GO CANADA GO!!!!!!!!
Oh so good!
I decided to make chili for supper tonight.
And what goes better with chili than cornbread?
And I just happened to have this brand new cast iron skillet hanging about...
And it's just an ugly rumour that I've eaten 1/4 of it already...
Recipe from the Pioneer Woman, using vinegar + milk in place of buttermilk, and lard in place of shortening.
A sleep-over, and the $500 challenge.
My sister and her family went to Florida for two weeks after Christmas, and Mom and Dad have been puppy-sitting their little Shih-tzu. Since they were having company for supper, cards and a sleep-over last night (staying over is a GREAT idea on New Year's Eve, IMO), I offered to take little Silly Lily for her own sleep-over last night, releasing everyone there from the 3 am potty call :)
My dogs have met her numerous times, and they are all learning how to get along. However, I think they were less than impressed with the sleep-over idea :)
Lily is back with her "Grandparents" now, and it's time to discuss the $500 challenge. It came about from two occurrences:
1. For the last few months, I've been thinking about changing a lot of equipment I use in the kitchen, for more useful, long-lasting and less harmful alternatives.
2. Just before Christmas, I received a $500 year-end bonus from work this year, and have been trying to figure out how to spend it. I could just deposit it in the bank, where it will get absorbed by mortgage payments, reno costs and everything else, but I wanted to spend it in a more thoughtful manner.
How perfect :)
So, this is my challenge:
Every month, I will buy something to replace an article in my kitchen that is made of a material I no longer want to use. I will strive to buy items made in North America, and will only buy items made from stainless steel, wood, glass or any other long-lasting and inert material. The budget for the year is $500.00.
Plastic and Teflon are my main items of concern, especially plastic that is used with hot food. I had, in a small way, started this a while back, having recently bought stainless steel measuring cups and spoons, and colander to replace my old plastic versions. And I have a list of things I want to change - things like plastic cooking utensils, disposable aluminum pie plates, my old plastic electric kettle and plastic food storage containers.
What to start with? Well, I've been wanting this for a LONG time, and it seemed like a good item to start the challenge with!
Why a cast iron skillet?
1. Health concerns over using Teflon vs. health benefits of cast iron
2. The fact that, in 20+ years of being on my own, I have gone through at least 3 sets of "non-stick" frying pans
3. Cast iron lasts almost forever, when treated properly
4. According to my Texas friends (who still haven't blogged about their trip up here, AHEM), this is the ONLY way to correctly make cornbread :)
5. I already have two enamelled cast iron dutch ovens, and LOVE them.
As Lodge makes all of their non-enamelled cast iron in the USA, and is highly recommended by many, many, many people, it was the obvious choice.
Cost: $34.99 plus tax = $39.54
Balance: $500.00 - $39.54 = $460. 46
I suddenly can't wait for February!
_____________________________________________________________
I've created a summary page for the $500 Challenge, which can be found way up there to the right!
MOM! Lily's in our spot!!!!!
She's touching me!
Get her away!!
My dogs have met her numerous times, and they are all learning how to get along. However, I think they were less than impressed with the sleep-over idea :)
Lily is back with her "Grandparents" now, and it's time to discuss the $500 challenge. It came about from two occurrences:
1. For the last few months, I've been thinking about changing a lot of equipment I use in the kitchen, for more useful, long-lasting and less harmful alternatives.
2. Just before Christmas, I received a $500 year-end bonus from work this year, and have been trying to figure out how to spend it. I could just deposit it in the bank, where it will get absorbed by mortgage payments, reno costs and everything else, but I wanted to spend it in a more thoughtful manner.
How perfect :)
So, this is my challenge:
Every month, I will buy something to replace an article in my kitchen that is made of a material I no longer want to use. I will strive to buy items made in North America, and will only buy items made from stainless steel, wood, glass or any other long-lasting and inert material. The budget for the year is $500.00.
Plastic and Teflon are my main items of concern, especially plastic that is used with hot food. I had, in a small way, started this a while back, having recently bought stainless steel measuring cups and spoons, and colander to replace my old plastic versions. And I have a list of things I want to change - things like plastic cooking utensils, disposable aluminum pie plates, my old plastic electric kettle and plastic food storage containers.
