Ugly Duckling

Did you all have that awkward adolescent stage? You know, the one that involved white blobs of pimple cream on your blemishes? Well, I think my craft room is going through that acne scene right now.

I'm finally getting around to painting all that orange pine, but it's taking a lot of prep first. All the knots have to be primed with an oil based sealer, or they will bleed right through the finish coat. After hitting the worst spots, my poor room looks like a gangly teenager. It's definitely looking worse before it looks better. But I have confidence my ugly duckling will be a little swan one day soon.

Pretty baubles

Finally! After almost two years, the guest room chandelier is up!

Up, but not quite completed. This is the project that keeps on giving.

It was never really a priority, but the chandelier was getting dustier and dirtier languishing out in the shop. Jeff hesitated about replacing the existing ceiling fan, figuring that any male guests would prefer a breeze over a beautiful fixture. But since it's cool weather now, he agreed to give the chandelier a trial run. Who knew it would be such a pain to hang?

I bought this vintage, very heavy, very quality chandelier used. And I thought I got all the parts with it. But it turns out the mounting strap was missing. No problem, we have extra around. Except the threaded nipple for the chandelier is a big, heavy duty one, not the standard dimension for our mounting strap. So we decided to switch the nonstandard nipple out for a regular one we had on hand. But then we couldn't get the extra thick wiring through the new, narrower one. So Jeff had to remove some little plastic ends and try again. Success! Only then, we had to change the canopy cover because the nipple wasn't long enough for the original canopy. Okay, I have some extra canopies around, too. Just spray paint to match and go.

But wait; the extra heavy duty chain links are really difficult to open. No problem; we can use one of the 1/8" quick links from our miscellaneous fasteners box as a substitute. Another spray paint job and we're ready. Uh oh; the 1/8" link doesn't open wide enough to fit onto the heavy duty chandelier links! A trip to the orange big box store results in a 3/8" quick link that is big enough. But it needs a coat of spray paint, too. No problem; quick spray, fan assisted drying, and we're back in business. Not so fast! Now the canopy cover can't fit down over the chain links to give Jeff enough room to complete the wiring.

At this point, I'm ready to call it quits! It's been two weeks with a ladder and electrical and lighting parts scattered over the guest room. I'm starting to think the old ceiling fan was meant to be. But ever patient Jeff persists and manages to wire the fixture up with just a few inches of room to work. Surely we're home free! But after screwing in the bulbs, several of the lights flicker ominously. So Jeff takes the sockets apart and discovers that an important rivet is too loose to make a good connection. None of the big box stores carry the replacement candelabra socket size we need, so now we're waiting on special order ones to arrive.

In the meantime, Jeff let me leave a few bulbs in the sound sockets and I step in and flick on the switch every now and then for a little chandelier goodness. It's enough to see me through to the end of the project!

Weekend Work

I know it's been months since I mentioned the downstairs bathroom renovation (you remember, this post?). I haven't posted more about it because...nothing's happened! Well, I've been getting quotes, making measurements, gathering more materials, etc. But only in the last few days have we committed ourselves.

That commitment came in the form of destruction. Once you start tearing something out, you really have to keep moving forward! We wanted to do this in the most tidy and methodical way, so it's slow going. We're using a Dremel tool with small drywall bit to cut out the shower surround and tub. Thankfully, it's a two piece model, so it shouldn't cause too much damage to the existing walls to get it out. Our plumber is tied up with a few other jobs before ours, so that buys us some time. We decided to go all in and have the toilet moved over (which involves breaking up the concrete) and vanity re-plumbed also, not just the shower. So the work involved is a little more extensive (and expensive ;-), but it should be worth it!

Bit by bit! We went through five or six bits just to cut all the way around the tub and surround

The Right Tools

As particular as I am about using the right tools in home improvement, I'm learning the right tools for every job are worth it.

I usually neglect getting my hair cut until it's too long and heavy for a basic claw clip. Then I make a trip to my trusted (but underutilized) stylist and ask her to work her considerable skill on my messy mane. This time, I mentioned that I'm long overdue for a new hairbrush and blowdryer, so she offered her expert opinion. She was able to give me quite a few pointers on size, bristles, wattage, attachments, everything I needed to know. She even demonstrated the best techniques, too. Not that I can put them into practice as well as she can, but it's worth a shot.

Her styling left my hair looking great for three days! I usually can't even get out of the bathroom before my roots are going flat, curl is falling out, kinks are working their way in, etc. She barely used any product, my hair smelled great, never got greasy, and didn't needed a brush or comb in the morning. Even Jeff kept commenting on how nice my hair looked. I guess going with pro advice, quality products, and topnotch equipment applies to hair renovation as much as home renovation!

It may not look like much, but this is the end of day two and my hair is still curled under! I was certainly pleased.

Cat Chat

What is in that tummy? Jeff and I know Schrodinger has been killing a lot of rodents lately. Mostly mice, as we have seen him toying with them in the backyard (or "the killing fields", as Jeff calls them now ;-). I hate the method, but it's a necessity with a barn, shop, animal feed, and pet bedding around. Mice and rats are just part of country life. Dinger did get a baby chipmunk the other day, which we rescued twice, but eventually the cat prevailed.

I wondered what was becoming of all the carcasses, but we finally learned their fate today. We were doing some gardening and saw Dinger catch, kill, and consume a large field mouse from start to finish. It was horrible, but that is the present nature of animals. I was just amazed that he really ate the entire thing, with the exception of what appears to be the stomach. He has left those on our door mat two or three times already. It's either the best part he's gifting to us, or, being a cat, likely the worst part he doesn't want to eat!

Photos Finally!

Photobucket and our old, slow, glitchy computer have conspired to make life difficult, so it has taken me forever to get our Ireland photos uploaded. Better late than never! Here are some highlights: