Saturday, March 10, 2012

Spring Ahead


I don't care one bit about losing an hour's sleep.  I love when the clocks spring ahead.  It's my own official beginning of spring.  Getting out of work when it's still daylight always allows me to get more out of my day.

To mark spring's arrival, I stopped to visit Shelley and Sarah at Bow Street Flowers where roses, tulips and the most amazing purple Queen Anne's Lace where selling like hotcakes.  The hyacinths had already sold out. It seems like everyone was celebrating spring with fresh flowers.  I felt lucky to get my own bundle of cherry and quince branches.

I thought I'd take advantage of the crusty pink backdrop one last time before things get patched up and painted.


This bedroom used to be the kitchen of the upstairs apartment when this was a two-family home.  I think there was an old apron sink attached to this wall adjacent to the bathroom.

I'm not sure why they tint the joint compound but I was shocked to see that it was straight up Bubbalicious pink.  The pink actually goes away before it dries so I don't see the point.


On all the other walls, there's an indentation created by an old chair rail.  It's pretty easy to fill in so a second coat tomorrow should do it.  And then I'll be able sand after work next week..before it gets dark each day.


The cats keep a close eye to make sure I'm doing a good job.

Happy Spring!

39 comments:

  1. They tint it so you know when it's dry. It turns white when it's dry.

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  2. How is it that you can make even the crustiest wall look fabulous? I mean really. I think the branches are a better purchase than the tulips and others -- what a wonderful, unexpected addition to your at-the-moment pink palace. :)
    And the cat kills me. Always ready to steal the scene.

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  3. This is an awesome picture! Kitty looks cute, too!

    XO,
    Jane

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  4. Dang it!
    I just spent my afternoon cutting down my crab apple tree and now I'm regretting not waiting until after it had bloomed one last time.
    sigh....

    love your cat.
    (I plan on going to bed early and then I won't miss that hour! but I agree, so GLAD it's Spring!)

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  5. i'm the opposite of you steve. i moan and groan about this time change until larry wants to stangle me. my quince is blooming like crazy right now too.

    happy spring to you even though i'm not happy about the time change.

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  6. I love that first photo. I like to 'spring ahead' too. It just feels right to me. Good work on your walls!

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  7. I'm so excited about springing forward I changed three clocks this afternoon! I bought some flowers today too but wish they had the cherry branches. This is the start of spring for me and all the snow melted this past week so happy spring!

    XX
    Debra~

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  8. My whole disposition changes when I get to turn the clock ahead so I can't wait even if I'm a little tired tomorrow. :)

    I thought I saw a tulip peeking through the dirt today...a good weekend all around!

    I LOVE that first picture. But then again, I love patched cracked walls.
    Happy Spring!

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  9. About 2 years ago I became fed up with "regular" time and kept all my clocks on D.S.T. so no shock to the system when it returned. It cured a great deal of the angst brought on by early darkness. What can I say? A little bit older, a little bit odder. Love the kitters and blooming heralds of spring pic! Reminds me to go out tomorrow and cut a few peach and apricot branches to bring Spring indoors!

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  10. Even your bare old plastered walls look good. The branches with the pink blossoms are just lovely. Losing that hour kills me for at least two weeks. The extended daylight is my compensation for my tired mornings.

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  11. Love the quince. Love the cat. loving the whole world right now.

    Tomorrow at 6:30PM? It will still be light!

    Time change bring it on.

    Though I miss the early morning light...

    Enjoy your warn Sunday.
    xo jane

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  12. That photo of the cat is a keeper! The quince looks gorgeous against the pink. Nice to see you today!

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  13. YEA for the time change!
    In honor of that harbinger of spring,
    I painted our front door aqua today and I planted red anemones in the outside pots by the door.

    Our house is older, with faded soft red brick. White trim. I was OK with a black or white door-anything but the tacky oak stained wood that had been there, but hubby actually liked turquoise-I was SHOCKED!

    So I hurried up and painted ASAP, before he could change his mind.

    I LOVE it.

    Happy Spring!

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  14. Nothing better than spring blossom. Rather fond of the pink wall too!

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  15. Beautiful branches...and for some reason I want a big wad of bubble yum! ::POP::

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  16. Love the first and last images. What is that little table in the first pic Steve? I love it!

