Um, hands?

By day, I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist. By night, a home-remodeling junkie. Both require problem-solving skills. One requires more teaching of these skills; the other requires more using. 

I got a good laugh out of a recent conversation with one of my "friends" during a teaching task at my day job. Here's the gist:

Me: What do you need to wash dishes?

Friend: Uh...a sink. 

 Me: Yup. What else?

Friend: Water. 

Me: Okay. Anything else?

Friend: Oh yeah, a dishwasher. 

Me: Maybe. What do you use to get the dishes clean? *insert gestures of pouring soap and scrubbing imaginary dishes*

Friend: Um, hands?

Me: Well, you definitely need your hands at my house. I don't have a dishwasher.

Friend: *insert jaw drop to floor* 

Yeah, my friend was speechless. I mean, how do people live without a dishwasher? Let me tell you. In my experience, 1) you pile up dishes until the sink is no longer usable, then, 2) you initiate a dish-washing marathon, and finally, 3) you smell of SOS pads and Dawn soap for a few hours. Yes, we have been taking the slightly lazy approach to dish maintenance 'round this old house. 

Naturally, we have been planning and scheming on how to improve the current kitchen since we set foot in the house. While we would love to completely remodel the kitchen, there are a few many obstacles. Um...budget being the most glaring hurdle. The current cabinet layout is pretty functional, given the low windows and large Victorian-era cast iron radiator (which makes a great bum-warmer in the winter). A dishwasher is definitely on the list of kitchen wishes. But where? Hmmm. 

 

Ideally, the dishwasher would be near the sink. Problem? Maybe not. Did you know they make 18" dishwashers? Well, what do you know? The four-drawer cabinet to the left of the sink is 18" wide. Did you also know they charge an arm and a leg more than the standard 24" wide version? Of course they do. Custom costs coinage. 

Also on the kitchen wishes list - more storage. Big surprise? Yes, we have a pantry but I can't stand to see wasted space, especially space that could be should be storage. I have my eye on the 14" or so gap above the upper kitchen cabinets below the ceiling.

Another wish? Time to play "I Spy what's missing in the kitchen"...

 

If you guessed new flooring, you are wrong...for today. If you guessed a kitchen island, you are correct. Chris and I recently watched Julie & Julia during which I proclaimed my need for a kitchen island...about 12 times. Julia had some really great islands. And, she made fabulous food. Maybe the two go hand in hand? 

Despite my whining, I completely realize that I will not be satisfied with any 'ole kitchen island off the shelf. Solution? Design and build my own. I have been studying project plans and sketching modifications for an island for months...and it's not quite perfected yet. See, there was a reason I was an engineering major for a semester (and some reasons why I switched). But, hey, those three years of mechanical drafting in high school are coming in handy. Thanks, Mr. Vruwink.

There are many more things on the kitchen wish list, but that's enough kitchen talk for right now. In a few hours, it'll be time to brave the mud pit and hit the road to my day job again. 

P.S. J.J. and Jena, I have to admit that I am VERY envious of your nice, mud-free, asphalt driveway every morning as I dodge mud puddles.

This just in...

While out to eat with Chris' family this weekend, we were discussing the recent earthquake.

 

Chris mentioned that something had fallen off our leaning bookcase in the dining room. 

 

"Huh?" I questioned, brows furrowed. 

 

Breaking News: This just in...

 

"Yeah, our Chef Wanted sign fell off the bookcase," he responded. 

 

I guess feeling the earth quaking wasn't just in my imagination.  

It was in my dining room too.

Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive..

Every Monday is "plant care day" and so far, things are looking good.

The plants are still alive. All of them!!! 

Now that spring is peaking around the corner, Chris and I started planning for the outdoors. However, after perusing all the garden books I could carry home from the library, we seem to have more questions than answers.  

 After reading a few books about kitchen gardens (potagers), I've been plotting and scheming my future vegetable garden. Tomatoes and beans twisting around a tepee-like trellis, Swiss chard, kale, arugula, lettuce, rhubarb and planters full of herbs. So far, it's a lot of lines and scribbles...