What to start with? Well, I've been wanting this for a LONG time, and it seemed like a good item to start the challenge with!
My new Lodge 12" cast iron skillet!
Why a cast iron skillet?
1. Health concerns over using Teflon vs. health benefits of cast iron
2. The fact that, in 20+ years of being on my own, I have gone through at least 3 sets of "non-stick" frying pans
3. Cast iron lasts almost forever, when treated properly
4. According to my Texas friends (who still haven't blogged about their trip up here, AHEM), this is the ONLY way to correctly make cornbread :)
5. I already have two enamelled cast iron dutch ovens, and LOVE them.
As Lodge makes all of their non-enamelled cast iron in the USA, and is highly recommended by many, many, many people, it was the obvious choice.
Cost: $34.99 plus tax = $39.54
Balance: $500.00 - $39.54 = $460. 46
I suddenly can't wait for February!
_____________________________________________________________
I've created a summary page for the $500 Challenge, which can be found way up there to the right!
Resolutions 3.0
So, what do I want to accomplish in 2011?
Well, everything :)
What? To general?? Fine...
First, the house:
1. Finish the upstairs bathroom. Now that the floor is done, the rest can get going!
Specifics:
A. Finish the plumbing.
B. Tape and mud the drywall. I'm going to do this myself, to see it it joins my "can do" list, or my "gladly pay someone else to do" list :)
C. Pick a paint colour, and paint! I LOVE painting, so this is a fun task.
D. Cut, paint, and install the beadboard.
E. Install the shower, sink and toilet.
F. Install the towel rods, etc.
Timing: January 31.
2. Insulate the attic. I've called around to get quotes, which are still coming in. Considering all the money that is escaping in the form of heat through the attic, this is a priority!
Specifics:
A. Finish getting quotes, including calling back those companies where I left a message.
B. Pick a company, and book a date.
C. Get 'er done :)
Timing: January 31.
3. Finish the tear out, insulation and drywalling. I applied for a government grant to assist in updating the energy efficiency of houses, and the deadline is March 31, 2011. You have to have your post-assessment completed by that time, and since it is a common deadline for everyone (as they are ending the program), the assessors are going to be busy, busy, busy. This is complicated by the fact that Dad is going in for surgery in the middle of February (minor hernia, nothing too major, thankfully!)
Specifics:
A. Book the assessment ASAP, but make it for as close to March 31 as possible.
B. Finish the downstairs tear out, including the bathroom.
C. Erect new walls for the bathroom and laundry areas.
D. Insulate and drywall all exterior walls and ceilings.
Timing: March 31.
4. Get the old water heater removed, and the new, on-demand system installed. In addition to being more efficient, the new on-demand systems are INCREDIBLY smaller, and are wall-mounted, and for me, the cost of a new system is worth freeing up that much floor space. The new system will eventually pay for itself as well, saving me $15 a month in rental fees plus the difference in natural gas used.
Specifics:
A. Call the company I "rent" the current heater from, and figure out the process of getting it disconnected and removed.
B. Finish the new laundry area, since this is where the new heater is going.
C. Book the installation of the new heater.
Timing: March 31 (this is part of the grant as well).
5. Fence the yard. The poor dogs have been on tie-outs long enough, and I spent a scandalous amount of money last year getting the yard surveyed so I could get a fence. So, I need to actually get the fence. Of course, it has to wait for the ground to thaw, but I can call around for quotes before then.
Specifics:
A. Figure out where it is going.
B. Get rid of the ugly storage container that is right where the fence will go.
C. Call for quotes.
D. Pick a company.
E. Get the fence installed.
Timing: April 30.
6. The kitchen. Oh, the kitchen. I cannot adequately state how much I despise my current kitchen. There is no room for anything - no room for food, for equipment, for prep work, or for clean-up. It sucks. I've lived with it long enough, and the time has come to replace it! I have already contacted a number of companies, and have decided on which I'll be dealing with (and that is a separate post to come), but there are still things to figure out, of course! And appliances - while my current ones are working and functional, I do want new ones eventually. A new gas stove is first on the list, along with an over-the-stove microwave/fan combination. Also on the list is a dishwasher, and eventually a new fridge, washer and dryer. I'm lucky though, since I live close to an "auction" place that gets a lot of "damaged" appliances (damaged as in "scratch and dent", not non-functioning), that they sell for incredibly reduced prices, and can wait for what I want to come along.
