This and That: The Random Edition

I'm starting to fall into old habits of not posting. Okay, so on second thought my last post was only Thursday and right now is Sunday night and for some reason I was thinking that that is four days. But I'm not going to make some joke about how math isn't my strong suit because it actually always was. Anyhow, the good new is that I only missed two days which isn't bad at all now is it? I've noticed in the blogging world that it is often commonplace for bloggers to write posts in advance and either save them for future use or have them post at a scheduled time. I was such a good little blogger the other weekend when I went away and  did just that; wrote a post for every day that I was going to be away and scheduled them to post automatically. Thinking about this made me consider writing posts and setting the date/time labels to the days that I missed. But that seems somehow wrong and like it would be cheating. Why is it okay for the future but not for the past? Kind of like setting a clock or watch by turning back the time? The way the days, weeks and months have been flying by, wouldn't that be nice.

Speaking of the blogging world I've recently started making use of the lovely website bloglovin.com and I have to say I enjoy it quite a bit. I've tried Google Reader but I've never been a fan so I'm really pleased with the ultra simple layout of Blog Lovin'. I actually don't have very many blogs that I check regularly but this will help me check the ones that I do faster, and not bother checking one that hasn't updated. Oh, simple pleasures.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about photography and investing time in learning more and taking better photographs. I've been interested in photography since pretty much elementary school and I don't know why I haven't taken more time and effort into really developing my skills. I'm making it a point to do so, so with any luck (and a little effort) I'll have some nice photographs to post before too long. I have a roll of 220 in my Holga that I need to remember to get processed. That has little to do with photographic skill but I'm really excited to see what little treasures await there. Here is one photograph that I took that I'm not quite sure why, but I really like it.

I've been working away as usual on house stuff and various little projects. I just need to find fabric to upholster the bamboo chairs and they are done, my office chair just needs a cushion and it's done, the mudroom just needs the trim to be finished, shelving installed and a couple of finishing touches and it will be complete. I just bought a fun new toy to help with some of the projects I've been doing. Dave is convinced I'm going to cut my finger off. Doesn't he know that I was once the poster child for a national safety campaign?

In other important news, the quest for a squeeze bottle to fill with caramel is turning out to be a challenging one. Walmart and the Dollarstore both disappointed. If I had had one I could have drizzled the top of the banana bread I baked for Dave tonight with it. I would take a picture and post it but it will be gone before I get a chance. It's pretty much his favourite thing ever.

I had a pretty amazing experience on Saturday that I'd like to write about but I think it deserves its own post. and besides, it's sleepy time.

Goodnight. :)

A Work Horse Not A Show Pony

I'm in the process of giving a couple of bamboo chairs a face lift. Want to see a before photo? I thought you might...

The chairs came from my Aunt who moved out West who got them from my sister who got them from a yard sale maybe? When I pulled off the seat from one of the chairs I saw something that I would like to think is a good omen:

If you knew me as a child you'd know that I used to write my name on everything. And yes, furniture is included in everything. So strange. It even looks like my six-year-old scrawling. There was also a sticker on one of the chairs. It said, "Do Not Move To New Building". Poor chairs. They got left at the old building.

I usually have a project or two on the go, and at least 100 plans and dreams and schemes in my head, waiting in the wings. And lately David has been complaining a lot about it and I don't understand why. I can see complaining about someone who is really lazy. Even lazy people think poorly of lazy people. But I'm working. Working really hard. And when is that a bad thing ever? Anyway. Speaking of working hard, the mudroom makeover is coming slowly but surely. Last night I got a coat of paint on the floor and tonight I did the finish coat. Looks much better than it did. After all that sweaty hard work, what better way to relax than with a blended iced coffee drink with caramel and whipped cream?

Why yes, I have been using my Copco Eco-First Sierra Tumbler. Thanks for asking.

Mudroom

Our little house in our rough little neighbourhood came with a rough little mudroom. The whole house is in pretty great shape, except of course the mudroom. A couple "before" pictures to show you what I mean:

Pretty mangey right? Anyway, I'm happy to report that a quick coat of paint made quite a difference but there are still quite a few things I want to accomplish in there in the next couple weeks. With any luck I'll be able to post some "after" photos soon. One of the projects that I had in mind for in there was to take some photos of flowers in our yard, frame them and put them up on the wall to brighten it up a bit and I thought it would be a nice way to remember the things that grow outside in the middle of winter when they are six feet under snow. I snapped a few the other day and am happy with the results. I had originally intended to pick a few favourites and frame and display them separately but when I put them into collage form, I really liked how they looked. So much so that I'll likely do something similar for the wall. I was eating Smartfood at the time so maybe that was it...

Speaking of taking pictures, I found a blog called Under the Sycamore written by a photographer. She has amazing photographs. Looking through her blog makes me want to a) take better photos and b) have said photos published into coffee table books (for my own coffee table). I shouldn't admit these things, should I?

Time to vent...

Everywhere I want to buy or build a piece of furniture in our house there is a floor vent. SUPER annoying. Speaking of furniture, I promise to post pictures of my finished headboard soon. The email/comment requests for this has been overwhelming so I'm sorry it is taking so long! Haha.

Making things pretty...

Home improvements. I have more ideas than I have time, money or energy. Nevertheless, things are slowly but surely coming together. I am planning on trying to finish getting the bedroom set up in the next couple weeks. I've built a new headboard (and I'm kind of in love with it!) and am just waiting for the weather to cooperate so I can put another coat of clear coat on it and pull the room together. I'm already dreaming and scheming about revamping my office space and I'm dreaming big. Working from home in our last place sometimes felt a little like living in a dungeon and now that I have a nice bright corner to call home, I plan on making it somewhere I want to spend time. Speaking of which, now that I've grown accustomed to having my own office space at home, I don't think I'll ever want to go back to not having one, even after I'm back out in the real world where bathrobes and down-filled booties are not considered appropriate work attire. Now I just need to start planning. Wouldn't something like this be nice?

Okay, so maybe this is a little too nice for someone who makes a habit out of eating chips and popcorn and cookies at her desk but I'm sure I'll find a happy medium. :)

Life is Good

This is a pretty silly graphic but it is so so true. Life is good. Even when it sometimes feels like it's not, it is. Always is. Yesterday and today it is easy to see that. Last night I went to my parent's place for a couple hours to help them on the kitchen renovation. We got a little bit done and I zipped out of there because they had company coming and so did I. Ladies night. We stuffed ourselves until our pants didn't fit and we were all uncomfortable. We do this every week and somehow we never learn our lesson and it never gets old. Leftover ice-cream and rootbeer meant that I got to sit out on the deck at lunchtime today reading and sipping a rootbeer float in the sun. It's the Friday before a long weekend and we might just be getting the keys to the house tomorrow. Montreal for a week in a week. Let's hope I have had a VERY eventful and productive week by then!

For Rent

Within the span of 24 hours we found a house to rent, secured it, found someone to rent our apartment a month earlier than planned and made moving plans.

We move next week into our cute, little, interesting new home. I've gone from busy to BUSY. Pretty excited to have a yard, and a garage and basement. And to not be attached to anyone. And to sit out on our deck or in our sunroom and watch the hooligans go by in our rough little neighbourhood.