A BIG Decision

Okay, don't get too worried by the post title...

The other day Mike and I were talking and we decided that we are undertaking NO BIG PROJECTS this year!  I am so relieved.  We did put together a list of unfinished or day projects (hopefully) that we will do, but NO BIG PROJECTS!  Here is our list for the year

1)   Summer Projects

a.      Finish Painting Entry Way

b.     Remove Elm Tree in Front Yard

c.      Plant Lawn on East Side of house

d.     Shelves in pantry on back porch

e.      Replace Windows in front room

f.       Paint outside trim around front room and guest room window.

Considering all of the projects we have undertaken here in Blanding over the past couple of years, we are both relieved at this decision.  This will be a restful year, so to speak!

We'll keep you updated as these projects come to fruition.  But since it is technically winter, we won't begin until Spring arrives!

What Was I Thinking???

I’ve been telling Mike for the past month that we are done with projects for this year.  Then, Mike decides to paint the bathroom.  Well, I did it again, I decided to have our carpets cleaned in the front room…  Why???  It was another project…

Our empty living room, minus the two chairs we were having cleaned.

 

Our kitchen, now a storage area…

 

Caroline, always the good sport, was relegated to the back porch yesterday.  We had two small space heaters running and I must say, the back porch was mighty warm yesterday afternoon!

I am sure that I will be grateful for clean carpets once we have the living room put back together today, but honestly, I’m dreading moving the furniture back in the room.  I am just sick of projects!

The “P” word…

I mistakenly mentioned to Mike last week that next year, I’d like to paint our bathroom.

Mike decided he wanted to get it over with…  I couldn’t bear to watch, especially because I still haven’t completed painting the trim in the entry way!  (I’m still suffering from painting burnout!)

The painting mogul!

Hard at work

Finishing in two days, he can now RELAX!

Day 5 of Painting the Living Room

Well, Mike came home from the temple yesterday and said, “I just need to start painting.”  So, he finished painting/rolling the sage green in the entire living room.  

 

This was great, because this morning, I woke up and started finishing all of the edge work. And now, the front room is 98% complete.   I just need to do the trim work around this window – the one with sheets.  Because it faces south, I’ll need to do it first thing in the morning or about 3:00 in the afternoon.  This will be come next weeks project!  (Our couch from Salt Lake will go in front on this window.  Somehow, we need to get it to Blanding in the next month or so!  Any ideas???)

We’ve moved back all of the furniture.  Caroline is staying in the same spot!

Drapes are up on the west window and chairs are arranged.

 

We’ve moved the grandfather clock.  In moving the piano, we discovered an outlet.  This was exciting news!

Mike is now painting the entry way sage green.  But, we welcome visitors.  Drop by and see our new living room!!!  IT IS DONE!!!!

Day 4 of Painting the Living Room

Today Mike was took a needed day off.  While Mike went here… Sidney arose and painted the west inside window white – it took about 1.5 hours.  She also painted the baseboards on one wall.

Sidney painted around the other two windows with sage green so tomorrow morning they will be dry and ready for the white coat around the inside windows.

Quitting time for Sidney – 12:30pm.  She’s taking the rest of the day off!

Day 3 of Painting the Living Room

We both awoke thinking that this project was WAY TO BIG and would we ever be able to finish it?  (You always think this in a the middle of a project!)

Muscleman Mike moved the piano ALL BY HIMSELF.  This was Mike’s nemesis, but he CONQUERED!


Caroline was relegated to the corner for a while.  No, we were not ‘putting her in her place’.  She was a good sport about it!

Mike, vacuuming to make ready for the piano placement!
  
The piano in its new spot and Caroline returned to her regular spot.

 
Oops, a little paint was dropped on the carpet and Mike diligently cleans it up!

Just in case you are wondering about what was accomplished on Wednesday, here’s the scoop.

1. Piano Moved (big accomplishment)
2. Lots and Lots of prep work
3. Mike painted the remainder of the ceiling
4. Sidney painted the upper walls against the ceiling and the baseboards on two walls.

By the end of the day, both of us felt that this project was doable and that we are way past the mid-way point.  We are hoping that by the end of day Friday, painting will be completed!

