Functional Kitchening

Point 1: We installed the base cabinets but don't have drawer pulls (they got left behind on our roadtrip by accident). I wanted something that wouldn't mar the laminate so I could resell them or reuse them once they've been replaced. So the drawers sit empty.

Point 2: Concrete countertops are time consuming and very labour intensive. The design still very much intrigues, but I also recently searched out images of reclaimed wood countertops. With all the barn demolition lately we've been watching our wood piles climb. So much lovely patina! The link above does suggest we kiln dry reclaimed wood before installing near food (wise!) so I'm on the hunt for a nearby wood kiln.

Point 3: I found this silly putty that dries really strong and has a million uses called sugru. 

                    

If I can add the black sugru to the bottom of some fancy handmade reclaimed wood handles I might have something like this that will not require I drill holes into my cabinet fronts. 

               

                         

Conclusion: I would like to add reclaimed barnboard countertops to my Ikea kitchen cabinets, then add reclaimed wood handles to the currently useless drawers using sugru so that I can remove them in the future and reuse (or sell) the door fronts without the whole thing being an overt advertisement for inexpensive DIYs. Wish me luck (I ordered the sugru already and so should you).

Buy nothing day FAIL

Well, at least we scored on this supra-awesome-been-saving-for-a-year dishwasher from Miele:

I did contemplate purchasing this dishwasher at full price because I'm nuts.

Thanks to some great in-laws, I didn't have to take on some side-work to afford the DW of my dreams.

GuiltFace

We got 17 meat king chicks last week that will be raised through December and slaughtered during the first part of January. I turned the corner on Friday night to find our cat keeping a watchful eye on the flock in the darkened room. I put some cast iron pots on the top of temporary housing just in case.

"wha?"

love them all

Official vevo video for Lucy Rose's single Lines, with advertisement.

Streaming the album here. Coincidence: today is the last date on her latest tour.

this is what we've been doing

in the crisp fall air.

We put together our base cabinets, slapped ugly contact paper on some plywood (small town = one contact paper option available), created a new gravel concrete parking pad, removed the siding on one side of the house, and continued the barn demolition. Pictures:

Splitting wood - thought I had a better photo of demo (on right)

Edible? Looks like I could, but internet proved not useful.

From atop the barn, nasty shingles no match for Wonderbar.

The beams rich people pay money for.

Down to the original boards.

Into the evening - building paper protection.

New parking pad for eventual wood deliveries and guests.

Ugly ass contact paper/temporary countertop.

View over the reclaimed barnboard countertop. Need trim.

Open shelving only until we get handles (this weekend?) + clash.

Hanging dill and garlic on post.

Hanging mint on post + cast iron country seriousness.

tectonic plates

New Bjork Remix. Album of remixes streaming live for a short while at the Guardian.

recovery plans

Boring Adult List:
(things to do before 2012 dies)

- renew prescription, acquire lenses
- lady doctor annual check up
- dentist clickety clack clean teefs
- winterize da house - oil in the tank and storm windows in place
- get a haircut

Last one was the easiest so I tackled it first. Except it WASN'T easy, because I did it wrong.

I went in wanting this cut:

But failed to articulate properly to my hairstylist, so I ended up with this cut instead:

        

It's a bit boring, unfortunately. I very much want to dye the entire thing blue. So far I have resisted, and will have a second shot at the coveted longer cut in six months.

Nope, haven't grown out of this phase yet

Also, look! I made bread! One loaf every few days, which means some of my pants don't fit anymore. Addition to the list:

- pick up spin classes and zumba at the gym if the baking bug continues

Loaf #5, baked in my wee convection oven