2023 Halftime Report
What would you call it when you’re waiting 30 minutes for the optometrist to open so you can make your yearly vision appointment, and then you break your glasses in half while cleaning them?
Kismet?
Serendipity?
Irony?
WTF?
Well, that’s where I find myself this morning as I sit down to hunt and peck at the keyboard with two monocles where 20 minutes ago, I had a beautiful pair of spectacles.
I guess they knew it was about to be their time…
But the blind fun has already begun! I went downstairs to rummage up some sustenance and chanced upon a clear plastic tub full of little round white things. These weren’t familiar, and I oughta know, since I do the shopping and cooking. But I do seem to remember Handan making a beeline for the bakery the last time we stopped into Publix.
I glanced at the store-printed label, which quite clearly wrote, “TOASTED MORON.”
Toasted Moron?
Sounded like some sort of California hippie granola.
I asked my babes about the Toasted Moron. After all, she was the one who put them in the shopping cart. Maybe she could give a little insight into these little dunce nuggets.
She looked at the tub in my hand and burst out laughing.
Well, the good news is I got an appointment this week, and I’ve since located my backup pair of glasses, so I should be able to muddle through the next few days with a minimum of moronity.
Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, how have you been?
I know, I know, it’s been a month, but the things we’ve done in that month!
As I mentioned in a recent email, we undertook our biggest DIY project ever…at the worst possible time.
Limewashing our house (which still isn’t finished, I should mention), would have been an unbelievably perfect project for two months ago, when the weather was…perfect.
But the day we started (and I’m not exaggerating) coincided with an influx of heat and daily thunderstorms. That only lasted about a week though. Then the real fun began.
Two weeks (or so) of blistering heat and humidity with heat indices regularly in the 110s.
Then, the daily rains again.
It took us a month to finish the front, but that also includes a 100% remake of the landscaping beds. Now I’m onto limewashing the sides, and we still have to rip up about 100 feet of sod and lay in new garden beds.
So it’s been a job and a half, and it’s not done yet.
But at least the front is done, and that means we can get a jump on Halloween. And you can bet your sweet bippies we’ve already started!
Before I jump into the ghouls and goblins, let me catch you up on what else has been happening here since winter. Blog posts will be coming on all of it, once I can free up a little more time.
Now, I know I promised a blog post about the limewashing in the last email I sent. I was only holding it back because I hadn’t gotten the chance to take proper photographs with my professional camera. Well…
I still haven’t because it has rained or been cloudy every single evening for the past three+ weeks!
It is far too grand a project for mediocre photos, so I will wait until I get the perfect light!
But just to hold you over, here’s a quick iPhone snap from the evening we fully finished the front. If I only had another hour of light, I could have gotten professional pics!
This makeover has created an unexpected controversy on social media, with some loving it and some absolutely livid about what we did to the bricks. Some have even called for me to be jailed for it. 🤣
Before this massive undertaking (and another prime factor in the relative lack of blog posts this year), we built a pergola and a gazebo on our patio.
The pergola in particular was another huge endeavor, as it required a lot of heavy lifting and grunt work. But by and by (and with the help of Baris home on spring break last March), we got it done. Not to spoil the surprise, but here’s a little peek at the pergola.
This was quickly followed by a gazebo build for the far end of the patio!
These posts will be coming soon along with some DIYs made specifically for them!
Many of you will remember our very first viral post from the summer of 2017 – Handan’s beautiful waterdrop solar lights.
Well, I remade them this year in a simpler manner, so if you never got around to making them, or if the original version proved a little tricky for you, please have a look at our updated waterdrop solar lights!
Back inside, I gave three closets a makeover this year, two of which I’ve shared. The other closet makeover was for the guest bedroom closet, and I’ll be sharing that one soon.
I’m also in the process of giving our lanai an overhaul. It all started back when we stained our patio earlier in the year. I took that time to slap a new color on the brick lanai floor, and things snowballed from there!
Now, that puts me to right about now. I’ve got two active projects – limewashing and Halloween (really, a group of projects), but I have several more on the horizon. Presented here in no particular order (and not counting seasonal craft projects):
- Finish painting the downstairs interior
- Makeover the bonus room to an exercise room
- Guest bathroom makeover
- Master bathroom makeover
- Master bedroom makeover
- Living room makeover
- Family room makeover
- Dining room makeover
The dining room has been a thorn in my side since we had to fire the brick tilers in the spring of 2022. That tiling is still not finished!
We have, however, set up the dining room despite the unfinished walls.
But this fall, in those precious moments between Halloween and Christmas, I intend to finish that damn wall and share our glorious new dining room with you all!
Until then, we thank you for your patience as we grind our way through these projects. And if you’re not following us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, you might want to join in the fun, because our content hits social media before I get the chance to write it up in full detail!
