It's a girl!!

I have news.
It's exciting and sweet and very pink. 

Meet our newest addition!!

RIGHT??!?!  Have you ever seen its equal?  Ye Olde Farmhouse Cabinet is now a sweet, pink vintagey treat.  With a rustic oak countertop, of course.

We got this for $14 bucks on Craigslist last fall.  I had called the ad about it, but then decided I couldn't spend the $75 asking price and told her I wouldn't be able to come pick it up.  She called the next week.  It was going to Goodwill, she said.  It was mine for whatever I could pay, she said.  I'll be right there, I said.  Traded her the fourteen dolla I had in my pocket and brought home our primer-and-green bakin' station.  It houses most of my baking goodness, which is nice since our kitchen cabinet arrangement does not.

Since it's been sitting there in the nude for several months, the other day I got a wild hair and decided it needed to be dressed up before Easter.  It needed to be pink.  Not just for the upcoming Easter holiday but for ALL ETERNITY.  Sorry, Husband!!  It had to happen!





This idea might have been inspired by another pink treat tucked away in another farmhouse cabinet nearby...  Didya spot it?

Nick gave me this little cake carrier when I was preggie with Tulah.  We had seen it at an antique store, and it was what he gave me for my birthday that year.  He put a digital camera inside so I had something to paparazzi our impending baby with. 

The cake carrier lasted MUCH longer than the camera did, and here it sits today to inspire ME and annoy HIM!

Do you have painted hardware?
Do you want that paint removed?
Do you want to avoid toxic chemicals and physical labor?

Simmer those 'wares in soapy water for a little bit.  As long as the piece is warm or hot, the paint will peel right off.  If it cools down, it sticks again, so throw it back in the bath. 







Voila!

(I know...  I ended up getting the rest off of the left side, but couldn't wait to take a photo of the 'after'!)

Roo was obviously a fan of painting it pink!

Paint-and-primer in one is the BEST

 Where I have this cabinet in the dining room, I could actually have a larger piece.  To make the most of the wall space there I decided to make the new counter top longer and deeper so I have more surface area.  One day I might attach the hutch to the wall and I will sure enjoy that extra space to work on. I am using extra planks from our hardwood flooring to make it a rustic, farmhouse-y top.

I had to run supports underneath, screwed to the original counter top.  This way when I ran one long board across the front and past the edge of the original top, there would be something to support it.  It looks ugly but it's sure sturdy!

 Unfortunately the nail gun jammed, and remained jammed, right after I finished nailing on the boards up top.  Everything after that had to be pre-drilled and screwed in, which made it really sturdy but was also a pain in my butt and took forever!  I wanted an apron under the countertop to make it look really chunky and to hide the supports.  I figured the apron would go pretty fast but-- NO.

I filled, I sanded, I filled and sanded some more... And then I stained.  

First was raw oak, then a pine stain.  I finished with gray stain... It's beautiful!!

Little quart of wonder.

Oh my goodness!  If you've never played with gray stain, you have to try.  When we were working on our board and batten walls, I was thinking of staining it gray.  I practiced with it and my favorite technique was a light, rubbed-in finish of a light wood stain (like pine) and then a thick, juicy coat of gray.  After 15 or 20 minutes, you rub the gray in and this is what you get!!  Gorgeous.

The gray stain really brings out the purples that you see in the darkest grain.  Again, try it over darker wood or over a first coat of neutral-ish wood stain.

Apron looks nice and chunky...

 Hardware is nice and cheery...

 And what do you know!  It's a GIRL!  And she's ready for her big introduction here on GinnBoree(!!).  To any of you hoping it was a different type of 'it's a girl!' announcement, please hold your horses.  Hens will be coming soon if I have anything to do with it.

I don't expect anyone else to love this, or even like it.  But seriously, when do you ever see pink furniture in a grown-up's living space?!  It is delightful.  I can't believe I got away with it! 

Easter dress and some spinning success

Saturday morning we woke up to a frosty springtime wonderland.

 

Thank you Lord for the future garden-soakage!!

My car plays in the snow much like my Howdy does :)

What to do on a snowy Saturday morning while the boys are sitting around picking their noses.  Seriously.

Hmm.  Maybe make a springtime Easter dress for my leading lady?

I got to pull a "my Nana" and sit at my machine, sewing and stitching for my favorite girl, while she sat there playing with my jars of buttons.  I remember doing the same thing when we lived with my sweet Nana for a while growing up.  I would get to ask all the questions I wanted and Nan would answer them so patiently while she sewed and sewed for us.  I even got to play designer a time or two and add a ruffle here, some trim there... Needless to say, a sewing machine has always had a place in my life since I can remember.  My first stitches were sewn on her Singer when I was 6 or 7.  Roo tends to keep me company when I'm busy on a task and I love that she's happy to just be there with me, because I remember feeling the same way.  Saturday morning she could have been downstairs, picking noses with the boys while watching cartoons but she chose to hang with her mama, drawing in her sketch book and sorting buttons with her dolly Mimi.  I love her.  