Specifics:
A. Finalize the plan.
B. Tear out the current kitchen and the wall between the kitchen and dining room.
C. Take out the current window, and out in the new one.
D. Finish all drywall, including taping and mudding.
E. Paint.
F. Figure out the floor.
G. Get new gas lines installed for the new gas stove.
H. Get the electrical and plumbing done.
I. Research what I want in new appliances, and start going to the auction house on a regular basis.
J. Get the new kitchen installed!!
Timing: September 30.
7. The downstairs bathroom. It will be completely gutted, and all new fixtures installed. I already have the toilet, vanity and mirror, but need to buy a sink and counter top and bathtub. As well as flooring, lighting, and "bling" - the towel rods, etc.
Specifics:
A. Gut the old room.
B. Plumbing, electrical, drywall.
C. Buy counter top and sink.
D. Buy lighting.
E. Buy towel rods, etc..
F. Buy and install the floor.
G. Pick a paint colour, and paint.
H. Buy a tub - I want a soaker tub, so this is going to be a major purchase.
I. Install everything :)
Timing: September 30.
8. The living room, stairway, hallway, and bedrooms. The worst part, for me, is picking out paint colours :)
Specifics:
A. Finish, tape and mud the drywall.
B. Pick out paint colours.
C. Paint.
Timing: September 30.
9. The house exterior. I need to get the house re-sided, and new eavestrough.
Specifics:
A. Get quotes. Ugh.
B. Get it done.
Timing: Before winter (is that vague enough?).
10. Odds and sods. All the left-over things, like grout sealing, trim work, touch-up paint, living room and bedroom furniture, switch plates, etc.
Timing: By this time next year!
Second, the yard:
1. Expand the vegetable garden. This has to wait until after the yard is fenced.
Specifics:
A. Plan, plan, plan, and then plan.
B. Buy the wood, and build the beds.
C. Get more dirt!
D. Buy and plant the perennials - rhubarb, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries and currents to start...
Timing: Spring.
2. Do a better job with the vegetables this year.
Specifics:
A. Create a calendar for seed starting and planting.
B. STICK TO THE DATES IN THE CALENDAR :))
C. Do better at harvesting, preserving and eating what I grow!
D. Actually keep a garden journal this year!
Timing: On going.
3. Plan the hardscaping for the yard. I need to improve the driveway, install a walkway along side the house, and put in a patio. I'm not sure if it's the budget this year, but I can plan, at least!
Specifics:
A. Plan the specifics, including dimensions and materials.
B. Get quotes.
Timing: December.
4. Plan the flower gardens. I won't do any planting until the siding and hardscaping is done, but again, I can plan!
Specifics:
A. Plan. plan, plan.
B. Start a list of all the plants I want to include in the gardens.
C. Scope out gardens of family and friends, for plants I can steal (okay, take divisions/cuttings from!)
D. Possibly create a "temporary" bed, so I can take advantage of fall sales on perennials.
E. Talk to Town Hall about planting at the front of the property, which is actually town land.
Timing: December.
Third, me and the dogs:
1. The dogs. Seriously, they are getting shafted, mainly due to the renovations, but that has GOT to stop being an excuse. They, other than human family and friends, are the most important things in my life - more important than my job, my house, and my yard. And I have to start treating them according to their importance to me.
Specifics:
A. Daily walks. Short of a broken back/hip/leg/ankle/foot, no excuses.
B. More training. In all honesty, I won't have time for agility again this year, but I can do an obedience refresher course with Kip, and another one with Katy.
C. Daily "trick" training. I have been doing this (and have taught Katy "Over"!), but I need to keep it up, and to add more "tricks", and to get away from the treats!!
D. Nails. Oh, how I hate doing nails. Which explains the state of them! So, from now on, weekly nail trimming sessions. And I may as well add weekly brushing while I'm at it!
E. Teeths! Every time we go to the vets, the one issue she has is their teeth. They aren't in bad shape... yet. And I need to start cleaning them, in order to keep them that way. The vet recommend daily cleaning, and I will try for that, but if I manage three times a week, I'll be happy.
Timing: Ongoing.
