Saturday, June 30, 2012

Mr. Man's Reno

Of course after we finished the big kid's room we had to do the littlest one's. He had the smallest room in the house and we decided to move him into the spare room. That way all his toys can live in his room too. Hurray!

We started right after christmas. This was another of those crazy closet, too many layers of wallpaper and bad stippling on the ceiling kind of rooms. This one had a light but it was off centered (I have no idea why).


We closed up the closet completely and moved it to the opposite wall. There's a big chimney that runs up the house there and has our furnace vent inside (so I can't take it down). B built Mr. Man's new closet alongside of it.



We put in a new ceiling fan/light properly centered and many more plugs. I picked a light grey for the walls. It works with the cream baseboard colour. Mr. Man wanted bright blue curtains and I painted his dresser Spiderman red. The floor in his room is white too.


Now the kids have great bedrooms. We don't. I'd like to say our room will be next but it won't. I think maybe the little room that used to be Mr. Man's and is now B's office would be a faster project for this fall/winter. Plus I have the colours picked out :)

If you were wondering about my funky little picture collages go to PicMonkey.com and check it out. It's pretty fun.

Friday, June 29, 2012

the Superstar Reno

We started this bedroom reno last April. I know, it's taken me forever to get decent pictures. I blame the teenager. She's messy.

So a few years ago she asked for her room to be redone for her birthday. We said sure. As soon as we finish the laundry room (another post).

I did a post here about the painting and sanding and sheer volume of work.  I didn't do a post about the start of it, though I did take pictures.


Our house is old and some of the bedrooms have tiny closets. The door is tiny and the width is tiny but the length is crazy. Hangers don't hang straight and the back of the closet is basically unusable. So we decided to take out the door, build the closet out, add some shelves and hang folding doors.


It was a lot of work. Lathe and plaster is fun to destroy, not so much to clean up!


There were so many layers of wallpaper and paint that it took me forever to get it stripped. The trim in this house is beautiful but it too had layers of paint. I got to strip it with a spatula and a heat gun. Because we don't know for sure if there is lead paint (but there probably is) I got to wear B's mask. I don't think I'll ever post a picture of what I look like wearing it. So don't ask!

I also took down the stippling on the ceiling because it was gross. Thankfully that went fairly easily due to the under layer of wallpaper. Really? Wallpaper on the ceiling? Anyway, B rewired the room, added many more plugs (remember a teenager lives here) and also added a ceiling fan/light. This room didn't have a light in it at all so this was a huge improvement.


There you have it. Another room done. We only have about a dozen more to go!




Thursday, June 28, 2012

building the fence - part 1

This is what we did last Sunday...

And now this weekend we get to finish the job. Thank goodness for long weekends! We're going to need it!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Walking the Ex



We went for a wander over at the Ex tonight. It was beautiful out. Windy enough to keep the monster mosquitoes away and sunny and gorgeous. The flowers there are amazing! I'm in love with a salmon coloured peonie and this beautiful red and white one. 



The pup had a blast romping through the tall grass and so did the kid. Some of the grass was as tall as him. Hilarious!



We saw the beaver (he's huge) but we made too much noise and he dove under the pond. I'd like to go back with out the noisy ones and try again to get a picture.



We also climbed trees. It was all a part of completing a geochallenge. I haven't climbed a tree in ages... Have you?






Parade Day


It sure was a beautiful day for a parade. We were numbers 7, 8 & 9 in the parade line up, the 2 Aspen trucks (thanks for coming out Mike and Taryn) and the library float full of kidlets. We had a couple of pirate girls, a knight, a magician and a wizard. I think they had a fun time.

I would've had more pictures but a certain someone wanted company in the truck. Darn! Next year!

we didn't have a magic wand. Gotta love what a stick and some yarn can do!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Imagine

it'll be even better with costumed kiddos blowing bubbles, trust me...


that's the theme for the library float this year. The Superstar and I went to decorate at the arena last night.

B has his truck all washed and ready to pull it. 

Mr. Man and the Superstar have their costumes.

And somehow I got away with voluntelling the whole family and yet I get to sit and watch the parade this year...

Ha, am I a smart one or what?

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Happy Solstice!




Wishing you a happy summer solstice! We're ready for you summer! Bring it on!



Friday, June 15, 2012

after the rain

Last night Mr. Man and I took advantage of a rare bit of sun and went for a walk to the park.

The boy had fun playing...


the dog had fun watching...


and all I could think about was this...


I want to knit socks...

Happy Friday. Hope you have a box full of awesome to look forward to this weekend.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

My first Geocache

I placed my first Geocache on the weekend. It was a nice but super windy day and it took forever for my GPS to pick up the satellite signals.

Anyway I knew from walking the dog through the Veterans Park in our town that I wanted to place a cache there. There's never anyone in the park and it's a really cute little place. The trees and lilac bushes are beautiful and there are quite a few well maintained flower beds. There's some park and picnic benches scattered around too. I think it's a great place to let the kids and dog run and maybe discover a cache at the same time.

If you're not familiar with Geocaching then where have you been?! Follow this link and then watch the video below.



I love this game but I'm not a dedicated player. I like to cache when the snow first melts before all the ticks show up. Now that we have Josie I'm getting over my aversion to ticks. Good thing that, it's a bad tick year and this dog loves the bush! We're always picking ticks off her and each other. Gross...

So I've placed my cache and submitted it to Geocaching.com and it's been published! Yay! This is the link to the cache page. You don't have to be a member to see the page but it's free to sign up (so why don't you?).

