Showing posts with label house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label house. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

What's new?

Well, the past two weeks have been interesting! Here's a re-cap:

Hubby came home from Winnipeg for good. Ya!

We spent about $2000 to fix our chimney/furnace room exhaust issue. We discovered the rather dangersous issue when Hubby tried to have a post-airplane hot shower and ended up with a post-airplane cold shower. 4 days and a few line of credit cheques later, we have an unplugged chimney and could have our gas turned back on. Thank goodness it wasn't minus 25 outside that week.

Just after Hubby came home, I left for a four day work retreat. It was sort of nice to get leave domestic chaos behind me and let Hubby deal with it. After months and months of holding down the fort on my own, I happily passed the torch.

Applied for a job, went for the interview, was offered the job and turned it down. It's nice to be wanted and be able to say no. It was reassuring to me that if I ever need to find other work, the Universe will provide.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

80 year old plumbing

Just before the holidays, our basement tenant told us about a not-so-pleasant smell that had started burping up from his toilet. Yuck! Around Dec 23 we thought we could smell a super bad fart up in our master bedroom. Neither of us had let one rip. Where did that smell come from? We suspected it was the burping toilet sending its strong fumes up the heating vents.

By Dec 26 I had discovered two small messes on the floor of the basement shower. Sewage back-up! We made a call pronto! On Dec 27 two strong Russians were digging under our porch.








They dug about 7 feet down to reach the old clay trap for our very old house. At a certain point they asked us to flush all the toilets twice. We went outside to check out the flow in the hole under our porch. One of the guys said, 'It was like Niagara Falls! It was really backed up in there!'. I said, 'Ya, but the American side, not the Canadian side.' We all laughed.

And then I wrote a cheque for almost $2800.

Hubby was a bit down about the whole thing initially, but before long we both acknowledged that it was the best of a worse case scenario. At least it didn't flood our basement.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

New windows!

In order to appreciate the new windows, you have to see the old windows.

This used to be our front window. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it still installed; the window guy was just too quick!



Here's the scary office window. We don't even think the glass was the right size. Can you see how it is resting at an angle?



Look closely at the precarious putty job the previous owners did.




Our new windows are almost completely installed. The actual windows are in, but the finishing touches won't happen until next week.

Stay tuned!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Home ownership = less blogging

Well, it is official. Since we bought our house in January, I've blogged a lot less. I don't even know if I've shared pictures of my recent crochet projects! What has come over me?!

Sad news for me, but happy news for my blog readers: Hubby is leaving the province for five or six months to work on his television show (his very own television show!). I think his absence will translate into more blogging on my part.

Blog entries I have in mind:

update on the life list
update on crochet projects
my planned cookie challenge
pottery update with pictures
likely many pathetic entries on how lonely I am

Stay tuned!

Monday, May 21, 2007

KR was right & other updates

My friend, KR, told me weeks ago that the only way to really get your boxes unpacked after a move is to set a date for a party. I've been beating myself up for the never-ending mess in the house: boxes, tools, clothing not put away, baseboards missing. The list goes on and on. I've struggled with feeling incredibly lazy and just trying to keep up with our regular life - eating, laundry, making a lunch for work.

My nephews are coming to stay with us on the first weekend in June. I want them to have a room to sleep in. Finally I have a deadline to get that second bedroom organized. I made a really good dent in it this weekend. I think I got rid of about 7 more boxes. I can probably do three more before we eat dinner.

KR was right; you need a deadline to force yourself to face the boxes.

I'm already feeling a lot better about the house than I did last week. It gets depressing living in clutter and disorganization. I just have to keep doing a little bit every chance I get.

Other updates:

I'm making good progress on a secret crochet project. I can't tell you anymore than that, hence the name 'secret crochet project'.

I'm almost done with the purse kit that Haley 'donated' to my crochet cause. Once all the crochet is done Haley will finish it up with a bit of sewing that I don't have the patience for. I think the finished project will be really nice.

I've picked out 5 skeins of Berry Red Cotton Fleece to make a camisole/T-shirt for myself. I'll start this once the secret project is done. It's going to look great!

I went to a very sexy wedding reception on the weekend at The Sultan's Tent on Front Street. The food and wine were fantastic! The decor is beautiful, red, golds, and dark wood (set up as Moroccan tents). The belly dancing was the sexiest wedding entertainment I've ever seen! It was really very nice.

Fate:

Hubby and I have been together for over four years now. In all those years. We have not had one summer vacation together. His work tends to pick up right around March or April and is going strong by June, July and August. I need to take a summer vacation every year to cope with burn out symptoms.

This year Hubby started a gig in April and told me that there would be a hiatus in June. My vacation was booked for the last two weeks of June; the hiatus, of course, was scheduled for the first two weeks. I was actually successful in getting one of my weeks rescheduled so that Hubby and I could take a week together. I made him promise to get out of town with me for a night or two. I even started researching some road trip ideas.

Happily, a week or so ago, Hubby found out that his television project is going to make it to camera! He gave notice at his job and started to have meetings about his own project. It only took me a couple of days to figure out that our vacation plans were mostly down the toilet. It seems like Hubby will actually be in Winnipeg the week that we planned to go on a little road trip.

Fate is against us. Shall I go to Winnipeg? Shall I crash the business trip, be the tag-along wife? I have mixed feelings. I can hang with Hubby's sister, whom I like very much. I'll get to go to my favourite breakfast joint The Falafel Place on Corydon Avenue and my favourite steak house Rae and Jerry's (50s flashback extraordinaire). The major problem would be the 'industry talk'. I am not exaggerating when I say that the industry talk will likely be 24-7. There's only so much a girl can take.

(If you are ever in Winnipeg, you MUST get to Rae and Jerry's. The waitresses still wear red polyester dresses and serve tomato juice in a glass on a saucer. The decor is new, but reminiscent of the original - wood paneling and red vinyl, with carpet throughout.)

Saturday, April 14, 2007

A break from unpacking

This is my little break from unpacking and doing house stuff. We've been up since 5am (I know, I know!) just because that is when we woke up. I lay in bed for awhile and got up just before 6. We've been working on Hubby's office since about 9:30. We're just taking a coffee break and then it is back to the work, work, work.

I make it sound like we are busting our butts unpacking and setting up the house. Honestly, I feel we are taking our sweet ass time. It is hard living regular life with work, cooking, cleaning, laundry, socializing and also setting up the house. We've sort of become used to getting by without all of our stuff accessible.

Truth by told, I would rather read the paper or crochet when I have free time. I've noticed that I'm thinking more and more about baking again, making granola and scones and cakes. If I'm going to bake I have to get the kitchen fully set up.

Now that we are living in the house and we've emptied our storage locker, I notice how much stuff we have that we A) don't have room for, B) have not used, C) will likely never use. One problem we have is that our basement is an apartment for a tenant, so things that other people keep in their basements (large Rubbermaid containers filled with gift wrap, winter clothes, extra dishes for parties, wigs and boas for occasional dress up fun) we just don't have room for.

Well, Hubby is making some lunch and then we are off to the big Duff Mall (on a Saturday - YIKES!) to update our health cards and licenses at the convenient kiosk. I might may a pit stop at Reitmans for some pants for work. Hopefully we'll order the blinds for the apartment on our way home.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

A few teaser pics of the house

The move went well. A bit of stress, but nothing major. Completely manageable.

Today I did some cleaning up from last minute dry wall sanding in the second bedroom. Once it was clean I was able to put boxes in there out of the way and Hubby got around to fixing up a bit of his office. We also got the bedroom a tiny bit sorted and the bathroom is in good shape.

Next up: bedroom curtain rod to be hung.

After that: kitchen set up ready for proper living.

And finally: the living room / dining room.

Here are a few pics of the not so complete project.


Here's the house...





Here's the front part of the living/dining room with our paint choice China Blue...




Here's the living / dining room looking towards the kitchen. Our paint choice here is Worn Wool (it's growing on me)... oh ya! Check out the fantastic bamboo flooring we put in!




Here's the basement apartment kitchen in progress...

Friday, March 23, 2007

Moving day - awake at 1am!

So, it is moving day. Well, it is 1:20am on moving day. Who drank tea at 8pm and now can't sleep? Me, of course. There's really no packing to do. Just a few odds and ends. I'm just sitting here watching t.v. with the volume down low so as not to disturb Hubby, who is sleeping like a baby in the other room.

Before the movers arrive at 10am we'll take down the medicine cabinet and towel rack and deal with the coats. Oh, I think I have to pack up the utensils, too.

I'll be writing more once we settle in. Maybe post a few pics, too.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Less than a week!

We move on Friday!

Most of the house has been painted and a new floor is going down in the living room and dining room tomorrow morning. We chose a lovely vertical bamboo. It is a beautiful caramel and will make the room look long and luscious!

Packing is going well. A friend helped me fill another 13 boxes today in about 3 hours. Tomorrow will be full on packing and should get us good and ready for Friday morning. My cousin is coming to help. I'm looking forward to a day away from the house (still needs some cleaning up) and hanging with my cous. Later in the week I'll get over to the house and clean up the kitchen, sort tools and measure for curtains.

A week from tonight we'll already be having our second sleep at our new house!

Can't wait!

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Drywall Patch Girl Update

So, yesterday I fearlessly took on patching some holes solo. No mentor to tutor me in person (which helps A LOT!), just me, my noggin and a good drywall book for reference I screwed in wood supports for four smallish holes. Measured, cut and screwed in pieces of drywall to fit and finally spread a first coat of compound.

