Chez Larsson

The Hand Rail & Banister

Exhibit A.

 

Exhibit B.

As you can see the banister and the handrail to the basement stairs needed a little TLC. Crusted up old paint and rust used to be the name of the game.

 

That’s until I got out my all-time favorite power tool, the mouse sander. Little mousey got working and quickly gnawed off all the old paint and rust. Knew I could trust him!

 

And a couple of licks of paint later, tadaaaa!

I chose a grey metallic instead of the original black which I had first intended. The reason being that the mechanism of the awning is aluminum and a similar color and since I’m going to stretch awning fabric between those two narrow bars I wanted the whole thing to match the awning. I think it turned out great. Now I just have to wait for the weather to go bad so I’ll be inspired to sit in the basement sewing.

The Mail Box

Don’t know if you noticed the old mailbox in yesterday’s post? Remember how Wille and I found it along with the old wallpaper in the attic and how I was inspired to use it like this?

 

Well it’s up! And dusted…

 

And in use!

 

I love the function which means I don’t have to store small garden tools inside behind the locked door but can easily grab them. And with the lid they stay dry too! I also think it’s so cool that it’s the original mail box to the house and back in use again. Second life.

The Painted Foundation

So the foundation at the back of the house has finally been painted. I know several of you like the green color but it was so dark and dingy so I’m afraid it had to go.

 

And here’s the result. The same grey (called duva/dove) as at the front of the house. I like it because it’s grey but it’s light. It gives the house a base to stand of without feeling heavy.

Oh, in this shot you can see how the deck rests on the top of the stairs. A couple of you were wondering if the step down would be hazardous but on the contrary it’s safer as it’s now down as opposed to over and down before.

 

And here’s the before from afar. Or actually more like the during…

 

… since this is the real proper ghetto before.

 

And here’s the “kind of after” which still isn’t 100% complete. Will keep you updated with the flower bed process a little later on when the plants I ordered arrive. So excited!

366: Day 141-148

It’s been a glorious week weather wise. Wille’s room gets a lot of the heat so his windows have been open quite a bit. Mini enjoys the view.

 

My lawn is looking better and better. There are still some bald patches that I’ve filled in with grass seed and am waiting for it to start growing.

Bonus stayed away from the camera this week so here’s another one of Mini.

 

First mowing of the new lawn. I still water every day and still can’t walk on it properly. I stand on the old grass and push the mower over on the new grass and pull it back. I’m so over the electric mower though. We got it for the old house when we moved on and has worked well but keeping track of the cord, especially around the tree and having to carry it up and down the stairs frustrates me every week so I got a push mover the other day. Hey, it's free excersize. 

 

Getting ready to go to work on the Friday morning. Fridays are good! Fewer people in the office, get more done and get off earlier.

 

Some pretty lilacs from the tree between me and my neighbor. Technically it’s her tree but I cut what hangs over on my side.

 

Early Sunday check on the cleaning job I did on Saturday. The wood entrance section of the house had these black spots despite the fact that I cleaned everything thoroughly last year so this time I got a cleaner, Prickfritt (= Spotless) that you apply and scrub and then scrub and rinse 24 hours later, a job I did later that day. I also cleaned the rest of the front of the house on Saturday and scraped some of the wood work so I can soon start painting and make it look as good as on the back. Yay!

Voilà, week 21 of 2012!

Car Boot Loot

 

Last weekend Anne and I went to the local car boot sale, a flea market where the goods are sold from the trunks (UK boots) of the sellers’ cars, or “bakluckeloppis” in Swedish. When going to these events it’s best not to have too high hopes of finding stuff because then you don’t. I went with an open mind and found quite a few fun things:

1. A metal ornament. No use to me whatsoever but a nice decoration.

2. A glass mouse. This one will go on my desk as a paperweight. Wille wasn’t impressed.

3. Wille gave me a mission to find cool vintage sunglasses. Polaroid. Mission accomplished.

4. A Union Jack tray. there’s one exactly like it at Martin’s mom’s house and I’ve always liked it. It will go on Wille’s desk to corral all his bits and bobs.

5. Five DVD’s.

6. Two Opalex egg cups. We hardly ever eat soft boiled eggs but I couldn’t resist these. Egg not included.

7. More handles. Score!

8. A circuit board ruler and a Creatables noticeboard.

Total expenditure: 350 SEK or USD 50. I could probably have gotten away with cheaper but I’m lousy at haggling. If I decide I want something I just pay what they’re asking because I can’t be bothered…

Ps. Happy weekend!