Since the biblical flood a while back, the kitchen has taken to sprouting mold at an alarming rate. Black patches had popped up everywhere, on the walls, coving and ceilings. It was becoming a little embarrassing as well as horrible to look at, so I finally grabbed the bull by the horns and decided to decorate the kitchen. Starting is always the hardest part!
Given we spend most of our time in this room it’s the worst and the most cluttered in the house to decorate.
Everything gets shuffled from one side of the room to the other. Oh my….so much stuff! I had an urge to lose most of it rather than put it all back again!
It doesn’t matter how well you cover surfaces, pinpricks of white ceiling paint end up splattering everything. I’ll be picking them off for a year!
It’s horrific seeing how much dust, cobwebs and other gunk are lurking behind furniture. Astonishing what you find too, lost jewelry, dogs toys and keys amongst other things!
Finally, the kitchen is painted, along with the dogs and all is back in it’s rightful place, now washed, dusted and polished to within an inch of it’s life. I was grateful that hubs did all the ceilings, how I loathe doing those! I wonder how long it will stay this clean before the cobwebs and other gunk starts gathering again. Lovely to see the back of all that mold though.
Now I’m on a roll I’ll keep going and do a few other rooms along with the hall and landing.
I’m beginning to cast an eye around the gardens too, there’s so much to do out there! I bought a new Acer and standard rose for the planters in the back to replace those that died in the drought last year, and grabbed myself a shedload of seed potatoes, Casablanca, Sharpe’s Express and Arran Pilot along with shallots and garlic…..ooooh, how late is that garlic!
I have a project in mind for the front garden, I’d like to remove the wilderness along our fence and replace it with fruit bushes so I’ve been collecting them.
They are all now happily potted up in the greenhouse, half of which is now tidied. I’ve also sown the peppers.
The potatoes are now merrily chitting and I’ve bought a few extra seeds to go with the ones I already have. Obviously I’ll be buying more! It’s an illness!
A girl can never have too many seeds.
I do feel a little virtuous now I’ve made a start on the house and gardens. Lovely to see spanking new gutters working properly too.
And Finally….
There has also been time to play out. Daughter and I attended a lovely workshop…
and hubs and I have frequented several pubs sporting open fires. This one is my favourite as it sits on a canal. What’s not to like in the rain and wind?
Without a doubt the kitchen is always the hardest room to decorate, so fab when it’s sorted though. What’s not to love re canals and pubs! Good on you and Eddie…long may that continue….canal pubs work all year round! Thanks Jan.xxx
Well done on getting your kitchen decorated, I think it’s the hardest room to decorate … because the kitchen really is the heart and hub of the home.
Eddie and I love walking down by canals and stopping in the pub is a wonderful past-time, no matter if it’s winter or summer 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your week.
All the best Jan
Everything looks fabulous! Love the tiles in your kitchen. :o)
Thanks Casa, you and I have similar tastes, bold and quirky! Hope all is well with you.xxx
Well done you, what a great job , painting is so satisfying, everything clean and sparkly. I agree about ceilings, I hate doing them. (But hang on Dina, I didn’t have you down as a Daily Mail reader.)
You have certainly got great plans for the garden and loads of energy. And how lovely to spend special time with your daughter. Love that iris.
I am pleased to have the kitchen sorted, I hate painting but love the results, as you say, having things sparkling, clean and shiny is wonderful. As for the ceilings, if hubs didn’t do them these days I’d just leave them. First time hubs has done them…..he’ll never get out of them again!!!
Hahahahaha….I’m laughing out loud, a Daily Mail reader, that’s worse than accusing me of reading The Sun…but I have to tell you that that paper is worth it’s weight in gold, it’s soooo thick, it sorts all the rabbits, hogs, foxes and other animal cages in the rescue. My porch is a dumping ground for all of our neighbours, as they drop off newspapers, bedding, feed…amongst other things, for the rescue. Those newspapers come in handy for me, for decorating and as I still have a hog, and usually more outdoors. For the record, my dear friend, I’m paperless…I read the news online. I do have great plans for the garden, usually inspired by your good self. Thanks Chloris.xxx
What a relief, I just couldn’t imagine you curled up with the DM. Such poisonous, mendacious, right wing propaganda. This is a Guardian household, I sometimes try to smuggle in the Saturday Telegraph because it has a great gardening section but I am in trouble if I get found out by Comrade Pianist.
Dear of you to say I am a horticultural inspiration.
Couldn’t agree more re the DM, nasty little paper, unlike the Guardian. Comrade Pianist….hahahahaha, love it! Well of course you are an inspiration, Head Gardener of the blogging world!xxx
You have had an early jump on spring cleaning….you must feel good about your new kitchen. you certainly have your work cut out for you, and there is nothing quite like a fire in a cosy pub on a cold blustery winter’s day. Looks like Spring might make an appearance here by the end of the week. Any news with babies?? xxxxx
It was a forced spring clean but how lovely to have it done and over with! It is great to know all is clean and dusted in the kitchen….but the canal pubs and fun times are soooo much better, when you come here I’ll take you to the best pubs, I know what you like! Daughter is 38 week this Friday….thanks Janet, love to you.xxx
We had to rework our kitchen last year and it is a major trauma, so good for you for biting the bullet and getting it done. It’s definitely better afterward, even if you uncover all kinds of grungy stuff.
