A Quick Kitchen Table Primitive Makeover

Today Friends, we visit with the toilings 

That Were

The Projects That Were Started Last Week!

Like a lot of us, we have a room that is an odd size with 

maybe...

Just maybe...

Too many doors and walkways, etc...

And we struggle with its practicality and use,

&

Ability to have the size of furniture that we would prefer to have in it...

So, 

With a Semi-Functioning Adult Brain at the ready,

I Remembered that we had some old Ladder Back Chairs in the Basement!

Pictured Above is the Pintrest Inspiration that set all of this in motion!

And this inspo is the one that solidified it!

Going into the 'Ber Months with a gothic heart, how could I not, 

AND I MEAN  N O T!

I had never considered painting the rushed seats before...

Our chairs were originally purchased in the wild of the Olde Hadley Flea Market,

Which sadly is no more... moment of silence for those times of old...

I'm not crying, you are.

Okay,

We are all crying!

The song playing in the background as I write this is "Fix You" by Coldplay...

Oof...

Anyway,

The rushed seats of our chairs were not in the best condition, 

and they had been the subject of many scratchings of kitties...

so,

LET THE PAINT BE THE GLUE!!!

In our finest hour of the Fine For Now Mentality!!!

I started 

with the chair 

that I thought 

was the one in

 the worst condition...

Turns out that the Pink one there...

All along the back 

Most of the strands were completely broken!

oh noooooo...

*Here's my tip*

Get yourself a plastic putty knife

so 

That when you are plastering these types of things down

you can save your fingers by not touching the hot hot lava glue!

I knew this well enough, and it made the project of smoothing and securing

so much easier!

I kept onward!

Despite the issues with the rushing

and the Paint!

I said to Paint, "Why do you not like your topcoat? I stir you the way you like,

and still you reject your lovely top...?"

These small cans of paint were bought not long ago...

I just might change brands for all of my Satin Black needs...

But still

I kept onward!

This is just dressing it up 

in the fine way

 I wished!

kk we will keep going!

OH, this too, k thnx Pinterest!

I see you...

The Windsor chairs we have

will need a Satin Black treatment too I see...

More for me to keep my mind off things, sure, sure.

The finish of the Benches we have

Is to dictate the next step!!!

Finally taking their moment in the spotlight, 

because when we ordered them in white, they came in the darker finish with black legs...

Sometime you get what you need....

Now turning the top of the plain pine table from Ikea to match it...

You know the one, its a tiny table with the under $80 pricetag...

If we ever get around to demolishing that old pony wall in the kitchen, 

maybe we will buy a second table to tack on when more (any) people come 

for the dinners or the suppers.... IDK, 

ANYWAY,

I have never. Ever. Applied a stain to raw wood before...

Looks rustic,

I think it fits the brief.

Just don't look close...

I did not mean to say that... ;-)

Hey lookit all of the shoes...

any org tips, 

anyone... anyone...

Future me prob... LOL

Meanwhile

Back at the Pintrest...

Should our Guest Room Look Like THIS...???

Oh Goodnesses and Graces there's Inspo spinning all around me now.

Furniture Edit Coming....

To put in the Basement or to Curb Alert...

That is the Question.

Yes

Yes

Yes!!!!

Cooking up Historical-Adjacent Color Pallets!

Making a list of Behr Paints to get testers made....

Story Time!

My old Apartment was a Block away from an old Mom n Pop Paint Shop,

I used to go in and browse all of the tester pots at the front displays...

$3 bucks a pop, I would fill my arms with all sorts of hues...

I still have a couple left in the basement...

Doubt they're still good, but, if I were to be desperate enough...

I could probably add some water and stir them back into being...

oh yeah,

We came to the end of our over the stove microwave days, 

and...

Finally installed that hood vent that we bought on sale 

way back when we first moved here in '16.

A good old patchy patch job was required for the duct passage, so I got out the wee

bucket of spackle & got stuck in.

Letting that project finally come to an end, 

I guess, really sent me into full steam ahead with the thoughts of a 

"Primitive Styling" for the table and chairs...

