"Comfortably Numb" -- Pink Floyd

Hello, 
Is there anybody in there? 
Just nod if you can hear me 
Is there anyone home? 

Come on 
Now 
I hear you're feeling down 
I can ease your pain 
Get you on your feet again 

Relax 
I'll need some information first 
Just the basic facts 
Can you show me where it hurts? 

There is no pain you are receding 
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon 
You are only coming through in waves 
Your lips move 
But I can't hear what you're saying 

When I was a child I had a fever 
My hands felt just like 
Two balloons 
Now I've got that feeling once again 
I can't explain 
You would not understand 
This is not how I am 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pink+floyd/comfortably+numb_20108779.html ] 
I... Have become comfortably numb 

O.K. 
Just a little pin prick 
There'll be no more aaaaaaaah! 
But you may feel a little sick 

Can you stand up? 
I do believe it's working 
Good 
That'll keep you going through the show 
Come on 
It's time to go 

There is no pain you are receding 
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon 
You are only coming through in waves 
Your lips move 
But I can't hear what you're saying 

When I was a child 
I caught a fleeting glimpse 
Out of the corner of my eye 

I turned to look but it was gone 
I cannot put my finger on it now 
The child is grown 
The dream is gone 
I... Have become comfortably numb 

"Wallpaper, You are my Biatch"

I did it!

I conquered my fear of wallpapering.

All set with my water-box, pail, sponge, edging tool, exact o knife, level, measuring tape, step stool, smoothing tool, and plastic bag.

Pattern matched, 6 strips ready to go.

Plum line ready for first strip. Thanks huge level and white eyeliner.

Strip one done, edging cut off. Not so bad.

Strip two. Pattern matched. Again not so bad. Stupid popcorn ceiling though, getting stuck to adhesive.

All done, six strips and only strip three gave me trouble. Discovered wasn't moist enough. Thanks sponge.

Thanks Lowe's youtube videos, made a huge difference. Now hopefully it all stays up. Fingers crossed.  Dad's room is so close to being done!

"Wallpaper Step 1"

After a lovely break this weekend, attending my cousin's wedding, I got back to Dad's room today.

I had the photos I want in his room printed and had gone shopping for cheap frames the other day, so I married them today and can't wait to put them up.

After that, I decided to do step 1 of my wallpapering and painted on the wall size I had tinted a chocolate brown, in case any seems show through the paper.

I laid down my drop sheet and taped off the baseboard...

I'll be laying out my wallpaper on the floor tomorrow, so I might as well have the drop cloth down. Plus my hardwood was protected from the chocolate brown cast off from the roller that I just finished scrubbing off my hands and arms.

And here is the result...

Those darn corners were a bit difficult to do, but I think it turned out okay. Next, wallpaper. I'd better watch the Lowe's tutorial again for good measure.

Now for some Tostito's and salsa. Mmmmm.

"Spending Spree Now Officially Over"

I was out on the West End today and figured I'd stop by the Home Sense in Mayfield Common. I still needed a good high backed chair that wasn't too deep for Dad. He likes a good straight chair. He's used to sitting on a dining chair. Of course I found what I needed. I had to buy it because it is pretty perfect for the space...

The side table I had purchased over a year ago, also at the Mayfield Home Sense. It and some sweet yellow pillows determined the colour scheme for this room and ultimately the wallpaper. The wallpaper I also purchased forever ago.

Also purchased forever ago from the same store, picture frames. These ones...

In the layout above, I plan to put Dad's favourite poem; 'If' by Rudyard Kipling; one verse per frame above his dressers.

All spending complete. My credit card bill is going to be stressful come next month. But done I am, except for some good curtains for his room. And closet doors for his room. Damn it.

"Finito"

After yummy lasagna in my tummy, I moved onto to the fun part, painting with a roller. I had my trusty regular size and small size for those awkward areas. 

Almost there...

Turns out only one coat was needed. I'm done. Yay. Painting that is. Wallpapering is another story.

I think I'm going to use a masonry primer sealer I already have on the wall to be wallpapered, then the wall size to be safe from that latex teal paint. One more step added but one wall is no biggie.

"Edging"

So I decided to start painting and put the wallpaper wall size on hold until closer to that doomsday of diy.

Longest part of any painting is the trim and edging. Have to be so careful, or unless you were the previous painters of this room, not so much.

Welcome Toasty Grey. I hope only one coat is required.

A much more relaxing colour for Dad. Minus the crazy wallpaper accent wall.

