Winter Sale

Summer projects languished into fall. Mr. Jim finally finished the bathroom and the work was impeccable. I even miss having him around. I put the house on the market a few days before Thanksgiving then went on a cruise with friends. About a week later the house had an offer $9k over asking and I accepted.

Unfortunately, that buyer pulled out and I went back to square one with the sale. I did have a dream I received a check for $100k from the sale so I think as long as I keep that image in my head, it will materialize.

Right now there's nothing of interest in St. Petersburg, the area I'm looking to buy.  Also, since I fired the 420 crew, I'm not sure who to call about doing another rehab.

Detail details details. I know it will all work out and in the right time. Always does.

Summer Projects

Along with two rooms worth of new windows, the master bath took the remainder of my savings from working in Alaska last summer. The contractor for the bathroom, a friend from running, discovered terrazzo under the old tiles so I decided to have the floor restore rather than re-tiled. While the terrazzo guy was here, I decided to have him restore the foyer as well. Bye-bye budget.

Floor and windows and the entire house looks fantastic. Gus and I will add a window seat under the bay window and do a minor roof repair. Other than those two things, the summer rehab projects are done.

Frustrated, Inc.

I'm really frustrated with the 420 crew today. After pushing my window install out for weeks, they finally started the work, but showed up a week early. Basically, using a calendar is not in their sweet spot. Now a tape measure. The windows in the extra bedroom do not math the rest of the windows in the house and the bay windows are the wrong size. All of which could be fixed, but would only be expensive and time-consuming. Yes, it's their "fault", but contractors never have to work so it's the homeowner left shaking her head.

Today is 4 on the Grrr Scale. One bright light, TyTy is staying here while his biodad is doing a 3-week training :) I love having that little nugget home.

Why I Haven't Commented on Phoebe Jonchuck's Murder

Two days ago, Phoebe Jonchuck was thrown off the Sunshine Skyway bridge by her biological father. Phoebe and I live in the same county. She died about 40 minutes from my home. Phoebe Jonchuck was 5-years old.

When I heard the news of her murder, less than 8 hours after it happened, I couldn't help but think of January 2008.

On the same day as Phoebe's murder, I saw Facebook tributes and shared articles that showed pictures of her parents. I read so many angry comments. Scouring the online articles, stalking her mother's own Facebook page, I stared at the pictures of her father, captured and booked less than an hour after he killed his daughter. And I thought of January 2008.

On the same day as Phoebe's murder, my foster son's Guardian Ad Litem (volunteer legal representative) called me. Her voice was shaking, her words bordered on frantic. She asked me if I had heard about Phoebe and I told her about January 2008.

In 2008 I was finishing graduate school in Honolulu, Hawaii. On January 18 of that year, just a few minutes from my home, a low-functioning meth addict walked into the apartment of another meth addict, picked up her 1-year old son, carried him to a nearby pedestrian overpass and threw him into H-1 traffic. I passed under that bridge everyday. The baby's name was Cyrus.

You see, even though my son is a healthy, bouncing 6-mo old, his Guardian knows he, and 999 other children in Pinellas County, are Phoebe Jonchuck. The only difference between those kids and Phoebe is that little Phoebe, just like baby Cyrus, never spent a single night in foster care. Tonight, 1,000 luckier children will. 

I haven't commented on Phoebe's Jonchuck's murder because I, along with every other foster family, have been busy preventing another tragedy. Being busy doesn't make us less angry, it doesn't take the shaking out of our voices when we talk about our kids' cases. And nothing about being a foster parent makes you feel good about any tragedy. While we all hug our little ones closer when we hear about children like Phoebe and Cyrus, I know every foster parent pauses, thinks, or prays---this is why we do.

Slow Down, December!

While this blog has been severely neglected, the house and yard have not, so much so that I'm actively looking for another property. There's not much inventory in the area, which means continued patience. However, the other blog has received much more attention this past year, but since this is my public forum, the following is my very public plea: SLOW DOWN, DECEMBER!

The holidays are so special to me and my family. We don't go overboard, we don't travel to an exotic location, we don't even go near the mall, but we do have our own favorite (somewhat odd) family traditions. And this year we have TyTy!!! So it was with great JOY we celebrated Thanksgiving Day with turkey and trimmings, Visiting Day dressed up and sipping wine with friends (and of course oysters). But then it was over. Just like that--over. All the cooking, the music, the DIY projects, all the laughing till we cry (mostly at the DIY projects). Done.

