Shopping for Summer

Today the temperature is supposed to reach 17 degrees!!  Folks...that's a heatwave!  And loads of sun!

I realized quickly when I got the Sanctuary Rose bedding set (Waverly) the comforter would be too warm for the summer months...it is really heavy.  Not only beautiful..but great for the fall and winter months.

With rumours of spring and summer approaching I looked to the same line of bedding and chose the Norfolk quilt set...

I ordered the set...can't wait for it to arrive.  I've come to trust Waverly quality and love that the bedskirt coordinates with the floral quilt and shams.

I've also been on the hunt for a comfortable, easy pair of sandals.  Sandals that can be slipped on with effortlessly and worn with casual capris, shorts and denim skirts.   And it didn't hurt that I had $30 in reward money from Soft Moc to put towards them!  They are a bit pricey, but have great solid reviews (and free shipping!).  Ordered Mephisto sandals in the gorgeous red colour!  Don't they look comfortable?  I'll let you know when they arrive.  I have Birkenstock...but do not find them comfortable...maybe the ones with softer foot beds might be kinder to the feet.  I'll give these ones a try...they need to be perfect for running errands, shopping, taking Liesel out...they carry a few walking sneakers too...may look into those if the sandals are keepers!

Going to get out there and enjoy this gorgeous day!!  Mr. Seventies may get the final coat on the window boxes!!

Guest Bedroom In Progress

Our seventies guest bedroom is a work in progress...albeit slow progress.  The colour of the bedroom was chosen in memory of my beloved sister...she lost her battle with lung cancer in February 2016.  Growing up in a small railroad village in New Brunswick, we shared a bedroom for many years.  And our bedroom was painted lilac..it seemed fitting to use that colour in this room...she visited us often.

Pat was my only sister...the last member of my family (besides me).  She was an amazing Mom to my nephew and teacher of children with special needs.  The quilt on the bed was loving stitched by a group of ladies who sew them to comfort cancer patients...and my nephew presented it to me as a keepsake.  Another reason lilac was chosen as a wall colour.

And of course, a bit of whimsy....to celebrate her love of laughter and sense of humour. 

I still need to add "soft" touches to the bedroom...a new night table and lamp....and a few pretty things.  The room is small.....but will be on the look out for just the right things!

Rainy Weekend

Happy Monday!  We had a cool and wet weekend...and there is a blanket of fog covering us this morning...and it's the first day of lobster season!  I am not a fan of lobster...or seafood in general...but Mr. Seventies and our daughter share a love of it and usually partake in a feed or two during fishing season!   Son-in-law and I are landlubbers!

Speaking of daughter, we celebrated her birthday yesterday...complete with a delicious roast tenderloin dinner and all the fixings.  And cupcakes...

The pool company rep came by to assess the damage to the pool.  We are on their work order for repairs...and they will call a day or two in advance so we can drain the water from melting ice and snow that is in the pool currently.  (not that much).  They will pump out the remainder...and remove the liner, do the repairs and install the new liner.  We are replacing the ladder to a set of steps for ease of getting in and out of the pool.  I will drop into the pool store and get those ordered likely this week.  

Lots of tulips, crocus and daffodils are up in the flower gardens...cannot wait to cut my first bouquet. 

Have a great day!!

Antique Vanity Find

This seventies split "boasts" three small bedrooms...the master, a guest bedroom and a third that Mr. Seventies has dubbed the "dressing" room, formerly our daughter's bedroom.  She is newly married and shares a new home with her wonderful husband.

Some turn an extra room into an office, a work out or craft room...none of which I need.  What I did need was a place to sit and do my hair, make up, etc.  So I began searching for a vanity.  I knew I didn't want one built from pressed wood..but the ones I was finding were large, bulky and not to mention heavy.

There's a beautiful antique shop in Summerside....Rose Cottage Antiques...(check out their FB page). I contacted the wonderful lady who runs the shop to inquire if they happen to have a vanity...and through a series of messages and photos...she had just what I was looking for!  Mr. Seventies and I decided to take an afternoon drive to Rose Cottage...and my heart skipped a beat when I saw "her".

And she fit in our SUV just fine...after being carefully wrapped for her final destination...we brought her home.

