Another Damage Pic

NY Spring 092
Originally uploaded by emmasdaughter

Here is a shot taken by the Boyfriend from directly beneath the damage. I was too afraid to straddle the tree to get a shot like this as the other half of the tree is still whipping around in the wind!

Evidence of the Damage!

NY Spring 087
Originally uploaded by emmasdaughter

This is the corner of my house. A mere 1 and1/2 stories up from where I was sitting at the time of the incedent. My poor house was hit. I am sure it was friendly fire as my neighbor is not home and did not have the slightest idea that her tree was ready to topple in my direction. All I can say is that I aged 20 years in 2 seconds. My poor Jezzie won't come into my little room. She it too afraid of the next one falling. I don't want to be in my little room!

Collateral Damage

My neighbor's tree was a victim of a wind gust. It was a huge, beautiful old pine that shaded my yard nicely and allowed my ferns to grow without fear of the sun.

Yes, my neighbor's tree was a victim of a wind gust and my house received collateral damage. Will get pics when the wind dies down enough that I am not taking my life in my hands to snap them. Poor tree...My Poor House!

An Almost Finished Room!

Last weekend, amidst the gardening, outdoor play and general weekend frivolity, the dining room was painted and the furniture moved in.

It is done, or close enough that I can show it to you.

Just to refresh your memory, the above pics are the "before" shots of the room. Pretty bad, right?

We spent months tearing out the old wall paper. It go to be a regular part of the entertainment we provided to guests. They loved it! (sure they did) It did become a game though. If someone saw a corner of the paper lifting up, they would walk by and pull it. At first I would express my disapproval and try to discourage said behaviour. But, after a while, there were so many strips of wall paper missing and so many loosened corners that I gave up. Made my life so much easier when I just joined in the game.

Over the holidays, my kids paid a visit from out west and they joined in the game as well. After Thanksgiving there was so much wall paper scattered about the floor that Jack had his own practice hunting grounds. He would hide beneath the paper and await the next unsuspecting dog or human with bare feet to wade through. Occasionally his patience would pay off with a yelp from Jezz or a screech from me.

I digress. This is supposed to be about the finished room.

And, I present....drum roll please...
This picture is looking toward the pocket doors and into the front parlor
The top "before" picture shows the corner of the front room with the pocket doors. (just for perspective, k?) The desk in the front is my little secretarial that my son is using for his computer because we kicked him out of the next blitz attack room. Won't be staying. But, all that aside, it is sitting in the location of the corner unit that the Boyfriend won't allow me to bring back into the room. Sadness on my part.

The above pic is the same view as the second picture above, minus the 1960s re-muddle "tried to make a built in cupboard" monstrosity.

This is what greets you as you walk from the kitchen into the dining room.

What is left do finish?

Look above the table. Yes, that hidieous light fixture is so outta there! It will be replaced with this beauty!

And, the rug, yes the one with the dog on it, needs to be much, much larger. Looking around for an Art Deco style 12'x16'. That would leave about 1.5' of hardwood showing on the sides and about 2' of hardwood at each end.

What did I learn from this room?

The first thing would have to be Use Benjamin Moore Paint! It took only 1 and 1/2 gallons to do these walls! The bedroom upstairs took 3 gallons of Valspar to cover fewer square feet.

And, when decorating, don't ask the Boyfriend what he likes. It ends up in a disagreement, no matter what.

There you have it! Another one down in the American Foursqaure!!!

Dining Room

This weekend is paint the dining room weekend. I hate deciding on paint colors because the Boyfriend and I can never agree. We always stand at the paint chip displays and argue until I am in tears and he is in a rage. Why is this? It should be easy...but nooooo.

Anyway, this weekend is the painting of the dining room. I want a simple, 1920s/30s look leaning toward French Country. Nothing formal. Nothing over done. He wants something leaning toward the Victorian era. Ornate. Formal. Frilly. How can this be?

The dining room furniture that we currently own is definitely French Country. I love it. I will win out on this one...money talks! Who wants to go purchase a new table when the one we have is just fine.

Listen to me! I can start an argument without him. How silly.

At this point the dining room is bare walls. The old wallpaper has been stripped away. The cracks have been plastered. The floor is covered in red contractor paper to protect the newly finished hardwood. The pocket doors are pulled back into their pockets to protect them from paint spatter. It is a bare canvas, awaiting the artist's brush. I think I will let him decide on the paint colors. Then I can decide on the new lighting and artwork for the walls. Maybe I can get away with that.

I shall leave you with the above before pictures. After the work is complete, an after picture will adorn these pages.