Book Syrup

Filling a Space

03/06/2014

I love the easy fixes. Of course, sometimes it takes a few tries to get something that really works, but that is part of the glory of the trial and error of home ownership, right?

What I referring to specifically is a strange alcove that exists in the living room area of our home. Below it is the coat closet, but instead of drywalling all the way up to the ceiling, the home builders created a space to gather dust. As our home was built in the 70s, I’m sure it was intended for some far out plant displays or some such.

I did try to do the 70s fern display in the past. Unfortunately, I have a habit of letting plants die when I can’t reach them for watering. Having to climb a ladder becomes one too many impediments. What can I say – I’m a lazy sod.

Then I decided to peruse my home design books, and I found inspiration in the pages of “English Decoration.” There was a photo of the entryway of a lovely farmhouse. Underneath a trestle table were a haphazard stash of baskets. I thought a collection of old baskets up on the alcove would look quite sweet and would add some nice texture to the space.

Gathering the baskets ended up being super simple. I had a few, but I also have a habit of giving our baskets away, so I didn’t have enough for a collection. My Charles and I needed to go down the hill to stop by Home Depot anyway, so while we were in Auburn, we also decided to stop by Goodwill. For $36 – with tax – I loaded up my little alcove, and I love the look. We’re one step closer to a nicely styled home. Until I put mail everywhere and Charles covers the rest of the flat surfaces with food samples, but at least we’re getting there.

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A Tiny Update to Our Tiny Kitchen

02/27/2014

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This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Once upon a time, I bought some hardware for the kitchen cabinets and drawers. I thought, “Gee, this would be a swell update to the kitchen, but I’m a little intimidated by drilling holes into the cabinet doors.”

And so I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Until three years had passed and a nice, thick layer of dust had coated the hardware sitting on a shelf in the laundry room. Then I thought, “Stop being such a pansy and replace the hardware that’s been needling you since you threw down the money for pretty oil rubbed bronze handles.”

Oil Rubbed Bronze Cabinet Hardware Euro Style Bar Handle Pull

Ahem... please don't mind the fingerprints. I'll clean them off -- honest!

Then I had an idea, a fool-proof way to get everything to line up properly. I made a three sided box out of leftover pieces of trim, measured where the holes were for the handle, drilled them, and screwed a handle to the box to make sure everything was just right. Bolstered by my creation, I drilled a hole and fastened the handle to the door.

And it was 1/16” off. 1/16th! I turned into a puddle of goo and despaired. My fool-proof creation was more fool than proof, and now I had a hole I couldn’t use in the door!

My Charles helped scrape me off the floor and mold me back into a human shape. He told me to putty the hole, wait for it to dry, and then measure again. “I can’t!” I wailed. “I suck too much!” But after moping a bit, I realized that I could put a bit of tape on the cabinet, measure it, and get the hole in the proper spot. I ended up using my sewing tape to measure since it laid flat against the wood and was easy to hold in place, and because it was only 1/16th off, the handle still covered the puttied hole.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Cabinet Hardware Round Mushroom Knob

With a few deep breaths, I tried again, and now I have beautiful, new(ish) hardware making my 70s cabinets a bit more modern. The drawer knobs – well, there wasn’t any angst involved with those guys. It was one screw in, screw knob in place, voila. I love how hefty they feel. Opening drawers feels so opulent now.

And so endeth the adventure of the cabinet hardware. We all lived happily ever after – at least until my next attempt at should-be-simple DIY.

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My Art Available to You

02/20/2014

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I did something rather daring this week -- I put up some photos on Society6. Currently, I only have a dozen pieces posted, but I have plans for more. I'm also working on getting my paintings professionally scanned for print options, so if there's something you've been eyeballing over on my art page, drop me a line at Mellisa (at) pixyofwhimsy (dot) com, and if I still have access to the original piece, I'll do my best to get prints up on Society6. The same goes if there's a photo you saw in a previous post and thought it would be perfect for a wall in your home. I love how S6 makes it easy for both the artist and buyer, offering quality items for much cheaper than can be found in gallery showings. Make sure to click around while you're there, if you're new to the site, as there are so many amazing artists! I'd need a mansion to accommodate all of the amazing work I want to buy for myself.

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I Love My Readers

02/13/2014

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Four years ago, I started a blog. Can you believe it’s been four years?!!! I wanted an outlet for creative writing I couldn’t do at work, a space where I could be myself, a space to share discoveries, recipes, and more. Four years ago, my Charles and I had owned our home for seven months and had no idea how much maintenance would become a part of our lives. I had no idea how much it would swing the focus of this blog.

