Projects galore

In an effort to prioritize gainful employment, a variety of home improvement projects, and spring gardening, I've been scarce around here, I must say. But that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking of things I wanted to blog about. From the glories of May to my innumerable hobbies, there is indeed much that could be said. And even now, I write this as my eyes grow blurry at the end of a night.

 

I found a job, and I love it. I have a home all to myself, and I adore it. Above is pictured a day of sorting out art for my walls. Below, a project that took some time, strength, and gumption, but is now finally finished. One day several weeks ago, I borrowed my sister's eldest, and their fifteen-passenger van, and drove into the city for a trip to IKEA. After wide-eyed roaming, a few solid purchases (and sorrow at the lack of meatballs), we loaded up an industrial cart with nearly four hundred pounds worth of shelves. My Marvelous Niece, just lately turned teen, lent her strength and good humor to the task as we leaned into our woman power and teamwork to get all those shelves home. On the cart, around the building, off the cart, in the van, out of the van, into my home. And then we revived ourselves with noodles and thrift-shopping.

 

And so for the next few weeks I was putting together bookshelves on my library floor. Sometimes bringing in the enthusiasm of my nieces and nephews to the task, but most often working solo. I've gone through quite a few audiobooks these days, with all the projects. As you can see, as I built each shelf, I painted them to blend into my library walls. Then lifted them against the wall before beginning the next shelf. It took a bit before I got the fine-tuning of moulding cut-outs and wiring holes, then finally bolted them to the walls. When I could at last begin filling them with books.

 

And that isn't all, of course. I'm also deep into gardening, whenever the weather has been fine. It's a rainy one today, so my lawn stands un-mowed, and the last of my weeds sit idly by. But I've quite transformed the little plots, seeding flowers and planting herbs. I've found a spot for my climbing rose, and my birdfeeder that never seems to stay full. I was hoping to attract an oriole to an orange, but with the rain, I haven't been able to do much bird-watching.

 

One of my other projects has been turning a sad old mudroom into a bright and happy conservatory. I can't seem to find a decent before picture of the mudroom, but you can imagine the raw, discolored wood, and the gloomy, dusty atmosphere. I started by scrubbing it down from top to bottom, and then painting it in numerous coats off-white. I'll post more pictures quite soon of the happiness that is my growing conservatory. One correlated project was to refurbish this antique door into my potting table. It's finally ready for assembly, so look out for more pictures of the final conservatory look.

One project that is far from over is my diningroom, but I am enjoying every minute of demolition, renovation, and brainstorming. There should be some really excellent before and afters of this one once finished. I am having altogether too much fun.

Here you see some progress in the shelving department. When I've had a chance to cozy it up some more, I shall continue to share. For now I am very glad to be completely done with boxes. Shelves are out and set up, boxes have been flattened and recycled. The last of the book boxes have been unpacked at last, jumbled onto the shelves till sorting time, and the boxes banished for good.

  

And onward still, filling the days with warm food, 

 

 

coffee, tea; books and new bikes

the grounding beauty of gardens, and the scent of lilacs and lily-of-the-valley

 

Peace to you, my friends. More soon,