Now, pictures of what awaited me after work:
New sidewalks -- well on their way!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
What we came home to
Yesterday I posted pictures of what I woke up to.
Now, pictures of what awaited me after work:
New sidewalks -- well on their way!
Now, pictures of what awaited me after work:
New sidewalks -- well on their way!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
House gone CRAZY!
Projects currently under way at the House of Bich:
1. The basement. I learned two things last night as I stayed up until 2 a.m. slathering Drylok (which is basically Home Depot's version of Marshmallow Fluff) on a section of the stripped-down, cleaned-off walls: This project is more ambitious than I anticipated, and boy, is it going to look a million times better when I'm done.
I've actually learned a lot more than that, such as which paint stripper to never ever use again, how long it really takes to get rid of decades of paint, how much better this stuff is already making my basement look, and that a respirator is probably the only thing keeping my brain cells intact.
No pictures yet, as Rich is not allowed in the basement. But they'll be up soon ...
2. Sidewalks! This is what I woke up to this morning.
At first, I was pissed that there was jackhammering before 7 a.m., but I remembered that it's going to be near 90 degrees today and I was sufficiently sorry.
Also, I was thrilled that Rich talked me out of planting trees before this started, because half our lawn seems to be gone. On the bright side, it was shitty anyway; they begin actual installation Monday, after they've torn out the rest of the sidewalks and installed the new curbs. And then I will talk to the landscaper.
Also-also, everyone thank Rich for not being afraid to march out to the Dumpster, talk the boss out of it and demand to know why his secretary kept giving him the runaround, then get a quote and a timeline on the spot ... all for less than what we thought we'd have to pay.
3. Landscaping (a corollary to No. 2). Once the sidewalks are done, we'll have the landscaper put down sod where the trees used to be, plant two trees in a better location, tear out all the detritus -- i.e. what the previous owner thought was "gardening" -- along the side of the house, and get the grass around the new sidewalks going.
4. New dining room table. OK, not a project, but another vast improvement to HoB. It arrives tomorrow (not last week, as I thought). Which means I need to get all the stuff from the basement back into the basement tonight ...
5. Fixing the oven. Also not a "project," per se, but it's broken. Something to do with the gas, pilot light, etc. etc. Good thing it's been too freakin' hot to use an oven these days.
1. The basement. I learned two things last night as I stayed up until 2 a.m. slathering Drylok (which is basically Home Depot's version of Marshmallow Fluff) on a section of the stripped-down, cleaned-off walls: This project is more ambitious than I anticipated, and boy, is it going to look a million times better when I'm done.
I've actually learned a lot more than that, such as which paint stripper to never ever use again, how long it really takes to get rid of decades of paint, how much better this stuff is already making my basement look, and that a respirator is probably the only thing keeping my brain cells intact.
No pictures yet, as Rich is not allowed in the basement. But they'll be up soon ...
2. Sidewalks! This is what I woke up to this morning.
At first, I was pissed that there was jackhammering before 7 a.m., but I remembered that it's going to be near 90 degrees today and I was sufficiently sorry.
Also, I was thrilled that Rich talked me out of planting trees before this started, because half our lawn seems to be gone. On the bright side, it was shitty anyway; they begin actual installation Monday, after they've torn out the rest of the sidewalks and installed the new curbs. And then I will talk to the landscaper.
Also-also, everyone thank Rich for not being afraid to march out to the Dumpster, talk the boss out of it and demand to know why his secretary kept giving him the runaround, then get a quote and a timeline on the spot ... all for less than what we thought we'd have to pay.
3. Landscaping (a corollary to No. 2). Once the sidewalks are done, we'll have the landscaper put down sod where the trees used to be, plant two trees in a better location, tear out all the detritus -- i.e. what the previous owner thought was "gardening" -- along the side of the house, and get the grass around the new sidewalks going.
4. New dining room table. OK, not a project, but another vast improvement to HoB. It arrives tomorrow (not last week, as I thought). Which means I need to get all the stuff from the basement back into the basement tonight ...
5. Fixing the oven. Also not a "project," per se, but it's broken. Something to do with the gas, pilot light, etc. etc. Good thing it's been too freakin' hot to use an oven these days.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Super-secret project!
OK, not so secret, obviously, but I've made Rich promise to not go into the basement until I've finished it.
Wasn't too hard, considering he has to go down there to do laundry ... which he doesn't do anyway.
Saturday morning: Here's where we stood.
Amanda's on her way over to help me clean it, then paint it (Home Depot, here we come!).
What do I want out of this project? Basically, a clean, neat laundry area, and a clean space to put my "office." I've started to get storage in control (accidentally typed "out of control" first -- Freudian slip?) thanks to a shelving unit from Lovely Leeza and The Container Store.
