Lots of Furniture Finds with the Antique Sideboard Salvage and Reveal

by Annie Posted on July 3, 2013

Where to begin…well, the visit with my (Annie’s) parents and sister was just what we needed.  I miss them.  My poor dad and Greg slaved away in the basement pretty much the entire time.  That post to come later about the project and surprise (once again) we’ve made changes to the plans for down there.  There may be another visit from them soon to help that space and Greg’s parents are coming later this summer.  Thank you so much, mom, dad and Al.

Just before they pulled in with their trailer (holding a good amount of my childhood memorabilia, furniture, my grandpa’s lathe-Greg’s new favorite thing-and other goodies), I found this maple butcher block work table on craigslist.

Greg picked it up by his lonesome after work while I cleaned the house.  We’ve since sanded and cleaned it up then applied a few coats of mineral oil.  It’s now in our etsy shop.

It came from a beekeeper who makes honey bon bons in St. Paul from her rooftop apiary.  How cool is that?  She sent Greg home with a few which were absolutely wonderful.  The table was originally from W.S.U River Falls, Wisconsin where it gained its patina.  One of those awesome finds we weren’t searching for and picked up with not so great timing.  I love it though.

The antique sideboard/buffet/server/cabinet (whatever you want to call it) we picked up with a number of other pieces in a kind woman’s barn last year is finished.

After hours of stripping the damaged veneer from about 75% of the thing, wiping the entire piece with Murphy Oil Soap (like we do with every piece), repairing the drawers and drawer stops, filling the doors with putty since some of the wood chipped away right where the hinges needed to go then shaping that, adding new hinges and hardware, gluing the new veneer on (after searching for the matching grain pattern and paying some big bucks), trimming and hand planing the new veneer, then using 2 stains to match the old patina (after sanding the whole thing of course) which was a bit fussy

…then finding out the new “old” knobs I ordered on ebay were not all the same oak but only after sanding, staining them and noticing the tones did not match at all.  We ended up using some of the old which were not quite the same size but just barely with the newer knobs.

I tried using Rub N Buff in Spanish Copper to age the hinges it came with (not original) after waiting on that to arrive (took a while) just to be really unhappy with the results.  (I’ve heard it’s great but it wasn’t so much on this project.)  With ruined hinges, looking as though they were just covered in dirt, we called (they did indeed have the butt hinges we needed-tee hee, I said butt) then drove to Rockler 30 minutes away (and a few minutes from where Greg works in the metro…on his vacation mind you) where I found hairpin legs…something I’ve been looking for…and a tad cheaper with a finish coat to avoid the rust issue…which is not something everyone that sells them includes which was why I hadn’t bit the bullet and bought them before that day…and they are spendy and trendy but I’ve had them in mind for about a year for a special quirky piece I’m currently working on.

After getting a similar shade from the 2 stains and multiple coats and lots of frustration later, not to mention finishing it up with the Fiddes & Sons clear wax we adore so much, it’s now complete and lovely.

I really don’t want to part with this one.  With the hazy antique mirror and wood casters and…I sigh a little.  My bar idea is still etched in my mind for it.  But, we have a house to work on and little money and like usual, the money we make on furniture goes towards house projects (or debt).  You just don’t come across something like this very often.

My mom was kind enough to give us her old side table.  A table I remember from childhood and one she told me she picked up in high school for her room.  I have plans for it and Greg has already taken it apart, re-screwed and re-glued parts, and has it ready for my makeover.  I hope we do it proud.

The supplies arrived today.  Once again I went with who I trust and purchased from Robyn Story Designs & Boutique and again from John Millen Hardware.

Giving Miss Mustard Seed’s milk paint a try

Just after picking up that campaign dresser a few weeks ago, I found a similar one on the curb (it was actually from the same place we picked up Lieutenant Dan…he doesn’t have legs).  “Found it on the curb” is misleading.  We stopped by the yard sale the gentleman has held the last few years and what isn’t sold tends to end up on the curb so we swing by when it’s over.  Suddenly those things we passed on for such and such an amount look much more appealing when they are free.  Amazing.

