Starting To Change

Not about fall color this year - because with Texas drought only color is dried up brown on the leaves. Wanted to share the adventure (that is called a positive thought process - if I think of our move as an adventure may

be it won't feel so tough - RIGHT????)

Today is pretty much just posting Before pictures - 'cause the afters will come slowly - we have a big house to sell before we can afford major

changes to new place. Suggestions will be enjoyed with the caveat - every thing we will do has the proviso "if we can afford it" - and that is money as well as time/energy in our budget. The move is occurring because we can no longer physically deal with a two story house and almost 10 acres - so we now have a money budget and an energy budget - what we can realistically actually physically get done (enough lys for you?) OK off to the picture files -from the backdoor(which is out of order but taking forever to move pics - so work with me people! LOL)

We currently HOPE and plan to extend back porch and cover it - so we can sit out on porch, have barbecue grill there and generally enjoy the view of neighbor's pretty pastures and dozens of deer! My "lottery" dream is to put a nice two person hot tub/spa out there but that is WAY down reality list.

In back door to long walls - as you come in backdoor to the right is door into garage (which will be DH's woodworking shop and our washer/dryer will be there also). To the left long wall will be place for large black armoire (DH made it years ago and it is marvelous storage as well as sweet reminder). Opposite wall will be future home of pantry shelves - open or with doors still a topic of discussion (I'm thinking open with an assortment of baskets/containers to organize but DH is thinking doors 'cause - well that is how he thinks - more finished but LOTS more work too!)

Then teeny amount of kitchen cabinetry - great hopes to change this but definitely moved to later on - can live with it the way it is. All except color - we have already purchased paint - shinier finish and a wonderful Behr white - Fragrant Jasmine. The floor is a very good grade of linoleum tile - black with a tiny fleck of white and grey. Will definitely be keeping the floor.

Like the arched view into living room (yes it is a smaller house!) and then we'll put our round kitchen table in the corner as dining table. Have a new brushed nickle finished lighting fixture for over table. So that is the first installment - will post pictures of rest of house and what we have definitely already done or decided. Exciting time - I'm better at starting projects (thank goodness I was blessed with a husband who likes to FINISH things completely!) So whatcha think???? It is good on Buhlaland - we are blessed whether original location or newer place - God provides for us in ways we didn't have the sense to ask!

Tabula Rasa

Y'all are no doubt already impressed and intrigued - the gal from Texas getting all fancy on you by using a latin phrase for a blog title. Fancy term to indicate I'm being gifted with a nearly blank slate in our garden

Yesterday DH and a young friend of ours began the process of cleaning up our side garden. Planning a total renovation of the garden area. Economics is part of it - prices at grocery store and even local produce markets continue to climb. We'll be putting in some basics for ourselves - plants of tomato, peppers, cucumbers, squash and whatever else looks viable. Went to container gardens because our previous gardener (ahem - yes that would be ME) wouldn't weed on a daily basis and our in the ground garden became a struggle. SO containers it is. The little dog house looking structure is actually a well house - our water well pump is in there. Yes it is far too close to the house but we didn't think of everything when we were planning our home - obviously.

Still have a couple of crape myrtle bushes, a peace rose and currently a container of strawberries which is about to become two hanging baskets of strawberries - snails and slugs are taking harvest.

Plenty more to come as far as

garden renovation possibly a water feature and garden sculpture- big excitement on Buhlaland - springtime, gardening, projects - woo hoo that is all good.

UPDATE: Ok the black containers are water tanks for livestock - we got ours at Tractor Supply

Rub a dub dub

Have you ever realized how few pictures a person takes of bathrooms? I came to such a realization this week because I wanted to do a bloggity/ HGTV type episode on Buhl's Bath Buildout.

We built our house 8 years ago and never quite finished the master bathroom - it was on the "round to it" list. Our tub hasn't been useable for many months - many months. Apparently our tub developed a nasty problem in the whirlpool lines and a crack along the base rendering it DOA (dead over all - these are the jokes folks). I developed a stronger sense of urgency about wanting a tub right after DH finished the stone pillars by our front gates and was in a little "lull" work wise. I got busy and tub was ordered, delivery set for today.

I didn't get in and take a "before" picture in time - DH had already broken out the front piece (apron is the actual term). We have a sequential going -- partially removed, then the tub completely out but weird shelf behind tub still there. Yes I know it looks like a mess - but you have to break some eggs to make an omelet (isn't that the dumbest saying? pretty much a big DUH) Next in the sequence is the pretty, shiny, just delivered this morning bathtub which will go IN the old tub spot. Currently displayed in our living room behind our couch - convenient and safe for the tub - I hope I'll remember it is there when I go through the house at 4:30 in the morning to make coffee - my shins will appreciate if my brain remembers object placement.

I thought I was nearly done with "you have to decide" dilemmas until DH reminded me - "WE" (meaning me) have to decide on a material for the decking (shelf around the tub) and a general idea of what kind of vanities I want built. AARGH!
Here is what we have - and I'm messy but this is way beyond normal - this is a lot of storage lost and now piled on top of the vanity. We are currently (until I get to the home improvement store and see something ELSE I might try - grrrrr) thinking tile around the tub deck - and try to use tile which can be repeated in new shower planned for sometime in the spring, also on the floors because we don't like what we have now. White isn't it? very very very white - and we live in the country - so white isn't the best choice (note to self - no more white floors, thank you, we'll be in touch). Here is where the project stands - I'll keep adding to the thrilling information about my bathroom (some days blogging seems so massively self indulgent!) as new materials, colors or decisions are made. We are committed now - it is all about tiles and colors and oh yes - the fun of making decisions! We are blessed DH has so many skills, patience, and imagination - because I lack all three! My spiritual gifts are ------

I'll get back to you on that one. Here in Buhlaland it is all about the journey and for now our journey heads to Home Depot and Lowes! See you soon - be kind to yourself and those you love. Over and out ---it is good on Buhlaland!