Time for Change

New projects in the 2buckeyes house!

My father in law has come down for the week and will be painting the trim and doors, my office/craft room, and the guest bath. Let's just hope I LOVE the colors I picked on the walls as much as I loved the swatches!

(And how awesome is Instagram??!! Man I wish there was an Android version of it. I'll just have to enjoy playing with it now that the Mr. surprised me with an IPAD2 as an early birthday gift so that I can take it with me to Europe this summer. ZOMG I leave in 12 days! Might be time to start packing??)

Today is National Running Day! I'll be running for sure. Who else is with me?



Couch Potato

Ugh, the ugly cloud of irritability has formed overhead again.

We’ll get through it again, it’s all so meaningless anyway. But let’s address the main problem shall we?

The frackin’ couch.
You’ve got to be kidding me. This damn this might be the death of my summer. Remember when we bought it back in April? And how we were so excited it would be in at the end of May? And how that turned into the end of June? Well I’ll be. It has changed again. As of Sunday when I called my sales guy he said we were still on schedule for the shipment to come in on 6/25 but that he would call me and confirm on Tuesday AM. He called. But to tell me that we were still on schedule for the shipment, but that it would be on July 12. EXCUSE ME? So I picked up the phone and called again. Of course, my sales guy wasn’t there so I just asked someone else to look up the order and tell me what’s going on. What does he tell me? That he sees we have been delayed and that we are on the edge of the next shipment coming in (WTF?!) and that shipment is scheduled to be there BETWEEN July 13 and July 28. OMFG! All I want is for someone to tell me the truth. He said he would put me through to my sales guys voicemail so that he could call me back but I asked instead to speak with someone else as the sales guy has been “less than satisfactory” throughout the whole experience. I left a message for the sales manager. He is supposedly back to work today and I should get a call. We shall see about that. We went couch shopping last night again and found the same couch, same manufacturer, slightly different setup at another location. But it was more expensive, power recline only, no chaise, and they wouldn’t split it up so we could get the pieces we needed. So that was out. We did find another with a slightly different look. (more lounge-y) like something you would see in a bar. But it’s still really comfy but not in that come here and sit on me all day and veg out. More like come sit and hang out with friends on me vibe. It doesn’t have recliners but it does have the chaise on one side and an ottoman that everyone could put their feet up on. It would save us roughly $500 and it is in stock meaning we could have it on the next delivery truck. But what to do what to do. We just loved the other couch and we don’t want buyers remorse because we couldn’t wait any longer. Where do you draw the line?

Here is the new potential couch. Cute no? (click the pic to embiggen)


The other couch looks almost exactly like this:


What to do what to do?!

Pride

We haz it!

As promised- photos of our fabulous new flag, the lovely new plants I potted, and our totally awesome rocking chairs reppin' our absolute favorite school in the entire world.







I couldn't tell ya what is in that pot but I can tell you that they are purdy and I haven't killed them yet! Cross your fingers!

Recovery

Well folks, I’m back. Hopefully for the better, and hopefully for good.

This weekend was everything that I hoped it would be, and much needed. A bit of sun, friends, friend’s new babies, good food, flowers, rounded out with some knitting and rain. I couldn’t be happier.

We bought a flag, and it proudly hangs on our front porch. Above the 2 pots of flowers and once out of control but now neatly trimmed bushes. New flowers now line the edge of our garden and surround our mailbox. We didn’t plant last year and I kind of missed it. We will, however, ignore the fact that it was hotter than HADES and we were outside working for over 5 hours on Sunday. My hamstrings still burn today. But it’s done. And it looks lovely. So lovely in fact, that Mr. Buckeye and I sat on the front porch while the rain came pouring down. Yes, I was knitting in my rocking chair listening to the rain. And yes, I was wearing a long linen skirt. But no, I’m not 80. Yet.

Photos to come. Rain + camera = sad face. So provided the heavens stay closed today, I’ll snap away tonight.

And in other positive news, the new hot water heater will likely be installed today or tomorrow. The only time a cold shower works? After spending 5 hours in hotter than HADES weather. On a Tuesday morning while getting ready for work? Notsomuch.


This monster was out. of. control.



So I hacked it to pieces.


The bermuda grass took over the garden. and holy bushes!


MUCH better!

ignore that missing shutter up there... it's back now. Stupid wind.

Flag and potted plants photos to come!