Each hole presented its own challenge and I kept at it until I was satisfied. I must admit that they won't be absolutely perfect, but I did it ALL BY MYSELF! At the half way point I rewarded myself with a nice Italian beer - good for me!

You may have noticed that I am writing this in the wee hours of the morning. Couldn't sleep. Can't sleep. I woke up worrying about a work related thing [sic client]. When I can't sleep I try to remember to get out of bed and distract myself enough to get my brain to relax into slumber. So, here I am. I've check my work email and have figured out that my biggest worry is likely not true. I read a couple of blogs and now I am writing.

New problem: my tummy just doesn't feel right to me. I have a bad, bad feeling I have a touch of a tummy bug. I have NO TIME for a tummy bug! No time at all!

Good news: my wonderful friend, Tanya, came by last night and we did a marathon pack of the kitchen! That felt great! It is so much easier to pack when someone who knows you well plugs along and makes decisions for you.

Hubby and I move on March 23rd. I feel the countdown has begun.

Ok. Time for a couple of games of Ingenious and then try again for slumber. Fingers crossed for no tummy bug throw ups.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Four years

Hubby and I have been together for four years this week. Our first date anniversary was on Sunday and neither of us remembered until we were walking to our apartment from our house in the cold and dark. I remarked on the date and Hubby said, 'Gee, I hope you like those safety goggles I bought you today. Happy four years anniversary, Honey!' We giggled. (I do love my goggles. They have elastic to hold them tight against my face and go over my glasses. This 2D girl has to protect her one good eye, don't ya know!)

As an aside, I thank the goddess for nature's goggles - the eyebrow. Before I got my anniversary gift goggles, my good eye was saved when my eyebrow caught a big puff of ancient dust that fell on me when I pulled down an old plaster ceiling in the hallway. I still had to scramble to the wash out my eye a bit, but it would have been a real emergency had it not been for my eyebrow. Thank you, Eyebrow.

Well, four years and goggles. I really, really love my life. This relationship is the longest relationship I've ever had. I love Hubby with a ferociousness I didn't know I had in me. He makes me laugh everyday. He makes me breakfast everyday (it's true!). He is my best friend and favourite person to hang out with. I just love him to bits!

Sunday, February 11, 2007

house gerbil in her wheel... running, running...

Here's a rambling entry:

Hubby and I are low on reno knowledge. Everyone has told us that we will learn as we go, but our learning curve has been a wee bit emotional. There's been tears, some stomping around and even a couple of self-degrading comments. We are lucky to have some friends and family who really know their way around a tool box and have time to coach us here and there.

Along with low reno know-how, we don't own a car. Under normal life circumstances we happily get around on our bikes, our feet and the TTC. A couple of times we've done the Rona/Home Depot run on the streetcar with our backpacks. Today we rented the Rona van to bring drywall & a pedestal sink home. Not owning a car has really put a kink in our plan to try to buy as much as possible from the Habitat ReStore. You really have to browse the store a few times a week to scoop the good products. We are considering renting a car for a month or 'leasing' a few days a week from a friend.

Right now the house is a reno mess. Dust and grit everywhere. Wires old and new exposed. Our porch is Toronto's new dump. Sometimes when I am at the house I get a little bit down. I can see in my mind's eye how it will be when we are moved in and cleaned up, but I know how much elbow grease has to go into the place to get it that way.

I've slacked recently on the packing. Hubby thinks I am crazy for having started so early, but I knew this pause would happen, that regular life would distract me and I would get lazy. It is hard to start packing again once I pause.

This week I think we will finally pick out kitchen cupboards for the basement apartment. Ikea? Home Depot? Rona? If you have experience with the options, please leave a comment.

Sigh. I know everything will work out. Sometime in the summer we will be sipping wine on our porch and look back on this time and smile. Can't we just skip all the elbow grease stuff and get to the wine sipping time?

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Drywall Patch Girl!

I did my first ever drywall repairs today! Drywall repairs on our very own house. As I waited for my friend to measure, cut and insert drywall pieces, I walked around the house with my premixed mud and putty knife patching up little scrapes and nail holes. I'm addicted!

(I even prepped some holes and screwed in some screws!)

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

little house update

House, house, house... our life is about the house. The house that now has multiple holes in the walls and ceilings. Ah, well, at least we won't fry ourselves on the hidden knob & tube on the top floor.

Next up: deal with heating duct problems on the same floor. I can't even describe it.

I love our new house and can't wait to move in late in March! I have so much packing to do.

I've snuck in a little crocheting. I've finished a gauge swatch for some wrist warmers using left over Fable Alpaca from the Skinny Minnie Scarf! Yeah! So, I shall start on one wrist warmer and see how far I get without having to buy more yarn - all money is dedicated to the house currently. I've actually stopped buying timmie's coffee on my work breaks, too. I figure if I don't buy coffee for 3 weeks, I can spend $12 on yarn.

