Weekend Wrap-Up

Disclaimer: This guy gave me his head cold this weekend and I have been hopped up on cold medicine for approximately 24 hours -- I am a little loopy, and take no responsibility for any typos and bad jokes that may ensue. 

This weekend, Jeff brought out the big guns:

We began the ominous task of hanging a new chair rail and assembling our own wainscoting in the dining room on Saturday, and I have to admit -- we felt pretty legit.

Jeff got a miter saw for Christmas, and this was the first time he has used it. It even has a laser.

And yes, I am pretty sure we broke every rule that I ever learned in wood shop by putting this saw in the middle of the room with no eye protection, and me running around barefoot... but we're learning. Jeff is still working on this project, but here's a sneak peek:

I also started painting the trim work in the dining room, and finished taping off in the formal living room and the foyer. I know that doesn't sound like a major accomplishment, but I went through three roles of Frog Tape and it took me all weekend; so, I apologize for needing a moment of recognition.

I am pretty sure that I will be able to paint trim in my sleep by the time we finish this house. And you should get used to seeing photos of the process here, because it will likely be my only project for the next 2-3 weekends. 

In other news, I didn't quite get around to cooking a new recipe this week (like I mentioned here) -- so, one night I poured my butternut squash soup into the crock pot to make myself feel like I had tried something new, and I put my sandwich on a frying pan to heat up. In my book, that is cooking.

School started back on Monday [after a two-month-long winter break] so my system is in shock and slightly resistant to the idea of class and projects and studying; so, bare with me over the next few days as I adjust -- there may be more posts about what I'm eating than about remodeling projects, but I'll try to stay focused, I promised.

Here is a bit of iPhoneography from this week to put this cold-meds-induced post out of its misery:

A heavenly moment after Jeff set up the miter saw:

Jeff being asked to hang work at the pin-up show we went to last night:

The beginnings of my first project this quarter:

 Our date night on Thursday night to see Django Unchained:

 And Toby, on one of our walks this week:

Happy weekend, all.

Here's to hot tea ... and cold meds.

Love,

Ryan

Holiday Spirit

This was Toby after we opened our gifts at the house. He was drunk off the holiday spirit. Can you tell?

Christmas is definitely one of Toby's favorite holidays: (1) because we're home more than usual, and (2) because he gets to go on a car ride. This year, we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Jeff's family, which meant we all got to spend some quality time with Dakota (the one-year-old Glenn family puppy):

Toby is seven years her senior, so needless to say, he was asleep the minute we got in the car to head home. Dakota is all play, all the time. It was actually the first time I really realized how old mature Toby is getting; he was all, "Please just let me just lay here and chew on this bone." -- and she was just like "Play now, chew later, old man." Toby secretly loved the attention, though he'd never admit it.

Anyhow, before Christmas day arrived, we had a few great moments with friends at the house; mainly, we had our annual "latkah night" that I mentioned here.

Our friend Jacqueline takes care of us in the food department always. Not only did she prepare this meal, but she told us the story of Hanukkah while we ate it. She is like the wise Canadian grandmother I never had.

Later that week, I took Jac's latkah recipe and made good ole' fashioned American hashbrowns, turkey bacon, and white chocolate chip pancakes for Lauren, Matthew, and Hudson. It was the biggest meal I have made in the new house, and I was quite impressed with myself -- seeing as I'd never made pancakes or hashbrowns before. Don't judge me.

Here was the scene immediately following the meal:

Even Toby was out.

Honestly, when Toby makes that face, I know all is as it should be.

Speaking of faces; take a look at my reaction when I was opening my present from Jeff.

It was the unicorn of all things magical; a 27" iMac.

That's my "oh-no-you-didn't-but-I'm-so-happy-you-did" face.

I also got this pink Craftsman tool bag. (I am usually not overly thrilled about this level of cuteness, but this was hard to deny.) We bought Dad the traditional red and black one for all of this trips to and from the house. We'll be twins. A little bribery goes a long way, right? 

It was a really great holiday. Jeff received a ton of new tools for the house, and this really hip hand-held console that plays Super Nintendo cartridges from the 80s. (From yours truly, of course.)

Don't let his cool demeanor fool you ... he was pumped.

Leo, on the other hand, was not impressed by the whole holiday experience and tried to escape by crawling into every. single. box. that. we. opened.

Here's to the warm holiday season, and the approaching new year.

Ryan

Weekend Wrap-Up

Our weekend began with my realizing that we have an entire garden a'bloomin' in our back yard, and it  ended with a tree limb a'breakin' in our front yard.

Yep, on Sunday night we came home to our sweet neighbor [unsuccessfully] trying to move a ginormous limb, that came from a tree on our property, out of the road so that she could leave. It was pouring rain and our phone, internet, and cable line had been ripped from the pole and was tangled in the limbs.

