May at Warp Speed

Do you ever have to look back through your pictures to remember what you did during the month?  That's how I am feeling about May.  On the 2nd, we flew back from #1 Daughter's college graduation in Ohio, and tomorrow will be June 1.  Must have gone through a time warp, is all I can say.

So I'm grateful for my camera to jog my memory …

ONE: LANDSCAPING

In a previous post, I wrote about Forestoration, the company we hired to beautify the spaces disrupted by the construction process.  We have not been disappointed.  So far, they have completed the hardscape; planting comes next.  Take a look at these before and after shots.

The greenery around this Douglas Fir is all native -

4 weeks from mud to miracles after the snow melted

I know a thing or two about drainage, having helped my Dad install significant piping in our backyard.  So it's saying something when I tell you that I was impressed with the drainage installed by our crew, which now looks like a picturesque creek bed.








Have you ever tried building a set of stone steps on a hillside?  I originally thought we could do it ourselves, but having watched these burly young fellows manhandle these stones, I am pretty sure we would have ended up in the hospital with crushed fingers, at the very least.  The team was so meticulous with the placement and leveling of these stones; the steps will last a lifetime, for sure.

TWO: INTERIOR DECORATING

While the crews were busy outside, we turned our creative juices to interior spaces.  Our tasks have ranged from the almost mundane art of hanging pictures, to a full-up design for our lower level guest bedroom and bath.  Spousal Unit gets the design award of the year (in my book) for his real barn wood headboard, which he made from scratch.  Check it out.

Not everything in this room is new to us. The desert picture over the bed was a gift to me from work colleagues when we moved from Arizona to Cleveland back in 1996.

The sewing machine shown in the picture to the right belonged to my mother.  We purchased the chair in the corner in 1992.  My personal contribution to the room is this carousel horse cross-stitch, custom-framed at Michael's with my input on matting and frame.  When I bought the design so many years ago, who knew it would fit so perfectly in this room?  I can't tell you how ecstatic I was when I saw the result hung on the wall!

Lower level guest bathroom

It is so pleasing to create combinations with items we already had, together with new purchases.  We (probably more me and not so much Spousal Unit) thrill to the pursuit in retail and antique stores, for items that will fit our chosen décor in a given room.

Upper left: birds and leaves candlestick

Upper right: small antique lamp

Bottom: new soap dispenser and vintage Orange Crush bottle 

Just today we located this bench for our entry.

Swap meet treasure - paid $5 (without the candles) for these 

two ornate candlesticks!

And along the way, you find things you weren't expecting, but you really need!

We have had a Stir Crazy as long as I can remember,

and I am (rightfully) concerned it's going to give out

one day.   Imagine my delight when we found a back-up

at a swap meet this month!

THREE: PLAYING THE PIANO

If you've been following my blog, you know that the movers were not able to put the upright piano on the lower level due to the snow and mud on moving day.  I am pleased to inform you that this situation was rectified on May 15.  In less than an hour and a half, Byron, Clint and Jimmy maneuvered it from the entry onto a truck and then around the back to its new home.  I am still looking for all my piano books, but I celebrated with a song I remember by heart - the piano actually sounds somewhat in tune!

FOUR: STITCHING

OK - May hasn't been so crazy that it hasn't offered some down time to catch up on my embroidery (and past episodes of American Idol and Heartland).  The "Thursday" tea towel is complete and "Friday" is underway.  I can even stitch outside, because Spousal Unit was busy …

FIVE: ASSEMBLING PATIO FURNITURE

Earlier in the month, the paint and stain crews returned for the final time to put the last coat of stain on the exterior logs and the decks.  This ultimately allowed us to move the patio furniture into its proper place, and free up the garage for vehicles!!!  Last week, we planted a few pots with annuals; the one on the front porch is a bit of an experiment what with all the deer around here.  So, far, no nibbling has occurred.  We think the ones on the back deck should be pretty safe from hooved critters.

Dusty Miller and Marigolds are typically safe from deer.  Also used Verbena, Ipomoea

Geranium, Lobelia, and Creeping Jenny

With decks on two sides of the house, as well as the front porch, you can always choose a sunny spot, or a shady area, as suits your fancy through the day.  So, when you think of me, just imagine me enjoying a coffee here …

lunch there ...



















and a glass of wine … anywhere!!!

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Log Home Trivia

Trivia Question 1- when was my last post about our log-home-in-progress?

If you answered August 26, you are correct (and you are the lucky recipient of a Wild Huckleberry Chocolate Bar, when you come to visit).  And you are one of my treasured blog readers.  And, like me, you have plenty of time on your hands to figure out this sort of trivia.

August 29, 2017

Yikes! That's over 70 days ago.  Would you like to see what our crew has accomplished?  Here goes!

October 27, 2017

Comparing the two shots, you can see the application of exterior stain on the logs, plus shingles and green trim on the remaining windows.  We are THRILLED with the outcome of the color combination - when you're making decisions using small swatches, it's always a hope and a prayer that it'll be amazing on a large scale.  I think we done good, don't you?

Garage doors have been installed, and a sidewalk now links the garage to the mud room entrance.  (Within days of pouring the concrete, it snowed and I don't have a picture of the finished sidewalk.)

Working with Forestoration, a Whitefish firm specializing in the planning, design and management of outdoor spaces, we finalized our landscape design.

At their suggestion, we modified the shape of our additional patio space in order to soften the edges that will integrate with the flower beds. 

(Again, within days of pouring the concrete, it snowed and everyone will have to wait 'til spring to see the finished patio!)



Trivia Question 2: who were the first Midwest visitors to our house?

If you answered my Mother, my eldest sister and Number One Son's girlfriend, you are correct!

The alder front door awaits its stain - how weird and wonderful it is to actually open it to enter the house!  Shall we go in?

Textured drywall has been painted throughout the house.  (Can I point out that the preceding sentence, which now sounds simple, involved numerous hours just for Spousal Unit and me to down select colors?)  Spousal Unit completed the yeoman's work to paint 5 portable drywall samples that were carried from room to room so we could visualize the color as it will actually appear.  As it turned out, present at the house that day were no less than eight people giving input to the color choices (at our invitation, of course): the two of us, our general contractor and his wife, our cabinet maker and his wife, our paint contractor and one of our neighbors.  Fortunately, consensus was easily found.  Below are two of the before and after results.

Left - kitchen wall before painting - upper right hand corner shows

loft overhang; Right - kitchen wall with Terracotta as viewed

from loft overhang

Left - mudroom before painting; Right - after painting and with tile

As you can see in the mudroom, tile installation has been completed in a few of the smaller spaces. 

As I mentioned in the post at the end of August, we had gathered a healthy-size woodpile THEN, and in the intervening months it had become a gigantic mess. 

Trivia Question 3: what healthy (not) snack did we eat after working on the woodpile last time?

If you answered Fritos and French Onion dip, you are correct!

Spousal Unit rented a chainsaw and together we invested 6 hours cutting pieces to size and stacking them.  

TA_DA!

And just in time, too.  Within a week, snow turned our property into a winter wonderland.

View from great room windows into back yard

In back yard looking up at great room windows

Linking to Mosaic Monday