Sunday, January 31, 2010

Vanity, thy name is woman



So the final unveiling of the newly modernized vanity, complete with Juparana Columbo granite all the way from India, Kohler rectangular undercounter mounted sinks, and cherry cabinets, is presented for your viewing pleasure.


The four-month project began in earnest in September when we waddled through the vast options of materials available, and agreed on the cabinet selection. Lucky for me J has a keen eye for color and geometry. He's also got a knack for spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungus. Don't be jealous of his large collection of photos, but that's another story.

Back to the project....the custom order was placed in October and installed in early December. The granite installation, by Stone Tech, followed without issue (thanks to Sue for the referral). It was difficult scheduling the plumber to install the faucets and connect the drain. Mercer Contractors sent its finest faucet expert, who left us with one sink that wouldn't hold water, and also leaked (that was on my side, of course). Interesting enough, the professional plumber said the bottom ring that sits in the sink, was the culprit, a manufacturing defect that he sees all the time! Moen was great about sending a replacement part, which arrived in three days, and wasn't needed anyway . Henceforth the plumber was missing in action. After many unreturned phone calls, and two weeks sharing J's sink, I turned to the jack-of-all trades brother Brian, who, for a home cooked meal, answered my cry for help promptly. He and J Fixed It in no time. The following week Brian returned and he and J ran the electrical. The lights were illuminated.

Of course the focal point of the project occurred the week before Christmas when Ori and crew of Faux Painting Masters spent a week taste-testing home baked Xmas cookies, and making the walls perfect! Check out this great website ...who could resist Ori's charm anyway?

http://www.fauxpaintingmasters.com

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Roger, we have lift-off


Day 20
Karen's roller-coaster adventure of emotional highs and butterfly turns of herbal anticipation isn't as dramatic, I must admit, as an around-the-world balloon flight of the Breitling Orbiter 3, which also took place over 20 days. However I am astonished at the steroid-free growth rate of my indoor garden. It takes longer than 20 days just to get some seeds to germinate.

Like giving a slight haircut, more like a trim, I chopped dill, chives and thyme today (just after taking this photo) and added them to our classic tuna salad sandwiches today. Enjoying fresh herbs in the doldrums of winter teases my taste buds, and makes me yearn for springtime, or maybe a hot air balloon ride.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Blinded by the lights


Did you know the wall color is actually green? The strange lights are coming from the AeroGarden, and the intensity was so bothersome to J (and you can image what he was saying as he was trying to watch TV, and the blinding light was giving him more than a headache). So my little friends have been relegated to Meg's bedroom for now. It's just a matter of time before neighbor Luanne calls on Mulder and Scully to investigate.

The growth is astonishing. In just the second week nourishment replenishment, in the way of water and nutrients, were required. The chives are five inches tall!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Day 9 - Time to shine


The sun does not shine on the six herbs in my special garden. The 16 hours of glow illuminating the subjects is generated by two special, high output, full spectrum, energy efficient grow bulbs provided by AeroGarden. It's so bright it illuminates the entire house and for protection from potential law suits, visitors been been relegated to wear sunglasses and apply lotion. There is still enough light left over that my soul is on fire.

The force is working better than human hormone therapy. The chives are growing an inch a day, as seen in the photo. Before you know it John will have to fire up the mower in January, something he hasn't done since we lived in Florida.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

AeroGarden Day 7

We're in the seventh day of herb growth in the new garden of Eden. God would have created the universe in less time. The chives and dill plants are more than an inch high. The basils, both purple and Italian, are abundant and compact, as are the thyme plants. The mint, the most prolific of culinary varieties, has been slower to germinate. I'm sure it will make up for lost time soon. The parsley, which is a difficult herb to cultivate outdoors, has yet to sprout, although I do see indications of seed swelling. All indications are this fool-proof contraption in living up to its reputation and takes my attention from the bitter cold to the cozy indoors.

Front page headlines of yesterday's The Times (Trenton that is) cited "killings fell by nearly half since 2005 - but Trenton accounts for every one in the county." Scary to know that the second killing of the year occurred March 14 at 940 Melrose Avenue. It was a domestic violence murder in which an adult male stabbed to death the mother of his 7-year-old daughter. So why am I so fascinated with Trenton, the birthplace of me and my six siblings, you might ask? Well, our childhood houses, yes there were two, happened to be on Melrose Avenue, just one bloke away from the homicide victim's homestead. More than forty years ago we left behind the hard times of a Chambersberg area neighborhood, in the southern portion of Trenton notable for its strong reflection of Italian and Italian-American culture, to the Main Line of Philadelphia. Best move we ever made!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Welcome 2010



We spend the dawn of the new year walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up lists of work to be done, improvements to be made, cracks to be patched. This year, to balance the list, I wish to walk through the rooms of my life not looking for flaws, but for potential, and to rise above the little things. Where this leads me is anyone's guess. It should be an exciting year!

Let me introduce you to our AreoGarden, complements of Matt. It's a foolproof, dirt-free, indoor gardens–so easy to use that anyone can grow lush, beautiful gardens, all year round. In the AeroGarden, you can grow almost anything, anywhere, anytime, with no dirt (no dirty finger nails), no weeds, and no gardening experience needed. Currently herbs are planted, and once fully harvested (within three months) I will switch to cherry tomatoes, complements of Matt as well. There will be some good eats in the Kennedy household.

Our success is 100% guaranteed; it says so on the box.