Summer Stuff

Can't believe how fast the summer is racing by.  Haven't had the paddle board out even once.  The house building is keeping us very busy, and all the other projects that go along with building. One thing I am so very, very thankful for is my son's graduation from the University of Edinburgh with his Doctorate of Philosophy.  They have an upcoming move to Cambridge, England for a 2 year position with the Tyndale House Research Library.  I hope to make a few visits while they are there.

Of course a graduation ceremony in Scotland calls for a kilt!

So thankful for my sweet daughter in law, who has worked so hard keeping up with the household and kids so he can study and complete this milestone.  She deserves congrats also.

Finally made a decision on the kitchen island and vanities for the new house.  We are going with knotty hickory with a driftwood stain.  Its a bit rustic, but we really love the look.

Right now the plan is a wood look tile for the bathrooms.  A contrasting color to the real hardwood in the other rooms.

So many decisions -- hardware, brick, shingles, etc.

Our brick is called Brompton by Acme.  We plan to use a buff mortar, and I really like the contrast of a roof shingle by Certainteed called Driftwood.

Almost all the walls are up.  Still to do the bonus room.  Trusses are late coming, hopefully this week we will see them going up.

So that's the status with our household.  Not any sewing getting done lately, but I'll get back into it when we move.  I still need to go through my sewing room to purge and organize.

It's coming up!

We are so excited.  My quilt studio -- is going to be awesome.  It is on the right back corner of the house and is bigger than any other single room.  :)

This is another view of it.  That big picture window is going to be great for letting in lots of light to sew by.

Garage entrance.

 Looking from the kitchen into the great room, dining room, front door, and hallway to bedroom and quilt studio.

We are just so thankful that we are able to build our forever home.

Paint, paint and more paint

I finished up the dining room set by doing the buffet also. I am thrilled with the results.

 I made the first pictures before I went back and filled in a little DIY taupe colored wax in the carvings.  I like the way it highlights them.  Although I think if I can find a light tan or taupe sharp point marker it would be better.  I'm afraid the wax might dry out.

I also tackled the old end tables in our living room.  When we built this house 16 years ago all of our wood furnishings were a mahogany reddish color. I'm enjoying refreshing them.

The hardware was spray painted black.

Over this past weekend I progressed to the two night stands in our bedroom.  There's that dark red wood again....

 Tops are stripped and bottoms chalk painted and distressed.  New hardware.

 I was kind of afraid it wouldn't be the same color as the king bed I built a couple of years ago, and it wasn't.  However, I like the creamy/hint of gray color (BM White Dove) in the night stands so I will be giving the bed a new coat of paint soon.

The new house will have a medium brown oak floor. The stripped wood is going to look so much better with that floor than the red stained wood.

Left to do is the big TV cabinet in our bedroom.  I dread it.  It is so huge. People say you can't give these things away now, but we have a 32" TV inside and use the interior drawers as a dresser.  I'd like to sand off the stain on the inside drawers and paint the rest. All the insides will show so I'll need to paint it all.  Can't imagine trying to strip/sand off the stain on all of it, although that would be my preference.

 It's a nice piece but that red stain.

 The inside won't be easy, but I think I can do it.  I've got new knobs like the night stands for it.

The thing is solid oak and weighs a ton.  I'll have to do it in the house which, again, won't be easy. The color doesn't look so red in these pictures, but back up to the comparison with our new floor and you see it.So yeah, I'm going a little nuts with all the white chalk paint around here, but I want the new place to be lighter and brighter.  The 'refreshing' saves me money on new furniture. I hope to add a few new or new to me pieces but not many. 

Chalk Paint

It's coming along.  A few more coats of polycrylic on the top, then some wax......

Update 6/24 am:  finished the table and chairs last night.  My hands and wrists are so sore, but worth every ache.  Although I am very pleased with the results, the polycrylic left brush marks on the table top.  I think I'll try to sand it smooth and then repaint and maybe just wax or do something to minimize the marks.

 The before and after (let there be light!):

I think I've picked Chelsea Gray, a medium warm gray, for the buffet.  Gonna have to let my hands rest a few days before I tackle more painting projects.

Busy, busy weekend!

I made my second farmhouse tray using leftover wood from my king bed project of a couple years ago.  I am in love with these trays.

Finished up the One Block Wonder from the panels purchased at Handcock's.

From this:

To this:

My younger running friend talked me into a 5k race today.  It was so hot and humid.  Thought I was dying.

 She beat me by about 7 minutes and then came back out to run to the finish with me.  Sweet friend!  She was encouraging me to keep it up!

 She won first in her age group, her little boy won first in his age group.  And I got second in mine. Well, actually first, but they gave the first place medal to a woman who didn't do the whole race. I don't know if she didn't realize she didn't do the whole race, or she did and cheated.  They did not have volunteers directing people on the race path, so I'll assume she just didn't know.

Later, fixed a healthy supper for me and the hubs.  He's got to watch his sugar, and I need to watch my cholesterol. Salmon, roasted veggies, brown rice.

Then, because all my sewing is done and I have projects galore waiting on me, and because it was too hot to work outside, I started on the chalk paint dining room project.  Love it so far, but it is going to take me a while.  These chairs have a lot of nooks and crannies and they will take 2-3 coats plus the polycrylic finish.

The chairs are not antiques, but reproductions made in China.  I like them, but wanted to update and give a fresh look for our new home.  Of course, not spending money on furniture (except for paint) was the best motivation to do this project. Can't wait until it is done.

And, I think this is the coolest thing ever......a good friend of ours sent us this picture, taken by his drone. Our new home site.  Footers are poured and everything is ready for the blocks to be laid next week.