It's the little things

I know it seems like I fell of the face of the blogasphere...and I'm here to report that I have NOT, I've just been out of town for a few days for work. So let's see what happened on Saturday and Sunday and while I was gone...
I want to start out with a special visit from our long time friend, The Wandering Troubadour... Bill Howell.
The first time he came to see Martha he instantly went to the staircase and said that we were going to have to get those spinals replaced!  Here's what it looked like...

So we have a total of 20 spindles that need to be replaced.  I was very skeptical that we would be able to get them matched and then Bill said that we were going to just "find spindles that matched" he was going to work on finding someone that would make them for us.  We he did just that... but instead of finding "someone" it turned out to be Bill Howell himself!  He has been busy working on Martha from a remote location and came down Saturday to see if they worked and get more measurements for the shorter ones!

 Lots of shots of the new spindles and you can see how perfect they are!  His work is impeccable!  Once they get stained, you will never know they were replaced!  I'm thinking that Martha has to be happy about this...lots of time doing things that don't seem like lots of things are getting done...behind the scene work!                                                                                                                      

 
Here we actually have a snap of THE BILL HOWELL installing and measuring and working!  What a great time we had and the best part was that I got to boss him around.  I really enjoyed that!
Meanwhile, I've been spending hours and tears trying to fix my rookie move with the shower handles.  After installing the backerboard and the tile, the handles are too short.  Home Depot, Lowes and more do not have the piece I need.  Finally, I gave up and said that I'd wait for my plumber... and he has been out on other jobs, which I don't understand but have found that outside contractors don't work on YOUR schedule...ugh.  So I've been working on 2 other spaces... the Minibar area between the Lounge and the Bedroom...

 The measurements are weird in this very small space but I need a 34" cabinet to hold the Mini bar and going to put in small shelves behind to hold the "pretty stuff"...  Had to drywall the back area and get the space ready











and George got that taken care of while I was gone... he just doesn't take snaps so I've got to get some taken this evening and I forgot!!!!... we had the ceiling in Guestroom #1 completely ripped out.  OHHHHHHHHHHHHHh the mess... omg... it was terrible and the mess continued into the entire house.  Ugh... 3 hours of cleaning later...
So, not as many big changes but lots of little things going on and let's not forget the Butler's Pantry... the new ceiling is in and getting painted tonight and the wiring and new lighting installed ...
So get excited for big updates...coming your way!
Thanks for checking in on us....
Peace,
C

I'd like to thank the Academy...

I would like to Thank the Academy for this award.  This is my first time receiving the award for The most awesome and wonderful bathroom transformation and I am speechless!  A lot of hard work went into this event and I'd like to thank all the other people who helped me with this...oh wait, there is just me...nevermind.

Let's have a look shall we?



Here is the BEFORE...                                                      Here is the AFTER...

 New lights... hotel shower curtain rod that pull the curtain out so it doesn't touch you!!! New Sink, new toilet and MORE!!!

                                               Fun bucket to hold necessary items!!

                   Inside the medicine cabinet... I need to get another glass shelf but it is super fun!!!

Are you feeling dirty?  Why not take a SHOWER in this lovely area?  LOL LOL LOL... I feel dirty!  LOL. So there you have it.  George says I can't accept the award yet because I still have finishing touches to do and I will get those done today...but, I needed the award as a Pick-Me-Up and so I graciously accept.  Today will be spent, getting the mess cleaned up, finishing touches and moving on to the bedroom that accompanies this room and the butler's pantry...oh oh oh AND I will be bringing some of my roommates over to Martha today... that's right, my roommates will move in before I do!!!  More on that tomorrow... I hope you have a wonderful weekend and carve some time out for yourself and your chi.
Thanks for checking in on us...
Peace,
C

Pour yourself one too!