I had this long tank top that I never wear.  There is a light stain on the front only a preschooler can get away with, so naturally it answered the call of duty to our tiny budget and Easter Cuteness needs.  

I released the seam at what was the bust of the top.  It will be an empire waist on Roo since she's just a little guy.

Then I sewed a new side seam, and trimmed.  It's more finished than this but only slightly...

I didn't take it in along the skirt so that I could add some gathers with the excess fabric.  My girl loves a full, twirly dress, ya know what I mean?

The skinny strap you see on the right became the shoulder straps once I ironed and sewed them together for double width.

No one will notice them since she'll likely be wearing a parka on Easter.

 

So there's a dress a girl can really twirl in!  And it was free :)

Typing this now, I wonder if she will remember this dress, what she was doing while I was making it... Me asking her if she wanted peasant pockets on the side or would she rather have gathers so it would be full and twirly?  Would she please try it on just one more time?  I didn't really think about it while we were working on it because I tend to forget what an impact small things are in their tender young memories.  And now I'm feeling bad that I got really frustrated with her when she kept saying how itchy it was, and wiggling as I was tediously pinning, and eventually crying about it, and ripped the strap (which I was short on anyway...) as she was trying to get out of it in a rush.   I wonder if she'll remember that more than the peaceful morning we spent together :(  She took some time to herself for a few minutes, while I was finishing the straps, and came back with two drawings in her sketch book:  One for me to make me feel good when I saw it, and one that she drew for herself that meant she was angry.  She art therapy'd herself with her drawings, and I did with some quiet time to finish the dress up.  We apologized to each other.  I adored her pictures and she adores her dress.  We win!  Maybe that's what she'll remember about our morning.

poor thing had to try it on like 12 times.

Later, after the most epic Costco trip in our family's history, (which consequently leads to an epic cleaning/organizing of our fridge and freezers and pantry, then epic putting-away of the ridiculous amount of food), Nick settled in on the couch  again (his basketball bracket forced him) and I ascended up to our room to get to know my spinning wheel a bit.  Yes, that was the longest sentence ever.  Yes, a little Roo was in tow, with her weaving loom this time :)  

I had to figure out some spare parts (which are not spare, they're imperative), unsqueak the squeaky wheel, watch several youtube videos, read some online material, error some trials- you know.  The good news is that all of the parts are there (or available in our junk drawer, as luck would have it), they just need to be wined and dined a little.  After a couple of hours and even some help from Mister, I got at least an idea of how it all flows.  See?

My method was much more of a 'park and draft' as they say in handspindling, because I'm not sure the tension on the brake and the whorl is correct and I'm constantly stopping the treadle to adjust stuff and draft the fleece.  My roving (the combed fleece you spin and wind onto the bobbin) is not what they use on television.  I might need it drum carded or something, which I know nothing about.  

Fortunately for my ambitions, I found THIS PERSON online!  WHOA.  She lives here in Golden and teaches classes!  Classes on spinning, carding, color theory, anything you can think of related to creative spinning.  They're $15 each so I think I can make it happen, at least a time or two.  I'm so excited!  We've emailed back and forth and I am hoping to set something up for this coming week.  She offers incredible group rates too, so next time you're in the area with a hankerin' for a spinning lesson, let me know and we'll split the cost. 

Today the Mister went to work, because working weekends is awesome and fun.  So I got cozy with the kiddos and a new chicken book for a little bit, made some pannycakes, and then went hog wild cleaning the house.  Half the house, actually, but it took me all day until bedtime.  Roo helped me with chores and earned a dollar.  She's saving for chickens :)  Knox strutted around in his undies and binoculars, spanking his booty a time or two our halftime entertainment.  See?  I cry.  I can't believe they're mine! 

Apparently temps in the 70's will be happening soon.  Coop's gonna get built, ya'll!

Paintin' down the house

Gosh.  Give me a paintbrush and a pair of cooperative kids and who knows what can happen!

