It took me forever before I was satisfied that my replacement tabletop wouldn’t warp, but my table is finally finished, and it’s perfect for that space! Now, we just need to wire the sconce light and get rid of that lamp. For now, though, I’m satisfied.

I didn’t have a picture with the round top, so I cropped this from the end of a picture I’d taken of the “kitchen” table. It’s not actually crooked–that’s just the angle–and the clutter doesn’t do it any favours, but at least the round top is visible.

The birthday boy and his Gateway Titan Pro portable.

I’m making supper tonight; angel hair pasta with garlic, lemon and shrimp in white wine, and bacon-wrapped scallops. Later, I’m going to try the wine B. recommended as tasting like grape juice (which is perfect for someone who likes the idea of wine, but not the taste!)

Buying lots of seeds and dormant root systems of native Virginia bluebell, lily of the valley, wild phlox and Canadian columbine. Got some more spicebush, too. Looking ahead to perennials and bird shrubs/trees like serviceberry, choke cherry and viburnum. Also looking ahead to having no money, but I’ll have some very happy wild creatures in my backyard!

Not the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, but I kept putting off the table beside the door because I worried about that board deciding to warp again. It straightened, but after I had stain and polyurethane on top and only stain on the bottom, I thought it might absorb moisture unevenly and bollocks up my whole project. I had the pieces left over from the edges of the table top I’d made with clear pine, so I just used that. Cut with a skilsaw when I couldn’t half-see, but good enough for underneath a table, and between the screws and Gorilla Glue, the wood shouldn’t warp. I threw a coat of stain on tonight in spite of the fact that the glue wasn’t fully dry, and I might put on a coat of polyurethane in the morning. Then, I know my tabletop will stay straight; warped board or no warped board.

I started them last January (I think), but ran out of “fit to spray paint” days before it was time to go balls to the wall on the Bistro, so they were only done on the brick side of the room. I decided yesterday (Saturday) that because it was going to be warm on the weekend, I was going to finally finish the windows!

When we bought the house, I liked the shutter thingies, but didn’t care too much for the little curtain-y things on them.

This is how they looked on the side toward the room.

The side toward the street.

At one time, I believe they had glass in them because there was a space in the frame for it, but it had been removed.

The strip of velcro that had held the curtain things on was sun-dried and crumbling, but easy to remove because it was just stapled on.

I was going to do all frosted glass, using this because it’s faster, easier and less expensive than etching or sandblasting, and if I ever decide I don’t like it anymore, I won’t have to replace the glass, I’ll just have to buy a can of paint thinner and a pair of rubber gloves. The windows are decorative only, don’t get wet, and since we don’t use the fireplace, all they’ll ever need is dusting.

P wanted to be able to see outside a little without opening the shutters, so I decided to do a pattern, but nothing really busy, and something that would allow us to see out to the street if we wanted, but not so much open that anyone on the street could see inside. I settled on a 1″ wide band at eye level, a 1/4″ vertical stripe, and 4 fleur-de-lis on each pane. The stripes were easy–painter’s tape–but decals are expensive, and with 32 panes, I needed a lot. I found stickers on ebay for leaving a light spot in a design when you get a spray tan, and because they’re meant to be disposable, they weren’t expensive, and were available in large lots. It’ll be a long time before I forget 4 1/4″, 1 5/8″, 1 5/8″, 4″, 11″, 17 1/2″ and 24″ because I marked them 33 times (32 panes, plus one that broke because ACE cut it crooked and I tried to force it).

FINALLY! On Sunday, January 18th, my window project is complete, including the replacement of the broken pane because I already had my stuff out to take down the shutter, and I was already pissed off at whomever invented the slot screw head.

Random table picture because the light looked like it was possible to take one not too backlit.

My next project is my bathroom (ordered the fan/light kit last night), but I’m going to keep the floor under that ugly carpet in mind! Soon, it’ll be warm enough to think about my Walstad tank plants, and stripping that hideous wallpaper from behind the tanks and in my office. There’s no end in sight for my Projectin’!

First, a little ‘Bright Lights’ cosmos bloom from my Haworthia (sp?) pot. These are the ones that planted themselves in the fall of 2013. Still growing in there!

I got the light fixture earlier this week, but didn’t want to deal with it until the weekend. I like this much better than the huge old one! I’ll take a better shot when it’s not backlit, and we still need to get rid of Giant Hitler I but for now…

I also got the ribbon to trim the tissue box cover, so it matches my planter and the curtains. It’s okay, especially for being constructed of leftovers except for $3 worth of ribbon.

EDIT: I accomplished little, but all of my tapestry scarves (except the one that goes with everything–I left it fringed) are now infinity scarves. I’ve always loved the patterns and fabric, but they were just a bit too short to tie. Now, they’re all just right!

Here’s my table/chairs/curtains/light when it’s not backlit. Daylight bulbs, and I’m glad I got the three light fixture instead of the five; it’s plenty bright!

Gradge window isn’t very clean, but the sunset was still pretty!

AKA, doing shit I don’t want to do because I have to go back to work tomorrow. I did, however, finish painting my tissue box cover. It still needs its ribbon, but even as is, it’s better than a 50s-inspired light turquoise polka-dot tissue box! I was going to order rubber feet so I’m sure it won’t scratch my tabletop, but I had some 1/4″ wide thin foam weatherstripping, so I just cut little squares from that. Works fine.