Wasn't too hard, considering he has to go down there to do laundry ... which he doesn't do anyway.
Saturday morning: Here's where we stood.
Amanda's on her way over to help me clean it, then paint it (Home Depot, here we come!).
What do I want out of this project? Basically, a clean, neat laundry area, and a clean space to put my "office." I've started to get storage in control (accidentally typed "out of control" first -- Freudian slip?) thanks to a shelving unit from Lovely Leeza and The Container Store.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Tearing it down
First, before I start getting yelled at for destroying old, beautiful trees, know that:
1. It had to be done. The roots were pushing through the decrepit sidewalk, creating a situation ripe for litigious members of our society to take advantage.
2. The trees weren't as healthy as they might have appeared. Poor trimming and pruning over the years hadn't done them any favors, and every time we had a strong storm, I feared weakened branches taking down the power lines with them (and a few branches had actually grown into the wire).
I'll let Rich tell the amazing story of Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac's assistance in getting our trees taken down for free (township ordinance!). In the meantime, here's the before ...
... and here is the after:
When I got home that afternoon and saw the empty hole in our neighborhood -- of course, the day before was beautiful and sunny, while I arrived home the next day to threatening clouds -- I poured myself a glass of wine, sat on the front steps and mourned a little. What a mistake, I thought.
Everything we could possibly hate about the outside of our house suddenly became very, very apparent.
I did repaint the mailbox post and install a brand-new mailbox; at its base are two sets of Little Lime hydrangeas.
1. It had to be done. The roots were pushing through the decrepit sidewalk, creating a situation ripe for litigious members of our society to take advantage.
2. The trees weren't as healthy as they might have appeared. Poor trimming and pruning over the years hadn't done them any favors, and every time we had a strong storm, I feared weakened branches taking down the power lines with them (and a few branches had actually grown into the wire).
I'll let Rich tell the amazing story of Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac's assistance in getting our trees taken down for free (township ordinance!). In the meantime, here's the before ...
... and here is the after:
When I got home that afternoon and saw the empty hole in our neighborhood -- of course, the day before was beautiful and sunny, while I arrived home the next day to threatening clouds -- I poured myself a glass of wine, sat on the front steps and mourned a little. What a mistake, I thought.
But we have grand plans, and I'm setting up a meeting with a landscaper to help us bring the beauty back to the house. The new sidewalks will be done by the end of the summer, and that will help immensely; we're considering tearing up the grass and putting down sod instead, and we're definitely planting two trees in the front again -- this time, between the house and the sidewalk.
Our next-door neighbor came over and said she was shocked, but in the end, she was pleased -- it'll increase the safety in the neighborhood, and that made her feel better. Us, too.
On the bright side, the township even removed the stumps:
Everything we could possibly hate about the outside of our house suddenly became very, very apparent.
I did repaint the mailbox post and install a brand-new mailbox; at its base are two sets of Little Lime hydrangeas.
Ah, well. We're taking things down to build it back up again -- it'll be ours.
*sob*
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Bich tries to eat ice cream
After a long day of furniture shopping, grocery shopping, yardwork and grilling in the backyard, Bich decided to get dessert. The choice: everyone-goes-to Rita's or local-favorite Colonia Dairy Maid? Bich picks Dairy Maid.
Brooke (thinking of the recent Saturday drive to nowhere past said establishment, which looks awesomely old and classic): Think it's cash-only?
Rich: Who the hell does cash-only anymore? I doubt it.
B (checks Internet, which yields no answer; not convinced): Okaaaaaay ...
20 minutes later, after waiting 10 minutes in line.
R: It's cash-only! Do you have any cash?
B: Of course not!
R and B (blaming each other, choice swearing in car; philosophical debate about "attitude," "you said 'who the hell does cash-only anymore' so it's your fault," etc. etc.)
Bich decides to take equal blame in this disaster; heads to Rita's.
Three seconds after exiting car.
B (signs of food poisoning suddenly make themselves violently clear): Honey ... we need to go ... NOW!
30 minutes later. Walking out of Quick Chek with pint of Haagen-Dazs lemon sorbet in hand.
R: Want to see if Walgreens has anything better?
B: No. No. No.
Brooke (thinking of the recent Saturday drive to nowhere past said establishment, which looks awesomely old and classic): Think it's cash-only?
Rich: Who the hell does cash-only anymore? I doubt it.
B (checks Internet, which yields no answer; not convinced): Okaaaaaay ...
20 minutes later, after waiting 10 minutes in line.
R: It's cash-only! Do you have any cash?
B: Of course not!
R and B (blaming each other, choice swearing in car; philosophical debate about "attitude," "you said 'who the hell does cash-only anymore' so it's your fault," etc. etc.)
Bich decides to take equal blame in this disaster; heads to Rita's.
Three seconds after exiting car.
