House… gardens… house… gardens… challenges, right… challenges, left… what a juggling act… but, so much fun!
Both house and garden need attention. Well, attention is an understatement! They are both in need of major overhauls. We do not think there is a single inch of this house or yard that does not need addressing. They are all so exciting… it is just a matter of… so which do we do next?
The house needs basic structural work done by professionals before we can do much; therefore as our backyard cries for help we gather our few tools and proceed to tackle the bramble, while lovely wild flowers pop through the undergrowth… We place a few of our planters waiting for our car so we can add the soil they need so we can add our seeds, bulbs and plants…
Speaking of car… apparently, it has officially landed in New Jersey and should be on a truck to our dealer either today or by Monday. (We are hoping for today!)
More electrical work is due to be done today. Hopefully, some plumbing toward a bathroom in the attic will be started (climbing stairs in the middle of the night in a chilly house is not our favorite option).
We have decided the kitchen will be in both “old” kitchens.
Originally, the kitchen was in the red room then it was moved to the room with knotty pine. Today Scott starts pulling out the lovely knotty pine from the old kitchen… yes, it is leaving the kitchen, but it will find a lovely new home in another part of our cottage down the road. For now we need to pull the existing cabinets, shelves, and doors down and tear out the existing bathroom to see how much space we really have. Plus, we need to pull up the old flooring.
So why two rooms for a kitchen, you ask? Well, the kitchen that had the knotty pine will be the primary day to day kitchen with the cooktop, copper sink, refrigerator, dishwasher, and lots of counter space. The red room kitchen will be primarily for baking. It will really be our baking kitchen/pantry with our double ovens and allow for storing all our china and silver. The red room sits directly behind the dining room which will make setting out dinner arrangements easy.
And, to clarify… not all of the red room will be kitchen… the back third will be the mud room and a half bathroom.
Just had refrigerator delivery… Guess our old Victorian doors are pretty narrow… they not only had to take both backdoors off the hinges to get our new refrigerator in the house, but the doors to the refrigerator too… But, Sears was so gracious! They not only took the doors off, but the put them back on! I know companies receive complaints, but we have been so blessed… whether it is flying on the “cursed” United or needing a willingness to go the extra mile for an installation… those men and women we have dealt with have been gracious, kind, and thoughtful above and beyond what was required…
But, there is so much that does need to be completed before we have a really livable cottage. Thank goodness I have “Super Guy” to tackle the big projects…
