Happy Anniversary!

Bubbly

Mmmm Prosecco. We started the evening with prosecco. It is a celebration after all.

Prosecco is an Italian wine — generally a dry sparkling wine^[1] — made from a variety of white grape of the same name. The grape is grown mainly in the Veneto region of Italy, traditionally in an area near Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills north of Treviso.

The wine, known as the main ingredient of the Bellini cocktail. It is also known under the name of ghera, glera, grappolo spargolo, prosecco balbi, prosecco bianco, prosecco tondo, proseko, sciorina or serprina.

A little foreshadowing. I see a brunch in our future. Bellinis and Crepes anyone?

Table Settings

White everything. The roses are form my garden. Plates form the kitchen. It all looks very fresh and lovely.

Tables take shape

As you can see from the picture the tables have transformed from pallets to plate holders. It was a LOT more work to take the pallets apart but they went together rather easily. We have 3 tables, each 48 inches long. This should seat 14. Our current evite indicateswe have 20 attending.

"HOOOOOOONEY, can you do one little thing for me? You know those tables you built? We need just one more"....smile.

Blue Steel

It was decision time for what would go up to block the neighbors house. Mike and I spent at least an hour at our local home improvement store mining for ideas.

We ended up torn between corrugated steal and reed. I think we were torn because we weren't that in love with either choice.

The reed fencing stuff looks pretty funky pretty quickly and I hate to do something so temporary.

The steal is so hard and space does not need more constriction.

So we Ro Sham Bo'ed and steel it is.

We don't have a truck so we put them in our 64 dart convertible and drove real slow. NOTE: put something between the edge of the steel and the rope you are using. Turns out steel cuts rope. Scary!

After a short but harrowing drive home it went up and looks terrific. Mike did an amazing job.

Happy Pallet Day

Pallet Day is the day after May Day. Just like boxing day is the day after Christmas in Canada. At least this is what I have told Mike and so far he believes me.


Things we have learned about taking apart pallets:

1. It sucks. Mike understands this more deeply than I do but I have a pretty good idea.
2. Pallets are put together with braided, resin coated nails. They are essentially glued in.
3. Dry/old pallets break when disassembled make nice kindling, not so nice furniture. This also makes Mike say "%$#*"
4. It takes a ton of pallets to get a bit of wood. Despite the weight, they are mostly air.
5. Taking apart pallets is REALLY LOUD! - Ear splitting loud, wear protection.
6. Wear glove. splinters hurt
7. Pallets makers are not frugal with the nails. many, many, many nails.
8. Watch a few "how to disassemble pallets" vids on you tube. They are complete fiction, but will get you thinking it is easy for a while.

Two pallets makes this much wood.

Two Pallets makes this many nails.

So I offered to chuck the budget and go buy the table. Or half-chuck the budget and go buy lumber. But my handsome handy dude will have none of it and we are 4 pallets down, 6 to go.

I will keep you posted.

It's alive!

I planted zucchini and they did just what they were supposed to do. Then the snails did what they were supposed to do. Then I brought them inside to my window sill.

Now they are safe until they are larger and can fend for themselves. Plant parenting is tough.

Channeling Martha again.

I have decided to make hanging jar candle holders. With the pallets and such I see a barn yard elegant feel emerging.

Sooooo... since this seems to be developing into a sustainability/recycling project [code for budget constricted] I thought I would give this Martha Stewart staple a whirl. Here is what I have learned.

1. Empty some jars. You may have to drink quite a few martinis with olives to accomplish this. I think that dinner party ambiance is worth the sacrifice.
2. Take the labels off of the jars. Now, there are a lot of suggestions online for how to accomplish this....

• Vinegar [doesn't work]
• Baking soda [also doesn't work]
• Vinegar AND baking soda [science volcano]
• Petroleum based solvents [Molotov cocktail]
• A bunch of other ineffective suggestions.

• What DID work? Razor blades. Yes, you will find this suggestion nowhere else online but it works like a charm, won't explode OR make your house smell bad. Just get a razor and scrape the glue off. Really it is that simple.

Now that you have clean jars [oh I forgot to tell you to wash them, you know that, right?] the next 3 steps are a cinch!

1. Get some pre-cut floral wires [bottom of the image] from a craft store. So much easier than dealing with the coiled mess'o wire you will see recommended else where.
2. Twist it with a small pliers around each jar neck.
   
