Time for a project: office in a closet

As I have mentioned in the past, our house is not huge - its a good size for the two of us (and the pleasantly-plump cat), but being an old house it can be difficult fitting furniture and all of our modern belongings inside! For example, where do we put a computer desk? The master bedroom is tiny, and we can barely fit our dressers inside as it is! The smallest of the bedrooms is my studio space and I didn't leave room for a computer. The third bedroom is the guest room which has been a sort of dumping ground and it has been home to the computer since we moved in (sitting on a tiny kitchen table I had in my first apartment). The problem is we have finally got a bed in the guest room, and although its only a double, it takes up most of the floor space. Where does that leave the computer? Sadly, its jammed in the corner of the room at the end of the bed, which I basically have to climb over to access...not good.

I have measured and re-measured and shuffled furniture around like a crazy person, but there just isn't much space for the computer, so I have been left with only one option: turn the closet in the guest room into office space! Why not? What else is going in the closet (a closet without doors)? So let the transformation begin! I hope this project does not take too long, since I'm getting sick of sitting sideways on an old kitchen chair to use the computer. I will post my progress and the end result as soon as I am done. For now here is the before (sort of...there was a badly put together closet organizer in the closet but I removed that about a week ago and FYI: whoever lived here previously and installed that organizer should be jailed, this had been a child's room and the entire setup was NOT secured to the wall WHATSOEVER!).

What will make this project a bit more challenging is that the closet is a cedar closet, well just a regular closet that someone installed crappy cedar wall planks in. I couldn't be sure what is behind the cedar, so rather than taking it down and risking a whole can-o-worms situation (like no drywall or destroyed drywall or who knows what else - this house is over 100 years old after all) I am going to paint the cedar. I couldn't find much information on painting cedar, but I understand it needs to be primed and primed well due to the tannin that will likely seep from the wood...even then it may backfire. I will keep you posted and if you too are looking to paint a cedar closet, you may pick up some information on what to do (or more likely, what NOT to do!).

Getting a new hat

The house is getting a new hat - well, what I call a new hat, most people just call it a roof. This past November there was a stretch of bad weather with some seriously high winds. I noticed shingles in the backyard and had just hoped it was from another house in the area, but alas, they were shingles from our roof and with them gone there was a lovely little opening for water to creep in. A leak started, but so did the winter from hell, and the weather was so extreme for so long we couldn't get anything done to the roof. On the positive side, it was so cold there were no leaks (everything was too damn frozen).

Anyway, knowing that spring should arrive at some point, and with spring comes rain, I got down to looking for roofers and settled on a local company. Just about two weeks ago I called to arrange a day for the roof to be done and was told that once the shingles were ordered and arrived, they would call a day or two before the crew was ready to come out. I would have liked to had a more specific day booked, but it is what it is and I figure things must be a bit flexible because of the weather...no biggie, but obviously the sooner the better.

This is what a cat terrified of roofers looks like. Poor guy, good excuse for me to cuddle with him for the day.

This morning I was all snug in bed, when I heard a noise. I thought I was maybe dreaming, you know that weird half-awake/half-asleep time when you don't know if you are still hearing stuff from your dreams or if stuff you are hearing for real is creeping into your dreams? Anyone know what I'm talking about? No? Never mind, I'm a lunatic. So where was I? Oh, right, the noises. I got up and stood in the bedroom kinda zombie-like and then heard ladders rattling...then I heard voices from my front porch and one of those voices said "is there anyone home? Has anyone talked to the homeowner?" Crap crap crap, I'm the homeowner. What is happening?! Crap - the roof!!! I wouldn't normally react like that, but you see, no one called ahead to let me know that the roof was going to be done today. Had I known I would have got the cat to my mum's house so he wouldn't be having the panic attack that he is having right now, and I would have been up, showered and ready. Oh well, nothing I can do now but kill time today while a bunch of men run around on the roof with nail guns like a bunch of angry (and heavy) squirrels.

The first day of Spring

It is the first day of Spring...although you wouldn't know it if you ventured outside. It is cold, windy and there is still a considerable amount of snow on the ground. I will try to think positive, warm, springy thoughts and maybe, just maybe the weather will magically change.

This afternoon we had a visitor of the squirrely variety. There was a cute little guy digging through the gutters outside the bedroom and art room windows. He or she seemed pretty content rummaging through the gutters for food and I was pretty happy he (or she) was clearing (kicking) leaves and crap out of the gutters...plus it kept the cat entertained for a while win-win-win!

