What Rhymes with NaPoWriMo?

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Maggie C

For the past two Aprils I have participated in the A-to-Z writing challenge, where one writes 26 posts for the month, following an alphabetical theme of some sort. I had a wonderful idea for this year’s challenge but, alas, it didn’t get past the wonderful idea phase. Maybe next year.

But this year – well, just today – I decided to participate in NaPoWriMo, the National Poetry Writing Month. The challenge is similar. Write a new poem each day for a month. I may not post all of these poems, but I will share at least some of them.

Chules likes the “industrial” style of my new kitchen floor. He can scratch it up to his heart’s content, and it will just add to the “look.”

I’ve been neglecting the blog lately as I’ve been focusing on my seemingly never-ending kitchen redo project. This week, I finally installed the new flooring. I’m very proud that I managed to reduce my sitting-on-the-floor to standing transition time by several seconds. And I think the floor turned out well, too.

So now I’ve got ‘til Sunday to locate my poetry muse, dust her off, and convince her to join me in this endeavor. I wonder where she wandered off to…

What Money Can Buy

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Maggie C

I was talking with my eldest daughter the other day (okay, maybe it was more like complaining) about how much I’ve been spending on all my DIY home improvement projects; projects which include reviving the hardwood floors that I discovered under my grungy living room carpet, ripping up the ugly linoleum from my bathroom floor and laying down vinyl tile, making a bathroom sink back splash out of art glass squares, constructing a stained glass privacy panel for the bathroom window, remodeling the kitchen (still in progress), and redoing my dining room to… well, to make it look like a dining room and not a staging area for all my other projects.

dining room

And those are just the indoor projects.

My daughter asked me if spending all that money brings me happiness. ‘Cuz, you know – that whole thing about how money can’t buy you happiness. I didn’t have to ponder that question long at all before giving a resounding “Yes!”

I never had much occasion to practice any handyperson skills up until the past couple of years, so every home improvement project I take on involves a learning process of new skills and knowledge about the workings of “this old house.” (Does that phrase sound familiar? I could probably start my own DIY TV program).

living room floor

The projects have varying levels of success. Some turn out well, some have to be completely redone. Some results are “interesting” and “unique” to say the least, so I just pass those off to my eclectic artistic license and try to imply that that’s where I meant to go with the project – I just didn’t know it until I got there.

Regardless of how I rate the outcomes, I can honestly say the process itself is almost entirely fun and satisfying. I love the challenge, the chance to research and learn new things, the hands-on real world application of what I learn, and the gratification of a daily tangible result.

kitchen

So despite my complaints about the cost of my myriad DIY projects, it is indeed money well spent. It buys a more comfortable, appealing home atmosphere. It buys an “experience” in addition to paying for material goods. And – you might well say – it buys me happiness.

bathroom sink glass back splash

The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Satisfaction

Weekend Coffee Share 5.13.17

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Maggie C

If we were having coffee, I’d be pretty stoked to show you the progress in my DIY kitchen redo. You might be stoked to be able to make it to the kitchen without having to don a hardhat, steel-toed boots and a nail-proof vest.

I’m far from done, but it’s starting to look like a kitchen again. Since you are only here virtually, I’ll share “before” and “now” photos:

BEFORE

NOW

I still need to paint and hang cabinet doors and tend to a number of small items, but the big parts are done, at least on this side of the kitchen. The opposite side is still a mess. If I showed you “before” and “now” photos of that side, you’d think I was losing ground instead of gaining. So let’s just look at this side of the kitchen and pretend the other side doesn’t exist. Except for the coffee pot, of course.

I wanted to get the project to a point where the kitchen is functional again, and then be able to focus on other interests for a while. Like my yard.

There are so many outdoor project ideas I have for this summer, if the weather would only cooperate. For now I just stand at my rain-spattered window and watch all the growing things beckon to me to come out and play. Then when I realize their “beckoning” is just from the wind and rain pelting the plants into a desperate frenzy, I wrap my sweater a bit tighter to ward off the chill and return to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. And maybe a bit of touch up painting.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me carry on about my DIY doings. It might not look all that impressive to some, but I’m having fun trying out new skills and ideas and just seeing what unfolds. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I just saw my dog run by with a pie tin in his mouth. I really need to get those cabinet doors hung.

#WeekendCoffeeShare is generously hosted by Emily at NerdInTheBrain.com. Hop on over to see what others are sharing over coffee this weekend.

Weekend Coffee Share 4.23.17

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Maggie C

If we were having coffee…

I’d offer you decaf tea today instead. It’s a bit late in the day for me to have caffeine, and herbal tea sounds comforting on this dreary, cold Sunday. My mood is rather dreary to match the weather, so I may not be the best of company today.

