Foyer Action

The front foyer is a odd shape and we knew that we needed some sort of table there. We tried a corner cabinet (a wash stand courtesy of a favourite aunt!) but it was too bulky. We tried a plain dark wood plant stand (another hand-me-down) but it was too small and too round.

P stained a chunky piece of oak then hunted around for some brackets to support it, and here we are! Functional, unique and home-made!

The SJB Band

Let your little light shine

... and shine it does! In our kitchen, where a single lightbulb had dangled for the past 23 months (and yes! it has been almost 2 years since we bought the farm!!), we finally found a fixture that suits the room, that takes fluorescent bulbs and is nice and bright. Et voila! The metal ring is brushed nickel and matches the stainless steel appliances almost perfectly, but without all the fingerprints.

End of March Break

The end of a long week off is always better when celebrated with good friends and good food and a game of HEADBANDZ!

It was challenging for some of us (OK, for me. It's hard to guess G.I. Joe when you didn't even know he'd graduated to film from simple action-figure status!)

Update: March Break! (Part 2)

As the March break winds to a close, the spring thaw is well under way. The creek has reached maximum capacity, overflowing its banks but just enough to make it look dangerous.

P has put the final touches on some trim in the upstairs hallway. It's called shoe moulding (or is it shoo moulding? perhaps shew moulding?) and I love it!

While he's been toiling away, Scooby and I have been roaming the moors soaking in a bit of sunshine and monitoring the creek.

Update: March Break!

Last week was wonderful! Thursday was a snow day, and J stayed at home, scoping wildlife with camera in hand. He spied a masked varmint and snapped a bunch of photos while Scooby went berserk.

This particular raccoon has been spotted a number of times around the north part of the property, and Scoob follows him vigilantly whenever he's outside.

Inside, we dug some framed

pictures out of the basement (haven't seen them in years!) and found places to hang them now that the walls are painted and (most of) the trim is up. It's lookin' a wee bit homey.

Something old, something new

P did some painting for a friend this week, and the friend offered him a present: a TV!

Not just any TV, but a big TV. Really, really big. It's 36 inches, which is really difficult to remove from the back of the truck in the snowstorm!

Since we don't have cable, we watch almost no TV but we do watch lots of movies. And shows on the internets. So this present is a very welcome one.

The kids are playing some sort of racecar driving game right now and judging from the hooting and hollaring, this new toy is a huge hit.

I love surprises like this!!

Explorer-cising

We first explored the front woods, pushing over dead pines and piling them for retrieval later (so Bop can burn them!), then we walked along the creek, swollen with rain water and the melting snow, and we marveled at the beaver dam which is well underwater. There's plenty of gnawed tree stumps, evidence that the beaver is alive and well.

J had homework to do so S came on our exploring adventure, and with the snow as deep as it was (over my boots in some places), it turned into a workout!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,

Which reno takes the longest of all?

It seems to be moving at a crawl,

But coming along nicely is our front hall.

Do you like?