3. Done
4. Lime? What is the lime for? I used all of the olives so I had to switch to gin and tonics....with lime. Maybe a bad idea when working with razors.
   

Voila!


Tip ~ Save the lids do you can keep out the rainwater and leaves between uses.

Caution ~ DO NOT glue gingham to the lid, unless it is a smuckers jam lid and then it makes it more legit.

Books

Rain again today. So I moved beyond yesterdays cinematic efforts for loftier pursuits.

Meaning....I fell down the Amazon Rabbit Hole. I started looking for patios books. Golly but patio books are crap...mostly crap colored. What is that strange bronze-ish, brown-ish, crap-ish color that they make all of the patio furniture out of? This color is found nowhere else on earth...that's a good thing.

Then I moved to European Patio books...no such thing.

Then I moved to European outdoor living...and I eventually ended here...
City, Temple, Stage: Eschatological Architecture And Liturgical Theatrics In New Spain.

Okay you are right. I don't know what it means but holly moelly I like the title. This is of course the same Author that wrote  Christian Texts for Aztecs: Art and Liturgy In Colonial Mexico. Duh.

I hope it stops raining soon.

It's Raining.

So I stayed inside and made a virtual Kitchen Patio.

Have a look.


Oh and a short 3-d video. {Caution~Sea Sickness Alert~ It's a real thrill ride!}

This is all for layout purposes. I will play with the color later. I have never done anything like this and it was really fun. There was a bit of frustrating that the program had rather limited furniture and plant selection but mostly it was great. I used an app called Sweet Home 3D. It was indeed sweet. Or as I like to tell my friend's Tim and Linda....It was baaaaad ass.

Consumer Conundrum

The good news is that Mike and I cleaned out the space. All the old mini blinds and paint buckets are gone. [Well, at least they are somewhere else.]

In addition to the other things I ran across a dilemma. What you see pictured is a paint tray. I know, hard to tell, right? The only thing my family hates more than painting is cleaning up after painting. This tray tells the story of our color pallet. At least 4 colors deep and then a whole winter sitting in the rain and this is what a paint tray looks like.

So, I tossed it in the trash with this thought "these thing are about $3, my time is worth more than that. " So rather than clean it I would just get a new one.

Then I got to thinking about all of this pallet, reuse stuff. Isn't that always the problem. You can ALWAYS get some thing for less that fixing, cleaning or settling for what you have.

So which is it, my precious time or the planets precious resources?

This paint tray was now the symbol of our disposable society, so out of the trash it came!

It took about 45 minutes to scrape it to a usable state. It looks more like modern art that a paint tray but it is NOT in a land fill.

It turns out I am a pretty good picker-offer. If I drank beer I would be one of those label pickers, I suspect.

I guess that is the thing. It is fun to design stylish chairs out pallets or find creative ways to make planers out of trash. The real challenge is to reuse when it takes time and it is not fun.

I am no eco-nazi. I am glad that I am giving new life to old items while spreading this idea beyond the eco-chic and into the practical.

Paint Tray 1 / Land Fill 0

Oh! and from now on, I will clean the tray while the paint is wet, completely solving the problem in the first place.

Pallet Project Pictures or P3

Lest you think I am crazy, check out these picture. This is the table design and the lounge chair design we are planning to use. Admit it....you are thinking about pallet furniture now too!

Pallets 6

Pallets-6 / Mike's Objections-0

Pallets win!

So the pallet thing is getting a bit out of hand. I am now planning on pallet table, pallet chairs [lounge not dining...yet] a pallet outdoor kitchen set-up for the barbecue AND a rolling daybed for the back patio. That's right the pallets are creeping into the other parts of the property.

It all sounds great. i have yet to take one of these nail infested splintery beasts apart. It is all fun and games until I have a splinter [or paper cut....I hate those]

Honestly, we had such a lovely time rolling through the alleys of North Park San Diego in our 64' convertible scanning for pallets at sunset. Keep the pallets coming.

Planter Idea

A great little french magazine has a wonderful planter design made from old pallets. Link

This could knock one thing off of the wish list for $0. Oh heavens my husband hates pallets. This should be fun.

Shopping List

Let's talk furniture.

Since this is the biggest expense, I need to figure it out before I spend any more on anything. I can steal some pieces from elsewhere in the yard but I will need a long table and someplace for my friends to plop their tushes.

Some ideas.