Long story short, we are still without means of entertainment and communication with the outside world. So, I'm sitting at a coffee shop down the road, surrounded by college students studying for finals. Never have I ever been more thankful to be on break from school. (I feel the overwhelming urge to pat the shoulder of the girl next to me, and tell her that everything will be okay.)

Anyhow, back to the garden a'bloomin' -- look what I found in our backyard this weekend:

 

 

That last one is a poinsettia. It is right on time as I think the entire bush will be in full bloom come Christmas.

On Saturday afternoon we took part in a wonderful holiday tradition with Jeff's family: sugar cookies.

Every holiday season, the Glenn family gets together with another particularly wonderful family, and they all eat pizza and make sugar cookies. They have been doing this for 30 years, since both sets of parents were wild-twenty-something-year-olds living in the same apartment building. (To my knowledge, they've never missed a year.) It is, by far, one of my favorite holiday traditions; mainly, because of all of the sprinkles that are involved.

According to his creator, the above gentleman was on his way to a golf tournament.

At the end of the night, the cookies are divided among the families. I always cross my fingers and hope that we get all of the green ones. 

I'm told that there is nothing different about the green ones, but I'm not so sure.

Anyhow, Jeff and I also crossed a few things off of our house-list this weekend. About a month ago, we found the louvered doors that separate the foyer from the family room. They were buried in the shed [for who knows how many years] and this weekend we cleaned them, added new hardware, and hung them. I am going to do an entire post on this project, but here's a sneak peek: 

We also managed to finally get the guest mattress and box spring off the floor -- it was "the quickest and easiest project ever" as my dad correctly predicted.

Originally, Jeff had some elaborate plan that involved brackets and screws, but Dad [thankfully] managed to convince him to just get some wooden boards cut down to size...and ta daaaaaaa, our bed grew twelve inches that day.

In other news, we bought a rug for the master bedroom this weekend; and I have to say that it is perhaps the best deal I've ever gotten...on anything...ever.

On Sunday, we ran across this 8'x10' rug at Home Depot on clearance for a $137. What did you say, only $137?? Yes, only $137. We were sold.

We asked an associate if it was in stock, and sadly it was not. However, we also learned that this rug was being discontinued, and wait for it ... that it was actually on sale for $49. After we picked our jaws off the floor we had the associate find the nearest location with one in stock, and we were out the door. Three hours [and one stand-off with a Home Depot manager] later, we were on our way home with a $49, 8'x10' rug. Boom.

Oh, and Toby was at the groomers for seven hours on Sunday getting his hair did for the holidays. He was supposed to get his photo made with Santa Claws that day, but apparently he wouldn't stop chomping at the hair dryer, so they had to let him air dry -- and in turn, we missed Mr. Claws. Toby is so clever.

When we got home, Toby proceeded to chew the blue "Pet Smart" bandana to shreds.

Have a great week, all.

Ryan

Weekend Wrap-Up

Our weekend started off with this little gal's first birthday party. Look how pumped she was about that cake. I can't say that I blame her; I dream of eating cake by the fist full.

With the holidays quickly approaching, we are trying to finish up some projects that have been lingering since we moved in -- that way, come January, we will be ready to tackle our normal-every-day-resolutions, like go for a jog, eat a vegetable, read a book, etc.

For now, here are a few moments from this weekend that are worthy of note.

We have been bare-bulbing-it in the master bedroom for almost 12 weeks. However, I'm happy to report, we finally have lamp shades on either side of the bed.

My office lamp now has a shade as well. I know this doesn't seem like a major improvement, but I've been glaring directly into 40 watts for the better half of three months, so it's a big deal.

Our breakfast room is officially without fruit. I stripped the wallpaper to find primed paneling underneath.

Now, understand that I did this room when Jeff wasn't home -- and besides setting off the fire alarm because of all the steam (true story), I managed fairly well. So, feeling over-confident and super accomplished, I decided to tackle the dining room as well.

Never again.

This wallpaper literally disintegrated under the heat of the steam. I was crushed, so I decided to move on to something I knew I would enjoy -- holiday cards.

We also made a great deal of progress on the master bedroom this weekend.

Updates on our bedroom to come soon. Right now, I have to get to work on this disaster zone:

That's the guest bedroom, a.k.a. the dumping ground. Honestly, it's starting to rival our formal living room, which currently looks like this:

How about that holiday-inspired table cloth window treatment on the left? I am sure the neighbors are pleased...

Anyhow, like I said, I'm going to lock myself in the guest bedroom to try to organize the pile of things we don't know what else to do with. For now, here are some shots of random moments from this weekend that ... er ... I don't know what else to do with:

This guy has an appointment with Santa "Claws" next Sunday. This was the look he gave me when I told him the news.

Happy Monday, all.

Ryan