It’s amusing to go back to those original posts. I didn’t post any photos to the blog until April, and those were tiny! Going back into the archives is like the adventure into how I found the blog’s voice. Of course it, like me, is constantly evolving, but it feels like after four years, this space can finally begin to sing.

A blog is only as good as its readers, and I’m so grateful to all of you, whether you’ve been following my ramblings since those awkward beginnings or you just stumbled upon it last week. I wanted to thank you all for your support and visits. You are my (mostly) silent horde, but you return, and I love you for it.

As a celebratory ye haw, here are some fun facts about the author of this here blog:

I’m really getting into new graphic novels and comics lately. I’d gotten out of the habit of reading them for a few years. Currently, I’m reading or looking forward to reading: “Beautiful Darkness,” “Unlovable Vol. 3,” “Serenity: Leaves on the Wind,” “Ms. Marvel,” “The Sandman: Overture,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10,” and Fantagraphics is doing a hardcover “The Complete Eightball 1-18” is August, so woo hoo on collections, too!

I’ve discovered a new (for me) treatment for my depression – running. I’ve been running for over a month now, and every time I’m feeling low, a quick run with my dog perks me right up. I’ve even gone for a quick mile run on my lunch break a couple of times when I’m having a bad day. I return for the second half of my shift refreshed and ready to create.

I still feel a major yearning for the ocean. I think I lived by it for too long. L.M. Montgomery wrote about that constant call in many of her short stories. It gets to be a part of you, I guess, and then if you’re landlocked, it becomes a constant ache.

I have discovered an almost obsessive passion for food and wine pairing. That’s become the main focus of my other blog, Sapid Cellar Door.

There are a lot of little projects coming up for the house that should be really fun to write about. I’m just having trouble deciding what to do first.

I’m scheduled for an art show this December, so I’ll be working on a lot of new pieces this year. My new focus is abstract based on nature. I’m hoping it will be as cool as the concepts in my head are.

I’m going to the BlogHer Conference this year. Hopefully, I will learn to hone my craft even more so that all of you will have more to enjoy here.

Thank you for stickin’ with me, through slow post months and my regular weeklies. As my title says, I love my readers!

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California - Not Meant for Lawns

02/06/2014

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When I was an itty bitty thing, California went through a terrible drought. Since I was so little, my memories are few and mostly involve not being allowed to play in the sprinkler when it was hot outside, but it made a major impression on me. My formative years were during a time of water scarcity, and I have striven to never take it for granted.

Once again, California is experiencing crippling drought. In fact, this is the driest it has ever been on record. Having grown up in the arid West, I have many water-conserving habits and try to incorporate more all the time. Some of the things on this list may be a little controversial, but hey, being a Northern Californian, I’m used to controversy. I still remember the last water wars and how they threatened to tear our state in two.

1.       Let your lawn die. California is a Mediterranean and/or desert climate. While there are a few micro-climates where lawns can live naturally, for the majority of California, it requires way too much water to have one of those lush, green rectangles. Instead, look into drought tolerant and native plants and landscaping fit for a dry environment. Of course, if you have HOA requirements, this can be a no-go, but if you can, go for something that doesn’t require watering.

2.       Turn off the water when it’s not being actively used. What do I mean by that? Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, shaving, etc.

3.       Fix any leaks right away. One leaky faucet can waste 1,000 gallons of water a year.

4.       Only do laundry when you have a full load. Because of this rule, I’ve had delicates languishing in the hamper for quite some time, but eventually, I’ll have enough to justify a cycle in the washer.

5.       Invest in high efficiency appliances. We’re almost there. We have a high efficiency washing machine (and dryer). While our dishwasher is somewhat new, we’re planning on investing in something even more efficient this year. Something to keep in mind – dishwashers typically use less water than washing by hand.

6.       Use low flow attachments – faucets, shower heads, etc. I’ve been using a shower head that I turn to drip when I’m not actively rinsing since I moved out on my own. (So um, just under two decades now.) It saves a considerable amount of water. Since we’re experiencing a water hardship, I’m now going to go a step further and turn off the shower completely while I lather up and soap, shave my legs, etc. Keep your shower to under five minutes, and you’ll save up to 1,000 gallons a month!

7.       Collect the water that you use to rinse veggies, that is running while you wait for the tap to warm up, etc. and use it to water your houseplants.

8.       If your county/city codes allow it, have a plumber reroute your greywater to trees and outdoor plants instead of it going into the sewer, and collect the rain water from your gutters for use in the yard.

9.       Install a water-saving toilet. If that’s out of reach, install a dual-flush system in your current toilet until you can upgrade. Young House Love has an awesome tutorial on how to switch out the old handle for a dual-flush system.