Table from Ikea. Removable extensions-100" long 30" wide seats 10. A possible option $100

Chairs also form Ikea. I have 4 of these already so it would only require 6 more to seat 10. 6@ $10 each= $60


The french park chairs I really want are $15 each and I would need 10 $150 plus the table would pretty much blow the budget.





I know! I will have Mike Fish the handiest man build a table. He will be thrilled.. haha

Future Food

Today I bought some plants for the patio. Herbs, tomatoes and squash. I thought with the deadline approaching I should try to have the landscaping looking as lush as possible. I should also try to have herbs large enough to cook with by the party. I splurged on a couple of exotic herbs. I am the most interested in the "Boxwood Basil" [pictures below] It is a tightly compact basil shrub, and pineapple mint [summer cocktails] Then sage, thyme, rosemary and oregano round out the herbs.

I also found pots at the dollar store...they were a dollar.Finally, I found some hanging stakes for my candle jars. A little night romance. Maybe I will switch from a brunch to a dinner party so I can use them.

A vivid imagination.

Since all of this is requiring a lot of envisioning I have decided to pretend this is a design show. So welcome to the new show "Kitchen Patio" with your host Tee Taylor.

I will be joined by the handsome handyman Mike Fish. He is sometimes grumbly about my ideas but that is part of his charm, plus it creates some tension on the show. I will also be joined by my very telegenic dog Gus.

Like all good design shows it needs a some perimeters.

Budget: $300 [tight, we'll see]
Deadline: Sunday May 30th. That is Mike's and my anniversary. I would like to have a party, maybe a brunch. Look for your evite coming soon.

Since I don't have a production crew [like a real show] I may have a kitchen patio razing day. Invite a few of the faithful over to get'er done. Maybe the 23rd [nobody is looking forward to that evite!]

The last thing I need is before and after images. So I better get busy and make the after happen. Ciao.

A little knowledge goes a long way.

Today I learned that my patio [driveway] is 7'6" [or 90"] wide thanks to my trusty measuring tape. I also learned that a dining table should have 36" between table and wall for a chair and guest. This I learned from my trusty design friends Tim and Linda Arbogast.

So if my math is correct [it rarely is] that means I can have an 18" table. This seems a bit....narrow. So maybe 30" will be enough space for a guest in a chair. Then a 30" table will fit [30 + 30 + 30 = 90, right?]

It will be cozy but who wants a dinner party to be any thing else?

It's time for little table shopping.

Question?

Does anyone know how far a dining table needs to be from a wall? Is it 2 feet? Does it depend on the chair? Or the size of your guests? Mine are mostly medium.

Must Haves

I am pretty open to any good ideas.

There are only a couple of things on the "must have" list.

They are:

Cafe Lights-Tres romantique.


Lots of potted herbs [this is a kitchen garden of sorts.


And of course a long table. Seating for 10 should be ample.

So go ahead and get the Martha Stewart jokes out of the way.

I will post a floor plan shortly with a couple of possible ideas. Feedback is always welcome [the snarky-ier the better, I am sure I deserve it]

Reality Check

So lets talk about what we have to work with here.

A very...VERY narrow driveway [too narrow for a car in fact] that opens up a bit at the back by the kitchen door.

A drab uneven concrete floor.

A clear view of the neighbors house [note I said clear not pretty]

An ugly stair way leading up to the kitchen door.


A big ol' death star of a bar-b-que.

Did I mention the guest house bathroom window right behind the bar b que.

Beige wall and lots of 'em.

Yeah well I guess that pretty well sums it up.

This should be fun.

An Idea

So like most good ideas, I can blame them on a friend. In this case I blame Ski. She was visiting last week and we got to looking at the rather ugly and unused side of the house, off of the kitchen.

The space has two thing going for it. It is off of the kitchen and the Bar-B-Que is there. These are also it downfalls. the que is a necessary evil as far as I am concerned. It is the sorce of the delicious food that my husband produces....alone under the bare light bulb of the kitchen door light. {I know he deserves better, it's just that he never complains.}

So Ski and I were talking about my long running desire to have a long table. To host those long table dinners that look so good in magazines. You know the ones where a piece of raw squash on plate looks gourmet and every thing has a shallow focus [I think it is the wine that does that].

So Ski suggested the strange area next to my kitchen. It is not wide enough to be a driveway, not sunny enough to be a kitchen garden.

I got to thinking and we all know what that leads to....a blog.

The future looks like this.
Well, half of this.