Our house is in no kind of shape to do this now…but I found this website, and I think the idea is ingenious! It is obviously a European idea…they really do know how to take a vacation. I’m wondering if anybody out there has done a home exchange and what they thought of it? I’d like to travel more…but don’t feel like staying in a cramped and expensive hotel…I’d rather just stay put in one spot for a week. Someone’s house in Spain? Sounds great to me!!

As spring approaches we are talking about all the plans we have for the outside of the house. One of our biggest dilemnas is the front door. It’s a solid Mahogany door. I like it, but on the other hand it’s kind of boring and doesn’t exactly say “welcome”. We were pondering painting it (and we realize painting Mahogany is a total sin). But, now I’m thinking perhaps we should leave it, and instead focus on getting a wooden screen door and painting the screen door red to match the roof of our house. I’m going to start looking for doors at the local salvage/antique architectural stores. Of course I’d like one of these doors , but they’re way out of our price range, especially when there are a lot more important things on the list…

I’ve written almost nothing in a week, just because things are busybusybusy around here. I’ve actually been doing some homework. And, of course, cleaning, since my parents will be coming for their first visit to the house on Thursday. I have to say I’m doing some major cleaning, because when we’re busy working on the house, we let all the rooms go–since every spare moment is spent on whatever room we’re focused on at the moment. For example, it appears that everything has been piling up in the spare bedroom. It’s the place we put all the boxes, extra insulation, scrap wood, etc. And if there is one thing I hate it’s the kind of cleaning where I have to take stuff and find a home for it. Dusting, vacuuming, etc. can be therapeutic at some level - but finding a place to put that spare wood, vase, and dog brush is just annoying.

As I’m cleaning I’m also thinking about what I’ve learned about myself through this home remodel. The main thing I’ve learned about myself is to embrace the fact that I thrive in an environment with half-done projects with 5+projects happening at the same time. The same is true for me at work. So, now I know this is obviously a large part of my personality that seems to work well for me, but I can see where it must drive other’s crazy. Luckily, Eric doesn’t seem to mind this is how I operate. However, I was thinking about my mom, and I know this would drive her insane, since she likes to finish one thing before moving onto the next.

In our TV room we have Natuzzi furniture which we got almost 18 months ago. I’ve been telling Eric that I’m going to order another ottoman for quite awhile - when we get into the loveseat, there is just not enough room for the two of us and the two dogs with the one ottoman. So, adding another will add some room to the seating area, and the width of the two ottomans together will match the width of the loveseat. Anyway, yesterday I went into the Inkwell Homestore here in town, and ordered another ottoman. It’s a good thing too - because they said our style of Natuzzi is going to change on March 1! If I’d waited a couple weeks we would have been screwed. Now we have to wait 6 months since it’s sent all the way from Italy.

The fact that our line of Natuzzi furniture is going to change on March 1 did bring up a question: Should we get another recliner since our TV room only has seating for 3? We’ve decided no, because we’re really in love with Barcelona style chairs, and are going to keep our eye out for a good deal. Here’s an example of a Barcelona chair:

I’m somewhat bummed ‘cause I’ve had no time to do anything to the house in the last few days, and I’d at least like to do some cleaning…

But, I have been very busy with a paper for school, which I handed in last night. And, one of my friends had an advertisement go in the paper today for his business. It was my job to create a website for his business, but the ad creeped up on us, so I had to make a temporary one page website. Nonetheless, I think it’s one of the best one page websites I’ve ever seen: stonandcobble.com

I’ll be back this weekend…

It’s been a very busy weekend, because I’ve been procrasting my homework! As they say, “If you want something done ask the busy person.” It’s true - I have a huge paper due on Tuesday, therefore I thought it was the perfect time to redo the bathroom floor.

On friday night Eric went over to Bend to do some rock climbing with friends. He left around 5 p.m. Around 7 p.m. I was in the master bathroom thinking that we really need a new floor. Yes, we plan on completely remodeling the bathroom in 5+ years as our final project, but in the meantime, the vinyl is yellowing. It isn’t particularly ugly…just really dirty looking as a result. So, at 7 p.m. I got in the car and headed to Albany and the local Home Depot (about a 15+ minute drive). I purchased vinyl tiles in black and white, floor cleaner, embossing leveler, and a new tool for cutting (batteries and all). Around 9 p.m. I arrived back home, and began cleaning the floor. Around 10 p.m. I put on the embossing leveler with my new little trowel. And then around 11 p.m. I began putting the tiles down. Around 12 p.m. I decided I was done for the day.

The next day I decided I really should begin the paper. So, throughout the day I switched on-and-off, paper-tiling-paper-tiling, etc.

Eric arrived home around 9 pm and was amazed with the work I’d done. He wasn’t happy, however, with the mess I’d created. Again, he cleans as he goes and I make a big pile at the entrance to the bathroom, thereby blocking the entrance to the bedroom. He said, “This is dangerous.” To which I replied, “Just for a day, you can hop over it.”

Sunday arrives and Eric wakes up to do some work in the kitchen. He is focusing mainly on the baseboards. I finish up the tiling. I tell Eric I need new baseboard for the bathroom, now that I’ve demolished the old 70’s baseboard. We head to the lumber store. I get absorbed in new large paint swatches available from Benjamin Moore. Eric tells me it’s time to go, and we’re not shopping for house colors at the moment. I begrudginglyagree. We load back into the car, and arrive home. Eric has purchased some baseboard for the dining room, and begins that job. I go into the bathroom and caulk around the shower. I have never used tub and tile caulk, and it is weird. Kinda glooey and sticky. Not like my favorite painter’s caulk at all. This stuff sticks to my hands and makes it hard to type my paper.

I work some on the upper part of the double hung window. Give up after 15 minutes.

Back to the bathroom, clean up. Decide to put in a new doorknob. After an hour of wrestling with the doorknob, pounding, screaming, and generally freaking out, I decide it officially does not fit and needs a bit more room around the radius where the knob goes. I give up. The door now has a hole with no knob. I walk outside, where Eric is cutting baseboard. He says, “What were you doing?” He must have heard the yelling. I say, “Trying to put in the doorknob. I give up. It’ll be there tomorrow.”