We're getting there...

Since Thursday I have been painting walls,


having carpet installed,


painting bunk beds,



painting a light fixture,


installing a light fixture,


trying to assemble bunk beds, running to Farm and Fleet for new hardware for bunk beds, trying to assemble bunk beds, running to Walmart for new new hardware for bunk beds, trying to assemble bunk beds, giving up up on assembling bunk beds, eating peanut M&Ms.






I still have some paint touch ups to do and all the trim and molding, shelving in the closet, etc etc, but if I can get the right stinkin' hardware for the bunk beds, we'll get the girls moved in and keep plugging away at stuff once they are settled in a bit.

Primer and touch ups...(Or Wordless Wednesday)

Built-in Bookshelves...

Remember months ago when I mentioned I was building shelves in our niche where we put our computer? I did it, but never posted about it. Here it is, despite the fact that the shelves are not at all staged.

(Why yes! That is Facebook on the computer.)



Notice the remnants of paper on that door to the right?



Julia decided to GLUE some signs to her door a while back. I should really finish removing those. Or rather, SHE should.

Despite very careful measuring, this was a beast to fit in here. You see, this area is narrower back near the doorways than it is in where the shelves are. I didn't think to measure out there. I even did a dry fit before assembling it, and of course, they fit, because I just held the pieces up where they would go. After I had it all glued and screwed together, I tried to slip it into place and couldn't get it in. I took off the trim around the doorways and it still wouldn't fit. Long story short, not once, but TWICE I had to take the entire unit apart, trim down the boards and reassemble. FRUSTRATING! But in the end, I'm pleased. And enough time has passed now that the I can talk about it.

Finishing Rock...

Let me share with you a few things I've learned about finishing sheetrock. If you're experienced in this area, I won't be much help. But if you're a newbie like me, this might be useful.

#1- PAPER tape is a nightmare.


FIBERGLASS MESH ADHESIVE tape is the only way to go.


Now, there may be some reason that somebody prefers the other stuff, and maybe I just don't know enough about the process to know why it would be better, but I find the mesh stuff waaaaaay better to work with. I started out with the paper tape and didn't really feel like I was struggling with it, but one seam bubbled when it dried. And when I switched to the mesh tape, it was sooo easy to handle. With the paper tape, you spread on mud, bed the tape into it, then trowel off the excess mud as you smooth the tape down into the mud. With mesh tape, you lay the tape over the seam using the adhesive side, then trowel mud over it and smooth it down. No chance of bubbles.

#2- If you don't trust me and you go ahead and use paper tape and the paper tape bubbles, it is possible to repair the damage. I had a section of tape from the ceiling to the middle of the wall that had bubbles spread along it. I had three coats of mud on the tape (the coat it was embedded in, and two coats over it.) I just took a utility knife, cut out the entire section of tape, (which was very easy), laid in mesh tape over the joint, and mudded over it.

#3- I had several screw heads that stayed too far above the surface of the drywall. I had tried to set them deeper without success and then just mudded over them. When we sanded they were exposed again. I got a new dimple bit, scraped off the mud over the head, UNscrewed them a bit, then reset them. This worked with most of them. There is one that is stripped so we can't get it in or out. I just have to build the mud up over it and sand with care. If you can't get a screw to set and it ISN'T stripped, just remove it, mud the hole, and put in a new screw a couple inches beyond it on the joint.

#4- There seem to be 2 schools of thought about this process. Some folks will tell you it's all in the sanding. Other folks will tell you it's all in the mudding. I lean more toward the mudding. There really is a fine line between too much mud and not enough. As one book said, "There's no need to trowel on 5 gallons of mud and sand off 3." However, attention to detail in sanding is also crucial. And you must be patient. I only sanded after the final coat, but then found lots of places that needed to be touched up- screw heads, low spots, furred tape or drywall paper. I REALLY wanted to be done, but I touched up and sanded again. Do this as many times as necessary to achieve the smooth finish you're looking for. You'll be glad in the long run.

#5- Lastly, for now, is invest in a corner trowel.