I love the delicate curve of her mirror.  She was built in the 1930's by Rockford Furniture Company in the US.  Wouldn't it be amazing to know her journey?

There are two drawers on either side, great for storing hair dryer, straightener, extra make up, and brushes and combs.

In searching for a chair, which needed to be a certain height to accommodate comfortable seating, I found this comfy ottoman at Home Sense...the cover lifts off for extra storage as well.  Score!  It suits my needs perfectly!

In the vanity mirror you can see my storage cabinet which houses extra bath towels, wash cloths, shampoos and hair products.   The room is still a work in progress...I love having a place all my own.

Favourite Finds

I love to browse my favourite stores...sometimes I'm looking for something in particular...other times just seeing what is new in the way of home decor or in this case...out side decor.  These flamingos brought a smile to my face..not only are they adorable...but flamingos in the North Atlantic?  Only if they wear parkas!   They are still cute..and I'm crushing on those web feet!

This is a bit more realistic for our neck of the woods, the land of the true North and Free...

How about these beautiful hand painted vases?  I have a thing for vases...since I love cut flowers!

Had to share this retro fan...I have this exact one...and was hoping to find another in a copper finish.  They have a variety of colours like this turquoise, dark blue and peach...last year they carried them in silver and copper finish..but none available so far.  I love this one for our family room...and they do really keep things cool.  But this northerner loves the heat!

Retro tin ware..so cute for that farmhouse look!  My bread tin holds a few loaves...and I'm keeping an eye out for one for my daughter....

Such a cute tin to store Mr. Seventies garden seeds...hmmmm....Father's Day is coming...

This awesome basket almost came home with me.  Almost.  I'm going to wait until the BOGO sale is off...and use a 55% off coupon to pick one up.  Firstly, I don't need two baskets (as much as I have a weakness for them)...secondly....it's cheaper to pick up at regular price and use a coupon.   I've been wanting a basket for the master bedroom to toss cushions in and this one is a great size for that!

Well hallelujah!  Wal Mart finally went with smaller carts!  I stopped in for a few things...and what did I see?  Smaller carts!!  I chatted with a store Manager a while back about the size of their large carts and was advised they had no plans to bring them in at that time...(after all...they want to see those big carts filled).....well they must have listened to their customers!  Seniors and empty nesters appreciate these carts...it's difficult to push one the size of an SUV!!  

Showers in the forecast for today.... April showers bring May flowers right?

  

Second Time's A Charm!!

You know you've been living in a house a while...when you've undergone not one, but two main bath remodels!   How I wish I had photos to show the original in all it's glory...from it's lime green and yellow shag carpet to avocado sink, toiled and tub/shower combo!

It was one of the first remodels we did...out of necessity.  The tiling surrounding the tub/shower had cracked and while we intended to only replace the cracked tile...Mr. Seventies discovered water had leaked in behind the tile!  So, we were in full gut mode!!

We got three quotes for the job...and settled on a well reputed company.  Keeping in mind...this was the ONLY bath in the house a the time...with three young girls, hubby and myself!  So, it had to happen fairly fast.

We stole a few inches from the bedroom next to the bath...to accommodate a whirlpool tub..as the tub and shower were now going to be separate areas.  Remember when jet tubs were all the thing?  Yah...happy to see that hauled out the door (a farmer hauled it away...a holder for his pig feed...go figure).  The shower, vanity with sink were donated to Habitat for Humanity.

So..with a new broom...clean sweep as the say.  When "designing" the bathroom...again...I noticed things that were classic in the old days....are still classic today!  You know what I mean?  You can spot a 70's or 80's vibe when you see it!  I don't have any before photos....but the colour scheme prior to this renovation...was burgundy and gray!  Enough said..

Here is the main bath today...luv, luv, luv the four legged sink!  Since I could not find what I wanted locally...I turned to the wide world web and ordered one!

Same with the light fixture...nothing I found in the area was close to what I had envisioned for the bath...so did some scouring on the net...and ordered exactly what I had been searching for!!

This is the view from the hall..(sorry the tissue holder is "out there'...normally it is tucked back a bit)...and my oval mirror has been moved to my "new to me dressing room"...more on that at another time.   You get a glimpse of the shower to the right....

