Monday, July 18, 2011

An Unusual Before and After~

Okay~ I admit that I had a completely different second post for my blog planned, but life has come in and tinkered a bit. And so today I want to share a very special before and after shot in the way of 'Home Improvement'. The kind of improvement brought on by life happening.





Behold a bucket~
If you look closely, you will notice that this bucket happens to have a plunger and toilet scrubber sitting nearby. They are a little clue as to where this lovely blue bucket happens to be:

. . . in the corner of our bathroom . . .
. . . where the toilet use to be . . .
. . . our only bathroom I might add.

Oh, yes. -At 10pm last night Husband began the two-hour process of ripping out our one and only toilet. And believe it or not, this was not an overly zealous re-decorating whim that brought us to this place, but a suddenly discovered puddle in the bathroom coming from underneath our toilet, which eventually led to the discovery that every nut and bolt was completely corroded and the wax seal underneath was simply no longer with us.
Of course, taking out a toilet is simple- and a very nice U-Tube video showed us just how simple it could be.
Unfortunately, 'simple' never seems to happen much to us, and in fact it was one of the most disgusting late-night nightmares ever, due to the two bolts at the bottom being so deteriorated they must have broken off years ago.
I'll leave it to say that the night was thus filled with a metal saw, lots of towels, a hammer, and some 'colorful' language. I will also note here that the male species is incredibly lucky in their anatomy in this situation, and I will future note I am so grateful that my dear neighbor across the street stays up really late- and has a working toilet.

However- there is a silver-lining. (Aside from us mean parents getting a good laugh at the look on the younger's face when he came downstairs in the morning and found a bucket where his throne once was.)
Early this morning, Husband and I were off on the hunt for our replacement, and I do believe we scored. The ReBuilding Center across the river in Portland was our destination and it did not disappoint. For only twenty dollars we came home with this beauty . . .







Isn't it wonderful?!!!!
I can honestly say that after twelve hours without one, at this moment there is nothing more beautiful in my home. Period.

I would also like to note that our old toilet was lacking in the 'flush' department, and this baby has some power to her! Oh, how I love her!

Also noted:
The flowers on top were simply added for the effect of something pretty to look at in case not everyone is as enthusiastic over her porcelain beauty. Hard to imagine though . . . ;)

Cheers!

~Jennie


PS. In case anyone is interested, I'm super excited and honored to have my home featured on Etsy's blog Get the Look Decor. Check it out if you get a minute, and, I promise, there are no toilet pictures over there!

Friday, July 15, 2011

~A Beginning~ 7.15.11


So here I am at the very beginning of a new blog. This is a long time coming and I have so much to tinker with and learn, but I'm here and that is what matters.

So I thought for this beginning, I'd show a picture of a typical day beginning here at home. There it is- my view from the couch. My spot where I welcome each day- always with a cup of coffee- and I enjoy the light, if there happens to be any. It's quiet in this spot (since I force the boys to stay in the kitchen with their breakfast) and I have proved many times that it is a wonderful place for curling up with a book, a purring fur-ball, a purring child (yes, purring!- the younger calls himself 'big-kitten' and he thinks he's a cat- at age nine! . . but, that's for another post) or with myself for a little 'eye resting'. I love my spot. And yes, the family knows it's mine! To be fair Husband has his own couch, just to the right of mine that happens to be his spot. And the rocking chair you see in the picture is Quinn's spot- one of the fur-boys. As for the kids- the floor works, right? ;)

It was an especially peaceful start to the morning today due to lack of children in residence- younger is at his Nana's and older is on a youth retreat. Amazing how wonderfully quiet it has been, not to mention how quickly things get done without interruption- laundry to fold? Two loads in what felt like only minutes. -a kitchen to clean? Clean what?- there was hardly any mess! E-mails that need to get sent? Without distraction, I can actually form thoughts into sentences at a decent rate! Honestly, pure bliss. I am even more patient with the furry ones still here- even during their constant 'in and out' sessions this morning. A little break is very nice- and a good time to make a 'beginning' . . .
~Cheers!