31 January 2013
29 January 2013
27 January 2013
Cabin Fever
We pretty much picked the perfect weekend to spend at the cabin with my parents.
The day was warm and calm and at night we got a little bit of snow. Although I don't have any pictures of the pond, we spent most of our time outside playing on its frozen surface. I learned how to use the ATV's plow to clear the snow off of the pond so we could pull the kids in a sled on it, ice skate, and have some hockey fun. The kids favorite game was for me to pull them as fast as I could in the sled with my hockey skates and whip them around the ice at the end of the run. My legs are tired.
Late Saturday afternoon was the perfect time to burn the growth my dad had cleared earlier in the year. The wind was calm and we had snow all around the fire pit. The kids liked the fire even though it was hot. Initially, the flames went up about 15 feet into the air. It eventually burned itself down into a really nice fire. I spent some time alone outside after dark tending to the fire. It was relaxing.
The kids slept well after the big weekend playing in the snow. I really enjoyed the time outside and being able to have some fun after a long week at work. It's rare in Colorado these days to be able to ice skate outside on a pond and have a bonfire afterwards.
The day was warm and calm and at night we got a little bit of snow. Although I don't have any pictures of the pond, we spent most of our time outside playing on its frozen surface. I learned how to use the ATV's plow to clear the snow off of the pond so we could pull the kids in a sled on it, ice skate, and have some hockey fun. The kids favorite game was for me to pull them as fast as I could in the sled with my hockey skates and whip them around the ice at the end of the run. My legs are tired.
Late Saturday afternoon was the perfect time to burn the growth my dad had cleared earlier in the year. The wind was calm and we had snow all around the fire pit. The kids liked the fire even though it was hot. Initially, the flames went up about 15 feet into the air. It eventually burned itself down into a really nice fire. I spent some time alone outside after dark tending to the fire. It was relaxing.
The kids slept well after the big weekend playing in the snow. I really enjoyed the time outside and being able to have some fun after a long week at work. It's rare in Colorado these days to be able to ice skate outside on a pond and have a bonfire afterwards.
21 January 2013
Fireplace Trim
As Jonathan would say, "Ah dun"!
The winter months are always a good time to do these sort of projects. I wasn't planning on doing this so soon, but a week or so ago I found a "mantel" at Lowe's that fit our space exactly. It was exactly the right length to cover the existing tile and the depth worked well too. We didn't want a true shelf because it would stick out too far for the space. I think the mantel is really supposed to be a door or window capstone, but I doubt anyone will know the difference.
I used a few nails, a few staples, and a lot of adhesive, depending on the area. The nails worked well where I could go into the wall, the staples for the trim on top of other trim (staples aren't as long), and then adhesive on everything that had tile behind it. I had to do a lot of thinking about the best way to cover up the cheap brass around the edges of the tile. You'll notice that I brought the face out a little bit and placed a small trim along the outside edge to cover that up. Around the inside I added some more trim, although technically not to code. It could easily be removed and might be accidentally by the kids anyway.
The vents and screen were spray painted with a satin black that can withstand heat to cover up the rest of the brass. I used the same Sherwin-Williams paint that matches the rest of our house trim. It's great paint - probably the best there is.
It feels good to be done with the trim projects on the main level. I'll next move upstairs with my projects. This winter I'd like to finish up the laundry room for Stacey. It needs paint and a few functional additions.
The winter months are always a good time to do these sort of projects. I wasn't planning on doing this so soon, but a week or so ago I found a "mantel" at Lowe's that fit our space exactly. It was exactly the right length to cover the existing tile and the depth worked well too. We didn't want a true shelf because it would stick out too far for the space. I think the mantel is really supposed to be a door or window capstone, but I doubt anyone will know the difference.
I used a few nails, a few staples, and a lot of adhesive, depending on the area. The nails worked well where I could go into the wall, the staples for the trim on top of other trim (staples aren't as long), and then adhesive on everything that had tile behind it. I had to do a lot of thinking about the best way to cover up the cheap brass around the edges of the tile. You'll notice that I brought the face out a little bit and placed a small trim along the outside edge to cover that up. Around the inside I added some more trim, although technically not to code. It could easily be removed and might be accidentally by the kids anyway.
The vents and screen were spray painted with a satin black that can withstand heat to cover up the rest of the brass. I used the same Sherwin-Williams paint that matches the rest of our house trim. It's great paint - probably the best there is.
It feels good to be done with the trim projects on the main level. I'll next move upstairs with my projects. This winter I'd like to finish up the laundry room for Stacey. It needs paint and a few functional additions.
18 January 2013
Life's Good
It only took Jonathan a few weeks after being transitioned from his crib to a toddler bed to make a habit of sleeping on the floor by his door. Typically, Stacey puts him to bed and then for a good 30 to 60 minutes afterwards he calls for her from under his door. Life's just too fun to go to sleep, especially when you can still see it happening with one eye ball.
Eventually he gives up and usually falls asleep in that same spot. It makes going into his room to hook him up interesting, but once he falls asleep he goes right back down even if the door pushes him enough out of the way for us to slide in.
Yesterday he fell asleep in my truck while I was running errands. I transitioned him from his car seat to his bed, but then a few minutes later he started calling for me. I thought he was just trying to get up, so I ate my lunch. He didn't give up, so I had to go into his room to find out what the problem was. As soon as I entered he pointed to his shoes. I had purposely not taken them off because I didn't want to wake him, but apparently it was a deal breaker. As soon as I took them off he told said thank you and then went back to sleep. At least it was in his bed.
Eventually he gives up and usually falls asleep in that same spot. It makes going into his room to hook him up interesting, but once he falls asleep he goes right back down even if the door pushes him enough out of the way for us to slide in.
Yesterday he fell asleep in my truck while I was running errands. I transitioned him from his car seat to his bed, but then a few minutes later he started calling for me. I thought he was just trying to get up, so I ate my lunch. He didn't give up, so I had to go into his room to find out what the problem was. As soon as I entered he pointed to his shoes. I had purposely not taken them off because I didn't want to wake him, but apparently it was a deal breaker. As soon as I took them off he told said thank you and then went back to sleep. At least it was in his bed.
08 January 2013
Googl-e Bear
Almost a year and a half ago a made a post about seeing the Google Maps Street View car driving down our street while we were standing outside. Every few months I'd check in to see if the images from 2007 had been updated on their website. Today I discovered that the images had been updated, and as expected, we were caught on Google Maps.
They blurred out our faces, but otherwise everything else looks good. This was taken a week or two before I started my current position, so we were just enjoying the nice weather together outside. Jonathan was being fed in the kid carrier and Julia was painting water on the bricks. They've both changed a lot in 18 months.
You'll notice in the pictures that I had my back to the street. So, I didn't notice the car until it had passed us and I turned to look. Stacey and Julia noticed it right away. If you'd like to play around with the street view yourself, just Google our address and you'll see us.
For those of us that use Google Maps often, this is pretty cool. The image online is a more accurate reflection of our street and I finally can put the dead grass from four years ago behind me.
They blurred out our faces, but otherwise everything else looks good. This was taken a week or two before I started my current position, so we were just enjoying the nice weather together outside. Jonathan was being fed in the kid carrier and Julia was painting water on the bricks. They've both changed a lot in 18 months.
You'll notice in the pictures that I had my back to the street. So, I didn't notice the car until it had passed us and I turned to look. Stacey and Julia noticed it right away. If you'd like to play around with the street view yourself, just Google our address and you'll see us.
For those of us that use Google Maps often, this is pretty cool. The image online is a more accurate reflection of our street and I finally can put the dead grass from four years ago behind me.
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