Be gone, "Lettuce Alone"

This week, J and I learned what people working an academic schedule do when classes are not in session and they think they have free time the night before Thanksgiving Day.

They paint.

The second bathroom, before:

The second bathroom, after:

This is just the primer. I think we'll paint this an off-white at some point. We're just glad to have the green "Lettuce Alone" paint color covered.

Entry foyer, in "Tea Stain", egg shell finish. We painted the hallway the same. It's a subtle, a taupe/grey color.The green door needs to go. Maybe two shades darker than the walls?

Lighting Dilemma

This is the lighting fixture on the ceiling in our entry foyer.What do you do when one half of the voting household thinks this is hideous and the other half loves it, because it is "antiquey looking"? Especially when that half who loves it is the one doing the electrical work?

Mutant Tree

This is the sweet gum tree in our front yard. It was the first tree to begin changing colors and will be the last to loose its leaves. Notice the right side of the tree? That side has been a nice maroon color for about a month now, with little leaf loss. The rest of the tree started changing to yellow a few days ago.

There are other sweet gums in the neighborhood, but they're either all yellow or all maroon. Strange.

The Master To-Do List*

Bedroom #1
paint done, 7/06
install ceiling fan done, 4/07
fix dead outlet

Bedroom #2
paint done, 7/06, first thing to go. It was dark brown. With inspirational quotes written in metallic paint. Hideous.
install ceiling fan done, 3/07

Bedroom #3
paint done, 7/06
install ceiling fan done, 06/07
fix dead outlet

Bathroom #1
paint done, 01/07 except trim and touchups
install new cabinet, sink, mirror, and light

Bathroom #2
paint done, 01/01 except trim
level floor, install new flooring, paint trim
install new cabinet, sink(?), mirror/light
install new exhaust fan

Entryway and Hallway
paint walls done, 11/06
paint trim and door
fix dead outlet and switch (hmm... coincidence?)
install light
new flooring (ceramic tiles?)
paint outside of door
paint overhead outside light (done)
new house numbers, chosen for size appropriateness

Living Room/Dining Room
remove or otherwise deal with wallpaper-covered paneling (done)
paint (done)
new flooring (hardwood floors vs. laminate?)
improve lighting situation in dining room
fix dead outlets (2: one dining room, one living room)
fix dead switch (dining room)
paint overhead outside light (done 7/2007)

Office
paint (done)
enclose pass through to kitchen with bookshelf
wall off and install French doors
new flooring (hardwood floors vs. laminate)
install ceiling fan?

Kitchen
remove wall paper done 7/2007)
paint done 7/2007)
change cabinet knobs
install under cabinet lighting
enclose pass through to office with mosaic tile idea

Laundry Room
paint walls, trim, and cabinets done, 3/07
change cabinet knobs, done, 3/07
install steel door to garage

Garage
Remove panelling
Install insulation and drywall
Improve shelving/storage/workbench areas and lighting
Replace garage door
Install outdoor lighting, flanking the garage door
Paint existing overhead outdoor light done 05/07
Install deck in attic
Fix dead light switch
Replace door to backyard

Frontyard
Remove two dead shrubs and replace with spiraea? (shrubs removed 8/2007, new shrubs planted 6/2008)
Build beds for shrubs South of front door, plant maple and barberry (done 10/2007)
Lampost: paint? replace? straighten?
Paint shutters
Plant something where the hostas fried near the dryer vent (done 7/2007)
Euthanize sweet gum tree and replace?

Backyard
Herb garden (done 7/2007)
De-rockify the roses and boxwoods (done 7/2007)
Create bed for shrubs South of patio (bed done 8/2007, shrub installation in progress)
Drainage?
Reseed grassless areas in lawn

*List items and prioritization subject to change to suit our whims.

Happy Halloween!

Christmas decoration ideas??

How would you decorate this lamppost for Christmas?