6.22.2014

Taos Adventure

Our friend Turner's house- and dogsitting outside of Taos, so we decided to get out of town for a little visit. First chance, after years, to test out the big bed Mon made for the car. Performed without incident, but not sure Cheyenne ever settled in on the hour-plus drive up.

Turned off the main road well before Taos, onto a small road winding through some awfully green land. Almost swampy at times. Was that a red-winged blackbird?

Arrived at the house late morning, greeted by Turner. It was time for "his" dogs' walks: Otto, the little black heeler-chow-oid, and Zeke, the greyhound. Zeke, as it turns out, has the ear tattoos, but was probably bred to be a hunting dog — very different build.

Their path takes them through a couple meadows and down to the little river, the source of all the green. Otto, bounding off leash all around; Cheyenne, head down, found a path and had to walk on it. Zeke … I'm not entirely sure. He was balky, grudgingly agreed to go along, but I never saw as I was out in front getting pulled along by Cheyenne.

She walked a little into the river, a bit unsteady on the rock bottom, but she likes walking through water. But. So. Many. Mosquitos. We hastily returned to the house. A beautiful, two-story house, we all agreed kind of a mix of Hamptons by way of New Mexico. Didn't need to wonder long where the dogs fit in there, once we saw the giant sectional in the living room covered by sheets to accommodate them.



Passed the afternoon grilling, chatting, catching up. Slathered on the bug repellent and led Cheyenne on a mission to specifically walk in and through the river, but she didn't care for walking on the rocks. Zeke, so overwhelmed by mosquitos, just returned.

We headed home soon after, but not after having to chase Otto out of the open-for-packing-up car twice, and once when he just jumped through the window. A little tired.

6.08.2014

shelf project

There's a little nicho in the bathroom. All the Stamm houses had them. The shelves are glass. Who paints over removable glass shelves? (In that horrible yellow cream color?) I know, I'll just strip off the paint and we'll have glass shelves again! Stop laughing!


28 March

After the first coat of CitriStrip/scraping. Yeah, I don't care what the bottle says, you're going need to let that sit longer than 30 minutes.


29 March

Cover it with plastic (cut-up trash bags) and let it sit at least 24 hours.


29 March

Apparently someone, at some point, thought it would be a good idea to paint that thing a bright orange-red. Over mauve.


31 March

We're gonna need a bigger boat another coat. Also, probably should mask off the walls better. And take the towel bar down.


31 March

Yup, glass shelves.


1 April

They're in there real good.


1 April

Had to break the shelves to get them out. Baseball hat? Check. Long sleeve shirt? Check. Safety goggles over my glasses? Gloves? Train robber bandana over my nose and mouth? Check checkity check. It's hammer time!


1 April

After more cleanup, sanding, scraping, wood putty, more sanding.


1 April

Then 2 coats of primer, followed by 4 coats of white paint (Behr Swan Wing, to match the trim in the rest of the house), followed by no photos of any of that.

And then we had a series of dinner guests, so I dumped all my painting/stripping supplies in the bathtub and closed the shower curtain.

And then Andy was coming to visit, so I had to clear out the tub, put the towel bar back up, clean the bathroom, and get some new glass shelves.


14 May

And there you go.


14 May

The end.