2. The job. I really need a new one. 'Nuff said.
Specifics:
A. Update my resume.
B. Keep checking job postings.
C. APPLY!!
Timing: Ongoing.
3. The food. This links into the whole garden resolution, but goes beyond that.
Specifics:
A. STOP EATING OUT. I eat out WAY too much - almost every lunch while working (and again, there are reasons for that, but it needs to stop), and way too many suppers as well. So, it stops now. Exceptions? The occasional meal out with family and friends, and a "Get out of Jail Free" once a month meal, either lunch or supper.
B. Research sustainable sources for meat, dairy, and anything I can't produce myself.
C. At least once a month, find an alternative to a processed food I currently purchase. And blog about it!
D. Do better at menu planning, bulk cooking and eating what I have in the house. I will do a weekly or monthly menu plan (and post it!), and at least one minor meal a week, and a major meal a month, will be a "freebie" in that it will come from food I already have.
Timing: Ongoing.
4. The budget. Oh yeah. The budget. I need one :)
Timing: Ongoing.
5. The $500 Challenge. More details in another post ;) This involves shopping with someone else's money, and so should be fun!
Timing: Ongoing.
Oh, holy wow. What a list!! Seeing it written down is... hysteria-inducing. I also vow to keep better track this year, and am planning on making this post a "Page", and to keep it updated, to see that I am making progress!
So, what are YOUR plans for the new year?
Well, everything :)
What? To general?? Fine...
First, the house:
1. Finish the upstairs bathroom. Now that the floor is done, the rest can get going!
Specifics:
A. Finish the plumbing.
B. Tape and mud the drywall. I'm going to do this myself, to see it it joins my "can do" list, or my "gladly pay someone else to do" list :)
C. Pick a paint colour, and paint! I LOVE painting, so this is a fun task.
D. Cut, paint, and install the beadboard.
E. Install the shower, sink and toilet.
F. Install the towel rods, etc.
Timing: January 31.
2. Insulate the attic. I've called around to get quotes, which are still coming in. Considering all the money that is escaping in the form of heat through the attic, this is a priority!
Specifics:
A. Finish getting quotes, including calling back those companies where I left a message.
B. Pick a company, and book a date.
C. Get 'er done :)
Timing: January 31.
3. Finish the tear out, insulation and drywalling. I applied for a government grant to assist in updating the energy efficiency of houses, and the deadline is March 31, 2011. You have to have your post-assessment completed by that time, and since it is a common deadline for everyone (as they are ending the program), the assessors are going to be busy, busy, busy. This is complicated by the fact that Dad is going in for surgery in the middle of February (minor hernia, nothing too major, thankfully!)
Specifics:
A. Book the assessment ASAP, but make it for as close to March 31 as possible.
B. Finish the downstairs tear out, including the bathroom.
C. Erect new walls for the bathroom and laundry areas.
D. Insulate and drywall all exterior walls and ceilings.
Timing: March 31.
4. Get the old water heater removed, and the new, on-demand system installed. In addition to being more efficient, the new on-demand systems are INCREDIBLY smaller, and are wall-mounted, and for me, the cost of a new system is worth freeing up that much floor space. The new system will eventually pay for itself as well, saving me $15 a month in rental fees plus the difference in natural gas used.
Specifics:
A. Call the company I "rent" the current heater from, and figure out the process of getting it disconnected and removed.
B. Finish the new laundry area, since this is where the new heater is going.
C. Book the installation of the new heater.
Timing: March 31 (this is part of the grant as well).
5. Fence the yard. The poor dogs have been on tie-outs long enough, and I spent a scandalous amount of money last year getting the yard surveyed so I could get a fence. So, I need to actually get the fence. Of course, it has to wait for the ground to thaw, but I can call around for quotes before then.
Specifics:
A. Figure out where it is going.
B. Get rid of the ugly storage container that is right where the fence will go.
C. Call for quotes.
D. Pick a company.
E. Get the fence installed.
Timing: April 30.
