A Little Inspiration, Independence Days Challenge

From My Scandinavian Home

A Little Inspiration-
I've been looking for some inspiration here and there for our bathroom remodel. We've purchased some of the new items- shower faucet/head, and other supplies. Now I'm thinking paint color, and small decorative touches. I saw the photo above and loved the little green bench. Then I found this on Ikea.com of course!

I could white wash it, or maybe sand it down a bit. It's made of bamboo and would be great with a little basket on top. Then carve out a heart :) I'd cover up the screws as well. My IKEA list keeps getting longer! Good thing we only go once a year, maybe. 

I tried to find this flooring, but couldn't so we went with something similar in tan/gray. We had a coupon to a big box store, and that saved us a bunch! I may do the cream walls, can't decide yet. I think I probably go with a very pale blue/gray, very soothing. Right now I have a very pale aqua with kind of a soft, beachy feel. I'll do some before and after photos. I'll be tossing the beach stuff to go with more of a spa-ish, country, modern feel. Since I got most of it thrifting (of course) I can just pass it all on. Or maybe put some in the other rooms. I'm looking forward to a new floor, since part of it's got some rot. We'll start the demo next week, then the pros will come in!

I love this kitchen, by the way, even though we're not re-doing ours, all we need is a new sink! That's next on the list. We need a new counter, but that will be a couple of years, maybe.

                                    Also from myscandinavianhome.  

Look at those floors, in this old restored home! And all the fun little touches, charming and keeps with the age of the home.

Independence Days Challenge-

1. Plant Something- Some pansies for my kitchen flower box, always my first purchase!

2. Harvest Something- The girls are picking up speed with their eggs. I finally got the news from the local hatchery (much more reliable than the feed stores) when the chicks will be available. Right now I'm thinking an Amber White-

another Barred Rock, and a Rhode Island Red. That will give me five, since my one hen may have to go. She's aggressive with me and may be with the young pullets. I may give her away. I can sell all the extra eggs at work. Three's a good number...

3. Preserve/Store Something- I've been doing research on making more fermented foods, so that's on the horizon. I can't afford expensive crocks, so may go the way of canning jars and vapor locks. I think I'll go with this too Perfect Pickler 

4. Manage Reserves- Get a Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- Got some great deals at Costco and he grocery outlet again- breads, cheeses, and fish.

5. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipe- Made some fish tacos with our frozen fish, and fresh limes for the sauce.

6. Build Community Food Systems- Will start selling eggs soon, and get some rhubarb from my neighbor.

7. Recycle/Re-Use- Will be donating the usable leftovers from the bathroom re-do: sink, faucet, medicine cabinet, and a few other things.

8. Skill Up- Learning about fermenting, post eye surgery, insurance for lens for glasses (no coverage bummer!), how much a new kitchen sink will cost. It's wild- I always thought cast iron was more expensive than stainless steel. They're actually about the same! Learned about how the new gutter will look, with the seamless ones. Our are falling off, and always leaked. On a long run, seamless is the way to go. 

9. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- We're getting ready to spruce up the yard. Had both big fruit trees pruned by a pro. He did a BRILLIANT job! They look wonderful and shaped. 

Happy Spring!!! We're off to IKEA Tuesday!!! Photos coming :)

Color Me Happy! Winter Feed- Alfalfa Cubes For Chickens

A little spring color in the kitchen

Color Me Happy!
I made my first pilgrimage to the new Trader Joe's that came to Boise yesterday. Oh joy!!! I had been to their old stores in Portland years ago. After we left there they expanded a lot more. They sell lots of pretty natural, healthy foods, with their own label. Much of it is very affordable, compared to say Whole (paycheck) Foods. I love their shampoos, chips, mini cookies, condiments, etc.

Nurse Anya on the job

Under the heading of vision happy- my eye is healing up really nicely! Anya kept watch by laying on my side while I was crashed out on the couch the day of surgery. Just like last summers foot surgery! What a sweetie. I had a follow-up Tues., Doc said it looked really good. Another 2 weeks and I will get a new lens for my glasses. Everything is so BRIGHT, wow!!!

