Kitchen Renovation Day 1

Remember how I mentioned the leak that caused 1/3 of our kitchen to be ripped out, and then you didn't hear anything else on the topic for 6 weeks?  Well, that's because for 6 weeks there wasn't any progress. 

We joined Angie's List and searched the neighborhood's message board to find contractor recommendations.  We talked to several contractors who wouldn't even come bid since we weren't doing a full demolition/ renovation.  We had a few contractors come out and I'm sure they were capable, but we weren't too impressed with their communication or turnaround times for the bids.

Just when we were feeling completely defeated by the process, we went to a pub crawl here in the East End.  On the pub crawl we walked into a store we thought was an art gallery, but it was actually a decorator's store.  After Jason played Foosball with the owner (completely random, right?), we asked what exactly they did.  We discovered that while they usually sell directly to contractors, they have a contractor they work with and they were interested in our project.

We met with the contractor and received a super detailed bid.  We signed a contract this past week and work started today.  I've been impressed so far.  They've had awesome design ideas, and I'm really excited to see how it turns out.

Today, the team:

• Demolished our existing back splash and counters
• Removed the cabinet doors
• Fixed the drywall
• Finalized the design plan for the new cabinets
• Cleaned up after themselves

It's amazing how different the room looks without the green tile back splash.

Fall Garden 2012

Jason and I planted our fall garden this morning.  First we worked on pruning, fertilizing, mulching, and watering our existing potted plants.  Right now we have cayenne pepper, blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, lemongrass, rosemary, oregano, and sage plants.  We planted a new basil plant as well.

 

Then we planted lemon mint, spearmint, chives, multiplying onions, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, swiss chard, and snap peas in the cinder block gardens.  We saved some room to plant winter lettuces once it gets cooler.

I've pretty much given up on trying to plant tomatoes.  Other than cherry tomatoes, we can never get any of the other varieties to produce.

I'm hoping our plants do okay.  After solarizing the soil this summer to get rid of all of the weeds, our soil seems a bit dry and lacks the beneficial bugs and critters that help plants grow.  I might need to go find some earthworms and beneficial insects if our plants struggle.

I'm looking forward to watching everything grow though.  I'm also looking forward to some kale and swiss chard quiche. 

Boo!

I spent the morning at two of my favorite stores - Hobby Lobby and Buchanan's Native Plants.  Now I get to spend the rest of the weekend crafting and gardening.  Hooray!  Ha.  I'm such an old lady.

Taking clues from these tutorials, "Boo sign" & "DIY Wreath", I decided to make my own little Halloween decoration.  All you need is wooden letters, scrapbook paper, Mod Podge, ribbon, an X-ACTO or craft knife, paint, and a paintbrush. 

 

First I started by Mod Podging the scrapbook paper to the wooden letters and cutting around them with the craft knife.

 

 

I decided to painted the edges orange.  It might help if you sand the edges of the letters first.  Then you just add the ribbon and hang them to the door.

 

I think it looks pretty cute.

 

Tomorrow we're planting vegetables and herbs.  I'm excited!

It's That Time of the Year Again

I don't know if I'd call fall my favorite season of the year, but I always seem to look forward to it the most (as seen here and here).  This year is no different. 

Today, I brought out the fall decorations.  Next weekend I plan on going to Hobby Lobby to pick up supplies for fall crafts.  Last year I decoupaged pumpkins and this year I plan on painting them.  It's only a coincidence that painted pumpkins are on this month's cover of Country Living. 

Next weekend I'm also planning on going by Buchanan's and Wabash to pick up vegetable transplants and seeds for the garden.  This summer we used solarization to kill the weeds and over the past month I've been working on reconditioning the soil.  I hope we have a kitchen by the time the vegetables are finished growing so we'll have somewhere to cook them.

I keep finding these awesome pumpkin recipes on Pinterest (like pumpkin coffee cake), but I haven't been able to make them since we're still lacking half a kitchen.  So sad, but probably a good thing for my waistline.

Oh, I put out the hummingbird feeder again this past week.  I've seen one hummingbird so far and I know there must be more because the feeder is already empty.  I'll probably make some more food for them tomorrow.