Buster is keeping his eyes to the ceiling, in hopes of catching that fly.

Buster can't find the fly...it must be my fault...he gives me an evil glare.

These paws can do damage when they are on the hunt, trust me (and my chest) they hurt when Buster decides to use you as a spring-board.

Speaking of cat...and spring arriving (hopefully) I have noticed a number of dopey flies in the house, I suppose emerging from their winter slumber. Where they are coming from, I don't know, but what I do know is they are dopey as all hell (constantly smacking into the ceilings) and they are keeping the cat entertained and me awake at night. Last night there was a real big fly in the bedroom buzzing around the ceiling. I couldn't get rid of it and the cat couldn't get enough of running around the bedroom jumping on the bed (and me) in vain. I can still hear the buzzing...and the frantic meows.

Sprouting green things

Many of the seeds I have planted have transformed nicely into little sprouty green things, which I believe is the goal for most seeds. In fact some of the seeds I have planted have taken off a little too well, as they are already outgrowing their baby pots! I would not normally be bothered by this fact but since the weather is being so slow to turn springy I'm worried many seedlings will outgrow their pots (and my house) before I can get them in the ground.

The first photo is of turnip sprouts...these little devils shot up over one night! The directions on the seed pack indicated that they are direct sow, meaning I didn't need to start them indoors, but I did (because I like being awkward like that). The second photo is of spring onions - exciting, no? The third photo is one of four zucchini plants that are doing really well, so leafy and green! I wish so badly that the snow melts so I can get a move on making their garden beds. 

The winter from hell continues

This winter has been one hell of a winter. There has been more snow and ice than I recall in any winter past and what makes this worse is that things just don't seem to be easing up. This past Tuesday the weather took a spring-like turn and things started melting...I could see grass (dead looking grass, but grass nonetheless). But the spring weather was not to last. The weather reports were calling for a snow storm Wednesday. Obviously, after the winter we have had I was dreading the possibility of more snow, but so often the weather reports blow things out of proportion and we get off rather lightly. Not this time. Nope, we had MORE snow than was called for (I have never shoveled so much snow in a single day). I have been plunged back into depressed-winter-mode.

The only thing to keep me going are my little seedlings. Along with being the time of year for depressing and unpredictable weather, it is also seed-starting season! That means I have gone mental buying seeds, seed starting soil mix, seed starting kits and I have begun to hoard all yogurt containers, milk cartons and basically anything else that can be used to house a seedling. The husband must think I am nuts, with me inspecting every container for grow-ability before it goes to the recycle bin and the cat hates me because I have hijacked every window ledge in the house.

So far I have a few zucchini plants that are growing like mad (seriously, if the weather doesn't hurry up and change I don't know what I will do with them), some mystery tomatoes...mystery because I got so over excited with my planting that I forgot to label the pots and now have no clue what is what! I also have some marigolds that are really coming to life. In total (thus far) I have planted five different varieties of tomatoes, chard, leeks, two types of peppers, spring onions, cucumbers, eggplant, parsnips (for the hell of it) and turnips. I have even more that I intend on direct sowing IF the garden ever comes to life. Ambitious? You bet! 

Time to start those seeds!

I have grand plans for the garden this years - beyond just keeping it tidy and blooming, I want to have a vegetable garden. A decent vegetable garden, and perhaps I am being a little ambitious when saying this, but I want a garden that will feed me and the man (a perpetually hungry man, I may add) for the better part of the summer. I have done a small amount of veggie growing in the past, with minimal success (balcony gardening is challenging) but this year I want to go all out. The backyard is not huge but has ample space for several raised beds, and I am fortunate to get a very decent amount of sunlight and I feel it would be a waste not to take advantage of what I have.

In order to get a jump on the garden, I need to get those seeds started. I kicked things off with a greenhouse kit, one of those plastic trays with a domed lid that contained biodegradable pots I had to fill with a seed starting mix. What a failure! I followed both the recommendations on the kit and specifications for the seeds I was sowing and in less than a week most all of the little pots had started to mold. The only plants to survive were 3 zucchinis and some marigolds. Never one to give up, I headed back to the store to get more supplies to start over. Dollar stores definitely are NOT garden centers but more and more of them are stocking some useful (and reasonably priced) gardening supplies. Many of these gardening or seed starting items carried by dollar stores may not be as sturdy or be of the same quality as the pricey garden center stuff, but they can just as easily get the job done - and for someone like myself who is just starting out, I'd rather not shell out too much cash in the event I don't have luck growing.

