china cabinet in the making

The wooden cabinet in the background of this photo lived outdoors at our other house. Although I would have dearly loved to bring it inside, there just wasn't a space for it. So on the patio it lived. It was filled with paint, stain, cordless electric tools and that kind of stuff.

Now I have a place for it to live! He really didn't want to believe me, but he pressure washed it one day. Gently. Too close and it would have needed some serious sanding. From everything I could find on Pinterest, outdoor furniture made of teak wood (and I'm not really sure that's what this is) is scrubbed with dishsoap and steel wool or the like to clean it. He really was amazed after the pressure washing job. We let it dry out until we had time to attack the thing. 

Out came the innards that were made for storing wine bottles and glasses. 

Someone had suggested a long time ago that we spray it with teak oil. Use a small sprayer like you would for spraying bugs or weeds and apply several coats of oil. Being as the oil has been sitting under the kitchen sink for nigh on two years ... and I had an extra brush .... I started brushing. The oil can said it shouldn't be used in over 95 degree temp. In my mind that ruled out the outdoors. It is croaking hot right now in our world.

I started this project .. and finished it .. inside. Oh. My. Gosh. Don't do that if you can avoid it. I finally propped the front door open with a box fan that I unearthed in the garage. Cranked down the air conditioner and hoped it would blow out some of the fumes. Bad stuff.

This photo may have a little filter application off my phone. Just a little. Even if it is exaggerated, look at the difference! One coat of liberal high smelling oil! I was a bit worried about the bottom of it. It had seen water outside and there was staining from the nails at the bottom. I seriously thought it was going to bug me big time. It doesn't. I just look at the glass I've placed up on top and I don't care about the bottom!

The bottom portion of the cabinet has a shelf in it. The top needed one. I ran to the favorite Home Depot where I rifled through the pile of 1x12 to find one that might be considered straight. That has got to be one of the most irksome things ever. Crooked wood for sale at premium prices. Got those cut with my trusty cordless Makita cordless saw, along with the 1x2 pieces that the shelf was going to lay on. They were stained outside (like what was the point of that?!) and drying while I did the oiling business inside.

I get these little pojects lined up and then say, "hon ....?" He hops right to it and voila! Shelves went in with the brad nailer and it was good to dry and continue stinking up the house.

I have a lot of pretty dishes. Many I use. Many I don't. All of them won't live in here, but the ones I do use ... they've moved in. There are more in boxes in the garage that I'll need to sift through at some point. Pick what stays out there and what comes in.

The only problem with this cabinet is that I can't see inside it. My plan is to remove the center panels of the top doors and replace them with something I can see through. My dream has sort of been chicken wire. Eventually, the wall behind this cabinet will be shiplap. I think the country look should work, but there will be dust. I don't like dust and I like cleaning it even less. I really do not want to move every little pretty thing to remove dust bunnies. Not anymore than I absolutely have to. Which means ... they will probably be glass. Maybe both. One layered over the other. In any case, it really isn't high on my priority list at the moment. There are other things driving me a wee bit crazier than the doors on this cabinet.

I'll get back to them and share what I decide to do .. at some point!

wordless wednesday

heber

we crafted

we drank coffee

we relaxed

we wore long sleeves

we visited

she cooked

i ate

 i'm ready for another go

memo board

 I know he ribs me about my stuff.
And then I rib him right back about his.

This photo from the other week? (By the time I'm actually posting this it has been much more than a week. Issues over here getting in the way. Apparently.)
Those are the crib springs I talked about. Two of those precious things.

I missed phase one of this project, but all I did was lay this outside on a drop cloth and start spraying white paint on it. Several rounds of that on only one side. I knew it was going on the wall ... what's the point of wasting paint on both sides?

This had been previously painted some kind of dark metallic color. A wee bit of sanding to rough up the edges and a bit of the middle wires.

I rarely like anything to look perfect. Imperfectly perfect is more my thing.

I do want some different hooks to hold the phone book and the calendar, but for now I have many of the handy Ikea hooks.

It is held up by two coat hooks. One on each side. Easily comes off in case I all of a sudden feel the need to hose the dust off outside or something like that. The hooks are stable enough that it won't bounce off of them. I think it will work just fine!

The calendar found a home. I had been having difficulty finding a spot for that. This little contraption might even become a key holder as I currently don't have a good spot for them either.

The refrigerator front lost it's clutter. It's beautiful clutter but clutter nonetheless.

july in minnesota .. the end

Another afternoon spent in Litchfield. As we have been given the opportunity to travel to Minnesota, and only God knows the number of days our dear parents have left with us, we shared a great afternoon with Pekka & Laina. 

I have taken to napping for 30 minutes in the car as we drive again. Next to the main reason for our trip to Minnesota.

