Where have I been?

So, yeah, it's been awhile. But I've been busy! Finishing the basement, carting kids, painting pictures, making pillows, the list goes on and on. But here I am with so many new things to show you, and no way of showing them. This development is courtesy of Thomas, now almost 2 1/2. One fine day several months ago he decided to teach Mommy a little lesson: Don't leave pricey things out where I can get them. This was taught when he, rather dexterously, threw my digital camera off the balcony, through the light fixture, onto the hardwood floor one story below, with a rain of shattered glass. Needless to say, the not-so-old Kodak Easy Share isn't sharing so easily these days, so now I'm going to have to talk about an old project (that I already have pics of) and not a new fun one (that I don't).

So I present for your viewing pleasure and honest critique: My Powder Room, version 2.0.

Upon moving into our house circa 2004, I painted the room fire engine red (several coats, I might add). I loved it! Then the pitiful pedestal sink started worming under my skin and I knew something had to change. A visit to the local Parade of (Really Expensive) Homes was all I needed for inspiration. My friend Lindsay and I wandered into a laundry room (which was larger than my kitchen...) and there it was. A galvanized washtub converted into a sink.

Fast forward about two weeks. A pile of scrap lumber, a $9.00 washtub from Lowes, and many coats of leftover paint produced this:



The stand was made from lumber I had around the house. I didn't have to buy a single piece. I spent about $20 on the plumbing, for the drain cover and p-trap. $4.50 on the towel bar. I found the faucet on E-bay for around $90. Its a Price Phister , I think. I love the detail of the simple, utilitarian towel bar. Anything more decorative would have been like putting lipstick on a pig. So all told, I have about $125 in this complete bath remodel. Not bad.

The soothing aqua paint color is a welcome respite from the jarring red of the prior version, and a more suitable companion for the coastal inspired decor in the rest of the house.

Note the cute picture over the toilet? It's my Dad. He looks so much like my Zachary, I had to hang it. The picture you can't see on the other wall is even cuter, and I have to share:
Also my Dad.

I am lucky to have a plethora of vintage pics of my Dad's family framed and around the house. I don't even know who is in half of them, but I love them anyway.

I thought he would be honored that I was displaying his image for all my friends to enjoy, but his only comment was "Great. Now everyone will think of me while they take a crap." Well spoken, Dad.

Yeah for me!!

Here I go into the world of blogging. Never mind that a few short months ago I didn't know that blogging was a word, let alone a hobby and means of communication. Please don't expect too much. I don't write as well as my Mother. I am not as witty as my sister. I'm not even sure what I have to say is interesting to anyone but me.

The purpose of this blog is to put my (sometimes hair-brained) decorating and design ideas out there in the world. Perhaps this will satiate some creative need and slow me down just a bit. I have a tendency to get ahead of myself, especially when left on my own for too long, like when my husband, Brian, is off on another trip around the world for work. For now I'm going to start with a series on "Stuff I've built all by myself". These posts will be in no particular order, just how they come to me. First up to bat is my new outdoor kitchen. My latest labor of love and necessity.

If you speak to someone living here in Golden, Colorado, they will tell you stories of a vindictive wind that blows away everything in it's path with tornadic force. You will think to yourself "Such exaggeration, such a wind cannot exist outside a trailer park in Kansas". Let me assure you, it is real. After blowing off the back patio for the eighth time, we put the not-so-old but beat-to-Hell stainless steel JennAir grill on Craigslist to find it a new home. Thus leading to the purchase of the shiny new barbecue. In the interest of not repeating this exercise Brian suggested I "build something" to protect the new investment from the same fate. This is what was born of that comment...

About $600, two weeks of blood, sweat and tears, and the patience of an adorable 20 month old is all it took. Now if my hands would stop hurting!

Note the cute little rolly-cart thing I designed for the very heavy fire pit. It is almost my favorite part of the whole project! Oh, and another testament to the wind is the pile of firewood for said fire pit that used to be the swing set. After that blew over the second time, it was sacrificed to the chop saw making way for a lovely new basketball court...