I'll Be Back in a Day or Two

I have tons of ideas for blog posts, but too much other stuff is going on right now.  Nothing earth shattering, just work, and family, and friends, and preparing for our annual Greyhounds Rock fundraiser ... Whew!!

I'll leave you with this photo I took on Sunday evening.  This pecan tree is my favorite feature of our property.  An arborist told me last year that he estimated it to be well over 300 years old.  Isn't it beautiful?  Dinner in our pavillion, under the branches of this magnificent tree, is a wonderful way to spend the evening.

I'll be back in a few days.

Basement Bathroom Renovation ... The Big Reveal!!!

It's time to reveal the new, and much improved, bathroom in our basement.  This project took SOOO much longer than it was supposed to, but the results are spectacular, I almost don't mind all the delays.  Without further ado, I give you .... the REVEAL!!!

Before I go any further, let me bring those of you who may be unfamiliar with this project up to date.  When we bought this house in 2002, it had 5 full bathrooms ... three upstairs with bedrooms, one on the main floor adjacent to the office, and one in the basement.  The plumbing in the basement bathroom leaked, so we disconnected the fixtures, closed the door, and vowed to renovate it after we did most of the rest of the house.  Early this year, we decided that it was a problem not having a bathroom we could access without going through the finished living space of the house.  We've been stomping through the upper floors whenever we had to use the 'facilities', removing dirty boots or tracking stuff through the house.  I also wanted to have a bathroom that was more easily accessible for guests when I have garden gatherings here.  The basement bathroom was our answer, and I wanted to make it pretty, while acknowledging its original construction in the 1940's.

In the beginning, this room had a clawfoot tub, a broken pedestal sink, and a toilet that leaked ... and lots of exposed plumbing.  We demolished everything to the studs, tossed the toilet and sink, gave away the tub, and started fresh.  What once looked like this:

Now looks like this:

The other side of the room was this:

And now, it's this:

We decided early on that we didn't NEED to keep 5 full bathrooms in this house.  The clawfoot tub was in good shape, but we wanted storage and display space instead.  The tub went to a friend's house in Maryland one day last spring, I found this cupboard at Luckett's Store, and it's perfect!  (For the story of my trip taking the tub to to its new home, click HERE.  To see the trip to Luckett's, click HERE.)

Here's what the bathroom looked like all stripped down, as you looked at it from the hall ...

The window had a lovely view into our garage, it didn't let in much light, and we removed it.

This is the same view now ...

 (The only thing I have left to do is to install the door casing and rehang the bathroom door.  Let's pretend I've done that already.)

The bathroom has all new plumbing and electric.  The water lines, drain pipes, and radiator lines, which used to be exposed, are now hidden in the walls where they belong ... and no more leaky supply fittings!  There's a new light where the old light was, and we added an electrical outlet (which the bathroom didn't have before).

(The new light, as seen in the store display)

 Isn't it perfect?

You can see the medicine chest, all restored and installed in its new spot.  It was a flea market find from a few years ago, probably dates from the same time period as our bathroom, and I love all its Art Deco rounded edges!  What once looked like this:

(The dirty, gross 'Before' photo)

is now a wonderful addition to this vintage-inspired bath.

I left its original beveled mirror ... streaks and flakes and all.

The vanity is brand new, and its mahogany finish and curvy porcelain top blend perfectly with the Vintage vibe I was going for in this room. 

The style of the chrome faucet adds a bit of a contemporary flair, with porcelain handles that keep the Vintage feel.

The sink wall, stripped to the original brick wall of the house, looked like this as we finished the framing and began to add insulation.  All of those bulkheads were necessary to conceal the new plumbing in the walls.

And now it looks like this.

The star of the room is the step-back cupboard.  The size is perfect (it sits in exactly the same space where the clawfoot tub once did) and I love everything about it!  All I did to it was give it a good cleaning (it needed it!), remove the contact paper and wallpaper from the inside, and paint the inside with one of my current favorite colors (BM 'Paladian Blue').  The shelves of the upper part of the cupboard provide great display space for part of my collection of random country-style stuff ... a perfectly fitting display for a country cupboard, don't you think.

The crate says, "VA DAIRY CO."  I love to collect local stuff!!

The sign says, "A friend is someone who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself."

