Fall/Winter Projects Continued!

I'm sure the other thread was getting too long for anyone on dial up so let's continue with a new one! For anyone who's missed the others, we're continuing from this thread: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1049330/#new and here's the link to those we started last spring: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=7185164

I don't have much time to post right now but I'll be back soon. It's been a busy couple of days and even though I still don't have any pictures I've got plenty to report and lots of comments from the previous thread to catch up on! I'll start the thread with a "collage" of my current projects as well as those I hope to be working on in the spring :)

What a great way to start this thread! Love the collage.

When not IN the garden we try to fill our houses WITH garden images! Reminds me to get cracking on my 'vacation pictures' framing project, and to put all the vacation pictures in one hallway. Oh, except most of the pics are 'lost' in a bogged down computer right now...blah

Looks like I'll be "shut down" for awhile this morning with the projects so thought I'd go re-read the old thread since my last post and see if I could catch up!

LOL, you should see ALL the pictures I've "photoshopped" to help me with these projects! It definitely has helped give Rick an idea of my "visions" since he can't read my mind :) We're making progress here but still a lot left to do. Since last posting we got all the trim cut and stained for the kitchen island. Rick suggested putting them together like a picture frame so it would be easier to "hang" them on the cabinet walls. Great idea, however, we discovered when we made the mitered cuts we cut some of them backwards, so...we've got four of the "frames" ready out of the seven needed :( Not only frustrating because it means another trip to Lowes but we'll need to make another trip to my father-in-law's shop as well to cut them. THEN, I'll have to put the two coats of stain on them before we can put them together and hang them. A project I thought might be done by today probably won't be finished until next weekend! In the meantime we've got the laminate flooring down the hall in the final stages. We'll need to make a few more cuts when we go back to the shop and then the trim moulding goes down and it's done! We got the new ceiling light hung in the kitchen and it looks great :) A minor change of plans will slow us up a little. We bought the same light in a smaller size to hang in the front entry but decided to hang it in the hall instead. My plan was to remove the ceiling light in the hall and hang a wall sconce at the end of the hall. After Rick pointed out (repeatedly, I might add) that we would have to re-route the wiring, patch the hole and re-paint the ceiling and maybe even the wall, I finally gave in :( We just had all that painting done and it looks so nice I didn't want to get myself into another mess with painting. This is what I had hoped it would look like with the wall sconce....

And this is what it will look like with the new ceiling light. We had to order another light for the front entry and hoping it arrives by the end of the week so we can get it installed. Everything else in the front entry is done!

I started staining the kitchen island yesterday. Critter I didn't have to "scuff" the cabinet walls because I ended up using gel stain. My original plan was to use glaze but after a lot of research I decided on the gel stain and I'm glad I did - it's so much easier and I love it! Pretty smelly just the same and that's probably why I'm not going to get the second coat needed done today. We have to leave the back door ajar to help with the fumes and it's too darned cold :( Holly, talk about "obsessive", I'm so happy with the rich look the gel stain is giving the island I'm now looking at the wall cabinets in the kitchen and realizing they really need a sprucing up as well! I never thought they looked bad until I saw how good the island looks after staining them! The color is Aged Oak so it doesn't really darken the wood, just makes the grain look richer. Not a project for the immediate future but maybe sometime later this fall? I'm still anxious to get the ceramic tile backsplash started but I'm abiding by Rick's suggestion that I finish one project before I start another!

jfleming, thanks for the update on your "winter gardening experiment"! Even though you're not enjoying lettuce in January, I'll bet you'll see a big change in a couple more weeks and get more than a "slight jump" on the season :) So much for those nice warm temperatures two weeks ago - it was 3 below here at 7:00 this morning! Regarding the heat for your cold frames, is there any way you could rig up something for "bottom heat"? That might be just enough to warm up the soil and get those vegetables growing! Probably not possible this year but maybe something to try for next year.

Holly, I can't find the link right now but on one of the DIY blogs I saw where a woman had painted her floor to look like marble tiles. I bet you could fool everyone if you used the technique to try to match the vinyl floor! If I remember correctly, she painted the floor the color of the "grout", then used painter's tape to make thin lines for the squares and sponged the other colors on. When she removed the painter's tape it looked like marble tiles with grout!

Har har har! My winter project is in fact Adobe Photo Shop CS4. So far I have been using it to make my wrestling coverage of the grandson better pictures. That of course does not belong here. I could easily spend eight hours a day working with this software and maybe be ten percent into it by the time my eyes and hands stop working. :)

For those who know I got cheated out of big bucks by the Chinese selling me an absolute copy of Adobe Photo Shop CS4....we are breathing a little easier now that Capital One credit card folks have helped by showing me how to fight and win. Presently we have the money back in our account. If no more tricks are pulled by the theiving Chinese the case will close within a week.

