The weekend (we can loosely call it that)

We both took only one day off this weekend (even though it's a long weekend, or extra long weekend for most people). We spent our 'non-weekend' days working and our one day (Sunday) doing things around the house (Trevor working on tiling the bathroom, me painting moulding) and sweating like mad in the 37C weather. Whew!

Here's some shots of the one day weekend action:

Bedlam Farm Journal

This is a blog that I'm digging right now for a few reasons: the great photography (even better subjects...farm animals, buildings on the farm and wildflowers); a romance between a black lab and a sheep; chickens and dogs that hold 'meetings'; and the logo they've created for the farm (can't take the design out of the designer!).

Just for fun: the answer!

Yes, mad props go out to Cynthia and her crazy eyesight (thanks in part to new glasses, I think!). She hawk-eyed the logo -- which I thought was small enough to not give away too much...

It's a foot-powered generator.

What really happens on the last day of school

We were busy all day Friday at three high schools installing signs that we've designed for their cafeterias (hopefully the last of them, we are no longer fond of the sign-making-and-installing grunt work). This also happened to be the official last day of school -- for the teachers, as the last day for students was Thursday.

Here are some observations on what we were witness to during the last day of school for teachers:
- They arrive wearing un-teacher-like clothing (shorter skirts, tank tops, etc.)
- Some teachers don't show up at all
- Some spend their time running errands
- Some bring their friends, children and pets
- Some play basketball in the gyms
- Some watch the 'Price is Right' and 'People's Court' on school televisions
- Some clear up their classrooms (although I did see one teacher dragging a 'La Senza' lingere bag out with her, not sure what 'classroom' materials were in there)
- They all have 'staff meetings' around noon to discuss the year, celebrate those who are retiring, whoop it up, and eat delivered chinese food (and some have cake - no booze though, surprisingly...lol)
- Some complain that it was a long year
- Some complain it was a short year
- Some worry about the next bunch of new students coming into the school for next year (as one teacher described during their 'welcoming hot dog lunch' for new students: 'You like the ones that take the hot dog and are very polite. The ones that ask for two hot dogs are the ones we have to look out for next year.')
- Most disappear by 1pm, some straggle until 5pm


Generally, it was a strange day to see schools being completely unstructured (and quiet for the most part). It was good for us as everyone stayed out of our way and allowed us to work quickly to get everything done and ready for the next school year.

Insane in the membrane

Things with work have gone bonkers (again). I think it's something to do with the moon, or maybe the crunch to end the school year. I really don't know, but people have bees in their bonnets, whereas in previous years, I would be preparing for the inevitable summer lull in work. This summer, I'm having to book things 2-4 months in advance! What is going on here!?!?

I've thought a bit about some things to do this summer (seeing as July 1st is coming soon and I figure it's a good way to jump-start things):

- Reno's (of course...they never end. We need to paint the new backyard gate, complete the basement and have it inspected, continue on with painting the inside of the house, paint the trim on the outside of the house, wash the vinyl siding/windows, replace the porch carpet, pressure wash, finish the master bathroom, start on the kitchen/family room reno's...the list never ends!)

- I'd like to read a book (start to finish). I imagine it in a loung-y summer-y way in a hammock with lemonade and a warm breeze; I think the reality will be quite different.

- We're also thinking of taking a mini-trip (maybe just overnight somewhere) to celebrate the completion of a work project that's been ongoing for the past two and a half years and finally coming to an end! Maybe Seattle? Portland? We like both cities, I think Portland might win out because of the awesome hotel we've stayed in, cool bookstore and no sales tax! :)

- I'd also like to do other things involving parks, picnics, BBQs and popsicles.

Tooting my little horn

Melissa over at Ruby Press has done a post on creative workspaces/desks and guess who's included in that line up? ;) Check out the link to the post here.

(My favorite is the first shot with the pug rocking an orange ribbon!)

I *heart* smart packaging

These kits from help make me want a headache and paper cut.

Want

After seeing the Sex and the City movie over the weekend, I spied this coffee table in Carrie's 'revamped' apartment:

Must. Have. It.

