choosing paint colors

I've been living with newly plastered, white walls throughout the house since October and I'm going nuts for some color!  My red sofa is so loud that choosing a wall paint is quite challenging.  These swatches are the ones I've narrowed down, so far...

Family Visits

Mom and cousins visited all on the same day!  The Kosienski's spent the afternoon picking grapefruits and making juice and Mom did a lot of loving on the pups.  And soaking up sunshine- her tan is darker than Maverick!  We sure did have a nice time.  Lots of beach time with Mom, shopping, cooking, and relaxing.  Miss you!

Prescribed Burning



Burn Boss Greg monitors the edge of the trail



The burn team at work has been keeping fuel loads down with prescribed fires these past few weeks.  Its such an interesting concept, considering we all grew up with Smokey Bear preaching that only YOU can prevent forest fires.  In fact, fire is a necessary component in Florida's environment- the plants and animals here need it to survive.  Enough from me- these pictures speak a thousand words.  It looks and smells incredible out there!



one day after burn





two weeks later



New Bathroom



The guest bathroom is just about done!  I learned a lot about painting, bathroom hardware, plumbing, and the cost of moving pipes to accommodate a vanity with drawers.  I was stubborn about removing the old 70's tile, so I picked a wall color to compliment it and I think it worked out just fine.  New tile, new paint, new shower curtain, new toilet, new vanity, new fixtures, and this job is nearly complete.  Thanks to all of my friends who helped!

PS- I'm learning that projects are never really ever completely done; I still need to paint the door and install molding.  But for now it is a fully functional bathroom!

PSS- I realize I never took pictures of the initial linoleum floor and old toilet.  Below is my only before and after comparison.





Last week



This week

Florida Room

The Florida room is just about finished!  This little addition to my house has been a major project, that's for sure.  To start, the windows were bolted shut from the outside (thanks Mom and Steven, for prying the windows open!)  Then once we got them open, we realized there were no screens.  I thought I could make my own, but I rendered it impossible to make my own 47" x 60" screens without them bowing, 11 of them at that!  After loads of research and experimentation, I used my xmas present to hire a screening company (thanks, again, Mom!)  The furniture is from the old house in Kings Lake- so nice to have a memory of the good times we all had in that house.  It is simply lovely in this room!  The doggies and I had an afternoon catnap in the sunshine out there this weekend.

Pub Table

The dining room is completely different than when I moved in- knocked out the kitchen wall, replaced sliders with french doors, and of course, the pub table!

I love the table- it has a lazy susan in the middle!  And it has leaves open into a circle.  I just got the rug from the old Kings Lake kitchen.  Next steps: paint those naked walls, then molding!

All in a Day's Work

Beaching the boat on the island

I've been training Meredith on the boat program, and we've been having a blast!  What's not to love about spending time driving around the estuary and exploring Keewaydin Island?



Crossing the island through the mangrove trail





Ahhh, the Gulf.  I never get tired of seeing it!