We've been busy with a few painting and updating jobs around this old Queenlsander house of ours as well. It's time for a lot of re-painting which involves a whole lot of preparation first. We started with the kitchen.
Everything, including the walls, the ceiling, the window frames, the door frames and the cupboard doors had to be sanded back, undercoated and re-painted.
The kitchen looked like a work site for a couple of weeks. When you're heading off to work every day and coming home to this, it can wear you down just a little. Thankfully my dear OH managed to get most things finished in record time, with a teeny weeny bit of help from me.
I think the job that really tested dear OH's steely will and determination was the rubbing back and cleaning up all the brass knobs, window catches, door handles and window handles!!! I could hear cries of pain and moans of exhaustion from the workshop every evening for a week!
Anyway, the kitchen started looking very respectable again this past week. Those 28 knobs are gleaming beautifully!
Soon we're moving on to re-painting the main bedroom. We've got another two of three rooms to do after that and it's going to take some time. I'm not sure I'll be able to blog regularly, but I'll do my best during the coming months.
Of course, while all this updating is going on in the house, the poor plants have been doing it tough. Not only have they endured the usual long dry season since around April, but I've barely had the time to get out there and provide any sort of care and attention. Consequently, things have slowed down considerably around the garden.
As most of my usual readers know, my garden is not a candidate for lots of fantastic long shots. It's not that sort of garden. I very rarely show long views of anything apart from the courtyard garden and the shadehouse garden. I'm showing neither of those at the moment, or indeed in the foreseeable future. They are both looking absolutely terrible, and I really do mean terrible.
Thankfully, despite the neglect by the resident gardener, there are just a few lovely blooms and terrific foliage plants I can share by adding some close-up shots.
I have so much work to do out in the garden to try and bring things back to a point where it all looks decent once more, but I know that won't be happening any time soon. Once the house is in tip top shape, I can get back to my gardening jobs. That will probably be after the coming summer and wet season.
Oh Bernie ~ It is so good to see a post from you!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful Ireland is and I love those old homes dotting the countryside.
Your kitchen looks wonderful, and a project like that is a lot of work!
Your flowers are lovely as always. I don't really have any long views either.
Have a lovely weekend ~ FlowerLady
Thank you Lorraine, it was a relief to finally post. I've been itching to get something added here for a while now. It's amazing how time flies though when you're busy.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous post. I love the beautiful scenic coast line and beach.. And your kitchen makeover looks beautiful. Lovely images.. Have a happy weekend, Bernie!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the photos from Ireland, Eileen. It is a spectacular place and one of my favourite places to visit. I just love the views all along the west coast. Well worth a visit. I'm really pleased the kitchen is almost finished now. It's looking so much fresher and brighter.
DeleteG'day Bernie!! Glad to see you back posting. Your kitchen looks fabulous! Umm would you care to come and do mine too? That is one major undertaking there and although it will drive you nuts the results are out of this world. Love your little gingerbread trim too! You poo poo about your garden but there is always something pretty blooming. It has been cold here. I think 25F has been the coldest night so far but days warming. The Encore azaleas have been blooming and the buds that were not open when the really cold temps came are now opening and I have blooms again. So good to see you....and glad you got to see the family and travel a bit!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jean. We're really pleased with the result in the kitchen. It just feels so much brighter and cheerier when you go in there now. The white really makes the space look so much bigger. I know I should be a lot more appreciative of the blooms that are on show, especially when they're doing it pretty much on their own these days. I have to admit I got a little lift when I wandered out to take photos and found quite a few flowers around the place.
DeleteHere we're heading into summer and it's getting very warm and quite humid. The dry season is still rolling on and cyclone season officially started on the 1st of November. We'll see what the coming wet season holds for us.
I love the colors in your kitchen, really pops with the white cabinets. The open shelves are really a trend now in the states, showing up in all of the new kitchens.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Eileen, I do love my white kitchen. It's a joy to spend time in there. If only I was a great cook!!!!
DeleteThe kitchen looks fantastic after the new paint job! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks David. It's certainly feels a whole lot better. I don't mind spending time in there now. It was a little dreary beforehand and didn't feel very welcoming at all.
DeleteWelcome Back! I concur that Ireland is stunning especially the Atlantic side...and you have busy. Nice kitchen redo. And I know I have missed seeing your incredible garden with all those exotic colorful plants. I needed to see them as our garden is brown and the weather cold now until April.
ReplyDeleteYou're very kind, thanks Donna. I've got such a lot of work to do out in the garden after taking pretty much six months off, but I won't get to it for a while yet. I'm hoping the plants in the new garden beds will take off once the rains arrive. I'm hoping the coming wet season will be longer this time around.
DeleteOh my you have been busy, and your kitchen looks awesome! It has been so dry up here too, so the plants have suffered. That was a good idea to get the kitchen painted first. That is always the hardest. It sounds as though you had a lovely holiday. overseas too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you like the look of the kitchen, thanks AA. The dry season has certainly taken a bit of a toll around my place this year, but then I was away for a whole month as well which didn't help. Fingers crossed we get a decent wet season soon.
DeleteWe had a fabulous time overseas. It was so lovely to be able to spend time with our youngest son. He's been over there for quite a few years now. It's hard when they're so far away.
I'm glad to see you are back !!!! Your kitchen looks gorgeous ! and so does your garden !
ReplyDeletegreetings from gwenniesgarden
Your kitchen is gorgeous! You've some beautiful stuff in the garden too x
ReplyDelete