6. The kitchen. Oh, the kitchen. I cannot adequately state how much I despise my current kitchen. There is no room for anything - no room for food, for equipment, for prep work, or for clean-up. It sucks. I've lived with it long enough, and the time has come to replace it! I have already contacted a number of companies, and have decided on which I'll be dealing with (and that is a separate post to come), but there are still things to figure out, of course! And appliances - while my current ones are working and functional, I do want new ones eventually. A new gas stove is first on the list, along with an over-the-stove microwave/fan combination. Also on the list is a dishwasher, and eventually a new fridge, washer and dryer. I'm lucky though, since I live close to an "auction" place that gets a lot of "damaged" appliances (damaged as in "scratch and dent", not non-functioning), that they sell for incredibly reduced prices, and can wait for what I want to come along.
Specifics:
A. Finalize the plan.
B. Tear out the current kitchen and the wall between the kitchen and dining room.
C. Take out the current window, and out in the new one.
D. Finish all drywall, including taping and mudding.
E. Paint.
F. Figure out the floor.
G. Get new gas lines installed for the new gas stove.
H. Get the electrical and plumbing done.
I. Research what I want in new appliances, and start going to the auction house on a regular basis.
J. Get the new kitchen installed!!
Timing: September 30.
7. The downstairs bathroom. It will be completely gutted, and all new fixtures installed. I already have the toilet, vanity and mirror, but need to buy a sink and counter top and bathtub. As well as flooring, lighting, and "bling" - the towel rods, etc.
Specifics:
A. Gut the old room.
B. Plumbing, electrical, drywall.
C. Buy counter top and sink.
D. Buy lighting.
E. Buy towel rods, etc..
F. Buy and install the floor.
G. Pick a paint colour, and paint.
H. Buy a tub - I want a soaker tub, so this is going to be a major purchase.
I. Install everything :)
Timing: September 30.
8. The living room, stairway, hallway, and bedrooms. The worst part, for me, is picking out paint colours :)
Specifics:
A. Finish, tape and mud the drywall.
B. Pick out paint colours.
C. Paint.
Timing: September 30.
9. The house exterior. I need to get the house re-sided, and new eavestrough.
Specifics:
A. Get quotes. Ugh.
B. Get it done.
Timing: Before winter (is that vague enough?).
10. Odds and sods. All the left-over things, like grout sealing, trim work, touch-up paint, living room and bedroom furniture, switch plates, etc.
Timing: By this time next year!
Second, the yard:
1. Expand the vegetable garden. This has to wait until after the yard is fenced.
Specifics:
A. Plan, plan, plan, and then plan.
B. Buy the wood, and build the beds.
C. Get more dirt!
D. Buy and plant the perennials - rhubarb, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries and currents to start...
Timing: Spring.
2. Do a better job with the vegetables this year.
Specifics:
A. Create a calendar for seed starting and planting.
B. STICK TO THE DATES IN THE CALENDAR :))
C. Do better at harvesting, preserving and eating what I grow!
D. Actually keep a garden journal this year!
Timing: On going.
3. Plan the hardscaping for the yard. I need to improve the driveway, install a walkway along side the house, and put in a patio. I'm not sure if it's the budget this year, but I can plan, at least!
Specifics:
A. Plan the specifics, including dimensions and materials.
B. Get quotes.
Timing: December.
4. Plan the flower gardens. I won't do any planting until the siding and hardscaping is done, but again, I can plan!
Specifics:
A. Plan. plan, plan.
B. Start a list of all the plants I want to include in the gardens.
C. Scope out gardens of family and friends, for plants I can steal (okay, take divisions/cuttings from!)
D. Possibly create a "temporary" bed, so I can take advantage of fall sales on perennials.
E. Talk to Town Hall about planting at the front of the property, which is actually town land.
Timing: December.
Third, me and the dogs:
1. The dogs. Seriously, they are getting shafted, mainly due to the renovations, but that has GOT to stop being an excuse. They, other than human family and friends, are the most important things in my life - more important than my job, my house, and my yard. And I have to start treating them according to their importance to me.
Specifics:
A. Daily walks. Short of a broken back/hip/leg/ankle/foot, no excuses.
B. More training. In all honesty, I won't have time for agility again this year, but I can do an obedience refresher course with Kip, and another one with Katy.
C. Daily "trick" training. I have been doing this (and have taught Katy "Over"!), but I need to keep it up, and to add more "tricks", and to get away from the treats!!
