by Amy | Jan 8, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
So when we moved in to our house here in Minot I was still blogging at my old blog. Since then I’ve moved here. To this prettier, roomier site. When I posted the carpet-rip-up post yesterday I realized that maybe I should house all the house before photos here. If you are a long time reader, you probably saw this post in July when we closed. Otherwise, enjoy these befores.
1. I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the house and yard. PS…the weather is just fantastic up here. It’s a dutch colonial revival circa 1911.
2. I love that the house sits up above the sidewalk. How cute is the stone wall?
3. I’m trying to convince Derek that we need a white picket fence. But in the mean time we’ve given the decks a
makeover.
4. I found this gem in the back. Maybe it’s thrown in with closing costs?
1. In the backyard peonies are in full bloom.
2. The kitchen is small but efficient. That door goes to the basement.
3. There’s the door to the back deck. I’m in love with the fact that the cupboards go all the way to the ceiling. I’ll need a ladder to get up there!
4. The kitchen has a lot of potential…but it’s so dark! We’ll have to change that.
1. This is the view from the front sitting room. That’s the
living room with the
brown carpet, then the dining room beyond that.
3. LOVE the open stairway. I’ve already given that
a redo. All that can lighting is just begging for a gallery display on the wall there.
4. Looking into the kitchen from the dining room. What would a house be without some wood paneling?
Here she is. The basement.
1. Stairs coming down to the basement from the kitchen.
2. Past a makeshift wall looking back toward the freezer from photo 1.
3. Looking toward the base of the stairs…To our “laundry room.”
Now let’s venture upstairs. There are three bedrooms and a bathroom up here. But they were hard to photograph. I didn’t want to post just photos of empty corners of rooms. So I’ll give you a few highlights.
1. Some of the doors have the original crystal knobs!!
2. While the house needs lots of updating, there are definitely lots of charming features, like these vintage ceiling lights.
3. Looking from the master bedroom across the hall to another bedroom.
4. Vintage vent covers are beautiful.
5. Another bedroom. Don’t ask about the paint job. The plan is to tear down the wall that joins this room to the master bedroom to make one large suite. Then we’ll add a third bedroom to the basement…stay tuned!
Oh, and one last thing. Did you notice the carpet? This is a classic shot of the flooring in this house. In the living room these three outdated flooring piece come together to form one nasty trifecta. As of yesterday the last of the
brown flooring on the first floor is history.
Yes…there is a different dark brown carpet running up the stairs and in the living room. And yes…that is linoleum and the landing…
More later!
Amy
by Amy | Jan 7, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
If you saw the Facebook post I made last night…you know I was up to something.
Here’s the thing. Derek went to a friends house to work on a project for a while. Ever since the Christmas hubbub came to an end I’ve been itching to do a project. Not a craft {I did plenty of those leading up to Christmas time} but a real, serious project. And I had my eye set on a certain, brown, shaggy, smelly prize.
I have been threatening Derek for a week now.
“I’m going to do it. Don’t test me. You’ll come home and that carpet will be gone.”
And guess what. Last night I did it.
At 5:30 I got off the couch. I had just watched the season 2 finale of Downton Abbey in preparation for the season 3 premiere last night. A friend was going to come over for Revenge at 7:30. Two hours is enough time to rip up carpet and padding, remove a few staples and drag it all to the dumpster, right? Sure. So I went for it.
Here is where the house started last night. If you really want to know why I hate this carpet…look all the way back to this post. Where I show off our many shades of nasty brown carpeting.
First I moved all the furniture out and covered things up. I have this fear of old dust. It’s rooted back to my studies of the crew who opened King Tut’s tomb. They breathed that ancient dust and got real sick-like. I realize this isn’t ancient Egypt. But caution never hurt anyone.
Then I started tearing it up. Which, honestly went very quickly.
Once the shag was up I was simply disgusted at how NASTY the padding and belly of the carpet was. No wonder it has been smelly.
Next I rolled up the padding…and took all of it to the curb for garbage pick up. Finally, I rolled the carpet as good as I could. Then I started working my way toward the door. And here is where things got tricky. Carpet is heavy. And this stuff all came up in one piece. So I was dragging it through the dining room out the kitchen door, onto the deck. I got it about a full foot through the door when it got stuck. After pulling and pushing, grunting and cursing I resigned myself to the truth that I couldn’t budge it. Either way. You just can’t make this stuff up.
