My Schwimp

One years old...

Make-over Two: Studio Kitchen

A much needed tile backsplash, behind the stove and around the windows...

And slate sills...

Make-over One: Vestibule

We put up wainscot with trim...I'm actually toying with the idea of painting it a color...but don't hold me to that.

And mounted an old mirror...

110F heat index calls for desperate measures....

Schwimp.

Back to normal-ish...

Yes! We're back to inhabiting the whole house, and regular sleeping downstairs. 

Bedroom!! Hooray.

And the extra room (to become sitting/reading/TV room)...this time around not filled with junk!

(note: junk is still in storage)

Top floor studio gets a bit of a make-over.

Now that we moved back downstairs a little work is happening on the top floor studio...

Starting with a new cabinet to hold all my crafting, sewing, knitting stuff...at least 7' tall and I'm still worried it's not big enough.

Bench found a new home in the hall (after being displaced by the cabinet).

And best of all, the wall between the small bedroom and "living room" came down making a much bigger shooting space.

What the...???

Now, where did these come from?? I had no idea they had even started growing!

Oh yeah...and these....just a few early ones but really sweet!

The other thing rain is good for...

Kirbies and Butternut gone mad

Foxglove....first time..must get more

Tomatoes, pepper, eggplant and herbs

Sunflowers, morning glories, and the wisteria I swore was dead

and zinnias

I guess the rain is good for something

I haven't posted in a bit, but trust me...things are happening...and photos coming soon!!

Renovation...Take II

Yes, we've been here before...

The garden floor is still a mess, --but finally painted.

Super toxic paint on the stairs (I've finally gotten the hang of this paint for real).

Oh, super shiny. Walkable in a few days....as soon as my head stops spinning.

                                                

In other backyard news...

The batisia bushes returned from last year, and I added some havana blue geraniums in the front.

New honeysuckle...no smell yet, but I'm in love with the color.

Lupine, also from last year and weirdly happy.

New addition of oak leaf hydrangea in the shady corner (where the magnolia lived and died).

 New Philadelphus Mock Orange, also no smell yet, but I have faith.

The beginning of another climbing rose (hoping it will climb the stair railing to the house...one day)

A new snowball bush...

And wisteria from last year that I was sure was dead--somehow now better than ever before.

Stay tuned for what I hope will be rapid growth.

Doesn't look like much yet...

But here's the start of the vegetable garden...and if last year was any indication it'll all be as tall as me in a month.

Herbs in front followed by 5 tomatoes, 2 eggplants, 3 peppers...

And the little things in front are kirbies, and butternut started from seed.

And once a year....

a little rose bush madness.

Closets...welcome back.

Deja vu?

meter closets....better shelves....more storage.

And a bit extra under the stairs.

From the Brooklyn Public Library

Old Red Hook.

I'm as surprised as you are.

Pit dug out and lined....

And soil, as far as the eye can see.

The brand new baby raccoons have arrived...

One of many.

Backyard...Take Two.

 First: Tear up everything dead, toss it all into a trash bag (no remorse!!) and raise up the blue-stone path a few inches.

Second: Dig out now non-organic organic vegetable soil and redistribute.

(didn't I swear I wasn't ever going to do this again???)

Next: Plant new things and hope for the best.
Hydrangea donated by my friend Joyce....

Lupine all the way from PA that actually came back from last year, don't ask me why...

Yarrow and Peonies that also reappeared with a new Camillia, Jasmine, Havana Blue Geraniums,and Rhodedendron in the background

And here's Todd trying to intimidate a Raccoon from coming in under the fence and eating my Lily bulbs.

It's funny, I've done so much work and planted so many things...and it hardly looks like anything.