My Old New House

In the pink.

My attic is now pink.

From wall to wall, as far as the eye can see... pink.

And I am so happy! This is the first time since I bought the house that it is adequately insulated. The crawl space is insulated, the vast majority of the wall space is insulated (and what is left to do actually has old batt insulation, which will do for now), and finally, the attic is insulated!! I went with blown-in fibreglass, for ease of installation and R-value: 18" has given me an R-value of 50, which is better than the previous scant foot that was there before we pulled the ceilings down!

Dad cobbled together this box for the attic access hole, and insulated it with some "scrap" insulation, kept in place with the old rope bits from the sash weights we found in the walls, left when all the original windows were replaced. I've been wondering what to do with all those weights, but this isn't the first, nor the last, time the rope has come in handy!

The only problem with the access hole - it's not perfectly square. So, putting the box into the hole was... challenging :)

This way...

Maybe this way...

Third time's the charm?

That dark strip of wood? And the parts that go into the attic to form the "walls" around the access hole? Scrap wood from my old, built-by-me bedroom furniture. Best $200 I've ever spent, I think - that gave me a headboard, two bedside floating shelves, and a surround for my old TV, and most of the wood has now been re-used in this house. I love recycling :)

And I cannot wait to see what my gas bills will be now!

Double fail.

As hard as I find it to make the "finished" picture in my head a reality when it comes to decorating, I find it about a million times worse to pick out paint colours.

Hence the Mint Green Bathroom of Doom in one apartment (and yes, this is why most landlords do not let tenants paint. Sorry about ruining it for the rest of you.)

I need to pick out a paint colour for the upstairs bath, since the rest of the renos are pretty much on hold until that bathroom gets finished, and the bathroom can't get finished until I paint.*

I want a pale aqua for the walls, and white on the bead-board and all the trim. The perfect colour of aqua, that I know is out there, and it somewhat in style right now.

A pale aqua.

Not too green, not too blue, not too light, not to dark, not too grey.

(Goldilocks ain't got nuttin' on me when it comes to being picky.)

I've been to paint stores.

I have dozens of paint chips.

I still can't decide. So, I decided to go shopping, to look for something, anything, in the colour that is in my head, to make it easier to pick out a paint chip.

I went to three stores today after work, and finally - the PERFECT shade. And, in a hand-towel! (Can you say "Accessory"?).

I come home, and as is my habit, get out of my work clothes and into my "jammies"**. I take off my shirt, and look at it. Guess what colour it is? No, really, go ahead and guess...

Then I come on here, and look at the main colour of the blog...

Double fail.

I still don't know exactly which colour I'll end up going with, but at least I've narrowed it down. But really - look at the minuscule differences between all those paint chips - no wonder why it's hard!

Those are Benjamin Moore paint chips, in case anyone wants to help me pick out the perfect shade :)

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* in all actuality, the bathroom can get finished before painting, but it would mean taking a lot of it apart again to paint, so it's a LOT easier to paint before installing the shower, toilet and sink.

** A sweatshirt over flannel pyjama bottoms. No, I do not leave the house dressed like this, except to take out the garbage.

Why I put my cart before the horse.

One of my major headaches with this reno (and with life in general) is that I have a picture in my head of what I want the end result to be, but I have a hard, if not impossible, time trying to make that picture a reality.

Like trying to get the bathroom floor tile - I knew what I wanted, knew it existed, and even knew it was still being manufactured, but had a horrible time trying to find a place that sold it.

So, I tend to buy things before I need them, since I know from past experience that if I wait, the item will be gone, out of stock, discontinued, etc.

And all of the above is the justification for why I have already bought my kitchen tap (okay, there was no worry it would be discontinued, but it was on sale!). And why I had the lights and towel bars, etc. for the upstairs bath ages before the room was even roughed-in.

And why I've already found the lights I want for the kitchen and dining rooms :)

Which, of course, is a whole other story...

I had a picture in my head of what I wanted - ribbed glass, with a silver-coloured metal - any silver-coloured metal finish would do.

The main issue was that I needed a suite of lights to go in all the areas I want - a large one over the table, a couple of pendants over the peninsula, and something to go over the sink (I also have pot lights (already bought, of course) for the area for over-all lighting).

Looking at the web sites for the big box stores, I found that, while they have lights I like, they either don't have the entire range, or don't have it on their sites. And I'm not driving 30+ minutes each way to find out if I can get the styles I need.