Under my bathroom remodel happy- we had to change our plans. Out with the fiberglass shower. Turns out it would have required demoing 2 walls. No thanks. We opted for another approach- standard steel tub, and white, tile look walls. This will be a much simpler installation and will look like a tiled wall when done. Works for me!

Under gardening happy- everything is getting so GREEN! I let the girls out again this evening, what a blast!

Under chicken happy- I went to the local feed store to check their chick delivery dates. I'm hoping for some chicks late April. Since they have to be inside I found it's better to do it later in the spring. That way I can get them outside a bit more, and not be so cooped up inside.

Ensen faucet, IKEA

Under travel happy- we're off to Oregon to see Dave's brother and then IKEA! I read a lot of reviews of their cabinets, sinks and faucets. All came with very good reviews. They don't sell brushed nickel finish which I like with hard water, but they have the one above. It's called a matte chrome finish so that may be the one.

We've pretty much decided to get this cabinet at IKEA, unless it's awful or out of stock. We like the integrated back splash. Tons of storage! IKEA has their plumbing go straight back, then drop. It's backwards of American plumbing. It creates a lot more usable space in the cabinets.

Winter Feed- Alfalfa Cubes For Chickens-
After reading this Independence Farms- Hay Cubes in Winter and this What Do Chickens Eat? Fermented Feed  I started thinking about using this idea to supplement the chickens winter feed. I bought a 40 lb. bag of hay cubes, about 2"x 2" wide. While I didn't ferment mine, I soaked them in really hot water, for about 30 minutes. The first 2 times the girls just looked at it. After that, all gone! I guess they liked it. Another good reason to read lots of blogs. I may try fermenting their feed after summer hits, and I can really watch what they're eating...

Fabulous Fermented Foods, My Eye Surgery, Spring Gardening With Chickens! DIY Duh Moment

Fun little linen towel I found

Fabulous Fermented Foods-

After I started making water kefir I found it really helped my acid reflux. It also got rid of my cat Anya's nasal wheezing. Who knew? I started reading up on more types fermented foods to try, then I found this- 20 Ways To Include Fermented Foods @ Every Meal  What great ideas!!! I LOVE their website, and you can do all kinds of things. If you sign up for their free newsletters they'll send you a free eBook, and very easy-to-read articles. I'll be trying this soon Lacto Fermented Mayo  Like me, if you need whey, here's a easy looking way to glean some- Buying/Making Whey For Fermentation   Bon appetit!

                                         

                                                   my water kefir

My Eye Surgery-

Thanks for all the supportive and kind words from all! My eye surgery went pretty well Tuesday. I can see much clearer, brighter and I'm somewhat corrected with the implant. I opted for middle range vision- some distance and some reading. I took my right lens out and can see pretty well! I stayed home 2 1/2 days. Glad I did. I have to do lots of eye drops, and sleep with a small protector over my eye for 1 week. I'm having a bit of fluttering on the outside of the eye. The implant hasn't seated completely. Doc says 3 days-3 weeks is very normal. Hopefully it will be sooner, it's just so distracting! When I look ahead I'm fine, but moving my eye, it's like a spasm. I'll wait about another 2 + weeks and get a new lens for my glasses. I don't want contacts, so this is a good alternative. Somewhere down the line I'll get the other one done, as it's not too bad right now. Then I'll be all set. Now I feel like I'm getting Dave's cold :( 

Spring Gardening With Chickens!

It's 60 and clear and sunny! Spring! Dave deep cleaned the front yard last weekend, trimmed the ornamental grasses, some of the perennials, etc. Today I had him toss some of it into the garden. The girls went to work right away. That's feathered composting!

Ellie

Little Blackie

There's food down there!

I see something!

Italian parsley re-seeded itself early, what a surprise!

Rhubarb's growing daily!

DIY Duh Moment-

When we installed new windows and a sliding glass door several years ago, we ran into a problem with the flooring in the kitchen. It kept curling. The flooring went up against the bottom of the slider. We tried multiple times to secure it. We had a contractor come in today to give us a bid for our bathroom re-do, gutters, and a few other small jobs. We asked about the floor and he said, "oh you just need a threshold strip". DUH. Dave went out and bought one, installed it. All fixed!  :)   

Happy St. Pat's Day!