The other day at nap time I revamped my mailbox.  It's not done yet, but the pretty part is.
I kept picturing it bright blue, with a little red flag, and a sweet lace pattern over it.  I found a piece of lace and a couple of cans of spray paint, and here's what I discovered when I came to:

Weather is supposed to be rollin' in today and over the weekend, so I committed us to doing NOTHING outside of the house.  Unfortunately it was beautiful out this morning, just a little coldish, but still enjoyable.  We ignored it.  When it's too nice out, I get nothing done inside.  When it's too cold out, I can't paint indoors without feeling dizzy and inexplicably at peace with the world and all its living creatures.  So today, by ignoring the slight chill in the sunny air, I was able to paint a little door in my dining room without eating everything in my kitchen afterwards.  Say hello to my chalkboard door:

If you know me, you know that I will quit loving something with my whole heart once it becomes overdone and everywhere.  Like chalkboard paint.  I don't know, whatever, it's just chalkboard paint you know?  But I didn't want to use it anymore since it's already done enough all over pinterest and other obvious places.  But I wanted a black door and why not have one that we could vandalize freely?

While I was rolling the door, with paint in my bucket and a growing distaste for my old "black bean" wall at the other end of the dining room, I decided to hit it with a shot of slate:

 

Now I too have overused chalkboard paint in my own home, against my own wishes.  I'm very trendy and awesome!  

A few weeks ago I made some changes to the kiddos' bathroom:

 A valance instead of a shower curtain!

Hello!

We were at Nick's sister's house over Christmas, and I noticed that her son's tub looked so open and uncluttered.  There was no shower curtain!  Because TODDLERS DON'T SHOWER!!  Usually.

It was like a breakthrough.  Her simply not buying a shower curtain for the extra bathroom was like a major life-changer for moi.  However.  I loved the old curtain in our bathroom, it added a lot of good cheer that the white, rough room was in need of.

Obviously a 20 minute valance was in order!  Fabric I happened to have in stock (not in the storage unit), about 10 button holes, and a current rod and rings and we were good to go.

A little seersucker balloon shade I made for Tulah's baby room.  So so long ago.

Dollar store bins screwed to the wall as a little shelf/cubby system.  It's cheap but it works!

<---Buckets from Target's dolla bin are handy for hair brushes, tooth brushes... brushes of any kind really.  You name a brush and it has a home in our bathroom buckets.

This bathroom is pretty long, with a mini-hallway preceding it from the doorway off the dining room.  Over the winter I turned its storage closet into a dress-up closet, which is usually a wreck as you'll see in the photo!   Howdy destroyed the flooring in here at Christmas time when he ate a meal of carpeting while we were chopping down our Christmas tree.  It's been bare wood ever since, which I love... But since that's where we put Howdy most of the time while we're out, it has gotten pretty dirty and hard to clean.  So I sanded and painted it today!  Hello, bluewashed floors:

I know, it's kind of odd with the two flooring materials in there, but maybe soon we'll be able to get the flooring I've been dying for since the Fall.  I need it!  When you see it you'll understand :)

Annnd, what else... Oh.  We're trying to grab a few things from the storage unit when we're over in that direction, so HusbandFace brought over the teal vanity I refinished a couple of years ago.  I'm so happy!  It's a little reminder of my little Yonder Furniture dreams.  Dreams sitting on a little top shelf in my mind until our moving and gardening dust settles :)  Or maybe until my kids are teenagers who want nothing to do with me!  Yeah.  Then.  Anyway, the little dresser is happy here I think!

 

 Perhaps you noticed the little photos on top.  My sweet-sweet got some Spring pictures taken at school, baby bunnies included!  They're just trying to kill me dead with the sweetness, I think.

  

 Kids are up! Snacks are needed!  Adios!

Springtime in the Amazon (cart)

"Outsidepride.com has sent you a package"
YESS!!
Do you know what this means, people?!
It means:  "Your Amazon.com order of Outsidepride Comfrey... and 3 more item(s) has shipped!"
You know?  No?  

Well the other day I was at O'Tooles Garden Center with the kiddos.  We were on a mission to find some Billy Button seeds.  You know... Woolyheads.  Craspedia Globosa.  The sweet, folky-looking round globus flower atop a long sturdy stem.  They're at the best and most creative flower shops and make a fantastic dried flower because they do not change a bit with old age.  
THESE: 

Aren't they happy?
One of my friends helped throw a baby shower that I attended recently, and she had these in the centerpieces.  I had seen them at a cute little flower shop in our old neighborhood but didn't realize they could grow here.  The shop also has awesome stuff like mini-mini-mini pumpkins on a stem and other unexpected freaks of florist nature.  Anyway, yes, they CAN and DO grow here as an annual, and it was pretty necessary to find them to fill my acre with delight!  

Only, I can't find them locally.  I guess Amazon is as local as they come, and fastest too.  