So, I decide to look at independent lighting stores (oddity: while I won't drive 30 minutes to a big box store, I have no issues with driving longer than that to an independent retailer. Hrmm.)

St. Catharines is the largest city in this area, and tends to have the most options for items like this, so I make a list of the 4 stores in the area (complete with Google maps), grab Mom, and drive on over.

We go to the first store - small selection, some interesting things, and PRICEY! Mom and I are the only ones in the store. There is a guy behind the counter. Doesn't say hi, doesn't ask if we need help... nothing. At one point, he walked out from behind the counter and approached us... just to walk on by.

0 for 1.

Second store has gone out of business.

0 for 2.

Third store is HUGE. Tons of lights, but no organizational theme that I can determine. So, trying to look for kitchen lighting means walking through the entire place, picking out appropriate fixtures from all the others. But hey! I find something similar to what I want, but there is only one style. Again, there are clerks walking around, but no offers to help. I finally trap one at the counter, and explain what I'm looking for and make sure to say that, while I want a silver-coloured finish, it doesn't matter if it's chrome or brushed pewter or whatever. I take the clerk over to the one I found, intending to ask if there are matching fixtures I can order. The clerk looks at it, looks at me, and says "But that's a pewter finish, not chrome".

0 for 3.

Go to the fourth store, expecting the same trend to continue. We go in, I can't find anything like what I'm looking for. But wait.... a clerk actually approaches, and asks if he can help! I explain what I want, he says they have none in stock, but that we can look through all of their catalogues, and they can order in anything I find. He pulls out a bunch of catalogues, flips right to what I want in each of them, discusses different styles, etc. and gives me a photocopy of the ones I've chosen, complete with prices and his card.

Guess where I'm getting my lights from?

Now keep in mind, these stores exist to sell lighting. They may have other decorative objects, but they are, first and foremost, lighting stores.

Their main competition is the big-box stores. They cannot hope to compete in certain areas with the big-boxes, but they can out-do them in service and selection. In this decidedly un-scientific sample, though, two out of three failed, and worse than any big-box store I've ever been in.

And this isn't the first time I've had experiences like this: basically, I'm standing there, with my money in my hand, and the retailer is making it hard for me to buy from them.

I'm not asking for discounts.

I'm not asking for special treatment.

I'm asking to buy what they are selling, and they create obstacles*.

This is one reason independent retailers, in my opinion, fail. I don't expect the clerk in Home Despot to be able to answer my questions on lighting placement. I DO expect their counterpart in an independent lighting retailer to able able and willing to.

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* I have story after story after story about this: like the shoe store clerk who told me if I wanted to find out if the other store in their two-store chain had the boots I was looking for in my size, I should call them myself (keep in mind, the other store was a 2 hour drive away). I walked down the street to their competitors and bought boots there.

My favourite, though, was when I tried to buy my car - off the lot, no ordering, no financing. The first dealership I tried told me it was a lot of work to figure out the price, and that they'd get back to me. Six years on, I'm still waiting for that call...

Well, hello there!

I have noticed that there are some new people here - thanks for coming by, it's nice to see you! And please, feel free to introduce yourself in the comments!!

I figured this was a good time to give a refresher course on me and this blog, so you all don't have to go back to the beginning and try to piece together the story :)

So, I was born... okay, okay, not going that far back!

The main bits of my life:

I was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
I attended University of Guelph (B. Sc. with a minor in Biochemistry, emphasis in Botany), and ended up living in Guelph for almost 10 years.
After graduating and not being able to find a job that allowed me to live above the poverty line in Ontario (no, I never had to ask if anyone wanted fries with their meal, but I got damn good at making lattes), I found a job in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (which I interviewed for in my jammies - gotta love phone interviews. To make it better, the jammies looked like this, just less pink and without the feet).
I worked in a lab doing research into biological control of weeds (lab motto: "We put the "fun" in "fungi"). I loved the work, loved working with fungi, got WAY too excited finding things like slime molds, and got paid to spend a lot of my summer driving around the province looking at weeds. Published some papers, went to some conferences, and even got a patent. Full disclosure - the patent is actually owned by the Queen of England. No, really. True story. This is the closest I will probably ever come to royalty :)
I realized after 10 years, the job wasn't worth being that far away from family, and that I REALLY hate being cold. So I sold my house, quit my job, packed up my life, and came home.
You know that saying, "You can't go home again"? It's especially true when you haven't lived in a city for 20 years, and two casinos have moved in while you were gone.
Deciding I really didn't want to live in Niagara Falls, but wanted to remain in the area, I bought this house in Fort Erie. I closed on this house on Halloween, 2008. I continue to hope that is not a bad omen.
The house was built in 1928, and was a rental property for many years. I knew it needed a complete gut and reno before I bought it, but the location, property size and price made it worthwhile.
I thought I was prepared for the stress of renovating.
I was completely wrong.
I currently work for a private company, doing food safety and quality control. While it pays the bills, it confirms, on a daily basis, why I don't want to have processed foods make up the majority of my diet.
I have two dogs, both miniature schnauzers. I got Kip from a breeder in April, 2007, at 9 weeks of age. He is my first dog ever, and I cannot imagine life without him. Katy was a stray, taken in by Toronto Animal Services, and after spending 6 weeks in the shelter there, it became clear Kip and I needed to make the drive to Toronto to get her. She is a total sweetheart, and I wonder daily what kind of person throws away a dog like her.
I tend to be very scientific in my outlook. Some may even go as far as to call me "geeky", but I try to keep my enthusiasm for Dr. Who, Firefly, etc. out of the blog :)
I am a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Thus, I know all about delayed gratification.