I got two of the vintage books that I wanted, and…a Workmate! The instructions were something else–it would’ve been easier if they’d put the pictures with the text, and made them large enough to not require the assistance of a scanning electron microscope–but we managed. I’m currently thinking of a little project I can do today so I can use it.

P got me two cans of Caribbean Sand textured paint yesterday; my planter isn’t smooth (because it’s rough plywood leftovers), but it looks fine for its purpose, which is to hold a sansevieria that will sit on the floor, and it’s certainly much better than the other options in that price range (leftover paint, about six bucks a can for more paint than I’ll need, caulking we already had open, leftover sealer plus the full can of black that P said I can have). For twelve bucks plus leftover stuff we already had, it looks fine. I’m also going to put a band of green grosgrain ribbon around it; I had lots left after doing the curtain tiebacks. I’ve got one more coat of paint and a coat of sealer to apply, plus the rubber sealant inside. I actually prefer black; the pot and soil will blend better.

Painted, top-coated, sealed inside and ready for its ribbon as soon as the sealant inside dries.

Black sealant was my original intent, but we had leftover white, so I started with that. There wasn’t enough, but when I asked P to get more when he went out today, he said I could have the black that was in the kitchen. New can, didn’t need it all.

Not quite dry, but dry enough to put on the ribbon and take it inside.

My plan was to “echo” the curtains. Works for me!

Today’s little project was a tissue box cover because I knew P wouldn’t want to remove the box of tissues from the table, but the boxes’ colours usually clash with my cream/forest green scheme. Also, it had small pieces, so it was a good Workmate test. Workmate passed with flying colours. Here it is with two coats of primer.

Two coats of Caribbean Sand textured paint. Tomorrow, it’ll get a coat of flat clear topcoat, and I ordered two yards of 1″ grosgrain ribbon in forest green from eBay.

It didn’t just slide in like the other one, but I removed two of the bolts and it went in without any problem. Makes a cute shelf, I think!

One very rough box, constructed of plywood left over from the house I built for OK (which is actually used by Onje).

The sloppiest caulking job ever, but it was awkward in there with a caulking gun, and I wanted to make sure I got the knots and chips really well. Besides, it’s inside a planter, so meh. I’m also going to spray the inside with the sealant P got for the roof vent (there’s white left over).

Rough sanded and sprayed with a coat (AKA “the last of my”) American Accents Ultra Cover primer. I wrote out the whole name because I liked the primer, and if I throw out the can before I get more, I’ll probably forget what it was. I’m going to try the sand texture spray I used on the mirror; hopefully it’ll be enough to hide the fact that this is made from very rough plywood in very little time. If not, I’ll get the coarser-textured stuff. No big deal.

Cheap-ass avocado green Walmart pot, primed to receive a coat of copper paint.

Copper with one drip, but I’ll put that toward the wall. Heh.

I had another can of primer, so I did a second coat of that, then put a coat of the sandstone stuff on the planter. Couple of drips, but I don’t think I have enough to finish it anyway, plus I’ll just sand them out with fine sandpaper, so meh.

I installed the 7dBi antennas on the router. Improved performance some, but I don’t think I need a set for the Man Cave.

Old ones.

New ones.

Not a huge difference, but enough that I’ll probably notice it when streaming video to the gradge.

The last three sets of blinds arrived today. Fuck everything about putting screws in these window frames. Thought I was going to need a goddamned hammer drill. I ended up putting nails in first to make a hole (drill is too bulky to get close to the top), then pulling them out. Thank $deity for my mini wunderbar because I can’t get in there to pull nails with a hammer! Goodbye 15′ frothy nightmare, hello clean and unfussy lines.

I didn’t accomplish too much today, but I did get a coat of polyurethane on the tabletop and shelves (going to apply another in a bit…hopefully the last).

I also fed/watered my plants and gave them a long-overdue grooming. I finally threw out the dead Hypoestes, but the volunteer baby in with the Peperomia is doing fine.

I was losing daylight fast, but did have enough to paint the aquarium stand that didn’t need rust removal. The other two that are going to be shelves (the fourth holds the quartz heater in the gradge) are still busy being sawhorses. I used Rust Reformer in flat black, so I didn’t need to be too fussy, since it was already flat black.

Last (better be!) coat of polyurethane is on, and I finally broke down and bought the chandelier and sconce light for the front room. Bet I know what I’ll be doing next weekend!

I stuck my TV in the fireplace, just to get an idea of whether I’d like an electric fireplace insert. I think I would!

P.S. The O texted to tell me it was 80F in FL. I sent him a picture of Old Kitteh’s hairy yarbles. (Sans frame…added that later.)

EDIT: I was going to leave it until morning, but the tabletop was dry enough to do one last coat, so I did. I know you’re supposed to use only two coats of this stuff, but this table is going to be beside the door, getting keys dropped on it, coffee spilt on it, and “whatever I was carrying when i walked in the door” set on it, so I think an extra coat is warranted. The shelves didn’t need it, but the bottom one is a tight fit in this stand, so I’ll have to wait until morning to put it in place. Top one looks nice, though! (Just sitting there for now.)