HOME - Bathroom - work in progress

I am about ready for this whole disaster of a bathroom to be buttoned up for good. We started this project (flipping through my calendar) 4 weeks ago. Really, was it that long ago? The first step was ripping out the plastic shower insert so we could tile the shower surround.

Boring tan plastic insert removed - check out the cool old wallpaper - must be the original from 1913. I wish we still had the old clawfoot tub.

Close-up of the wall paper and lathe.

Tub on the side and a look at the weak, water-damaged floor beneath - we ripped the floor out and put in a new subfloor.

Screwing in the backerboard - the green is the water/mold resistant drywall.

First few rows of subway tile up - we chose wild and crazy matte white tiles.

This is where the fun began - I spent some time calculating how to cut these sheets of tile so they would fit together to form 6-inch strip. Really - this was more difficult than it looks...

Here are the pebbles on the wall - the color only gets better when wet!

New fixtures installed and temporary curtain up - all ready for a shower. This whole shower step took us one long wknd. We started on Friday - when I say we, I mean Rob - I went for a long bike ride in preparation for my century ride this weekend - eeck - not sure that was enough training... Saturday - more demo and then I headed off to a baby shower. Finally, on Sunday I stuck it out for the whole day. Grouting spread into Monday and by Tuesday morning we could use the shower! Between then and now we have replaced the bathroom window, torn down the plaster walls, put up new drywall, mudded, sanded, and painted. We are now waiting for the floor tiles to arrive - should be TODAY! Then we can tile, put in the new sink and toilet. I am looking forward to putting an end to the drywall dust!

HOME - Fireplace update

We officially said goodbye to Directv today and I am thrilled. Rob has talked me into buying a new computer that we have hooked up to the tv. It's really pretty great - we can watch shows on Hulu, the ones that come through our digital antennae, and we can surf the web - all from the comfort of the couch. Here are photos of the progress we've made on the fireplace.

BEFORE - 1980s Miami Vice


DURING

DURING

ALMOST THERE

OKAY - so it's almost done in this photo but really - it is completely done in real life - I just don't feel like taking a picture right now... The cables are hidden but we still need to get a shelf of some sort to store the computer on (the computer is that tiny box on the right side of the mantel).
Our newest project is one that scares me - ALOT! We are replacing the windows ourselves. Rob insists on wood windows and in order to afford them - we are going to do it ourselves. Here is what we have to work with...

This is the window in the spare bedroom with the molding removed. Notice the lovely powder blue house next door. IT IS FINALLY FOR SALE!!!! THANK GOODNESS!!!

Spring is trying to spring

The brewing is going well. We just brewed batch number 7. We tried a soba ale (kit from Rogue Brewery) - it's made with buckwheat rather than traditional wheat. Sounds like it will be protein-rich and a little cloudier than usual. Our newest adventure is growing hops! I finally talked Rob into it - he is very sure that they will take over our yard since they are supposedly quite invasive. To quiet his concern, I planted them in a plastic pot with the bottom cut out - right in the ground. I planted 2 rhizomes of Cascade hops. I sure hope to get some this year.

We also installed a fence around the veggie garden area to keep the pests (Wiley and Penny) from laying all over my garlic! Garlic is the only green at this point but I am still crossing my fingers that the spring mix and spinach will come up soon - even with the 3 inches of snow earlier this week... I have become a little impatient with these sorts of things. We've got several plants started in the house already - kohlrabi, basil, peppers, tomatoes, and rosemary.

It has been a difficult transition back into reality. We spent a lovely week in Sayulita, Mexico - swimming, surfing, fishing, and relaxing. If you need a great place to stay down there I have a great recommendation!

Here is a taste of our first breakfast in Sayulita - best breakfast tacos ever!

Something's a' brewing...

Now that many of our home renovations are done - we've had some time to begin brewing our own beer. We live in the great state of Utah, and it is great, don't get me wrong - but the liquor laws are just so backwards that we decided to take things into our own hands. So, we chose to keg our beer so we would not have to collect, wash, sterilize, and fill a gazillion bottles of beer. Our first brew (Goblin's Brew) was an amber that was actually pretty good after we waited patiently for it to mellow our. For the second batch we went with a kit from the Rogue Brewery, Dead Guy Ale. It is delicious but the verdict is still out as to how it compares to the real thing. We have to pick up a bottle for comparison.

This bucket sure was tough to open!

I had the complicated job of holding the end of the tube against the keg.