roo, that kite guy is amazing! R loves kite flying, I'll have to remember to show it to him.

astraea, absolutely nothing wrong with goofing off on the weekend. I wish I had the time to!

Today I will start painting the dining room which I have put off since the beginning of October because of the holidays. Not looking forward to the work part but def looking forward to having it done. roo, can you send hubby over for the cleanup, please??? hehehe

I saw on the news there are wildfires in Oz, I hope not near you!

afternoon, morning, and evening to everyone!

the curtains that I buy from ikea are called MERETE...can't beat the price for the weight. Haven't found anything close to it anywhere. 2 panels (long) for $25. Limited in color however.

I went ahead and put the ones up that I got, but will be adding the other 4 panels in the near future, when I can get there again.

bob, what color is the dining room going to be?

and here are our OLLD HOUZZ pics for the day....

Interesting how they painted the ceiling the same color as the walls...I think I will call it Margarita Green. The kitchen is less coastal chic than the rest of the house. Can you imagine having those huge grass arrangements so close to the range tops? I do love the sparkling clean look of the plate glass backsplash.

I like it too michi....the huge vases and grasses will have to be removed though! lol!

creesy, asked me the other day to show a pic of the trim and wall color combo in my bedroom...because it is not white. I decided to do something different. I love it, but it may be too dull for some folks. the color you will see will not be spot on, but it's the best i can do through a pic. You can get an idea though.

Love it mp! Only an artist like yourself would think of a cool detail like the chain trim. What kind of glue did you use?

My favorite glue of all times! 5 minute epoxy. The one that comes in the 2 parts and squeezes out and then you mix it up on a piece of cardboard. Kind of a pain, but I trust that epoxy to hold anything! It's amazing.

MP, you should start a blog of your DIY projects...mosaic backsplash, concrete counters, jenga fireplace and customized headboard. I am in awe of your creativity and ingenuity!

I can't imagine having/wanting tall plants/grass anywhere in the kitchen, where pieces could fall off into food being prepared. Sometimes I think that some decorators & homeowners consider "appearance" first, and "practicality" way down the list .. if it's there at all.

you're sweet michi....one thing that i will say, is that most things are unique in our house. can't go into a store and buy it...lol! if i weren't sooo poor, i would have stuff like everyone else! HA! It is fun being creative though. I'm not gonna lie about that. it's a lot of fun to look at something and see something else entirely. If I have pieces of different things set in front of me, I WILL make something out of it! Sometimes good and sometimes odd. You never know.

astraea, we have to keep in mind that this house has been staged for pics for this sweepstakes. it probably looked naked there without window treatments on the windows and the decorator threw those up there for looks for the time being. when we move in, they will be moved elsewhere! HA!

@olldroo. Yesterday I listened to Six White Boomers a few times. Today you send kites. I like your high flying style!

Well, margarita green works for me, either on the ceiling or in my glass.

mp, outstanding job. You should go on etsy and "open" a shop.

Look at the price of this headboard! :>)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/116529514/hand-made-linen-and-burlap-garbo?ref=sr_gallery_11&ga_search_query=headbo

Hey ladies! Everyone behaving themselves today?

I can't see the video, it's blocked for Canada, Arrggg!!

bobbi, done painting yet, my shoulders getting sore, I'm with you in spirit :)

michi, no pet just Hogie :) plus one porcupine and a summer skunk. Hogie is fearless, notice the ice still on the lake but of course he needed to get that stick. Poor guy was freezing!!! You and I could be frequent customers of mp's goods.

mp, I love our new green kitchen, looks so fresh and clean. I can almost taste the lime. Your quite a DYI kinda gal and from what I've seen an impressive one at that. Your talents could be taught. I love the headboard, want to share some how to instructions?

astraea, I think they just put items like that in for shock value. Something outrages so it's remembered. Dont worry, once we move in I'll set them outside on the step. Did you ever go check out that bathroom for ideas?

creeser, hell no, that's too boring!!! :) i'm just thinking about getting all fired up *L*

Well I had a cry today on the way home. Someone hit a fawn but she was still alive, barely. Had to call FIsh and Wildlife to come deal with her. Froze my beegeebers off while waiting for them to show up.

olldcan...hogie is fearless! nothing seems to be too cold!

i should open an etsy account for all my art and then some. need to investigate how all that works i guess. J and I were talking about that yesterday. he wants to try and put some things on ebay, but i don't think he will get as much money that way. not sure though. i suggested the etsy thing, but i'm not sure he understands everything that is offered on that site.

Did the person just drive off and leave the poor thing? Good for you, olldcan; it must have been in pain and beyond frightened. I'd be crying, too.

Here's a convo for you. Talk about people not reading the posts before they throw in there two cents….
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/color-for-walls-dsvw-vd~289416

Just took a look at how 1/6 finished off, that opossum is creepy!!!

bobbi, my favourite panini is Sourdough bread, pastrami, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and dijon mustard. Other favourites are,Italian bread, turkey breast and swiss cheese. Or ham, tomato, purple onion and a sharp cheddar seems good on any bread, especially marbled rye. You can really do anything you wan't, we like to experiment. Last time we used an assortment of italian luncheon meats on italian bread with anjvar sauce, mozzarella cheese it was yummy too. See.... this is why we had to put it away for a while, too much eating!!!!!

mp, definitely put some on ebay too but with a reserve bid....... As for Hogie, he's the do all, go anywhere dog!!!! just don't want him messing with mr. porky.

judg, Yes, that's exactly what happened. There's no way they didn't know they hit her. She could only lift her head. I walked within two feet of her in the ditch filled with snow. I stayed to chase the birds away and so no coyotes would get her. F&W said no one had called it in, just horrible.

Oh ya that convo, I stayed away. Drives me NUTZ when people comment but don't read the entire post. Hey, I'm so creative, I'll suggest something that has been suggested three to four times already!!!! Maybe this time when I flog the dead horse, someone will take my suggestion. FRIG.

I must say, I have been doing more reading than commenting, since the middle of Dec.

I just didn't appreciate the guy who posted about solar garden lighting. Interesting information .. but totally wrong place. On some websites, they'd remove it or tell them to start their own profile page.

I come form the day when kids had blah rooms, and you concentrated on schoolwork. While I like the color combination pink & black, I think it may be a little too sophisticated .. depending on how old G is, and "busy". ?Can you imagine black & white striped walls with that?

Hi all. Do you think this jetted tub could be added to the OLLD House?

MP - I'm not cooking in that green kitchen! Sorry, don't like that green. My dining room is white, ultra pure white, like the kitchen since they're technically one room. I like the color in your bedroom, it's very sophisticated and I love your headboard!

judy, the price of that headboard is my entire reno budget for the next 20 years!

olldcan, your Hogie is adorable! And brave to be in that cold water. And I'll take any one of those panini's! They all sound so yum. R has given the go ahead to buy the press so as soon as possible I'll get to the store and have a look, thanks!

astraea, solar garden lighting? What was that about? Are you a famous tv star yet?

eztia, yes, yes, yes. Especially after today!

OMG, paneling is so hard to paint! You have to go back and forth checking for drips in the grooves and cracks and it takes forever. I started at 6:30 this morning and I'm just finishing, and only have two walls done. It really takes a lot of time but it's so worth it. The idiot flipper painted it chicken fat yellow, can you imagine? Now it's white and fresh and clean. One wall to go!

eztia....does it have to be round...or can we put a rectangular one in where a regular tub is now? Or would you like to have a hot tub on the deck?

Go bobbi! I'm sure that white will make a world of difference! and thank you for the compliment dear.
and you don't like to cook anyway....sooooo, you don't have to cook, I will! :)
well I think judyg was showing that headboard to say...."Hey, get an etsy page ya nut nut!" I could probably make a few bucks here and there!

@MP. Re: jetted tub. As long as we are daydreaming about the space anyway, any shape is acceptable to me. I like the fireplace next to it. Candelabra can be put away somewhere. I like the privacy of the space, and a shower close by. Just need a non slip bath mat and a towel. Maybe some sandalwood soap or some lavender soap?

Morning all, hiding out from the heat today, although closing up all the house last night has made inside very pleasant for a change. BH is actually learning too to close doors after him when he goes outside so the hot air doesn't race in. Fortunately, so far the strong winds haven't happened, just a gentle breeze occasionally so that will keep fire danger down a bit.

Bush fires are all over the country at the moment Bobbi, nothing unusual for this time of year (except last summer when it didn't stop raining), but so far none anywhere near us. It isn't just the heat though, and inland Australia gets massive dry heat, it is the winds that cause the problem. Then of course when so many happen at once, resources get drained. We rely a lot on volunteer firies, we have the regular employed State Governments' fire services and then we have the Bush Fire Brigades who are all volunteers. These guys (and gals) just up and go all over the country to help out when things are really bad. We couldn't exist without them and they don't get a penny. These days most employers are willing to support them though.

Actually Bobbi, BH is hanging to get to LA, I'm sure he would be happy to do a side trip for you, but he isn't allowed to go until all our carpet is laid and that means all our painting is finished. Some neighbours have just come back for 3 years o/s and their tenants have caused a lot of damage in the house requiring it to be totally repainted. Painters are there at the moment and BH yesterday made a comment about getting a quote from them.................. maybe he is finally accepting it is getting a bit much for us, especially in this heat.

roo, I feel for you, 43 degrees is HOT. We had that for two straight weeks last year, it's ridiculous. My father was a volunteer fireman in NJ. Our town had 2,500 people (actually it still does!) and couldn't justify a real fire dept. Ineveitably the fire siren went off as soon as we sat down to eat. One time they had to fight a truck fire on the freeway, during the dinner hour, and the truck was carrying sides of beef! Imagine how good that smelled.

