Update on root cellar in basement

Ok it's been a little bit since the first starter photos of the root cellar we decided to build in the basement, but again, with both of us working we find it hard to remember to snap photos during the whole process especially when we both are hands on trying to get stuff done while we are both here at the same time to do the projects

 try not to "notice" the mess down here LOL it's still under construction and reorganizing

the door, it was free from hubbys work, they get pallets of laminate in and in order for the 2 pallets to be held together they glue on these doors, yes really they do and when they get to the bottom of the laminate, those doors get thrown away, so we got a freebie treasure and built this area with that in mind

 as soon as he put up the drywall, I got out the paint, I wanted it done because its right beside my laundry area and I hated walking through that mess to do laundry, and that laundry basket in middle of floor, that is there because just upstairs right above it, there is a linen closet outside the bathroom, I had the dear husband cut a hole in the bottom of the cabinet so I could use it as a laundry shoot HA HA and it works perfectly!

Hey~why carry the dirty clothes down if you don't have to, I mean, you have to drag them back upstairs this was just saving a trip carrying them down there

 don't mind the mess, the paint cans will soon be gone, that photo will be heading out the door, the stuff piled over there usually is stored under the steps that come down into basement, but right now I have all my boxes of canning jar supplies stacked over there until we get shelving in the new room

 do you see the inside of that door, those lines all scruffy looking, that is where it was glued to the pallets, granted I wouldn't want it for my main floor door, but its ideal for here, can't beat free!

 stepping in the doorway you can see no shelves built yet, just some spuds that are patiently waiting for me to get them out into the garden along with onion sets, and we left the shower in that corner, just in case, you just never know when you may want water in this room!

 our picking crates, and the cat, this is a new area she thinks she needs to investigate when the door is opened

just another view inside

 the silver thing in the window is insulated panel, it will keep it cool and dark in here

 told you, see all those boxes of jars that need cleaned and put away (plus some stuff we didn't put into the shed for winter that needs to go back outside), as soon as we get this stuff all put away I can get to cleaning the old floor and finish painting it - those metal shelving units were here when we moved in, they aren't the best and I keep debating on what to actually do with them

ready to can, I am, I am so ready to fill those jars instead of looking at them :)

Painting the living room walls & window trim

So yeah, ok its cold outside and winter still, I am anxious to get outside but for now, remember that dark paint I put on that one living room wall, reddish mauve or something back in December 2010? (post link)

Well I have lived with it for over a year, had to get my moneys worth but I just can't stand it any longer

So today we are painting the wood trim around the windows because I am just not impressed with the dark old wood and of course, this IS happening while hubby is at work or I would get scolded

 I had one wall painted that dark reddish color, the 2 end walls mushroom like taupe and the front window wall was still off white, but all that is soon to change, I started with painting the window trim and baseboard trim, it took several coats of primer and paint

 you can see the different colors

piling everything on the couches away from my messy paint, see the dark old window trim?

 here we go, got some of the walls painted, dry and putting up some of my wall decorations, that misery whip was my great grandfathers!

 I am liking the room in this color, I need to do touchup trim work yet

 and look, the ladder I put on the wall has family photos in it now!

front window wall is not yet painted, I am working on the window trim here today, just look at that view

 this end is done, and trim all touched up

 front window wall in progress

the paint is from Lowe's, some historic preservation paint line "Mark Twain House Olive"

 Backfire thinks she is hiding over by the front door, gonna have to move her to clean and finish painting that wall

will update later when the paint is all done

Root cellar in basement instead of outside

We had planned on a root cellar outside on the back bank, but I got to thinking . . . who wants to trek outside through the snow to get to the goods right? So we researched and decided we would just build it into the back corner of our basement, makes sense to me, why go out if we don't have to!

 I was at work when he started and had just the framework up so missed getting those shots

but ere he is putting in the insulation

 insulation panels for the ceiling

taking photo from inside the room, yes he's proud of his work

 installing the light and electrical outlets

 got some paint and painted it dark in there instead of the white drylok that we had already painted on

need to finish wiring and then put up the ceiling insulation

 after he was done I went in and added another coat of paint

just waiting for it to dry, he doesn't think it needs painted, but I do, I will leave the floor alone though

will update as we progress with this project :)

New Ceiling Fans!

FINALLY!! We have new ceiling fans in the living room, when we moved into this house, I remarked about all the rooms having ceiling lights except the living room, I still don't understand this concept but anyway we finally bought 2 ceiling fans for the living room, and they are up and I love being able to flip a light switch and have ceiling lighting instead of tripping over things to get to the lamps!

 how cool is that?! I know you think I am nuts, but hey, if you always had to root around in the dark to turn on a lamp, then you would understand my excitement AND the fans help circulate the air

couple wall decals, hmm not sure I like them there, just playing around trying to figure out a way to rearrange the living room, it's hard with all the windows and door openings and there on the wall is another of those gorgeous paintings by Mom 2 and my goodies on the barn ladder are getting a washing LOL

Old buddy stops for a visit

Miss our old neighbors at the old house, have had lots of them down for cookouts, but today we got an unexpected visitor, missed that critter!

 this somebody used to ride his gator up our driveway, around the garage into the back yard, down to the veggie garden, pick a few things, toss in his "trunk" and go down by the creek and up and out onto the road again, a big circle around the house, then he would drive past the house to go back home just a giggling cuz he just robbed the garden

good times!!

and Ms Backfire says hello to you all, she's gotten sooo big and you just have to love those green eyes!

Beef Butchering & Processing ~ Farm to Freezer

Going to talk a little about beef butchering and processing today, we live next to farmer John who raises beef and chickens, it's a total blast, we moved here over 4 years ago and couldn't have asked for better neighbors! So we buy our beef from the neighbor, butcher and process ourselves, we have big gatherings when we do this, it goes faster and is so much fun during the process, doesn't seem like work at all!

So meet the neighbor John, ornery ole critter!!

I won't get too gory & yucky on here, but it IS butchering and it is graphic so close your eyes if you don't like this kind of stuff.

yep, its dirty work, but it is so nice knowing what goes into your freezer, who raised it, and what went into the meat we will server our family!

You do see it's the guys out there right? us gals are inside waiting patiently for our part, after they do the cutting, we do the wrapping :) and not to mention it's warmer inside too!

Let the fun begin, now to get the cuts everyone wants

How thick you want your steaks?

Let's trim them up boys!

Ok, so I meant the beef, not the other members of the family!!

Nice trim job :)

and of course we eat some too, cast iron skillets loaded with chunks of beef cooked over the wood stove, snack while we work!

All that is left is grinding the burger and getting it all wrapped, that was fun, a group of good people filling the freezer and having fun while doing it, wish you were here . . .

Cold windows, putting up winter shades & toppers

I can't wait until we get new windows, these are original from '65 and very cold in winter, I have resealed and caulked around them but you can almost feel the cold when you walk past any of the windows so during the winter cold months I put up roman shades and throw some little toppers over them, makes it warmer inside for sure

 dining room

my new pretty topper for the bathroom and you can see the lovely cardinal painting, that was given to me by my bestest friends mother ~ Mom 2, isn't it gorgeous, she is a very talented artist and I could have walls full of her gorgeous paintings, she really does an awesome job!