Life's simple pleasures

So many things make me happy. Not a lot of big things happen in my life....just a series of small things to make me smile. But this past week was different, something big happened. It was a lot of hard work (but then hard work makes me happy too). Adam and I got to work side by side putting in our new back splash! Originally we were planning on using our Italian marble we used on the countertop. We got it free, years ago, from where I work. They were leftover from a project and they were going to toss them. There are cream, grey and black. Obviously, we used the cream on the couter. We were going to use mostly cream with some black on the back splash. However, Adam had no idea how difficult the cuts he'd have to make were going to be.

Here's the kitchen on Thursday morning before work got under way.




Barry and Steve came over. Those three were going to whip out the backsplash in a few hours....at least that's the idea Adam had. I was supposed to hang around to be the go for girl. I was going to work in my garden to get it ready for veggie plants. Because none of the cuts were made on a flat edge of the tile, they weren't coming out exactly right. It was really stressing Adam out. Then, Barry tried cutting out the holes for the outlets and burned through the blades because the tile was too strong. So after we fed them lunch, we let them go home. We made a trip to the hardware tore and got different blades for a different machine to try cutting the outlet holes. We got some that worked but when we pieced together what was already cut out and saw how off the cuts were, we decided we needed a plan B.

Another trip to the home improvement store. We only had 45 minutes to shop before they closed. A couple of different tiles caught our eye...we debated and finallyagreed on one. Then we had to decide on the accent tile. I ran and got a cart 5 minutes before they closed while Adam found an associate to help him find the correct mortar. So by the time we got home, there was no time left to start. I did get a few hours in in my garden so not a complete bust. But nothing happened in the kitchen...except a mess I needed to clean up before we started again in the morning. Oh, and we fed Andy (the guy who lived with us for a month) and his 5 kids. Their mom's stepdad died so she was out of town. Dinner was supposed to be at 6. We just got the stove put back into position and the kitchen cleaned up at about 5:45. Dinner was a little late but we pulled it off. Almost forgot about that.

Friday was our anniversary. When I was going through all the boxes of stuff, I found these hearts that had stuff written on them, things I love about Adam. They were from our second anniversary. I set them aside so I could find them again. And I actually remembered about them. I taped them to the cabinets since they all still applied. ;o) This back splash was our anniversary gift.

Adam slept in. I worked in my garden while he rested. Then we stopped around dinner time. We went to a Japanese Hibachi grill. That was a really cool experience. After dinner, we went back home and watched a movie. So we only got 2/5 of the kitchen tiled on Friday. These are the two walls we finished by the end of the day. And the tiles in the foregound are for behind the stove.


Adam slept in again on Saturday but after a quick breakfast, we were back at it. He put all the mortar on and placed the tiles.


I followed closely behind him getting the mortar out between the tiles, with a toothpick) so the grout has a place to be. Then I cleaned all the surfaces (under the cabinets, tile fronts, counter top) where the mortar got.


At 6, we finished 2 walls and Adam was ready for another break with the heating pad on his back. So I cleaned up and took the dogs for a walk. We were gone for an hour. When we got back, Adam was just finishing up the last of it! Behind the stove.


We cleaned up but left the tools to be taken downstairs the next day. By Sunday evening, it was all cleaned up. And this is what it looks like now. (I have to say, this has to be a record for a project gettng cleaned up.)








We are both so happy with it!!

There's still a few things left to do before it's all finished but we're are one giant step closer.

Here's a funny view. The kitchen side has seen a lot of progress...the living room side, not so much. ;o) One step at a time here, people! You trying to kill us? ;o)


From the staircase.


From the dining room.


I couldn't have gotten a better anniversary gift!! :o)

Progress!!

Progress is showing itself again in the kitchen! It's so exciting! Back in September, Adam put in the counter tops, which was huge. He had a few extra sheets of cement backer board for the back splash and they've been sitting in the hallway ever since. I came home from work last Thur. or Fri. to find Adam working on putting it up. It was rainy so he cute everything inside which covered everything in a layer of thick dust. But I can't complain when progress comes to visit.

I've become used to seeing through the wall so it's kind of weird now that it's not see through. I can still see everything except the dogs waiting at the door to go out so it's not a big deal. It will definitely do it's job (blocking the view to our sink (and dirty dishes)) from anyone who comes to the front door.

And one more thing...we're putting the back splash up tomorrow!!

misty woods

It's been warm and rainy here lately and I've woken up more than once to fog surrounding us. This morning (last Saturday) I had time to actually walk through the woods behind our house in the fog. It's amazing how weather can change the mood of a place. I really enjoyed my walk.

Dinner and a sneak peek

On Tuesday, we had wild mushroom ravioli and I made alfredo sauce to go on them. Homemade alfredo sauce is so easy and yummy! Once you have it, you will never settle for canned alfredo sauce again . I havent bought any since first making this several years ago. I actually made 1 1/2 batches so I would have enough leftover for the next meal, a soup that calls for canned alfredo sauce.