Fabric? or Leather?

So if any of you are my friends on Facebook, you'll know that recently we have been looking for a couch to adorn our new basement. We fell in love with a set by Ashley, only to find out that it was huge and would work in our room, but not well. And our most favorite part- the ottoman- would definitely not fit if we wanted to walk anywhere.

So we kept hunting- and found this lovely number. It would fit the room absolutely perfect- give plenty of seating option and plenty of room to walk around the pool table and not have to ask folks to move out of the way for a rough shot by the corner pocket. Plus, the ottoman would definitely fit and give the option to kick your feet up from anywhere on the couch.

So what's the problem? Well, nothing. Excepts its leather. I've never had leather before. And I'm scared, it's new and different. I've been asking around and it seems to be a matter of preference. Some swear by leather, some swear by fabric. Doesn't seem that one is better than the other.

I've heard it is great for cleaning up spills (but so is teflon coated microfiber :) ) and it actually quite comfy. I've sat on that one. And I do like it. But I worry about being cold. Throw a blanket over myself then right? How do you accessorize a leather couch? Can you put fabric pillows and a throw on it?

It looks great and would look great in the room. Almost perfectly sized for it. And it's well within our budget.

So why can't I pull the trigger?! Help!

Convince me either way... please. And soon. We need a couch by next weekend.

(don't use the "you stick to leather when it is hot" thing because it will be in the basement- hello! it's cold down there... we are buying a space heater to keep it a comfy temp. Because I'm not a polar bear and can't sit in an ice bucket. So not too cold... I'll use a blanket like I always do anyway, and no sweating or sticking.)

Oh and in case you are wondering, this is the space we have:

(when we laid out the set we loved only to find out it was too big...)

imagine trying to fit a 50''x50'' ottoman in that middle space. YIKES!

So back to the question, leather... good idea?

Extreme Home Makeover

We started out like this:



Which developed into this:



That progressed to this:



Which evolved to this:



And emerged like this:

I don't think it could have been a closer match if he tried 100 times.

Do you?

Stain!

It's that time. I am so excited I can hardly stand it.

I came home from work yesterday to choose from the following:



That nice hunk of wood back there is the pool table leg. That luscious yummy black cherry stain? Yeah, we get to try and match it. But it looks like we will be pretty darn close seeing those options above! (We are going with the little pice of wood sitting on top of the leg- it's a 2-1 mix of a cherry mahogany and an almost black stain. I didn't know my father in law was a mixologist!)

The bar will look totally different when I get home and I am not even sure I can wait that long!

(oh oh oh oh), oh what a feeling

When we're dancing on the ceiling!

As promised, here are the fabulous photos of our (almost) finished basement! With ceiling! and Lights! We've got 4 different sets of lights and some have dimmers. oooh fancy :)




I'm so glad we went with the 4 panel ceiling tiles. Doesn't feel like an office at all!

Sadly there was just no space for the urinal (as I do a little happy dance) But the Mr. is too distracted by the bar and keg to really notice.

Work will resume Monday- a week long vacation is long enough!

Hoping to pick carpet this week/early next week and have it installed late next week. Then pool table delivery in 2 weekends??? Then comes the furniture. We are in a battle over getting a new TV. I still say no. But I do get distracted by large Plasma/LCD/LED screens showing trashy reality tv so I very well may be in a losing battle here. Just don't tell him that.

And to close the Olympics- I give you my finished Olympic Project:

2 weeks from start to finish. (with quite a few non-knitting dust filled days in between)

Gretel Hat

Burberry Inspired Cowl

both in Malabrigo Pearl- I just love them all and would recommend to everyone!

I've recently learned that there are actually more of you out there reading than I thought-

Hi Ahna! Hi Kathy! Hi Everyone else!

Let me know what you think of the progress- basement and knitting related!

Hey Mr. Bartender!

We are very happy campers at the Buckeye household.

Want to know why?
Here, let me show you...


Is that not one of the most awesome things you have ever seen in your life?! And OMG Just wait till it is stained!!!


Pretty cabinets and countertop to store all of our bar goodies!
(and the tile? Swoon!)


I'm not gonne lie... that bar is a marvelous work of art.

Oh and what's that behind it?
Why yes, we have a sink (well, not in the pic but it's in there now. and we have water!)
Oh wait, and what's that to the right? Uh huh, yes. You would be correct. The kegarator is in, it's set up, and wouldn't you know the keg was being tapped when I came home.

