Sunday, January 29, 2006

Inspiration

These doors. Found on page 13 of Where Women Create. Are what my studio will look like. Today I'm going to try to rip up the vinyl tiles and see what I need to do to the cement to get it ready for a cement treatment of some sort... and then I'll figure out how to wash the walls in these colors. Or maybe I should do it the other way around? So I don't ruin the floor when I paint the walls? I'll figure it out.



and later that day:

I went there today, fully intending to rip that floor up but it's very sticky under the tiles so I put the one I pulled up back down and now I need to figure out how to get the sticky stuff up as I go, otherwise it will be like walking on fly tape. Not good with cats and dogs and kids underfoot, I'm sure. (Then again...) Instead, I started to get the place a little organized... here it is so far, really not that interesting, but proof of progress, something I need right now.







Here it is from a few weeks ago, before I had to block the chimney up to keep that cat out of it.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Where Women Create

I ordered this book to help inspire me to create a kick-butt art studio in the new house - it's really a great book - so much eye candy and many good ideas. I highly recommend it.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Eau de Rat, and the Adventure that is Our New House

What a day. Up early to clear the tribe out of the house for a showing, got up to Edmonds just in time for the Orkin guy to arrive. Yes, the stink can officially be called Eau de Rat. The offending carcass has been removed, though there is question as to whether or not there is still one in the wall or ducts as there is still a lingering and it's not just in my nose.

News on the Amber front as well - you remember the cat who was living in my chimney? Well, she moved out. She got out of the studio and it seems she did some exploring... and found an even better spot to inhabit. The floor. Yes, the floor. She found a hole in the bathroom floor, the one Frank ripped out but has not yet replaced, and crawled into the floor. And crawled some more... and went all the way to the other side of the room - 15 feet to be exact. Frank is going to be so pleased when he gets back.

Another thing he will be pleased about is that I did some yard work up there since it was another beautiful sunny day... but that is not the part he's going to like. The part he will like is that I cut yet another wire, while trimming a fern of all things. I hacked back about 20 of them - they will grow back nice and green and beautiful now - but one of them had a wire - or two of them really - one black and one tan all wound around each other - it came out of the wall, went through the fern and into the ground. But of course I didn't see it until the fern was cleared away. Ah well. Maybe it was attached to the one I cut the other day when I was cutting back that vine on the side of the house - the one that was growing into the gutter and roof... New wiring for the house - just add it to the list, eh?

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Stink

The house - in Edmonds... stinks. I don't know what the problem is, but we walked in and whoa. Stink with a capital S. I can not locate the source of it and can't decide if it smells like dead rat or a septic problem. I don't think we have a septic though. So maybe it's a rat. Though I was pretty sure they were evicted already. Luke announced he hates the house and can we "unsell" it. (Said while holding his nose pinched closed.) He means "unbuy" it of course. There are days I wish the same thing, my dear son.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

A Sunny Day in Edmonds

I'm so happy - the sun was out in Edmonds, though I think it was raining most of the day here in Carnation, and so we got more outdoor time. My friend Lara came over and helped me come up with a new arrangement for the cairn and helped me dead-head one of the rhody groves. Neighbor Bob stuck his head over the fence to chat as he was doing his own gardening (he reminded me of Wilson, the neighbor over the fence on Home Improvements) and commented on what a big a job we had in our new yard (er, yes - it's really a mess, isn't it?). He was very nice though - Luke was super impressed by him for some reason.

Monday, January 16, 2006

A Rose in January

Found this little beauty in my new yard yesterday. Maybe she will be in bloom by Valentines?