So, this blog is about the house renovations, and dogs, and food, and cooking, and sustainability, and the environment, and gardening. And bacon.

I'm glad you could make it - I hope you stay a while!

Main floor plans

I realized, with all this talk about moving doors and windows and new walls, I haven't provided any floor plans! These should help!

As always, click to embiggen, all measurements are estimates (each square is 12"), and I have the right to change my mind at any time :)

Current layout

Note the incredible amount of wasted space in the kitchen, "laundry" room and bathroom, and the insane lack of usable space in the kitchen!

Planned Layout

The wall is coming down in between the dining room and kitchen, and the doorway in the kitchen to the living room is getting removed. This allows for a more efficient use of space, IMO. The "buffet" cabinets in the dining room are actually kitchen cabinets, but a bit lower than regular cabinets, and will act as both a buffet and more storage space. I could have gone with regular height cabinets there, but didn't want that wide of an expanse of counter top - this way, it's broken up into two distinct sections.

The back door has been moved already, and the window that is now in the kitchen will go beside the door, to be replaced by the window that used to be beside the door.

Confused yet?

The current kitchen window is tall and narrow - too tall for any cabinets to go under it, while the other window is shorter and longer. Hence the trade. The small window about the dryer was removed (to make a spot for the electrical panel), and will find a new home in the new laundry area.

One thing I forgot in both plans - the hot water heater! It is currently located across the room from the furnace, near the back door. It will be removed, and replaced by an on-demand system to be located in the new laundry area.

Now, of course, this plan will change a dozen times before I actually get my new kitchen :)

Actually, it may change sooner rather than later, since I'm not sure moving the electrical panel is doable (for many reasons, my go-to electrical guy is just now telling me... sigh), and I'm actually re-thinking getting a dishwasher - GASP! But the major renovations (windows, walls and doors) will remain the same - only the details will change!!

Bacon makes everything better.... even drywall.

Take a couple or four slices of bacon, and cook them in your cast iron skillet until they are done to your taste. Remove them, and add a chopped up onion or two. Cook until soft, then add cut-up left over roasted potatoes (from the roasted potatoes, carrots and sausage you made early in the week - yum!) and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes get nice crispy bits on them. While they are cooking, chop up the bacon into large bits. Add the bits to the potatoes, stir, then remove from the skillet. Beat some eggs, and scramble (since you don't think a new skillet and your sucky fried egg skills make a good combination). Dish out, serve with Mom's home-made chili sauce, and ENJOY!

A quick, easy supper, since I've been doing the drywall seams in the bathroom... and even after the third coat, I can't tell whether I like it or hate it (doing the seams, not the bathroom!)

First coat (done by Dad - thanks!!)

Third coat - second and third and all sanding done by me :)

(Please note - the bottom half of the wall will be covered by bead-board, so there is only one coat on the seams.)

It is frustrating, but only because it's a new skill for me. And it's time consuming, and messy! So, I think I'll get a quote from a guy that does this on the side, and if it's reasonable, then I'll let him deal with it. But it's good to know it is something I can do if I needed to!

And hey - we have a new wall!! This will close in around the furnace, and create a laundry area across from the furnace, and in between is the new hall that will lead to the main bathroom.

It's getting there....

Sorry, no post tonight...

I'm too busy watching the hockey game :)

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...

Can't you just taste that? It's true - cast iron DOES make food taste better!!

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 :)

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!

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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?