I don't want this Christmas to pass just as fast. I want to savor every minute with my family, friends, and my super cute house guest---every cheesy parade and misdirected pageant, every loud party and naughty gift exchange, every Santa's lap, poorly sung carol, stolen tree, obnoxious light display, fake snowflake, and cheap bottle of eggnog. And mostly, I just want to show and share everything I love about this time of year with TyTy (except the eggnog). 

With props to Simon & Garfunkel and "The 59th Street Bridge Song"

SLOW DOWN, DECEMBER! You move too fast!

I've heard good things about a fat man dressed in red.

It's a Shabby Thing (or Defacing the Hemnes)

Shabby Chic is all the rage, especially with coastal decor. Unfortunately, my retro living room and terrazzo floors just weren't jibing with the classic white beach style that has pervaded the rest of the house.

Harbor Farm had hardwood floors stained in a deep espresso. The Ikea Hemnes living room collection complemented those floors and the West Indies style that ran through the farmhouse, but not so much at Trading Up.

I spent a little time researching how to distress (think destroy) perfectly good Ikea furniture and came across a blog called 'I Love Rehabs'. Jennifer's ideas for her Ikea Lack coffee table inspired my project and Miss Mustard Seeds Milk Paint webpage helped bring the look to completion. 

Here's how it was done...

Start with one perfectly innocent Ikea coffee table...

Cut linear grooves across the horizontal surfaces to mimic the look of planks...

Use milk paint to cover any dark stain...

Let milk paint do its thing...

Add any amount of additional destruction you desire...

...and voila!

Kitchen Mini-Remodel (the Christmas Project)

My family believes it wouldn't be Christmas without having to slave over reno projects. This year we kept the tradition going with a mini-remodel in the kitchen. Despite an open house on Christmas Day, a week of culinary prowess, and a few electrical issues (no one was hurt), this project came together pretty well.

Before - Dark with Weird Drop-Ceiling Feature (i.e., the Headbanger)

Before - Hello? Is anyone back there?

After - Bright and Open

After

For those that like to see the "during" shots...

I Like November

November is my second favorite month (June is my first--go figure). The weather is perfect (assuming you live in central Florida), you get a full 30 days between the silliness of Halloween and the drama of December, and everybody starts thinking about gratitude.

At my Thanksgiving dinner, we go around the table (or room depending on how many folks you're feeding) and each take a turn saying something for which we are most thankful. I wish we did this all year.

I even like those daily facebook posts in November, you know the ones where a friend writes something he or she is grateful for.

November is usually my busiest travel month so I don't spend much time at home. This November I was supposed to be away on three trips, but one was canceled. I'm not entirely grateful for that, but I'm thankful to spend some more time at home. 

To mark November and my love of Fall (short as it is), I am going to cook something special everyday. It's a loose goal, especially for the week planned in a Texas Hilton, but it's off to a good start.

Work space...always planning.

These are the real work spaces.

 

In October I spent a weekend with my bff, spiritual mentor, and someone who shares my love of cooking. I came home with so many great ideas and need for new ingredients, especially harissa and cajeta (goat's milk caramel). Admittedly, my cajeta addiction has gotten a little out of control.

Red Chard - best recipe in the WORLD comes from Rachel Ray. I can't stop eating this.

Bok choy in harissa (of course).

Annual Christmas pickles I make every year for gifts. Adding a radish makes the brine turn pink.

Oh yeah---since it's already Nov. 2nd, I should tell you yesterday I made Big Daddy Jay's Collards (it would a shame to die without eating these collards) and caramel chicken from Bon Appetit. These are all my pics, except for the chicken, but it looked the same. You have to be quick with the camera around here!

Big Daddy Jay's Collards - half  of these get canned for Christmas dinner.

BA's Caramel Chicken--should be called Asian chicken. If you make it, use coconut oil instead of veg.

Furniture Facelift

A couple of things happen after you spend all your money rehabbing and furnishing your house---for me mostly it involves staring at the pile of leftover wood and paint and wondering how to make accent pieces.

This library table has been in my family for years, kind of like Gus--who consequently had been using it as his desk for quite some time. However, now that my mother has an iPad (as she keeps reminding us) and no longer needs a desk, Gus took her desk and schlepped the table off to me. If there's one piece of furniture I don't need it's a table, but I couldn't disregard the sentimental family history and agreed to bring it home.

There really were no decent 'Before" pictures so I borrowed this one...

Library Table

A little white paint and frog tape...

 And voila!

Before you roll your eyes at the idea of painting wood, keep in mind this table was not mahogany (like the before pic) and was in major need of refinishing. It's also extremely easy to sand so I don't feel guilty about taking away the character of the wood. It goes better in my dining room now and that's all that matters.

Why Not?

