Basement floor

Can I tell you how much my husband rocks?! Look at this floor! 

 The above it probably the most acurate of the color.

 The shadows really make it look different in each photo. 

He did an amazing job. It took him 2 days due to all of the angles and cuts that he needed to make in the mud room. I really love it! I never thought wood laminate could ever look this good! And when Lola came in with wet, muddy paws today I just wiped it up. So simple!

I have been slowly working on the doors. Really life gets in the way. Who needs laundry, food and to go to the ortho etc... when there is painting to be done? So a few hours a day and I am getting there. I have found the second coat to be SO much more rewarding than the first! And the reason they call them glass panes are because they are a PAIN in the neck (literally) to paint around! At least they still had the plastic  covering on them so I don't have to be so acurate!

Tomorrow I will start on the trim. I need to have it all done before Paul gets home on Friday so that we can start on the ceiling and then the walls! UGH! I know it will be so worth it though. :-)

Bunny buns

Today at church Xander was reading  The Friend Magazine and he came across a yummy roll recipe and asked if we could make it for dessert tonight. So as soon as we finished with lunch we got going on the rolls.... SUPER YUMMY is the verdict! We all loved them! 

The only exception to the recipe that I made was that I did not add the orange peel- 1. because I didn't have it and 2. I was worried that my kids wouldn't like it.  It is a light glaze, not too sweet, just right! Mmmmm! 

 Xander's bunny

 Alyssa's bunny

My bunny- I prefer to think of it as the backside of the bunny with it's fluffy tail.

Bunny Buns

1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 cup scalded milk

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup shortening

1 teaspoon salt

5 1/2 cups sifted flour

2 beaten eggs

1/4 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons grated

orange peel

Soften yeast in warm water and set aside. Blend scalded milk, sugar, shortening, salt; then cool till lukewarm. Stir in about 2 cups flour and beat well. Mix in eggs and stir in softened yeast. Add orange juice, orange peel, and remaining flour to make soft dough. Let stand 10 minutes.

Knead dough 5–10 minutes on lightly floured surface till smooth and elastic. (I used the kitchenaid on low for 5 minutes and that worked great!) Place in lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover, let rise in warm place till double in size (about 2 hours), punch down, cover, and let stand 10 minutes.

To start bunnies, roll dough into 1/2″ thick rectangle on lightly floured surface. Cut dough into strips about 1/2″ wide and roll between hands to smooth. Shape into twist or curlicue bunnies.

Twist Bunnies

Place 14″ strip of dough on lightly greased cookie sheet. Lap one end of strip over the other to form loop; bring end that is underneath up over top end, letting ends extend to each side for ears (see illustration). Roll small ball of dough for tail and place atop dough at bottom of loop.

Cover bunnies and let rise in warm place till nearly double in size (45–60 minutes). Bake at 375° for 12–15 minutes. Frost while warm with sugar glaze. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

Sugar Glaze

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/4 cup hot water

1 teaspoon butter

Mix ingredients till well blended and brush over warm rolls.

Basement day 7

It is all about the doors! Today's focus was door and trim. Tomorrow will be the baseboards and then they are done! 

Then it is time to get down and dirty with painting and flooring. I can't wait for it to be all done! It will take us longer to finish our part then they did for all of their part!

Basement progress Day 6

What a difference a day makes! The walls are now plastered and smoooooth!

The ceiling is textured and they are nearing the end! 

 The guys have about a day and a half of work and then- the Trueman's take over and add the finishing touches to our new basement home. 

Not sure why I waited 7 1/2 years to change the sink faucet. 

I've always hated it! 

NOW I LOVE IT! 

Basement progress Day 5

The drywall is up! No more insulation hanging from the ceiling! The floors are tarped and ready for the men to come and plaster the walls tomorrow!

 It look so different now. Like a real room...almost! 

 I love how everything unsightly is enclosed now! 

I can't wait until the doors -french, closet and regular are up. 

Today Paul and I were very productive! 

We bought all of the flooring (see picture below) which we will do when the guys are done.

 We also decided that we will paint the rooms ourselves.
Saving money gives us more to spend!

Basement progress day 2

Wow what a difference 2 days make! 

 Now you can really see the shape of the walls and closet enclosures. 

I can't wait until the drywall goes up.

 Our french doors are in the garage and beautiful! And will be hung in the opening above. 

 The kids love the smell of the basement now. Paul says it smells like "new home." 

2010 Blog book

THIS

is what I love to see when I get 

THIS!

It makes it all worthwhile!

March Madness

In our home March Madness does not center around basketball it is on renovation. Last year it was the deck and this year it is the basement. I didn't realize how it is almost to the day when the work will begin this year as with last year. 

We have spent a lot of time getting the garage sorted out and putting all of Paul's work stuff in storage so that we can put our own stuff in there. Also cleaning, dusting and sorting our storage room so that we can put most of the stuff in the basement in there.  We have been saving lots of furniture and various items for when Paul's mom moves out here in a few months.  So it was quite interesting to CRAM all of the stuff into the two areas. She will be staying down here for a bit while she settles into life in our area!

Here are some before shots-

The door to the garage on right, closet on left- here is where the french doors will go dividing the mudroom from the living area. 

The view from one end of the living area. Several years ago Paul put in double closets for storage and divided the huge open area into a storage room with the back side being the closets in this room. He also started putting up the dry wall and then life happened.... and now Scott and his crew will FINISH IT!

View from the other side of the room.  Soon no more insulation ceiling and two light bulbs. Can lighting, a REAL ceiling and golden yellow WALLS here we come!

View from when you walk into the basement from the garage. All of that food/ cleaning/ paper goods and freezer will be hidden behind closet doors! 

The oil tank and well water filter will be hidden beind walls.

Work should begin on Wednesday!  YAY progress! I can't wait! 

Different views on beauty

Bob the snowman

Alyssa made Bob the snowman. 

He's really cute, but I really wish he would MELT already!