I really want to try and give us a Faux Fireback 

type of Backsplash 

for the wall between 

the stove 

and "new" hood vent, etc...

we shall see...

And that's how it got done.

Really trying to get some fun projects done & dusted.

I've been finding it really helpful since we lost the fur loves last year.

I'm really not bouncing back as fast as I thought I would, so I am finding myself taking time to concentrate on the big projects that aren't involving social media. And they are exciting new things, things that are a hope for fullfilment on a very large scale. So, with getting into the grove on those fronts, more writing and music, and videos will be made. And of course I have this new fever for the Primitive decor to drive me into fun - which is so needed for this point of the journey. 

Luck to all, for we are searching now more than ever.

x~JM

The Plumber Drama: part two

Well we have had our success!

In the outdoor faucets!

Having a long plot of land, requires a lot of hoses when you are building garden beds!

But we had other things to inquire about...

Things that had been on our chacklist of priorities for a long while...

Our well water comes in (if you are not familiar) & gets stored in a bladder.

Well water is never truly known for its grand water pressure.

So we asked if there were a larger version we could upgrade to.

The theory was to have more water in storage to create more pressure, especially if one were watering the garden and someone else were to be washing up indoors, etc...

Of course the Plumber said he would take a look.

Luckily, even though, we had thought he was just there to give estimates, he had a schedule open enough, to do more than just chit chat.

He inspected the small bladder & said that there was not enough air left in it to create much pressure to begin with.

Ok, so we are making this a priority today then.

I would get you a pick of our set up...

All I focus on when I look in the cellar is cobwebs & dust. Yuck!

I won't put you all through that... 

He also said something about algae, & honestly, I just sped passed how that could be super gross...

And we agreed, let's just take care of this today!

Now, when we lived in apartments, having no knowledge of any real inner workings of wherever we lived, or, how much it might cost... Spending a couple grand on anything but fun, food, or experiences would have just blown our minds.

But, now, watching all of the rents in our area surpass what we pay monthly to live where we do, & knowing how our property value has gone up as we have owned... The investment, sits front & center when we make these repairs and changes. 

That purchase doesn't just go away... It grows with your home, and you, and if/when you plan to live somewhere else... Rent or sell, you benefit. Not to mention your everyday life can be enhanced by fixing/improving. 

Now, if we can get a contractor here to do the bulkhead, and the trim around the windows...

These are not things that I am well versed in...

Sure, I've watched a few videos...

I have read about, and I can understand how to do those things...

I would be more apt to try taking down our pony wall between the kitchen and front room, than I would ever be willing to try heavier chop and water proof, check for other signs of damage & know what to do about that, etc... Not to mention, I still do not have the tools...

Anyway,

The faucets work great, the bladder has been working great...

Glad we had them out to do it, some of the piping by the front spigot in the basement had all sorts of areas that would be at the end of their life soon, and needed upgrading as well... would have been interesting if something had gone leaky there, because they hover over the current laundey situation... Eek!

Can we make more plans though please!

An Electric Hot Water Heater for the elimination of using the furnace during the warmer months?

Or get the new laundry set up in the old linen closet upstairs...?

New back door?

Finish painting the inside?

Maybe once the summer heat prevents me from building the garden beds? 

And Mother nature is providing me with so many volunteer plants, I am really just scrambling to get things in the ground/raised beds asap!

Yellow Paintbrush or Meadow Hawkweed has sprung up and I am here for it!

The False Lily of the Valley is so charming... The real Lily of the Valley is having a moment in the backyard... I should really take some time to take more pics...

I have been trying to work as efficiantly as possible, but I have put up a few shorts on the YouTubes...

I have been wearing a pedometer while working on the garden:

There's a lot of movement happening!

Ive been waiting for this level of vitality to come back.

Let's get all the things done this year, yes?

Was this more about gardening than plumbing? Maybe, but who's arguing with that?

K, I'm going for a walk lol

x~J 

The Plumber Drama :part one

Was there drama?