Kitchens are a nightmare, glad you sorted yours last year! Oh…the grunge is so gross isn’t it? But whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and all that…….lol! Thanks Jason.xxx
You have put me to shame. Again! It’s taking me a long time to get going this year, must be all the adjustment needed coming back to the cold. But mentally I am psyching myself up for a big decorating project too. It feels so good when it’s done doesn’t it, it’s just the starting… oh well done you!
I doubt I’ve put you to shame…you sorted your bathroom after all! Every time hubs and I got home after a winter holiday we struggled to get going in the cold! Good luck with your next huge decorating job…sighs….all we we gardeners want to do is play out in the garden. Yes,starting is the hardest bit…Thanks Jess.xxx
The scene is like our most dreaded yearly spring cleaning which we used to carry out when I was still a kid. Glad to hear it’s finally almost over for you and that you’ve the time to enjoy yourself now.
Happy seeding and happy gardening to you!
How I get that dreaded spring clean, it felt like that while decorating the kitchen! I wouldn’t have gone for it if there hadn’t been so much mold! It’s good to put the paintbrush down and do a little gardening! Thanks Jade.xxx
I was horrified to hear of your mold, and then relieved almost immediately to read that it had been dealt with. After every hurricane or flood, the mold is one of the most immediate and pressing problems here, and it can be hard to deal with. Not healthy, either! But what fun, to be decorating after all that. It looks so warm and inviting — lucky you to have a ceiling specialist in your house!
I was interested to hear about those potatoes. The names weren’t familiar to me, and you’ve made me realize I stopped eating potatoes many months — years — ago. Perhaps I need to scout the markets, and see if some new varieties have shown up here.
I had to laugh by the time I reached the end of your post. Apart from one oblique reference to “the dogs,” there weren’t any peacocks, dogs, pigeons, or hedgehogs here! That alone makes clear exactly how busy you’ve been with all these other projects — your poor animals must have thought you’d turn into a whirlwind!
We had a real problem with mold after that flood in the house, mold is horrible to look at and awful for our health so very happy that is sorted! I hope you guys have a way to dispatch it too….you have actual weather to deal with so I get the challenges.
Goodness…you don’t eat potatoes??? How can anyone not eat potatoes???? They are the best veggies..EVER! No chips? Roasties? The mind boggles!
Oh…all the critters are alive and well….that pige is my biggest dilemma at the moment! Thanks Linda.xxx
How any hours do you have in your days? Such a lot of activity packed in.
I just go on a bender for a few weeks Sue, once the decorating is done I go back to pottering! You do it on a daily basis…respect!xxx
Wow, I am sooooooooooo impressed. Does nothing stop you, Dina?? BTW did you use any special anti-damp paint? We have probs with damp too and so does our youngest daughter. I love the colours of the kitchen – so cosy and cheerful! Glad you have time for pubs too 🙂
I sprayed the mold with ….Stain Sealer, PlastiKote….it really does work, it seals the mold before you paint, takes about ten minutes to dry. So far so good, and we really did have bad mold. I bought mine in B&M, it wasn’t expensive. I haven’t used it before and am impressed that no stain has come though, in the past they are back day one. This girl will always have time for playing out! Thanks Gill…..watch out for those buses! Hahahahahaxxx
Oh how you put me to shame on the decorating front. My problem is that I just can’t decide on which colour to paint the walls, so I have ended up not tackling the job at all. Seeing how you have set to with yours has given me that extra impetus. I live opposite a paint store so I will make time to walk over there and choose some paint.
That sounds like a good idea to plant fruit bushes around the perimeter. Do you think that passers by might help themselves to the fruit ? The heavy snow has damaged a few of my shrubs. Have you had much damage to your garden during the bad weather ? I have heard that we are set for more of the same in the next week or so…
And at first I did wonder if you had found that old range at some architectural salvage place and installed it in your home. I wouldn’t have been surprised ! Looks very inviting. I do like pubs with lots of character.
Can’t wait for your next post. Keep up the good work x
I am looking forward to hearing that you have chosen a colour and have made a start, starting is the hardest part. I usually stick with white ceilings and magnolia walls, then add one warm bold colour, I love heritage green paint for half a wall, I think you’d like that, I have it in the lounge, bottom half of the walls only. I think my neighbour may steal the fruit but that’s fine as it comes back as pies or crumbles!
I lost many plants in the drought, none o far this winter, but hten we haven’t had a deep freeze that has lasted. Hahahaha re that range, if I could have bought that I would have. How well you know me! Thanks Keggs, hope all is well with you.xxx
I love your painted kitchen.. once you get on a roll with painting there is no stopping! But I draw the line with ceilings & Paul does those. Glad you are taking time off for nice courses with your daughter & going to cosy pubs with your hubs.