This organ.

I play, although I don't play as many I love to listen to. And I've never played in this church. Level of sound ... anxiety about pushing and pulling organ stops ... I might have just been almost sick. In the middle of my panic, I came up with a plan. Being as I've never figured out how to work the presets, I picked up stickers from Target and labeled both great and swell stops for each song. The ones that were going to send me into a panic. Yellow for the bridal party. Pink for ... of course the bride! And green for Go .. or the recessional. I think it worked. It was an honor to be asked and I think this is the last time that Tia's song will be played at a wedding. We should be good.

My beautiful daughter, Tia, who played an important part in Emilee's special day. We couldn't be happier for Em.

Wishing you a life of blessings Mr. & Mrs. Laho.

Following the wedding, we headed for yet another home and another bed at Becky & Wayne's. More visits, more laughs and maybe even a little sleep.

Anna & Paisley joined us and we breakfasted in Elk River at the Olde Main Eatery. Don't you just want to climb in the 'puter and squish those cheeks?! Anna took off driving to Williston and we headed to church in Elk River. I was there last year for the first Christmas Sunday School program but hadn't been there since. Sound?! Oh. My. Goodness. I think the music there must be what Heaven sounds like.

Lunch with the pros in the kitchen. Brian deep frying fish caught in a variety of places, including Canada. Bethany is the pico de gallo pro and her veggie chopping skills might be a blue ribbon winner.

Meanwhile, the grill outside was being manned by Wayne & Fred. Seriously good Minnesota sweet corn. I think I might make it through the year now .. just barely. I really should have taken a picture of my plate. I need to start doing that. If nothing else, to make your stomach growl. More visits with more dear people ....

... and it's flight time again!

We drag ourselves in the door, set our alarms, pour our tired carcasses into the sheets and get ready to face Monday morning again.

We both enjoy our work, but sometimes I wonder what retirement will be like.

july in minnesota ... the middle

A stop at Lanto's store on the way to Litchfield and then Jari had an appointment with a chiropractor Friday morning. We had precious time with Pekka & Laina, beautiful visits and lunch with Tarja & Joe.

 Anna and Paisley were in Minnesota as well! Nothing like getting to give great big squeezes in person. Nothing like it. Anna was part of a wedding on Friday evening in Monticello. So very fun to see so many familiar faces there.

We had the honor of babysitting through the wedding. Paisley finally got to meet Papa. Nothing like cute chunky sweetness nuzzles!

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Nikula! Beautiful wedding of beautiful people. So glad we were able to share in the joy.

We spent the night with Riitta and Jake. Another very long evening with lots of visiting family. Can you spell precious? Morning light I shared with the bees and my coffee while the house slept. I think my nerves might have been running on overtime.

Bring on another beautiful day!

july in minnesota .. the beginning

We have never flown Alegiant to Minnesota. This time we were trying to do a serious budget trip and the tickets weren't beatable .. at least to get there. The Mesa airport is the best. Seriously small. If you need Starbucks before you fly ... you're not getting it over there. The first plane was too hot to fly according to its computer. We boarded, we deplaned and we waited. Not very long (altho' you'd never have known it according to one cranky pants waiting with us) and we were on another one and winging our way to St. Cloud.

Another airport where there is no question which carousel your luggage is coming to. Love. Love. Love!

We are blessed with many nieces and nephews. Although we may see them here and there, it is usually at larger family events where you really don't have time to visit. We're visiting kinds of people. Greg & Jessica were gracious to host us in their home that evening and Greg brought us to the car rental place in the morning. Special thanks to them!

Our schedule on Thursday was a little tight for hours of driving, but we were only an hour away from Brainerd that morning. We spent the morning and lunch with my dear parents. My dad does the cooking these days and he did it up in royal fashion! Even the bowl that held the Thanksgiving mashed potatoes in my childhood was on the table. Had we realized that the wedding rehearsal that afternoon was going to start later, we could have stayed another hour.

Even tho' the visit was short, we are so blessed to be able to share moments with these two dear ones.

On the road again. This jaunt is mine to drive while he works. I might have taken us down some wrong roads once or twice, but we eventually found our way to the church.

Rehearsal over, luscious Minnesota corn eaten along with some fine grilled burgers and we were off to another spot for the nite. No people pictures this time. This yard belongs to very dear friends of ours. Our kummi boy plays here too. These folks are ones that are so dear to our hearts, where we freely visit about any manner of things, and their oldest daughter so kindly gives up her bed every time we pop in. We keep them up much too late every time we show up.

We are a breed of early birds that will pay for this late nite stuff when we get home. We will pay for a week or two, but we ducked out before the lady of the house was up and headed down the road again ... to see another set of dear parents.