Apparently you can get it here for $1900. I couldn't find it on their site.

Just for fun: Take a guess

Here's this week's mystery thingie up on the block for guessing:

Technical difficulties

There was no post yesterday due to me wrestling with my new flickr account and blogger. I'm attempting to figure out how the heck I post multiple pictures in one blog post, but no luck yet.

If you're just itching to see all the action, visit my photostream over at flickr.

*sigh*

Weekend time

This weekend we're up to the usual reno's here and there, but it will be interrupted by some work projects, a visit to Maple Ridge, and a viewing of the Sex in the City movie. Hopefully I'll get some time to play around with my new camera too (it is soooooo lovely! Thank you clients who need amateur photography!).
Photo via Ronnie R's photostream.

Just for fun: The answer!

It's Friday again, and it's time for the answer to this week's strange looking device...

It's a SPAGHETTI TESTER. Yes, you read right. Why anyone would need one of these is beyond me. But let's have them try and sell it to us anyways:

"Anyone can cook spaghetti. Nonetheless it demands a certain skill. Particularly if you wish your spaghetti to be neither chewy nor starchy, but rather to enjoy it the only possible way: al dente. The fine line between hard and soft, firm to the bite and a perfect vehicle for the sauce. Handy if you have a Neapolitan mamma for such eventualities. Or the spaghetti tester AL DENTE from Pott. A beautiful object which is more reliable than any recommended cooking time on the packet. For spaghetti with bite: AL DENTE from Pott."

I need to get me a neapolitan mamma! ;)

Damn you Martha!

She always sets the bar so high. I post two pictures of my peonies and she goes and throws a 'peony party'. I swear, I will never live up to her standards. Sheesh.

Now to plan a weed-whacker social...

And the winner is...

Yes, it's the green drapes! (Or 'celery' if you're a purist.) The thought about using the blue ones but decided that it was too 'tone-on-tone'. I like the way the green ones pop against the paint colour. There's still some sorting out to do, as we're thinking we might get a sheer drape to cover the remaining brackets in the middle (but something kind of funky, not grandma's sheers). And then there's things to put up on the walls and general cleaning...a long list.
(*This is a crappy picture too...blegh. But you get what I'm going for here.)

Trevor-ism:

"I don't like hanging drapes. It's not sexy or dangerous."

Peonies and a bee

Slowly but surely it's starting to feel like summer around here. There's been a few (rare) hot days and enough rain to keep everything green and happy. Finally, the peonies have bloomed!
(A gratuitous shot of a bee bum ;) )

Separated by a few decades...

Left: Our nephew Lucas. Right: Bill Murray in Caddyshack. Awesome.

Alessandro Beda Chair

Does anyone remember those pin decorations/toys they sold in crappy 'San Francisco' stores (no, not in the actual city, but the stores in the malls) that you could push your face and hand into and get an impression? It was a neat idea then, and it's pretty cool to have a chair like that now - except I suppose you're making impressions of your bum instead! (via Freshome)

Just for fun: Take a guess

This week's item might be a gimme, but I'll wait and see if anyone manages to guess correctly!

Choices

The rest of the painting was finished over the weekend and I'm now on to the fun part -- decorating! I bought two options for drapes in the living room, but now I'm having problems choosing between them. (And both were on sale, so I can't argue about price between them.)

The first one is much more on tone with the room colour, which I like:

And the second is a hit of green, which I like too:

I keep running up and down the stairs to try and figure it out. I'm sure Trevor will bring in the veto when he gets home ;).

Unveiling the office

This is almost an emotional post for me to do! Going through some of the pictures in this post brings back memories of starting this huge task to renovate this basement. There were many times where we both couldn't imagine having the basement at this point (livable, and not being used as a storage locker). I think this means a lot more to both of us because we didn't have the budget to just run out and hire a contractor to do everything. We tackled (and are still tackling) framing, insulating, electrical (with some help from awesome Mike!), ductwork, flooring, tiling, painting... We did everything but the drywall, which we thought about doing, but smartened up from that idea pretty quickly once we realized how much work it was.