It looks like we're out of the 90's here.  I've been running on the track at the YMCA since it's been so hot, but I hope to be able to run outside soon.  It will be nice to not see the same landscape at every minute interval.

There's also the fall TV lineup to look forward to.  New episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Fringe, Walking Dead, etc.?  Yes, please.

With so many good things going on, who couldn't love the fall?

This guy loves the fall too:

 

Can't you just see the excitement oozing out of him?

 

He was being so patient while I took pictures.  He was actually so much more excited when I said, "Radar, okay," and he was able to run over to me and cover me with kisses.  He's sweet like that sometimes.   

Camping List

 

When Jason and I decided to start camping six months ago, we didn't have any equipment.  Since then, we've accumulated quite a lot.  We've found the easiest thing to do is to keep all of our equipment (other than the bags, pads, and tent) in a big plastic container that we can grab when we're ready to go.  Of course there's always the stuff you have to get the day or the day before you leave (like food, ice, and firewood), but here's a list to get you started.

Sleep
Tent with footprint and rain-fly
Sleeping pads
Sleeping bags
Pillows

Cook
Camping stove/ grill
Propane
Cooking utensils (spatula, spoon, tongs, knife, etc.)
Pots/ pans
Cutting board
Foil
Hot pads
Mess kit
Eating utensils
Cups (we like the collapsible ones)
Peculator or collapsible coffee maker with filters
Thermos
Ziploc bags
Matches or lighter
Fire starter (we use Vaseline coated cotton balls)
Water bottles/ Camelbaks/ water filtration system if you're hiking

Clean
Paper towels
Camp towel
Trash bags/ plastic bags
Small broom and pan
Biodegradable soap
Dish scrub

Other Handy Stuff
Lantern
Flashlights/ headlights
Leatherman or other multitool
Rubber mallet/ hammer
Parachute rope (lots of it)
Tarps
Sunscreen
Insect spray
Citronella candles
First aid kit
Stuff sacks to pack in
Hiking backpack
Ice chest

Luxuries
Folding chairs
Battery operated fan
Board games/ cards/ books
Fishing equipment/ fishing license
Binoculars
Camera
Ipod speakers

We've learned a ton on our trips, like that fire starter tip up there or that you can hang a flashlight from the top of your tent like an overhead light.  Also, we love cooking in foil, because then you can just use the foil as a plate afterwards and there's hardly anything to clean.  Anyways, I'm sure our camping trips will continue to get easier, but I think we have a good start.  Heck, we survived Alaska, right?

Double Lake Recreation Area

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you have enjoyed the long weekend.  We just got back from Double Lake Recreation Area up in Sam Houston National Forest where we spent the weekend with our friends Sal and Nicole. 

The bulk of Saturday was spent fishing around the lake.  Sal & Nicole borrowed a canoe from a friend, and we had a lot of fun taking it out. 

Oh, and guess what?  Jason finally caught his first (and second, and third, and fourth) fish of our camping outings!  It took six different trips, but maybe our dry spell is over.  They were just little guys (that's what he's frowning about in the second picture below), but at least it was something! 

 

 

Sal caught one too.  He was excited!

 

It was pretty hot once you left the tree canopy of the forest, so Nicole and I swam for a bit to cool off.  It looks like we were the only ones there, but I swear there were like 20 little kids to our left.

 

Later, we headed back to the campsite to make dinner.  Jason was so happy to have someone help start the fire!  For not having gone camping since they were kids, Sal and Nicole started the fire like pros.

 

We grilled vegetables, fish, guacamole, and tortillas.  You know how we love our foil packs.  So quick and easy.  Makes cleanup easy too!

 

We spent most of Sunday at Lake Livingston State Park, but to be honest I was too hot (and thus a little cranky) to get any pictures.  The park was pretty packed of people enjoying the long weekend, but I'm glad we camped where we did.  Our sites seemed a lot more private and quieter than those at the state park. 

 

It was a nice weekend away.  Plus, now I get to play connect the dots with all of the insect bites on my arms and legs.  Hours of entertainment!