I couldn’t get it back inside. Or further outside. So I sat down, all sweaty…letting the cold breeze blow through the door that wouldn’t shut. Then, miracle of miracles…Derek got home. It’s funny how much easier it was with two people.
And there you have it. The brown carpet is simply a memory. Remember when we moved into that house in Minot and it had terrible brown carpet? Ahhh…I’ve been waiting so long to use past tense when talking about that wretched stuff.
But now…present tense. My living room is covered in bubble gum pink linoleum. Woof. Gross, yes. Up I still consider it an upgrade.
The project continues. I promise, some day soon I will have flooring from this millennium.
by Amy | Jan 4, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of the Moment
A while back when things when I was feeling a little down about my {lack of} work situation my phone rang. Weird number…so I screened it. Voicemail…interesting.
It was a guy named Matt from a production company called Studio Now. Long story short, they work on a national scale to coordinate productions projects for businesses with local freelancers. He asked if I was available for a shoot. And after really looking into this place that called me out of the blue everything looked legit. So I agreed.
That decision took me on an adventure yesterday. I traveled for my first time into Oil Territory. Despite what you might think, not all of North Dakota is pumping oil. Minot sure isn’t. That all goes on pretty much straight west of here. Williston is the major hub. But I didn’t go that far. I stopped in Tioga, ND. A tiny town very populated by rough necks {that’s the real term for oil guys} and construction workers.
My shoot was at the Wanzek Housing Facility. AKA, a man camp. Man camp? See…there are so many people moving here to work there is no where near enough housing. On top of that, many of the men who come to work, do so at the cost of leaving their families behind in another city. They secure a sweet paying gig on the oil field…but their family cannot relocate simply because there is no where for them to live. That’s where the man camps come in.
They are temporary housing units. Some are really nice. Some are pretty much just shady barracks, sometimes without good showers. Wanzek is a very nice man camp.
They have furnished used FEMA trailers that men can rent out. They have their own bathroom, an extra bedroom, access to a lounge and fitness center.
I was a little nervous about going to do the shoot. The people of Minot {the natives at least} are pretty down on the whole “oil thing.” They describe the oil region as hectic and dangerous. So I didn’t quite know what to expect. And maybe it is. Mind you, I was just scratching the surface…at a family owned facility.
It’s just crazy to me that there can be nothing for an hour’s drive, then–BOOM–you’ve hit the boom. Truth be told, it’s a pretty desolate drive. Beautiful scenery but not much as far as civilization is concerned.
On the way home I stopped in a town called Stanley. The folks at Wanzek told me that that’d be my best bet if I wanted lunch or gas before I hit Minot. It’s about 30 miles into the drive back home. I popped into a cafe on Main Street where I was served a delightful philly cheese steak sandwich. There were construction workers and oil workers and old ladies having book club all dining together. Business was hopping. And I wondered if it was the same 10 years ago.
As I sat and watched CNN on the TV in the corner it occurred to me that change will come. Change will bring new people and faces into our lives. They will be different from us. They’ll have a background that we may not be able to relate to. But we have a choice. We can be the chipper waitress from Joyce’s Cafe. Serving each other with a smile. Eager to know who will be the next “regular” in our life. Eager to memorize each others “usual order.”
Or we can resist the change and all the things that come with it. We can be like on particularly crabby apple that attends my senior adult fitness classes. Picking at the things that are new and unusual. Turning our mouth down at differences.
Either way…change will happen. And we’ll all be happier if we are working at Joyce’s Cafe.
Amy
by Amy | Jan 3, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
The light in our basement went out the other day. Our basement is very unfinished. The previous light was a fluorescent fixture that hung from a couple of ducts and plugged into the wall above the dryer. It’s just one of several very ghetto-rigged lights down there.
So, we need a new light. But until we get one Derek took one of our end table lamps and sat it on top of the dryer. When we flip the switch it comes on and illuminates that little dingy corner with warm soft light.
{Don’t be fooled by the paneling. It’s just those two sheets. Then concrete all around. Pretty shady.}
Derek told me to start thinking of what kind of light I’d like above the laundry station. And I will. Because in 2013 we’ll start {maybe finish?} working on the basement. The finished product might be a long, loonng way off, but each time I flip on the switch to feed Panda, or grab something out of the freezer, or fish out some craft supplies…I see the lamp, and I can see where we are moving. Our basement won’t always be dirty and dingy. Eventually it will be the kind of place where guests sleep and pretty lamps live.