Here's the recipe in case you're wanting to give it a try:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup cream
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (doesn't taste nearly as good when made with Kraft parmesan)
salt and pepper to taste (and I usually use dried parsley as well)

Melt the butter in a sauce pan, add the cream and cheese. Stir occassionally while the cheese melts. Add spices and salt and stir. Turn off the heat and let sit for 10 minutes to thicken.

See, super simple.

The soup I made is one we've had a few times and I love it...Adam likes it too but not as much as I do. Adsam got his broccolli on the side while I mixed mine in my soup...and cornbread on the side.


Hot bean soup

1 garlic clove, minced
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 cans (16 oz. each) white beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups cooked fresh cauliflower florets
1 jar (17 oz.) alfredo sauce
2 cups chicken stock
2 Tbsp chopped parsley
2 Tbsp chopped basil
grated pamesan cheese

In a saucepan, lightly saute garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil. Remove from heat. Coarsley puree beans and cauliflower in a food proccessor or blender. Add puree, alfredo sauce and chicken stock to garlic. Cook over low heat, stirring occassionally until heated through. Add fresh parsley and basil before serving. Serve with parmesan cheese.

I tried a different cornbread recipe. Adam complains about me using wheat flour in the cornbread and this one doesn't use any flour or sugar at all. Adam said he couldn't taste the corn...but that is the majority of what's in there. I could definitely taste it. I liked it. So now I know 2 cornbread recipes by heart.


2 cups cornmeal
1 tsp baking soda, baking powder and salt
1 egg
1/4 cup oil
buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients together. Make well. Add beaten egg and 1/4 oil. Add enough buttermilk to make cake batter consistency. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes.

In my bakes goods, I replace the oil with homemade apple sauce. You can't taste the apple. It cuts out fat and also make things fluffier. Weird, I know. But we decided we didn't like it in brownies because we likely them thick and fudgy and applesauce makes it cakelike, more airy.

Another thing I finally got around to making is my lacto-fermented ketchup. I haven't had any for a couple months and just haven't gotten around to making more. I finally did and got to enjoy some on my eggs this morning. :o)


Makes 1 quart

3 cups canned tomato paste, preferably organic (comes out to be about 4-5 cans)
1/4 cup whey (the liquid drained off of yogurt)
1 Tbsp sea salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/8-1/4 cup fish sauce (found in Asian markets)

Mix all ingredients until well blended. place in a quart-sized jar. The top of the ketchup should be at least one inch below the top of the jar. Leave at room temperature for about 2 days before transferring to fridge.

So, now that dinner is over, here's your sneak peek into our next major project. I am kind of dreading it. I think I would be more ok with it if the last major one was finished (the kitchen). I believe it's next month that this one is supposed to happen. Pretty details.

Counters

I have had trouble updating my blog lately...partly because of how busy I've been but also because it seems to me that the things I do really have no meaning. I mean, the things I do need to be done but really are the kinds of things that know no difference in the scheme of things.

Anyway, while I was in Utah, Adam was hard at work with the counter tops. He didn't get as much as he was hoping finished but It is nice to have a stationary counter top...and all the counter top in the kitchen. The living room side is still undone. But the part he got done is so nice!

He matched the front boards very well with the cabinets.

He filled in the nail holes with stainable filler after I got home and sanded it down which took more of the stain than he thought. He re-stained on the boards (in the pic above). It stained unevenly so we're going to have to sand the boards down and restain in one coat. Too bad but you learn as you go sometimes.

Isn't it pretty?

temporary curtains

When we moved back in, Georgia, our neighbor's dog was there to greet us...every single time we passed by our dining room window, stepped outside, made a noise in the dining room or living rom, or any time she is bored. She barked all the time! I didn't have any curtains or blinds on those windows so I threw up some fabric. I love the colors in the fabric but I didn't look at it all unfolded before I bought it. When I got it home, I was very disappointed in how much it looked like an old lady's couch. Oh well, I bought it so I had to use it.



I didn't want it to look like I had just throw a sheet up so I put pleats in it, every 3 inches or so...I eyeballed it so I'm sure it's not perfect. At each pleat, I inserted a thumb tack. At the time I put them up, the curtains weren't tied in the center, since we needed to block Georgia from seeing us. But we have since put up the fence and she can't see anymore so I tied them in the center so we could get light through that window again.


Closer view of the tacks. I've been pretty happy with this setup. You can't really tell that its tacked into place unless you get really close and look. However, I always knew it was temporary which is why I didn't bother with a curtain rod or sewing them into actual curtains.


