The "A" Word

Over the past couple weeks we have been dealing with the word any home owner dreads... Asbestos.

When we purchased the house, our home inspector warned us that the cement board siding was likely of the age that it contained asbestos. Since the asbestos was safely encapsulated in cement board it was not enough to scare us away from buying the house but we have spent the last six years scheming up ways to get rid of the siding without having to pay to have it tested for asbestos or, even worse, paying to have it properly abated.

Then about a month ago we mentioned our predicament over beers with the contractor building the house three doors down and he informed us that any home owner can properly dispose of asbestos at the City landfill by simply obtaining a permit.

What??? A permit??? We were certain we were going to have to sneak the asbestos into the landfill!

I guess in hindsight it makes sense that the City has a system in place for home owners to safely dispose of asbestos without going broke hiring an abatement company or resorting to improperly dumping it in the landfill or illegally dumping it somewhere else.

So we called 3-1-1 and were put in contact with the Industrial Waste department that issued us a permit to dispose of the asbestos. The permit cost us $23.

We still had to follow the proper protocols to safely remove and transfer the asbestos... wear suits and respirators, double bag the waste in 6 mil poly, etc...

It was a lot of work but now it is all behind us. Another nightmare checked off the list.

Amy

It's All Coming Off

Before

After

Still one more layer to go...

Amy

More Lamp ♥

While searching for our beside table lamps for the master bedroom I stumbled across this cute little table lamp at Anthropologie.

Anthropologie Menlo Lamp

Is it not the perfect match for our hallway pendant lights?

Wilmette Lighting Clark Pendant

This cute little lamp might just find its way onto a side table in the office... just actually have to pick out a side table first... and maybe the chair for the table to be beside...

Amy

Door Hardware

Yup, we did it again. We changed our minds.

This past weekend we headed to our favourite hardware store, Banbury Lane, to find a new handleset for the inner front door and two french doors on the back of the house to match the handleset we bought for the front door.

Sandcast Bronze Rectangular, Emtek

We have decided to use the dark oil-rubbed-bronze colour on the exterior of the house to contrast the light yellow siding but want to maintain the brushed nickle throughout the interior of the house which meant we needed something beyond what is available on the shelf in Home Depot. Thankfully the people at Banbury are beyond helpful and we were quickly able to pick out a Sandcast Bronze set to go on the outer side of the doors and a brushed nickle plate with a traditional crystal knob for the inside of the doors.

Sandcast Bronze Rectangular, Emtek

Old Town Clear Knob, Emtek

Colonial Plate, Emtek

However, when we got home we began to think that it would bring our house to the next level if we had the traditional crystal knobs everywhere...

We had bought standard Schlage hardware for all of the interior doors from Home Depot ages ago, but apparantly Dave can't resist a little bling either, so we quickly folded and added four passage sets and twelve dummy sets with the beautiful Old Town crystal knobs to our order.

Champagne Series, Schlage

Thankfully due to an error when we ordered our interior doors the original hardware was free so our indecisiveness did not cost us much more than a trip to the return desk at Home Depot. We also now happen to have two deadbolt sets , two passage sets and one privacy set, all Schlage Champagne series, removed from the packages and gently used, that are now in need of a new home if anyone is interested.

Amy

Pinterest

Yup. I am one of the masses who is completely addicted to Pinterest.

So last week I was quite excited to notice that my blog has made it on to Pinterest!

Look way down at the source on the bottom...

Source: adventuresat1628.blogspot.com via Slp on Pinterest

Ok... so it is not actually a picture of our home... but I intend to work on that...

Amy

PS If you are also addicted to Pinterest, look me up!

Crate & Barrel

The Crate & Barrel Fall Inspiration catalogue arrived in today's newspaper. I loved both the rustic "Retreat to the Woods" and the worldly "Collector's Eye" series.

Only one problem... the two items I was instantly drawn to are not actually for sale.

I knew Dave would love this rustic wood shelf and thought it might make the perfect photo ledge for the office... but alas it is not listed anywhere on the Crate & Barrel website.

I also thought the low shelf at the end of this bed would have been an attractive alternate to the Expedit bookshelf I was planning to use for extra storage in the office... expect it is only available attached to a $3000 bed.

Sigh. I guess two more items just got added to the "to-build" list...

Amy

State of the Renovation

We are now officially at Day 302 of the renovation.

Yup. 302 days.

Just to make sure we are good and depressed, I decided to compile a list of what we have left to complete.

"To Do"

• Install bathroom door
• Install trim around vent pipe in bathroom
• Paint interior doors
• Paint inner front door
• Install closet doors, everywhere
• Install door hardware, everywhere
• Install powder room window and hardware
• Install stair railing
• Complete drywall in linen closet
• Install linen closet shelves
• Install office shelves
• Build office desk
• Build spare bedroom desk
• Paint front entrance
• Complete front entrance bench
• Get front door and dining room windows repaired
• Install crown moulding on main floor
• Install baseboard on main floor
• Paint main floor walls and trim
• Complete fireplace mantel
• Install gas insert in fireplace
• Paint windows
• Touch-up paint, everywhere
• Remove and replace siding, on the entire house
• Replace eavestroughs
• Rebuild front steps
• Complete furnace inspection
• Complete electrical inspection

Amy

Birthday

This week we celebrated Dave's birthday. We didn't do anything extravagent, but I did make him a special cake - Superman of course!

 

 I have posted the recipe on my food blog.

Amy

Hardwood

Due to our troubles with the first batch of hardwood, progress on the main floor has been stalled for over a month. The replacement hardwood arrived right before Dave left for the Yukon so it was able to acclimatize just in time for him to return home and pick up where he left off.

Three days of hard work later... and the hardwood is done!

Now on to the trim work!

Amy

Yukon Adventure

The reason there has been no progress reports on the house the last little while? Well, the past three weeks, Dave has been away on a much deserved holiday.

He headed  up to the Yukon with two of his brothers, Nick and Shane, my brother Brian and the two dogs to do some hiking in Tombstone Territorial Park and Kluane National Park. Unfortunately, in light of our upcoming Nepal trip, I couldn't justify the time off work and opted to stay home.

Instead I get to enjoy the trip vicariously through the photos just like you.


Amy

Summer Storm

A little hail storm passed through tonight... so much for my plans to work in the garden.

Amy

Long Weekend Escape

Dave returned from his Yukon adventures on Thursday and we quickly re-packed the camping gear to head down to Waterton Lakes National Park for the long weekend. Nothing like driving another 300 km after completing an 8000 km roadtrip!

Whisky Gap

Saturday we completed the hike around Akamina Ridge via Forum and Wall Lake.

Forum Lake

View down to Wall Lake

Akamina Ridge

Wall Lake

Swimming in Wall Lake

Sunday, we attempted the hike to Lineham Ridge but due to the high heat and some sunburns, we ended up turning around before the scree slopes and instead spent the afternoon swimming in Rowe Lake.

Rowe Creek

Rowe Meadow

Way up to Lineham Ridge

Swimming in Rowe Lake

Young Grizzly Bear

Mountain Sheep

Windmills at Pincher Creek

Amy