It is laminate-something we don’t typically work with-and we did pass on it the handful of times we drove by…then one day mom, my sister and I decided to go for it and in their van it went.  Really don’t think Greg is excited but I see it as an experimental piece.  So what if it doesn’t work out?  I want to do something interesting with the thing but don’t know what.  Any ideas?

One other piece of furniture my family packed is the antique quarter sawn white oak table Greg salvaged from a WWII training facility near our college town of West Lafayette, Indiana.  I remember removing it from the old building covered in dust and cobwebs looking an utter mess.   That was about 7 years ago.  My mom happily housed the refinished piece in their old dining room until they moved and could no longer arrange it in the new place.

This table is important to us because it’s from a time where our furniture refinishing business did not exist.  A bit of something from Greg’s hardwork in his dad’s wood shop over weekends when we were home from college.  He hand-shaped the cherry legs (the original base was not salvageable), added the walnut apron front and refinished the top.  It’s also in our etsy shop along with a number of other things I finally got around to putting in there.  There’s more to come.

Just the other day I spotted this Arthur Umanoff (I need to research it more to find out if it’s real or a reproduction) chair for FREE on craigslist.  I want it for my very own.  Greg picked it up after work and now we have ourselves another project.  It’s missing screws and needs some love but it’s at the right place.

I’ll be back later with info about the basement project.  Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans!

 

 

Craigslist Tips and Campaign Dresser Find

by Annie Posted on June 20, 2013

Over the weekend, while working on the fence and steps, Greg and I cleaned and organized the garage about as much as we can around the items we’re putting in our future garage sale.

That meant creating a dozen or so free craigslist ads.  We have all but one item gone and more room to work and a place for my grandpa’s lathe which my family is bringing here for us along with a few pieces of furniture-one being the antique table Greg restored back when it was merely a hobby in college.

Last week I spotted this $25 campaign (style) dresser on craigslist. One of those items the person had called a cabinet and nowhere in the ad did they put dresser or chest of drawers (people use interchangeably these days) or even nightstand so not many would come across it.  After some ridiculous remarks from an “educated urbanite” in Minneapolis in response to my free bike-calling me an “uneducated, Catholic hick” just for living in a small town in the metro, mind you, because he thought I lived too far for anyone to drive to get the bike.  I set the moron right.  Little did he know who he was talking to-an experienced craigslister who does alright for herself, and her husband, selling pieces of furniture we work hard to restore and refinish.  Plus, it was a FREE bike.

All of these things got me thinking about how I search, post and generally deal with craigslist.  So, I wrote down some tips to share.

I’ve used craigslist as my main source for finding and selling furniture for years and years along with other materials.  Before we salvaged and collected furniture, I was using craigslist, Amazon and ebay in college to buy and sell (that was about 10 years ago).  I feel like a pro to some extent.

One of my tips for craigslist listing is to think about what someone else would call an item and add it to the post along with the most common name for something (a dresser could be called storage or chest of drawers or credenza and things along that line). To go further, try to think of a style/era to list (modern, mid-century, vintage, antique, regency, Hollywood regency, deco, Danish, etc.), where or how it could be used (in a nursery, as a nightstand, etc.) or terms your demographic might use to look for your item. If your demographic shops at Pottery Barn, Room & Board, DWR, or Blu dot for example, use descriptions the stores use or even the store name in your ad (but not in the title because that’s misleading for those searching the actual store brand items).  I find that it is important to do these things if you want to receive whatever amount (or close) that you’re asking.  You’ll have a better chance of finding the right people.

If you’re searching, think about the features or materials used to make the item you’re looking for and search those terms too. For example, if you’re looking for an ‘antique loveseat,’ put in ‘tufted’ and see if you come across something-assuming you want tufts and I’d say the majority of antique loveseats have tufted backs and/or seats. Want something made of teak just put in ‘teak’ instead of a specific piece of furniture (not ‘teak credenza’ for example). In that case narrow it down by category or you could be sorting through pages of stuff completely unrelated.  Hello, flat tire.  Wha?