Well, when you call up your trusty plumber and he’s closed up and retired… 

First thought was YIKES!

Panic was lurking 

Waiting 

Just along the perimeter 

Of thought.

My curiosity won out though.

Thank goodness really.

I asked the lovely lady who rattled off some other business name, that of course I hadn’t any reference to, so it did not register as having any importance yet…

My thoughts were wanting to lead me down the path to fresh and frustrating memories. The episode of concern was my most recent efforts of watering plants outside using our well defunct faucet in the backyard.

The tap at the front of the house used to be my go to until it broke 4years ago. So we doctored up the back one with tons of plumbing tape, and put a trugg under it to catch the dripping leak… 

Last year the leak became bigger, still usable though…

I’m yelling in my head, “WHY DIDN’T WE TAKE CARE OF THIS SOONER?!?” 

Yes, we are agreed, we should have just done it.

Supposing that there hadn’t been anything that financially blew our timeline for such things way out of reach in the recent years…

We probably wouldn’t have put it off.

On the perspective of this lense, we did great with what we were dealing with. 

Until the leak was so bad… 

Just even a slight turn of the tap and it would spray off so far… 

It was comical.

Having a hose with just a trickle coming out to water with…

Not to mention that in the brief action of turning the tap slightly…

My knees were soaked, and nearly 10 feet away would be a puddle for the rest of the day… The sense memory of the drips making their way down and into my gardening boots. Gently mixing with the small bits of sand, potting soil and mulch that had already breached the short boot perimeter. Now being married to the socks, and beckoning the toes to squirm. 

No trugg, bucket or plumbers tape would save this.

It was time. 

The woman on the phone had been very reassuring. Able to recall our recent records of service with the old plumber, and she even had the previous owners of our houses information…

She was going to send out someone to give us estimates for the job of getting both taps replaced. 

Part two tomorrow: The What, Where, When & How!

Does It Take 2 Months To Put Up Curtains?

Yes, this time it did...

 

Well, it's about time.

lol

I had a lot of time pass

since I bought the new white sheers 

which weren't even destined 

for this room

and

the Black Floral semi-sheers

that were intentional

&

of course 

my thought was 

what if

lets try it

and I liked the first two I put up

so 

I started 

in March...

I had a set back

still in the throws of grief

as one does...

&

all of the motivation left

along with

a wee health scare

all turned out well

& 

you'd think 

that you could 

just

pick up 

where you left off

but 

I sank

I found a bottom

that I wasn't expecting

Now 

I have a piece 

of my clarity back

&

 its building again

with a stronger 

material 

backed with

a firmer foundation

and a side order of 

big dreams 

on my horizon...

I've successfully

 edited down 

the amount of stuff 

to get things feeling more restful

& 

give me room 

to get these babies 

up high...

And I am mixing paint samples 

to see how they look

in the new 

light values...

when I say the budget is tight...

well

I'm custom mixing our wall colors

thanks to

 how many windows we have

it does break it up

making it

easy 

to work for us

and 

of course

my 

love 

of paint 

factors in 

big time...

but

wait 

what's this...

the second pack of sheers

has a different pocket setup 

on the top?

and 

they 

hang 

lower...?!!!!

see

the first pack 

hangs perfectly...

the first pack 

has three pockets 

to choose from

making it easy 

to use 

in a variety of rooms 

and

window situations...

the second pack...

why?

ok...

I have options here...

all is not truly lost.

but still...?

if ordered at the same time

why...

I mean 

I will 

probably change this out... 

&

this particular window 

will

have the air conditioner set up 

in just another week or two...

so 

this curtain will get a tie back...

but

where did it all go wrong?

honestly 

its just the quirky 

reminder that 

~Perfection

is really 

just 

a shift 

in Perspective 

away~

&

its actually quite funny

X-D

& 

there is always 

a nice mess 

to clear up

after 

all the tweaks 

twists

and 

turns...

but this lil guy

had fun watching me toil...

so cute

it wasn't so bad 

looking at this for two months

Before I started the editing process

there were 

so many 

extra bits

pillows

laundry 

furniture

etc...

and  

there is always still

a considerable amount

of editing to go

all in all

I like where all of this

is headed.

this strip everything back to start fresh 

is kind of 

my favorite thing...