I picked up a few items at my local Dollarama, just to see how they may work. I purchased more biodegradable pots for seed starting. The material is the same as what I used in attempt number one, but being that they are individual pots rather than the large inter-connected trays I first tried, I figured there may be a bit more air circulation through the trays...things may dry out faster, but perhaps there would be less likelihood of mold growing. I also found some cheap trays with dome lids (not pictured) and a mini greenhouse with the ever popular "peat pellets" (I just had to get one...so little and cute!). I also found some handy plastic pots with large dome lids, perfect for housing seedlings once they hit the dome of the greenhouse kits. Lastly I found a pop-up greenhouse, ideal for placing over larger trays or pots to protect the plants from drafts...and cats.

Call me weird, but I find seed starting fun, exciting and downright addictive. I start far more seeds than I really need to and I cannot stop checking for progress...I'm compulsive...it's scary, sad and true. I have caught myself on a number of occasions just staring at pots of soil on my window ledges willing the seedlings to emerge. Because I have become so addicted to starting seeds, I have taken to saving any and ALL containers that have the potential to house a plant...I have yogurt cups, margarine containers and milk cartons scattered through the spare bedroom full of soil mix and seeds...and hope! If you find seed starting as entertaining as me, stay tuned for updates of my progress!

*Note: The seed packets pictured are NOT from the dollar store. All seeds were purchased at a garden center that was having a buy 2 get one free sale (bonus!!!). All seeds are heirloom varieties and I am fortunate to have a close friend who is also seed starting so we have shared a great number of seeds. There is no sense in skimping when buying seeds, so skip the dollar store and go for the gold!

It's March, it's 2014...I haven't posted since November!

Yup, that about sums it up! I haven't posted since November. November 2013. It has been a while so let's get a bit caught up...

As you may recall, there was a wedding in my life back in October. Things went well, a great trip, loads of fun (food, drinks, the works!). What I may not have mentioned was that two days after the wedding (on the honeymoon) I started to get sick. Nothing too horrible, just a cold, but obviously NOT what you want on your honeymoon, or on any trip...or ever really. It definitely put a damper on things, but nevertheless we had fun and saw the sights of Ireland. As soon as I was back from the wedding/honeymoon extravaganza I was back to work...and still sick. I got better, for about a week, then got sick again...and again and again. I lost count of how many times I was sick, but I believe I was sick more often than I was healthy. That is no life for me. I very quickly realized that since working where I was, I had been sick more often than I had ever been, and I used to spend a large chunk of my life commuting through Toronto on jam-packed subway cars (germ central!). Between the hours I was working, the stress of the job, messed up eat/sleep habits and the environment I was exposed to I came to a conclusion: I must leave my job in order to get healthy.

So that was that, I quit my job, I finished at the end of January. The decision wasn't easy, it doesn't feel right leaving a job when you don't have another job to go to, but I couldn't keep it up. I am not currently looking for another job, instead I am back to focusing on the house (lots of unfinished work and projects) and I am finally making use of my art room! Back to being creative and making use of all the materials I have been hoarding for years. I plan on re-opening my Etsy shop and if the spring ever arrives, I plan on getting back to gardening. This year I intend on making some raised beds for veggies (seedlings already started!).

So check back, because I will be posting a lot more...and I mean it this time!!!

From Dublin to Cork to Dublin again

This is just a peek into my recent trip to Ireland for THE WEDDING. I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I had during trips in the past. I wanted to enjoy my time there, rather than spending my time looking through a camera. I do regret not taking more photos in certain areas - there were full days where I did not touch the camera and missed some great photo opportunities. I suppose there is always next time!

What a wedding!

One of the reasons I had been too busy and pooped to post for the last while is because I was preparing for my wedding. The wedding, as you may already know, was held in Ireland, so not only was I planning a wedding, but I was making arrangements overseas - what a challenge! Everything turned out wonderfully, even better than I could have asked for. Now, I could go on and on about every little detail of the wedding but I will spare you, since you may not find everything as interesting (or relevant) as I have but I will share some of what was important to me about the trip and the big day.