Only, if you order one seed packet from OutsidePride via Amazon, you pay 2 dolla shipping.  If you order 3, you get FREE shipping.  Yes, I'm happy to order $15 more dollars worth.  I needed an excuse!

 


So... I'm planning on a little field of baby's breath out back (did I tell you that?).  5000 seeds should do the trick, right?  Aye. 

And... I really love love LOVE lemongrass, so... what the heck, let's try it.



 




And uh... Comfrey is something I've never grown and is a fantastic soil-builder.  Doesn't hurt that it grows large leaves quickly, leaves that chickens like to chomp on.  Add to cart, I will indeed! 

Free shipping at it's finest.
You got me good, OutsidePride! 
 

 

Confession time: 

That day at O'Tooles, I did find a few things to bring home.  I told you!  I thought it was Spring already!! 

You've got your Pumpkin on a Stick, so you TOO can be like your favorite indie flower shop.  Birdhouse gourds, so you don't have to buy them this Fall.   Dipper Gourds, because HELLLLLOOOOOO!  You have yourself a little cover crop, Buckwheat, which hens can eat (though some owners cook it first...) and also fixes nitrogen into the soil.  It helps smother weeds too!  And of course, there's another order from a seed company on Amazon, David's Seeds.  From them I ordered seeds of Tulsi Holy Basil, which I am sooooo excited about.  Those came in last week, shwinng!  They threw in a mustard seed, Red Giant.  A brassica.  Great food for me and me cheeckens.  

I also came home with some wee wittle gloves for my boy.  He needed yard gloves to be like his Daddy, and that's something you just don't argue with.

  Today may be the equinox of Spring, but it's been spring-ish in my kitchen window for a little while.  I've been planning on planters for months now and have been putting the ends of my sweet potatoes to work.  Hmm... Are you a vine sweet potato or a bush sweet potato?  Tell me please!

See what happens when you don't throw away your overripe veggies?

 I started this little guy in water and then moved it to dirt a week or two ago, where it is growing beautifully.  I decided to try it with potatoes a little less ripe with no signs of sprouting anywhere.  I don't know what will happen with them but I'm trying a few in water, and a few in dirt.  I think the best thing would be to bury them outside and keep 'em watered but I haven't decided just yet where the taters will be flourishing this year.  Also, I am thinking I should have started with larger sections maybe?  We'll see what happens with this minimal investment :)

I tend to hoard containers of various types for the kids to use for "inventions", but lately I'm throwing NOTHING into recycling so we can use them to get our garden going inside.  Yogurt cups, Starbucks cups... I even took some party cups from a birthday party we went to recently!  Hey, that plastic was a valuable commodity.  It's not weird.  I started several of my darling Holy Basil seeds yesterday and they fit perfectly in juice boxes leftover from a playdate last week:

 While I'm thinking Spring, I'm also going to be thinking warm, happy thoughts that a little wish of mine will come true.  Last week I realized that my neighbors (on the hidden tree and rosebush side of the yard) have a nice greenhouse sitting in their yard.  I've always seen the top of it above the fence, but never thought about whether it's lonely or not.  

I took its presence for granted.  I took a peek through the fence last week and realized it's not sitting there reaching its full potential.  I felt so sorry for it and couldn't stop my thoughts from imagining if I were its owner, how happy it may be.  Growing food, filled with pots and plants and sunshine all day and all year.  Maybe a visit from a wandering hen on a chilly winter day.  Oh what a delight for an empty lil' greenhouse!  

 So I saw my neighbor outside, whittlin' away on his porch.  I asked how things are.  I complimented his whittled wonders.  I mentioned that we may be getting hens, if it doesn't bother any of the neighbors, and explained how delighted we'd be to share our fresh eggs with our dear neighbors.  I brought up the greenhouse.  He lives with his sister, and it's hers.  I told him that if they ever considered moving it off their property, my property would love to acquire such a thing of beauty.  He said someone should surely use it and he'd ask his sister about it.  So my plan is to visualize it in my yard until one day, it's not just a vision.  Who's with me?!  Think happy thoughts for my plan, ok??

Maybe you have wonderful plans for your Spring too.  If you're local, or within mailing distance, and you want some of my seeds, I'd be happy to share them when they arrive!  Just let me know.  If you were here I'd surely invite you to a seed exchange I have brewing in my head a little bit.  Mail works just fine too :)  

Happy first day of spring!  May you make the most of the 12 robust hours of daylight!   I'll send you thoughts of rainshowers and blooming daffodils and muddy garden boots, even if you're still galoshing through snow and below zero.  As they say, No matter how long the Winter, Spring is sure follow :)

Will talk to you soon, for I am off to get a little housework done...  Somebody has to go polish the stars!