We get gale force winds here, but fires not really an issue. The Altamont hills are usually totally dry during the summer, and if there's a hint of a flame they jump on it.

I hope he hires painters for you! It's not fair that he could go to LA and leave you home to work. Don't let that happen, roo!

Olldcan - that is rather ironic you can't get into the video - that guy is actually Canadian - LOL!!!

Go into You Tube and search his name and Romancing the Wind and you will find it that way. That was filmed at the Washington State International Kite Festival that he goes to every year. He always flies with his shirt off so his skin is like leather and he is also deaf so spectators wave their hands in the air to applaud him.

He is actually a multi World Champion kite flyer, can't find anywhere exactly how old he is but here is his website for a lot more information on him - Bobbi, R might be interested in this. If you Google him there seem to be sites for tutorials too.

http://www.raybethell.com/default.html

Astraea - WARNING - You are getting hooked on OLLD.

mp - I had to check out your curtains at Ikea here. Looks like Ikea are finally getting the message to get prices here a bit in line with the rest of the world. They have just been reduced from $59 down to $39.99. (Our $ is higher than your's too don't forget). Makes Ikea quite expensive when you usually have to buy a few sets.

Nice kitchen in our new house, but I am allergic to them. The green ceiling in the third photo is just slightly darker than the colour in my bedroom now, so I could be tempted to enter it. Honestly, isn't "staging" going a bit far with those stupid urns - I do love lots of plants anywhere in the house but that is ridiculous.

Olldcan - our possums aren't creepy - they are CUTE!!! Pesky, but cute!!!! Obviously I will have to find some better photos, I was trying to find ones to show Astraea that they do have furry tails.

This one might be better http://a-z-animals.com/animals/possum/

You might also find this interesting re your Porcupine

http://www.ehow.com/how_6566668_rid-porcupines.html

Also tells how to get rid of skunk odour.

Bobbi, don't worry, he goes to LA and the painters come in and HE pays.

Our fires here we have totally out or very well under control - just on ember watch in around 2 - 3 days and we have some very challenging topography and thick bushland, especially in our national parks. Many of our native trees need fire to propogate too and actually explode in a fire which doesn't help. Do you remember a few years back the big Station Fire in LA? It was quite close to DD and it took them nearly a month to quash it. DD said that was nothing unusual, but I couldn't get my head around it, and it has had me curious since as to why it took so long. I was on the emergency website daily checking to ensure DD was ok, especially if they had to evacuate, and they were even forecasting how long it would take to get the fire out. Here they just throw everything at it till it is done.

mp - you always say how poor you are - yet you are so rich in talent. It would be nice to be able to sell off some of your creations but then it is drawing the line between art for enjoyment and art for work. Maybe you should write a book!!

I really could have used you yesterday, when the builder finished up, we had a heap of tile offcuts. I love my tiles so much I hated to toss them but was damned if I could think of anything to do with them. BH offered to put them under the house for me but in my present minimalist mood I decided if I couldn't think of anything then I never would so out they went.

I like all of those little critters!

Astraea, you are always so sensible and practical, I never picked you for a softie. Nice!!!!!

Only when it comes to animals! When I had mice in the house, I'd take them out of the have-a-heart trap, and put them outside again. Guess I was just recycling them! (LOL)

Ewwwwwwww, if I can't spray it with Baygon, I'm lost. I did try the Baygon on a mouse once but it laughed at me.

I did discover that they don't like the smell of peppermint. Soaked a couple of cotton balls in peppermint oil and put them where the mouse appeared and have never seen him or any of his rellies since.

Actually, talking Baygon, funny story -

The kids here have regular head lice attacks which just go right through schools. My 2 grandsons normally have very short, almost shaved hair which keeps the lice at bay, but the eldest had let his grow. One night at dinner he just wouldn't stop scratching so DD took him outside to check and he had the lice running everywhere. She has really long hair herself that is usually loose so in her panic she just grabbed the Baygon and totally Baygonned his head. Did the trick but when GS told everyone at school the next day DD has never lived it down.

Have to hit the sack, 2 am comes pretty early for me. Talk to you all tomorrow.

You trying to compete with Mrs. Bobbi Insomniac or do you have a date with a Porcupine??? Night, sleep tight.

