The Upstairs is Complete!

     We have officially declared the upstairs complete!  Last week Cassidy and I tore apart the upstairs bathroom, added moldings, replaced baseboards, refinished the vanity, and painted (and painted, and painted).  It's only a bathroom, why did it feel like it took forever to paint?  And why is it when you're working on a bathroom it always feels like you're hugging the toilet?  (Between painting the plumbing behind the toilet, replacing the baseboard behind the toilet, painting the wall behind the toilet, painting the trim behind the toilet, and chasing runaway screws behind the toilet - they always go back there - I think I spent at least a day behind the toilet)   We were trying to surprise Jim but we didn't get it done before he got home that Friday - so he got to hang the lights and replace the faucets.  Cassidy picked the color - it was a pretty good compromise and seemed to go with the bone colored shower and toilet, the gray colored ceramic tile floor, the cream colored trim and the yellowy colored counter.  We decided that a black cabinet would look better with that yellow tinted cultured marble vanity top than the cream color and  we found glass knobs to give it a vintage look.  We didn't replace the flooring because it is fairly new, and we didn't have the budget or the ambition to tear out the shower - which is also in good shape.  All in all we're pretty happy with our "lick and a prayer" makeover.

Bath before - don't miss the oak toilet seat!

Like the wallpaper border?

Ta-dah!

The Lake - FINALLY

 At the back of our property is a very over-grown fenceline, and on the other side is a lake (or large pond).  When we moved in there weren't any leaves on the trees so we could see the lake - now it's an overgrown mess and we can't see it any more - at least we couldn't - until Jim's sister came to visit.  Linda, Jim and I worked for a few hours on Memorial Day and cleared about 50 feet of fenceline (or falling down fenceline).  Thanks, Lin.

The only problem with this little project is that we now have a very large burn pile (or as Brennan calls it, a bunny hotel)................this includes about 3 large dead trees and lots of little trees and brush. 

It's pretty much just a drop in the bucket, but it's so nice to drive up to the house and see that clearing.