Basement & Boots...

We're having a warm humid snap of weather right now but when I was visiting the Hardwicke House, I could not help but feel what I've been missing...the wind! And it was windy at the shore front today!

 It was so windy, the camera would not stay still, I was trying to capture the white caps on the waves.
It felt good to have the fresh breeze whipping around, it's so humid inland, I'm missing the shore.
Soon, I'll be going back to the house, just another 4 weeks. I'll be home for Thanksgiving, fingers crossed!!

 The tradesman were still working after 6pm, on a Friday too! They were finishing the elevator shaft.
I love the size of the front foyer & as you can see...there's many doors coming off of it!
From this view, you can see the frosted front entry, the powder room, basement door, the large kitchen opening,& coming around the corner will be my sewing room, the black hole opening on the right is a closet, that goes down a long hallway.  On the other side of the hall is the stair case, another coset, the elevator, & the door to the garage!! Many many openings & doors...10, just of that foyer!

 So many decisions to make & I start 2nd guessing myself. So off to the house I go with the stairs stain samples, to view again.
 I'm going with the light oak coloured one. The rest of the floors between the stairway is black slate with dark grey grout. I find the lightness refreshing & more visible upon the coming's & going's on the stair treads. There will be a carpet installed down the middle of the stairs, after we have moved everything in. Now I'm thinking the mid tone to keep with the brick tones...
And I wonder why I'm Histamine Intolerant now!!!

 The same wood colour samples on the old great room floor. That floor too, will have a sanding & stain once we're in. It really has taken a beating over the years & now the renovation. I'll be happy to see the orange,  colour hue, disappear.

 I love the look of the chimney wall in the kitchen. This room is between the great room & the stairs in the foyer. The tile sample, leaning on the brick, will be the new ceramic, kitchen floor.

 I'm standing in the foyer, looking through the elevator shaft to its opening in the garage.
Bill took me to Moncton on my birthday last Wednesday. We went to the Home Depot for 4 new one piece toilets & 2 hot water heaters. Happy Birthday to me! It was a fun whirl-wind day, I had to change out of my sandals & into my sneakers to keep up with Bill!

 I'm now down to the last week for choosing ALL the paint colours, for all the new rooms!

 Decisions, decions...

 The colour will be very faint hue, as the walls, ceilings & angles will be pained  the same.

Basement Insulation

 The walls have all been treated with a foam insulation with a fire retardant, bonus!

The new furnace vent work on the new reno is now awaiting to be joining the old side of the house.
Can you see it peaking through the hole that Francis drilled out? Oh what a cozy winter this year!

This water is a concern to me as I don't think it's from the insulation drying!?!

We had rain the other day & this is new water pooling. Fingers crossed again!

 Surrender is Futile...this so reminds me of the Borg on Star Trek Next Generation. lol
There will be no shortage of power as this 400 amp gets tamed into its box!

Interesting Product....

For those that have rubber boots, this is an interesting product! When I purchased my Hunter boots last year, the sales person told me it would be a wise investment to get the cleaner for those boots.
I've never paid so much for rubber boots but these were the same brand of boots endorsed by Queen Elizabeth, so they must be the best! And they have not let me down! With all the comfortable hours of wear & tear in the wet weather & garden, the boots have shown their wear.

 This is one boot wiped with the Hunter boot cleaner & the other untouched!
Oh... & Hunter boots is & has not sponsored this endorsement! lol

 Hmmm, if it worked so well on renewing my boots... I tried the cleaner on Bill's well loved Mucks & it worked just as well!

Our boots all cleaned & ready for the garden & outdoor work! The Hunter boot cleaner is an excellent product, even if you don't have the boots but your boots are rubber & need a cleaning!

Christmas Sewing

When Bill & I were in Moncton this week on my birthday whirl wind, we shopped at Costco & I have not been in for awhile but have been a member since 1992, in London ON & it is still the same at this time of year.
I laughed out loud & said to Bill that it has not changed...Halloween on one isle & Christmas on the other! With that jolt of Christmas coming, I thought I'd better step up my sewing if I want to get my Christmas projects done!

