I have come to the conclusion that blogging and renovating your house just don’t mix well, unless of course there is absolutely nothing else going on other than renovating or you were blogging about renovating only. Maybe it would work then or maybe it’s just me! I have been dancing as fast as I can (to borrow a phrase from someone I can’t remember) but haven’t done a very good job keeping up with things.

Even though  I have been a lousy blogger the last little while, I have been a hard-working renovator and I can let you know the renovation is almost complete (there should be a short fanfare of trumpets that plays as you read that) There are a few things left to do, the tile back-splash in the kitchen, which has been promised for this week coming and the fireplace mantle are still being finished  but that’s all.

Don’t let the step-ladder fool you, the bathroom is done. Just a bit of cleaning ( OK allot of cleaning) and  finding a better place to keep the loo roll!  and I can hang towels and put out the pretty soap.

Thank heavens it was a nice day when the counter-tops arrived. These gentlemen drilled the holes in the counter for the taps outside in the front garden. It was a bit cold but the yellow ear protectors were for the noise not the cold, the drill was deafening.

The counters are installed and I have appliances!

So… more cleaning and a few evenings spent reading the  manuals ( I’m one of those people who read manuals and operating instructions, a bit sad isn’t it)  and we will be up and running and maybe even cooking.

My studio has been taken over for the finishing of the mantle piece so I haven’t gotten much done in there , the smell is so strong it has driven me out and it’s too cold to have the door open for long. But I have been doing a bit of prep work for a Paper and Stitch workshop I am giving in January for the Vancouver Guild of Fibre Arts.

I’ve been having  a great time adding a bit of pen and ink to these copies of pages from my sketchbook. It’s my renovation therapy to have something to stitch and draw on!

There’s not much happening in the way of Christmas around here, there’s just nowhere safe to put it. I did manage some lights in the garden and the outside of the house so the neighbors won’t think the Grinch lives here but short of a beautiful poinsettia that it for this year. With the exception of Bart’s Santa hat, which much to his chagrin I manged to find and he “agreed” to wear for a quick photo.

Happy almost Christmas, hope all your preparations are going to plan!

Bye for now, Catherine