Muddy Motivation...

People say a picture is worth a thousand words, but how much is a paved driveway worth? 

Ours came partially grass-covered with two dirt tracks near the street and a picnic table in front of the garage. We've been throwing around ideas for what to do with our "driveway" since we moved in.

It has turned into a mud pit. Muddy shoes equals muddy pants, muddy house and mad muddy wife. Second, it makes it difficult to shovel snow. We've both had the wind knocked out of us when the shovel gets stuck on a froze dirt groove. And half the "driveway" has probably been relocated to the flower beds by now.

One thing's for certain- we are highly motivated to see a change this spring/summer! Any suggestions? 

What does 3.8 even mean?

Yesterday, I was chatting with my boss about our recent strides toward personal fitness and she said she'd been sleeping better lately. I realized I had been too, stated so and should have proceeded to knock on some wood. I jinxed it. Last night, I was up almost every hour tossing and turning...and not really sleeping. Finally, I dozed off a little after 3am. 

Fast-forward to just before 4 a.m. ET. Out of nowhere I heard such a clatter, my eyes sprang open to see what was the matter. 

Chris sleepily queried "What was that noise? Was that the wind?" 

I drowsily muttered "I duh no." Whatever it was, it was LOUD. 

The paranoid gears started spinning in my head...did the boiler just blow up? Is there a robber in the house? Can wind really be that loud? Is the robber going to try and...(insert snoring here)...my tired body prevailed over my overactive imagination. 

Two hours later, I groggily got ready and headed off to work on the clear streets that seemed to be lacking something...oh yeah, all the snow we were supposed to get based on the weatherpersons'  latest prediction of the newest version of our "worst winter storm yet." I swear they enjoy instigating mass-hysteria over snowflakes. 

Fast-forward to 7:55 a.m. Upon arrival, my co-workers asked me if I felt the earthquake last night. 

My haven't-finished-my-first-cup-o-coffee self responded with a very articulate "Huh?"

As they started to relay details about an earthquake at about 4 a.m., a light bulb went off somewhere in the murkiness of my brain. It was not the wind that woke me up, it was...

a friggin' EARTHQUAKE. 

Sure enough. Seriously? I may have only gotten a handful of minutes of sleep last night but we do live in Illinois, right? It registered a magnitude of 3.8 (apparently 33,000 times less powerful than the one that rocked Haiti recently).  

Welcome to our unpredictable,
currently chilly,

moderately snowy, 

Midwest

Winter Wonderland

where our old home-sweet-work-in-progress stands tonight, damage-free. And for that, we are immensely thankful.

An attempt to turn (or keep) a new leaf green.

Keri: "Did you notice that plant was dry and dying?"

Chris: "Yeah." 

Keri: "Um, then why didn't you water it?"

Chris: "It was a test."

Keri: "What?"

Chris: "I was waiting to see if you'd notice and water it."

Keri: "Well I didn't and it is now dead."

Chris: "Yup, you failed."

Keri: "And you are partially responsible."

Chris: "How does that work? It was your plant."

Keri: "Negligent homicide."

I'll give you one word that pretty much sums up my previous experience to date with houseplants...death. I have seen the demise of many plants in my role as caregiver to greenery...however, I'm not sure that Chris' thumbs are any greener than mine. 

In this sanity-induced hiatus from major house projects, one of my goals is to nurture my thumbs to become slightly greener ...celadon thumbs. Since it is a very light shade, my interpretation is that most things should stay alive but it lets me off the hook for a few...


There are a few reasons for my goal of nature-loving thumbs. 

 

Reason #1 & #2 (above). When Grandma Flietstra passed away at the end of last September, there was a beautiful and creative floral arrangement that was made up of a variety of potted plants. I got an African violet and the funky-leafed one (still trying to identify...possibly a variety of a Alocasia or Amazonica). I've been trying to keep them alive but was, um, failing again...they were in critical condition. That was until Grandma Versluys came down for the housewarming party last weekend, bringing along Reason #3. A ZZ Palm (below in the bright blue pot) armed with some much-needed tools for keeping plants alive, a moisture meter so you don't over water and Miracle Gro Houseplant food. Genius.

