Fence Fever and 2nd post for the day!

So today I'm laid up, home from work

feeling very under the weather and able to do nothing except sleep or sit and type.

All winter long we talked about starting to renovate this room, a full gut, insulate etc.

The sun now brighter doesn't make it feel so terrible, 

don't get me wrong I am itching for it to be done but we 

aren't inside much of the summer anyway except later in the evening.

                  We have lived 10 years with no privacy in our back yard.
       We also have the blessing of             

the streets mail box right next to us. 

We love our neighbours and the view 

looking down our tree lined historical street but

we need a respite from all who wander past.

It will also add value to our corner lot property.

 Seeing the beautiful fence I recently blogged about that Todd is just finishing for our

neighbour's Dave and Pegg has been even more motivation.

If we won the lotto then we could have both this summer but I think the fence

has won out over the living room.

 Poor Todd, he gets so tired of me changing my mind.

At least this room doesn't look like this anymore!

So I had painted that horrid wallpaper with a leftover can of paint 

and could maybe paint it again (with a cheap can of mistint of course) 

to get us by for one more season.

Would you or would you just wait to renovate?

What we bought 10 years ago. 

And how we have given her a fresher prettier look.

Our backyard quite a few years ago already 

very well established with trees and flowers.

Todd worked hard one summer with his friend Jason moving these

rocks here and then he  planted the trees to make the mailbox

not such an eye sore. It also prevented people from

tacking their unsightly notices on it too.

A couple of years ago we added a little deck off just off the back door and a gazebo.

I searched everywhere to no avail  for an affordable white gazebo and settled on this

one.

 I have always love the romantic historical charm of a picket fence and

pulled this photo from my binder of inspiration pictures. 

I love the curved top line but it will not provide us with the privacy

we need on the lower part. 

Photo from This Old House

This design would definitely provide privacy and I know Todd is a big

fan of the lattice more than pickets. I love lattice too but 

wonder how you deal with repainting down the road. Will it be 

nightmare?

Photo from Canadian House and Home magazine

And so it begins.

Late yesterday afternoon Todd and his friend Jason removed half of this hedge  

which runs across the back of our yard to make way

for the new fence and transplanted it in

Jason's yard.

   

It will not be a fast process, to be done on Todd's free time and 

that is good as it will give me some time to figure out the design.

If you have a fence you would like to share as an idea or sites I could check out, please

let me know. 

My Mom

Daisy, tried and true, Mom's favourite flower.

I hope everyone had a decadently spoiled Mother's day. 

So I spent the day celebrating my own incredibly wonderful Mom.

My mom has had a tough go the last few years and so she just wanted to stay home

and enjoy the sunshine, her garden and the sound of the  birds chirping

 with the company of two of her four kids and her grandson.

 We had such a great time together along with my older sister and her son.

It was nothing fancy, bbq steak and salad and lots of good conversation.

So many of you women are doing it all, raising kids, working full time all the while 

running a home and I don't know how on earth you do it ladies. You are this 

days definition of "SUPER HEROES"!

There are a couple of you in my family as well 

(not going to say who you are)

but here is a little story that I hope reminds 

you that you are also as important as your children.

My mom was also a super hero. 

You see she did something unbelievable. She had her young brood at home

to look after and she went back to school starting at her grade 8 education all the way through

high school, then university and then teachers college to become a teacher!

(gosh I'm pooped just thinking about that) 

We didn't even live near the university and she made the

long commute back and forth on transit and stayed up until 2 or 3 in the morning 

studying and writing papers. 

I'm sure it was a very hard decision 

she made to sacrifice time with us and my dad 

(dad, thanks for all you did for us during  that time) 

but she did this for herself and in return it taught me that 

you have to value yourself, set your goals and go after them. 

That is a priceless life lesson she gave us that I now know why

 I was able to accomplish many of

my goals I have, without ever thinking failure 

was an option. 

The sun shined all day and I am thankful for feeling well on that day,

 being able to be present in the moment and  I enjoyed each and every second of the 

time we all shared together.

Thanks Mom for being 

MY MOM

I LOVE YOU

A Heritage Home's Custom Fence

We have wonderful friends, who own

a gorgeous Ontario heritage plaqued  home

just two doors down and they have 

asked Todd to build a custom  lattice cedar

fence.

This is not your ordinary lattice that 

you buy at any lumber store.

 The small piece on the right shows how each and every piece

is notched and then laid one over the other.

I just love lattice incorporated into a fence design and

want to use it in our own backyard fence one day. This piece will 

top the solid boards.

The top of the lattice is pitched like a roof for 

the water to roll off.

Here is one section completed and is  boarded on both sides.

Another two sections, one with a window lattice and another

 steps down to allow 

more of a view as it reaches

the front of the property.

My honey and a proud home owner.

Hopefully the weather will remain nice enough to finish 

the fence in the next couple of days and I will share it 

with you when it is done.

If you need a fence built 

(or anything else for that matter)

and live in York or Durham region, 

now you know who to call!

Little mudroom addition

Hello all!

So last week we had this, I was so so not happy.  I am not a 

snow lover unlike my friend Joanne who I saw out walking in it,

 stopped by and told me that she threw her coat on

in a hurry so she could get out there because it 

was sooooo pretty, 

Ooooookay

But alas the snow left us for good (I hope)

and now we have flowers!

I just love how a little shot of colour can make 

a room come alive. 

I was not sure what would fill this little niche and 

I used to have a basket hanging here for 

dirty tea towels but I really and truly needed a place

for us to set our keys and drinking cups

down when we walk in the door.

Since our upper walls are a beautiful soft dove grey,

actually Sarah Richardson's "Promise" by Para I 

loved that I didn't have to do a thing to it as it
is already a beach wood weathered grey.

Along with round shapes I love crisscross 

shapes as well and this table is not only serving a 

greatly needed purpose but adds a nice

detail and texture that I knew was missing.

I added another shot of my fav colour turquoise for 

0 dollars with empty gin bottles
(no not mine!)

  and I placed them

in a tool box that I found at an antique market for $15.00 

and sprayed white 

(the fake copper paint was not doing it for me)

This weekend has been wonderful, full of rest, relaxation, a 

nice dinner and visit with my mom and dad, good homemade greek food,

sunshine, fresh air and a little yard work. 

Last year at this time all of that would not have been possible

and I am so grateful to finally be living!

SO BRING IT!