I might be having a slight love affair with that red wall back there. I'm totally in love.

Like I said... happy camper.

Dancing on the Ceiling

Well, not yet. But soon!

The ceiling tile and grid were delivered yesterday. Bob set to work and got it all laid out and hung! We were able to place out where we wanted out lights to go so when Dave gets here today he can get right to working. We aren't wasting any time here people! You come here to help and we put you to work! (Again though, I can't say enough how amazing all of the guys are. Truly amazing and we seriously couldn't have done it without their help.)

I look forward to going home every day and seeing the room literally evolve before my eyes.

Remember what the bar looked like before? Here it is as of last night:

please ignore ugly purple paint to the left. (crazy how purple it is am I right?!)

We decided against the pendant lights. We bought 2 different ones to test them out and we just aren't feeling it. They would either hang too high and look weird, or too low and smack you in the head while you sit and try to enjoy your beverage. We are opting for recessed lights here as well and placing them so that they illuminate behind the bar as well as the counter. But not shine directly on the stools. It will look much cleaner without the pendants hanging also. I'm cool with it.

Our bathroom is really coming together too! I picked a new vanity light last night that we are much happier with. The other would have been insanely bright like you were using the facilities during a police interrogation. The vanity and toilet should be in place today I think.


And wow. Here is some tile. I love love love love LOVE them! I can't wait to see them all in and the can lights shining down. (and the paint? can we say MUCH BETTER?!)

And rumor has it that the kegarator has been delivered and Mr. Buckeye already has the CO2 Tank in the car to be filled up today...

Paint and Tile and Toast Oh My!

It was a very productive weekend at the Buckeye household. We got so much done! (I use the term "We" very lightly.... it was actually all the Mr. and his dad while I watched all the DVR and Olympics that I could.)

Lots! of tile was laid this week. All the tile in fact. Grouting is being done this morning.

Mr. and his dad were so meticulous! I'm amazed at the work that they have done.





At least the tile went somewhat smoothly. There was a bit of drama regarding the paint though. Drama being me of course. We had ultimately decided to go with Polished Pewter. We though that Artic Stone did end up looking too blue, and yet Silver dust looked too purple. so Polished Pewter it was. Luckily, P's dad had the primer color matched so I got to see what the room would look like with the primer on the walls. O.M.G. It was a "mood ring" kind of shade. One minute it's gray, the next it's this pastel shade of lavender. That was most definitely not going to work. We went back to the Depot and bought a sample of Pebble Gray. Convinced this was the color I said let's roll with it. Only to find out the next morning it was terribly dark and had a greenish tint to it.



The walls here are Polished Pewter and that rectangle is Pebble Gray... you can't tell in the pics but they are pretty much green and purple. Yuck.

I got so terribly upset at my inability to pick a color that I had to call in for reinforcements. My mom came over and calmly got me to reaccess the color situation. Looking through the color swatches we have now decided on Repose Gray. A Sherwin Williams color that the Depot was able to match with the formula. The walls have now almost been painted and I'm much happier. If anything the new color has more brown undertones but it is warm and I think the tile and the bar will really bring it all together. Oh yeah, and it doesn't change color on me. Gray all the way.

One bright happy spot is the bathroom. I'm in love. I feel terrible that it's already taken 4 coats of paint but seriously. I am totally in love. And the tile. It looks just awesome. The bathroom may be my favorite part of the basement as of right now.



So for all of their hard work this weekend I rewarded the guys with Emily's Best French Toast on the Planet Recipe. It did not dissappoint- They both had seconds.



You should make this for breakfast. But plan on wearing sweatpants the rest of the day.

Happy Monday!

Olympic Part 1

Complete!

I finished up my Gretel last night. I adore this hat. I'm absolutely loving the tubular cast on (not actually doing it, but the result) it's not too stretchy and really holds the ribbing in place. I doubt it will stretch as much as my Star Crossed Beret does- and that's a good thing!

Mr Buckeye is back in town so he is basement bound with his dad today... and tomorrow... and Sunday :)

I can't wait to see the transformation just over the weekend. Already the bathroom has been sanded and primed (ready for that fabulous Red Delicious Paint) and the living space walls will be sanded and most likely primed today as well. In other great news, the billiard light came in and it is beautiful. We were surprised to see that the finish wasn't so much "Pewter" as it said, and more Brushed Nickel, which is exactly what we wanted!