Also, think about how someone might misspell something.  There are creative spellers out there.

Sometimes people will list if something needs work.  Search refinish, sanded, project, painted, veneer, etc. within whatever category your item could be.  I’ve found furniture in the ‘antique’ section (of course) or ‘household’ or ‘general’ so switch it up with the categories.

On the other hand, if you put in a feature or term you are sometimes assuming the seller knows just what they have (sometimes) and may face disappointment when you go to get the item or face a more knowledgeable seller (i.e. one who knows the value of the piece) thus your item may not be too thrifty and seller firm on the price.

If I intend to ask to pay less I ask before I get there and in a polite, respectful way. Still I find it touchy. Much of this advice comes from years of experience with sellers and finding trends in how they handle craigslist and potential buyers.  But if something has been listed for a while maybe it’s time to ask. The worst they could do is say no….and write you a nasty email, maybe report you for no reason…ok, use common sense when offering a lesser amount.

Ask the questions you have ahead of time then ask again when you meet but keep in mind that you never know if the person who has what you want is someone that checks their email regularly or returns calls so timing and communication are important. Especially if you live a distance away from them then someone else could swoop in and get your goody. Depends on how bad you want the thing.

I try to include a few options as to when I’m available to get the ball rolling and to show my dedication to/adoration for the item. Scheduling a meeting as soon as you can using the seller’s accepted way of communicating-email, phone, text-will help you stand out in their minds. People who do the same for my items usually get first dibs because I think “gee, they have communicated regularly and have made an appointment…they must be serious.”

But that said, as soon as someone skips out on a meeting I go on to the next person if there is one…something I didn’t do in the past and pretty much felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall. Fool me twice and I’ll give you a third chance was how it went.

It’s usually safe to assume someone would like to see the thing gone sooner rather than later. Forgot to mention above that mutually chosen way of communicating also means letting the person know if you don’t hand your phone number out or if you don’t do texts and if say emailing or calling is the best way to contact you. Whatever works for you both.  I found recently that more and more people want to text. I pay per text and don’t have it on my phone plan.  With ways to send free messages I see no need to use texting-especially if your phone works, you know, as a phone and you can call someone or receive email.

I keep those tips in mind every time I use craigslist…pretty much everyday. I’d say I do pretty well finding gems for cheap. My home and business rely on it.

So voila, I found a cabinet that’s really a dresser/chest of drawers that’s really a great piece of furniture that is highly sought-after for cheap. Greg picked it up Monday after work. It was about 20 miles in the opposite direction of home but for $25 we didn’t mind.

Another thing to keep in mind is how much will the item cost to get in gas and time. Put a value on your time and keep an amount in your mind you are willing to pay that includes all those factors and only rarely say screw it, I’m still getting the thing…yes, I have done this.

I have a makeover planned for this campaign dresser.  I don’t know when I’ll get to it but it’s coming.

Do you have any craigslist or thrifting tips? Have you met some real sweethearts or creeps?

DIY Modern Slat Fence

by Annie Posted on June 19, 2013

The secret, surprise “thing” we’ve been working on is this modern slat fence on the side of our house by the door most used. The fence was finally finished last night. It stands 45 inches tall, a little over 7 feet long on the front and a little over 3 feet long on the side.

Before

After

We added the mulch and called it done…although I would like to put some tall ornamental grasses in front (maybe later) like I want in some of the other mulch spots. So, I’ll call it mostly finished.  I was inspired by Morgan from the Brick House a while back when they put in their fence and had the design in the back of my mind.  I knew I wanted something similar.

 

The peonies bloomed and I’ve had several bouquets in the house giving off their beautiful fragrance.  I enjoy placing some of the buds in vases or glasses with heir gorgeous blue green foliage.

We’ve been between fence building, step repair (which took longer than I thought and was somewhat due to rain and somewhat due to having other things on our plate at the same time), prepping and creating the paver patio and salvaging the antique sideboard in the garage.

