A nice month

I know that August has just begun...but I am feeling good.

feeling good in my new space, feeling good in my head...I finally feel like I belong.

I don't need a huge space, I don't need a trendy neighborhood....Turns out I needed a smallish duplex, in a quiet neighborhood and a wooden fence.

When we bought the house, there was no fence in the back and I felt uncomfortable sitting outside like an over easy egg...

but it all changed with this...

 How can part of a fence make so much difference?

I don't know and it is between my 2 ears for sure!

But it makes a world of difference!

We have been hanging out in the yard nearly every day!

 I can hear my babbling mini Niagara (really loud)

 And tend to my mostly herb garden.

 Today I felt so good and inspired by all the local produce that I am making a lasagna with lotsa vegs

inside....for the freezer and probably a Mexican lasagna for the freezer as well.

I have strong squirrel genes and I like to make reserves....

in case you are wondering...we are still not totally unpacked and that is quite

alright alright alright...

I will explain in the next post!

Be well and stay thrifty

You Know What?

You know what?

That adirondack chair was not going to get the best of me!

So last Tuesday we went to the hardware store with a bolt in my purse to buy new nuts.

Sunday I made this chair my primo project....

                                                    Less than 30 minutes later...

                                            A nice cedar adirondack foldable chair!

                                                    Yoda was taking a bath on the loveseat...
                                                     Goodtimes!

                                           My Dad gave us a family treasure from the 1800's.

                                            A pair of wood elephants that have been in the family ever since
                                            my Dad can remember!

                                         
                                          My web research didn't turn up much except that most of them come from England and that these my might made of teak wood.
                                          Dan is crazy about them!

                                           Last I'd like to share a vintage vignette fom the living room.
                                           
                                          This is the antithesis of the decor I grew up with and I believe
                                           this is why I love mid-century modern.

                                            So take care and sleep tight thrifty friends!  

Finished ....for now

Well faithful readers....

This is it. The time we've all been waiting for.

The balcony is finished! I can't believe it. This certainly gave me some grey hairs....That I proceeded to remove immediatly.

We just could not believe it. It is so much better than we thought, so much.

I gave a couple of instructions to Dan who gave them to the foreman.

                                I still can't figure out why they put those ciment blocks in front..
                                we used them for one of the planks while we didn't  have steps....

                                            Our very own steps!

Here's the view from our balcony,

thre will be many a coffee drunk there....and many a Xmas light!

I smell a blowmold fest!

 

Tonight Dan took the broken shower door and took it to the curb.

YAY BABY! 

 

I then proceeded to install the curtain pole and shower curtain!

SWEET

 

Stuff is totally happening at Vonlipi's place!

 

See you soon and stay warm and toasty! 

PROGRESS!!!

You know I've been feeling bad about the rotten wood on the house, the absence of a balcony and the fact that I felt we were left behind by the reno workers.

Of course I'm not in charge of this project....Dan is and I never seem to get all the facts!

Last night I was getting stressed nearing the house...there was talk of work and wood, and measurements, railling.....

So last night we came home to this....Keep in mind that I could not take a pic last night.

This tiny tiny wood step ladder.

We were laughing so hard! Of course most of the workers are in their 20's or 30's.

They can't imagine that quasi-seniors live here!

The earth was loose and the ladder tippy!

 

I'm happy to report that all the rotted wood was removed and replace with new treated wood and a vapor barrier was installed as well.

 I will have more progress updates for you soon.

 

Now for some shopping/thrifting front.

 

I went on my annual window shopping trip to Holt & Renfrew, Montreal very chichi departement store.

And I was shocked by what I saw! Is it that because you are rich , your common sense leaves you?

 

That you don't mind paying $25 for a dozen shortbread cookies?

That a sweater for your dog costs $90, the price of a trip to the grocery store?

 

Cute dog sweater....

 

Scary price tag!

 

 

Tower of cookies

Yep you saw that right!

 

$120 for a tower of cookies! Are they hand crafted by vestal virgins on the slopes of

Mount Vesuvius?

I don't think so.

 

I took Dan there tonight for a show and tell...It gave us some great conversations!

 

And it make me feel good that I spent $5.99 at Renaissance and I actually used some Sears points to purchase a Xmas gift!

 

Now I promise that tomorrow I will take some pictures of my Xmassy thrifty finds to show you.

 

I hope you're all toasty warm with a full belly snuggled up next to your loved ones, furry and otherwise.

 

Sandy's damage was a big shock for us, let's face it usually this kind of  crazy bad destruction is seen in warmer climes....

so we've been gathering some emergency stuff. I will take some pics to share with you and of course your suggestions and comments are always welcomed!