Catching Up

First things first - you might have noticed I've changed the name of the blog. Knitting NonPareil was appropriate at one time, but I don't knit much anymore. I call my house Blueberry Cottage, and here's why. When I bought this house in 2011, I was the 3rd owner in 45 years. The first owners stayed from the time it was built in 1966 until 1972. The second owners lived here from 1972 until 2009. The husband was a world-renowned blueberry specialist, and he left a legacy in my backyard. Blueberries, a heavy-bearing Fuyu persimmon tree, and a couple of fig trees. The 4 pecan trees that gift us every other year with a bountiful harvest have been here longer than the house. I've added a Satsuma orange tree, Meyer lemon trees, a pomegranate tree, and some loquats.   I was tickled to learn that my house was the former home of a blueberry specialist, and I gave it the name Blueberry Cottage. In actuality, it's a brick ranch, but I like to pretend it's a cottage. So that's the back story. I'll keep the name until I move, which isn't likely to happen for a long time.

Now I guess it's time to catch up on that 6-year-old bathroom renovation. I love the bathroom now and the only thing I wish I had done differently would have been to tile around the original tub with subway tile, rather than using a surround. But that could still happen - just don't tell Mike. Here are some pics from when we first started the tear-out.

I know I have more pictures somewhere, but 6 years is a long time to remember where you stashed some electronic files. And on to the reveal. Here it is!

Apparently, I have some kind of turn-of-the-century or '20s vibe going because I love white hex and subway tile, pedestal sinks, and beadboard. And no, the beadboard isn't going the wrong way. I would like to replace the lights over the mirror with one on each side of it, but it can wait.  We also ripped out the ceiltex tile (gross) and used 100+-year-old tongue and groove floorboards on the ceiling. We sanded them down (that was before we bought a planer!) and painted them. It was a labor of love to put them up - just ask Mike. I added a light/exhaust fan also. I'm not a fan of the look of traditional exhaust fans.

There wasn't an exhaust fan in this bathroom, which I'm guessing was because it has a window. It did, however, have a heat lamp. Yes, in south Georgia. This is the bathroom I use, and I didn't see a need for such a thing. Mike's bathroom still has one, and he still uses it.

I promise you I don't have a thing for whales. It just happened like this! I like the fact that I can change up the feel of this bathroom with just a new shower curtain and some new pictures. So that's it. It's been 6 years and I still love it. But the kitchen, the floors, now there's another story. Stay tuned!

Is It Over Yet?

**This post was started on Sept. 18, 2013. It is now January 7, 2019. Yes, that's right. 6 years. In my defense, it's been a busy 6 years, but apparently not exciting enough to blog about. I'm gearing up to start blogging again, so let this first post be the one that never (almost) got published.**

I have a bone to pick with HGTV and all those remodeling shows. Shame on you for making me think I could finish this in 30 minutes, or even 3 days! Someone needs to invent television that makes your muscles hurt and your hair sticky with mortar dust when you watch those shows, so you don't get any ideas about trying that stuff yourself.
So, the vanity came out fairly easily, and I burned all the wooden parts in my redneck fire pit. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures. It was hotter than seven hells and I'm sure my neighbors thought I was insane. They still do.
My sweet friend, Kim, came over one Sunday for supper and demolition. She worked out some frustration by beating the tile around the shower.

Saying Goodbye to the Vanity

Wow, who knew that the hardest part of a bathroom remodel was getting rid of all the stuff  you just ripped out? I didn't think the bathroom was that large until we started lugging out boxes, bags, and Rubbermaid containers of tile and mortar.

Betsy and I decided that the vanity wasn't worth saving. It didn't require much thought, to be truthful. We are pretty dangerous when we are wielding weapons of mass destruction, and the vanity didn't stand a chance.

This is the vanity (such as it was) before.

 

During.

 

After.

 

So much room now! And the best part is that now I get to brush my teeth and wash my face at the kitchen sink. What joy!

 

A Walk on the Farm

While we wait for the bathroom to remodel itself, how about joining me for a walk on the farm in November, south Georgia style?