New paver patio

This is Greg’s face in response to using the giant nails to open the drawers while he worked on the drawer stops.  That’s what I found so we went with them. Getting all stabby-like. 

Side note: I enjoy working on the furniture projects in the garage much better than the basement. If only we lived somewhere we could do that all year long without the weather being much of an issue. Minnesota allows for outdoor work maybe 4 or 5 months in a good year…which was not this year with the late spring arrival. Certain conditions don’t make for good painting and finish coats.

To help with some of the issues we’re hoping to get the Graco TrueCoat paint sprayer. That would be just wonderful for all the doors and trim yet to paint and our painted furniture pieces. Probably a dozen other tasks.  Sherry and John from Young House Love recently used it to paint the trim and doors at their new house.  It looked like such a help for a big job.

Now back to the fence. If you’d like to know how we made it, please ask and I will do a post. Some of the materials we already had but the entire thing cost less than $200 to make.  (Even if you don’t ask I’m working on the how to.)

Leave it to me to see the parts I am not thrilled about/am already thinking about changing-like the stain and sealant in one we used (Pittsburgh Ultra Advanced Stain and Sealant In One in red oak) was not the same sample color at the store (that seems to be how it goes more than not) but we didn’t want to shell out another $30+ to change it AND have stain leftover we’d surely never use. It’s a bit too orange and bright for my taste. The stain and sealant is such a great product though. It’s an acrylic latex and cleaned up with water which is handy. We’ll turn to it again in the future.

The color does look good with the blue/green tone of the house and the dark mulch and well, I love the fence and the color has grown on me. It truly might be just the perfect tint but it’s one of those things you don’t know until you’ve tried a few samples and we didn’t to keep the cost down.  We’ve had 2 compliments from neighbors over the last few days. They are used to seeing us “destroy” the yard or having dead grass once spring rolls around and ripping out plants. We must have looked like the Addams Family last year. I heard our 9 year old neighbor boy ask his dad what we were doing taking away the grass and living in dirt. I’m not sure what he said in return but it stuck. After all, I did say this was the year to beautify the space instead of the projects that seemingly ruined the area last year…to make it better later which it did.

As my dermatologist (I had horrible acne growing up and stupid adult acne now) used to say, it will look worse before it looks better (talking about a new medication regimen). That stuck with me too and it applies to all kinds of scenarios.

As I said, this project was under $200 and if you don’t have steps to repair right next to the area (Greg can tell you how he did that too) for several weeks with multiple applications to wait on to set, you could probably finish it in a weekend.

That is if you get your lumber ahead of time and put a few coats of stain on each side before putting the pieces up which is not necessary but we found helpful so you only have to do a single coat once it’s up or not. I just wanted to create a more even look on the cedar boards so I sanded the rough sawn lumber once it was up (after a little sanding to both sides when it was not between coats) and put on the final coat once it could be called a fence. A bit of work but worth it.

So.much. rain. and. mud.

Another side note: those steps we repaired had outdoor carpet on them like the front steps (which we’re keeping on those) and the entire corner was broken off and chipping-giant chips-on the entire thing. After 3 weekends and some weekday evenings with chiseling, cleaning then applying coat after coat and leaving each to dry for 24 hours, Greg will tell you they are not perfect but they look and function much better. And it was a lot cheaper (and not as messy) than removing the old and getting new ones poured. Hopefully we don’t have problems in the winter.

The fence covers an unattractive area where the utility room’s window well and the gas meter are and was a solution to a tricky spot where plants don’t thrive. Except for the established clematis that I somehow think I’ve killed twice but it keeps coming back. I do work with the vines to be sure the tendrils attach as it grows instead of being a giant mess but seriously thought I ended its life a few times. We took out the old handrail a few weeks ago on the steps so the new fence also acts as the new rail.

The clematis that won’t quit.  

We have always wanted a fence like this and planned to put one around the yard until we found out we’d be moving near Seattle…and it would be expensive. But it would be nice to have some privacy. Something we’re putting as a priority at our next house or maybe we’ll just go back to living in the country. Something we’re seriously considering.