It’s a reminder of where we are headed. Where I’m headed. Where things are headed. I love it. It got me thinking…what are other little changes I can make in my life and my house that will remind me of where things are going? It’s wild how sometimes a small change can shed some light and bring a little hope.
What can you do to remind yourself of the hope this year will bring?
Amy
by Amy | Jan 2, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Living
This is the first day of a new year. Obviously. What better way to look to the future than learn from the past? So lets take a look back at my year’s most awkwardly photographed moments. I’ll try to put them in chronological order.
2012 kicked off with a stellar Mardi Gras season in Louisiana. One of the floats threw out a weird spray-painted mask. So the obvious thing to do was immediately put it on my face.
Shortly after Mardi Gras we went to Gators & Friends where I tried to pet this baby camel. But he nibbled my arm instead. It was all drooly.
Then it was on to a wedding…where I taught everyone to be a creep. What? The groom is a little busy? That’s okay, I’ll just take a photo with his back.
I caused an awkward scene before jumping off the cliff.
Someone else made this photo weird for us. “Oh, could you see me in your picture?” She asked.
The rest of the summer was pretty low key. Then I took a trip to California. I had an amazing day at Sea World. We saw this pet show, afterward you can pet the stars of the show. I accidentally pushed a kiddo out of the way. But I {kind of} got a photo with a super cute dog…
We ran an Urban Adventure Race. Derek had to make a frosting mustache on me. The face I’m making in the lower left corner is quite possibly the most awkward and pathetic image of myself ever taken.
During our trip to Philly, DC, Dover and Lancaster I amused myself at the Liberty Bell while my friends were wandering the museum. See…everyone was crowding the front of the bell {where the iconic crack is} but no one was on the backside. So I got a good close look. Then I just stood back there and smiled in the background of everyone’s vacation photos. Photobombing at its best. The photo below is just a general weird moment…but you can see the tourists in the background.
Derek caught me playing gladiator while shoveling.
I condoned cutting down a “Christmas tree” from a gas station parking lot.
And why not squeeze one more in for good measure? Sometimes I just can’t control my face. Derek’s uncle caught this moment during the family’s White Elephant exchange.
Happy 2013 my lovlies. I’m looking forward to sharing another year with you…where we can continue to laugh at my expense.
Amy
by Amy | Dec 31, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Living
At the stroke of midnight a new year will begin. Each year I come up with a list of things I’d like to do in the upcoming year. But as with most things in my mind/life…it’s not a typical list. Sure I have diet goals, career goals and all that jazz. I just tend to work on those goals constantly. So, without further ado here is my 2013 list of things to do, master, try and travel. I hope you enjoy…and maybe get a couple ideas for your own list. {No particular order of course.}
1. Finish mastering the Rubix Cube. It’s all about memorizing a pattern. I’ve got it all the way to the last side…now, to finish it off.
2. Go to Voyager National Park.
3. Learn to tie knots. Good ones. Like a sailor, or Gale from the Hunger Games.
4. Reupholster a chair. {Not just the seat, but a whole living room chair.}
5. Improve my unicycling skills. I’d like to be able to ride in a circle.
6. Dress my cat up in a lot of costumes and take her photo. Just for laughs.
7. Learn to bake artisan breads.
8. Make macaroons.
9. Get on a letter writing schedule and write more letters…to all the people I love and don’t see very often. And to help me do that….
10. Make personalized stationary.
11. Get my passport updated {it still doesn’t have my married name on it.} Then…
12. Go to Canada {I’m practically there.}
13. Paint a mural.
14. Improve my eye makeup skills.
15. Clear my closet. Seriously, once and for all get rid of all the stuff I don’t use.
16. Learn to wire a lamp.
17. Make an amazing cheesecake.
18. Go to an auction and bid on something I love.
19. Go to the Mall of America.
20. Go to the shooting range.
21. Make some killer chili.
22. Make tomato soup from scratch.
23. Paint a piece of furniture.
24. Learn about arranging flowers. Then make some awesome arrangements.
25. Landscape.
26. Throw an amazing party.
27. Do something to benefit a cause.
28. Conquer the french braid consistently.
29. Go dog sledding. {Yes, there really is a place in North Dakota that will teach you!}
30. Learn an ice skating trick. {This one might have to wait until next winter.}
31. Climb something.
32. Go backpacking.
33. Visit Montana. Anywhere…but preferably Glacier National Park.
Will they all get done? Probably not. But it’s sure fun to try. Enjoy your NYE. Promise me you’ll think of Dick Clark at least once tonight. Be safe. If you indulge adultly, get a DD. Pinky swear? K good. I’m so excited about spending another year with you!