D. Nails. Oh, how I hate doing nails. Which explains the state of them! So, from now on, weekly nail trimming sessions. And I may as well add weekly brushing while I'm at it!
E. Teeths! Every time we go to the vets, the one issue she has is their teeth. They aren't in bad shape... yet. And I need to start cleaning them, in order to keep them that way. The vet recommend daily cleaning, and I will try for that, but if I manage three times a week, I'll be happy.
Timing: Ongoing.
2. The job. I really need a new one. 'Nuff said.
Specifics:
A. Update my resume.
B. Keep checking job postings.
C. APPLY!!
Timing: Ongoing.
3. The food. This links into the whole garden resolution, but goes beyond that.
Specifics:
A. STOP EATING OUT. I eat out WAY too much - almost every lunch while working (and again, there are reasons for that, but it needs to stop), and way too many suppers as well. So, it stops now. Exceptions? The occasional meal out with family and friends, and a "Get out of Jail Free" once a month meal, either lunch or supper.
B. Research sustainable sources for meat, dairy, and anything I can't produce myself.
C. At least once a month, find an alternative to a processed food I currently purchase. And blog about it!
D. Do better at menu planning, bulk cooking and eating what I have in the house. I will do a weekly or monthly menu plan (and post it!), and at least one minor meal a week, and a major meal a month, will be a "freebie" in that it will come from food I already have.
Timing: Ongoing.
4. The budget. Oh yeah. The budget. I need one :)
Timing: Ongoing.
5. The $500 Challenge. More details in another post ;) This involves shopping with someone else's money, and so should be fun!
Timing: Ongoing.
Oh, holy wow. What a list!! Seeing it written down is... hysteria-inducing. I also vow to keep better track this year, and am planning on making this post a "Page", and to keep it updated, to see that I am making progress!
So, what are YOUR plans for the new year?
It's that time again...
What a year.
It had it's ups, and it's downs. What with a plethora of funerals, and some serious health issues, it seems it's been mostly downs. And in all honesty, if you want to know what insanity is like, renovate your house.
But then, I look at where the house was a year ago, and realize just how much we (well, mostly Dad) have accomplished in the last 12 months.
The entire upstairs was torn out, reconfigured, insulated and drywalled.
The two dying trees were removed in the backyard, resulting in a safer yard, a lot of firewood, and more sun for...
My very first vegetable garden.
We started on the downstairs, tearing out and insulating the living room and dining room, and the ceilings everywhere else.
I got a new roof, figured out I don't like tiling, and started in on moving some windows and the back door.
And of course, most importantly, we added a Katy to the household!
But how did those 2010 Resolutions go?
1. Work more with Kip, especially on agility.
Total fail. Poor Kip. He is such a good dog, and is patiently waiting until I have "more time". I did manage to take a beginners obedience class with Katy, but Kip got the shaft this year in terms of training :(
2. Find a new job.
Epic fail. Didn't even manage to get ONE application out. In 12 months. Must. Do. Better.
3. Food.
Not bad, but not great. I did manage to grow a lot of food this year, in spite of the total failure of the oh-so-promising squash crop (that I haven't mentioned yet, because it still grieves me!). I fell down on the using of that food, however. I severely mis-judged how much time I'd have this year to deal with the harvest of the garden. I did manage to use at least 90% of the tomato crop, making my own salsa, canned tomatoes and sauce, so it wasn't a total loss. I need to plan a lot better for next year, and make time to harvest and preserve the food I grow, instead of taking it directly from the garden to the compost pile. And I did nothing about finding more sustainable sources of food I cannot produce, short of buying all of one dozen eggs from a cousin who has chickens.
Pretty much a failure all around, and of course, I can come up with reasons for all of the above (no time, a crappy kitchen, no time, no time, no time...) but!
All in all, it wasn't a bad year. I just accomplished different things than I planned on :)
Now, on to 2011...
It had it's ups, and it's downs. What with a plethora of funerals, and some serious health issues, it seems it's been mostly downs. And in all honesty, if you want to know what insanity is like, renovate your house.
But then, I look at where the house was a year ago, and realize just how much we (well, mostly Dad) have accomplished in the last 12 months.
The entire upstairs was torn out, reconfigured, insulated and drywalled.
The two dying trees were removed in the backyard, resulting in a safer yard, a lot of firewood, and more sun for...
