Taking a Break

Time to sign off for a bit. My poor heart needs a rest. Be back soon!

Rest Peacefully, My Girl

I had to put my sweet old cat down today. It was with a very heavy heart. I knew this day was coming, as her kidneys have been failing. But, do we ever really expect on the day it arrives?

We had a good night last night. She sat on my chest and purred. She slept with me, tucked under my arm. But she wasn't feeling well this morning, and I knew the kidney issues had probably raised their ugly head again.

I got Peanut when she was about 4 months old. She had been found as a stray, left outside in the cold in New Hampshire. That was 1993.

She was, I'm told, a typical calico. Fiesty, opinionated, strong willed. She loved to play fetch when she was younger. Loved to stay outside in the spring, sunning in the garden. Loved to chase bugs. Loved string and shoelaces. She didn't meow, as much as chirp. Loved tuna fish and chicken. Loved me, and I loved her right back.

Fast forward, through a divorce, 5 moves, two kids, another cat, and a dog. She had become frail, skinny, unable to keep on weight despite her appetite. A few months ago she had a terrible infection that almost took her from me. But she bounced back pretty well. She was, after all, a hardy, hearty cat from New England.

It was the loving thing to do, to let my sweet girl go. I could have kept her going for another few months, but that would have been for me, not her. Love is not selfish. It does hurt, though.

I buried her out in our orchard, out in the long grass, under the sun. Amidst the birds and the bugs and the butterflies. Rest, sweet girl. I love you.

More Renovations and a few Veggies Thrown in.

Lots of nothing going on these days. It's hot here, even in Maine. Chris is out of town, and I'm home with the boys. And while I have plenty of time to do some painting, it's just been too hot and humid! I also have some curtains to make, BUT- too hot!

So, the other day I was walking around, shooting some pictures of the house and little garden. Enjoy.

This is my little garden. It's hard to see, but I had to rip out from the gutter extension (upper right), to about a foot in front of the welcome sign (center), all the way to the edge of the vestibule. It was filled with a pretty flower (Snow Anemone), but completely invasive. I had to dig down about 3 inches with a pitch fork, which would promptly be stuck. Then I wiggled it up and down, and listened to the roots rip. What came out looked like a big brillo pad of roots! I found a small bed of Monarda, happily blooming this year. ONE SINGLE PEONY ( my favorite flower, besides snapdragons), which did not bloom, and an astilbe, which didn't bloom either. The other plant strangled them out, which is saying alot of Monarda, which spreads too (but is shallow rooted).

The other plants are a little veggie garden- bush zucchini, peas, tomatoes (from our wonderful frineds the Schwartzes), and mint to keep away bugs. My husband wanted to put it in the back yard, but why bother? I wasn't using that space, and it's close to the house and the hose. The wire over the plants is to keep the chickens out- of course they make a beeline for the plants. We also planted three types of pumpkins.

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This is our side hallway. Looking at the picture now, the kitchen is to the right and the laundry to the left. The pipes at the ceiling- throughout the entire house- are the fire sprinkler system. Yes, I have my own sprinkler system, complete with a gigantic water filled tank in the basement. As mentioned before, when we bought this house, it was owned by the state and used as housing for boys. What I didn't do it take a picture of the door that used to be here- it was a fire rated door like the ones in the previous post. It made this area a dark cave.

We pulled the door down when we pulled all the wallpaper down. Chris repaired the wall. It's really a shame they put the door in, because they cut and damaged the old trim around the doors and the stairwell.

This is taken from the doorway that is now been opened. I painted the beadboard, which had been brown. Hubby WAS NOT thrilled about it. He's very much "but it's original." Who cares? It was dark dark dark. AS you can see, we need to replace many of the spindles on the staricase (look to the left side). All in due time.

This is a before shot, with my sister Christine helping out with the paint. Check out the lovely brown register... At least the floors are good!

So, that's it for now. I'm going to take more pictures of the garden and upload later! Have a great weekend!

Hugs- Lee

Two Give Aways

For two gals that I love!

Anne, over at Fiona & Twig, is moving to a lovely new/old house. To celebrate, she's giving away a $90 gift certificate for CSN stores. Woooooooo hoooooo!! I know I could use some lovely things for my new old house!! How about some yummy coffee tables? (we're using really old ones from the 70s...) Or some awesome bedding- of course the gray one, which I was all set to order, is out of stock!

And Tracey over at French Larkspur is having a one year bloggiversary! She's giving away a  gorgeous 18 x 18" pillow made from a vintage European grain sack, two  lavender pillows made from beautiful vintage French ticking, and a gorgeous old vintage zinc pitcher.

I have never won anything from a blog giveaway. Wouldn't either of these two be a great one to win?

hugs- Lee

More Wood Floors

I am still continuing on my journey of ripping out smelly carpets. My cat, it seems, thinks it's OK to not use the litterbox when she chooses. Even though it is right next to where she uses the carpet. She is, after all, almost 17. In her whole life, we have never had this issue. Ever. But since moving, welllllllll, not so much. Is is stubborness? Senility? Poor eyesight? Who knows. She is part Maine Coon Cat. That's all I'm sayin'.

Anyhoo, when we moved we had to put her litterbox and food in a spot that the dogs couldn't get to. Charlie, who has since gone to live with Deb and her family, used to terrorize her. Our living room is large and L-shaped. There are two doors that go into the front hallway, both with heavy, fire-rated doors. (I think this had to be done due to the fact there were children in this house. It was a boys homes for wards of the state). They also help to hold the heat in the room in the winter.

nice wallpaper huh? LOL. The door on the left goes into the kitchen. Here, I am standing in the corner of the L.

I moved back a little from the L corner, kitchen door is still off in the upper corner.

those stains came right our of the carpet- it was kerosene. ick. This the other side of the L.

We installed a cat door for her to go through. Put her stuff in there. No problems for months. One day I noticed a part of the carpet, next to the door and in the corner, was wet with urine. I was ticked off! I have no idea how long this had been going on, what started it, whatever. All I can tell you is I HATE the smell of cat urine.

cat door installed in the fire door, leads into the living room, closest to the kitchen.

standing at the cat door. looking out the front door. The dor up on the right leads back into the living room near the entertainment cetner. Matching door, on the othr side of the stairs, goes into my studio.

Fast forward a few months, carpets cleaned a few times, "puppy pads" down, still no improvement. But by now, I cannot take this smell. So yesterday I ripped the carpets out. (Damn cat peed in the floor anyway. Time for more puppy pads.) I found wood floors, scratched and beat up, but probably usable. I'm not sure waht kind of wood- maple maybe? I don't think it's pine, the grain is wrong.

In one corner there is a square foot area of Bondo. You know, the filler putty used in cars? Or maybe it's colred grout, I don't know, but- seriously?!? And there is some near the door to the living room, closest to the front door.

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Couldn't they just patch it like normal people??

Oh, and do you just LOVE the green paint. It's in the entire living room, and the downstairs and upstairs hallways. Then, a sage green is in the bathroom downstairs and bedroom number #4. Lord have mercy, green follows me everywhere. My house is PA had mint green siding, a mint green bathroom complete with a mint green toilet and rug, and remnants of green paint behind every register. My goodness, was there a sale or something? Must've been at the same time as the bright blue paint in the bedroom (that is on the outside of houses around here too).

Now what? I don't know. Maybe rent a sander? Paint? We're kind of hamstringed until we decide, because my art studio and the living room opens off this hallway too. And I'm sure the same wood in underneath the same blue rug in those rooms. Which is a good thing, I think.

xoxo Lee