This shelf is a tribute to my dear friend Kat.  I bought the duck pins while shopping with her one day at The Vintage Source.  When the Husband and I were at Luckett's picking up the cupboard, I spotted a basket of duck pin bowling balls, and I bought one for Kat and one for me.  The rose tray was a gift from Kat ... it had once been her mother's, and she sent it to me knowing it would have a good home here.  (I get teary just thinking about it.)

The flowers in the vase on the cupboard came from my garden yesterday afternoon.  I have never claimed to have much floral arranging ability, and I admire those of you who do, but it's hard for someone with even my limited talent to go wrong with so many beautiful roses to choose from.

1. Wagon Wheel Bright Pink,  2. New Dawn,  3. Comtesse de Segur,  4. Gartendirektor Otto Linne, and some Queen Anne's Lace.

1. Mme. Desire Giraud,  2. Sequoia Ballet,  3. Elina,  4.  Comtesse de Segur.

1. Puerto Rico,  2. Sequoia Ballet,  3. La Marne

1.  Not-September Morn,  2.  Alba Meideland,  3.  Snow White,  4. Souvenir de la Malmaisson.

Mr. Lincoln, and some pretty weeds, in a bud vase on the sink.

Except for the aforementioned bathroom door, this room is completely finished.  Yesterday, as I was channeling Gumby in all sorts of twisted, uncomfortable positions taking these photos in this small room, I marveled at the transformation.  I hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I LOVE our new bathroom.

(If you are itching to see details on the construction, vanity, floor, etc., click the 'Basement Bathroom' label below to get a list of all the blog posts about this bathroom project.)

Chilly Morning

Fall is definitely in the air!  The temperature the past few mornings has been below 50 degrees (that's 10 for our friends who are accustomed to the Celsius scale).  Yesterday, as the temperature in the house fell to 64, I caved and fired up the boiler.  This old, solid brick house is a huge thermal mass, a lot like a Thermos bottle ... it stays warm when it's warm, and it stays cool when it's cold ... and I'm cold. 

The chilly temps make it hard for me to get motivated in the morning.  It's great for sitting under a down throw with a cup of coffee, working (or playing) on the computer, and cuddling with cats ... and bad for getting dressed, heading outside, and getting outdoor stuff accomplished .  So here I sit, on the couch in the family room, surrounded by sleeping animals.

Daniel is sacked out on the bed in front of the TV, and Emma (who I can't see from here) is sleeping on her bed in the bay to Daniel's right.

Dorothy is curled up beside me.  I can't believe how much she looks like a big kitty now!

And Alice is sleeping next to Maggie on the other end of the couch.

It's time for me to get up from here and try to accomplish some real work today.  Saturday is my last Open Garden day for the year, and I'd like to have my garden look better than it does when visitors arrive.  Sunday, I'm hosting the first meeting for the Old Dominion Heritage Roses Group, with very special guests who have never seen my garden ... I'd better get my butt into gear and stop wasting time on the computer. 

Love you guys, but I gotta go.
Connie

Got Marshmallows?

One of the autumn rituals here on the farm is the annual (or whenever) Burning of the Brush Pile.  This year, there have been trees come down here and next door at the Winery, limbs that fall, and truckloads of brush and weeds, all added to a brush pile in our pasture that can actually be seen from space.

The guy who is preparing my gardens offered to torch the pile and tend it with his tractor today.  It's a good day to do this, since we had so much rain recently and there is almost no chance of the fire spreading beyond the pile.

Smoke has been blowing across the fields as the pile burns.

Periodically, my guy will push the pile with the tractor to turn it so it burns more efficiently.  (didn't get a photo of this ... sorry.)

As quickly as it's been burning, the huge heap of brush should be reduced to a smoldering pile of coals before dinnertime.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)

Designing a Garden of English Roses

I have 37 David Austin roses I have collected over the past couple of years, currently in pots of varying sizes, that I MUST get planted in the ground before winter.  I have a guy coming later this week (weather permitting) to prep the ground for the garden that will contain these roses.  Unlike other gardens I have designed, I don't have an area of a particular size for this garden ... it can be whatever size it needs to be to hold these roses.  It's like working backwards.

Over the weekend, I pulled some books from my garden library, borrowed a couple from my friend Robert, and began studying and making notes like mad to learn the habits of all of these roses ... some of which I have never seen mature and growing in the ground.  It's been a couple of days of making lists and sketching layouts, and hoping I get it as close to 'right' as I can.

Look at this 'teaser' design in one of the books.  It shows a lovely rendering and supposed design, with plant list, but no clue as to which roses were used where, or any idea about the dimensions of the space.  It's pretty, but it's no help at all.

Stuff like this is much more helpful.  The dimensions of this rose are what can be expected if it is grown in England ... Austin roses usually grow larger in the warmer, sunnier US.  The little line drawing tells me that the canes on The Reeve are longer and arching.

'Heritage' is tall and upright, according to this little drawing.  My own 'Heritage' is trapped in a pot that is much too small for it, and I'm sure it longs for the freedom of unrestricted soil in a garden.

The little line drawings in this growth guide from Vintage Gardens web site adds even more info to help me place the roses properly.  Unlike the drawings in the book, which only show a general idea of growth habit, these drawings also show size ... in relation to a drawing of a very stylishly dressed man and his dog.

'Molineux'

I'm doing all of this to try to site each rose to its best advantage, to have a garden full of the beautiful English roses that I love.

'Mary Rose'

It's important to put the roses that want to climb in the back where I plan to install a fence, large shrubs behind smaller shrubs ... there's so much to remember.

'Happy Child'

The garden is going to be in a prominent location, toward the back of the property, by the barn, in a spot that overlooks the neighbor's pond.   I'm so excited to watch the roses develop through their first year in the ground, and beyond.

'Wife of Bath'

Stay tuned.  As soon as they're finished, I'll share my drawings ... and we'll watch as the garden goes from scribbles on paper to reality in the landscape.

There's Treasure at the Habitat ReStore!

The Habitat ReStore in Richmond is another one of my favorite places to shop.  Builders, remodelers, homeowners, and retail stores donate new or gently used building materials and supplies of all kinds, and profits from the store go to the Richmond chapter of Habitat for Humanity.  I never know what I'll find there, and it's always something I just can't live without.

I fell in love with these chairs.

What is a Habitat ReStore?

You can get lumber.

The following is taken from the Richmond Habitat web site.

"The Habitat ReStore is a retail outlet offering building and home improvement supplies for sale to the general public at greatly reduced prices. The new, gently used, and salvaged supplies are donated by individuals, contractors, and suppliers.

How about a bathroom sink?

"The ReStore participates in Habitat for Humanity International’s overall environmental goals by diverting usable materials away from the waste stream, while promoting responsible stewardship of natural resources. Last year alone, ReStores diverted thousands of tons of usable building supplies from landfills.

Tile?

"Not only does the ReStore fulfill its mission of environmental stewardship and allow people of limited means to renovate their living spaces, but it also channels all profits into the building of new Habitat homes.

Lights?  Most of these look like builder-grade lights, but the price is definitely right if you need one.

"Habitat ReStore functions much like a thrift store for a wide variety of building materials and is open to the general public Our prices are well below retail and specific pricing depends on age, condition, quality, and quantity of the item. If you have a project in mind (or are looking for a project), shop often and bring your measurements."

Doors!!  Interior,  Exterior,  Hollow,  Solid,  Paneled,  Slab ... you name it.

I had a crush on this red door ... but no place to use it.  :(

"Shopping at ReStore is an adventure! Every day we have new inventory to choose from, including furniture, flooring, architectural items, cabinetry, fixtures, wallpaper, appliances and more—at prices up to 90% below retail! Some items are new, some gently used, and others come from deconstruction. Not only can you find some beautiful items and great bargains, but you are helping the environment and low-income families at the same time."

Chemicals of all kinds ... most are only $1.   I wanted to buy this huge can of paint stripper, because it was practically free, but I'm not doing any projects right now that need it.

What did I buy while I was there, you ask?

I bought this huge tray for the ottoman in our Family Room ...  (I'll tell you about the ottoman itself another day.)

... a pile of decorator fabric samples for a sewing project that I'll show you on my other blog ...

... and THE CHAIRS!!  There are 8 of them (You can see the other four with the ugly formica dining table in the upper left?)

Everything in the store this past weekend was 25% off.  These eight chairs, which only needed to be wiped down, and the ugly table, came to grand total of (are you sitting down?)  $90 +tax.  I didn't need or want the ugly table, and the store wouldn't separate it from the four chairs that it was displayed with, so I paid the price and left the table behind as a re-donation. 

If you have a ReStore where you live, go in every now and then to see what treasures YOU can find.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)