Sadly I have stopped, I’m now distracted by the garden, but the paint is still out which bodes well! How I hate ceilings, they totally destroy a gals neck, not to mention how dizzy you get! I’ll always play out, it balances all the chores! Thanks Gerrie. xxx
Down here is what Ishould have said.
Ready for the next season. Still hot up here. Things will cool down in a few weeks.
Hoping things cool down for you, saw the fires, how scary! xxx
PS: Also jealous of all the fun, cozy pubs! Have fun!!!
If you ever visit, I shall take you to all the very bestest pubs! I know which ones you’ll love…the same ones I do!!!xxx
Your entire home, inside and out, always looks enchanting to me, Dina, but wow, have you been BUSY making it even more magical and beautiful. Agree that husbands are most gifted in ceiling painting. 😚
Sure hope the mold is eradicated, too; don’t need that in your nest!
Oh, how I envy your greenhouse and milder temperatures. Can’t wait to see what comes up and blooms next. Love the idea of fruit bushes in the front.
Love to all and thank you for a beautiful post!
Thanks Kitty, I’m glad you don’t have a closer view of the house and gardens…..how I wish it was enchanting! Husbands are the best when it comes to ceilings, I just can’t look up that much without my neck throbbing and getting dizzy…. The mold has gone which is just lovely, don’t need that around with a newborn! You have so much land….grab yourself some greenhouses, Philip will have them up in a giffy!!! Love and hugs to you all.xxx
Toys and keys, old notes, large bils and gold coins are all okay, just so long as you don’t find skeletons… But you do like to work hard, Dina. Isn’t winter a good time to curl up with a book near the fire? Warm regards to Scarlet. xxx
No skeletons in the closet please.
Indeed!xxx
Oh yes, everyone should spend winter curled up in front of a fire with a good book, I do that in the evenings in the lounge in front of the logburner…..well….only when Curly doesn’t want in for the night! So glad I didn’t find any skeletons!!! Lovely to hear from you, as always!xxx
Glad you have banished the mold! I’m amazed you can paint in such high humidity. I’m not a little exhausted just looking at all you’ve had to do. Don’t know how you maintain such energy!
You can’t just tell me you bought a rose — what’s its name and color? I like the idea of your new fruit hedge. Hopefully, it won’t attract too many hungry critters, some of whom are not very tidy in their munching habits!
How I hate mold! Soooo good to see the back of that! I wasn’t painting in high humidity, I had the heating on full blast but it was still so cold it took four days for the paint to dry, some of it actually dripped of the walls for days…. so re-touches are needed, that’s a first for me! I think you have far more energy than me, I’m good flat out for a few weeks,but not good on a daily basis, as you clearly are!
That rose was a supermarket one, a small standard white tea-rose, just a liitlun to go in the planter. Daughter bought me two far more interesting roses for my birthday…large standards, Super trouper, orange blooms and Rhapsody in Blue, purple blooms, fading to blue. Thanks Anne.xxx
Goodness you have been busy. I agree with Jo about the kitchen being the hardest room to decorate. I like the open fire in the last picture.
And as for buying (more) seeds don’t we all do that! xx
The kitchen is always the biggest pain to decorate for sure, good to have it sorted. Oh yes….we gardeners all have the seed buying bug….It’s hard to stop once you start, then you worry where all these plants will eventually go! Thanks Flighty.xxx
I’m sure you must feel happy to have got the kitchen decorating done. It’s such a big job, but you can now concentrate on other things such as planning your next garden project – fruit bushes along by the front garden fence will be interesting and productive at the same time. It looks as if you’ve been very busy in the greenhouse. It’s nice to spend time with your daughter at an event that interests you both and the visit to the pub with the cozy open fire sounds relaxing.
It is good to have the kitchen out of the way, this really is the time to start focusing on the garden. I’m looking forward to having fruit bushes lining the fence, but first everything needs to be cut back and dug out…..it’s never-ending isn’t it? Thanks Linda.xxx
I think the kitchen is the hardest room to decorate as you can’t just vacate it, it’s a case of working round everything that’s going on. The problem with getting one room decorated is that it then shows the others up so you end up going right through the house, a never ending job! Arran Pilot are a favourite potato here and I’ve grown Sharpe’s Express too, a lovely flavour but you have to be very careful when boiling them as they soon break up, just a word of warning.
How I agree about the kitchen being the hardest room to decorate, it’s always a total nightmare, so I’m so pleased to have it sorted. Oh yes, one nicely decorated room always shows the others up….sighs….
I shall keep your advice in mind as this is the first time I’ve grown Sharpe’s Express. Thanks Jo.xxx
Well done on getting down to decorate your kitchen. I remember doing mine a while ago and being horrified by the general greasy gunge on all my racks and hangers! I’m now trying to pluck up the courage to tackle the master bedroom. I think next week’s the week! That workshop looks interesting; I hope all your intentions come to fruition – along with all your new bushes!! xx
It’s such a relief having the kitchen decorated, it’s large and cluttered and a nightmare to sort, glad that’s done. The grease etc is hideous isn’t it? Oh….good luck with the bedroom, I haven’t picked the paint brush up again, I have been distracted by the garden, I’m very easily distracted when it comes to decorating. Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx