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Friday, September 28, 2012

I'VE BEEN PACKING

...FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.


What a job it is to pack up 25 years. 

   It is nice that my daughter's class has a yardsale coming up because there are things I am finding that are "good for saving" but for someone else, not I any longer.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

HANDS DOWN

I have 
the best 
new neighbors 
EVER !!!

Today was a busy day with its delightful 'ups' and unexpected 'downs'.   This afternoon I arrived at Hawthorne Ave and was in the midst of one of those 'downs' when I saw a less than satisfactory fix to the electrical system. 
And then, 
I walked into my kitchen 
and saw.....





    My son, who moved in the house last weekend, told me all these goodies were delivered by one of our new neighbors.  Such a lovely gesture and such a lovely person.  She turned my 'down' into an 'UP'.  How blessed am I to have her and her husband as my new neighbors.

Billye immediately found one of her "faves" in one of the baskets... Honey Bear 

                       



MASTER BATH DETAILS

    







Wednesday, September 26, 2012

ANOTHER VINTAGE FIXTURE HUNG

and 
THIS IS NOW.

Hanging outside its new home on the 2nd story deck

Admittedly, the fixture requires a more decorative bulb but this one did in a pinch in attempts to pass
the electrical inspection.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

BEFORE & AFTER: LITTLE SINK


March 2011

Sept. 2012

The chrome was replated  here in Richmond, Va. at Hanlon Plating Company,  most known for their work on restoring chrome on  vintage cars and motorcycles. They also did the claw feet on our tub.  

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

SPRUCING UP THE FIREPLACES

    I painted the last 2 of the 3 fireplaces the other morning.  





As nice as they look now, it is difficult to remember way back when...

Monday, September 17, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

TENDING TO SOME BATH DETAILS

We spent a little time Saturday morning mounting hardware in the bathrooms.

Mirror and shelf in the back bath


Donnie takes a phone break after a towel bar install

Sunday we will finish up the master bath and 1/2 bath hardware.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

ANOTHER PORCH PARTY

  Wicker swing up



Cooler full




 Fruit and cheese fresh




 Drinks poured




Friends present




Cheers!




Fine china, good silver, crowd of people....nice but unnecessary.
  
Comfortable surroundings, pleasant evening, party of three
......Miss Magnolia, Barney and Me !

(smile)



~Just one such gathering among several prior and many more to come










Friday, September 14, 2012

MY FRONT PORCH

    I am rather taken with the look and feel of my front porch on Hawthorne Avenue.  Looking at the white fan against the soothing blue of the ceiling and the whimsy of the leaf motif on the early gas (converted to electric by Kyle) fixture pleases me.


This is where I will be this Friday evening with a cool bottle of wine, some cheese, water crackers, and fresh fruit.  Friends, if you are in the neighborhood, stop by and visit.  There will be room on the wicker swing or in a rocker!


Thursday, September 13, 2012

BUILDING THRESHOLDS

      The thresholds bridging the interior and exterior here on Hawthorne Avenue were in bad shape.  During the vigorous restoration of our house, a couple interior thresholds went missing or required alteration.  Another task for Donnie!
  
      Using old floor boards from another house he is renovating with his family, Donnie (with a little help from me) has fabricated several beautiful thresholds. 
  

Old flooring from Garland Ave. house


The table saw creates heart pine sawdust which will come in hand later


I collect the sawdust and reserve for later


Each threshold is sanded and shaped

Thresholds are snug


Epoxy comes in handy to adhere  floorboards
when creating wider thresholds


A threshold into the back bathroom also required a 2 inch rise
due to the difference in floor levels
      Now for 3 coats of polyurethane and we will be good for years to come.


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

STILL WAITING


    We are still waiting for the contractor to call for the final inspections on the electric and HVAC so that we can have the CO.  It is so frustrating to not be in control of all this. 

   Not willing to wait, we began moving some larger pieces of furniture in last weekend.  Yesterday I decided to take the fabrics I'm using in the library to Hawthorne Ave. before I took it all to be made into pillows.
                ...I'm just crazy about the bird fabric which will be drapes. 


Playing around with these finishing details helped take my mind off the non-inspection.



Sunday, September 9, 2012

LAST OF THE SEASON

As I passed the fig tree last week I spied a lone ripe fig the birds and squirrels had missed.  

This one was mine!

Mmmmm.....Sweet


CURVE APPEAL

    I took this photo today and thought I would quickly share it.  It is beautiful to me for several reasons.
  
1. It is the only wall original to the house we kept in tact.  Donnie repaired the plaster.

2. The picture molding was missing from much of the house upon purchase back in 2011.  We replaced the lost and damaged molding throughout the house and found a fabricated rubber molding to match the wood so we were able to span this original curved wall.

3. This color (Benjamin Moore's Buxton Blue) on the walls of my future bedroom  is peaceful. 


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

STEAMPUNK SHELVING

    Guided by Wallace's ideas, Roy Hoffert of Hoffert Furniture and Cabinetry has constructed this shelving to house Wallace's vinyl and CD collection.  Using stock lumber, plumbing pipe, and beautiful heart pine, Roy has done it again!  

Pipes and heart pine shelves
 







CD shelving


We are, yet again, fantastically happy customers. 


Saturday, September 1, 2012

IT CAN'T BE SEPTEMBER ALREADY.....CAN IT?

    In my mind, admittedly an odd place to be, we should be IN our new/old house by now, September 1st.  Disappointingly, this is not  the case.  The Certificate of Occupancy  for which I have yearned has not been granted.  This is because the house has not had the final inspections I was expecting to have occurred yesterday.

    HEAVY SIGH...

    On a brighter note:  We received and electric bill for the Hawthorne house yesterday.  We have had the AC up and running for 3 weeks of that 1 month billing period.  In addition, many doors have been left open during painting and contractor work while the HVAC was operating to cool down the house. While our house on Hawthorne Avenue is perhaps twice the size of our Warren Road house (built in 1987), the electric bill for the same 3 week period was 1/2 the amount.



HURRAY for insulation !