Living Room Re-do

This is about as finished as the living room will get, for now. That is, until we replace the furniture. We’re not in much of a hurry to do that just now, because we’re not in that room at all, and it’s not an expense we plan on incurring right now. That’s why the slipcovers were supposed to be a temporary solution, but that didn’t work out. Eventually I’ll put a solid, neutral micro-fibre couch and love seat in there, with 2 contrasting chairs in a cinnamon color, hopefully some type of subtle pattern. But for now. I’m OVER it.

Sarah has inherited the home improvement bug, from me apparently, as she bought, and replaced and installed 4 light fixtures in her condo. The floor plan in her living room, is really weird, in that it is very hard to place the furniture in it. She bought a wall unit today, and I’m going over there tomorrow to help her re-arrange the room. Hopefully we can figure something out.

Miles got neutered today, so Sarah has been busy babying him, since he got home. He’s apparently trying to eat without staggering into his bowl. Stanley goes in another month. Speaking of him, he spent an hour or more outside this afternoon. He loves it, and just lays and sleeps under the great big spruce tree. I had looked out the window several times, checking on him, and he would just be in the same place. The last time I looked out, he was at the back door (untied!!!), and dashed in as soon as I opened the door. I have NO idea how he got the tether unhooked from his harness! I’m just glad he was smart enough to come to the house!!! Geeze I have trouble keeping track of this kitten!!

I got my rump in gear this morning, and head out to run some errands. I got the curtain rod I needed, a few little accessories for the living room, some mailing supplies (EBay…. blech), and just a few other things I was out of. Then I stopped and picked up the slipcovers, washed my Jeep and came home. After lunch, I put the slipcover on. YUCK! It didn’t improve the look of the old furniture at all! They didn’t fit quite right, however I could have made them fit better, but for the cost of them, it wasn’t worth it! So back they go, and it will likely cost me $60 return shipping to do it! So I guess we’ll live with the floral couches until we decide we can afford to replace them. Worst part is, that now my drapes will likely not work either, because I ordered them, with the slipcovers in mind. Not FLOWERS!

In happier news, Sarah had applied for a couple of full time nursing positions in the pediatric operating room. In the meantime, since her interview, another woman called, and offered to pay for her training course (3 months), and offered her a full time position in adult O.R. She was thrilled with the opportunity, but a little “sad” at the thought of not working with the little kids on her current ward. Then today, another lady phoned and offered her a full time position, complete with paid training to go into pediatric O.R. So she accepted that, and is thrilled. She did a 3 month rotation in O.R. during her 4th year, and loved it, which is why she enquired about it. The other benefit of it, besides making her highly specialized, is that the shift rotation is much more doable. Much better hours, except when you’re on-call every third week. She also has most weekends off. No night shifts, unless there’s an emergency during your on-call shift. So, we shall see how it goes!

I think/hope I’m finished with painting the living room. I’m sure I’ll have some touch ups, but I can’t STAND to do anymore for now. Painting all the trim just about finished me off. Killed my knees it did! I still have the tables to continue working on, but they’re not going as well as they should. I got my huge painting hung back up, and our other artwork. Drapes and slipcovers are ordered, but will likely take a couple of weeks, so it’s going to have to be half finished until then. I’m really happy with the paint colour, and that’s the main thing. One word of advice: NEVER buy a house with vaulted ceilings, unless you can afford to hire painters! VERY scarey being way up there on a wobbly ladder!

This is the room that I’m tackling this week. Shortly after we moved in, we had the feature wall painted hunter green, and bought the artwork that is on it. Other than that, we haven’t done anything to this room. It was a very attractive room for several years, but now it’s NOT. I can’t afford to do everything I’d like to do to it by any stretch, so this is going to strictly be an economical facelift. I’m going to paint, the old pink chair that the cats love has been relocated to the loft, the vertical blinds and valance are history, the coffee table, end tables will be painted, I plan to buy roman shades for the windows, and slipcovers (budget allowing) for the sofa and loveseat. I’m going to attempt to do something to repurpose my lamps, but we’ll see how that goes. Stay tuned for further pictures.

I got the coffee table and end table that I’m going to paint, primed. Then I got 2 of the big walls painted one coat. I LOVE the color. It’s kind of like English Toffee Coffee. Going to be very nice when it’s all done. Now I’m taking a break. I might do the last wall, depending on how long Sarah (who’s coming out) stays.