My very first vegetable garden.
We started on the downstairs, tearing out and insulating the living room and dining room, and the ceilings everywhere else.
I got a new roof, figured out I don't like tiling, and started in on moving some windows and the back door.
And of course, most importantly, we added a Katy to the household!
But how did those 2010 Resolutions go?
1. Work more with Kip, especially on agility.
Total fail. Poor Kip. He is such a good dog, and is patiently waiting until I have "more time". I did manage to take a beginners obedience class with Katy, but Kip got the shaft this year in terms of training :(
2. Find a new job.
Epic fail. Didn't even manage to get ONE application out. In 12 months. Must. Do. Better.
3. Food.
Not bad, but not great. I did manage to grow a lot of food this year, in spite of the total failure of the oh-so-promising squash crop (that I haven't mentioned yet, because it still grieves me!). I fell down on the using of that food, however. I severely mis-judged how much time I'd have this year to deal with the harvest of the garden. I did manage to use at least 90% of the tomato crop, making my own salsa, canned tomatoes and sauce, so it wasn't a total loss. I need to plan a lot better for next year, and make time to harvest and preserve the food I grow, instead of taking it directly from the garden to the compost pile. And I did nothing about finding more sustainable sources of food I cannot produce, short of buying all of one dozen eggs from a cousin who has chickens.
Pretty much a failure all around, and of course, I can come up with reasons for all of the above (no time, a crappy kitchen, no time, no time, no time...) but!
All in all, it wasn't a bad year. I just accomplished different things than I planned on :)
Now, on to 2011...
Door, window, window, door.
One of the major projects left to do is moving the door and three windows in the kitchen and back addition.
Why are we doing this? Well...
Basically, it comes down to "if we are putting this much work into the house, we may as well do that as well".
The small (really small) kitchen has both the electric panel and a window that is located too low on the wall for a counter top to go under it. So, let's swap out that window for the other window in the back wall of the addition, which is longer and shorter. And while we're at it, let's move the panel... right where that other small window is. And then let's make that wall an entire wall of storage space, and move the door over next to that, to make the rest of the space more usable, and give enough room for the new laundry area...
Poor Dad :)
This was the small window in the north wall of the addition. It really was in an odd spot - near the kitchen wall, half way up the wall - just sort of there. Dad tore it out a while ago, and insulated and drywalled that wall. That will be the wall that will be storage eventually, and will have the new electric panel.
The old laundry area, with the oddly-located window. Please ignore the pile of laundry ;)
The window on the back (east) wall of the addition is too close to the wall for the storage area I want, and so, it needed to be moved. The door, right beside it, also needed to be be moved, to allow me to re-configure the bathroom and furnace area into a bathroom, furnace area and laundry area.
Window (which will eventually be relocated in the kitchen)
Door, and poorly-installed hot water heater.
The hot water heater will be replaced by a smaller, wall-mounted, on-demand system, and that area will become the new laundry "closet", complete with a dog bathtub laundry tub.
Today, being a "warm", sunny, calm day, was the perfect day to do some cutting and pasting, so to speak! We started by removing the window, then cutting the new space for the door.
The first cut is the deepest...
You measured first, right?
Ohhh, new dog door?
Dad then moved the door over to the new spot, and erected a temporary barrier.
Can I come out and play?
The view from outside, showing the old and new spots for the door.
And from the inside. A bit more ventilation than I wanted, but it wasn't too cold :)
Dad then put up plywood and tar paper over the open spots, which hopefully will last a few more months until I get the whole house re-sided.
And... done!
Dad will be back tomorrow, to insulate and that will be it for renos this year!
Never again
It is done.
I have now tiled one bathroom floor.
NEVER AGAIN.
I have this thing about not paying someone to do something I can do myself. This attitude has led to some interesting times. Building my own bedroom furniture springs to mind... however, there are also certain things I will gladly pay others to do for me.
Tiling has been added to that list :)
I'm now off to soak my aching body parts (wrists and knees and back, oh my!), and enjoy a VERY large G&T.
Enjoy!
I have now tiled one bathroom floor.
NEVER AGAIN.
I have this thing about not paying someone to do something I can do myself. This attitude has led to some interesting times. Building my own bedroom furniture springs to mind... however, there are also certain things I will gladly pay others to do for me.