There’s always time to play with puppy Vivi.

There are a few more things I’d like to get and do for the outside of the house-add new lights (already have them picked out), put in a doorbell (we don’t recommend the wireless version…not a good experience), add a new mailbox, patch up the holes and find a shade of paint that matches the existing to get rid of those spots. None of which are in the budget right now.

The entire house needs to be scraped of the old paint and painted but that is majorly expensive and won’t happen during our time here. The previous owner or rather her “selling team” that “fixed up” the place didn’t remove things like hooks, clips, doorbell buttons, handles and the mailbox and just painted around them so the old color (looks pink!) is still behind those. I’ve been reviewing paint swatches to see which one it could be. This has prompted me to write down every single shade we use, inside and out, so the next person won’t have to guess.

When we bought the house in 2011

Now spring 2013

What do you think of the new fence?

Garage Sale Finds

by Annie Posted on June 11, 2013

Whatever Greg was sick with last week I now have and I am this post away from placing myself on the couch and snoozing.

Don’t believe I shared these photos from a few weekends ago after we completed the paver patio and mulch addition.  I wish plants were in the budget right now. 

But, I missed sharing anything with you last week and feel like I’m leaving you in the dark because some big (big to us anyway) things are going on at our house in what seems like Annie and Greg’s typical random fashion…even though we plot and plan most everything and we’re not at all random people.  It’s weird for us to start a project we had no intention of doing on the day we first mention it (like the kitchen wall).  That “thing” will have to wait to be shared since we’re about 85% done and I’d much rather show you when more things come together.  Hint: it has to do with this landscape update.

This was the space before.

My parents (that would be Annie/the ones who remodeled their bathroom, kitchen and mudroom) and sister are driving from Indiana to visit us in a few weeks and we can’t wait!  It will be their first visit to our house.  They will be here for about a week and are helping us tackle the basement.  In preparation for that rather large project (which includes fixing up the bathroom down there so we can use it while we improve the upstair’s bath), Greg and I have organized the basement, placing almost everything in the studio or garage.  The few furniture refinishing projects we have left will be completed outside.

Oh, and the front yard “winterkill” problem has been fixed.  No more dead lawn (except some puppy potty spots) thanks to hours of hand cultivating, lots of grass seed and fertilizer.  The backyard is up next for the same treatment although it is looking much nicer as well.

Instead of dishing on the task taking most of our attention for the last 2 weekends, I’d like to share with you those good, old fashioned garage sale finds I did so much last year.  These items are from the last month of our weekend hunting.

$3 thick maple butcher block top (already started to sand and make plans for it) and free smaller butcher block for a cutting board

Free-yes, free-antique walnut spindle bed (Jenny Lind) that needs a little work but I love it.

Besides the patio table/chairs and free front door (although from craigslist and not garage sales), this year so far had been the season of “new, never worn” clothing that I won’t share because well, they are clothes.  You wear them, you’ve seen them, you get it.  I will say I found a great chambray jacket and white jeans along with beautiful tunic-type tops that are popular now for very little moolah at several yard sales.  I admit the majority of my closet and dresser is from garage, estate and thrift stores (and Target’s clearance rack).  I wear that badge proudly.

No joke-I found all 3 of these exact tins last year (the bright floral one was in a canister shape and not a box but the motif is the same) and sold them on etsy. The hear-no, see-no, speak-no evil monkeys are solid brass and all 4 things together were $6.50.

This $2 toy grabbed Greg’s attention at a garage sale and with a little research (and the help of some friends) I found out that Holgate is a very old toy company and premier maker of wooden toys in America.  This 7-way pull might be from 1948 and worth a nice sum.

What have you found lately?  Now excuse me, the couch is calling.

 

 

How To Hem Your Jeans (Keeping the Original Hem)

by Annie Posted on May 31, 2013

I am not a tall woman.  At 5 feet and 3 inches (ok just under) since 6th grade, I have had to either find jeans in the petite section (although I have a bootilicious-nothing-is-petite-about-it bottom) or have my pants hemmed.  My mom did a few pairs then we took them to a Ft. Wayne alteration shop growing up.

