tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54151213757112556412026-10-15T12:33:21.357-06:00Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-59233533309873842362015-12-15T22:57:00.000-07:002015-12-15T22:57:10.246-07:00

First thing: this entry might be better titled Stollen Hours. Not that I begrudge the time it takes to make the bread. But my blog entries have become so sporadic that each time I have re-learn some or all of how to do it. Today was remembering how to log in to Blogger. Then how to get my photos off the smart phone and into the cloud. And then from the cloud to Picasa. Or somewhere. Frankly, I

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-77767879866511261572015-07-23T13:11:00.000-06:002015-07-23T13:11:05.152-06:00

So all of a sudden it's seven [SEVEN!] months since my last blog post. That's the post where I wrote about how long it had been since the post before that. There really can't be any more renovating without a blog because in my mind they go hand in hand. And there haven't been any renovations in that seven months which means nobody has missed anything. The trouble is I have to be prepared to

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-60648714447064059892014-12-07T17:19:00.001-07:002014-12-07T17:19:36.090-07:00

Remember this?   Ugh. When we moved in, it appeared that this addition to the house may have previously been used as a summer kitchen. There was a hoodfan and oven electrical outlet installed. Other features included leaky skylights, dark brown paint, moldy and stinky indoor/outdoor carpeting, and a floor made from old decking. It was dark, dingy, hot and stinky in the summer and full of

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-90281290465047133792014-12-02T21:25:00.003-07:002014-12-03T06:20:42.318-07:00

You wouldn't think writing a blog was complicated stuff. I guess it's not. As long as you are in the mood. The mood almost struck, many many times over the last 18 months. Now that the bug is back, my test post yesterday went up and nothing blew up or bounced back and I seemed to remember how to do everything. So, it ought to be a simple enough matter for me to catch you up on the home renovation

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-26624104248108419132014-12-01T14:18:00.002-07:002014-12-01T14:18:26.161-07:00

Given that it has been 576 days since my last post, it seemed prudent to see how much things have changed on Blogger before investing the time in doing a real post. This was only a test. If this had been an actual blog entry what you just finished reading would have been followed by official photographs, news or instructions. Stay tuned.

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-20367444530479154452013-05-05T13:30:00.004-06:002013-05-05T13:30:51.930-06:00

There is no turning back on the yard now.  We started cleaning out the sunroom (and I use that term lightly, it is hardly a sunroom) by pulling out the junk stuff and filling a nine cubic foot dumpster with it. Then we hauled out the so-so stuff and put it on the old deck. Stuff we don't want to throw out but I don't want to keep because we just do not use it anymore. Tomorrow pics of that

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-31709316317672463812013-04-28T12:18:00.000-06:002013-04-28T12:18:45.542-06:00

So KP and Norm have been collecting wood bits. Well, they're not really wood but they're sorta wood. C-o-m-p-o-s-i-t-e. Because that will be better than wood. No sanding and staining means more time for dog walks, right? And there have been Strangers in the back yard dragging around their number strings. And papers all over the dining room table, papers that are q-u-o-t-e-s. Not dinner, which

Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-58929244876970263622013-01-09T20:12:00.003-07:002014-04-16T12:56:24.506-06:00

A little bit for everybody tonight. For the folks who need immediate gratification (and who were giving me grief about going out on a pizza date tonight instead of installing tile) there are a couple of photos below. For the folks who have the patience to read very long stories about mundane little details there's something here for you too. No, the bathroom is not done. But here's an artist's

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-63066056497419675452012-11-19T18:48:00.000-07:002012-11-19T18:48:52.520-07:00

Norm says this post and the photos will be super boring for regular people. I say it's my blog today and this is what I want to put in it. Really, who wants to see my stud(s)? I do have a few shots from behind, of Norm on his hands and knees pulling nails from the floor but good judgment got the better of me and I'm not posting them. Here. All the drywall was taken out, courtesy of my

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-58003199044313780832012-11-02T20:41:00.002-06:002012-11-02T21:15:37.756-06:00

330 days. That's how long it has been since we 'finished' the main floor renos. The tools were packed up and put away on December 7th last year and we haven't even seen so much as a hammer since then. Happy days. But not every day can be a weekend. It's time to move upstairs (and do the last bit of finishing work on the main floor, since the tools are coming out anyway). So today was bathroom

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-20951579371830124652012-10-27T16:36:00.002-06:002012-10-27T16:36:59.562-06:00

I found four drafts of this post from July. We were in Montreal and staying at a hotel that didn't have enough bandwidth to upload this post. So here you have it. But just the once. A little about today. After finally settling into our Montreal hotel room at 3am, we woke at 10 to get ready for the drive into St. Jean. The occasion? The end of course ceremony for Platoons Hobson and Cairns. This

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-17335131979775521682012-10-27T15:23:00.000-06:002012-10-27T15:23:26.014-06:00

2:00 am Me: Pssst? Hey. Norm? Norm: Phhferggh. Me: Hey. Wake up. Norm: Mwuh? Me: I ran out of sleep. Norm: What? Me: I can't sleep. Norm: Try harder. 2:00 pm Ring (bbzzzttt, vibrate) Me: Hello? Bree: HOW THICK IS THE CARAMEL SAUCE SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN YOU TAKE IT OFF THE HEAT?! Me: Uh, hi. I'm fine thanks for asking. How are you? Bree: Oh. Sorry. I love you. BUT THIS IS A CARAMEL EMERGENCY!!