"Wallpapering"

Phew! Thank goodness I have plaster walls. After reading this I feel better, but if you are wallpapering sheetrock or drywalled walls, then read and make sure you have the right prep.

I only have the wall size, but you may need both the wall size and an alkyd enamel undercoater...

http://parodipalace.com/why_prime/index.html

Timeline on dry time for priming vs. sizing...

http://www.hometips.com/diy-how-to/wallpaper-sizing-priming-wall.html

Videos on diy wallpapering:

Lowe's how to plan and prep...

Lowe's how to hang wallpaper...

"More For Me"

I went out to Home Sense today looking for a chair for my desk, with a particular idea in mind and I found it! I love Home Sense.

Perfection...

After much hmming and hawing over a duvet cover, I decided to go with a damask print in red and burgundy. I think the other duvet cover set will go much better in Dad's room. I'm still hmming and hawing about that one. It's kinda pricey ( I did find another website that has it that does ship to Canada). The one I'm getting for myself is a steal of a deal. Only 4-8 business days and my room can look like this...

Minus all the extra pillows.

Thanks Overstock.com.

Now back to Dad's room. I washed down the wall that the wallpaper will be going on. I went to Home Depot and picked up my very own wallpaper kit. And purchased Shieldz Clear Wall Size. It prepares the surface for wallpaper, makes positioning easy, and helps adhesion. At least thats what the container says. I had it tinted a chocolate brown so that if any seems show through the wallpaper it won't be as noticeable. One step at a time. Wall size tomorrow. Then paint my primed walls, 2 coats. Then wallpaper. I'm still stressed about pattern matching and doing it all by my lonesome.

I suppose we shall see how diy-y I am afterall.

Update August 22: I caved. I got the duvet set for Dad's room. Spending Spree now over. So has to be over.

Thanks AllModern.com.

"My Bedroom"

So my bedroom, my sanctuary, hasn't been so much lately. I can't wait to get my PAX wardrobe to organize my clothes. I have so many. Somewhere to hang all my newly acquired dresses. I've officially given in to my East Indian legs. See me world, I am healthy. Suck it.

I cleared out some piles today, laundry piles. I can see floor. I'm happy. And feel some relief. I decided to work on something for me today. I moved my desk out of Dad's room into mine, put up my clear bird themed room divider, hung my inspirational quote paintings above my bed that have been siting on top of my dressers since I moved in, moved my side table to the opposite side it was, and moved my stand up mirror opposite the wall it was as the side table occupies its home. Now I just need a chair for my desk. 

I also decided that my room doesn't have to be all red. It's funny how a little change can make a big difference. I have been coveting a bedding set forever. It was sold by Urban Outfitters at one point, but alas no more. I have found it on the Linen and Things website.

As I finally pulled the trigger to buy it, not cheap either, I discover Linen and Things does not ship to Canada. WTF? Now I plot out finding someone I know in the States to get it for me and ship it to me. Of course I'd pay them first. Don't be silly.

Now to see if I can solve this bump in the road.

"Another Day"

Well today is another day.

I went outside again to tackle some weeds, at least the ones my height. I miscalculated the number of mosquito bites I got yesterday. I actually had 4 on my ankle instead of 1. Making 7 not 4. Today I sprayed my Watkins a lot.

This was a few weeks ago, half ripped out where I gave up again. Tired and melty.

Today, I ripped the remainder down.

This is actually an improvement.

I have piles of plant remains laying around.

Later I borrowed from my lovely neighbours long handled clippers to trim down one of my trees in the front yard. 3rd trim this summer. Thanks.

Watered the lawn, power jet sprayed away spider webs, killed some spiders living behind the edges of my main door with Defense spray, and sprayed a pile of flying ants that have apparently made some sand under my pavers their home. Ick! 

After some sense of accomplishment, I went inside and began painting. Second coat of primer done. Finally! 

Bring on the toasty grey. And apparently learning how to put up wallpaper by myself. Hmmm....Interesting.

I spent the remainder of my evening thinking about landscaping in my backyard. It all needs to go. Planting trees for privacy screening, low deck for an eating/lounging area, planters, a 2 seater swing if I can, and grass. No more jungle. Simple. One day...

"My House, My Junk"

My house is closing in on me, including the backyard growing like something out of Jumanji.

It's gotten to the point, were I'd rather be away from home than in it to face all I have to do, and all that is overwhelming me. I used to love being at home and doing things. That was when I could keep up with it. The backyard is absolutely hopeless. I was outside today for about half hour or so, got 4 mosquito bites from disturbing the jungle and opening up growth to sunlight. I ended up giving up, after starting to twitch from bites.

