Everything Plus The Kitchen Sink

Funny how one little design decision leads to hours and hours of extra work. The kitchen sink is off center, which has been bothersome to a few. But it would have worked. However, the current sink is being replaced with a big white ceramic sink that just so happens to be several inches larger than the present sink, which would have thrown the center line way off. Because of course the dishwasher is to the immediate right of the sink. So we're taking out the dishwasher, moving a chunk of cabinet over and lining up the sink directly under the window. It's a bit of a process.

My Big Backyard

Now that the weather has warmed up and the backyard has started greening up we're finding plants and flowers everywhere! Honeysuckle and ivy are trying to take over but it's really a lovely, big, shady yard that has loads of potential.

The Great Outdoors

Spent last weekend freeing the back porch from a whole lot of overgrown mess in an effort to put up more fencing and secure the grounds a bit more. Also it was way too nice to be inside painting! As always, some before and afters for your viewing pleasure.

This is from back in March, before the plants really started growing.

The porch viewed from the back yard.

The bushes were growing in through the screened porch.

And now the "afters":

From the front of the house to the back yard.

In total we removed 3-4 huge bushes that lined the side of the screen porch, 2-3 small trees that had grown up in the middle of everything and untold amounts of ivy.

We also discovered the absolute cutest tree hidden back in the bushes that we've fallen in love with. It's a snowball hydrangea.

Bathroom Ceiling

I am happy to report that the plaster work is now under way and that the upstairs bathroom ceiling is now an actual ceiling rather than a big molding hole. Looking better every day! 

Before

New Old Floors

Not only did the closet get a nice coat of paint, but the hideous blue carpet is now long gone! The floors aren't in terrible shape so we're hoping some Murphy's Oil Soap and some boiled linseed oil will do the trick. The water stain under the window has already disappeared after 1 treatment of Murphy's. It's really very pretty wood and we're hopeful that most of the floors in the house can be restored. 

We've Been Violated

Unfortunately someone thought it'd be cute to, in some way shape or form, launch a marble through the master bedroom window today. Also the hose in the back yard has been busted, leaving the yard flooded and someone has been repeatedly unlocking the screen doors on the back porch. So...a police report has been filed but sadly that does little to replace a 200 year old window. One can only hope that taking up permanent residence will put a stop to this in the near future. The occasional patrol check has been requested in the meantime.