First of all, the wedding would have been nothing without all of the friends and family who came (from near and far) for the big day. I had family and friends from both Canada and England who traveled to Ireland to be there and celebrate with me and I cannot begin to tell you how much fun we all had - laughing until we cried, eating way too much yummy food and having a few drinks. Due to running around at the last minute finalizing some wedding details, I did not get to party with the family and friends nearly as much as I wanted to, so I believe another trip will be in order down the road!

Photo courtesy of Holly Gray (Maid of Honor, best friend and all around awesome person).

The wedding was held in the church pictured above, St. Finbarr's Oratory in Gougane Barra, County Cork. The church, which sits on a little island in the middle of a lake, seats no more than 40 people for a cozy little ceremony. How can you not just stand there and take photo after photo of this place? The area is so quiet and tranquil and sits just outside of a gorgeous national park. Just out of the frame is the Gougane Barra Hotel, which is where the reception was held and where most friends and family stayed. The hotel was amazing. It is an older hotel with lots of character (picture an upscale Fawlty Towers). The couple who run the place (Neil and Katy) were great, they were so incredibly warm, friendly and helpful - they really went above and beyond for not only myself and the mister, but all of my family and friends who came out for the wedding. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was great, I just couldn't ask for anything more! I will definitely be going back for a visit the next time I am in Ireland.

The "look" I was after for the wedding was slightly vintage, a bit rustic and homemade. I think I did a good job achieving it. I had loads of homemade buntings in reds, yellows, pale blue, green and white. The flowers, as you can see from the photo above were (my favorite) daisies, white and yellow with a splash of red - the red to match my shoes, nails, lips and bow in hair. I have to thank Enchanted Flowers in Macroom for all they did - communicating with me by email, meeting with me last minute and ordering tons of these little flowers for me with just two days to spare - not to mention driving the flowers to the church and hotel and setting up the 20+ vases and glasses I had been collecting over the months and took with me (carry on) all the way to Ireland!

My dress was ordered from Etsy, the shop called Penny Pardy. Since I did the dress ordering in a panic at the VERY last minute, I ordered the dress a size too big, figuring that if it was too big it can be altered, but if I ordered my exact size there would be no wiggle room if it came a bit snug (or if I gained an ounce before the big day!). I wouldn't recommend doing what I did, because the dress, albeit beautiful, was far too big and even after having taken it in, it did not fit as perfectly as I would have hoped (I am an odd shape and probably should have been measured for a more custom dress). Regardless of the fit I received a lot of compliments on the dress, the fabric was very pretty and I was able to achieve my goal of a wedding dress that was comfortable to wear and dance in all day AND that was NOT strapless! I would definitely order from her shop again, but I would not rush it and take the time to communicate my measurements to get a dress that fits perfectly...I may just consider wearing more dresses in the future (oh my god, I can't believe I just said typed that!).

One last wedding-thing I must mention is our wedding photographer. His name is Ivan and he was amazing! I have to say he was a big part in making the day what it was - really! He was incredibly easy going and a pleasure to work with. He had actually taken a trip to the hotel, church and national park weeks before our wedding to scope out good spots for photos. He did an amazing job of capturing what was happening through the day, there were no posed photos, everything was relaxed and natural. He blended right in with the guests (who all loved him, by the way!) and managed to capture some amazing shots.If you are looking for a photographer in Ireland (Cork) I would not hesitate to recommend him.

All together the wedding turned out really well and I hope everyone in attendance had as much fun as I did! There are many more people I must thank, from our priest in Canada to our priest in Ireland, all restaurateurs, hotel staff members and pub owners that took care of my group of family and friends as we traveled across Ireland!

I will leave you with that - like I said, I don't want to bore you with every detail! I will however share a few more photos in the coming weeks and as life gets back to normal, I hope to get back to posting when I can.

One minute it's July and the next thing you know...

It's November?! Where has time gone? I disappeared for a seriously long time, no? A lot has happened since my last post - too much in fact to start talking about now, that would just be plain crazy. I will spare the boring details and just say that I have been working a lot, so much so that I go days on end without turning on my computer and checking emails, never mind snapping photos and posting here. Work has taken over my life, I have neglected my garden and my kitchen (what's a home cooked meal again?!) and I am always tired. Another thing that has kept me busy was my wedding - planning a wedding and working a full time job and trying to take care of a home and life-things in general is hard. The wedding has come and gone and I have the day off so I am setting aside a few minutes (in between raking leaves!) to sit down and get back to this blog. I can't say I will post as frequently as I once did but I am really going to try and touch base here once a week. Check back soon...