EXTRA EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT:

This author humbly prints a RETRACTION regarding a post made in mid-July. When the author stated that Ian built the downstairs closet himself, she ummm LIED! The post should have read "Ian McCann (12-04-1983) and Kerry McCann (17-02-1986) built the downstairs closet..." etc etc.

I was not present when this closet was built, but I have been informed that Kerry and Ian were equal partners in this project. My humble apologies, and please Kerry do not be offended to the point where you do not help renovate anymore--> we need all the help we can get!

I think most people know that we lost Grandpa McCann (James) this week. Here is a picture of one of the beautiful bouquets that were part of the services. I just wanted to share this, since Grandpa Jim was a big fan of our renovation adventures, and was always asking about our house and what we were working on. We love you....

Some updates from "the upstairs". Today we primed five rooms upstairs. Here is my mum in her signature pink tank top. And Ian...reading a yogurt container (???)

My birthday flowers. I'm 28!


Reasons to hire my mother for renovation activities: She brings BAKIES (her term). Even though this one looks like a dump in a box, they are really very fancy and lovely. Also, my mum cleans everything in sight, even if she was hired to paint, she pre-cleans. Also Also, she works for free! Also Also Also, she referees all arguments that Ian and I have over painting-->"Kids, you need to get along and love each other"

The battle with the upstairs continues...

Here is a shot of our renovation material-ridden backyard, complete with a glimpse of that double barn shed of ours (as taken from the second floor). That path is entirely made up of stolen patio stones from a former East End pub patio :)

Big Tool 4 U?

The famous sanding machine. Bzzzzzz.....

Here is the result of that big tool: beautiful, sanded, stained, and varathaned floors. This is the little cat powder room that will soon become a walk-in closet. I want to install an Ikea or a California closet, but Ian built the downstairs closet himself, so perhaps we will continue on that path.
Kitchen before,
Kitchen during,

And kerry's foot
our future bedroom (and to the right is that little cat room) with the floors all glistening and gleaming.

Next stop, picking paint colours. Every single room upstairs needs to be patched and painted, and we only have one out of five colours picked. eek!

We spent Saturday cleaning up after our tenant moved out. It wasn't too bad, unless you are not used to hanging around with 24 year old men. Which I am not! It was totally gross, but as my mum pointed out, " he probably cleaned before he moved and thinks it's spic and span". Ewwwww. So now start the renos upstairs, just in time for the 32 degree days :) Here are a few before shots, particularly of the laminate (what is with people and Ikea laminate????) before I pulled it up, and the kitchen, before Ian single-handedly destroyed it.(this will be our bedroom, it has a walk-in closet with a window, but was previously used as the cat's, ummm, powder room)
Laminate...grrrr. At least I have managed to give it away on Craigslist.
.
Kitchen. Yes it looks clean, but this was taken at 5pm, after 7 hours of cleaning!
As I mentioned---> no one cleans like my Mama! Happy Birthday Jodie (and Grandma Bea too...same day)

I think good cleaning runs in the family, because here is Auntie cleaning out our fridge. I think she billed us about 3 hours for this job...it was not the loveliest either. An addition to good cleaning, hot pink shirts seem to run in the family too. Look at the cute pink triplets!

And this pretty much sums up the whole day: Bring Your Own Haz Mat Suit, or at least a mask!