10.   Use a drip irrigation system for your garden. Fresh veggies are good. Losing water to evaporation… not so much.

Only 2 percent of the world’s water is fresh water. It’s a very precious resource. While you may not be able to implement everything on this list, every little bit helps so much. More resources are available at bewatersmart.info, wateruseitwisely.com, and epa.gov/oaintrnt/water.

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Those Pesky Resolutions

01/28/2014

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These dudes have been sparring on the property lately. Living in the woods is interesting!

If there’s one thing long-time readers have discovered, it’s that my goals for the year always end up taking way longer than I’m hoping. Each year around this time, I list my “resolutions.” Many of the items on this list are repeat stars, since there always seem to be issues that present themselves that have to be addressed NOW. In other words, this yearly to-do has become as much of a reflection on what was accomplished (or not accomplished) in the previous year (or years) as it is a list of goals.

So (deep breath) here’s the list for 2014, including many repeats from preceding resolutions – think 2013, 2012, 2011…

1. Replace the carpeting in the house.
Still hasn't happened. I’m hoping we go with engineered hardwood.

2. Paint the outside of the house.
In progress – two sides down, two to go.

3. Fix and/or replace the deck.
In progress. Everything is done except the deck boards!

4. Build a railing for our concrete steps.
We’ve got a post hole digger and posts. We just need to do it.

5. Finally build a pergola over the front door (and maybe a second one for the deck).
I downloaded some plans, so hopefully this year.

6. Finish the bathroom (sink vanity, flooring, medicine cabinet, toilet).
This is much higher on the list now, thanks in part to Disco Stu and California’s drought. We need to be saving as much water as possible!

7. Replace the kitchen countertops, change faucet, add backsplash.
Man I hope we get to this in 2014.

8. Install one more base cabinet to add much needed storage and countertop space.
We purchased a base cabinet from Ikea, but we still need to add a countertop to it. We’re planning on giving it a counter at the same time we do the rest of the kitchen. We hope to install butcher block and stain it the same color as our cabinets, something like the bottom photo in this post.

9. Re-fence Bodie's yard.
A bear broke into his yard a few weeks ago. The scary part is, we think the bear was trying to get our dog. It's been so dry this winter, food is becoming scarce. We fixed the damage the bear caused, but we really want to reinforce the fencing and string a line of electric wire across the top. That way, it couldn't hurt Bodie, but it would deter a bear from tearing down the fencing. This is a top priority, obviously, because of Bodie's safety.

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The Heart of the Library

01/15/2014

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The coolest thing? Madelyn Helling not only has a library named after her because of her years of service as a librarian, she's still serving, as the board secretary. I get to sit next to her in meetings. :)

The summer of my seventh year, our babysitter took us to the library. She led us through the high-pitch squeal of the sensor-protected front doors and deposited me in the fairy tale section in the children’s area. I was surrounded by colorful spines, the smell of musty well-worn paper, and magic. That fateful summer afternoon took me on the journey of my lifetime. I had discovered my first love – the stories contained in books – and realized that someday, I wanted to write fanciful tomes of my own. And libraries – well, libraries became my refuge and my home.

In junior high, I volunteered in the school’s library, returning books, freshly checked-in, to their places on the shelves. At the beginning of each shift, I would pull each and every book out to the edge of the shelf, giving the whole room a wondrous uniformity. It was in this library that I first witnessed – and was a part of – the modernization of the catalog world as I meticulously entered each card into a computer database and allowed the librarian’s world to become more mechanized.

In college, I would reaffirm my gratitude to the library by volunteering each week at the Arcata branch of the Humboldt County Library. Under the tutelage of Maggie, the head librarian, I sorted and shelved books, checked them in, stamped due-date cards as I dreamed of my own soon-to-be-written stories – I even helped keep the community room and restrooms sparkling – anything that aided in keeping the library open. Plus, I was given the privilege of being the Children’s Story Time reader when Maggie wasn’t available, introducing new generations to the alchemy of words and developing a handy knack of being able to read pages upside down.

My most recent incarnation of library volunteer is as a board member for the Nevada County Friends of the Library. I’ll be assembling the newsletter and maintaining and growing its social media presence. It’s good to be giving back to this bewitching realm once again.

Libraries started me on the path that I continue on to this day, and I’ll be forever in debt to those book-lined shelves, dedicated librarians, and the pulsing enchantment that resides within each and every place that allows anyone to seek a story for free. All you need is a small card, which much like the TARDIS is bigger on the inside, and is full of the potential of every human mind that has – and will exist.

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2013 in Review

12/31/2013

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For all intents and purposes, 2013 was a pretty brutal year. I went through a very bad bout of depression, as did my Charles. According to the parts of the blogosphere in which I hang, this was pretty typical for most of us. I feel it, in my gut, even down to my toes, that 2014 is going to be an excellent year.