So, it's with a lot of pride that I unveil the office that we built, step by step:

This is the first photo taken of the 'disaster area' that our basement was -- and is the front corner of my office now.
This shot is with framing, insulating and vapour barrier-ing done. (I can still say that I HATE insulation.)
And here we are with the washer and dryer pulled out for drywall. This is also when we started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. (And the part where I had no idea how long it would take to prime drywall and paint.)

*Cue dreamy music* As if by magic, here we are today!
Even though this is just the office completed at this point (well, there's still a little trim work to be done around the window, but I'm nit-picking), there will soon be other photos coming of the rest of the basement as well. Hurrah!

Just for fun: The answer!

Why's it's a raclette from Bron Coucke! And for those of you (including me) who had no clue what this is for, here's the description for it:

The “Party Raclette” is designed to hold 0.64 cm (¼ in.) blocks of cheese. Its vertical burner allows you to enjoy the ambiance of the French Riviera right at your table! The 600‑watt heating element is placed directly over the cheese, slowly melting a layer which is then easily removed onto your plate.

I've always wanted the French Riviera right at my table, and now I can! ;)

Thomas Wold

Oh design and fabrication, why that's what I was doing today, but on a much more humble level. Thomas Wold takes it to a whole new (and brilliant) level:

Getting there...

Well, the first full coat of paint has gone up in the living/dining/entry room areas. And to think last week I was living in a burgundy wonderland!

I've been painting every time I have a moment to spare, from first thing in the morning to extra time at lunch and in the evenings. It's getting there. I have to work around a few things (the existing chaos from the basement renos and the furniture that's can't move so easily), so the painting will be done in stages.

The colour is hard to really see with the photos. Depending on the lighting it can look really pale (like bright sunlight) or look grey-ish (regular room lights). Much better than what was previously there though. I think the real impact will come with some decorating and pulling the room(s) back together.

Tiny pies

This is a small pie that's baked in a jar. You can make these in batches and freeze -- then bake on demand! I think this would be perfect for summery get-togethers with little scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Here's the link with more instructions.

Attention must be paid

Yes, the image you see on your screen is of a toilet, but most importantly, it is a WORKING, FULLY-INSTALLED toilet. After months and months of getting this basement reno-ed, we have satisfaction in the shape of a white porcelain bowl. I truly think this is progress. (And if I'm excited about this now, imagine when the rest of the bathroom is functioning!)

It's news to me!

I read yesterday that Sarah's House is back for another season, starting this fall! This time they're reno-ing a rancher and on a much smaller budget (more realistic, perhaps?). I'm going to spend most of the summer warming up my place on the couch!

For my dream bathroom...

...I would like a Scirocco 'Snake' towel warmer.

Just for fun: Take a guess

It's time for another guessing game...no hints! Look for the answer on Friday!

Yes, please

This whale vase from Alessandro Beda isn't currently in production (he's still looking for a way to produce and sell it). I'll be first in line for it once it is being sold.

Banished

This weekend was filled with reno's around the house (what else is new?). Trevor worked on the basement bathroom, which meant that the master bathroom had to be pillaged for it's vanity (and toilet, eventually). This is what the master looks like now (I think it's an improvement):
The vanity from there has been moved to the basement (no pictures of that yet), and a countertop has been fitted (yay Trevor! -- he was nervous about that).

Since I'm not a whiz with power tools (wait, I am a mean cut-off saw-er...) I leave most of that burden to Trevor (although I doubt he thinks it's a burden, I'm sure he's relieved that I'm not a keener with the power tools), I took on the painting and priming. Initially it was just supposed to be painting of doors and moulding (almost done in the basement, moving on to other floors) but I picked up some Kilz at the Home Depot and got caught up in removing the almost 11 year old burgundy colour in the living room (not my choice by the way, that was Trevor BK -- 'before Kerry').

Let me tell you how FANTASTIC it is to paint white over that colour. AHHHHHHHHHhhhh. Satisfaction. I started with trimming the edges and corners, and this morning went super-painter on it and rolled the primer on it before hopping down into the office for the day.

Here are the before and after shots (cue dramatic music):
Living room before......Living room after

Stairs/front door area before......Stairs/front door area after