Back Steps!

Yesterday I got to go to the steel company's workshop and see my stairs.  Mostly complete, and needing approval before painting.  They look positively  f a n t a s t i c.   I am giddy.  It's beautiful.

This is the bottom piece.  It connects to the other piece forming an "L" shape.

This is the landing piece -- my kitchen french doors will open up onto the back right side.

I asked them to add 2 hooks at the top on the short ends.  I don't know what I'll use them for, but it seemed like a good place to have some.  The little bench wasn't on yet, so I had some trouble envisioning where garden shoe spikes might go. 

Although James denies it, I feel like this project has taken on a larger life than he had planned, and I feel badly about it. All of that to say, I really didn't want to make any change/addition requests.  I would like spikes to hang garden shoes on, but golly I just cannot bring myself to request it.  And it's so... girly.  Such a fine detail... "leave it to a chick to make a request like that..." and so I'm passing.  I can always add a little shoe rack out there -- and maybe it's good it won't be welded into place, because, :::laughing::: isn't it a woman's prerogative to change her mind?  And welding IS sort of, well, permanent. 

Ahhh the Queen of Rationalization reigns once again.

Oh, My Poor Baby Gutters

I am so sorry.  Spring is coming, I promise.  And, cute new little steel tables with great legs to support your rain barrels..

My Current Biggest Dilemma

Lots of folks in Dallas this weekend have weather related dilemmas. 

Do I try to drive?  Even though few in Dallas know how to drive on ice?

What do I do if I am working, and I am hit by a rolling black out and I lose all my work product?  How upset am I allowed to get?

What do I eat if Papa John's is not delivering?

Who can I call when the nearby country club golf course lightning siren goes off repeatedly at 4 a.m.?  Nevermind that (a)  nobody golfs at 4 a.m. regardless of lightning; and (b) it does not lightning in a blizzard.

My dilemma?  My counter top compost pail is full and look where my compost tumblers are -- way back in the further-most corner of my yard.  Now that, my friends, is poor planning.

UPDATE:  I finally vowed to take care of business.  I cleaned out my fridge, gathered used coffee grounds, soup prep vegetable peels and my compost pail and trudged out to the tumbler.  Spun it around to get to the end that opens -- covered myself in snow in the process -- joy! -- only to figure out that it was totally frozen shut.  I should have predicted that.  Clearly I am out of practice in winter things.  (That pleases me.)

A New Configuration

Here's another new arrangement that has emerged.  This piece used to be in my dining room, with my laptop on the top.  Not exactly asthetically pleasing, but it was close to my one working phone jack; necessary for my modem.  This is now in my guest room.  I'll have to figure out a new plan for my laptop...

I collected the crystal candleholders from various thrift shops.  The sketch behind them is of my house!  My realtor commissioned a local artist to sketch it for me as a house warming gift when I bought my house -- how thoughtful was that?  Thank you Carol McCracken of Ebby.com!    You and Ebby rock!

Cozy Corner

Didn't this little entry corner get a cozy transformation?  Once again, a neighbor's work with things I had on hand.  The painting of the owl is by Red's maternal grandmother, Ella.  It's just perfect and I love it against the cedar planks!