So many things going on that I'm not even sure where to start... The most mundane is my ironically the most exciting for me... THE COLD WATER LINES ARE IN!  Nothing to look at.  Nothing to see a "WOW" factor...but today they are doing THE HOT WATER LINES and then that will mean that I can use a bathroom in my own house!  Actually, I hope this is how it turns out, I've learned that it's best to not get too excited until it's a done deal.  So, that still makes it seem like not much of a change...
Yesterday I was really feeling down and realized that it was our 2 month anniversary with Martha and I only have 2 rooms done.  Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... then I thought about all the other things we've done and how far along we are and it just seemed like ..."you've only got 2 rooms done... LOSER!"  A room a month?  This will take FOREVER!!!   I also think that it's hard to live in 2 houses at the same time.  I can't find anything I'm looking for and I don't feel like I'm me when I'm at the Harvard house...more Whaaaaaaaaaaa!
So I focused on messing around last night.  I did some tiny things that I've wanted to do and will have to do again once I start on those rooms... for example, I Windexed the built in China cabinet and put some small items on the shelves. That made me giggle.  It's so pretty ...

Then I putted around and removed some staples from the floor in front of the Lounge ...

It looks better in person...trust me on this one. As I mulled around I tried to think of all the reasons to be happy instead of feeling sorry for myself...

I have 2 new best friends....

 This is Tanya and Kelly and they work here...

 and even though they shake their heads when I walk in and ask me what I'm doing now...they always make me feel better and they help me get the perfect things for Martha.  This place is amazing and if you are willing to dig a little, you get a LOT!!!  Things would not be happening like they are if not for this place!  Love, Love, Love it!

 George started scrapping the ceiling in the livingroom... oh wait, that didn't make me happy... he left the doors open and it went everywhere...

 More scrapping ....

 He looks busy but really, he's making a mess!

 We work differently, he says...ahhhhhhh, no biggie and then he proceeds to make a 2 hour mess and then goes outside and when I ask when he's going to clean that up... ????? He says... "Don't worry about it!"
Ugh...

He also made some holes...so he can fix them... I know I know... it has to be done but it's not a "happy maker".

I went to work on the bathroom....

You would not believe how dirty I was after cutting this down and removing the tile.  It was almost like I used the edger!
So there's not so many pretty snaps to share and nothing really looks like there is much happening but we are still busy at work and trying to make BIG BIG changes... I guess I should be smiling... instead, I think I'll just pour myself a scotch and get a cigar and sit in the lounge for awhile...

Thanks for checking in on us...
Pour one for yourself...
Peace.
C

While I'm gone...

I am amazed at how much I miss Martha!  Oh the beauty of California and all of the interesting people I've met and their stories... It breaks my heart and I am again reminded of why I work for the Arthritis Foundation... I am frustrated all over again hearing how long it takes to get an appointment to see a doctor and then to find your diagnosis! These parents are hurting, waiting to get their children "fixed"...and on and on...and then I go back to my room and start wondering what is going on with Martha...  Is she lonely without me?  Does she think I deserted her like everyone else?  I know you think I'm being silly...and I am but it's true.  I had dreams about walking around in the rooms putting pieces that I have in my suitcase in each room...weird...

So I promised you some fun pictures... Look what I have... These are pictures from a website that was trying to sell Martha in 2000...so about 13 years ago... Let's look...

The porch with working lights and lots of stuff!

Here's the Receiving Area all fancied up!
 

This is the 3rd floor...hmmm

This is the area we called the BAD ROOM  because it was so GROSS...

Bedroom #2... Decorating style??? Uhmmm okay well, NO

Bedroom #3...more of that floral...omg...

This is the laundry/canning kitchen/not sure but it does NOT look like this now.

Master Bath...a bit over decorated but okay...

Coming down the front staircase...

The dining room all fancied up!

Bar in the Family room...hmmm

Shows the the room in the family room area...party time!

Coming down the front staircase

OMG OMG  the APPLE kitchen!!!

LOOK LOOK... The fireplace isn't painted! ! ! OMG... So different!!!

Well, there you have it.  We got a peek into the house when it had a family that loved her...even though they had no design ascetic...maybe it was just the times...ohhhhhhh shutter! But you can see that she was loved!  So, to follow up, the tile vote seems unanimous,  WE ARE KEEPING THE TILE.  The cabinet got mixed reviews... but I think we will keep it and see what I can do with it and if that doesn't work, I will put it elsewhere.!
You guys are awesome and wonderful and have great insight...you know the forest through the trees type of thing.
Got to get to my meetings... I'll check back in tonight with some more exciting and fun updates!!!
Stay cool...
C