Monday, September 28, 2009

Before construction there is an empty lot that backs up to an orchard.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Peter, back at the trim again.


Elkart lake Market Today

We always check out the rugs woven by this guy from Pidgeon Lake. This one was eye catching. It is very heavy and super soft, cotton. Thought it would warm up feet in Emily and Jon's new bathroom. The weaver had a shop in Manitou Springs for several years and was excited at the possibility of his rug ending up in Colorado Springs. His wife's dream was to attend CC. He had a larger rug woven with corduroy earlier in the summer that we liked for the front hall, but when we came back to buy it, it was gone. He said corduroy is hard to weave and keep a straight edge. Fun couple. When I have his card with me I will print his name. He still has a good friend that paints pictures of the houses of Manitou Springs and has a shop there. The artist's name is Allan Gerth.

Up close-very, very soft and thick


The rug in our bathroom


Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Kohler Vessel Sink

This is the vessel sink from Kohler. It has a smooth finish-- I thought it was going to have a bumpy texture based on the pictures that I had seen. I think you (Mom and Dad) first saw this at the Kohler Design Center --right? After taking pictures of the bathroom ispiration, Andy, the woodworker (see sidebar for details) built the bathroom cabinet, mirror/water dispenser, and table that the sink sits on. He also built the kitchen cabinets, many doors, and the window seat.

The next project that he will be working on is the railing to include the stained glass pieces bought from Steve Fulford at Weathervane Antiques in Marinette.

Monday, September 21, 2009

My help will be back!

Peter arrives home this evening from Colorado Springs. He successfully gutted Emily's bathroom, drywall, green board, cement board, plastic, poured the shower floor, and got the tiling started! Lots and lots of work-hurray!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Ginkgo Further Reading

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU CHOOSE YOUR TREE!

http://uclue.com/?xq=1154

The ginkgo tree-from New Holstein Tree City Project


Click on the tree to enlarge it. It is beautiful!

One of our choices from New Holstein Tree City Program


One panel of the four for the laundry and hall closet.


Andy's pantry door on left and bathroom door purchased


Andy's door matches the pantry he built for us. The purchased doors are birch-Andy put the finish on for us-they look great.

Dumpster diving pillow covered makes a cozy chair.


This old plant loves the morning sun.


Lost my help!

My help is off to Colorado Springs so I am left to putty holes and do paint touch ups. It has to be done and this way I won't be in anyone's way. Peter is doing Jon and Emily's bathroom-gutting it and finishing up with tile. A big job in a week, but he has good help after work. I am biking to work as Peter drove the Jetta to Milwaukee. Forced excercise!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Rhoades House Granola

Saturday morning breakfast. Breadsmith Bread, Michigan Peaches, Pullet Eggs, Kwik Trip Coffee, Rhoades House Bran Muffins, and Rhoades House Granola.

Haley's version of Rhoades House Granola:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Grease a baking sheet – I use a 9 x 13 pan so the stuff doesn’t fall off the edge.

½ cup sliced almonds
½ cup pecans – coarsely chopped
½ cup walnuts – coarsely chopped
3 cup oats – not the quick cook kind

1 tsp. ground allspice
2 T. butter
2/3 cup firewood honey or other light honey –I use any honey I can find.
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup dried cherries (my mom uses dates, raisins, and cranraisins)
¼ cup dried blueberries (I haven’t used these)

In a bowl, combine nuts, oats, and allspice. In a small saucepan, combine butter and honey, over medium-low heat cook until butter is melted.

Add honey – butter mixture to oat mixture, stirring well. Add fruit and mix. Press into the pan.

Bake 35 minutes. Cool completely.—this lets you have big chunks of granola.

When it is cool break it up and store in an airtight container.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Elkart Lake Farmer's Market and more





SHOTGUN!

We call SHOTGUN on the basement bedroom for CHRISTMAS!

Thanks Haley and Bill!


Haley and Bill


Haley and Bill got in a bike ride. Turns out it was a bit more adventurous than Haley had anticipated. Great exercise right?

Haley and Bill help out this weekend

Haley and Bill drove down from Marquette to help paint trim boards. We got an early start on Saturday morning-beautiful weather as well. We finished up and took a drive to Elkart Lake for the Farmer's Market. Ledgeview Nature Center in Chilton had their annual Fun Fall Festival featuring eco friendly and locally grown products , etc. Nice to see so many organic farmers with veggies, meat, and poultry for sale. We got a rain barrel this year, but need to do the work ourselves this year.

New table location allows for all four stools


Moved this near the door to increase room for table


The window seat that Andy made-maple like the rest


Window trim in the bedroom


Trim in the bedroom


Beautiful weather and the great outdoors


We all had a job


Haley and Bill and the trim


The trim primed, sanded and fianl coat


Wednesday, September 9, 2009

A fun day in Chicago!


Some new maple frames-tree pictures?


For the knives.


Peter's project was the bookcase.


My project was the table.


The finished table-birch with a clear varnish.


New cover and pillow covers for the bed.


Saturday we drove to Chicago to the IKEA store. We knew what we were looking for and we were still there for three hours. It was a three hour drive, so it was a fun day. We found a small table for the living room-patio that we can use with the stools from Mother. A Lack bookcase for the hallway near the bedroom and bathroom. I put the table together and Peter did the bookcase very quickly. I think he had the easier project. Yesterday we got the bathroom doors, laundry and front closet bi-folds, linen closet and extra pantry door that Andy made. He had done the varnish for us on the doors we ordered. He has the window seat ready too and Peter can pick that up tomorrow. Everything looks beautiful. The trim has been primed and sanded. Hopefully Bill and Haley can get down here this weekend to help put the final coat on.

First thing up!

When Peter went to buy some bagged concrete for the clothesline poles, the concrete driver said he had some left in the truck! He drove the truck over and poured the poles free of charge! The luxury of a small town.

I have waited awhile for this to go up.


We have a clothesline-and it's green.