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  • Thursday Thirteen – Home Renovations

    November 16th, 2006 she Posted in Popularity Contests 22 Comments »

    Welcome to the fifth edition of the screaming pages Thursday Thirteen.

    I love my house. Since we moved in we’ve made very few changes. We re-painted the office from black to sage. This was previous owner’s son’s room and when we moved in we set it up as a home office and library for me. I didn’t really mind the black walls since so much of it is covered in shelving and bookcases, but the hubby didn’t like it and painted it when I was away on a business trip. Otherwise the house has been decorated very much to our tastes. However, there are a few things I would like to change in the next few years as the funds become available.

    This week’s Thursday Thirteen is all about the renovations – big and small – I have in mind for the house and yard.

    Thirteen Things about SHE. Renovation Ideas.

    1. Basement bathroom – I’d like to shift the toilet in the basement bathroom 90 degrees. The basement bathroom is small and the toilet currently faces the wall. It’s pretty cramped. I’d like to shift the location of the toilet to give anyone answering nature’s call a bit more room. While we’re at it, I want to replace the current bathroom door with a built in pocket door.
    2. New closet – In the basement we have a greatroom. There’s a large closet that we store the hubby’s military kit in. Since the house is small, storage space is at a premium. I’d like to expand the current closet or build a new closet beside it to store linens, Christmas decorations, etc. On the outside of the new closet wall the hubby wants to build a built-in bookcase to store cookbooks and knicknacks.
    3. Shoe storage – We currently have a small alcove built into the wall at the backdoor to place shoes. Unfortunately, it’s open space and we can’t use it for shoes because we have a shoe eating dog. I’d like to find a way to put a door on the alcove so that we can start using it to put our shoes when we come into the house.
    4. Built-in bar – There’s more than enough room in the basement to fit a small built-in bar. I’d like it to be built close to the beer/pop fridge for convenience.
    5. Kitchen banquettes – Our kitchen is a decent size but storage space is at a premium. We have a nice little alcove to put the kitchen table and chairs in. Unfortunately our chairs are starting to wobble and could use replacing. In order to gain more storage space and deal with the chair issue, I would like to build at least one two seater banquette in the alcove. This will keep our seating space and provide us a place to store appliances that we use on occassion. Currently they’re stored on top of the counters because we don’t have anywhere else to put them.
    6. Roof – The roof is going to need to be re-shingled in a year or two. If we can afford it, I’d like to do it next year.
    7. Furnace – The furnace is older and not as efficient as most of the current models. It works fine, but does use a lot more gas than a newer furnace would use. As soon as we can afford it, we’d like to replace the furnace.
    8. Replace hedge – Our front yard has a hedge along the bottom front of it. It’s half dead and the hubby really can’t stand it. We’d like to pull out the hedge and replace it with a flower bed or some small ball cedars.
    9. Replace trees – In front of the house (flanking the main door) are two trees. The pine was bug infested when we moved in and a family of woodpeckers has been having a field day with it. The other tree was planted too close to the house for the size of the tree. We’d like to remove both trees and replace them with dwarf trees planted the proper amount of space away from the house to ensure that they’ll stay heathy and not risk damaging the house in a case of a storm.
    10. Re-do basement ceiling – Our basement was finished with an industrial drop ceiling tile. We’d like to properly finish the basement ceiling and replace the ugly ceiling tiles.
    11. Front steps – We have a series of steep wooden stairs on the front of the house. I’d like to replace them with poured concrete (with a proper grade) if possible.
    12. Backyard deck – We have a gorgeous bi-level deck in our backyard but it’s a bit bigger than we really need. The deck will probably last a few more years before we need to replace it. When we do, we’ll be cutting two to three feet off the overall length of the deck so the dogs will have more yard to run around and play in. This will leave us with more than enough deck to host BBQ’s and gatherings on.
    13. Garage – The original 1950’s garage has seen better days. Next year we’d like to rip down the old garage and build a new double car garage in it’s place.
    Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

    The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

    Thanks to all who dropped by my T13 and commented: Laughing Muse, Caylynn, Sonny, Maggie, Jenny, Darla, Susan, Colleen, Skeezix the Cat, Di, John, Christine d’Abo, Maryanne, Cheysuli, Sparky, N Mallory, Carmen, Bond, tbirdonawire,

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    shameless self-promotion

    November 9th, 2006 she Posted in Popularity Contests 1 Comment »

    Note: This post will appear at the top of this page until first round voting has ended on November 21st. I didn’t title this post shameless self-promotion for nothing.