Sew...this weekend is going to be my retreat weekend of sewing the Christmas quilt called Reindeer Prance Quilt by Bayou Patch Designs. It's a kit I was lucky enough to have purchased it, as the fabric collection matched the Jim Shore, Christmas stockings I made last year. The fabric is from the Stonehenge - Deborah Edwards of Northcott collection & is very hard to find now. It was the last kit on the shelf!! Now to bring it to life!

This is what I've done so far. The fourth border is now on & the fifth border has log cabins around it.
Today I've going to cut & sew those 42 log cabin squares, well really more as I'm chain piecing & would notice another dozen going through. It's a good way to use up the scraps left over too!
The block finishes at 6 1/2" so it will be a very effective 5th border. Then three more will need to be added for a total of 8 borders! The finished quilt will measure 78" x 96'', a twin size quilt or a good sized, cuddle quilt on the couch.
Call me traditional...I just love the colour red at Christmas!

Funny Fond Pillow...

                                                 Oh how I miss my Boris Loree!!

I saw this pillow while on the Wayfair.ca website & thought how true! That wee dog, the wee little man, was my companion & therapist for sure.
But what a fun pillow someone has designed, I just love it!
As the saying goes, "Better to have loved & lost, than to have never have loved at all." I don't know who said it but they too must have had a aching  heart & tried to think positive on the pain.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. It will be a month before I move into the new house & I've so many decisions to make on this last stretch with the colour on the walls. So glad the flooring is done...if the black slate flooring can be found now...

September Slips In So Fast!

September slipped in so fast & is keeping its momentum...

 I did manage to get my wee calendar for September done!

I used all batiks in this small calendar quilt.

I started Christmas sewing!

 I made this Laurel Burch fabric, quilt top, for the granddaughter Madison. She & her Dad Donny, will be joining us for Christmas this year.

                                                   

The inside circles are all cats & dogs, hence the fabric collection called Felines & Canines!

I had to do so much unsewing...to get those circles - just right!

I'll but a colourful flannel backing to it, to keep her cozy this winter. ;-)

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The roses in the garden have had a momentum of their own!

 The bush has tripled in size this year, I think it's enjoying me being back at the cottage. lol

                                               This is now the second round of rose buds!

                                       Even the very large wild rose bush is blooming again!

             But this, small original rose bush from me arriving here in 2009 is spectacular this year!

    And all the new shoots are turning a rich burgundy colour, adding even more interest to it.

 Now For The House Momentum!! 

 As I drive up to it these days, it appears so surreal! The picture that I've been staring at has come to life!! On Tuesday, Bill & I will meet with the asphalt company, to get our quote to asphalt the front, to the black crushed stone.
I don't want that muck & sand in this beautiful house!

 You can see the black crushed stone better in this photo, it's been quoted at $3.50 a sq ft. ...oh no $$$$ again!

 The top mezzanine window has the drywall still nailed to it from the inside. The mud & tape has begun in many of the rooms. I'm now picking the interior colours... decisions, decisions!

                  The garage doors are gorgeous, I can't wait to use the garage this winter!

 The electrical & new plumbing is being dug at the side of the house. See my wee porch for clothes hanging? My laundry room is just inside that door!

 The back of the house, all faces the Miramichi Bay & the windows are huge, allowing in plenty of natural light & a breathtaking view!

            The sunporch now is secured with its new posts & was 4" too high...now it's just right!

 The landscaping is going to take place this week sometime. The yard will be leveled out & next spring the new topsoil & grass seed will be added.

 Even the old chimney is being capped with new metal material, the same colour as the steel roof.

Diesel, the neighbours dog has come for a visit to the yard. I think he's missing his Milk Bone treats this year! lol The anniversary garden did very well & I look forward to seeing it come to life next year. All that time labouring paper mulch & topped by black mulch, really paid off. With the water being turned off for so long, the garden was neglected by still thrived because of the TLC from the year before...or that's what I like to think is true! lol

Sorry for the lag in the posts. Bill & youngest son, Nick have been here & it's been very busy.
Yesterday we spent our time in the Hardwicke basement , moving everything in storage away from all exterior walls. Then covering the shelves & boxes with a heavy  plastic. The exterior walls are being sprayed with week with insulation foam. It's going to be a cozy winter here in this newly renovated house! The feel in the house is really coming together & I'll show you more once the mud & tape has a coat of primer on it.
Today it's off to Moncton to take Nick to the airport as he heads to Houston Texas, for work on an elevator. This elevator life...sure has its - ups & downs! lol

Thanks for stopping in & do come back as we'll be going inside the house next!

