and crown but it is coming along nicely.

THIRTY, 30, three-zero

"Bart had a birthday shout HOORAY, we want to sing to him today, one year older and wiser too, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you".

I bet you can't guess what Bart wanted to do for his birthday...

I decided a couple weeks ago I wanted to highlight Bart on his 30th birthday (I didn't tell him because he wouldn't want me too...plus it will take him a couple days to even realize that I posted this) with 30 things we like about him. I want to thank all the family and friends that helped me compile this list.

We like Bart because

 Of his love for the outdoors and adventure

 He is a loyal friend

Of his focus to projects, regardless of scope or type

   He is diligent

Hard working

Sensitive to others

I love to work with him side by side – we think alike and work alike

He's lots of fun to "dream" with (he has great ideas)

Tons of self-discipline

He has energy and gets things done

He's athletic

Good looking

Bart is optimistic

 A builder

 Fun

 A great water-skier
He makes me laugh
Is tender heart

  He is hardworking/dedicated

A "jack of all trades"

He has awesome gun shooting skills

Is always nice

 Bart is the only person I know who could eat 12 hot dogs in one sitting and win the gallon of milk challenge
An NPR follower
Helpful
He is a great friend... a lifelong friend
He sews
 He loves tools

Bart's mix of imagination and realism
He gets so much done
I like that he's a good swimmer, it helps motivate me when I swim
He will talk to me even when he's busy

Thanks for being an all around great guy! Loves