Day 2 of Painting the Living Room

It must be stated that Sidney’s effort to paint the living room are limited.  A chest cold is forcing her to be an onlooker.  Mike gets ALL the credit for the work!

Beginning of the day…

About 30 minutes into the work….

Closer to the end of the day…

Time to relax and it is well deserved…

The days work…  (Hey, that sheet looks great against the wall!)

Tomorrow’s goal:  Paint all the edges and trim work on the two plus walls that have been paint, move the piano over to the other side of the room, and be ready on Thursday to do the last half of the ceiling and paint the rest of the walls!  Quite ambitious, but hopefully, Sidney will be joining in the fun.

Okay, now for the paint color:  Caroline wanted a Sage Green color.  After looking at samples, she chose True Value’s Delicate Leaf.

Day 1 of Painting the Living Room

Well, the day has come.  The Living Room is being painted.  We only work about 4-5 hours a day. 

Today we moved furniture and wall hanging…

Prepped…

Caroline In Charge!

 

Painted 1/2 the sealing.  You can tell the difference if you really look.  We are painting the sealing white, it looks like it was a light peach before. 

Day 2 Plans…  We begin painting walls before shifting to the other side of the room.

Are you wondering about the wall paint color?  Well, you will just need to wait one more day to find out the color that Caroline chose!

Completed Projects…

Do you remember this post of last September?   Well, I’m pleased to report that Mike and I have been working on several of these projects AND they are now complete!

1.  Nailing up the door frame – CHECK.

2.  Extending our sprinkling system – CHECK 

Mike hand dug all of these trenches. 

I am so impressed with my husband!

3.  Hanging up this picture - CHECK

4.  Painting around the trim of our bedroom closet – CHECK

5.  Repairing the strip that came off our bathroom sink – CHECK  (completed many, many months ago!)

Now, what is our next project?  Well… we are going to do a little R & R.  Mike is going to continue working on his second novel and I’m going to read a few books.  We have no more projects scheduled until the fall, when we plan on painting the front room.  We just need to have it cool enough so we can work.  We’ll probably start this in early October, after we’ve returned from vacation (Mike’s reunion and the Hearst Castle!)

Ta-Da… Introducing THE GUEST ROOM

Mike and I have been working diligently the past couple of weeks, cleaning out Doug’s (Mike’s dad) room, repairing walls and then painting.  Thursday, April 7th, the carpet arrived and we quickly began to put the room together again. 

We painted a bookshelf of his parents a pale yellow.  We are all enjoying the contrasting colors.

Caroline – Mike’s mother – did some painting about 20 years ago.  When Mike & I painted the room we now occupy about six years ago, I remember seeing these paintings in the closet.  I remembered them as we were planning this room and thought that they might work.  I brought them up from the basement the other day and asked Caroline if we might use them.  She was thrilled!  There will be three paintings that we will hang.  Caroline also had some frames, which I am going to paint white, and then the other two pictures will be hung.

This room will serve as a Guest Room/sewing room.  We actually have a second twin mattress, so two people may sleep in this room!  I have begun moving in my sewing items.  I confess, I have really enjoyed decorating again.  I haven’t decorated a room for a while and this has been wonderful!  This has been an inexpensive remodel!

Suzanne – Mike’s sister – will be our first guest.  She arrives on the 17th.

RSVP’s may be made by calling 435-678-2941 or via email at sidney7705@gmail.com!

In process... From Junk room to Guest room

Mike and I have been painting the 'junk' room.  These pictures provide only a 'sample' of what the room is going to be like.  We are having carpet installed on Thursday afternoon and then we'll put the room back together and send out some REAL pictures!

To Everything There is a Season...

... and our season of projects is coming to an end. I think we've worked so hard that we are not motived. Here are some of the projects that will be left until next season.

Painting our bedroom closet doors and molding and touching up the blue paint around the molding.

Repairing the strip that came off the bathroom sink yesterday.

Nailing up the molding (I've already done it once!)

Paint touch up

Painting around all of the windows and molding.
These are the new windows installed in June.

Here's to NEXT SEASON!!!