The book I read did not even mention corner trowels. My corners looked terrible and I was dreading how much attention they were going to need to get them looking nice. Luckily, my mother came to visit and said, "Did you use a corner trowel?" "Corner trowel!?" said I. "What pray tell is a corner trowel? It sounds divine!" I sent my dear husband out for a corner trowel then slapped a coat of mud up in the corners with that. What a huge difference! They are now like buttah.

I still have to sand again and see where I'm at. If I think of any more tips and tidbits to share, I will. Wish me luck. The carpet is supposed to be installed on Friday. I'm running out of time!

Room Progress

Oh boy oh boy oh boy. Life has been absolutely insane since my last post. What a hectic summer. Between visitors and trips and this construction project, I'm swamped. But despite the insanity, I wouldn't change a thing. Wait, that's a lie. I would gladly go back and keep my husband with me in NY during my family's work week, rather than letting him come back to work. And I would pass on two of my kids getting pneumonia. I think I would just opt out of that completely.

This past week I have been frantically trying to get Julia's room taped and mudded before she arrives home. I wanted it to be painted so it would look like some serious progress had taken place. Because she won't be able to see the hours and hours I've put into this mudding process. This evening I finally finished the skim coat on the room. Unfortunately, she arrives tomorrow afternoon, and unless the sanding goes really well, I'm afraid there will be no paint on the walls.

Just to keep things interesting, I'm also trying to refinish a bunk bed I picked up for the girls from Craig's List and a pretty little chandelier I scored at Goodwill. I have a guy coming tomorrow to measure for carpet and a door order on hold at Menard's that we discovered we have to cancel because the opening is not large enough. My vision for the paint in the room is more involved than what i can slap up tomorrow, but if i could at least get it primed I think she would be pleased.

So here are a few photos from the process. I think they were taken during coat #1.





Being a giant comes in handy when mudding the ceiling.




I need to collapse into bed, but maybe I'll put one more coat of spray paint on that chandelier first...

Oh how I love barnwood...

My cousin had a shed in her backyard. A shed that she wanted to disappear. She mentioned wanting to tear it down, so I piped up and asked if I could have some of the wood if I helped tear it down. Thinking me some kind of sucker, she of course agreed. My original intention for the boards is probably not going to work out. I don't think I saved enough for the project. But here is my first piece:




Not a great picture, but here is a sneak peak at another project- the slipcover on this chair is part of a sewing project I've been working on. More of that later.




I see more frames and some window boxes in my future.

A Healthy Recipe and One That Is Anything But....But Is Unbelievably Delicious

I've been working on lots of projects lately that I'm looking forward to sharing with you. I've done a bunch of home decor sewing, some redecorating in our master bath, and a fun project in the family room that I'm just beginning. I've had a kitchen project on the back burner for quite some time and I'm anxious to get moving on that too.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share a couple delicious recipes. The first is gingerbread muffins. I have tweaked it a bit to up the nutritional value, but I'll list both options.

Gingerbread Muffins:

1C Flour (i use whole wheat)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1 slightly beaten egg white
1/3 C molasses
1/2 C water
3 T cooking oil (i use unsweetened apple sauce)
Sifted powdered sugar

Line eight 2 1/2" muffin cups with paper liners. In medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, b.p., ginger, cinnamon, b.s., and salt. Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together the egg white, water and oil. Stir the molasses mixture into the flour mixture just until blended. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin cups.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes in 350' oven. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm or cool.

This really only makes 8 muffins. You'll probably want to double it. And of course, you can add anything you think sounds good- raisins, nuts, craisins, chocolate chips, whatever floats your boat. These are really yummy and with the whole wheat and add-ins they are pretty filling. My kids love 'em.

The next recipe I got from a friend at church. She used to run her own bakery so she knows a thing or two about yummy recipes. This one she seems to have gotten from Martha Stewart, who also knows a thing or two about yummy recipes. And Martha seems to have gotten it from Julia Child, so there you go. Click on the link for the recipe.

Rhubarb Shortbread

I just used some vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean. I also threw in some strawberries with the rhubarb because I love that combination. This is simply to die for. Literally. A pound of butter. 4 cups of flour. I don't know an equivalent measurement for a pound of rhubarb. I wish the recipe called for cups instead of pounds. I just guesstimated.

Happy baking!