This weekend will be some staining of the bar, laying tile in the bathroom and hopefully by the bar, paint, paint, and more paint! Then we will be all ready for the others to come down next week to lay the grid, ceiling tiles, and lights!

Exciting!

(OH! I have my 2nd quilt class tomorrow also. I'm super excited for that too! )

Friday... Thank Goodness!

WOOT! We finally made it to friday. Hope everyone is ready for the weekend, I know we sure are!

Remember that funny picture I mentioned yesterday? Well, here it is... the first one I took, Chloe had Laser Eyes so I had to take another and unfortunately she isn't looking at the camera. Oh well. I still think it is hilarious. The guys were just hanging out on the couch watching TV and look who jumped up to join them! haha

Cute right? And she did the same thing last night! Hopped right up there and nestled right in.

So now that I've got your attention with all the cuteness, I need your opinion.

Paint.

The bathroom is going to be red. The main room is going to be gray. This part I know. My problem is which gray?

http://www.glidden.com/inspiration/color-catalog.do

Go there...

Reds- Page 14. Red Delicious (shown in the big photo), say hello to the bathroom color. I'm good with that.

Neutrals- Page 44. Artic Stone or Silver Dust (shown in the photo on left) HELP!!!

C'mon out of the woodwork peoples. Let me know which color you like better.

We are leaning towards one but I won't tell you which...

Thanks in advance!

Happy Friday!

Drywall and Mud and Lights Oh My!

What I came home to on Monday-

Holy Drywall Batman!


Again, with the dust! Ick.


And Tuesday:




And we have picked out 2 lights for the pool table. Though we haven't made a final decision.

I liked this one:

He likes this one:

and there is this variation but it is noted as "Bronze" and we don't know how we feel about that.



Luckily they all would hook up the same so the guys can run the lightbox without us having made the final decision yet.

snOMG! Please stop snowing or cancel work!

Seriously- snOMG came back last night. and it still heaving down on us.

Basement progress- It looks like a totally different basement! There is drywall everywhere and it looks beautiful. Pictures updated later today since alas the camera is at home and I was too lazy to post last night.

Question-
The walls are going to be painted a really pretty light gray. (think Silver Dust)
WTH do I do about carpet color???
I don't want something almost white(eek stains!)
I want something durable and yet still comfy to walk on and help keep the room warm.
But what color???
We are also doing a dark gray stone like tile around the bar and the wood in the room is white for the trim and doors but the pool table and bar will be a Black Cherry stained Oak.

I want it all to flow and look nice together. Is that too much to ask?

Please help!

A little bit of knitting... and some other stuff

So Emily demanded that I take more pictures to share. Of both the home improvement and the knitting (if I got any done) So of course I'm happy to oblige.

The guys hard at work on Wed. night- see the dust specs flashing in my camera?

P envisioning his bar- again with the dust!

How we left it Wednesday night. The magnificent hole had been filled in, the bathroom (that stuff on the far right) had been framed and electrical run, and the front of the bar framed and the "bar back" framed. Steps still look the same.


And this is what I came home to yesterday! The steps were turned, the bar is built, all electric run to the bar (gotta have a place to plug in the mixer!!) and OMG they swept the floors! Not much dust at all!!!

Can I just say how much I love love the new landing? They put a half wall that runs down the stairs and even with the one step down. It's perfect and will allow for a better flow into the room so we didn't just have a wall that randomly stopped. it's created a little cubby at the end of the bar between the steps and the bar. P has claimed that little "nook" as his favorite spot in the basement.

Even Chloe wanted to check things out... she is that (giant) black and white spot at the top of the steps- seriously, she has a weight problem (18ish lbs?). She's a little sensitive about it.Best not to mention it.

And yes, I did get some knitting done. I didn't want to start anything big since the knitting Olympics are starting in a week. But I wanted something I hadn't done before and I wanted to try and use from my stash. So hopefully I have enough left over from my Slouchy Beret so make this Celtic Neckwarmer. I got 50 rows done and actually managed to read from the chart.

When it's done it should look something like this:

by stormmoonknits Flickr

To quote Britt: snOMG! is on it's way. We are expecting somewhere between 4 and 12 inches of snow. I've heard 4-8, I've heard 6-12... who knows what will happen. I don't care either way, but please don't let it be icy!