Tree-trimming...

So we got a quote for getting our huge maple tree in the backyard trimmed last Wednesday when it was beautiful out. They were going to come back on Thursday and do their magic. However, it proceeded to rain everyday until this Tuesday. We were in no hurry and the job's done now and we are happy that no large limbs will fall on the garage. Here's a few pics of the job...

 

The simple pleasures...

Let me introduce you to our new toilet seat, expertly-installed by Chris. 

You ask, Is it squishy? Not at all. Does this seat make a whooshy sound when you sit? Nope. Does it stay warm so long that it's awkward? Not really. Then it must not be an old lady toilet seat, you say. Bingo. New toilet seat made of wood, $17 at Lowes. A more pleasant, less awkward overall restroom experience, Pricele$$. I realize discussing toilet seats on the blog may be a bit weird but those of you who've visited our home sweet work-in-progress know what I'm talking about.

Living/Dining Room...a work in progress

Here are some much anticipated pictures of the newly-painted living/dining room. We are going to be getting a new couch soon, so don't let the blue plaid scare you! Curtain trials start tomorrow. 

Looking out the picture window on to the porch. That empty space is where my dining table will be once I get around to sanding the top. 

This is the dining room bay window area. The flash actually makes the paint look more pink-ish/yellow-ish. It's more of a warm khaki. 

 

This is looking into the kitchen with the door to the main floor bedroom (which feels empty without an armoire and couch) to the left. Note the very nicely installed (by Chris) switch plates which match the color of all the door knobs. Yeah, Lowes. 

Another shot looking into main floor bedroom. 

 

Really? Really Tootsie Roll Industries? Really?

Happy Halloween! We had our first trick-or-treaters tonight...they were so cute! I bought way too much candy (note to Dad, we have a year-supply of Smarties...come and visit) but I didn't want to run out! A certain bumble bee that lives next door was by far the cutest...he got 3 pieces of candy (then the next neighbor yelled at him for taking 2 pieces...obviously, now he knows who the cool neighbor is). All of the other kids got 1 piece...that was until I found out that Tootsie Roll Industries had screwed up the Tootsie Pop. 

They added a new flavor. Are you kidding me? BANANA?? Who on earth thought that was a good idea? That is all sorts of wrong. The Tootsie Pop bouquets my dad used to buy had Chocolate (brown), Orange (orange), Cherry (red), Raspberry (magenta) and Grape (blue). Absolutely, positively NO YELLOW BANANA. Why mess with a good thing? What did I do? I started giving all the kids 1 piece of candy + a banana-flavored Tootsie Pop. Unfortunately, I did not realize this travesty until late in the game. There are still 5 defiling my candy bowl.

Slowly but surely...

Chris and I started putting furniture back in the living/dining room last night...sorry, no pics yet...and we are loving the new look. Well, almost. I ate dinner in the "new" room for the first time since Labor Day weekend...on the couch (because the dining table is still in the garage) and in the dark (because we have no curtains and lots of windows). But it beat eating dinner in bed...sure did. We are in the decision-making phase of the curtain search and surprisingly a caramel/orange color is currently the front runner. But we need to see it at all times of day...which requires being home as well as hanging the bargain curtain rods. Ahh....baby steps. Maybe this is why the room has taken two months.....hmmmm. We did accomplish getting our huge maple in the backyard trimmed up this week...which was quite the feat seeing as the weather was uncooperative for the first 4 days the trimmers attempted to come out. Check back for room pics soon!!

Lessons Learned Today

As I spent most of the day working on the living/dining room, removing old twice-painted window treatment hardware from the trim and diff-ing off the last missed spots of wallpaper backing, I learned some vital lessons:

1. Tool belts are PRICELESS. After climibing up and down the stepladder 50 times to get the utility knife, then the screwdriver, then the chisel, then the hammer...I ventured to the basement in search of my tool belt. Ahhhh...so much better. I may not have burned as many calories but my legs aren't going to hate me in the morning either. 

2. Chisels WILL DRAW BLOOD if you get your hand in it's way. Lesson learned the hard way. Things like this always happen on the last part of what you are doing. I had already chipped, chiseled, hammered loose and unscrewed 11 pieces of window treatment hardware and on the last piece my chisel and hand *kissed.* The gouge in my palm reinforced my reasoning for buying a first-aid kit on one of my many trips to Menards. Moral of the story...don't stick your chisel in your hand and ALWAYS keep a first-aid kit on hand. I now also have a large bottle of Hibiclens, strong antiseptic and skin cleanser, to ward off nasty infections. My nurse momma would be so proud!

3. Remember thermostats CONTROL THE HEAT. Funny story. So....some of the remaining wallpaper backing was behind the thermostat. In order to avoid getting Dif on the thermostat, I put a plastic bag around it. Now, you are all probably thinking "What was I thinking?" right? Yeah, I asked myself the same thing. After putting it in a plastic bag, I sprayed the Dif and let it set for 15-20 min...scraped off the backing...washed the area...and left it to dry...which is when things got heated. Literally. I was sweating up a storm and thinking I must be really working hard sanding, etc. I was next to the radiator and realized it was really hot. But it was a nice warm day out....*Insert AH HA MOMENT here.* I raced over to the thermostat which read 72+ degrees...I quickly removed the bag and got it placed back up on the wall. After opening all the windows and pulling the self-storing screens back down/pushing the storms up, I decided it was the perfect time to quick mow the lawn (also, my neighbor had just finished with his and I borrow his mower) and enjoy the reasonable outdoor temperature. In the end, it took about 2 hours of open windows to bring the house temperature back to a semi-comfortable level. Moral of this story...don't MESS with the thermostat unless you want to get burned. 

The Jackpot

As I was trying to navigate the narrow aisles at JoAnn Fabrics on Sunday, I hit the jackpot. Curtain rods. 40% off. Now, I had spent probably 10 hours searching the web for curtain rods and bay window treatment ideas in the past week. I was so sick of looking at them...until I saw the *sale* sign and the style of rods I had really liked online. 

Since it was the first day of the sale, they had a lot of options so I got all 5 rods in the correct lengths, 6 sets of double brackets and a cute Thanksgiving pillow for the porch for $120. Even though I forgot my coupon at home (of course), the cashier had even added the 20% off entire order for me. I looked over my receipt as I walked out and noticed the *total saved* at the bottom of the receipt...$126.00. The Dutch in me was SO PROUD.