&

How fun

the resulting

New Curtains!

If you are curious

I did buy them all on the Amazon

because we had a real need for more light filtering

and we were on a super tight budget...

I do not have an affiliate link,

but

I will tell you that they cost $28.99 per pair

currently

and they are 52inches wide by 95 long

my search was for "Black Lace Curtains"

and these floral ones came up...

I won't really get into the white layer of sheers

because

who knows what would show up 

if you ordered them?

curtain lottery 

am I right?

I definitely 

consider 

finding the black florals 

a stroke of luck

you never know

 what you'll find out there

kind of random

but sometimes nice 

when you have one idea

and another 

just stops you 

in your tracks...

That is 

happening a lot lately

;-)

Is this where I'm supposed to write...

Stay Tuned...?

Mayhaps...

x~J 

October Eve!

The Queen of Samhain 

From the story that my cat told me

Soon to be transcribed…

Wish this was all that was on my plate…

 It’s Friday 

And I’m exhausted 

The epic 3 room shift

Is getting dramatically closer 

To being completely done ✔️ 

Bins full of things 

Stuff

Derelict items

Projects 

Half finished 

And some never started 

I thought painting the walls was the toughest part 

The editing down

Of the furniture 

Has been 

Astoundingly puzzling 

Worth it…

That credenza fits so much better 

In the front room 

The curtain wall is still being tweaked in my studio 

The tension rods are brilliant!

Honestly the best I’ve ever worked with!

You can bump them

And they have wiggle room at the ends…

That way they aren’t busting your finishes-

Floor or ceiling 

And keeping everything upright 

Nice and steady.

And nicer to have a barrier of sorts 

Instead of looking down the staircase 

And the echoes of every last sound 

Traveling up 

And down…

And when everything is settled 

I can get back to the kitchen stuff

Maybe it’ll be settled by the new year?

I’m not holding my breath 

At this point I know the distractions are just 

Aching to interrupt…

The lists…

I’m sick of them.

Must get done

Or I’m just going to start chucking stuff

Or runaway lol 

Would like to just be thinking about 

October 

I have a goal

To take some foliage pics in our garden 

Today!

Because it’s starting!

And in just a few weeks it’ll be gone…

In the mode of don’t stop to think about it!

Just keep going…

Writing and painting season is coming!

Must keep going!

More pics to come!

See you soon!

x~J

New Obsessions: Manor Core & Autumn Moods

 Manor Core...?

Is this the grown up/ old money eccentric version of Cottage Core that I've been waiting for...?

We Shall See...

I always had the want for a very tidy mud room/entryway...

but these lil cluttery bits of goodness just charmed me 

in the oddest of ways.

The boots all in a line...

The baskets and barn jackets galore...

and the pupps in wait of a good walk...

like the first pic... 

c'mon, lets go!!!

But before you enter... here's the facade...

I think its time we upgrade...

I think we could give this a try....

This was my digital mocking of the situation...

I always thought that black houses were neat, but for some reason

it was as though something said that I wasn't worthy...

that is for what I know as fact...

one hundred percent 

a lie

I CAN HAVE A BLACK HOUSE...

remember that time I painted the shed black...

its still a ramshackle shed...

but it sure looks fancy now...

Paint It Black

But back to Manor Core...

These layery bedding and heavy drapes scapes 

are just hitting in the excitement zone...

must start implementing these elements now!

Already started with the dark and moody in the front room...

I took my pail of paint by Behr in the color Ancestry Violet

and added in a bit of black to dusky it up...

Looks more like the shade Gothic Amethyst now... 

I'll take it.

Master Kit is totally approving of it in his lil chair...

Just waiting for us to settle in with our snacks,

so he can tell us a story...

Don't worry I wrote it all down so that I can retell it to you all...

soon...

x~J