A New Beginning

The end of 2012 brought a little mini disaster to the Reslus Arms that is setting the stage for exciting new possibilities in the new year.  My Mother-in-law discovered that our water heater had cracked and was seeping water into the house.  It was Christmas morning and she had stopping by to check on the Old Inherited Cat while we were at my parents for the holiday. Thanks to some quick work by my  brother-in-law the water was stopped and complete disaster was averted.

We arrived home late on Christmas night to this....

The water heater lives under the stairs behind a coat closet. The hardwood floors ins the surrounding areas had already started cupping.  We were sad and frustrated but honestly thankful that it wasn't worse. 

The next day we started making phone calls. A friend that's a contractor came over and helped us get it drained and out of the house. Apparently the builder installed the heater then built the house around it! We had to remove the closet door and door FRAME to get it out. Next our insurance adjuster stopped by and we got the ball rolling with that.  Later the clean up crew showed up with their moisture meters and their fans and then their saws and hammers to dry everything out.....

Then we got the flu. While the fans and dehumidifiers were roaring downstairs I was upstairs with the door closed unable to get out of bed.  

Finally the new year came and the fans and dehumidifiers went away. I was finally able to drag myself out of bed and downstairs to this...

A new beginning...we have always wanted to extend the hardwood floors into the kitchen. This would be a very good time to do that. Of course that means we will need to renovate the kitchen now rather than later. There is always a domino effect when thinking about house projects. I am little excited and a little scared about the prospect of so may changes and decisions at once. I do this for other people every day but it is much harder to do it for myself. I will be posting about our new adventure over the next few weeks (months?) as we make decisions about flooring, cabinets, counters, lights, appliances, etc. and will show you the progress along the way. Let the adventure begin.

A New {temporary} Addition

Last Friday our tiny 4 lb chihuahua discovered, on two separate occasions, a baby squirrel. The Husband, who is generally at war with the squirrels, saved them from utter chihuahua destruction. And when faced with the overwhelming cuteness of this....

decided to save them outright. Now we (really he) are parenting squirrels. After some research the Husband got them hydrated and warm so that there might be a chance the Mama squirrel would take them back even though their nest had been destroyed (but not by the chihuahua!) 

On Saturday, once the babies were warm & dry attempts were made to get the Mama squirrel to take the babies back. The attempt was actually strapping the little nest the Husband made out of a clementine box high in a tree near the old nest. Unfortunately, the Mama had moved on.

On Sunday the Husband announced that they had names. Now you can meet Tauny (the girl)

and Ray (the boy)

Here's a few more cute pics because who doesn't want to see pictures of cute baby animals.

We will be squirrel parents for the next 2-1/2 months slowly transitioning them for their life in the wild. I don't really know the details of what that will be. I think the Husband doesn't want to freak me out all at once! Wish us luck!

I have it bad for bowls

Okay, I've fallen off the blog wagon a bit (or more than a little bit!). Life has taken over a little but this is my attempt to get back to business!

So I have a problem with bowls...white ones specifically. I've (mostly) been able reign it in over the last few years because the Reslus Arms is short on space and the Husband always gives me the look when I bring new ones home. I've been very good until last week when I couldn't resist these porcelain lovelies from Target.

The Husband's criteria for bowls are that they be wide and not so deep.

Check! And though I don't think he loves the textured detail of the beading, it's what had me saying Hello.

It's surprising how some little thing like cereal bowls can make me so happy (eh, not really)

It's definitely making me happy today.

In Progress: Our Office Is Starting to Come Together

I said come back tomorrow and by tomorrow I meant a week later!  The office still has a long way to go but here's a look at where we are now.  We have a place to sit which is amazing progress for us.

 It's so nice that everyone has his or her place.  Having lots of storage and more ways to keep myself organized is great.  I tend to have piles of things about me so I'm looking forward to using these handy dandy labeled storage boxes to keep my clutter in check.

My Great Grandmother's dresser (also my changing table as a baby) fits perfectly into the dormer to house my GINORMOUS printer.  We also managed to get a few things hung on the wall to make it feel more like a finished room.  

We still have quite a few things left on the to-do list:

• finish organizing the shelving
• install a new closet system and move the file cabinets from the old office (downstairs) into the new, highly functional, closet. 
• find new knobs for the closet doors and maybe paint them black.  I LOVE black doors but I'm also digging the seamless all-white look of that wall.  What do you think? Paint them black or leave them white?
• make a decision about window treatments.  I have a swatch or too but I haven't seriously started the hunt for fabric yet.  I keep hoping a magical deal will fall into my lap.
• find a rug - I've already started looking and I like this one, but I'm not quite ready to commit
• find a new work table - we're using a drop leaf table that belonged to the Husband's grandfather but it's not quite big enough.  It will work though until I stumble across one that will be perfect.  I can be patient.

So we've been able to take the room from this

to this

We've still got a ways to go but I am very excited about the journey!

What Have I Made Lately

Pardon me as I take a design break, sort of...

As I've mentioned before I've been a little crazy with the knitting lately.  I like small projects for the instant gratification and in general I'm a pretty impatient knitter.  The goal I've set for myself is to make a sweater.  I'm a little intimidated but excited about the prospect.  I'm sure I'll have to do something else while I'm working on it too to keep me from completely burning out.  In the meantime, here's what I've made lately:

the Republic Hat - took me forever to find buttons for this bad boy.  Does anyone have a good button source?

 All Away Around Cowl - This was my first attempt at making something seamless with a provisional cast on and using a kitchner stitch to finish.  It's not perfect but it worked out okay in the end.

French Press Slippers - one of my most favorite things I've ever made.  These are SO cute and really easy!  They ended up a little big so my Mom got to be the proud owner of the first pair.  I can't wait to make more.

