Whoops!

There I was, merely remove a light fixture from what used to be our bedroom wall and is now the family room, and what should come off the wall in addition to the fixture? Why just a huge strip of paint. Yes, paint. The paint peels off the wallpaper onto which is was painted easier than a bandaid peels off your arm. The green is what we painted over the grey-white that was here when we arrived. Apparently, before the white, was wallpaper. The back of the paint had streaks of glided burgandy on it, which I am glad to be rid of. I rather like the effect of the worn faded wallpaper, but that may be just that I really dislike the idea of striping it and repainting. We are rather weary of painting.

Yes, I'll peel the stuff off the top too. I just need to go find the step-ladder so that I can reach. So, another project. Just what we needed. Bro-in-law and lovely niece and Dad are painting the barn this weekend, Jamie is building the deck, and I am painting the trim in the upstairs bathroom and hall .

the addition

We said farewell (mutter mutter) to the contractor after the sheetrock/tape/texture stage. I personally (with someone to run the saw) installed every sq inch of the click laminate flooring; we hired our own subcontractors (quality craftspeople who take pride in their work -- what a novel idea) to install the tile and the trim work; and we have been painting the interior for months: primer, two coats of color, all the trim. Does it ever end? Apparently not.

Here are some of the beginning stages:

and the house

The picture on the left shows the laundry room that Jamie built. He is working on the landing and the deck for that door this very week so that we can get rid of the ramp that currently serves as access. (The little ramp is for kitties.) We did get signed for occupancy though, isn't that amazing? Okay, back to the pics. That same pic was taken from the top of the 1,150 sq foot addition that we are just now finishing up. The addition gets its own entry tomorrow.

Doesn't everyone need a red door?


As you look at these pics, do admire the crisp new stucco and paint. We did both last summer.

This handsome Akita is Holly: Empress of the Grassy Domain.

Our lovely new keep-the-kids-and-puppy-in-the-yard fence.

Our View

The obligatory old red truck, favorite perch of gargoyle kitties.

A thunderstorm on its way for a visit.

Mt. Baker. Did you know that Baker and Rainer used to be a couple? He took up with Shuksan and Rainer stormed off in a huff (who wouldn't?). She settled down in King County where she is far away, but can still keep an eye on her kids, the Twin Sisters. For more local mountain lore, you may enjoy reading The Measure of a Mountain: Beauty and Terror on Mount Rainer by Bruce Barcott, from whom I gleaned this little tidbit.

Fazenda

Fazenda is a Portugese word for "place with things to be done" which makes it a perfect name for our home. This blog is devoted entirely to showing y'all where all our time and money goes.

I'll start loading pictures this week, ending with pictures of the addition and (drum roll) the kids' rooms.