Vestibule semi reveal

Me thinks this is as much vestibule that is going to get completed before the New Year.  The temps have dropped postponing painting - make that re-painting - for another season.  The trim still needs to be painted; with my newly found skills and likes, maybe I will do that... the glass still needs to be inserted into the interior french door. And some front door leveling work is required. BUT the tile is down, the thresholds are in. The wall paper scraped and A paint color put on.

The floor. Initially there were several thin black mats nailed to the oak floor. The oak was damaged and apparently beyond sanding and sprucing up (ha ha, two kinds of trees used in reference to the floor job, that amuses me. yep.). As well, I didn't want a wood surface in the vestibule.I found some mosaic slate tile at the bargain outlet. For a day or two I wavered, wondering about getting tiny marble octagon tiles, but they would be too soft for the front entry.  Thank goodness for initial inspiration as that helped finalize the decision to stick w/ mosaic stone tile. (Eventually I will HAVE do a bathroom in marble octagon.)

The "wrong" and current paint color on the walls is Oatlands taupe, Benjamin Moore. This was left over paint from the bathroom renovation. Some how the contract-Her grabbed the wrong paint can. The walls should be Vintage Gray, same as the stripes in the living room.

Peering through the glassless interior french door. At least I HAVE the glass. I just need to get it installed now. The scattered shoes and a blanket to stop some of the draft (door needs leveling) give the appearance of well used updated vestibule. Non? :)

It's Christmas eve morning, early morning.

Not a creature was stirring, not even little kiddies, while I rolled out of bed.

Luc the pug, snoring soundly on his cushion,

The kitties prowling around the freshly fallen snow.

From us to you, we wish you a Merry Christmas.

Festive inside; spring outside?

Still no snow (yeah yeah, I want it. Lots of it); And my son wants it too. Maybe we will find some 4 hours north. Although, I know there is no snow at grandma and grandpas either, but my sons hopes so. For now, we drop some snow on tiny town.

A peak over the tree to the mantel

Some old bark saved from last year, a collection of nutcrackers and some fuzzy reindeer.

A little picnic on a box, as the dining table is a being used for something else.

Ode to our little Christmas preparation, as my 9 year old questions Santa, hoping he is real, wanting to keep the magic alive and deciding he better mail his letter afterall. And little Lucy experiences, for the 2nd time, the magic of the season.

Retro radio flyer

Hmmm, what's this...

A keyboard. I know where this goes...

Oh look, nail polish. Shiny. Pretty.

SNOW!

A Christmas gift list

Actually, its not just "A" Christmas wish list, its MY Christmas wish list.

1) Upside down No-Fuss Hanging Air Plant Pods cool as a cucumber specifically designed for a Tillandsia plant. I ordered one for my sister and brother in-law. And one for myself. (p.s. this link takes you to fab.com where one can purchase this item for 30% less BUT its one of those sites that you have to join...and I may or may not get a commission if you click on that link and join/purchase although I. no. intention. for this ... I just love the plant holder. You can check the artist out on  Etsy as well, and click his link to fab and support him.

2) Snow shoes. This particular item has been on my wish list for the past 5 years. I wonder if I will treat myself.

3) A Mystery Box. I ordered this for myself. And then an HUGE box w/ no return address arrived. Huge, like three feet tall. I was tickled and decided to put it under the Tree (that I still don't have) for Christmas day. And then, a week later, a smaller box arrived. Stamped with Wuslu. I peaked in the big box to see who this belonged to ... my mom. She ordered stuff for the kids and had it sent to my house. And the Wuslu Mystery Box, I decided not to save it. It was a nice surprise, a feedbag pillow with a (lame) quote on it and a couple wooden boxes with more quotes. Hello pinterest all over.  Two the of the quotes bored me and now these things will be gifts for someone else. (Again, Wuslu is some kind of membership type of store, good for flea markety shabby chic stuff - click the history button if you want to find the mystery box item)

4) Patagonia sweater jacket. YUM. I tried this jacket on last summer. Yes 16 months ago. It felt beautiful. I was in between sizes so I didn't want to dump a pile of money on something I may shrink out of. I haven't shrunk so I am wishing to get this with the cash my parents usually gift me.

5) Ikea Sheep Skin rug, for my new sofa. (idea implanted into brothers head)

6) leather vintage belt from ETSY, plates from Anthropologie, to finish the set I started, the "Undecorate" book to go with my "Decorate" book; tea towels (I couldn't wait, Lucy keeps stealing mine and swaddling her plush friends), linen table cloth (not on my Christmas wishlist, I just want another one ... if I ever get to the fabric store. An easy peasy thing to make, order 3 yards, wash to fray edges and lay on table...I want a gray one. Or a white one. Or both.)