The shower area is huge...chose subway tile for the walls and ceiling...with the hexagon tiles as an accent.  Not seen in the photo is a rain head shower head.   The glass is easy to clean...it was coated with a product that repels water droplets.  And a quick wipe down after a shower keeps spots from drying.

My favourite part of this whole bath...is the tub and floor faucet with a sprayer option! (as mentioned, the oval mirror has sense found a new home across the hall).

And if you haven't figure out my quirkiness by now...my cow canvas will confirm it!  I just love their facial expressions!  

I chose the turquoise wall colour to pop against the white of the bead board and while fixtures.  It is one of my favourite colours in the house. 

Since our home doesn't have an "ensuite"....and we are empty nesters...this room serves as that.

Mr. Seventies put two coats of paint on the window boxes yesterday...one more should finish them.  And I chose a gorgeous green for the front door...here are the colour combos...Behr from Home Depot.  They should brighten up the front of the house quite nicely along with a new front step built last year...an awaiting a couple coats of stain.  Pressure treated lumber usually needs a season to cure...so the steps will be ready to stain this year, using a Semi Transparent stain in the same colour as the floor decking around the pool and back deck.

for the front door...

Lower Level Living Area

Since the lower level was a blank slate when we purchased our home...it was a place where Mr. Seventies could putter away at putting in insulation, drywall and then panelling.  Yes...panelling.  Not sure why we didn't stop with the gyproc...but panelling was "in" at the time...and it gives a bit of a "cabin" feel to the room.

For warmth on the feet...he installed insulation and a sub floor as well...in floor heating was not in the budget at the time.

I have often thought of priming and painting the panelling...but that would be a huge under taking.  Perhaps sometime in the future...and we would definitely hire it out.  The room is long and narrow...
and a place where things get placed where there is no where else to put them!  (or where things go to die as my daughter calls it!)

It's a cozy room...especially on cool nights when the propane stove is turned. on.  It's also stays cool during the hot summer days..if we're looking for a place to hang out during the summer.

The room behind the wall with the flag, is the laundry room.  Straight ahead takes you into the furnace room...and you can't see in the photos...but to the right of that door...is the staircase to the upper level. 

Mr. Seventies made the birch lamp for me...after seeing one in a magazine for $275!  Crazy.

Gorgeous weather today...going to hang out on the deck and help Mr. Seventies paint the window boxes.  

Weekend Happenings

Spring has finally arrived on our beautiful Island!  Sun and double digit temperatures are forecast for this week!

Mr. Seventies has been busy raking lawns and clearing out flower beds.  He removed our window boxes as they required repair...once he has finished scraping and sanding the old paint off...they will be ready for a fresh, new look!

I was off to the hardware store in search of a new paint colour for them!  I had originally planned to paint the window shutters as well...but upon further inspection...they really don't need to be done.  And I love the current colour...which happens to be..Tibetian Orange, same colour as the pool deck walls.

I've been waiting as well to paint our front door...currently white...until I found a colour as well.  There is an awesome machine at HD that allows you to scan the bar code of your paint chip...and it brings up co-ordinating colours to go with it!

Enter the colour of choice....Vixen!  It was so close to one I had previously chosen....I was happy to be on the right track.  And two opinions can't be wrong?  Right?

The paint chip on the right is the current shutter colour...and the left is going to be the window boxes new colour.   Pretty bold!  Keeping in mind our house is boring beige...and needs a punch of colour.  I'm considering granny smith apple green for the front door..but need to think on that a bit more.

The paint counter was busy when I was there...sun and warmer temperatures bring people out as we are all anxious to get spring projects done and homes and yards freshened up.  A friendly lady waiting for paint to be mixed was quite intrigued when she saw my paint choices and asked what I was painting.  I hesitated to answer...a little embarrassed she might think I was a bit out there.  But her response?  "Going to be stunning!"  Now, she could have been just being nice...but I felt she was sincere...I have always been one to follow my own heart and instincts...even if she hadn't been real...I'm ok with that too.

My friend and I attended a flower making worshop!  Nothing more fun than a great group of ladies, all sitting around splattered in paint and having a fun time!

The pieces were thankfully cut (from wood) when we arrived....we were required to pick our paint colours and get down to business!  The four gals at our table...all chose to do sunflowers!  Great minds think alike!

And here are all our flowers!!  I wanted one in every colour!!   