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Ahh the great debate of painting brick, I’ve been there! The comments made for some great entertainment. I hope you took them as that, and are enjoying your beautiful home!
Oh yes, Heather! We love the bad ones almost as much as the good. they give me the chance to sharpen my fangs! 🙂
Ah yes, and the newly-sharpened fangs will go great with the Halloween projects! 🧛🦇👻💀
Hehehehe – yes!
Your home looks absolutely stunning. Love the look of the Limewashing … well done!!!
Thanks, Debbie! 🙂
Toasted Morons😜🤪Hahaha Love it!!!! Love the Limestone 🫶🏼 Can’t wait to see the finale! 🫶🏼🫶🏼
:D:D:D All coming soon, Kim!
Well, if you look at the listing photo of the outside of your home and what it looks like now….I think it would be considered an amazing transformation!! You guys do great work!! Can hardly wait to see what you have up your sleeve(less🥵) for Halloween! It’s never too early for Halloween!!! I’m planning mine right now!😉😉😉
We agree on all accounts, Cindy! 😀
I am a bit confused, you limewashed the outside because you didn’t like the coloured brick but then you add coloured brick to the dining room. Hmm.
I hear ya, Jancie, but what is not shown in that picture is the kinda sorta german smear/whitewash we’ve started on the other side of the columns., It’ll make more sense when we’re finished. Besides, the bricks we chose for the dining room are a more tolerable color than those outside.
I absolutely LOVE the Lime Wash!!!! I’m not a fan of brick, but painted white brick is GORGEOUS!! The house looks a ton better this way! Yes, the heat has been unbearable – keep hydrated!
Thank you, Jaime! I’m keeping my outside time to a minimum!
I was wondering what happened to the brick wall project.
I am right there with you on the list of projects. I am heading into the home stretch…{fingers crossed} with the rooms that just need a paint and refresh before I tackle a kitchen that I want a new ceiling in….
I am team LOVE THE LIMEWASH .
Awesome! We love it too, Margie. Best decision we ever made! 🙂
I love the limewashing. It is beautiful. For those old fogies who don’t like change, (and I mean young and old), would you like to still be in a cabin, uninsulated and having to draw your water from a well?
Thank you, Marcia! Change is change and what’s old is new. Every generation will find something to bitch about!
Greg, you are such a hoot! I love all these projects. I hope you can finish the limewashing (now that you’ve ruined the brick 🤣) in the fall when the weather cools down a bit.
Thank you, Sheri! I dream about doing outside projects in the fall when it’ll only be 85 instead of 100!
Well, I love the lime wash. Your house – your rules
Reading your post exhausted me because of all the work you’ve done. Everything looks amazing!
My husband, T., and I were supposed to buy a 100+ year old house that needed some work. We changed our minds though. Two 65 yr olds and a bunch of work – no go. We’ve redone 4 houses during our 40+ yr marriage and we’re done, lol- unless an old house becomes available that doesn’t require massive work. Shhh, don’t tell T.
Thanks, Ju! Sounds like someone isn’t quite ready to give it all up just yet! 😀
You ARE a “Glutton for Punishment” my dear mother would have said…that IS a lot of Projects to…start, deal with, complete…*sigh* franki
Tell me about it, Franki! LOLOL!
Amazing
You
Handan
Florida weather
All of the above
It all looks fabulous
Thank you so much, Cheryl!
Love the lime wash but what is the purpose of white trunks on crepe myrtles?
Hi Debi, the limewash on the trees protects them from sun scald, fungus and bugs! It’s a common practice around the world and used to be common here a generation or two ago!
I for one LOVE the whitewashed bricks. Gave the house such a bright look. Landscaping is beautiful, too.
Thank you so much, Cynthia!
Not all brick is created equal. I’ve never understood people’s obsession with brick remaining, well, brick. Goes for wood too. Not all are equal. And yet there are some who are purists. Frankly, it’s your house. Not that it matters, but I think it looks great!
Exactly, Cynthia! 🙂
I’m always so amazed at the creativity, craft, and economy of all your projects.
Hey Uncle Ray! Thank you! 👊👊
I think the lime washing looks fantastic. I like it much better than the traditional red brick (which looked a bit odd when paired with the different stone facade at the entrance. The stone looks better against the white brick now IMHO. I don’t know how you can stand that heat though. I would be a puddle of goo on the sidewalk out in that. Question though, what is the purpose of the limewash on the bottom of those trees? Does it prevent bug infestation or something? Inquiring minds want to know.
Hi Laurie, I’m so sorry for the late reply! I agree about the old brick and the stone. Such a weird combo. And the red roof on top of it all? blech. Much better now. The limewash on the tree trunks helps prevent sun scald, and it keeps the bugs away and helps prevent disease. Since we did it, our crapes have been blossoming like gangbusters!