Just Like Grandma's!

I found  the perfect farmhouse sink just sitting in someone's barn.  They'd removed it when they remodeled because it was too big.  It's a 5 ft., double basin with double drainboards.  And in perfect condition!  One little ding on the top corner.  I have a few dings myself. 

I'll change the faucet to bronze and it'll look great in my kitchen.  And for only $200!
It reminds me of my grandma, Ma Minnie, and her wonderful Victorian home.  She had an outhouse too, but I'll skip that.

Now, I just need a huge claw foot tub and one of these-

It Ain't Fittin', It Just Ain't Fittin'!

I have this greenhouse window that I initially planned on using in the bathroom.  Then I decided to put it over the kitchen sink instead- after I built the frame and the wall.  Doh!

It's an older window that installs from the inside instead of the outside.  That's the problem, I didn't build a frame inside.  So now I have to figure out how to add one.  And since the he-men around here keep saying I can't, I will!  

I'm still working on getting the tiles up on the roof, slowly but surely.  Ten of these suckers weigh as much as I do.  Repeat after me- "It's better than metal, it's better than metal."

Why Didn't I Take Up Knitting...

Today's plan is to start moving these heavy ass tiles up to the roof.  I found  these on Craigslist- heck of a deal!  Right now, they're supporting my rose fetish, but I have a plan for moving those onto the

trailer by the old pool.  Until someone needs to use the trailer.

Since I'm working alone, I'll have to do it the hard way, as usual.  Put as many as I can push in my trusty wheelbarrow, stack a small pile on the short scaffold, climb scaffold and transfer to the higher scaffold, climb that scaffold then move them onto the roof.  Rinse and repeat.  Sounds simple enough,

huh?  Makes plastering seem like a picnic.

I've gotten all my windows and doors from Craigslist.  Got 12 arched windows, patio doors, a greenhouse window and a gorgeous leaded glass door- for $200!  And I just picked up 6 brand new Pella windows ( the kind that fold in to clean)- for $200!  Those are for the back porch.  I originally

planned on a screened porch, but decided to use windows because a) I want to be able to block the north winds in the winter so I can still use the porch, and b) to keep the dogs from scratching the screens. 

Even if it was Lips who opened the door and came in the kitchen.

Ever try to turn a horse around in your kitchen at 2 a.m.?  Never a dull moment around here!

I have no idea why this post keeps changing its alignment or why the preview is in French. 

Wasps and Lizards

I've been working on the plastering, in between other things.  I decided to use Quikcrete Stucco Mix, because it's easier for me when I work alone.  Two coats of basic mix, followed by one top coat mix. 
It works better doing it by hand than with the sprayer I bought because I have to scoop the plaster out of the wheelbarrow, and that gets monotonous and heavy.  And darn near impossible to reach the top.
I actually prefer hand troweling anyway. It takes longer, but it's kind of meditative- like gardening.

I have a bit more stuffing to do at the roof beam on one side, so I'm almost finished with the first coat.  I've started doing the second coat on the other side too.  Which side I do depends on where the damn wasps are.  Who knew they love plaster?
I've been working alone lately so I've had to figure out how to do things differently.  I can't lift the stucco bags, so I push them off the stack into the wheelbarrow.  This would be a lot easier if the dogs didn't "help".  Lizards like to hide in the pallets under the stacks, so as soon as I touch the tarp, the hunt begins!  Apparently lizards are tasty.