Slow movin'

I haven't updated much recently because it doesn't seem like much is changing at the house these days. We're slowing chipping away at little projects. Paul added the rest of the door handles to our kitchen cabinets yesterday. We used these great IKEA handles (without the round discs on the back.)


Paul also trimmed the trees out front, which means you can walk in the front door without being brushed on the head with pine branches. Nice.

And this week, a painter is working to paint our entire main living space in Glidden Gentle Tide.


It's exciting to have the wall color in the works, but the house is in shambles once again. Paul said it perfect last night: There's ANOTHER DeWalt radio in our living room.


It's the quintessential sign of the state of things at our house.

In the meantime, we're only eight weeks 'til D-Day - yikes! The baby's room is currently packed solid with odds and ends from the living room, and boxes of gear from last weekend's baby shower that I haven't begun to open. Amid all of the chaos, I've adopted a new mantra: we will be ready in time...we will be ready in time...

Advice from the pros...

Many of you know, I absolutely LOVE the style of Sherry and John from This Young House. When I was torn about the decorating advice for our living room/dining room/kitchen area, I called on them for help. Here's what they came up with:


Thoughts? Comments? Additions? I'm off to get paint samples tonight, and will hopefully hire a painter by the end of the week. (With all we've got to do before baby arrives in only 9 weeks, it's time to start out-sourcing a bit!)

Apartment before shots...

For dramatic effect, scroll down to see the afters...

Craigslist rules!

Not only does it have great deals on stuff you need - it's great for getting rid of stuff. This week alone, I've gotten rid of two old sinks and five bushes that I want to remove from our yard. And for the bushes, the recipient is going to dig them out herself. How great is that?!? Next up, the wooden pallets in our driveway.

Apartment finished!

We put the final touches in last night on the one-bedroom apartment under our house, and our first tenants move in today! (This is part of the whole scheme we have to cover our ridiculously expensive Ithaca taxes. Seriously, property tax is cheaper in NYC.)

Paul put A LOT of time into this place - painting all of the kitchen cabinets and laying new floor in the kitchen and bathroom. There's also new light fixtures throughout, and paint on the walls. With the carpets cleaned, it looks like a completely different place. Check it out.

Shiny new kitchen


Spiffy bathroom


Happy Paul