Busy, busy, busy

It’s been busy around here lately and whenever I felt in the mood to write a blog post, there was simply something else that had to be done first.

The major events have included bathroom renovations (egad, what a time-consumer that turned out to be!), my best friend’s wedding and her imminent departure for Costa Rica (boo-hoo!), and preparations for the trip to Europe.

Regarding the bathroom renovations... Wallpapering was tougher than expected – I’m out of practice plus I’ve never attempted it while having issues with my back. All that stretching this way and that way to measure things, crouching down and then getting up from a crouched position, climbing up and down the step ladder and holding heavy wet wallpaper over your head while positioning it correctly to match the pattern with the previous piece and then trimming edges is very demanding on your back! 20 years ago I could have probably wallpapered this whole bathroom in about six or seven hours in a single session. This time I had to do it in three separate sessions with one or two days of rest between.

The one last little thing left to do in the bathroom (other than cleaning out the clutter in the cupboards) is to remove the old caulking around the bathtub and recaulk it all. That chore can wait until I’m back from Europe.

Here are the post-reno pictures.


The wallpaper is white but it's textured to look like roughly applied plaster.


This bench from Ikea has a comfy padded seat to make it easier for me to put my socks on in the morning. The seat opens up to reveal my dirty laundry inside!


I love these irises painted on ceramic tile. Purchased (on sale) at an antique store in New West. See also the chic new towel bar.


Here's my new wooden waste basket, a framed Philodendron leaf (silk) and a clever little box that controls some of the clutter that's always sitting on the toilet tank.


In the other corner beside the door is the new shelf for my radio. I've got to figure out a way to hide that ugly black cord.


And, as a little surprise for anyone looking into the mirror, here is my wall art lizard high up by the ceiling.

Compare this marvelous new room to the pre-reno pictures!

Big difference, eh!

It has more of a spa type of feeling now. It makes me happy.

I leave for Europe tomorrow and over the last three weeks I’ve gradually whittled down the to-do list to figuring out which books to bring. Today I had one last planning phone-call with one of my brothers, traded emails with my sister who is already in Europe, had a session with my chiropractor, did my laundry, packed my bags and stocked up on groceries for The Big Guy and the dogs.

Now I have re-think my packing because of today’s new rules about what’s not allowed in carry-on luggage. Traveling by air gets more annoying every time I do it!

No water! No hand cream! No toothpaste!

I wonder if chap stick is ok?

I’ll be a dried up husk with bad breath by the time I get to Amsterdam.