My Fondest Memory of NYC

When my nephew was in grade eleven I took him to New York City for Easter break.  We spent 10 days in this wonderful, vibrant city.  Every morning we would open our cereal box and pour in milk that I would buy at the corner store below our room.  That was our only home cooked and cheap meal of the day.  Then we would be off for our next adventure.

We would go out and explore the city.

I had one mission on this trip (other than making sure he had a good time).  I wanted to find rods for a light fixture.  It was an art deco fixture.  I couldn't find anything appropriate in Calgary.

So, first day out on the street from our room we walked down from Times Square and there it was!  There was a shop with light fixtures.  They did a lot of work for the studios so they had everything under the sun.   They took me upstairs to the workshop.  They had so many bits and pieces and parts.  It was exactly what I was hoping for and my gosh, my light fixture has pieces from NYC!  Woohoo!

I believe in luck and good fortune.  In my wildest dreams I did not really expect to find exactly what I needed.  I was hoping but I did not have expectations.  In New York all is possible!

Ten days in NYC is a long time.  So much happens every day.  We had a blast.

The Charming Mr. Wotherspoon

I have a lovely neighbour.  He is probably about 90 years old.  He always notices the little things I do to improve my home.  For example...

It was the middle of winter and I was in the midst of a full renovation of my house.  The dumpster was full.  I had no window coverings.  They gutted walls, replaced plumbing, rebuilt.  One night I receive a phone call.  "I see a big paint job coming up....." in a waivering voice.

Out of the blue I receive a phone call from a neighbour whom I barely know, whilst I am living amid all my furniture in the basement.  What?  Oh yes, yes, the interior of my home!

"I will be painting it myself,"  I said.  "Well,"  he said, "you did a great job on the exterior of your house.  I am sure it will be wonderful."

Then another day I received another phone call, "You know that tree in your front yard?  It didn't look so healthy last fall, but it is lovely now."

And then my doorbell rang a few days ago.  I am always hesitant to answer an unexpected doorbell.  But I am so glad I did.  It was Mr. Wotherspoon with some fresh cut roses from his garden.

"Not the best," he said.  "They are so lovely,"  I replied.

Am I not the luckiest gal to have a neighbour like this!

My New Kitchen and a Giveaway!

I love my new kitchen!  It is so easy to work in and I feel like I have tons of space.  I even have some empty shelves and at least one empty drawer!

This is Miss Sugar's chair.  She loves to cook!  With this chair in the kitchen she is never tempted to walk on the countertops.

 My gel mats arrived yesterday.  They are wonderful to stand on while cooking and will also protect the floor.

Oops!  I just spotted Miss Sugar in the picture above!

Now for the giveaway!  Just leave a comment and your name will be entered in a random draw for a jar of my homemade haskap jam!  I know that these berries are not available to most of you and I would love to share them.  I will send it anywhere in the world!  (I know this jar says blackberry!  Just don't have a picture of the haskap!)

Peek Preview of my New Kitchen

It has been so long since I have posted.  And it has been even longer since I have had a refrigerator!  My renovation is coming to an end and I am slowly moving back into the main floor from my basement.

I am having the tile backsplash and tub surround done right now.  Then just a couple of details and it is ...ta da... DONE!

Is this not a gorgeous stove!  I can hardly wait to start using it.  It is a professional model Kitchenaid with steam assist.  Kitchenaid had a sale on last July that gave me 10% off on two or more appliances, so I bought everything from them.

I can hardly wait to have a dishwasher again!

My refrigerator is just a refrigerator but I really like the look of it.  Right beside the refrigerator is where my stand mixer will be located.

The cabinet installer thought I was making a mistake choosing a flat panel cabinet.  He had actually never installed them before but he did a masterful job.

The guys who come and do the work love everything from the colours to the pot lights to the flat panel cabinets.  They can now see the way it all works together.

 This is the main light in the kitchen and then I have pot lights and will have under cabinet lighting.  The matching lights are in my foyer, hallway and bathroom.

