Hi, well a mixed bag today. The Sudan street kids blog site is almost ready, as soon as it is I'll post a link so you can check out the amazing work that is being done there.
One of the family treasures I grew up with was an old dropside table with a map glued to it. It came from my dad's mom, who I never met because she died in Kenya before I was born. (Dad is now 88 so that might give you an idea of how long ago it was) I have always marvelled that someone actually took this amazing old map and glued it to a flimsey little table, then used it for drinks etc, so it got water rings on it, what a shame! I realised it could not be removed without being destroyed completely, so when it was given to me a few years ago, I put a protective coating over it, to at least prevent further damage. As you can see in the close-up, it was hand drawn in 1576. I absolutely LOVE old maps (well any maps really) so it is one of my special treasures!
By an amazing coincidence, when Ian brought C home for the first time, she looked at it and pointed out that she had once lived in the part of Surrey shown on the map. (Mind you, this could be less of a coincidence than one would think, considering it is easier to list the places she HASN'T lived so far!)
I haven't been able to get to renovations updates for a few days, you either have to spend time doing the actual work or blogging about it, so K and I got stuck in for the last couple of days, here are the results, and yes, FINALLY a bathroom is ready, it is the downstairs cloakroom...
first a reminder of how it looked before... 
that grotty basin was the first thing you saw as you entered the front door...
are you ready...... 
to finally take a peek........
trumpet fanfare... ta rah....
The other 2 bathrooms are coming together nicely, but are not quite ready for you to see just yet. They are sort of variations on a theme... :)
After much sweat and blood and almost the occasional tear, the kitchen floor has finally had its first coat of varnish,
here is a reminder of how it was....
and here it is now. Still needs a few coats of varnish, but definitely on the right track!
The upstairs passage and Ethan's room have also had second coats of varnish, they need 1 more.
The lounge wall has had its final coat.
Well that's it for now, but the work continues...........
As I didn't get a chance to go online yesterday, there are 2 daily pics for you today...
And, since it is always so pretty after rain, here is a bonus pic of the tree next to our kitchen door, reflected in the puddle on the paving...
Here are a couple of close-ups,
the broken branch is still hanging in there...
And the little smidgen of the coast that shows when the maple is in full summer foliage is gleaming an inviting blue...
Well that's it for now.
5 comments:
I lllooooooovvvvveeeeee the tiles behind the basin they are gorgeous! I also love varnished wooden floors, just wouldn't look right where I live!!!
Chorus line is great!!!!
Lots of lovely thing in this post..! I envy you the renovations...I love the idea of buying a home and restoring it. I'm sure the reality of doing it is much harder than the dream would suggest. Good work. Love the floors.
The bathroom looks fantastic! I love the sink and the tiles on the wall. And the kitchen floor is looking absolutely gorgeous. You are a miracle worker! Then that picture of the leaf with water on it is just great. What can't you do??!!
Oops! I forgot to add that I LOVE that old map!! I like any old maps, too but that one is special. 1576!!
Yes, this project has been a lot of fun. Once we have finished this one, let me know if you are interested, and i can share some photos of an old stone cottage I fixed up last year.
Janet, amongst a lot of other stuff, I can't do HOUSEWORK, or stick to a diet, or cook without burning it, or sew neatly (too impatient, I SOOOO admire all you quilter types!!) or do book-keeping...
sounds like you are good at most of those, wanna swap?
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