Author: stenaros

The Unwrecking Crew Got Things Done

Friends Burt and Laurie have been getting together once-ish a month to do 90 minutes of some sort of project at one of our houses. It’s been pretty fun, and it’s also motiving. When there will be four people working, those backburner projects tend to come to the forefront.

This month, I had a variety of things ready. Laurie dug out our old worm bin while Burt drilled holes in a trash can that will become our new worm bin.

Burt put in two-by-fours that Matt and I cut to size. These will be used to hold hangers for all the yard tools.

Matt, Laurie, and I put together an object. The three of us assembled the wood that Matt and I cut into a box, and then Laurie and Matt added dowels while Burt and I measured the yard.

The final yard object. It’s main use is to keep me from tripping over the pole for the clothesline. It’s removable, and I can set it to the side while the cloths are drying.

A very fun day of work!

Protest Outside of My Work

I was over near the window and spied something odd: inflated figures. There were two of them, attached to two white trucks.

When I craned my head I saw their purpose: it was a protest by construction workers.

A well-timed protest, as a media tour for the new Albina Library was happening in the next 30 minutes.

The protest seemed to be about one of the contractors for the library using non-union subcontractors. Hence the rat (I think it was a rat, I didn’t see it from the front) squeezing the neck of the construction worker.

After a few hours, they deflated the figures and drove away.

Creative Mending Very Old Socks

I received these socks for completing one of the 5k series of races I did in 2014. This pair, and the other pair I got for a different race, have been my exercise socks since then. They were getting a little thin, and I was thinking about replacing them, but along came Creative Mending and this very smart-looking blanket stitch that builds into a web.

So I blanket stitched with Sashiko thread my way around the thin spots and holey spots until I got this.

I’m quite pleased. Let’s see how long these socks can continue on.

Paint Acquired!

More buying today. The paint is here. The dark green is for the stripe at the top of the two walls, currently it’s a dark navy blue. The lighter is for the rest of the walls, and the closet. I’m currently wishing I had gone one shade darker, but we will see how it looks on the walls.

Also present in this box: an Ikea pillowcase. I have two sheet sets, so I needed another two pillowcases. I bought orange to match the new duvet cover. When I got home, I discovered they are sold in singles, not pairs. So I had to go back and get another one. And also three more shelves for the Billy bookcases, and two more storage ottomans.

Étoile Episode 3

Ariel sent this very cute French bistro postcard for the third episode.

Ariel is sorry to say that Luke Kirby (excellent as Lenny Bruce in the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) annoys her as the character Jack. I am in agreement. She points out this was clearly a Daniel (Palladino directed) episode (she’s not a fan, usually) but it managed to hold her attention. I was not pleased by the worst qualities of Daniel on display in this round.

We did get to see two Gilmore Girls alum: Kelly Bishop and Headmaster Charleston.

Bedroom in Transition

I spent a good chunk of allotted room transformation money at the Swedish flat-pack store and have been in my happy place: assembling Ikea furniture.

The cat tree that was in the bedroom so that the cats could get to the windowsill and perch has now moved out to the living room in preparation for moving to a new home. In the meantime, it’s corralling the cardboard of the items I did and didn’t assemble.

My new table! One of my goals was to have a place where my sewing machines could be easily accessible. They will sit on top of this table, which has drop leaves that will let me have space to sew when the bed is put up.

The wall with the window will have three Billy bookcases. This is the biggest one, it will be flanked by two smaller ones. It has a rolling drawer.

I also bought a new duvet cover. It’s not as orange as it looked in the store, so it might not be the final iteration. We will see.

Storage Ottoman Achieved!

When I was looking for a new coffee table, I was hoping it would have storage and be the height where I could comfortably put my feet and legs on so I could lounge out. Julie informed me such a thing was called a storage ottoman.

I ended up going in a different direction, storage ottomans being in short supply, but what should I find at Ikea, but a very small storage ottoman for thirteen dollars!

It nicely matches the chair that has always needed a footrest.

From the future, I can report that I went back and bought two more of these storage ottomans and they sit at the end of the coffee table. I put them against the couch and can now lounge out, like I always dreamed.

They will also be a great place to put scraps of fabric.

Thanks, Ikea!