Amy
by Amy | Dec 31, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Living
Wow. My goodness I’ve missed you. The big holiday is behind us…and New Year’s Eve is on the brink. I didn’t mean to take so much time off…but it happened. And, like I’ve told you before, I’d rather not write to you…then write you a load of garbage. Believe it or not, I do strive to write things that are worth while.
Anyway, I had a blast over the Christmas season. Maybe the best part was getting to meet up and chat with some of you who read the blog that I don’t see or catch up with very often. I cannot begin to describe how my heart leaps when one of you tells me you’ve been touched by, humored, or amused by something you’ve read here. I love every single one of you who takes a moment or two from your day to escape with me into the escapades of everyday life.
So with another year nearly over, another birthday behind me…I find myself pondering. It happens every year around this time. Another year older, another year ahead. More times than I like to remember, I’ve felt quite lost at the turn of the year. But for once, I feel like I’m entering the year with a direction. With a bit more calling. I’m on the cusp of a whole lotta projects and a load of new and curious interests. I’m very excited to tell you all about them in the coming weeks.
I know this wasn’t much of a post. Just a little update on things. Tomorrow I’ll be giving you my list of yearly goals. If you don’t know me very well…you know it’s more than lose 10 pounds and things like that. I’m more about quirky skills and the like.
For tonight I’d like to leave you with something fun. I know we all got lots of awesome stuff {and I’ve gotten double awesome stuff because my birthday was a few days ago too}. And I’d like to share a few of the most shockingly amazing things Santa dropped off for me this year. Now, a quick disclaimer. I loved everything I received. This is a short list of the more inexpensive items in Santa’s sack that really caught me off guard. Total clarity: My family and friends rock.
1. Fleece lined leggings!!! Yes, this is a thing. And yes, they are as awesome as they sound. Do you like the idea of wearing a warm cloud as pants? Then I suggest you get some of these.
2. Layered gym shorts like these. They look super cute and no one can see my under-oos when I lay down and do leg raises.
3. A knife sharpener. Yep, forget that one that came with your knife set. This totally rocks.
4. A new 1000 piece puzzle. Okay, but it’s not a regular puzzle. This one comes in a sturdy box and includes a fold out print of the image and a big ziploc baggie to put the pieces in after you’re done. I’m a new, huge fan of Dowdle Puzzles. Perfect for these sub-zero nights.
5. Bootsocks. My mom scored me a super cute pair from Eddie Bauer. Boots over skinny jeans are cozy. But warm snuggly socks over skinny jeans in boots…well, you just can’t beat it. I never would have bought them for myself. Now I’m hooked. And they look super cute peeking out over my boots. {Which were also a gift from Mom and Daddy. Told you they rock.}
My favorite part of the day is seeing my crafty/thrifty/awesome-shopping genius surprise my family…and I love it when they surprise me too. So what surprised you this Christmas? I’d love to know what knocked your Christmas stockings off this year!
Amy
by Amy | Dec 25, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Design, The Art of Faith, The Art of the Moment
As usual, I had good intentions of writing to you diligently while I’ve been home in Elkhart {IN}. I also had good intentions of working out…since I teach a triple {three classes in one day} the day after we return home. {Woof.} I even brought me super sweet new Brooks home. But guess what? I didn’t do either. I hope you don’t hate me…or even worse…disown me. Or shun me, like Dwight Schrute to Andy Bernard on the Office.
I’m digressing.
I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Over the years that feeling deep in the pit of my stomach…you know the one…the excited, can’t-hardly-sleep, what-will-morning-bring feeling–well, it’s faded a bit. But it has been replaced by a new feeling. One of a deeper relationship with Jesus and a better understanding of what His birth really meant.
Both are good. However…I’ve got to say I like the latter even more that anxiously waiting for Santa.
I hope you do too.
Thanks for sticking with me. I wish you could all be on my Christmas card list. But I have enough trouble getting a very few cards out on time. {Some are still sitting in my car, awaiting the USPS.} So here is your card. Straight from me {and Derek} to you. It’s a little different than the one we put in the mail. That’s a long awkward story. Maybe I’ll tell it to you someday. I love you all.
The back side reads:
“Them little lights aren’t twinkling.” “I know, Art…and thanks for noticing.”
It’s a quote from Christmas Vacation. Drumroll please…
Have a great day with your family.
Amy
