Folks,
It has been so long since I have updated the blog, I do apologize! My schedule has been really busy lately; continuing to help Richard with the renovations, enjoying being here in Ottawa and
grand parenting and most recently starting a contract to do a review of a government IT project.
Our renovations have progressed to the point where we have all of the flooring materials needed to
complete the upstairs bedroom floor replacement and the Ceramic tiles are now on hand for the basement
Reno. New exterior light fixtures and a new sink and faucets for both bathrooms have been acquired and await installation! We finished the tops of the fence posts in the back yard since we decided against changing the fence top line. We got the masonry work that needed to be done completed on the exterior of the house and are well in line to complete the projects towards "Go For Sale" day!
As for staging, I have purchased or
re purposed loads of curtains, curtain rods, bedding and linens to stage the upstairs bedrooms as a family like to see them and my favourite subset is the small bedroom that I am staging for the pleasure of my
granddaughters! At a garage sale yesterday I got an antique, small dresser that Richard will spray paint for their room, to match the bed headboard and
foot board that I got at another garage sale. Fun! Once the final bedroom floor is complete this week, I will be able to
unjumble the upstairs and finally set the stage for the sale. Then we turn our attention to the Banister installation on our stairs and the basement
Reno.
I have found some amazing sales recently: 12" x 12" ceramic tiles for 50 cents a piece (we needed 770 of them!), nice lighting fixtures for the basement for $4 each (need 8), exterior lights for $10 each (need 2) and some great garage sale finds for staging.
Some side projects I have to complete: an upholstered bench and headboard for the master bedroom, two roman blinds from fabric I acquired in South Carolina, re-
upholstery of one chair and restoration of another antique desk chair...just need time time time now!
As I go I will include some pictures...
Hands, feet from Payton, Brooklyn and Madison!
Brooklyn's first masterpiece on canvas!
Payton's jumping horse masterpiece!
Payton and Brooklyn painting at Nana's on a rainy day. The paints and brushes are acrylic from Ikea! Very colourfull indeed! 
Updating the bedrooms for the staging of Fernwood has been fun and some work too. Richard laid the new floors and I scoured the countryside for treasures to put to good use! The little dresser here is one example of a $15 find that just needed a little TLC and Paint to be a perfect little storage place for the girls. Payton and Brooklyn did the little table mat for us when we first left for Florida and so it has a special place in their new little room.
I found the lamp at Home Sense for $29 and when it is lit you can see moons and stars through the lampshade. Very cute. The bed came from a friend of Lisa's and it has been painted the same "Heritage White" as the dresser. The little garbage pail is from the dollar store!
The rug was from Ikea and it was only $34 and it gives such a lovely little place to play on the floor. The basket is from my parent's home so it has a vintage feel and brings a little nostalgia to the room for Grandma (me)! The bedding was from Winners and Ikea and came together nicely with some fabric in Green that I already had to do the curtains.
The spare room and study was essentially the last room we needed to complete and it has come out very nicely too. The bedding is from Beddingtons and the curtains from Home Depot! Richard replaced all of the plugs and switches for nice new white ones and you can see that the floor, the paint job and the baseboards all look pretty good too.
Deanna and her boyfriend were in Ottawa for a visit from Guelph where they have each renovated their respective homes so they know what we have been up to these days. Louise and Lisa and the two little Youngs were able to visit for Monday morning breakfast. We will soon have Payton off school so we can see her too. Today is her last day! I have projects waiting for the girls to do some artwork for their room!
Brooklyn choosing a picture to colour at her table and chairs...currently by our fireplace.
This week Maddie learned to pull herself up in our playpen and she is so pleased every time she does it. She turned 7 months old a few days ago! and has 1 tooth.
Reggie and Brooklyn are the best of friends!
The amazing beach of Perdido Key Florida and Alabama before the Gulf Oil Disaster of 2010.
Maddy at the park with Nana and Brooklyn this week. Brooklyn rode the whole way standing on the front of the stroller so Maddie could lie in it!
Brooklyn got a bee sting at the cottage with her Mom and Dad and sisters. It took a while to blow up to this level but she was a trooper even though she had one eye shut tight! She let me hold a cool cloth on it and we counted to twenty together. Funny thing was when I got to nineteen, she yelled out twenty after...what a smartie pants! :-)
At the park her Mommy used to play at Brooklyn feels right at home these days. 
Brooklyn examines her balloons, she very carefully ensures they don't get wrapped round each other!
Brooklyn and Payton enjoying a romp around Brooklyn's birthday present , a big girl bed!
After the singing there is nothing to do but go "oh my goodness!....TO ME!"
Brooklyn sits on her couch, an antique from her great, great, great, grandfather's home. I am wondering how many happy birthday girls sat there before her!
Madison and Grandpa have a special bond...he loves to hold her and she loves to be there! :-)
Payton giving Grandpa Richard a kind little look and a sweet smile....
Brooklyn with a Kolbassa tongue as prompted by Bompa....
Madison wearing a big smile!
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