For more ideas, you can click on the ETSY widget to the right.

Looking back, last December, we were breaking snow fall records. I believe MOST of last winters snow fell in December. We went skating and cross country skiing. We felled our Christmas tree. It was festive. This year, so far nothing. Warm and balmy like the first days of spring. I gotta get my Christmas on. Snap.

last years picture

Tracking

Ooh la la! My sofa is almost here!

If you are curious about my sofa musings or just want to see some cool sofas click here: My Favourite Sofa series.

Tracking the order since the beginning of Dec., I was informed it would be made and ready to leave warehouse and go to shipping around Dec 8th. Now I just need the call to confirm arrival date.

And the vestibule! Almost done... She painted the walls the wrong color ... Ooops! Big ooops.  Funny thing is I wanted the painting taken off the estimate as it was too high, but she was soooo insistent, kind of like an all or nothing project. She lowered the price a bit and I caved and said fine, do it ALL. Humpfh. Now she needs to repaint the walls, finish the trim and install the glass to the french door next week when the glass arrives.

Still in time for Christmas. A present for me.

Sneak peek

Yeah, the vestibule upgrade continues.

Friends

We returned home late last night, 12:35am.  Two sleeping beauties, contorted yet sleeping peacefully in their back seat chairs. We, driving westbound, passed a fatal car accident on the other side of the median. The silence and traffic free road on our side was deafening.  The flashing red lights, the backed up traffic for several exists and then darkness on the other side was sobering.  The rest of the drive was quiet, long, uneventful and lit ever so brightly with stars and waning moon.

We pull in to the driveway, kiss our blessings and each carry a child. They stir, they wake and they fall back asleep as their heads hit the pillow. I ignored the dreaded words out of Prof. S. mouth. I wanted to see for myself. I wanted to peer through the interior french door and see the reveal. But before he said anything, a pile of debris caught my eye as I had pulled into the driveway. That was either a good sign (finished!) or a bad sign (not finished).  But I heard his words. And the tone. I knew I wouldn't be awestruck. Nor shocked, now.

Three extension cords crisscrossing through the house. A little motor working full force, warming the tiles. Dust still wafting down and settling on the hardwood floors. Piles of baseboard and trim leaning against the wall. Yep, The walls look exactly like we left them on Friday. Bottom half stripped, top half still with wallpaper. Aye.

Pressed for time, I ignore the ringing phone this morning and listen to the contract-Hers voice mail. I didn't hear all the reasons for the incompleteness, but I did hear she would have the vestibule completed before my company arrived this week. Hmmm, well that is today, so I doubt the walls will be stripped and painted and the tiles grouted by the time I return from work. If it couldn't be done in three days, how could it be done in one day. Shrug. The tiles did get laid (haha, yep that makes me laugh) and the front entry threshold rebuilt. I still like the tiles and their location in my home is growing on me, but I do think it gives my house an entirely different look. BUT they are practical, cool and look exactly like the inspiration tiles I found ... so I dunno why I am not feeling the love.

Better then a vestibule renovation reveal, my good friend from across this fine land and then WAY UP north, is coming for a visit. Better then freshly painted walls, newly tiled floor and windproof doors and thresholds, we will sit and chat and sip and sap for three days straight - except we will have to do this over the noise of construction.

**archived photos, 2/2011

Two gift ideas and a vestibule

Nope, I will not cooperate. I will NOT smile for the camera. I won't even show my face.  Hiding behind this awesome, awesome classic book, The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier, about a boy and his loyalty to the Montreal Canadiens. We are off to a Christmas party and the Sens vs Canadiens game on Saturday.

HA. Persistence prevails. I got you AND a smile!

Crocheted Sock Monkey hat from ETSY. We bought the hat a month ago and it's sweet & chunky. Lucy loves to wear it. It seems the store owner is out of stock right now ... but there are plenty of inspiring things on ETSY ... I have found many and bought several gifts over the past few weeks and am anxiously awaiting their arrival.

And, hopefully, the vestibule work will begin today.

I wont get into the estimate and then the discussions concerning the estimate. It has left me with an ill feeling about the whole thing but I decided last night that I will move forward with this job regardless. AND I will be sure to use this experience in my favour, when I am ready to start the kitchen in a few months.

Some sweetness "I-found-a-chocolate-and-put-the-whole-thing-in-my-mouth" look

Who me, innocent.