Mr. Seventies hung my sunflower on the exterior deck wall for me.  Loving the "folk art" vibe it gives!  The sun was just starting to come around to that side of the deck...just look at that blue sky!!

The host of the workshop was selling off some of her Christmas items...so I happily purchased this amazing sign.  Very popular here standing on a door step or deck during the holiday season!  I'm obsessed with the plaid!

How cute is this adorable planter I purchased at Winners in the home goods section!  Going to look adorable on the front step full of some pretty annuals!  The planters were available in different shapes and sizes...I chose the oval shape...it will hold a fair number of pretty flowers!

Hoping this great weather continues so the pool company can come again and assess the damage and do the necessary repairs to the pool.  As a rule...we open the pool and get it up and running by the long weekend in May...sometimes before.   Mr. Seventies has assured me, one way or another...there will be a pool operational again!  Yay!!

Odds and Ends

Woke up this morning...and the ground is covered in white!   Winter weather will just not release it's grip this year!  I had to double check the date on the calendar...we are heading into the end of April...and still dealing with wet, cold weather.  According to Environment Canada...things look to improve next week.  I'm holding them to that!

We are resilient if nothing else here and farmers call snow in April, "poor man's fertilizer".  Yesterday Mr. Seventies raked and spread lime on the lawns.  No outside work will get done today.

The new mattress was delivered this week...so far, so good.  How cute are these bunny prints?  They are called "Heads and Tails"...I discovered them on a local FB page...did a search for them and ordered a set.  I chose the option of un-framed...and used a couple I picked up locally.

Mr. Seventies hung them for me in the master bedroom..

Did you notice the watering can arrangement I put together?  Here's a close up...flowers I purchased at the dollar store and ribbon was 60% off...and the watering can was BOGO, both at Michaels.  I put together an arrangement for my daughter as well...will show that at a later date.  Also, the cranberry dish...a memento from my late mother-in-law...I will cherish it.

Adds a pop of spring colour...since we obviously are not having much outside!   I still haven't hung my spring basket I put together for the front door...hoping I can do that next week!

Ended up taking Liesel to our vet this week...she has a small cyst on her snout!  Turns out it is quite common and should go away on it's own.

That's a wrap for this week!  Have a great weekend!!

Wash, Rinse and Fold

Yesterday I shared sad looking "before" photos of our laundry room, which is downstairs in the lower level.  If I was building or purchasing a new home today...the laundry area would be tucked away somewhere on the main level.  This notion of carting laundry baskets up and down a flight a stairs or two is for the birds.  I do have a "whirly-gig" clothesline..which gets utilized a few times for sheets and towels during the summer months..but that requires a couple of trips up and down a flight of stairs as well.

The first requirement in the laundry space was to have a new concrete floor poured....to raise it to the level of the lower level family room, (since Mr. Seventies had installed a sub-floor and insulation prior to completing the family room).  We didn't want a step down but rather have a level transition between rooms.

And this is how my laundry room looks today...the hot water heater tucked away in a new closet (that is code here now).  Ceramic tile laid over the new concrete floor.  And my "dream" team..luv, luv, luv my laundry team...and the pedestal bases raise them to a comfortable height with drawers for additional storage.  (the overhead lights are on...it was a dark & overcast day...in the mornings beautiful sun brightens up the room).  The wall colour is granny smith apple green.

Looking back the other way...remember that pipe sticking out of the concrete floor?  That is where the  shower now stands.   The window shutters and valances were made by local artisans...the small vanity holds a vessel sink with storage underneath...as well as a cabinet to the right of the dryer for folding laundry and more storage. The cabinetry was ordered from a local cabinet company. A few tiles were installed behind the sink for ease of cleaning and protect the wall from splashing water. 

Across from the laundry set are cabinets which house extra sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels.

It's convenient to have 3/4 bath as well..again...in the seventies few homes had more than one main bathroom!  Unheard of today!  Most homes have minimum three bathrooms and/or a powder room and master ensuite!  Not in the seventies!  But sometimes you have to work with what you have...and it works for us!

I forgot to get photos of the overhead lighting...I'll do that in another post.  You will also see the drop ceiling Mr. Seventies installed..recommended for easy access to overhead plumbing and pipes.

So there you have it!  Almost makes laundry an enjoyable chore.  Almost.