In the middle of this summer of debauchery, travel, weeks of house guests, major new projects, and nearly depleted bank accounts, I decided to buy living room furniture...because, why not?

The only new piece of furniture I ever purchased was a $600 dresser to match an existing bedroom set and had to be lugged up 47 stairs in a narrow, concrete staircase to my Kalihi Valley cliff house. It sat in a spare bedroom that rarely saw company. When I left Hawaii it stayed in that bedroom, or maybe I sold it on Craigslist. Furniture was the last thing on my mind. 

Like most people that time travel out of Hawaii to the Holocene Epoch, I was enamored with Ikea. A small moving stipend and cheap, unassembled Swedish particle board actually managed to furnish all of Harbor Farm (not to mention the kitchen countertops).

But Trading Up has space. Like real space. And while the dining room serves as Grand Central for dinner, drinks, and late night card games, it's time to use the rest of the house. The living room is so underused this was the only picture I could even find of anyone in it.

Denise lounging post knee surgery.

Denise recovered just fine. I can't say the same for that couch, which in Ikea's defense came from Craigslist.

I tried to find him a new home, but unfortunately, even Craigslist thought it was too good for it. This is the last time I saw it.

But I'm happy the old boy isn't around to see his replacements ;-)

Master Bath Part III

Finally done! In retrospect, I can't figure out why it took so long...it all seems so simple in pictures.

For backstory and more 'Before' pics, check out Master Bath Part I and Master Bath Part II.

Shower Trim - Before & After

Shower Trim - Before & After

Despite all the work there was considerable damage left on the wall behind the old vanity. I used cheep and simple Wainscoat from HD to cover the damaged areas. To me, Wainscoat says early-American design (not my taste), but it seems to work in here.

White Wainscoat

The average height of a bathroom countertop is 31-inches. I failed to measure the original (hobbit) height, but I'm sure it was much less. Unfortunately, I may have gotten a little overzealous with the replacement. At a towering 43-inches to the top of the sink, even my 5'7" self needed a step-stool just to brush my teeth.

But that is not a problem when you have one these on hand (the sawzall not the blow dryer).

It was worth the wait!

Decorating is always more fun!

Sponge soap from Tarpon Springs, FL

Double Wide Blue

The paint color isn't for everyone. My boss in CO calls it "double wide blue". You really have to see it in context to appreciate. Fortunately, it's perfect for a central FL neighborhood on the water. And fortunately the color and yellow accents make even the crankiest neighbors smile :)

Before and After (I know I need to invest in a decent hedger)

Home insurance went up with the addition of the pool.

Little Hawi'iana accents

Carport converted into covered BBQ patio

Actual MATCHING chairs!

Come Visit!

And Then There Was Paint

I want to get these thoughts down before I forget. Before I'm home in my adorable, blue almost-a-beach house in central FL. Before I forget this I have lived in that same house for 3 months waiting for it to be painted and it finally is painted and I'm 2,000 miles away moment. 

Thanks to the painters and a friendly neighbor, I can see my house. My blue house. Of course I can't see the detail and whether or not the painters actually did a decent job, but I know it looks better than a it did 72 hours ago. And I just don't want to forget this combined moment of anticipation and frustration, when I knew it was blue, but couldn't see it for myself...and I am certain there is a life metaphor in here somewhere.

AM Progress

From the Front - Happy Independence Day!

PM Progress

The Great Outdoors

Trading Up has no backyard. A lot of front, but no backyard. Therefore, when you want to grill or party, or just sit outside and people watch, you're stuck in the carport. Also stuck in the carport are the bulky garbage and recycling bins, all of which makes outdoor entertaining a little cramped (and stinky). Gus thought it would be good (and cheap) idea to move the existing (albeit sad looking) fence back about 20-feet to open up the space and hide the bins.

Simple project. 2 hours max. And you can do it with beers!

Master Bath Part II

This was supposed to be the second and last part; I don't dare say only Part III remains because as this bathroom rehab rolls into month five, I am seriously considering renting a front loader to completely level this room. People can crap in a bucket. I'm over it.

Notice the Blue Tape? That means the sink still doesn't work. That is bad.

The weekend was kind of a bust. The tile work got finished and the cabinet cut, but we couldn't install the sink because either we are completely clueless or the manufacturer sent the wrong part. I'm going with the latter. We've started corresponding via email so perhaps he'll send the correct part and I can finish the work myself, or he'll say "Go fly a kite" and I'll be forced to leave terrible reviews about him all over the Internet. Then call the plumber.

Today I made a little more progress, sanded and painted the ceiling and finished staining the top of the vanity, but overall disappointed in progress.