Hi there ladies! Olldroo, thank you so much for inviting me to the group! Ladies, if you disagree just say "go" and I'll disappear. :)

Olldroo, I was reading through some of the chat...made me laugh. Just the other night I was curious if a package had come during the day while I was out, so I opened the door and a possum was standing right at the stairs. Startled me at first but then I just watched him...he never noticed me. I then called my dad so he could have a good laugh. A couple of years ago I had heard a noise in the garage and could tell it was an animal. I'm not good with wild things so I asked him to come over and investigate. While he was searching the garage, a possum stuck his head out of a box and made him jump. He then chased it out with a broom while the possum was screaming at him the whole time. It was quite fun to watch my dad squirm. He didn't think so at the time but now we get a good chuckle. But, yes, they are pretty cute in their own way. :).

Skunks have been around here also (too bad they stink so terrible because they are cute too). One time he sprayed in the front yard and the odor went up through the dryer vent. When I opened up the dryer door to pull clothes out, the odor filled the house. I thought my daughter was going to loose it.

Hi TK (cause I'm too lazy to type all that) glad you made your way over and hope you enjoy. I'm sure your sense of humour alone will fit right in.

So judging by the time, can I assume you are a West Coaster or a VERY late night person??

I put up the website that claims a cure for skunk odour - did anyone check it out? I don't know the first thing about them, except they do look cute.

Going to go and watch the news now to get a full update on all the fires, they are everywhere, but touch wood not here and we didn't get the predicted strong winds which was a relief. We have 102 fires burning just across our State alone.

Hi TK! Welcome, I'm glad you found us!

About to jump in the shower to freshen up and try to get an early night. Still 36 deg but they promise us a southerly change (which is usually how our really hot days end) around 2am. If this weather is going to continue I'm going to try to get up at 6 and do a couple of hours painting or something before it gets too hot. We now have 137 fires buring across the State but surprisingly only one home has been lost although a lot of sheds and such have gone on country properties. A lot of the fires in the country are grass fires which burn on wide fronts but are a bit easier to get under control.

roo, I don't know how you do it. I painted two difficult walls yesterday and I'm so achy!!! Especially my back! And check this out - I took a shower when I was done, got out, looked in the mirror and there was this giant blob of white paint at the top of my head! I guess shampoo doesn't remove paint.

Have a good night, roo, and I hope tomorrow is much cooler for you.

Guess there isn't a discussion for 1/8 yet? Was worried when I saw news online about wildfires in New South Wales, and the temperatures Roo's been talking about!! Is your area OK?

Welcome trasgorshek! Always love a new face! I'll open 1/8...

Bobbi, I take it you were painting the lower parts of your walls which I have trouble getting down to as I just can't kneel anymore. I use a low stool to sit on, which still hurts my knees getting up, but is the easiest option. When I have finished painting I have taken to lying flat out on my back on the bed for a good half hour and really stretch everything. That seems to help a lot and as it is around the 5pm slump time, it revitalises two ways.

What sort of paint are you using? Normally any acrylic or water based paint washes out easily. Everyone knows when I have been painting, I went up the shop one time not knowing I had a huge blob of green paint right down the underside of my arm, clearly visible to anyone behind me. If shampoo isn't removing it, try rubbing straight conditioner into it and leave 10-15 mins. I find hand cream quickly removes it from my skin but I do have very streaky fingernails that nothing seems to be working on. Looks like the paint will have to grow out on them. If I know I am likely to get paint in my hair I also keep a supply of cheap shower caps for protection.

Astraea - we are fine thanks, all the fires are in country areas, although some kids deliberately lit one in western Sydney this afternoon. The Metropolitan Firies have thermal imaging and they can spot a fire almost as soon as it starts which makes their response time much shorter. We also had a truck catch fire and set bush off beside a major freeway but the firies hit it all with foam and made short work of it.

Still just over 34 here at 11pm - roll on 2am and the southerly!!!!!

roo, I'm painting the whole wall so it's up on the step stool for the top, down for the middle, and down lower for the bottom. It's paneling, so I'm up and down catching runs and drips and errors (hehe a little baseball reference here). And I'm using semi-gloss latex so yes it does wash out easily. I didn't see the big blob of white in my hair before my shower so it surprised me when I got out! I tend to get paint EVERYWHERE!!!

Glad to hear you're ok with the fires and all, and bring on that breeze!

Didn't realise the whole wall was paneling, yikes that isn't easy and as you say those runs and drips just seem to keep coming from nowhere. Makes me wonder when people talk about painting over timber, they obviously have never painted in their lives. Maybe try painting slower and give the drips and runs time to appear before you move on or brush over each area a bit more as you go. Time consuming but just keep thinking of the end result and how nice it will be to enjoy.

As for me and paint - well I always say I failed Kindergarten.