I would love Photo Shop, one of these days. Thanks for the warning Doc if/when we get Photo Shop I will be careful what and where we get it. Looks great RCN love what you have planned. Yes I am trying very hard to stick to one project at a time, too. LOL

I've been thinking it's time to go pick-up the 2"x6"s, and 4"x6" for our arbor so we can cut and route them for assembly in the spring. I've wanted a scrolling saw for years. Looks like I'll get one now. Ric

LOL, You know me, my brain is NEVER in the "Off" mode, always one step ahead of myself and planning the next project before I finish what I'm working on! Rick told me he wishes now he never bought Photoshop for me because I've used it for far more than it was designed for :) Not much accomplished yesterday - spent the day shoveling snow and catching up on laundry :( BUT, I did sketch out the grid for the tiles on the wall for the backsplash so as soon as I get the kitchen island done I'm ready!

Doc, glad to hear that you got things cleared up with your Photoshop purchase! It took me forever to figure out how to use the program and there are still a lot of features I have no idea how to use. I won a bid for a set of videos several years ago - Total Training for Photoshop - they were a lifesaver for this mind boggling program and I refer to them often whenever I need a refresher :)

Ric, I'd love to get started with the plans for a new arbor but the weather's not cooperating :( Just when the snow finally clears out of here we get dumped with another 10" and temperatures that aren't friendly for working outside! Probably a good thing so I can concentrate on the current "project" and get everything done before jumping into another one!

Photo Shop CS5 is about to be released. There will be CS4 price breaks. That is why I jumpped onto a look-a-like advertisement for what looked like a good price. It was! However it was the Chinese stealing Adobe Photo Shop software and the advertising copy too. My guess is that a very high percentage of eBay product is theived property too. Be absolutely sure you are buying from the American source Adobe. I found out only when I called Adobe to check the correctness of my serial number. They immediately wanted my software as exhibit A for legal action. Between Adobe and my credit card company after three months of hassle I think we have our money in the bank secured to stay this time. It has been a nightmare with debits and credits back and forth to finally arrive at a possible finish point this week. What helped most was the Adobe certification that my product was stolen and copied by the Chinese. If I would have had to pay for all the litigation I would have been better off to eat the loss.
Adobe is going after them using law that applies to their level in business.

Photoshop isn't cheap but what a hassle for a "good price" :( I feel like I've got an antique, I haven't found it necessary to update for all the new frills since I'm still trying to master PS7. Some of the new functions are tempting however :)

The Hallway is looking great, RCN. You are amazing with the number of new projects that you take on each season.

Thanks Stormy, not sure if "amazing" is correct or just plain crazy. LOL Seems like all my projects snowball or evolve into something other than was on the original plan! You have to remember I only have a few "slow" months so I'm taking full advantage of them this year :) Also, keep in mind, that's my Photoshop rendition of what the hall should look like, we're still working on the flooring. We should have just hired someone to do it, with 5 doorways in only 11' it's creating a "bit" of a problem! I finished the last coat of stain on the island today and we got the cuts measured to fit the last pieces of flooring into the doors and hopefully will get them cut at the shop tomorrow, tack down the moulding and be done with it! Other than that I finally took the time to clear off my dining room table and get some cleaning done, dusting, cleaning dog prints off front and back doors, etc. - can't believe I can finally "see" the table! LOL

You need to visit this thread and join the club. My dinning room table needs cleaned off again! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1051721/

Well this is not pretty but it is meant be serviceable. Not done yet. This will be my seed starting area in the basement.
The sink needs to be plumbed in, the other side side of that wall is the laundry area where we are putting in a laundry tub, the 2 sinks will share the water and sewer lines. The counter top will be extended for a work bench over to the white wall.

This is the north wall, the window can be open when it gets warmer. You can see my overwintering geraniums hanging from the rafters in the corner, and the hanging basket with a geranium I am starting to wake up.

You'll be very happy when it is complete, Lady.

You can see some burgs I am overwintering down there. And a storage cabinet for all my gardening goodies.

Also the electric wiring needs to be done for my lights, then we will move in my PVC seed starting shelves.

Oh Stormy, I can't wait! And I really mean that, I am thinking of starting some seeds this weekend!

way cool ladyg! so nice to have that sink handy for plant work. Looks like down here, we will be getting more snow this week, for sure the only planting here could be seeds or small indoor repotting.
Ya know, when I skimmed over what you quoted from rcn, I thought I read "clean the dog prints off the dining room table" LOLOL

Sally, The work space will be a dream come true. I took the watering can down there just to make sure it will fit under the faucet. It did!!
No more carrying water downstairs. I'll be able to stop in the middle of seed planting and leave every thing set. I use the chest freezer right now for my work table, but have to put everything away so we can get into the freezer.
Paul will also install lights over the work area and hooks on the wall to hang up tools.

LOL, I don't worry about dog prints on my table, just kitty prints!

WOW Ladyg, Might not be pretty but isn't it nice to have a place to work. And a water source that doesn't require ten trips up and down the stairs. LOL
I dug out my OSP tonight and have them in water trays. I didn't get a lot of potatoes to save last year but the few I did get look very promising.