Once I bought expensive jeans (Lucky brand for $70 which was a lot as an 18 year old making minimum wage…and yes, I still have those jeans) and the store provided, for an additional $20 (making them $90), a hemming service.  It took me 2 trips to that store because they didn’t have them finished in a week (which I now know is absurd).  By the way, this was the first time I believe I had heard you could put the original hem back on the jeans.  Totally novel idea to me then.  It spoils a height challenged individual.

When I first moved to Minnesota in 2008 and was still buying pants not previously owned, I took all of my pants to the drycleaners in town where a very nice woman butchered all 5 or 6 pairs.  Butcher might be too strong of a word but once you’ve had the original hem replaced and are paying $15 to $30 per pair to have the orignal put back on AND after verifying that is indeed what the person does in place of making their own hem which often looks silly…it kind of makes you not want to buy jeans to have them look altered and odd.  Then when brands change the way their pants fit (true story), a person could be out of options when it comes to jeans that fit right out of the store.  It’s a short person thing or maybe just me.  (My sis-in-law has the opposite problem because she’s mega-tall.)

hemming

So, last week I found this tutorial and used my daily, grubby, ripped and patched jeans as practice.  They are not perfect and that’s my fault for not being more talented when it comes to a sewing machine.  They don’t look awful either.  It’s simpler than I ever thought it could be and it’s a great tutorial.

Now after hemming 2 pairs of my jeans (that I now get on ebay, garage sales or consignment shops because I’m not just a thrifter for homegoods and furniture), I am upset that those expensive jeans were not done by someone who seemed to have it down (and angry that I paid $90 and had to wait 2 weeks) and overall upset that I have paid at least $160 on top of the cost of the pants in my years (something the person of average height hasn’t experienced) to have them altered.  No more!  The best part is that you can leave the excess on and let the hem back out.  Sweet sweetness.  You know, in case I grow at 30.

But I, Annie, have hemmed my jeans using the original factory hem.  This is quite exciting for me.  Follow this tutorial and you can too.  Happy hemming, shorties.

We Fibbed

by Annie Posted on May 28, 2013

That sums up the weather for our 4 day weekend.  Four because Greg took Friday off and then of course there was Memorial Day yesterday.  But yeah, it rained…a lot…and was somewhat chilly the entire time.  It put a damper (heh) on our plans to finish the paver patio which will carry on (weather permitting) this coming weekend.

Last spring…not pretty

Then they got a trim…

Believe it or not, most of that is not weeds but weedy-looking plants the previous owner chose.

After some work this weekend

I’m a liar though.  We did work outside on the front and side landscape since we found ourselves with time not laying the pavers out.  Said we wouldn’t for time and budget constraints but then we began putting in the edging which led to digging up some rocks which led to digging up all the rocks (I hate them) then we (Greg) found ourselves digging up 2 of the 3 horrible bushes and putting down mulch.

We left the rocks on this side but hope to find more time to get them out as well.  There are big, very heavy rocks on this side…not so much that one but the one not pictured.

Somehow we found ourselves at the nursery close to us and I found myself in love with the Mandarin Lights azaleas.  That shade of orange looks so nice next to the blue green color of the house and the clay orange red accent color on the door.

Last year

Now

We didn’t buy the azaleas just then due to money and planned on getting them later when I figured out what plants I want to put by the garage where the largest open mulch area will lie.  Any suggestions for perennials about 2 feet tall and wide?

Two azalea plants-one for the side by the large peony bush and irises and another for a pop of color at the front of the house.  They will be somewhere around 4 or 5 feet tall and wide so they fit perfectly in those spots.  I just have to keep them alive.  That proved to be a problem for most of the plants last year but they were not purchased and just the ones we dug up from around here so I didn’t feel too bad.  Especially since I really didn’t want a one of them.