But now that Gerogia can't see us anymore and now that my sewing machine is fixed, I can finally sew curtains out of this fabric I bought at the thrift store a couple years ago for $10. I got enough to make 7 long curtains (and the leftover odds and ends). I've always loved lace curtains...and soon, I will have some. :o) What do you think of the fabric?

bathroom cabinets

Just a warning, there are lots pictures...

In October 2010, I just got back from my bike trip and my bike was broken so I decided to tackle a house project. I chose to redo my master bath cabinets. I got started and realized I didn't have a before picture. So with one door already undone, I took the before picture.


I chose a color as close to the tiles as I could get. The color is called "parmesan", a slight off white. I sanded the doors and bases. I didn't completely strip off the staid, just enough so the paint would have something to hold on to. Then I rolled on a wood primer. I think it took 3 layers before I was happy with the coverage.





I had to get a picture of everything just painted white because I waited months before getting the courage to apply the glaze. The guy at Home Depot told me I should practice before putting it on the actual doors. That most people weren't able to do a good job so if I practiced, I could get hired to do it for others. That's not my goal but it was my goal to not comlpetely ruin my nice paint job.


I finally took the plunge and glazed my first door (without practicing first). It's really easy. You paint a layer of glaze on. It doesn't have to be uniform but you do need to work it in the crevices. Then you take a rag and wipe it off. The longer you let it sit, the more it sticks to the door. Here's the first glazed door nextto a painted one for contrast.


After that pic, I went back and wiped off some more glaze because it looked too heavy on the glaze for my tastes. Handling the doors was making my hands sticky and I managed to get my finger prints all over the last door. No problem, just put a new layer of glaze down and wipe it down. All evidence will be gone.



Thursday night, Adam told me I could go get the hinges for the cabinets. That was all I needed. I was going to finish this project over the 3 day weekend if it killed me! Friday night, I finally got the bases glazed. And I went and got the hinges as well as the twine I needed for the handles.

I was hoping to find already made rope in the color and size I wanted but that didn't happen so I bought twine in the color I wanted. I cut off a small length of 6 pieces of twine and played around with it until I liked the rope. You remember that rope braid that took me three weeks to learn? Well, that's what I used to make the rope.



Saturday morning, I walked my dogs for 2 hours, then Adam asked me to help on a tow. Three hours later, I was at home again and decided to do my grocery shopping. When I got home, Adam had decided he wanted to go to the church 4th of July party. So we went and we enjoyed ourselves. I really wanted to call my dad but I had learned that morning that I needed to make dessert for the family dinner for Sunday so I baked a 2 layer cake and did the dishes and by then, it was already 11:30. Sigh. Not a scrap of work done. Sunday was spent at church and then we went over to the family dinner where I unveiled my cake (that'll be another post). We were there until late and I got to call and talk to my mom and dad. Monday morning, we woke up and got the dogs fed then made a couple sides for a bbq we were going to. We got our sides made then headed over to our garden for some weeding. Most things are poking up out of the ground now. It's so exciting! We then headed straight to the bbq where we chatted, ate and swam in their pool. It was lots of fun. It started to rain really hard so we had to go rescue the dogs who were trapped outside in it. So, Monday at about 4, I finally actually got to work on it!

I drilled my holes bigger for the handles on all 6 doors.


I made what I thought would be enough rope. Turned out to only be enough for 4. Looks like real rope, huh? I guess that's why they call it a rope braid. ;o)


I made the two knots so the handle would stay in place. Then I taped the edges and slipped them through the holes.


Once I got them through the holes, I pulled upward to tighten the knot on the front side. I then removed the tape and unraveled the rope. I tied the knots on the backside. I pulled each of the 6 strings individually, otherwise, there would be loose strings. Then, I took 3 in one hand and 3 in the other and pulled apart to tighten the knot as much as I could.


Then, I applied glue into the knot and on all sides of it and cut the extra length of twine. The glue dries clear so you son't notice it.


I did run out of rope so I had to make some more. But finally, all had their handles attached.


I ran upstairs and put the new hinges on the doors. I went to put the first door on the base and realized I had bought the wrong hinges!! Nooo!!!!!! I took them all off and ran to the store to get the right ones. I got there at 7:30, they closed at 8. I put the new hinges on...the right ones this time. I had to detach some of the doors and rearrange them so they would close right. Adam had to help me figure that one out.

I stood back and survey my work...Do you see it too?? There are two fake drawers on top that needed handles too!


All the while, it had been raining and the dogs were being clingy. Jasmine and Tucker were helping me out...then Bear joined too. I ran back down stairs and made some more rope. Ran back up, drilled the holes (with Adam's help because I kept catching nails and it wouldn't work for me). I attached the handles and was so tired that I didn't even sweep up the saw dust all over the room.


Close up of the handles.


Left cabinet


Right cabinet.


Woohoo! 8 months later, it's finally done!!! I finally finished a project!! It feels so good and the fact that I like how it turned out is an even greater feeling.

Now, what can I glaze next? ;o)