    A few weeks back I received an email from a kind soul notifying me that he’d nominated my blog for the Canadian Blog Awards in the Best New Blog and Best Personal Blog categories.First round voting begins on November 15 and closes on November 21. Voting rules are as follows:

    Two rounds of voting will take place with each round lasting 7 days. The first round of voting will include all nominees. The second round of voting will narrow the list of nominees in each category down to the top 5 from the first round of voting.

    Everyone is eligible to cast votes in both rounds and may do so once per day.

    Of course it’s a popularity contest. I never said I didn’t want to be popular. I’d love it if everyone took a few seconds from their day to vote for my blog from the 15th though to the 21st.

    While you’re there take a few seconds to vote for the Dust my Broom crew. They’re nominated in the Best Blog, Best Conservative Blog and Best Group Blog categories.

    Update 11.21.06 – Round One voting is now closed. Thanks to everyone who voted for me. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed and will be begging for more votes should I make it to round two…
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    Caylynn’s Contemplations

    November 9th, 2006 she Posted in Popularity Contests, Those Who Volunteered 1 Comment »

    Caylynn is a military spouse that I’ve become “online acquainted” with through Thursday Thirteen. This week she decided to present “two special Thursday Thirteen lists in Honour of Veterans’ Week (November 5-11) and Remembrance Day (November 11th)“.

    Her first list is 13 Conflicts Past and Present in which Canadians Have Served. The second is 13 Ways to Take Part in Veteran’ Week (courtesy of Veteran’s Affairs Canada).

    If you do nothing else today, take a few minutes to stop by Caylynn’s blog and read her T13 post.

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    Thursday Thirteen – Christmas Wish List

    November 8th, 2006 she Posted in Popularity Contests 25 Comments »

    I know, I posted this a few minutes early. I just couldn’t stay awake until midnight. It’s my fourth Thursday Thirteen but the first one posted on a Wednesday night.

    Christmas is just around the corner. The hubby tells me that he just doesn’t get hints. Those who know him likely wouldn’t be surprised to read this little tidbit. He’s repeatedly told me that if I want something specific I have to come out and say it.

    This week’s Thursday Thirteen is my attempt to not only tell the hubby what I’d like, but put it in writing so he can refer back to it anytime he needs to. Of course, this list isn’t just for him – anyone wanting to grace my Christmas tree with these items will be loved and adored.

    Thirteen Things about SHE. Christmas Wish List.

    1. TicTac Silvers – A few years ago I bought some Christmas tree ornaments stuffed with these. They’re so yummy but alas can’t be found in stores in my area. I’ve filled suitcases with them when traveling back from the US. I’ve been known to stoop to begging traveling co-workers to bring me some (thanks Dane!).
    2. Corky’s BBQ Sauce – Memphis is one of my favourite US cities. When in Memphis I always make a point to eat at Corky’s BBQ at least once. I’ve actually broken a suitcase bringing bottles of this stuff home (the bags weighed so much). Alas, I haven’t been to Memphis in a few years and have no sauce left…
    3. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: (5th Edition) – I’m going to need this for my next batch of courses at university.
    4. Learning to Solve Problems: An Instructional Design Guide – I’m working on expanding my resource library.
    5. Curriculum, Plans, and Processes in Instructional Design.
    6. Rapid Instructional Design: Learning ID Fast and Right, 2nd Edition.
    7. A flat panel monitor for my home office. It’ll hook up nicely on the back of the laptop when I’ve set my system into it’s dock and make working with documents a bit easier…
    8. A multi-function printer for the home office. Despite the planned office destination, this will be used mainly for scrap booking rather than work. The laser printer we have handles all of the office related print jobs I need. I want a multi-function printer to scan in photos and print digital photos we have on disk.
    9. A new chair for the home office. Unfortunately, to find a good replacement for the current chair, I’ll have to be in on the hunt. It has to satisfy both my back and my butt so a new chair can’t be a surprise purchase.
    10. Opera tickets – Hey hun, they’re running the Barber of Seville this year!
    11. Backscape – There’s just something about this print that really draws my eye and attention.
    12. MacBook or MacBook Pro – I know, I need a desktop system more than I need another laptop, but it’s still nice to dream. If I sit down and really think about it, I can’t justify purchasing a new system for a few years yet – that’s why this is called a wish list.
    13. A winning lottery ticket so we can pay off the mortgage years early.

    Thanks to other Thursday Thirteen participants who viewed my list and left a comment: Amy, Suki, Jen, Laughing Muse, Jo, Laura, Beth, Caylynn, MommaBa, Gail, Raci Li, Regina, Annie, Caryle, e-l-e-e, Geggie, Di, Barb, Haley-O, Jennie, and N Mallory.

    Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

    The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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    Wordless Wednesday

    November 8th, 2006 she Posted in Popularity Contests No Comments »

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