Life is a present...a wonderful gift indeed!

Metal Siding Begins!

The trip to the Hardwicke house this week was exciting to see the garage doors on...of which I did not get a picture of, the trades had the garage doors up & were working inside. I'll get a photo of those, beautiful grey garage doors - with horizontal side lights, next post.

The metal siding that has a wood textured look to it has been installed on the east side of the house.

                               It adds a great contrast to the 'midnight surf' coloured siding.

The architect at Breakwater did a wonderful job on his design work, thank you Reid!

Francis on the right, is cutting the metal siding. I stayed back as sparks were just a flying! Mark is up on the roof, installing the metal siding to the second story.

The front porch is getting its siding put back on & all windows & door now have headers!

Inside the house was a hive of activities, the drywall is now being installed & the rooms are closing in. This is my dressing room, which leads to my bathroom.

The master bedroom looks great with its vaulted ceiling. I can't wait for Bill & the boys to unbox & construct the king size canopy bed! I purchased king size bedding at the Wayfair.ca, sale site.
This room is going to be a soft smokey/muted grey & blue.

The stained glass studio has vaulted ceiling designs as well. The dry wall person asked if this was a bathroom? I replied 'No a stained glass studio, for teaching & doing stained glass.' He saw the water outlets for the laundry size tub & the kitchen sink/cabinets, making him think - bathroom. lol

The second story still has work to be  done to it but these guys are working fast! And my camera & I were not productive to their day. lol

 Oh my...as I came down the great room stairs, I saw the work a head of me this Fall/Winter!

 The 'stuff' had to be put somewhere & this room & the sun porch were the only rooms available.

To think that my personal address/phone book...is somewhere in there - but where!!!

The shore side will be getting its treatment soon. The sun porch with its crackle cement columns, will be the last area of treatment upgrading.

I love our evergreens & will be admiring them this winter, as they boldly stand up to the nor'east winds. I'll be cozy warm on the inside, looking out!

The house is a one of a kind design. Designed just for Bill & I to enjoy our retirement together!

I'll be interested to see how the snow will slide off this steel roof. For now it's a slanted floor for Mark to install the metal siding.

Our weather has been great for working, the last few days, with blue skies peaking through the fluffy clouds.

And this, those wonderful steps, made my day! There were NO steps into the house, you had to walk the plank like a pirate to get inside. I did not do the 'plank very often & was uneasy when I did.
After that nasty fall in the gravel last October, I'm very careful to stay upright. I just don't fall like I use to & need a lot of time to heal now. So those stairs, from the garage to the main foyer, made my day!

Back at the Carroll Cottage, look at how nice that pillow blends with the drapes! The drapes were originally a table cloth from the April Cornell collection, I sewed  blackout lining & placed grommets on the top, making them curtains, eight years ago now! Where does the time go?!
I'm enjoying the FAT Chalk painted chairs with the cottage look here & the pillow is a really nice accent piece to the fabric curtains. Funny how things just evolve as they should!

I'm sewing a quilt for my granddaughter, Madison aka Maddy & will post some of that later. It's a Laurel Burch design fabric called Canines & Felines.  The pattern is called Crazy Animals by Brenda Sutherland & I've never done so much unsewing in a long time! It was a complicated design that had very little speed piecing & in all fairness, said so in the instructions. It is a special quilt,  for a very special girl, this Christmas. Yes Christmas is just around the corner & I make the majority of my Christmas gifts, it is my labour of love to those I care about.

Thank you for stopping by & I hope I didn't put a damper in your day with the mentioning of Christmas! I love that time of the year & all its good cheer with family & friends. And this year,  it will all be done in the new renovated Hardwicke House! Ho Ho Ho!!

Have a great week, I know I will as Bill is returning from China & Nick is coming out with him on the east coast drive from Toronto. The truck & trailer are loaded with appliances & remember that 190 boxes of kitchen IKEA, well it's arriving this trip!

So much excitement these days! I'm glad you stopped by!

Hugs,
Cynthia