Tiling has been added to that list :)
I'm now off to soak my aching body parts (wrists and knees and back, oh my!), and enjoy a VERY large G&T.
Enjoy!
I'm seeing spots...
Dad decided to be a Christmas elf, and come over today and help me with the bathroom floor. I've had the tiles for a while - after a NIGHTMARE trying to find them. I called almost every tile place in the phone book, and the conversation went the same way at almost every place:
Me: I'm looking for black and white hexagonal tiles. Do you carry them?
Store: Oh, yes, of course.
Me: They are NOT the octagonal white tiles with the square black tiles, are they?
Store: No, they are... oh, wait....
Basically, EVERY store knew what I wanted, and yet none of them actually carried it. This is what they have:
NOT hexagonal tiles.
As an aside, there are an amazing number of people out there who do not know the difference between a hexagon and an octagon. Schools these days :)
I made it all the way to the Ps before I finally found a store that could actually order the tile in for me. Since it was a special order, I had to order it by the case, which means I have a lot left over. Anyone want any? Anyone know of uses for extra tiles??
But finally, I got it all laid out and cut, and we started laying it today. I found out while doing the dry fit and cutting that the tiles are not symmetrical, so each tile needed to be laid one way, and one way only, to keep the pattern consistent. I laid everything out, triple checked, and picked them up in order, making sure they all faced the same way in the stacks... so it would be next to impossible to make an error. Ahem. Yep.
All cut and labelled, waiting to be installed.
Dad put down the mortar, I laid the tiles. Gotta love team work!
First two rows! Everything lines up perfectly!
Third row!
Half way there... and no mistakes!
And done! Woohoo!
Oh bloody @%**@&!!!
Neither Dad nor I noticed this, until we looked at these pictures. Fortunately, I decided to do that right after we were done, and it was a quick fix. Yes, that is actually a manufacturing flaw, not a mislaid tile!
Fixed!
The tile is manufactured by American Olean, and, while not really hard to install, I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't done tile before.
Oh, did I mention neither Dad nor I have every tiled before? No? Yeah.
I found it hard to match up the tiles perfectly, for a number of reasons. The biggest? Even though the manufacturer recommends a grout spacing, when you attempt to use spacers that size, you quickly realize the "internal" grout lines are MUCH smaller than the recommendation. So, I did all the spacing by eye. (That also helps to explain the bad area behind the toilet!)
The corner tiles of each sheet are VERY loose, which also makes lining the sheets up hard. In fact, MANY of the ties were loose, leading to almost every sheet loosing 2-3 tiles, if not more, which then had to be placed by hand. I did find some boxes seemed to have a thicker layer of glue holding the tiles onto the mesh - and those sheets were, by far, MUCH easier to work with.
Added to the manufacturing flaws (we did catch one other before laying that sheet), I don't know if I could recommend this tile or not. Over all, I'm happy with it, since it is exactly the look I wanted, but I am a bit disappointed by the lack of consistent quality in the product.
However, I still think I'd buy it again, just for the look!!
And tomorrow, the
Merry Christmas Eve Day!
Well, the 12 Days of Christmas got sidetracked by some great company, the plague they brought with them, and a busy, busy, busy week at work. No big deal, the rest can wait for next Christmas :)
From me and the dogs,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
On the Fifth Day of Christmas...
... my two dogs showed to me:
Five Differences Made:
My local shelter,
Toronto SPCA (Katy's former home),
Heifer International,
Médecins Sans Frontières (aka Doctors without Borders),
and the Canadian Red Cross.
four Festive Favourites,
three Canadian Classics,
two other odd ones,
and the worst Christmas Carol ever sung.
_________________________________
Please take some time this year to give to a charity or organization that speaks to you. Even the smallest donations, like snowflakes, make a difference.
Five Differences Made:
My local shelter,
Toronto SPCA (Katy's former home),
Heifer International,
Médecins Sans Frontières (aka Doctors without Borders),
and the Canadian Red Cross.
four Festive Favourites,
three Canadian Classics,
two other odd ones,
and the worst Christmas Carol ever sung.
_________________________________
Please take some time this year to give to a charity or organization that speaks to you. Even the smallest donations, like snowflakes, make a difference.
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