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-31389809136682940132012-07-22T18:46:00.001-06:002012-07-22T18:46:23.508-06:00

They wouldn't fool anyone. Shiny, sleek, pampered, riding in the truck on a foam padding that is covered in a few layers of furry blanket. It doesn't matter how muddy the truck gets (or how broken the windshield: blasted wind, rain and trailer-trucks), one look at those dogs and you know they're from the city. If you need a more obvious giveaway though, all you have to do is get them near

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-14094782963481278342012-05-12T20:55:00.002-06:002012-05-12T20:55:40.644-06:00

1: Spent the morning cleaning house. 2: Didn't get my Saturday nap. 3: Hopscotch (more like leapscotch, or at least jumpscotch, my nephews don't 'hop' anywhere), neighbour's goldfish pond, making pizza, spinning till you're dizzy at the playground, getting creative with sidewalk chalk. Interestingly, I was more of an observer than a participant and although Connor is now bathed and fast asleep, I

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-47630648463980816322012-05-11T18:53:00.001-06:002012-05-11T18:53:08.350-06:00

I haven't posted for a long time. And finally I get my paws on a computer and what do you know? Blogger has changed the setup again. Here's to hoping I get this right. KP isn't posting stuff - you'll have noticed that I'm sure. But I did want you to see me and Gotham at the park. Because really, I know you can never get enough of this right? That's me, in the red.  That ear sticking

Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-51102214602848453272012-04-01T09:36:00.000-06:002012-04-01T09:36:16.024-06:00

If you're looking for reno photos and stories don't read any further. Frankly, I'm quite enjoying not tripping over tools and materials and not having to scrape layers of dust off of everything. So the tools have been put away since the first week of December, poor lonely things. Norm has since acquired some new tools but he seems content enough to play with them in the garage. That, or he knows

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-49755301495874306842012-01-22T14:16:00.000-07:002012-01-22T14:16:27.214-07:00

The great thing about -29C is that when the temperature finally hits -3 it feels like a heatwave. The dogs actually WANT to be outside, so today was a good day to let off some of their pent up energy. You can see it in their eyes. "Can we go now...now? Huh? We're ready...can we go? How 'bout now?" As absolutely adorable as Gotham is (new babies always steal the limelight), we wouldn't want to

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-81151861002522508222012-01-07T19:10:00.000-07:002012-01-07T19:10:11.159-07:00

Or, back in the mortar bucket... Didn't quite get finished the backsplash installation today. And what do you know? It's time for supper but the stove is out of commission for now. Guess we're going out. I'm thinking steak. And red wine. Oh, right, and finishing off the rest of the backsplash tomorrow, including the pretty pencil tiles at the top of the shorter

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-3614571952401290632012-01-02T14:06:00.000-07:002012-01-02T14:06:38.950-07:00

Ahhh...2012. The tools having been put away and out of sight for the 23 days since the open house, it's now time to get back on with things. Things, in our case, being finishing up those last pesky bits of trim, molding and tiling on the main floor. Drats. I'm easing myself back into it. Today's adventure was limited to sealing tile (different of course, from ceiling tile). This soft limestone

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-5355158569638976412011-12-23T21:25:00.000-07:002011-12-23T21:25:10.645-07:00

I couldn't begin to tell you how much time we spent planning the kitchen, well before even one strip of wallpaper was ripped off. The home reno shows and the professional kitchen designers could make you think it's not so hard, but there is a lot to consider. A whole lot. I'm pretty proud of what we accomplished and the last two weeks has seen me spend more time cooking and baking than

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-58106171997026332632011-12-12T19:12:00.000-07:002011-12-12T19:12:18.827-07:00

Whew! Thanks to all for reading and thanks to those who came out for the open house! Your patience during the last couple of years is commendable - I am happy to know we still have friends. :)  Even though we didn`t quite get all the last bits of stuff done that we wanted to, we were ready to entertain on Saturday night and really appreciated the show of support. And the wine! Sunday was the

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-22946414559091275392011-12-04T21:46:00.002-07:002012-01-04T07:50:48.552-07:00

Today was one of those great-walking-in-the-snow-days. Know what I mean? Cold, but not biting. Fresh, fluffy, snow with just a little stickiness. Blue sky with some wispy clouds.  Besides, my other option was to stay home and finish painting the front closet. But that's just me. I wear a down-filled parka and a pair of old boots by Pajar (no, not while I'm painting.) This makes me

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-89720066766177821222011-11-30T21:03:00.000-07:002011-11-30T21:03:39.863-07:00

The wind here last weekend left no shortage of dog toys in its wake. Twigs, branches, boughs, entire trees. You name it, it was on the ground and available for the taking. But only if you were quick.  You also had to be willing to navigate obstacle courses to go anywhere.  I wouldn't let them bring this one home. Meanie.  You wouldn't know it from this shot, but Gotham

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-65896972757946508532011-11-20T17:39:00.000-07:002011-11-20T17:39:39.253-07:00

I can't cope. I thought I could. I thought coping was a good idea. Coping made sense. Having tried it now, I just don't see the point. Coping is highly overrated. It's a cool word though. Cope. Coped. Coping. Copable (okay, maybe not). Lest you think I've given up on something really important, you need to know that coping is a method of cutting crown molding to fit inside corners. You find

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415121375711255641.post-72949938332444215022011-11-10T19:35:00.000-07:002011-11-10T19:35:40.332-07:00

Skit, skitter, skit. Snuffle. Sniff. Sniff. Slurp. Crunch. Nom, nom, nom. Crunch crunch. Skitter, taptaptap. Sniff, slurp, crunch crunch crunch. Answer here this time tomorrow. Just kidding. That, faithful readers, is the sound of a puppy losing his teeth. While the rest of the house is peacefully sleeping, Gotham's baby teeth are falling out. And what better way to amuse one's

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319941698871730506noreply@blogger.com0