one done

Our little upstairs landing is finally a checked off project, moved to the complete row on our "Mighty Big Ambitions" list. We have scratched our head for some time now trying to address the pealing paint on walls and ceiling due to milk paint used in the late 1800's...new paint will not adhere! We have consulted, googled, brought in a professional painter...all with the same result, more head scratching. Add to that the fact that this area has several access points well beyond the safe scope of even our extension ladder.

After considerable contemplation, we made a plan. We would sand the walls as best we could, laying a patchwork of wallpaper squares on the two hardest to access walls (easier to put up a square of wallpaper while balancing precariously on a ladder than a sheet 10 foot in length). We would wallpaper the opposite two walls  ~ ~ And we would paste the crap out of what we put up!  We also called in our wonderful carpenter, Charlie, to put up a new ceiling.

I knew we could add some drama to this area as it really is a pass through to rooms on our upper floor.....so I pulled out one purchased wallpaper pattern and grabbed two other patterns I had purchased at thrift sales. Our end result.....we love. We have officially titled this space the "Lilac Tree Inn" after our favorite place to stay on Mackinac Island. It is fresh, vibrant and quite charming. And there's my McCoy...our upstairs cat adding his approval.

hard hat zone...kind of

Just a little peak at our project progress:

Bathroom is almost ready for a coat of "Daisy White".  Soon, soon, please soon!

Upstairs hallway....had some fun with wallpaper & some kitty help (my McCoy).

The reveal......soon!

in the wee hours...

In those early hours between dusk & dawn, I often evaluate, reflect & plan. Going over the past day's events or the next often helps me organize my thoughts while lulling me back to sleep. These lists are my sheep....I count them until my eyes again close.

Last night I realized that we had accomplished well beyond our share during this new year. My work life seemed in better order, with an office clean-up to end the month. At home, we had organized closets, given & replaced clothing and come well beyond the half way mark in two large projects: our upstairs hallway & bathroom. We enter February with the goal in sight. Soon the final dust will settle. Soon we will walk through rooms without concern of bumping into displaced furniture. Soon I will add all my sweet details, embellishing these rooms with their own personality - again. Then on we will march to the next on our list....

In the wee hours, all is right in my little world, so I indeed savor the stillness. In my mind I cross off items & smile to add a few more.

here we go...again

In 2006 we began a big undertaking....breathing life back into this 1857 farmhouse. Room by room we traveled on our journey, painting my way into a wrist brace. With the help of Charlie, our Carpenter & Dale, our Electrician.....not to mention roofers, plumbers, heating specialists, floorers & a mason - we toiled.

This winter we begin again - choosing three indoor projects: the upstairs hallway, bathroom and the cold storage over the summer kitchen. We hope to finish one room per month through spring.

There is furniture and my sweet collections displaced into other rooms. Walking through the house in the dark now becomes a "travel at your own risk"!

Dale began Friday readying electrical in the bathroom, Charlie arrives at daybreak to begin work on ceilings.

Here we go again...yea, I think!

Sweet little places...

Sweet little places just nourish my soul.  Here is a little table in our upstairs hallway.  It is already for a little holiday celebration...an Easter rabbit stays out year round.  Under the cloche on a stack of plates is a vintage peacock ornament in a little Ohio Art tin teapot.

Sweet little places nourish my soul.

I did it, I did it -- I got the picture loaded of the Peacock in the Ohio Art teapot on the stack of dishes on the cake pedastal.....under the cloche!!  Whew -- that is one special peacock!!