Off to bed to read predictable easy read novel that is good for distraction, but not for promoting deep thoughts.

night, night

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Crochet, house, crochet, house

I finally started a second leg warmer this afternoon. I've sometimes worn the single that I made weeks ago around the apartment with its ends all dangling out. I can't buy any new yarn for a long, long time (because we get possession of our house in 2 DAYS), so I decided I had better concentrate on finishing up a few small projects that I had put aside.

Crochet projects I can work on:

second leg warmer
market bags (never hurts to have a few around for hostess gifts)
baby booties (I have old acrylic stash for this)
I have some hemp. I could make something with that.
hot water bottle cover
attach retro buttons to green double knit baby top

Hubby says I will be too busy knocking down walls and cleaning our new kitchen to crochet anything. He is probably right.

We pick up the keys on MONDAY!

I found some large, but tacky cushions in our storage locker today. I thought of sending them off to the Goodwill, but then it occurred to me that I could crochet new covers for them. I think I can check out a few patterns, adjust/enlarge and make something I really like.

I packed three boxes today.

I checked our lottery ticket today. We didn't win.

Friday, January 05, 2007

The BIG Announcement!

Hubby and I raced to our Realtor's office this afternoon and at 1:27 p.m. signed off on the final papers for the house!!! Hubby immediately went into an anxiety spin and I started grinning from ear to ear.

Unless the Universe takes a few devious twists and turns in the next week, Hubby and I will be happy homeowners on January 15!

I am SO looking forward to having a house, a home of our own. We are really lucky to have found a house in our neighbourhood - we love it here! I can still walk to work. We'll be even closer to our grocery store and favourite happy butcher. TTC a 5 minute walk. Three bedrooms, enough room for guests and the ever coveted office space for Hubby who works from home quite a bit. A large kitchen that needs some TLC, but we are looking forward to designing something we'll love. A fairly good sized yard by Toronto standards that is just waiting for some loving landscaping.

Sooooo many things racing through my head tonight... after a good night's sleep I hope I can slow down a bit and get a little more focused.

Limbo morning

We may find out today that our offer has been accepted and that we are now home owners. If that call comes there will be more signatures and initials, faxing tons of papers to the mortgage broker and the lawyer, and general excited running around and calls to make.

I don't know what to do with myself while waiting for the news. There is laundry to be done, but I imagine sitting in the laundry mat with our clothes in mid-wash cycle when the call comes. AAAGGGHHHH! Wet clothes, signatures, calls, and faxes! I could possibly go a tiny bit crazy (no comments from the peanut gallery, please!).

Hmmm... I could do a few errands in our neighbourhood: buy mouse traps, buy stamps, mail letters. I could read my new book. I could read this week's Maclean's.

Waiting...

Waiting...

Waiting...

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Excitement, excitement!

Ummmm... Hubby and I may be homeowners tomorrow!

Wow!

Stay tuned!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

ramble, ramble

Sorry about being interrupted by Little Women. I just had to watch the young Katharine Hepburn as Jo. When Laurie proposed to Jo and she turned him down because her love for him is platonic, my heart wrenched and soared all at once. Is she brave? Is she honest? Is she stubborn? Will she regret this? Is she a lesbian in the 1800s?

Hubby came home about 2/3rds through the movie and he went for the remote immediately. He impatiently asked if I was actually watching the movie and quickly discerned that channel changing would equal pain.

More about Christmas spirit:

I sent only 3 or 4 cards this year, 2 of which came back because I forgot to put addresses on the envelopes! I intuited this about 4 hours after mailing them. Thank goodness for return address labels.

House hunting:

We've officially started! It is exciting and scary. I don't think we will find our house very quickly. I'm feeling patient and looking forward to seeing a lot of properties. Stay tuned for more hype when THE house is viewed.

Today:

Wrapping gifts.
Winding a skein of yarn at Knitomatic.
Enjoying pea soup I made last night.
Picking up fancy beer from the LCBO.
Hanging with Hubby who has been working a lot lately.
Maybe a movie.
A drink with friends may happen, too.

Yarn yearning:

I think a fibre addiction is taking hold of me. I noticed yesterday, before leaving Knitomatic, I couldn't help but poke around a tiny bit at the beautiful yarns. I spotted something I like (I don't know the name) and immediately riffled through a crochet pattern book to see what I could make with it. In that moment I realized how stashes begin. I don't need to know now what project I will use it for. I just need to buy it and wait for the right project to come along.

I know that I will eye it every time I go in the store. It is a blend of fibres in pink and fuschia tones with a thread of black shot through. I think it is a medium weight. Perhaps it would make a lovely shawl.