Oh gosh, Holly. Now I want to read how you grow them!! Do they always start from Tubers? Lady, do you have room down there for more shelves?

I was on google looking up whitewash recipes, my parents aways whitewashed the basement walls.
Holly, I found a OSP tuber in a pot I dragged in last fall, after I broke my wrist, I was dragging in every pot I could in hopes of saving what I could. I might find more once I get into the swing of things.

Stormy, Once I move my 2 seed starting units in there I'll have a better idea of space. I'm thinking of another PVC unit. Basement still gets some seepage so have to stay away rom the metal shelves on the floor.
Also have to leave room to get to the sewer clean out, we get maple tree root the will cause a clog.

I get that too from a beech tree, but the last three years, I've been using a product from Roto Rooter that completetly keeps the roots out of the pipes. If you're interested, I'll get you the name.

I know that HD and Lowes have root products, wonder if it is the same as RRer's. I just need to get a few boxes to keep on hand to use on a regular basis, the key is prevention. I guess if I lived closer to these stores it would not be a problem. Just need to remember to get some when I'm there. LOL

No Lady. I tried all of those and the roots kept coming back. Your comment just reminded me to use some. It's called Roto Rooter Root Destroyer. The difference seems to be the size of the crystals, that don't break down like those tiny ones from HD. I use it about every other month and have not had a problem.

can you get it on line? I'll do a search.

I've already joined the "club" - remember the laundry that didn't get done for months? LOL I have to say by openly admitting it to all of you that I've done much better since :)

LOL Sally, no dog prints on the table but there are always kitty prints!

Chris, your seed starting area is great! Rick bought me one of those small, portable units that has the zippered plastic covering for my birthday so I'll have somewhere to start my seeds this year. Of course, after last year's fiasco of buying all those seeds and never getting them sown until July he instructed me not to buy any this year - what?? Then WHY the gift? LOL Seeing your set up in the basement has me thinking....even though the basement is unheated, it's not like it's freezing down there and if I used heat mats maybe I could set it up in the basement! I had originally planned to set it up by the front door so I could wheel it in and out when the temperatures get warmer. Now that we've done all this painting and moving things around I don't have a spot to put it! I'm going to be taking a closer look at the basement now and see if it will work - thanks for giving me the idea :)

Debbie, My basement is on the cool side, sometimes 56º. Once the seeds have sprouted on the heat mat and start getting their true leaves, I remove them. The only heat they get are from the lights which is not that much and the lights are off for 6 hours a day. I think growing on the cooler side is better for most plants unless they are tropical.

I have a small electric heater that I run only when I am down there working, I don't work well in the cold.

I wish I had a basement for all my plants, no matter what it looked like.

I'm with you on that one Lady. I think that the cooler the better. Less damping off and the seedlings seem to be stronger.

Chris, I added a faucet next to the room Holly uses for starters so she didn't have to carry water. Now I need one in the garage, by the lights where we harden them off. Oh well, if it's not one thing it's two.
It's 38*F here already and my snows all done, I may just have to head to the barn and see about starting some more moldings, for the still in process laundry room. I'm still trying to figure how I had time to work a job. LOL Ric

Ric, you sound like Paul.

There are always the little extras that make like easier. But doing the extras can be the hard part.

Ric, looks like you may be in for some more nasty weather, keep your eye on the weather.

That is so true about retirees. They spend so much time catching up on all of the things they've always wanted to do, that they are actually much busier than when gainfully employed.

I've heard retirement described as having three fazes; go go, slow go and no go. That pretty much sums it up.

Yep, And if keeping busy keeps you young, why am I aging?

LOL I don't know Chris. There are those of us who were a little too much GoGo in our lifetimes!!

Back to the topic at hand. I have additional kitchen cabinets stored in my crawl space that need to make their way up to the kitchen. I actually need 2 more cabinets to complete what I have in mind for the first phase. Maybe I'll take some picks and post them later.

LOL, it's because our bodies are aging faster than our minds! I think if I had had the time to think up all these projects when I was younger my body would be in even worse shape than it is now. That being said, no one's stopping me now, I'm on a roll! I have to admit that Rick's bad back definitely slows down my usual pace but I'm not complaining, I just need to have a little more patience - all in good time, it WILL get done :)

Chris and Stormy, thanks for the encouragement, I think the basement might work for starting my seeds! Maybe this year I'll have blooming plants by July instead of September/October.

The snow we got dumped with yesterday certainly slowed down our progress but I did manage to finish measuring and marking all the ceramic tiles for the backsplash. At one point Rick suggested I just give up and call the contractor - no way! The one stumbling block was getting all the difficult cuts made (to go around the outlets, etc.) and since we don't have a wet saw I hated to add anything else to Rick's list of things to do. Plus he didn't think it was fair to call the contractor to take the time to come over just to make the cuts for me, even though he had offered to do it! So...I called Lowes and if I mark them with a permanent marker they'll make the cuts for me! If the roads are okay in the morning I'm off to Lowes and hopefully will have the ceramic tile up by the end of the day tomorrow - wish me luck!