B (signs of food poisoning suddenly make themselves violently clear): Honey ... we need to go ... NOW!
30 minutes later. Walking out of Quick Chek with pint of Haagen-Dazs lemon sorbet in hand.
R: Want to see if Walgreens has anything better?
B: No. No. No.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Buying furniture
We finally bought a new dining room table!
Yes, we did our part to stimulate the economy, hitting a series of furniture stores in the hopes of finding a Fourth of July bargain. While this set probably won't be our "die with" set (as Mikey might say), we got a good price, we both agreed on it without one of us making a face, and it's the perfect size. It also has a butterfly leaf, so we can entertain a small dinner party without injuring ourselves carrying a leaf from the basement (yes, that happens a lot). The set arrives later this week.
Next up this week? The cocktail ottoman. Finally.
Yes, we did our part to stimulate the economy, hitting a series of furniture stores in the hopes of finding a Fourth of July bargain. While this set probably won't be our "die with" set (as Mikey might say), we got a good price, we both agreed on it without one of us making a face, and it's the perfect size. It also has a butterfly leaf, so we can entertain a small dinner party without injuring ourselves carrying a leaf from the basement (yes, that happens a lot). The set arrives later this week.
Next up this week? The cocktail ottoman. Finally.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Color me
So this got me thinking a bit: How do people choose the paint they use in their homes?
This was a tough process for me, mostly because Rich said to do what I wanted -- ugh, decisions! -- and I had too much time to think about it. But in the end, I wanted the rooms to be different, but they needed to flow into each other; the house is simply too small to show a lot of contrast.
These are the colors that currently cover our walls (all Behr; we're big fans).
1. Cornmeal (living room, dining room, hall).
Does it evoke "cornmeal"? I guess so. I didn't pick based on names, though I'll admit it does make it a lot more fun when you're sorting through thousands of color cards ... so yes, I'm a victim of marketing. Sue me.
2. Twenty Karat (kitchen).
"Twenty karat"? Absolutely not. Bright as hell in the morning? Abso-freakin'-lutely. Come in with a hangover, and you'll blind yourself.
3. Apple Crisp (office).
Um ... we like orange?
4. Manila Tint (stairwell, upstairs alcove).
In no way whatsoever does this hallway say either "school folder" or "Philippines."
5. Maiden Voyage (the bathroom).
Thought process: I thought it was pretty. It also doesn't fit at all in the color scheme of the rest of the house, which is sort of what I was going for. It's bright, it's water-y, it makes white pop. Works for me.
6. Flint Smoke (guest bedroom).
Hmmm. Flint, smoke ... flint smoke. When we got the color on the walls, it surprised us by not being at all what we expected. I was going for a deep gray, but I got this sort of bluish gray, which is fine, but next time, I'll go for something named "Depression," perhaps, in order to get what I want.
And there is, of course, some Shale Grey waiting for our bedroom; we loved it so much in Edgewater, we wanted to use it again. Of course, it's now been a year, and our bedroom is still a muted vomit color. Same goes for the porch, but I'm not touching those walls until we get the windows replaced.
This was a tough process for me, mostly because Rich said to do what I wanted -- ugh, decisions! -- and I had too much time to think about it. But in the end, I wanted the rooms to be different, but they needed to flow into each other; the house is simply too small to show a lot of contrast.
These are the colors that currently cover our walls (all Behr; we're big fans).
1. Cornmeal (living room, dining room, hall).
Does it evoke "cornmeal"? I guess so. I didn't pick based on names, though I'll admit it does make it a lot more fun when you're sorting through thousands of color cards ... so yes, I'm a victim of marketing. Sue me.
2. Twenty Karat (kitchen).
"Twenty karat"? Absolutely not. Bright as hell in the morning? Abso-freakin'-lutely. Come in with a hangover, and you'll blind yourself.
3. Apple Crisp (office).
Um ... we like orange?
4. Manila Tint (stairwell, upstairs alcove).
In no way whatsoever does this hallway say either "school folder" or "Philippines."
5. Maiden Voyage (the bathroom).
Thought process: I thought it was pretty. It also doesn't fit at all in the color scheme of the rest of the house, which is sort of what I was going for. It's bright, it's water-y, it makes white pop. Works for me.
6. Flint Smoke (guest bedroom).
Hmmm. Flint, smoke ... flint smoke. When we got the color on the walls, it surprised us by not being at all what we expected. I was going for a deep gray, but I got this sort of bluish gray, which is fine, but next time, I'll go for something named "Depression," perhaps, in order to get what I want.
And there is, of course, some Shale Grey waiting for our bedroom; we loved it so much in Edgewater, we wanted to use it again. Of course, it's now been a year, and our bedroom is still a muted vomit color. Same goes for the porch, but I'm not touching those walls until we get the windows replaced.
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