Bathroom Redo Day 4 or 5 (I can't remember anymore!)

So this remodel seems like it has been forever, especially when you have to drive 6 miles to take a shower everyday.  There aren't any pictures because there is too much that has been done.  The drywall is up, thank goodness.  We had a little hick-up on Monday when Corey realized that the drywall was the wrong size.  This is after getting up the ceiling and one piece and it was at 10:30 at night so we couldn't do anything about it until the morning.  So that puts us a day behind. As of right now, Corey is in the there mudding everything and MAYBE we can start tiling at 9:00 tonight.  We shall see. 

Must... get..... bathroom..... done...... by ....... 4th of JULY. 

I have faith in him. I know he will get it done if he has to be up to 2:00 in the morning Monday.  Can't wait to post pictures.  To keep my wonderful man going strong, I have been feeding him well at night.  Gotta give him fuel :)

Dinner Tonight

While my man was working hard in our bathroom, I made him a tasty meal of bbq pork that was soaked in a beer brine,  a sweet and sour peach sauce, bbq acorn squash, and  fresh garlic green beans from our garden. Hope this will give him fuel for the rest of the night to keep on truck-en in our bathroom.

Bathroom Remodel Day 2 and 3

And the dust and disorganization continues.  The last two days Corey has torn out the shower, redid the plumbing, he is a certified plumber now :), and did some rewiring.  I ask my grandfather "With all Corey is doing for this project, how much do you think it would have cost us to have some else come in and do everything?"  He said about $10,000-$15,000!!! We are doing it for about $1500! Corey has been our lifesaver for all home improvement projects. I am so thankful for his hobbies.

Wiring for a light/fan combo

Just finished plumbing for our new shower fixture.

"Ummm, did I do it right???" I am hoping that is not what he is thinking.

The bin is FULL!!! Party in the dumpster everyone. 

Bathroom Remodel Day 1

Well, the demo started yesterday at 2:30.  My husband didn't take time to rest on his official start of summer.  He walked straight into the garage, grabbed a hammer and started demoing away.  The boys could hardly wait for daddy to get home yesterday because he promised to let them break a wall done.  I see a family construction business in our future.  

Before......

After.
Shower is coming out today, Friday, along with some new plumbing.  I am just praying that we don't have a mold problem behind the tile. Saturday is drywall day.  As Corey was demoing, I kept hearing the theme song from Renovation Realities in my head. There are always problems on that show. Hopefully we won't follow in their footsteps. 

Garden

Our summer garden has started delivering it's gifts.  Our tomatoes are taking off but not quite ready to be picked.  I'd say with in the next 3 weeks we will have enough juicy heirloom tomatoes to test every tomato recipe out there.  

Tyler found the first gifst ready to be picked... our surprise carrots! We didn't plant these.  We think what happened was that we had a pack of carrot seeds that the boys purchase and then left outside on the side of the garden.  We then had all that rain and wind and we believe the seeds got tossed in our garden. To our surprise, we got 2 carrots!

I believe we are going to be adding to our garden this summer.  We are going to be building 2 more beds in the backyard.  I want one strictly herbs and the other 2 in very well organized rows :) Pictures will be posted as soon as they are made. This garden has been one of the best things we added to our backyard.  The whole family has so much fun taking care of it. 

Sand Pail

 I finally found it!! My vintage sand pail.  I have been looking for one for almost a year.  I found them online but they were way too much for my wallet.  Sugar Plum craft fair was my lucky stop.  As Ethan and I were walking down the aisles, I saw this beautiful bucket staring at me through a pile of vintage toys.  I moved as swiftly as I could to swoop in and grab it before another pail lover saw it. 

 As soon as I stuck it in my bag, a lady went looking through the toys and then glared back at me. It may have been just a stare but it seemed like a glare :)
I guess I was the winner of the one and only sand pail at Sugar Plum :)
Yeah for me.  I looks so summery on my piano along with my wooden flag Corey built.   

Jam Time

I made my second batch of jam today.  Well, actually my first REAL batch because I followed EVERY step to the canning process.  The jam of the day is vanilla, cardamon, apricot jam thanks to my wonderful neighbor who loaded us up on apricots.  The boys wanted to be part of this, so I put them in charge of cutting the apricots. Tyler is quite the lean mean cutting machine. 

30 apricots, 1 1/2 cup sugar, 1 vanilla bean, and a teaspoon of cardamon later we have 4 jars of jam. Truly amazing and oh so delicious.  I can't wait to spoon this over oatmeal or warm pancakes tomorrow morning. Next attempt, something with rosemary or sage.   

Homemade is just better

I don't know what has gotten into me.  I just made a huge batch of homemade coconut almond granola and then attempted to make apricot jam.  I did my own thing with the jam and it actually turned out quite yummy.  I just need to study up on the canning process so I can make large batches later. I was always one for modern conveniences but lately the thought of making everything from scratch has tickled me pink! I love being able to enjoy food that I know exactly where it came from and how it was made.  I think I have rubbed off on my oldest son.  After dinner, he decided he wanted to make homemade lemonade. I told him we had some I just bought from Sprouts, but  he said "The kind made from these, holding lemons, just tastes better mom."  While doing all this cooking, 

  I am still tossing around the thought of building a chicken coop in our backyard and maybe even hanging a clothes line.  My dad has said lately that I would have done

well on his family's farm in Nebraska.  I think I would have, for a few months :)

Summer Decorating

Well, we don't have a mantle but our piano is the closes thing I have to decorate like one. I saw a mantle decorated for summer on my favorite blog, The Lettered Cottage, and I wanted to do something like it on our piano.  I showed Corey this awesome flag and he made one for me almost identical. All you need is 2, 3" firring strips cut down, whatever size you want.  He then screwed them together in the back.  I painted each strip with a water wash of blue and white paint before he screwed them together.  I found the small star fish at a shell shop in Huntington Beach.  They were $1 a piece. And here you go!

 I then saw an idea for scrap material flags that I couldn't wait to make.  

I found quilting scraps at Johann's that were on sale and couldn't pass up.  The flags are just dowels cut in thirds.  I then attached squares fabric pieces to the dowels with small rubber bands. I want to make more for the 4th of July!

So this is my summer mantle/piano. 

I added a finishing touch of an old apple sauce jar filled with pebbles and a candle.  The other side of the piano has a hurricane filled with shells and a candle as well.