Thanks for visiting!  I will have a better showing when I am fully moved in and decorated.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Update on My Reno

I know I have not given many pictures lately, but they have been downright boring.  Everything has been going very well.  These pictures look rather dull but until I get my appliances and furniture back in, it won't be exciting.

Moving Right Along

My last renovation was the same as this one.  I could not sleep for 2 days after the cost became real to me.  All of my penny pinching with the work I was doing myself just goes right out the window.   Drywallers here for 4 days....  Electricians here for 3 days.......  Plumbers here for two days (plus one hour)..........And a partridge in a pear tree!

In my last post, these walls were just studs.  Voilà!  See the gas hook-up for my new stove?

 My ugly old stippled ceilings (that I was unsuccessfully scraping) have been re-drywalled.  Now they will be smooth.

In an attempt to distract myself, I am also taking an online photography class.  It is quite a basic class, thank heaven.  It is all I can handle right now.  This was my assignment using different focal lengths.  I used 28mm and 100mm.  I usually just guess at all of my settings and don't actually plan things.  This will be a good exercise.  See how that lamp post moves closer to the subject?  Neat!

Update on the Renovation

It is going so well!  I am so lucky.

But it was so funny.  I  had my new bathtub installed but not yet fully plumbed in.  These shut offs were all I had.  Miss Sugar went exploring and low and behold, she walked under these levers and pushed them up.  I had water pouring into my basement!  It was wild.

Now the demolition is complete.  The electricians and plumbers have been here.  Today drywall was delivered and the drywaller will be here on Monday.  I will have it all put back together so soon.

Then it is my turn.  I am the painter!  It is a tad daunting but I am determined.

I think this project is going as well as any project can.  And to think that I didn't even have a contractor on November 10.  Mind and will are more powerful that I ever dreamed.

Prayers Work... Ask Me!

Dumpster now full!

This is me living in my basement with all of my furniture!  I have been waiting for a contractor since I bought my house in April.  In this small prairie city life revolves with the seasons.  "Making Hay While the Sun Shines" is a mantra.

New bathtub and closet opened to the bathroom.

Trying to pin down someone to do an inside renovation during the warm season is next to impossible.  So I patiently wait.  My first choice carpenter was non-committal.  But I am a woman on a mission.  I want this kitchen/house renovation completed so I can get on with my life as I want it.

So I went searching and found a nice young man who would come in November.  In all fairness, he did call me in November and I was so excited.  He thought he could do it but in the end...he couldn't.  He took a full time job and would only be able to do my work on weekends.  My job is not a little one.

These are two colours I am considering

Then he recommended a former employer who is a builder.  I cannot believe my luck.  This (also) young man builds houses and knows his stuff.  He has a full slate of work but has no inside jobs.  He agreed to take me on.  I was his only inside job.  The only time he could start my job was if the weather turned cold.  He was so busy.

I don't wish any ill will on anyone but I prayed for cold weather.  Well, it came.  And it came with a vengeance.  I now have their undivided attention until the job is almost complete.  I am so thankful.  And the true bonus is that they are so competent.  I am also lucky.

My basement kitchen.  Check out the wiring!

Don't you love my Italian headboard! 

A beautiful sight!

And what does Miss Sugar have to say about all this.....

What felt so hopeless only a week ago has become totally possible.  I have learned never to give up on hope and the power of will.  Temper that with acceptance and life works...beautifully.

Houston...We have lift off!

Yes!!  The winter weather came in and my contractors had time for 'inside' work.  I was first on their list for inside work.  They made a lot of progress in only one day.

See that big dumpster outside the window?  Isn't that just the best thing you have ever seen!

My kitchen will be without a fridge and stove as of Friday.  My new appliances won't be delivered for awhile.  I have decided to live with my cold room and a picnic cooler for a few days.  It is winter.  Making ice is no problem!  I'll buy perishables as I can eat them.

I will be dining on my freezer food until I run out.  But you cannot believe my luck!  I have won two  dinners from a local company that makes home cooked meals for busy people.  They will come in handy.