I just finished showering. I got all the priming finished except for the cutting in on the tall wall. It took me 3.5 hours!! I don’t think I’ll start painting the wall colour tomorrow, because I’ll have to wait until Thursday for hubby to get the curtain rods that are “embedded” in the wall, down. Tomorrow I think I will prime the furniture pieces that I’m going to paint, and then in the afternoon, Sarah is coming out again. I think my back needs a rest from all that stretching and reaching, and climbing!

And YAY!! Hubby’s home for happy hour! Heh!

I stained the patio table AGAIN, and one chair, and then ran out of stain. I wrote down the stain color, and as I mentioned last week, could not find the same brand, but thought it would be close enough for outside. I was WRONG! It couldn’t have been farther from being the same! This was almost barn red! Sooooooo, since I’d opened the can, and started to paint, I had to repaint the table and the other chair too. BLECH! While I was a mess, I also spray painted the outdoor stove, and the tools too. At least it’s done! I’ll take pictures of it later, when it’s all put back in place.

I called Sarah bright and early this morning to see if she happened to have the day off too. She did, so I told her to come out after she was up and about, and we’d go to the greenhouse, and I’d buy her some flowers to plant in pots for her balcony. I thought the greenhouse would be “quiet” because it was a Friday morning, and most people would be at work. BOY WAS I WRONG! Every mother frucker and her dog was at that damn sweaty greenhouse! GAH!! At least there was 2 of us, so when we were getting to be about half done shopping, I had Sarah stand in the huge ass line up with our heavily loaded cart while I ran around and got the last of the plants I wanted. The crowds, and heat got me so distracted that I don’t know WTF I bought! hehehe Should be a great surprise!

We planted Sarah 2 standing pots, 2 hanging pots, and a small table pot. That will definitely be all she has room for. They also have a BBQ for their balcony, and we bought them 2 chairs, and a small table. Sarah works tonight, and then may go out to the farm to see Jay. She’s missing her farmer a great deal!
Ben and Jess are off to Cowtown to see Sam Roberts tonight, and then to drive to Kelowna for the long weekend. That’s lots of driving, but they’re young, guess it doesn’t bother them.

I got several of my pots planted as well, and I’ll hopefully finish the rest tomorrow, and Sunday. If the weather cooperates, I’d like to get the windows washed too, but there’s a certain amount of rain forecasted.

I’ve just had my second shower for the day, have finished surfing blogs, and am sitting here with my wet cat (Sarah bathed him for the first time ever, after she combed out about 18 other cats worth of fur off of him outside). He looked so sad and pathetic. I’ll have to be especially nice to the poor little thing. We’re waiting for hubby to come home, and start happy hour, and watch the OILERS beat the DUCKS!!! Whooo Hoo!

I was out and about by 8:00 am this morning to buy a bunch of odds and ends that I knew Sarah could use. I got some curtains for her dining room and bedroom, a couple of little rugs, a whole bunch of kitchen things, spoon rest, paper towel holder, drawer organizers, and all kinds of little junk.

She called this morning after her 12 hour night shift, and 2 hours sleep (because her brother DIDN;T want to get up for the delivery guys… little prick) to say that her appliances had been delivered. She was on her way back to bed.

We’re going in now to hook up the dishwahser and deliver all the things I bought. If Ben thinks he’s going to be a “roommate” very long, he better get a whole lot more cooperative than he was last night, or his ass will be grass!

After we’re finished at Sarah’s we’re going out for a late lunch and then to the Oilers game.

Around 11:00 hubby, Ben and I went out and got started on the yard. While hubby yelled, swore, and beat the lawn mower for 45 minutes until it started, Ben and I pulled all the flowers and put away the pots. We put away all the lawn furniture. By then the mower was working, so Ben mowed the lawn and I washed some windows. Then we swept up, and called it good for the day.

I came in and vacuumed and continued with laundry, and changed our bed, and hubby whipped up some lunch. Now he’s watching football while doing some work on his laptop, and I’m struggling over attempting to get the school website revamped and current, but I’m just stumped!

The OIler game is at 8:30 tonight (just on TV) which is mega late, and Ben, Jess, and Kevin are coming over for BBQ’d steaks, and to watch the game. I think I need a snooze so that I can get watch the game tonight, and still manage to get up at 5:15 am!