Needles and Pens

Honestly, I'm about to cry "Uncle" on this challenge (who's brilliant idea was this anyway?), but maybe August will be that magical month when all the loose ends are tied up and I feel like I can actually move forward. I'm giving it one more shot anyway... First, some "progress" on the kitchen (the MAY project): The replacement window we ordered came in -- but we measured wrong. It's a little too small, so now some carpentry is required to make it fit. How we'll trim it all out and make it look right is beyond me, but there has to be a way. Of course, before we discovered that it was too small, we had the old window completely out. And then right back in it went: Last night we got the supplies to "make it fit," so maybe it'll be finished in the near future... (sigh) Meanwhile, I picked a number for August (which I'm already beginning to regret)... number nine, the basement storage room: Looks like fun, ri...

Previous Posts on February's Project: Project Overview and "Before" Pictures Mid-month Update Heads Up (Ongoing Suspended Ceiling Project) February has finally come to an end, and I can't say I'm sorry to see it go! We were hit with all the typical cold viruses and stomach bugs this month, and the last couple of weeks felt like slow motion. It's a wonder we got anything done at all, but I'm happy to say we made definite progress on our February challenge project, the basement rec room. Here are a few pictures taken this morning. The view, coming down the stairs, looking over the stair railing: Believe it or not, that floor is clean. I washed it myself just yesterday. On my hands and knees. My kingdom for new flooring! Despite the many things I didn't get done, my goal of making this a usable game room was accomplished. (As evidenced by the gamer who would rather be in all my "after" pics than stop playing his game.) Isn...

It's been awhile since I've posted an update on my February Better Home project, and with only three days left, I've been taking stock of what's been done and what can still realistically be done in these last few days. I think I was on target awhile back when I said I'd be happy just to have the area de-junked and the floor washed. Well, I have three days left to get that floor washed... LoL That's kind of how things have been going here this month. Aside from some major de-cluttering, we did get a start on a long-put-off project in this room -- the ceiling. Though the two bedroom ceilings were finished when we bought our house in 1998, the rest of the basement still has the heat duct-plumbing-wiring-and-beams decor overhead. In the area I've been working on, this is the basic ceiling view. Years ago, we purchased a suspended ceiling "starter kit" for the room, but never got around to so much as opening the box. This challenge has, if no...

Thought I got lost in that basement mess, didn't ya? LoL I've spent an awful lot of time down there, for sure. Between that, working on a custom quilt order, and doing some major computer overhauling, it's been a hectic couple of weeks (and I have the overflowing inbox to prove it -- I'm SO behind!). But I thought it was time for a little project update on my basement rec room, so I put together a few "before" and "progress so far" pictures. The first thing you'll notice is how bright the room is now (aside from the wall color)! My hubby and I went shopping for some much-needed new fluorescent light fixtures on day one, and he had them all installed that night. That improvement alone was like night and day -- literally! Looking better! The blue Hoosier cabinet you can barely see in the before pic has been moved to our upstairs entryway. I have plans for it later... Lots of junk has been moved out of the way, and now you can really see ho...

February is here -- time for a new Home Challenge! Did you finish your project for January? If you made any progress at all (even if you didn't quite get it all done), give yourself a pat on the back. Progress is what it's all about! If you've blogged about your January project, remember to link up at the end of this post so we can all come and see what you've accomplished. :o) As for February, the lucky number is.... number 10! On my list, that's the basement rec room. Heaven help me. I was really hoping to get out of the basement this month, but that's the luck of the draw. And after making the guest room over, it would be nice for guests to get there without first walking through the technicolor junkyard. Wondering what that looks like? Beware. It's not pretty. Here come the "befores" ... The view as you come down the stairs: Turn to the right, and there's the guest room, straight ahead. So far, not too overwhelming... until...