 When you look up green thumb in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Martheen Versluys. Her ability to grow almost anything - and keep it alive - is quite amazing to me. 

She's also a fountain of knowledge about plants and caring for them. She took one look at my plants and worked her green-thumbed magic. After discovering that the African violet had 2 baby plants as well as the main plant, she guided me through how to re-pot them. 

Before we could re-pot the plants, we had to make a trip to Home Depot for some supplies like African violet potting soil, standard potting soil, a few pots...oh yeah, and another plant. Chris fell for it at first sight (below, a type of Cordyline). After receiving the expert's approval (Grandma) and swearing that it was his responsibility to care for it, it made it's way home with us...for $6.99. Home Depot was selling a slightly bigger one that came in a nice big planter - for $39 bucks. Hobby Lobby had all their planters 50% off so we picked up one for about $15 bucks. Um, deal.

 

Now, the Cordyline did not look this shiny and healthy at the store. When I agreed to take it home with us, I honestly was thinking for $6.99 it would keep Chris entertained for a few weeks until it died. 

But given 10 minutes, a soft cloth/towel, patience and a spoonful of mayonnaise, the plant looks like a million bucks. Grandma's got quiet a handful of tricks up her sleeve (above). Who would have thought mayo? Not me...but after seeing the results I'm a believer. I really hope Chris keeps this one alive. Thanks for passing on the green-thumbed knowledge, Grandma! Our plants are thanking you too...

 

Especially, the pink one. Last night, I noticed that my Gerbera daisy was taking a bow...looking a bit critical. I song line "and another one bites the dust" started playing in my head but I quickly changed the station and headed for the watering cup and Mirace Gro houseplant food Grandma had given us. I figured I might as well give it a try...and now, this morning, I am empowered. The pink Gerbera was standing up straight and looking very much alive. It might just be a rally but I'm hopeful!

Housewarming Party!!

Last Saturday morning, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut-off...giving half-intelligible directions of what to clean, where to chuck/hide masses of things, etc to Chris, my parents and my grandma. Why? It was H-day...Housewarming party day. And, thirty or so friends and family would soon be knocking to come in and take a gander at all of our work on our *new* home. 

And they did! We had a great time getting to show people the house and changes and catch up with some friends we hadn't seen in a while! Our realtor, Jackie, stopped by too and got to see all the changes since she'd last seen the house in August...a lot. I think everybody had a pretty good time too...I was told of a few meatball-induced food comas following the bash.

To be very honest, there is not a chance that Chris and I would have pulled off such a party without some major help from both our parents and Grandma Versluys. Nope, not a chance. We are very thankful for all their help! Unfortunately, I didn't get any picture evidence of their work. Actually, I didn't get any pics of during the party, guests, etc. Here are a few pics that I got before the party...

 

Dining room bookcases (finally *pretty-ified*)

 
 

First floor *guest* room 

 
 

Living room area (which is now crawling, 7 month old-approved)

 

A tidier landing/shelf (above the front door, 

we think the stairs were moved to their current spot) 

Office upstairs sporting the vintage wallpaper...which was fairly popular with guests!

 

Tada...Master bedroom. 

(We spent so many hours in the 3-4 weeks prior to the party on this that it is deserving of it's own post...soon. )

Fast forward to this beautiful, sunny Saturday morning...I am slowly sipping my coffee in my pajamas, listening to country music on Pandora and blogging from the comfort of the EXTORP. And...thoroughly enjoying it. 

We've been constantly working on the house since we moved in in August...and now we are going to take a little sanity-induced break from major projects (organization and decorating are still fair game) for a month or so. We need a little time to regroup and enjoy all the love and sweat equity we've doused the house with so far. And, maybe I can catch up on blogging some of the improvements in more depth, future ideas and life in general in this vintage home-sweet-work-in-progress.