The inside has also gotten out of control. I still have my IKEA kitchen in boxes sitting in my living room, including an oven, microwave, washer, and yes, the kitchen sink. In my kitchen I have another fridge and dryer. All sitting waiting for my Garage Apartment. Which thankfully was approved on the 16th after an appeal hearing that went fairly well. I at least won't be kijijiing anything soon.

That's another stressor though, I do still need to make up the funds for the build in the spring. I have to prove to the cornerstones program that I can afford the build from the outset. Which gets me thinking about Dad's farm and needing to sell, and Dad moving in, and wondering when, as it hinges on selling the things on the land, which Dad wants to sell with the land. Beyond that, MY DAD IS COMING TO LIVE WITH ME. I'm trying to get things as ready as possible, which had caused more chaos. I really need my PAX wardrobe. I have clothing piled everywhere; on my bed, the floor; it's definitely not in the spare room anymore.

I want to wait until September, when the PAX wardrobe 15% back in gift cards sale is on again. It feels like forever away, but yet not. I need organization NOW! I'm drowning in my own clothes, feeling like I'm being sucked into the piles. 

Procrastination is beginning to reign supreme, with the list of to do's being too big. BREATHE! The piles are adding up and I don't want to sift through them. Clearly I don't need anything that has been sitting around if I don't even know what it is, but of course I wonder what if? Better check just in case. Argh! I don't wanna. Can I be so liberated to toss it all? I worry about identity theft and credit card info and need to shred. Bah!

I did manage to do the second coat of edging with primer. I'll roll on the second coat tomorrow. Stupid teal paint. I thought KILZ was supposed to cover in one coat. I guess the advertising monster got me.

I can't wait for the day I have my house back and it's just the house, no extras inside, garage apartment built, bedroom organized, living room clear of mess and my large couch having more than the one spot available. Piles are the devil. When Dad moves in, I get his old wooden filing cabinet circa the 50's or 60's from his business days. It's probably 6ft tall and kitschy as all hell. I love. Fresh coat of paint and it's good to go for my piles of papers that seem to come with owning a house.

I may feel better once Dad's room is ready, even maybe with just my toasty grey paint done. Anyone know a good handyman who can put up wallpaper, put up a beadboard ceiling that will cover up that popcorn, and electrical for hanging a new light fixture?

Also anyone you know into 130 acres farm land with 20 acres for a potential future acreage in High Prairie?

"Dad's Room Again"

So I didn't wait until tomorrow.

Ready to Prime...

Primer Coat 1...

I got tired. 

Primer Coat 2 tomorrow. I think I need a second coat?

"Dad's Room"

Dad is coming to live with me this fall, so it's time to clean up what has been named the "junk room".

Due to the tear out of my basement, I had to bring a lot upstairs. Now that the basement is dry, it's time to move things back down and recycle a ridiculous amount of boxes and bags. The purging occurred 2 weeks ago. Done.

Yesterday I went and purchased primer and paint in "Toasty Grey" from Rona. It's actually beige with a grey undertone. Very nice. Matches the wallpaper I have selected for the feature wall behind the headboard, also purchased from Rona.

Today I pulled all the old nails out of the walls from the previous owners and patched. Now I'm just waiting for it to dry before I can prime. Finally, going to get rid of the teal walls.

How many holes can be in one room?

Now to wait for tomorrow. 

I suppose I can move more things out of that room. Too bad I have to deal with piles of papers first. More purging to occur. I hope.

"My Red Bedroom"

I've been wanting a change in my bedroom. Namely changing up my bedding. I've been looking and looking, googling and googling, to see if there are any duvet covers out there that will give me what I want.

I have a room accented in red, and off whites, and more beiges and browns. My current rug has red and grey cherry blossoms on an off white background. I wanted to play up the red and grey. Ever since touring IKEA during my kitchen purchasing trips, I want this bed:

It's comfy. Grey upholstered fabric. Perfect for reading in bed.

In my googling I found this image as an inspiration:

Today the new IKEA catalogue came and I saw these pillow cases:

Then in IKEA today, I saw this fabric:

And this pillow:

Next thing you know, I'm thinking of making a duvet cover from the striped fabric, something I was looking for. I also saw this fabric, while the wheels were turning, to pull out the grey from my area rug:

Trust me, the writing is grey.

And this is my plan, I just need to get a duvet pattern, but that's what the internet is for:

Now to find the pattern, the time, and the money....