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  17. The crusty pink background is simply romantic as all get out!Too bad you can't just leave it.
    The tinted spackle is for people like me who are impatient and would start sanding after 15 minutes and ruin the whole thing.

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  18. It's funny, we recently used that same spackle on a ceiling fix-up. I was aghast at the color until I learned that it would turn white when dry. It's really kind of magical! The pinkness also lets you see exactly where you're applying it, so you can make sure to fill completely whatever space needs filling.
    What will they think of next?
    Happy Spring!

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  19. 'Spring forward' is so much better than 'fall back'. Cat and blossom, just lovely.

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  20. Wonderful photo!!!!!

    I love the branches - how stunning. I don't know why, but it would probably cost about $60 to get a branch like that here.

    I think the bright colour on the spackle is so you can see where you put it (in case you are stupid).

    Your cats are too feisty for words.

    xo Terri

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  21. I do love the time change in the spring when I am anxious for more garden time in the warm afternoons, but I would like to switch back at Labor Day so the mornings would be lighter in the fall.

    Your walls are looking good. By this time next week, you'll be almost done. Good work!

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  22. Beautiful image Steve. It is so refreshing that you take these shots in the moment. They are emotional. All to often in my profession, pictures are styled to the hilt. and the emotion of a room or a shot is squeezed right out of it.

    I managed a quick walk early this morning, vacuumed and cleaned the bathrooms and have been sitting at my desk the rest of the day - designing a new fireplace and shelving units on project Sally is doing in Savin Hill. It's time I stopped and got back outside for a bit - before Sally's b'day dinner...

    Cheers,
    John

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  23. Steve,
    Absolutely love the way your blooming branches look against your pink and yes a little crusty wall. There is just something so charming about it. Love that last shot too with the light on the branches and the kitty in the background. I'm sure you are doing a fine job!
    xo
    annie

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  24. Inspires me to visit Brittany and see if any of her apricot tree survived the freeze. We are working on her yard these days, and my larcenous soul has been eying that apricot tree. I only hesitated because I had hopes of some apricots this year! Why is it that our pets are so interested in cameras. I always wonder what they are thinking.

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  25. Love the branches - once we move in I'll have to head out to get some of those to add some "life" to the new house! Ah, I do adore the attitude of cats -- everyone in my family is allergic so they aren't allowed but I love them!

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  26. I love the DST, but I hate the change. Wish we kept it all the time.

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  27. What is the wall plan after sanding? Love the crusty pink!!!zo Dianne

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  28. Nothing says spring like flowering sticks. Love how you framed the photo so that the arrangement slightly off center and so that we see part of the window molding.
    Camille

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  29. Dianne,
    I'll be painting.

    There's no insulation and barely no electrical in this room so when I get to the kitchen and upstairs bathroom, I'll deal with those issues in this room. I may be able to gain some ceiling height in here too so I don't want to do anything too expensive. I just couldn't wait to get rid of that wallpaper.

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  30. I'm not really into the crusty- shabby old paint look, but somehow it's very attractive in your guest room photos. I love the shot of your orange tabby framed by the flowering branches.

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  31. You couldn't have created a more perfect background for the flower sticks if you'd intended to. I was surprised at how many people love to spring forward. I resent waking up in darkness again. But this Sunday the consolation prize was awakening to snow capping the first daffodil blossom.

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  32. Steve I love to see your kitty resting behind the cherry blossom branches.

    Xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  33. I bought branches at the grocery store and they never blossomed...big let down...yours are so pretty.

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  34. I love those branches against your crusty wall. Such a pretty vignette.

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  35. I absolutely love this post, not to mention everything on your blog! I can't wait to see what's next! Would love for you to check mine out some time as well!
    http://kristinpeakeinteriors.blogspot.com/

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  36. Wow, good luck on the renovation, looks like you have lots to do, but lots of good ideas and an eye for design too. I love seeing before and after stuff like this, its really inspiring what people can do with different spaces/objects
    Daisy Dayz

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  37. I love the chippy pink paint. But I understand why it has to go. I can't wait to see what you do next!

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  38. Just catching up on your blog and after reading this had to share. Our house used to be divided into 3 apartments too and our guest room had counter height outlets all over it--I assume it must have been a kitchen too We moved them all down and re drywalled: http://www.urbanorchardinteriors.com/guest-room-kitchen-reno-day-10/

    It feels so good to put these old houses back to their former selves, doesn't it?

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