To-Do List 2013

But first!
A quick review of everything we got done in 2012!
change 2 lights in dining room to 1 chandy (chandy already purchased)
purchase and install roller-shades in last 2 upstairs bedroom/study
clean-out all file cabinets on second floor and move to basement
cleanout basement storagepaint front door
re-cover seats on all dining room chairs
electrician: put dimmer switch in dining room and re-do all 3-switch plates
new QUIET dishwasher
raised beds along back of house
garden bed edging along garage w/ bigger lilac plants
repair painting table (w/Dad's help)shower door purchase and installation in master bath
fire pit in the back yard
powerwashing of the house
purchase dining room wall storage (helps to empty basement storage)
sell current wine rack
chopping wood for fireplace

WHEW!! We got a LOT more done than I remembered!

To-Do List for 2013:
finish basement shell- waterproofing and insulation, walls, ceiling and lights, heated tile floor, internet and electrical
IF we can get all that done and still have time/money left, we will also do the shed in the backyard

leaving other long-term projects for 2014 like:
outdoor patio around bottom of deck stairs (grill moves off the deck)
walkway from driveway around lilacs to outdoor patio
boxwood border along far-side of yard and down driveway
plant flowering shrubs on inside of yard edge
back-up generator for entire house
air-exchange unit for house
new sofa for living room 
seal metal bar supports and possibly re-level kitchen bar

What is on your to-do list for 2013?

BRRRrrrrr!

It's SUPER cold here in NH. Single digits during the day and below zero at night with a constant chilling wind. I was talking to a friend today about the weather and she mentioned that the Arctic Circle is actually WARMER than where we are. Yikes! Thank goodness for our fireplace on the first floor to supplement the heat AND our cozy LLBean flannel sheets upstairs!

Matt and I have been working like crazy - he's in the middle of a big IT launch and I'm currently working towards a job/title change and promotion - so needless to say we've turned into work-a-holics!
This past weekend we did take some time to sleep in, take Reese for a snowy hike (I forgot my camera!) and hang out on the couch. It was bliss!
We have also solidified our 'To-Do' List for 2013 which I will be sharing shortly!

Hope everyone is staying warm!!

January Clean-Up/Out!

This weekend Matt and I did some clean-up around the house. A bag of clothes went to Goodwill and our older, unused electronics went to the yearly Exeter High School Electronics drive. Each year they collect old tv's, computers, keyboards, vcr's, etc in order to raise money for the senior prom and other class projects. 

This year we dropped off our two old Bentley laptops, an old docking station, a stand alone VCR and a dead Xbox. We wrote them a check for $50 which will then be a tax deduction for us later this year. Gotta love those! 

In addition the last remaining holiday decorations were taken down and put away in the basement. Making sure all of those get taken care of will be another weekend project as I'm trying to kick what's left of an icky sinus/cold. 

Guestroom Curtains

The pale gold side curtains have been replaced with full curtains that are a warm grey, wool blend and cozy up the room a bit. I was in the midst of making them myself but was having trouble finishing them so I enlisted my Mum's help :-) Here are pictures of the finished project:

bottom hem detail

the color is dark grey and works nicely with the comforter edge.

While they are un-lined, the combination of the roller shade with the curtains darkens the room to almost black, even with full morning sunlight. A definite improvement that allows guests to sleep in and not get up with the sun!

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

my true love gave to me - a new laptop to replace my failing one and a wonderfully lazy day spent on the couch in pj's! A slug-fest my co=worker would call it :-)

There was also wonderful food shared with a longtime friend/sister of my heart - BB. 

Lamb with roasted sweet potato and sundried tomato green beans

Reese received his candy-cane rawhide 

I love watching him try to figure out where he should start each year!

We wish you and yours nothing but JOY for this new year of 2013. We are looking forward to a simplified 'To-Do' list for the house (albeit the projects will be bigger) and carving out a bit more time for us - that might mean day trips, or a slug-fest or two but either way, I will endeavor to bring you along! 

New Years' Menu

Second Breakfast while watching the New Years' Day Parade:
HoneyDew Melon
coffee/tea
Scrambled eggs with stuff: mushrooms, peppers, chicken sausage, black pepper

Munchies is Early Afternoon:
Crackers with hummus (original and roasted red pepper)
cracker barrel special edition aged white cheddar
King's aged blue cheese

Dinner:
chopped salad (mixed greens, cucumber, orange pepper, tomato)
baked ham w/brown sugar and butter glaze
Harvard beets
creamed spinach
steamed green beans w/sauteed mushrooms, sundried tomatoes in their oil and crumbled feta

Drinks:
hot apple cider with spiced rum
white wine
coffee/tea with dessert

Dessert:
apple and pear crisp (gluten-free) with stonyfield 'Gotta-Have-Vanilla' ice cream

Happy New Year!

We celebrated with champagne at home with Reese - see his nose? LOL

Today we will be celebrating a second family Christmas with the Loves. I'll be back with our Menu and pictures!