Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:15:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/ Turning our one-story ranch into a traditional, Center Hall Colonial. en-us http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072209 I just wanted to put up a quick post about my first summer crop this year. Look how HUGE that zucchini is! As far as the garden is concerned, this time of year is traditionally Season of Neglect for me... Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:15:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072309 Sorry for the million RSS feeds all at once. Seems the house blog tends to fall to the wayside when life gets busy. Sorry, house blog. You deserve better. In other news... Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041409 The long-awaited-for decking has finally arrived! And what choice did we make for our decking...? Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:35:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041109 Today's rain - and our predicted delay in choosing decking - provided Ryan with inspiration to work on some miscellaneous projects around the house. Such as priming the pocket doors... Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:26:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update040609 Friday, a load of #1 pressure treated lumber was delivered to our driveway from our favorite local lumberyard. Here it is being dropped off the truck (below, Lily's watching it all go down). Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:25:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update040109 It's finally happening. The deck we have dreamed about for years and always thought would happen soon is actually happening this summer. The footings have been dug, have passed inspection, and have been poured. Here are some pics. Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update033109 Now that the island is done, I thought it would be a good time to do a kitchen panoramic. Here's how it looks from every possible angle. Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:23:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update033009 Occasional complimentary e-mails like this one make all the years of hard work, both on the house and on the blog, seem so worth it. Thanks so much! Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:22:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update032309 Ikea TROFAST toy bins are right at home in our blue/green living room. We actually thought we bought the unfinished wood units, but when we opened the boxes in our living room, lo and behold, we had brought home the white instead. At first a frustrating OOPS, now I can't imagine it any other way. Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:21:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update032109 Wow. This is the longest Raise the Ranch blog break I've ever taken. This post was written months ago, but I forgot to manually update my feed, so you're just seeing it now for the first time. More to come. Enjoy! Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:20:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update102208 Here are some pics of our wonderful carpeted basement area... Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:35:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update102208 We've used the basement more this year than any other. That's due to our newest addition...Carpeting! Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:54:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092408 View from the kitchen steps. View from the upstairs window. A third stone path will go next to the current garden beds, and a raised bed will go to the right of the shed... Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:24:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092308 Wow, this summer has really flown by! The patio has been completed for at least a month, but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to write about it until now... Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:24:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072608 Our morning started out with a supply run to Home Depot. (If I had a nickel for every time I said that...) Among other things, we purchased more 2x10's to build the raised flower bed next to the left of the shed. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:27:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072508 Whilst packing for our weekend at the Jersey shore, we discovered a wet spot on the bathroom ceiling downstairs. Ugh! Based on the location of the damp sheetrock, we determined that the leak was from our master bath shower drain. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:26:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072408 Well, this isn't QUITE the nursery rhyme garden (now that would be a fun project!), but last week produced my first crop of plum tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and green beans. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:25:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update070808 Remind me again...how many garden beds do we have here? It started out as three, but last time I checked, they had morphed into one... Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:24:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update070308 It's amazing how a little trim can make the whole space look so beautiful... Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:22:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update063008 An official from the building department called this morning to let us know that we can't attach a deck to a cantilever. It took all my patience to let him finish before telling him our cantilever is on the second floor, and our deck will be on the first, so it will OVERHANG the deck by two feet, not be attached to it. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update062708 We recently found this sweet door knocker for our front door. Matches our front door hardware and the portico light. Fri, 27 June 2008 15:00:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update062608 The walls surrounding the new pocket doors have been primed and painted. The trim for the sides, top, and bottom is in the basement awaiting paint (thankfully, it came primed). It's exciting to see this area closed in and getting finished. Now all we need is the swinging door put up between the kitchen and dining room, and our baby-sleeping haven - I mean, enclosed dining room - will be complete. Thu, 26 June 2008 12:42:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update062508 The beds are doing great. I didn't get around to putting in the soaker hose after amending the soil and before planting the veggies, but maybe I'll get to that in the fall after everything dies back. I definitely planted everything too close together, which I suspected, but what can you do... Thu, 26 June 2008 12:05:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update062408 It's official: Our deck plans are with the township Building Department awaiting approval! The Zoning Department approved our plans almost two months ago... Thu, 26 June 2008 09:28:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update062308 One of my stipulations for accepting the vinyl shed was that it accomodate window boxes. Voila... Thu, 26 June 2008 09:28:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update051808 Our little Jacob Ryan was born today. He weighed 9lb 5oz and was 21.5" long. He is our perfect little chubby buddy. Fri, 23 May 2008 18:17:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update051108 We love our new shed! It's roomy enough for all our junk, and it was a snap (literally) to put together. Ryan got the whole thing up himself in one long afternoon... Mon, 12 May 2008 10:50:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update050908 We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this announcement: Lily is going to be a big sister! And oh yeah, I'm due...uh...tomorrow. As in, TOMORROW. Fri, 09 May 2008 12:59:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update042808 Our Zoning permits were approved today! Next step: submitting the deck plans to the Building Department...once we make a final decision on decking material. But the Zoning approval was all we needed to get going on the shed... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:53:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update042608 At the workday, Pam and Brian's job was to prime our front door. Later in the week, Pam came back to paint the door. (They were insistent we not finish their job ourselves...how could we say no to that?) Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:01:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update042508 Last night, Lori and Heidi mixed peat moss, dehydrated cow manure, and a little humus into our new garden beds. Once we add a little more topsoil, we'll be good to go. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:57:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update042208 Yes, that would be chicken wire staked and tied around bushes. Not saying it's impenetrable... just gives her less of a head start. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:51:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update042108 I have been wanting raised garden beds for vegetables for a long time now. We just never knew where to put them. In the past, I have relocated my garden every single year... Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog-claim.html This is to verify to Bloglines that I control this feed. I'm not sure if I'm doing this right... Just ignore ;) Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:43:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041508 Way back when we originally painted the dining room walls, I used Behr Bleached Denim in eggshell, forgetting I wanted to shadow stripe the walls. I should have used flat paint. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:43:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041308 Slight revisions have been made to our deck plans since I first drew them up in Illustrator two months ago. Once we started filling out the permits, we realized we were missing details they wanted to see. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:40:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041408 Our pocket doors are now lowered, leveled, and sheetrocked with one coat of plaster. Another two coats, and we're ready for paint! Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:21:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041008 Last month, we ordered our pocket door frame kit from Johnson Hardware. Finally. This project has been pending for a looooong time. And the first step of this project...? Demolition! Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:56:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update022708 Late last year, my Opa came over with an outdoor swing for Lily. Little did he know I had been wanting just such a swing for our yard, since Lily absolutely LOVES the one at the park. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:40:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update021408 We've always planned to install pocket doors between the dining room and foyer, trim the dining room walls to plate rail height, and shadow stripe the walls above the trim. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:32:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update021408 We sketched out this plan last fall, saying, "We have all winter to fine-tune this and submit it to the township. It will be ready by spring." Ha ha! Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:05:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update020808 Have I mentioned before how much I love Freecyle? Because I do. This week, while perusing Freecycle, I managed to score our little family a few free and necessary things... Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:31:00 EST http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update020408 This list is a little different than normal lists in that it is not all-inclusive. It only contains items we would like to get done in the near future - say, by summer. Having a short list makes it a little easier to focus. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update013008 Finishing the trim above the wall tiles in the Master Bath has been on our to-do list for quite some time now. It was just one of those little things that didn't seem to matter much. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update012908 Unbeknownst to us, my mom commissioned my dad to build baby jacket storage - A mini coat tree, to be precise! It's the cutest little thing, and SO needed on our closet-less first floor. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update121207 Ryan's been a busy beaver in the basement. He decided last month that it was time to get the walls scraped and get the shelving consolidated. So guess what he did? He scraped and consolidated. Ryan's good like that. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update103107 For the first time since moving in on Halloween '03, our house did not undergo a drastic change in appearance this past year. We've added the lovely front porch swing... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update090607 See who's watching Ryan install our new dining room light? As Ryan would say, "Learn 'em young." http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update090507 This evening, the first of several companies gave us a quote on having our driveway ripped out, widened, and repaved. We've needed this done for quite some time, but other projects always seemed more pressing. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update083107 In May, 2005, we decided to build a rock wall around one part of the yard. We had more rocks sitting around than we knew what to do with, so building a patio seemed a logical idea...at the time. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082807 Or, the quickest way to burn down your new kitchen. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082807 Or, the quickest way to burn down your new kitchen. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082607 When we originally designed our front portico, it included two bench seats facing each other. But after we saw this front porch swing a few weeks ago - and couldn't get it out of our heads - the plan had to be changed. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082207 It's been a little over a week since we treated the cat with Frontline, and we've seen a marked improvement in the house's flea situation. Instead of feeling overrun with fleas, we are finally able to relax in our own house again...enjoy a movie on the couch or not be paranoid about little ankle biters (besides Lily) as I type at my desk. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082107 After some initial worrying, this year's garden can officially be declared a success. Every day, I go outside and pick new tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082007 Recently, the under-cabinet lights above our kitchen sink stopped working. Ryan inspected the bulb and realized it was still good, so he went online to inspect. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081707 For a while, it has bugged me that my blog does not have comments. Writing my own code has made certain things difficult in the blogging world. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081507 When I brought home the Swivel Sweeper, Ryan shook his head. How many little vacuum things do we have now? he asked. Well, um, let's count... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081407 So we have a flea problem on our hands...a big one. Seems our escape-artist kitty, Honeybug, has brought home some new house guests. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update071907 It took a year or two, but we finally have kitchen cabinet hardware. Yay! No more wrangling the drawers open from the sides! No more damage to the drawer fronts from improper usage! http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update071207 When I first saw this pendant light (photo below), I knew it was destined to be ours...And now it is. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update070907 After getting off to a slow start (and looking nothing like the formal Williamsburg garden it was intended to be), this year's garden has been surprisingly fertile. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041307 We officially "moved in" last September. Since then, we've had everything pretty much how we wanted it. That pile of clocks on the floor? Just it they should be! The stack of picture frames waiting to be hung? Let 'em wait! http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update041107 Last week, Ryan finished installing the shower doors in the master bath. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update040307 Here are photos of the afore-mentioned Unidentified Floral Objects... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog/march07.html#update033007 The good news: My plants from Tamara are sending up new shoots. The bad news: I have no idea what anything is. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update032007 A few months back (yeah, I'm a little slow), I was tagged by Bill at Enon Hall to list five things about myself that Internetland most likely does not know. This is going to be a little difficult... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update032107 We've been dragging our heels. I guess the last 10% really does take the longest. It seems once you're living in your renovation, you develop an "I can live with that for now" mentality. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update012907 I'd like to blame this latest blog break on the recent arrival of our little girl, Lily, almost 6 weeks ago now. But to be honest, I've enjoyed the blog break. And really, how can we focus on anything else when we live with THIS? http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update121906 Our little Lily Ann was born today. She weighed 8lb 7oz and was 21" long. She is beautiful. She is 3 hours old in the photo above. And she has two very proud parents. House? What house? http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update111706 http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update110606 So we've been doing a looooot of unpacking lately. Hence the lack of posts, because really, how interesting would that be? "Unpacked 5 more boxes yesterday...yup." But we can see progress being made slowly every day, and that's a wonderful feeling. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update110206 Photos from the last four Octobers... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update101306 I've shown the crib. I've shown the room. Might as well show the baby! Here she is at 20 weeks, which was 12 weeks ago. 8 weeks go go! http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update101206 Ryan and I have often talked about adding a deck onto the back of the house. Here's where it would go. Very creative, huh? What can I say...we're square people. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update100406 All three bedroom ceiling fans are up now. I always feel like the designers from Trading Spaces are going to come yell at me for having ceiling fans. "Um, they were up when we bought the place...?" Uh-HUH. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update100306 Small improvements are continually being made throughout the house. For instance, we now have an actual dining room table in our dining room. Imagine that. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092806 We gained extra space for a linen closet in our upstairs hallway when the HVAC guys decided to run our central return up through the center of the foyer. The sheetrockers, however, didn't understand the brilliance of our plan... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092906 Last Sunday, I was very excited to finally bring the crib home (thanks, Mom and Dad!) and get it set up in the baby's room. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092606 This room isn't COMPLETELY finished yet, but it still looks wonderful to me. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092206 It still doesn't feel real. Here's how the master bedroom looked for the past year...until two weeks ago. It's incredible what a difference some heavy cleaning, a bit of cool gray paint, and new carpeting can make. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092106 We still can't get over how different our whole house feels, now that the upstairs is carpeted. It's wonderful walking barefoot to the bathroom in the middle of the night, without tracking plywood grit onto the bath mats underfoot. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update092006 In just 12 short weeks, we will be starting our newest project: Parenthood. Our first little permanent home renovator - I mean, baby - is expected to arrive around December 11th. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update091506 After two years of being lost in the basement, our winter jackets have finally been uncovered. Last night, I opened a bin labeled "Bathrobes" (figures) and uncovered both of our Columbia jackets. With hoods. That resist rain and snow and northeastern winters. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update091406 I can't get over how many things we've crossed out on our previous house to-do list. The projects remaining will probably take a loooong time to complete, as we're now focused on NEW projects, such as unpacking and cleaning and hanging curtains. In that spirit, Ryan wanted me to create a NEW to-do list... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update091206 We've had a ton of help over the past few years. We would never, ever be this far along without all the extra hands. For the moment, I'd like to mention just the people who have been here within the last few weeks, pitching in wherever needed. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update091106 We passed our last two inspections - Final Plumbing and Final Building - late last week. After breaking ground on our renovations one month shy of two years ago, we spent our first night in our new bedroom last Friday night. The room smelled of new carpet mingled with victory. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082806 It's official: Our final two inspections (Final Plumbing and Final Building) have been scheduled. That means by next Thursday, all of our plumbing has to be completed and inspectable, and by next Friday, all of our Final Building requirements have to be met. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082706 In preparation for widening the driveway, Ryan recently moved the front wall of the right planting bed over towards the house about four feet. You can see in this photo where the wall used to end on the right. And here's the wall in its new location... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082406 Still reeling from our kitchen tile grouting fiasco, I decided to take a proactive approach in grouting the tile in the master bath. This is the SAME tile as in the kitchen, so I knew how bad the situation could get. You know what they say: An ounce of prevention... Bring it on. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082006 Since we apparently have no skill choosing brown paint, we put our heads together and decided to go gray instead. Here are Brown Failures #1 and #2. No pics of Brown Failure #3 - just think LIGHT BEIGE and you'll understand. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update082106 One of us was really working in this photo - the other was just pretending. I'll let you guess which is which ;) And TA-DA! The finished product. Oooooh I like... Maybe I'll remember to take out the spacers for the next photo. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081706 Tired of bees nesting under this flimsy, hollow condenser base, Ryan took action by swapping out that plastic nonsense with something much more substantial: pavers. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081806 Last night, we grouted the tile border around the window in the guest bath using trafficMASTER Stainproof grout from Home Depot. We give this product two thumbs way up. Not only was it easy to work with, but the "stainproof" part means that it has sealer mixed in, so there's no sealing the grout lines after everything dries. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081106 Our Final Fire inspection was rescheduled for today, and - just like last time - we did not pass. Based on the inspector's original comments, we moved the smoke detector in the Master Bedroom to the proper location http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081006 Apparently, the third time's NOT the charm. At least when it comes to choosing a Master Bedroom paint color. We've had no luck finding a brown we like. In this order, here's what we've tried so far... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update080706 I've had a lot of fun planning my half of the master closet using IKEA's PAX Closet Planner tool. Though we won't buy their actual closet system, it's still a really great tool for positioning closet rods, shelves, drawers, and SHOES. Can't forget the shoes... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update080406 Ryan and I have a week of vacation coming up at the end of August, and one of the popular destinations on our list is HOME... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update080306 It's funny when I think about how different our lives are from "normal" people...rolls of duct tape on the nightstand...a bed in the dining room...clothes in bins on the [plywood] floor... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update080106 First things first: WE PASSED OUR FINAL ELECTRICAL INSPECTION!!! We did not, however, pass our Final Fire inspection for the following reasons... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update073106 It's been over a year since we've had inspectors visit, so we're a little antsy about the two coming tomorrow for our Final Fire and Final Electrical inspections. We even had trouble locating the original township-stamped blueprints...hidden so safely we couldn't find them! http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072806 Tiling the bathroom walls was the first time we used pre-mixed cement. We knew the regular bags of powder mixed with water would not hold the tile to the wall as we worked, and my dad knew that this pre-mixed stuff was the way to go. That's why he's still the family tile expert... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072706 This is what we sometimes do for fun. You should have seen the tractor-trailers he built. Without plans. Very impressive. And what did I build...? http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072606 One fine evening, Ryan and I were just about to head out the door for a nice evening stroll around the block, when lo and behold, what is that strange puffy white substance coming out the bottom of the dishwasher...? http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072506 A while ago, Ryan's mom gave us a Home Depot tile book. Does she know us or what? I was always intrigued by one of the photos in it of tile as trim around a window... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072406 One of the big projects holding us up was the master bath...specifically, choosing tile for the master bath. Many moons ago, we tiled the master bath floor and liked it so much, we used it on our kitchen floor, as well... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update072306 Figured it's been a while since I've posted some house photos. I'd especially like to show off Ryan's wonderful green grass. And in case anyone wonders why the house photos are always taken from this angle, here's why... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update071806 My favorite thing about my garden is my heirloom plants. I have flowers from my Oma, Ryan's mom, a few friends, and at least two neighbors. And within the last two weeks, I've struck heirloom gold... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update071206 For the last two summers, we've had a problem with bees nesting underneath the hollow base of our A/C condenser. No amount of bee killer seems to deter their swarming and chasing. So we've decided to use some of the huge cement pavers we have lying around the yard to build a proper, bug-free base for the condenser... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update071106 Thank you, Ryan, for my wonderful kitchen windowsill. My seedlings are very grateful. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update071006 I've discovered a pattern with my behavior concerning gardening...either I'm really into it - pouring over perennial magazines and Web sites, planning out my beds, spending hours a day working in the garden - or I'm really not. There does not appear to be an in-between. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update050306 (Oops, what happened to April?) Last night, we hit a milestone: Ryan installed the first of our three kitchen counter sections. The section between the side door and the stove, spanning the sink and the dishwasher, to be precise. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update032306 My recent post showing Ryan's excellent trimming skills made me realize I've never posted photos of most of our wall colors. You will notice here at Raise the Ranch that we are not afraid of color. Well, one of us isn't. The other lets himself be pushed around once in a while. ;) I've taken photos from two of my favorite places to stand in the house... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update032106 As promised, here are pictures of the trim....The wonderful, deep kitchen window sill (now filled with germinating seeds). Honeybug is diggin' it. The Roman shades from Ikea in the dining room - otherwise known as the bedroom, until we get our C.O. and can use the upstairs. (Notice the bed?) The upstairs hall - the master bedroom a.k.a. workshop door and the guest bath door. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update031506 I thought I'd make a quick post on my lunch break to update everyone on what's been going on at Raise the Ranch during the last few months' scant postings. We have been hard at work (or hardly working?) scraping the tile in the kitchen, cutting/filling/painting/nailing up trip (though not all in that order), and accomplishing other miscellaneous house-related tasks. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update020206 So we've finally picked out countertops! We ordered three 4' x 8' sheets of Wilsonart Willowstone laminate. It is a swirly/speckly gray/green that goes well with our dark brown/black tiles, our deep cherry cabinets, and our happy Benjamin Moore Dorset Gold walls (which change color depending on time of day, section of the room, type of lighting, etc.). http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update012706 Two weeks ago, I started some herbs from seed in the bright hallway window upstairs. Yes, that would be a shelf made of two vent covers and an empty spackle bucket, if you were wondering. Lots of thyme popped up right away and has been growing and spreading like crazy. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update012606 Sometime within the next month or two, Ryan and I will be meandering down to North Carolina along the eastern coast for a week-long vacation. Anyone have any recommendations where we should visit along the way or stay once we get there? http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update012406 Last Saturday, Dad came up with all his helpers and together we grouted the kitchen floor. Ryan and I hit up Home Depot early that morning for grout bags bags you put grout into and squeeze out through a narrow tip, kinda like icing an industrial-sized cake. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update011706 This fall, I drew some sketches on graph paper of our current yard plantings so I wouldn't forget anything come this spring. When little shoots start popping up out of the ground, I will be ready with my chart to quickly identify what's on its way. Or so that's how it's supposed to work ;) http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update011206 Sometimes Ryan and I feel like the only people in the whole Northeast who actually LIKE the winter. We enjoy the break from the heat and humidity. We look forward to fluffy white goodness and flannel sheets and cableknit sweaters. Well...that sweater thing is probably just me. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update011106 For our kitchen, we are going with laminate countertops (as opposed to granite or Corian) because — even though I am in love with black granite and swirly brown Corian — we really couldn't justify spending a minimum of $60 per square foot for a solid surface material when a whole 4'x8' sheet of laminate costs $40. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update010206 Last week, Heidi and my dad helped us paint and tile the kitchen. How great to finally have some color on the walls and tile on the floors! http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update121205 A few weeks ago, I decided to bring the digital camera along on one of our nightly walks. Here are some of the photos I managed to sneak in before Ryan stole the camera from me and refused to give it back. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update120805 As the year comes to a close, I find myself doing a lot of looking back. As such, I thought it would be nice to post about the current state of things at the end of 2005. One room I've recently neglected to show...? The master bath. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update120605 In an attempt to over-winter my ivy and spikes, which grew quite well this summer on the front porch, I decided to transplant them indoors until the spring, after the last chance of frost has passed. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update112905 We've been fortunate to have many friends and relative donate plants to the cause of brightening our bare landscape. A few months ago, Anthony and Emily let me come dig up and take home hostas and black-eyed Susans to my heart's content... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update112805 This nice long holiday weekend allowed us to get some extra work done on the house. Friday, Ryan installed the light in the foyer and the light over the some-day sink in the Master Bath. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update103105 Today is our two-year house anniversary. Meaning exactly two years ago today, Halloween 2003, we bought our little ranch. We spent the day wondering whether or not the previous owner's belongings would finally make it out of the house, and we spent the evening finally unpacking. Then on this day last year, 2004, construction had just started and we were gleefully ripping shingles off the front of the house, only to reveal a swarm of carpenter ants. The little trick-or-treaters thought the bugs were cool, but us...? Not as much. And the house looked like this: Now one year later, Halloween, 2005, the house looks like this: And what will we be doing today? Well, I'll let you guess: It involves a bowl, chocolate, little kids, cute costumes, and NO WORK on the house. I think we've earned it ;) http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update102605 Some folks have been wondering what ever happened with our tile grout dilemma in the 1/2 bath. I had been saying how the grout ended up much lighter than it was supposed to be. This photo shows the tiled floor mid-cleaning. The back half shows how dark the grout was SUPPOSED to be, and the front half shows how it actually dried...too light. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update102505 It came to my attention the other night when Ryan was browsing through this site that I never posted photos of his finished wood floors. So without further ado, here are some photos of the newly-finished wood floor in our living room. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update101605 Don't let our little blogation fool you; we've made some excellent progress these last few months. We just weren't around to tell you about it. You can take a look at our to-do list if you'd like to see for yourself. There are as many items crossed off as pending now, which is a beautiful sight to behold. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081905 Is there a way to stain grout on a tile floor that has not yet been sealed? Will it stain the tile, as well?? Here's a picture of the tile we put in our 1/2 bath downstairs: These are 2x2 hex tiles on 12x12 sheets... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081805 We haven't posted a photo of the front of our house since the winter, so we figured it was about time for an update. Enjoy! http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update081805 At the moment, Ryan is in the kitchen installing our new kitchen cabinets. They arrived bright and early Monday morning before either of us left for work, so we stood around grinning like fools, watching as they were brought in. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update080905 So you think you've got a lot to do? Well, last month, in preparation for a workday that never quite happened, we put together a list of everything left to do on the house. Yes, EVERYthing. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update080505 Oops. So I guess the little Ranch Web site hasn't been updated for a while. But that doesn't mean we haven't been hard at work! One of our major recent accomplishments? Ordering kitchen cabinets! http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update060705 In preparation for refinishing our hardwood floors, we've moved everything that was downstairs into the kitchen. In doing so, we've found ourselves looking at that space with new eyes...Again. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update052705 Even though the weather has been beautiful lately and we have been distracted by the call of the outdoors, we realized October is quickly approaching and we'd better get cracking indoors once again. Ryan finished patching the last of the wood floors... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update052405 Now that our trusty little camera is back from Olympus good as new, I'm back to posting regular pictures of our progress. Following up yesterday's post on the yard, here is what five yards of screened topsoil looks like... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update052305 Last year's construction machinery left a complete mess of our backyard. So a few weeks ago, when the weather turned beautiful and sunny, we decided to take a break from our necessary work inside and officially "reclaim" the backyard. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update051905 Lori & I went to see Star Wars last night the minute it opened—one minute after midnight—and oh my goodness I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update051105 One of the Safety items we had to complete before applying for our Temporary C.O. was installing railings on all of our stairs... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html#update051005 Now that we're borrowing Lori & Jay's camera, I can finally post some photos of the wood floors that talented Ryan has been patching. I'm so proud of all he has accomplished so far... http://www.raisetheranch.com/blog.html Sometime in the middle of the day Saturday, Ryan and I must have looked at each other and said, "Hmm, we feel like building a rock wall today." We certainly didn't plan on it, but that's what we found ourselves doing. It's funny how so many projects begin this way.