Surprise in the Spring...

Over lunch a few weeks back, a co-worker said she'd just started to have bulbs peeking up in her flower beds. I instantly regretted not actually planting our tulip bulbs last fall. Argh. Another missed step in the role of homeowner. Doh! But wait, what is that I see?

Okay, I'm over it. Apparently, the house came with more than a step stool, toaster, 3-4 brooms, snow shovel and a desk. It came with...perennials. Tulips. My absolute favorite flower. I think there is another type of flower coming up too but I'm no expert. Any thoughts? One tulip is even poking up through the stones near the mailbox.

During our gutter-cleaning bonanza, I also noticed that my chives were making a comeback. I had no idea they were perennials! 

I cleared away the old stuff and dug the growing chives out of the pot they were in last spring and replanted them in a smaller pot that would fit on the window ledge inside the back porch until it warms up a bit more. Our back porch is kind of like a greenhouse, with big windows to let in plenty of sun. Hurray for plants that take care of themselves!!

The Season of "Have-to-dos"

During a recent chat with my mom, she asked what our next project on the list was. I stated that we were now in the "Have-to-dos" stage. A few months ago, I wrote a social story called "My choices and My have-to-dos" for a little friend at work that went something like "I can choose who to play with at recess. That's my choice. I have to listen to my teacher. That's my have-to-do." 

Chris and I need one that is the more grown-up and homeowner-like version. "We can choose what duvet cover to put on the bed. That's our choice. We have to clean out the gutters and extend the downspouts. That's a have-to-do." This is just one of the many have-to-dos on the list.

During our house inspection last July (prior to closing), the inspector told us we'd need to extend the gutter downspouts because they ended right next to the house which could cause water seepage in the basement, especially since the dirt marvel of a driveway was slightly pitched toward the house. Um, did we listen and do this last fall. What? And not have this first-time homeowner experience to share? Ha! Gotta have something to blog about. So, you'll never guess what happened. The basement got a bit damp in a few corners. What corners you ask? If you guessed the ones with the short downspouts on their outside wall, give yourself a star. Doh!  

Here's a few pics of the downspout situation prior to attack of the homeowners...

Pretty sure the crumbling cement slide was not doing what was intended...(Opposite side from driveway) 

See how the limestone foundation looks kinda wet? It's because it is. See the little plastic extender tray? Pretty much just for show. 

I spy a problem, my gut tells me water is supposed to come out the end of the downspout, not up at the top...

Wasn't fibbin' was I? Wet limestone with a bit o' funk. What you can't see is the pond at the end of the tray. Any one for a swim?

So Sunday, huh? The sun was back out. The snow (oh, yes) was melted. It looked nice and warm outside in the afternoon. Well, let me tell you, looks are deceiving. But homeownership called and we answered. Yes, we. I was ladder-holder extraordinaire while Chris scooped slimy leaves and sludge out of the gutters with his bare hands. I was also diver-outer-of-the-way-of-said-sludge as the wind whipped it in directions not anticipated, kind of like dodgeball but with dirty brown heaps of goo. A few pics of the process...

 Thank goodness for neighbors with extension ladders (and lawn mowers, and painting tools, and the list goes on)! And husbands who are not afraid of heights or murky goo...

 See that in Chris' hand? That would be why he's the man of the house, because he handles the down-right dirty, manly jobs. 

 Yummy. This was only part of the treasure. When the bucket was full, it was raining "compost" on the flower beds.

We opted for an inexpensive temporary solution to extend the downspouts,  thanks to Home Depot. This spring/summer we plan to dig trenches to extend the downspouts underground prior to tackling the driveway. But for $16, the basement should stay a bit drier.

Look a bit like a bendy straw! Or enormous earthworms. I'm just waiting for the day I run one over...

Recent Finds...Habitat For Humanity Restore

If you've never been to a Habitat for Humanity Restore, I dare say you are missing out. That is, if you are into home renovation. Builders, carpenters, home owners alike all donate materials that were replaced (i.e. entire kitchen's worth of cabinets) or left over or no longer needed. You might recall our 5 panel door score ($25) back in August/September. The Restore is run by volunteers who are extremely helpful and just down-right nice people. Here's some of our recent treasure finds...

Item: Giant vintage metal pendant light

Cost: $6

History: The guy who donated it had it for 30-40 years and said it no longer matched his decor according to the friendly volunteers

Idea: Um, it's just cool. And it's $6. So we'll figure something out... 

Item: Above-fridge cabinet

Cost: $30/ea. (qty 2)

History: None, brand-spanking new

Idea: Built-in storage in attic in the narrow space between the pitch of the roof and the floor

Item (left): Glass Turtle shades 

Cost: $1/ea (qty 2)

History: No story here, they look brand-new. However, if you were to buy new ones from store like Schoolhouse Electric (which has really cool stuff) it would set you back $28 a pop.

Idea: Replace the chipped turtle shade in the bathroom

Items (right): Vintage door bell push-buttons

Cost: $1/ea (qty 2)

History: Brand-new in the box. Definitely old. 

Idea: A creative decor project in the future.

A bit o' green...

Call me inspired. This recent bout of nice weather has got me hooked. I think I'm ready to embrace Spring and things green...including some decoration modification. 

I try (try being the operative word) to buy versatile linens, pillows, etc that I can mix and match. The intent is that I can change things up without having to buy a lot of new items or store a bunch of linens in non-existent closets. I usually stick to changing textures and avoid patterns but I picked up this duvet set at IKEA (big surprise) for about $19. Score. Color and patterns, colored-patterns, a big out of the ole' comfort box for me. But, the pattern reminds me of tulips which just so happen to be my favorite flowers (must be Dutch or granddaughter to a bonafide Pella Tulip Queen). Double score. 

Let's see what else I can Spring-ify this weekend...

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...