It's Halloween Time

BOO!

A Peek Upstairs

Redirecting the majority of the work towards the back dormer, we're widening it and taking some space from a bedroom to install a generous master bathroom, and turning the bedroom into a master closet. Although the balcony was cut from the plans because of the budget we'll have a large window at the end of the bathroom to bathe the space in light and create a breezeway from the front dormer through to the back dormer.

Work potentially scheduled to begin January 2009.

Kitchen Palette Reveal

After meeting with the cabinet lady earlier this week I have all of the kitchen materials and finishes chosen and my husband has given his "ok by me".

From floor on up they are:

• Floor - 12" terra cotta tiles set on the diagonal with a 6" border.
• Cabinets - Maple recessed panel doors finished in canvas glaze with steel bar pulls.
• Counter top - PaperStone in Slate. A recycled product made out of paper using a cashew nut resin. It has the look of Soap Stone and cuts much like wood.
• Wall Color - Goldfinch.

A little update on how things are progressing: No problems refinancing to pay for the renovation, but Jesus' initial estimate was way too much so I started eliminating and scaling back the scope of the upstairs project. I hope to have a revised number from him by tomorrow so I can give the bank a final number. This could fund by the end of the month.

This weekend I combed through my list of products and materials (appliances, tub, vanity, sink, etc) and through scaling back and even eliminating items that don't effect the overall integrity of the design I've been able to shave 13% off of my bottom line. Now, let's see how much Jesus was able shave off and we'll be on our merry, dusty, disruptive, construction zone way.

A Nickel For Your Thoughts

My wonderful husband and I drove downtown to have breakfast at the recently opened Nickel Diner. I ordered the 5th and Main; BBQ Pork Hash with Poached Eggs. While it sounded good in theory, the BBQ sauce completely overwhelmed the plate. I pushed the saucy pork aside to get it away from the perfectly poached and very fresh eggs. I wish I had tried something else. Oh well, some choices I make in my life are better than others. And in the whole scheme of things this one wrong decision is certainly not likely to be the cause of any great catastrophy. The place itself was really great with a wonderful menu, I just selected the wrong dish.

We had high winds yesterday making the skies over Los Angeles today a deep and clear blue. We marveled at the blueness as we passed the beautiful old Rosslyn Hotel and spied a couple of cats in a shop window where we were met by Stella, the shop's owner. She invited us in to her unique "gallery" of art, dresses, hats and a variety of furnishings, props and cats. A delightful lady with an accent I couldn't place. Something sounding kind of German-ish to me, she had her Best of Downtown awards and other notable mentions and articles on a shelf and hanging on the wall near the back of the shop.

It felt very comfortable to me. Her shop. It was filled with the things she obviously loves, including a few cats, and in all her creative and quirky splendor she has carved her place in life.

Now that I'm home with my Sweetie pie, doing laundry and dealing with a few work issues, and crunching numbers on the house renovation, I think about the day when my days may be spent welcoming passersby into a shop, my husband tinkering on bicycles, and a dog and cat or two nearby.

Photos on Flickr

Our Own Young Lions

The color of dry grass, lions blend into the landscape. I suppose that's nature's design enabling them to remain unseen as they stalk their prey, and disappear into their surroundings should an enemy be near. While exploring the floor of the Ngorongoro crater on our safari honeymoon through East Africa and Rwanda in July of 2005, seeing any of the big cats was the most thrilling and wonderful thing. These three young lions rested with their mother nearby. It was early and the crater's rim is cloaked in fog. Their fur is damp.

Sometimes I'd like to throw it all into the wind and leave possessions behind. Simplify, get out of the city, depart. I feel that day will come, but first there are excursions to be made, renovations to embark upon. Responsibilities. My home is here, mine and my husband's, and our own young lions to watch over.

Found

I've found my dear friend Cari again.

We will weave in and out each others lives with the passing of time. This time it happened as she left a comment to my post. And of course I hit the link to her blog. I see that there has been a recent wound to her heart.

As one who has found love, and the stars aligned perfectly in order for our love to grow, I am comforted and filled with joy that I will spend the rest of my life with the one I love.

And I feel for her. It seems he could have been that one for her.