One of my favorite photos from the weekend-both for the removal of that thing and Greg’s pose.

A lot of excess dirt/mud was removed since the previous owner seemed to just keep piling it up around the house.

Not buying them right then was a mistake because we went back yesterday at lunch to be told they had sold only a few hours before.  Without anything left on our plates to do with the rain, we drove 30 minutes to a nursery with over 20 of the variety.

We planted them within an hour of getting home and took our efforts inside to the trim.  I almost wrote stupid trim because it’s taking forever and we still have half the house to do.  The new white trim looks worth it when I step back to admire the room.  Some areas are yellow-ing even through the primer so we’re constantly putting more coats on it.

Hand cultivating nearly every bit of the back and front yard is fun.  That took a good day’s work.  My method was to go all out like a deranged woman who found out her husband was cheating on her with her best friend while Greg took a more analytical approach.  We were both very sore in the end.  We’ll see if it pays off with new grass.  And don’t use the cultivator upside down because it makes it a 100x harder to use and you might get so frustrated you start beating the ground and giving the neighbors more reason to think you’re a weirdo.

That’s right, Greg and I worked in the drizzle and grilled on the side for a little Memorial Day weekend celebration.  Something had to make it feel like a long weekend-not all work and no play.  Not that firing up the grill is play.  That’s how eyebrows get singed off.

To sum up this post, here’s this photo.  If you can read it.  Sorry.

Patio Furniture and Exterior Door Scores!

by Annie Posted on May 21, 2013

Hey hey, ladies and gents.  It’s been one heck of a week.  We had a new water heater installed Friday.  The water softener and Culligan filter were repaired a week before so we’re sitting with some decent water again.

It was an ordeal that I don’t want to go into too much.  We’re still waiting for the inspection to take place next week.  There were 3 visits (2 to repair the same leak) and if the compression fitting continues to leak we’ll be scheduling another new water heater installation.  It cost us quite a bit-so much we have a new monthly payment for a year.  (Wahwah.)

Through that process we found out our town didn’t have us on record as the homeowner (after 1 1/2 years here) and instead had the previous owner’s name on the permit.  That should be fixed by now with the call to city hall yesterday.

Greg picked up this free exterior door which will be our new front door.  Free!  The most expensive part will be the hardware.  After missing out on 2 other doors (not free), we jumped at the chance to get this one.  I think it will be great once we fix it up and get some new paint on it.

The before

The grass is still not growing in a number of areas harmed by winter kill so we’re going to bring out a cultivator to break up the soil and hopefully grow a lawn.  More work but what can you do?

Our plans changed over the weekend due to the rainy weather and we started work on the new patio with those pavers I talked about last week just before a storm hit causing us to have to stop.

Henry and Vivi are always a big help.  

We did get in some landscape edging but have more to do this weekend.  Buckets of rain fell over the last 3 or 4 days leaving the dandelion weeds vulnerable.  I took advantage of the opportunity and pulled weeds for almost 3 hours yesterday.  While our bacon-wrapped asparagus was on the grill, Greg and I pulled some more then sat down at our new patio table to discuss the plan for the yard.  Sigh, I love when the temps warm up.

I bought more clothes than anything else at the town-wide charity garage sales last weekend.

But, the best find was this $5 wrought iron patio table.  The hosts were kind enough to send a young lady to our car with an umbrella during a downpour that had us trapped in our car.  We also bought some more landscape edging from them and brand new tops for myself.  By far the best sale we visited.

Not an endorsement for Subway

Then Sunday rolled around and I spotted these wrought iron patio chairs on craigslist for $40 in our town (!).  We usually have to drive quite a ways to get craigslist items or Greg stops on his way home from work in the metro area of Minneapolis.  The woman was a few blocks away and said she probably could have got more for them (and I agree) but she just wanted them gone.  Another score!

I put new hardware on the dresser we have on the market since it has yet to find its new home.  They are the exact antique brass and mother of pearl knobs we put on one of our earlier pieces.  I decided to part with them instead of hoarding these babies.

What have you been up to?