While this year was pretty darn rough, there were also a myriad of good things and progress in our little house, and lots of things were a-cookin' in my brain pan.

2013 marked our fourth year of home ownership. My, how much we've learned in that time! Wherever our next house resides, we won't be nearly as intimidated with a bit of DIY. In fact, as long as it has good bones, I think we'll be good to go.

We finally finished the repairs, both on the inside and the outside of the house, due to the original leaky sliding glass doors that became one of the banes of our existence.

In fact, we finally got all of the dry rot dealt with on the outside of the house, and everything is now sealed up, and the rain (if we had any. 2013 was also a very, very dry year.) will no longer have a chance to puddle and snuggle with the house's siding.

My horizons were also broadened when it came to plumbing. Our tub surround, whom I've dubbed Disco Stu, and I still have some things to say to each other. Will Stu get to stay? Find out in 2014.

Not everything was about repairs. I rearranged and updated the look of our bedroom this year, and even after living with it for a few months, I'm still amazed at how much more cozy it is -- and how much more lush it feels.

I did some minor crafts, just to keep things interesting, and realized how much that bright blue color that I chose for the door, and more, makes me smile.

I even made sure to get a good dose of vitamin D and participated in a Pinterest Challenge this spring. The path I made is holding up beautifully, and I've planted some green, crawling leafy things around it that will probably fill-in in about ten years.

While I didn't make a lot of art this year, I did acquire a bit more, especially in the black velvet painting collection. Charles and I even got to host the artist at our house this fall, when Chris came through town on business.

Though I'll never be too keen on driving, I did get an awesome vehicle this year. It's zippy and I love it, and I listen to tons of music during my commute to work. I continue to tweak my play list, and it continues to bring a smile to my face.

2013 also involved a lot of soul searching for me. I realized how much the ocean is a part of who I am and made sure to seek it out a few times this year. And while currently, I only get to visit, I realized it's home, both because of the Pacific's proximity and because of the folks who live there.

Charles and I also got to take a two week vacation, something we hadn't done in quite a few years, and it was wonderful and filled with beauty.

While it may have been difficult, there was still a lot of joy and wonder to be found this year. Our neighborhood may have its unique challenges, but it's a pretty place to live.

So long 2013! We're all really glad you're done, but there were still a lot of lovely things you gave us. Thank you for the gifts, old year. Now bring on 2014!

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Christmas Eve Gift

12/24/2013

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We'd hide outside of Mom's bedroom, trying to stifle our giggles, so excited it was difficult not to jump up and down.

Mom's alarm would sound. We'd hear her roll out of bed and throw a robe over her nightgown. Holding our breath in order to be as quiet as possible, my little brother, little sister, and I would each coil, ready to spring forward and scream, "Christmas Eve Gift!"

Great-grandma Ruby had crafted the tradition of the Christmas Eve Gift. Whomever was clever and sneaky enough to surprise everyone else with the magic, three-letter phrase would receive an inexpensive, though special, gift. Catching fellow family members was eagerly sought, the prize more coveted than the "real" presents that were doled out on Christmas day.

Christmas Eve Gift then filled the childhoods of my mom and aunts, and as soon as we were all old enough to understand the rules of said tradition, it continued on with my generation, spreading joy and anticipation within the family and confusion from friends or coworkers who were greeted with jubilantly burbled words that echoed through telephone lines or around doorjambs.

Our silly, playful tradition continues, my grandma still the best of us. In fact, as adults we no longer exchange Christmas presents. No, it's all about those Christmas Eve Gifts. They may be but trifles, small packages that show our affection for -- and competition with -- each other, but are they cherished!

So, Christmas Eve Gift to each and every one of you! Here's to continuing on amusing family traditions, and hey, while I'm at it, merry Christmas. It may not be as exciting as catching everyone with a shouted, "Christmas Eve Gift!" but it's a pretty great day, too.

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Cali Residents - Read This

12/12/2013

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There's a new law that goes into effect January 1, 2014 that all of us California DIYers are going to have to follow. If you do home improvements, or are even planning on hiring out any improvements after the first of the year, read this.

Thanks to my Aunt Jan for making me aware of the article. I'm all for water conservation, but I guess I'll have to go full-throttle now. Expect a major bathroom overhaul post early next year, folks.

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Filling a Space

A Tiny Update to Our Tiny Kitchen

My Art Available to You

I Love My Readers

California - Not Meant for Lawns

Those Pesky Resolutions

The Heart of the Library

2013 in Review

Christmas Eve Gift

Cali Residents - Read This

Book Syrup

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