The Clutch You'll Never Want To Give Up - this clutch is mostly done.  I still need to sew on some buttons or make a fabric flower to glam it up a bit.  My Sister has promised to help me make a lining for it too.

Rosie's new Chihuahua Sweater - my first dog sweater knitted in the round.  I modified the pattern a bit to give some shaping to Rosie's slim figure.  And I made sleeves for the first time!  She looks super cute wearing it when the weather's chilly (the girl shivers at anything below 80 degrees)

Cabled Cowl - this cowl turned out nice and I really love the color of the merino/cashmere blend yarn (it's called limoncello)

and last but not least

Fetching - fingerless gloves to keep my too cold hands warm in the house this winter (the Husband thinks I have ice blocks attached to my hands and feet)

Okay, thanks for the diversion.  Back to design tomorrow!

Can This Be Made Fabulous? - the foot

Do you remember this dresser:

Well, as with most things around here it has taken longer than I originally thought to get it painted.  The work has finally been done but before I make the big reveal I thought I'd show you a funny little detail that emerged after the first few coats of paint.

It has TWO toes with nails on each foot that looks a bit crude and creepy all at the same time.  There's an almost human quality to it in person.  It makes me laugh every time I see them.  It definitely adds an unexpected layer of character to the piece.  Probably not something I would have chosen but now that I have it I love it.  So what do you think?  Fun?  Creepy?  Disturbing?  I give it two toes up.

Pardon Me While I Ramble....

I have been feeling a bit anti-design blog lately and needed to step away from the keyboard a bit.  Design is my job but it's also my hobby and it can be all consuming sometimes.  I have a great passion for it but sometimes it just feels like work and I need a bit of a break to regroup and to think about other things....though, to be honest, it's hard for me to stop thinking about the new sofa I want or the new kitchen I want or the new bed for the guest room I want, etc. etc.  It's not even about wanting stuff.  It's about dreaming of creating a home and spaces that I truly love.  I guess on top of it all I'm feeling a bit like the Cobbler whose children need new shoes. 

Aggh, to get back on track with the topic at hand,  I am trying to give my brain (and heart) a break by doing other things.  I taught myself to knit several years ago and for a very long time made lots of scarves.  It was something simple that I didn't have to think too much about and didn't have to even follow any directions.   Finally last year I decided to take it up a notch and learn some new skills.  I learned to knit in the round and made several hats.  Then I learned to cable and made this hat:

Who knew cabling was so easy.  It looks so complicated.  That taught me the valuable lesson that you won't be able to do it unless you try.  I tend to put the needles down in warm weather so I hadn't made anything lately until a few weeks ago.  I needed a distraction and I was inspired to make this wrap which actually turned out pretty nice (I still need to block it though)

 After finishing this I decided that I have the attention span of a gnat and needed something small to work on.  I've had varying degrees of sucess but I really like how these organic cotton dishcloths turned out. 

I found this excellent pattern from the Homespun Living blog.  The cotton is so soft and beautiful.  I doubt that it will make me want to wash the dishes any better though!    Now I'm making myself a pair of these. 

Fetching from Knitty - Summer 2006

Ah, for cooler weather and a calmer mind. 

 
 

Bad Dog!!

Our sweet puppy (well she's actually a year and a half now) loves to sleep in.  She likes to sleep in even more than me!  She usually stays in bed while we go about doing morning things such as taking showers and catching up on email.  Lately though she's decided that snuggling under the covers isn't enough for her anymore.  We discovered this over the last few days.

Then this

Ugghhh!

She's never been a chewer/destroyer of things that weren't her's to chew.  There has been the rare but random article of clothing.  That happens.  But my bed is so sad now!  Not the way I wanted to start my day. 

Sneaking a Break

I was just sitting on the front porch procrastinating with the Husband and the Puppy, enjoying the beautiful day and thought I'd share a little bit of the view with you too.

The crepe myrtle (or as my Sweet Husband likes to call it - the chrysanthemum tree) beside the porch swing has finally bloomed.  It really is lovely.   

Okay, now back to work!

What I ate for breakfast

Okay so this is an odd post but look how beautiful and yummy the breakfast that my Sweet Husband made for me looks:

Irish oats with fresh peaches, blueberries and a little splash of milk.

Yum

A Friday Favorite

I love my half scale dress form.  I actually own three dress forms.  Does three make a collection?  I own a full size one that stays in the bedroom and wears favorite jewelery and accessories.  I also have a small paper mache one in the kitchen.  It all started about 15 years ago with this one.    She's my favorite.  I found her in a closet in the sewing room of my college.  I used her in a display for my Visual Merchandising class.  I begged Mrs. McGoldrick for her on an almost daily basis after that.  She came home with me on the day I graduated.  I am forever grateful to Mrs. McGoldrick for putting up with me and for letting me keep her!  

My sewing skills are less than stellar.  But she always likes to remind me that I could find myself in an episode of Project Runway at any moment.  She's like a piece of art. 

Isn't she lovely?

Revenge of the Trees - Part 2

So far, 2010 has not been a good year for trees and my family.  In March, a tree fell on my Sweet Husband's car as he was driving on the interstate!  Thankfully he walked away with just a few cuts and bruises.  The car did not survive.  On Saturday while a thunderstorm was brewing and wind was whirling, we heard a loud thump.  We wondered aloud what it might be but didn't investigate.  Later that evening the Husband stepped into the back yard and saw this:

 
Which turned out to be this:

Which broke off of this:

See that big patch of blue sky.  That's where the big limb used to live.  Remarkably there were only a few scuffs on the roof and the edge of the back gutter was bent a little.  Hopefully we can make it through the rest of the year without another attack!  Do you think they like compliments? Or take bribes?  Or like their trunks rubbed?