I also have a few trackables. Trackables are coins, bugs, or other things that have a serial number that allows you track their movement on Geocaching.com. It's a fun way to get even more involved in the sheer scope of this game. It's worldwide people! This is the cache one of my trackable Girl Guides Coins is in right now. This is the map...


It's in Montreal! I placed it along the Trans Canada Highway with the goal of it travelling the world. Montreal is a world away from Indian Head! I hope it somehow gets carried across the Atlantic. How cool would that be if it made it to Europe and beyond?!

So now I have one hide under my belt and I can think of lots of places to hide a cache in this area. I just need to find some decent containers and a bit of fun swag (stuff to trade). This may be the summer of the Great Treasure Hunt. I better get training the geo-pup!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Take a Look

This what my next few weeks looks like...


I'm  reading this...

And I'm knitting this...


I can't fill you in on the details of this knit yet. I'm doing a test knit for Sharon at CityPurl. She has fabulous taste in knitwear and I was so pleased when this project came up for test knitting. It's going really well. I hope to be separating for the sleeves today. The deadline is July 31st but my library book is due in 2 weeks. I'm going to try finish them both by the book deadline.

Wish me luck!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Welcome to the Jungle

Today the sun is shining after a few days of rain. About the only thing good about the gloomy weather was the chance to get great FO pictures of my latest knits.

I finished this month's toy kal, the Panda and Zebra Hand Puppets from Itty Bitty Toys.


I think these 2 fellas will have great lives at the library. They can help out at story time and play with the kids in the summer program.

I also finished a little blue bird toy for last month's kal. I had a bit of a time getting decent pictures as the days last week were so hot and sunny (I'm not complaining!). So into the hedge we went. If I were a blue bird I would want to spend time in this hedge!


He even turns into an egg. How clever is that?


I've really been enjoying this ongoing toy kal. The next one will be the Princess and the Pea and will run through July and August. I'm excited to make her. I've never knit a doll and the Princess and the Pea story is such a cute one.

photo copyright Susan B Anderson
If you're up to a new knitting challenge join us this summer! The Itty Bitty Board on Ravelry is over 3000 members now. There are all kinds of conversations (threads) going about read alongs (Emma by Ms. Austen), knit alongs (kals like the toy kal, there's 2 sock kals, a mitten and a shawl kal too), and Mel just posted the new summer Swap - Lambs and Jelly Beans. Don't be shy!





Friday, June 8, 2012

Mr. Man is 5!

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today.


Mr. Man:
- thanks for singing everyday
- thanks for all the giggles, even in your sleep
- thanks for defending the house from Zombies, you're very brave
- thanks for making the best dirt rings on the tub
- thanks for being my best knitting FO prop
- thanks for liking sushi and curry and egg plant (don't worry about the onions, we'll keep working on it)
- thanks for loving bedtime stories, I love them too
- thanks for the hugs and cuddles and holding my hand when we cross the street so I can be safe

I'm so grateful to see you grow. Have wonderful day my boy...




Sunday, June 3, 2012

Trade Show

Yesterday was a long day. B and I were at the trade show at 9am and left around 6:30pm. It was a great opportunity to meet and greet with people in town and worth all the sitting around. He had a fun set up (for an electrician) and there was lots of food and conversation. I knit probably 5 inches on my cardi. That alone makes me beyond happy!




When it was all over I sat on the front step with a drink and my knitting. It was quiet and muggy and the perfect ending to my day.




Friday, June 1, 2012

Today we...

did so many things! I had a list. It was short (maybe 5 items) and I actually accomplished everything on it and then some! Here's a few pictures...





So we went to the greenhouse today (just Mr. Man and I) and stuck to our budget and still managed to get a whole lot of lovely growing things. I'm super excited about some white and yellow hollyhocks that I picked up. And the above beauty is a really pretty orange dahlia. I have visions of the flower bed next to the driveway being full of orange and white blossoms. Kind of fitting with the ASPEN colours.

We planted the garden. It went well. Lots of dirt and water (thanks to Mr. Man and the hose). I always find the first planted pictures so promising. Here's hoping we have a terrific harvest of beans and beets, zucchini and tomatoes, carrots and potatoes (and more!) this year!


I have this thing with marking my rows with sticks... but they're not nice sticks... I think the next time I go on a walk with the family (and Josie) I'll hunt for fun gnarly sticks... Every garden should have some character and being a forest lover... well sticks are mine.

I finished a pair of mittens but they're destined to be a gift so I can't post pictures but I can share an in progress photo of my latest cardigan...


This pattern is called Simplicity and it's knit in lace weight. I'm using Tanis Fiber Arts in the colourway Sand. This will be a light cardi to pull on when I feel chilled in the summer evenings. I'm really happy with the colour and the pattern so far. I expect to get lots done tomorrow.

I also signed up for a test knit. It's been years since I've done a test knit. I can't share much right now but I'm so excited about this sweater!!!

So onto tomorrow... We're participating in the Indian Head Trade Show all day tomorrow. B has his ASPEN Electric booth set up and I'll be bopping back and forth between his booth, the Arts Council and the Library booth. We went and set up tonight. His booth is going to be fantastic!





Wish us luck! I'll be back sometime this weekend with the particulars... :)

Little Sheep Virtues

Happy Friday! I'm pretty excited to be sharing this cross stitch project with you all. Pattern: Little Sheep Virtues 1-12 by Litt...