Friday was gorgeous once the morning clouds burned off. I got some yard work done; pulled errant weeds and mowed my lawn. I mowed down all my wonderful dandelions, but I veered around the volunteer clumps of grape hyacinths that popped up throughout the yard. It looks kind of like a bad haircut with purple highlights. But it’s my bad haircut and I’m liking it that way.

My kitchen remodel has slowed markedly as I struggle with getting the concrete counter tops to look at least a bit smoother than my front lawn. I had hoped to be nearly done with the kitchen project by the end of this month, but there’s tons left to do. I’ve still got seven days ‘til May, so maybe I’ll really buckle down this week and see how much I can accomplish. Me and Trump.

I’ve also been dealing with a water leak in the hatchback of my car. After three auto body shop visits and a few hundred dollars expended, it’s no better than when I first discovered the impromptu lake in the wheel well where the spare tire is stored. I guess I’ll be cleaning out the garage so I can fit the car back in.

The garage was clean until the kitchen remodel began spilling over. Ripped up flooring, ripped out counter tops, cardboard boxes, paint cans and supplies, cement and concrete mix, old warped shelving… all accumulated in the garage.

Maybe cleaning out the garage is more important right now than charging ahead with the kitchen stuff. I can reap all the psychological benefits of cleaning: a greater sense of control through organizing, the buoyancy brought on by purging oneself of garbage and extraneous stuff, the satisfaction of immediate and tangible results. And a drier car.

Wow. I’m feeling better just thinking about it. Or maybe it was the tea. Or the chance to warm up in front of the space heater. Or the crackers. Help yourself to some, by the way, if you haven’t already. Where are my manners?

Here’s hoping for a productive week.

#WeekendCoffeeShare is generously hosted by Emily at NerdintheBrain.com.

Weekend Coffee Share 4/16/17

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Maggie C

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you I’m boycotting my kitchen today. It has nothing to do with not wanting to cook a nice Easter dinner for family. I boycott that scenario every year. No, today I’m avoiding the kitchen because I’m frustrated with my DIY kitchen remodel project. But I don’t even want to think about that, so instead I’ll tell you about my yard.

As you see by the photos, I have lots of dandelions. Lush, healthy, organically grown, beautiful dandelions. I took the photo of my front lawn through my living room window. The neighbors don’t seem to appreciate my weeds as they have a habit of becoming everyone’s weeds when their seeds blow. So I thought it might not go over well if I am observed in my yard proudly photographing this year’s bumper crop.

I still have a ways to go on the whole not-caring-what-other-people-think thing. I suppose on the flip side, it could be seen as a not-being-a-good-neighbor thing to let my weeds grow and spread to the others’ chemically-induced pristine lawns. But we all have our neighborly vices. Screaming kids, barking dogs, loud parties, random rusting appliances abandoned in the front yard… and wayward weeds.

Anyway… what I was going to tell you before I got sidetracked with broken appliance yard decor is that today I came across a recipe for dandelion jelly! I’m kinda stoked to try it, but my stove is still unavailable, what with the whole kitchen remodel thing that I’m not talking about today. I’m thinking maybe if I pick the blossoms and show up at a neighbor’s door with all the ingredients, perhaps they’ll see that weeds aren’t all bad, and they’ll welcome me inside to make the jelly in their kitchen.

Or they might just scream, “Run! It’s that weird weed woman!” and slam the door in my face.

Maybe I should just go out and mow the lawn, sending all my beautiful weeds to mulch heaven. I’ll ponder that idea while we enjoy the rest of our coffee. It feels like a good day to sit back and relax, admire my flowers, and let the lawn, the kitchen remodel and myself have a pleasant day of rest.

For all who celebrate Easter, I send wishes for a happy, blessed day.

#WeekendCoffeeShare is graciously hosted by Emily at NerdintheBrain.com.

#Weekend Coffee Share 3/19/17

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Maggie C

If we were having coffee, you might notice that the path into my house is ever-so-slightly clearer. As the kitchen makeover progresses, some of the overflow materials, tools, odds and odders are thinning out a bit. Just a bit, though.

Pardon me while I squeeze past the stove that’s been pulled out of place and now sits in the middle of the kitchen, find you a clean coffee mug and try to remember which space of countertop was clear enough to hold the coffee maker this morning.

I poured one of the concrete countertops – just a little one; 24” x 15.5” – and set it in place yesterday to see how I like it. It seems rather thick at two inches, especially for such a small top, but I’ll leave it there for a while to see if I warm up to it. If nothing else, it will make for a good practice piece as I try to get the hang of filling the air holes, polishing and finishing the concrete.

Painting, more painting, resizing cupboard doors to fit around the new range top vent, ripping up old flooring, pulling staples… it’s slow going for me, but mostly because I’m in no hurry. I spend a lot of time just standing in the middle of the kitchen, surveying my “progress,” and alternating between a sense of pride and a sense of panic as the thought, “What was I thinking when I decided to take this on?” runs through my mind.

It makes my eskie Chules anxious to see me just standing there. He thinks if I’m in the kitchen I should be fetching him a snack, and if I’m not going to feed him I should stop staring at the walls and go play with him. Or at the very least, sit and watch him as he naps.

The sun’s actually out today, a rarity that I should probably take advantage of. I’ll let Chules take me for a walk and then consider doing some yard work.

Thanks for stopping by. I apologize if I bored you with my kitchen update. As the weather moderates I can begin regaling you with stories of my landscaping projects (something about which I am equally clueless as I am with the DIY kitchen project).

I hope you have a great week!

#WeekendCoffeeShare is graciously hosted by Emily at NerdintheBrain.com.

Weekend Coffee Share 3.4.17

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Maggie C

If we were having coffee, I would invite you in and advise you — as usual — to mind the obstacle course of clutter on our way to the couch. The clutter has rearranged a bit. The long cardboard box holding my new bifold door is gone from where it has lain on the floor in front of the living room window for longer than I care to admit, and the door is now bifolding where I installed it in the kitchen closet doorway.

The two large bags of Goodwill donations that sat on the flat box of wood veneer at the front door entrance have finally been duly donated. The box of veneer panels is still there, but is thinning as the veneer gets cut to size and used to line the newly painted kitchen cabinets.

The saw horse bench in the dining room has been dismantled, mostly because I needed to use the “bench” part to make new shelving for the aforementioned kitchen closet with the aforementioned new bifold door.

The kitchen linoleum sports even more paint splatters, although there is less linoleum to splatter as I have begun ripping it out in anticipation of new flooring.

As you may have guessed by now, the kitchen remodel is still in progress, albeit a very slow progression. The wheels of remodeling turn slowly in my house. But that’s okay. If I weren’t puttering around with the kitchen, I would likely be sitting around getting bummed by the dreary gray skies and rain that have comprised this winter. I am soooo ready for spring.

I’m also eager for warmer weather so I can attempt the concrete counter top construction. Once poured into the melamine mold I built, the concrete will have to hang out in the (unheated) garage for a week or so to set and cure before I move it into the kitchen. I have no clue as to what I am doing with this, so the whole process will be yet another adventure in my DIY home impairment saga.

My dog Chules doesn’t mind the weather, but he is soooo ready for the kitchen remodel to be over. He doesn’t like the noise of the circular saw and the shop vac, although I think he secretly loves brushing up against the fresh paint and coming away with colorful stripes to adorn his fur.

The coffee has run out, so I guess it’s time to get on with the day. On today’s agenda: moving the cabinet doors into the glass studio and setting up space so I can begin painting them. Chules will be so disappointed that the doors are going to be white. No chance for stripes on his white fur.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any pointers on making concrete countertops, feel free to comment. Maybe sharing ideas will help cement our friendship. (See what I did there?)

Have a great week!

#WeekendCoffeeShare is graciously hosted by Emily at NerdintheBrain.com.

the ties (or glues) that bind

Posted on December 25, 2016 by Maggie C

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

There’s been no holiday baking in my kitchen this year. Counter tops and back splashes are ripped out, the range is covered with a paint tarp, wires dangle where light fixtures used to hang… and in general it looks as though Home Depot exploded all over the kitchen.

I can’t seem to remember in which boxes I packed which things to store out of the way for the kitchen remodel, and I couldn’t find any tape to secure the wrapping paper on Christmas gifts. Not to worry, though. Wood glue and trigger clamps did the trick nicely.

My dog Chules got a nice treat from Santa Paws. Judging by his newly acquired black snout, I’m guessing the treat is now buried somewhere in the dirt of the back yard.

My cat Sebastian got some goodies from Santa Claws as well, but judging from his glazed stare, it looks like maybe he dipped into the egg nog when I wasn’t looking.

I’ve had a wonderful day spent with my beautiful family, eating great food (obviously not prepared in my kitchen), sharing good memories and creating lovely new ones.

I hope your holidays are as blessed as mine!

What Rhymes with Stanza?

Words at rest, words at play

Tag Archives: kitchen remodel

What Rhymes with NaPoWriMo?

What Money Can Buy

the ties (or glues) that bind