Stock Tank Pool

We've had the new pool up for about a month now, and it has been really wonderful. It doesn't get too terribly hot here, but it's so nice to have something like this to cool down in.

Instead of getting one of those big vinyl monstrosities (that will never biodegrade), or something like a spa (which we would have to have craned in over the roof), we invested in a 8 foot diameter, 2 foot deep, galvanized steel stock tank. My husband piped in a small pool filter with some gaskets and plumbers putty, and we have not had to add any chlorine or other ph balancers. It ended up costing about $500, including the filter and delivery of the tank. (The six foot diameter tanks were about $100 less) About five times more than a similarly sized vinyl job, but I think it is totally worth it.

Later in the year we plan to replace the tubing out of the tank with copper pipes, and maybe pipe in one of those chofu style propane heaters. Even adding the cost of that, it would still be about half the price of a hot tub. Add a fountain pump, and it's a water feature. We thought it might be too shallow, but it's perfect to sit in, and leaning up against the side is surprisingly comfortable. Success!

Hall Color

That's some yellow paint, people. It's doesn't look quite so yellow with the light off, which is most of the time. But you can see in the second photo the color difference between the old and the new.

I just ended up painting the little section of the hall around the bathroom and bedroom doors. I kind of like it like this, stopping before turning the corner here. I don't think we could do this bright color in the rest of the house, this color is Kelly Moore 3555-1 sparkle tint, in eggshell.

I still have the trim to paint. It will be the same color as it is now, but it will look new and fresh and clean. Ahh. I would love to replace the doors with some paneled ones, but I would be very happy to just switch out the doorknobs and hinges.

Link: White and Gray

Anne at the City Sage blog posted photos of her kitchen update, and it looks just great. How funny that I have the exact same tile on my kitchen counters!

I've been putting off painting the kitchen, mostly because I really don't want to do it myself, and I also don't want to have to pay someone else to do it for me. But when the time comes, I will absolutely go for a white and gray color scheme like this, I love it.

And, I decided to take out all the tile that serves as the backsplash first. I got a quote for replacing the counter tops, and covering the backsplash more than doubled the price. I'd rather just have painted wall behind there. Before we get to that point, though, I'll have a showdown with my husband about the countertop color. He wants dark, I want light, maybe we'll flip a coin. A double headed coin, so I will be sure to win.

via: The City Sage

Link: Dumpster Pool

Love this idea! Dumpsters repurposed as pools. We've got our own pool project going on, but I would love to be able to swim in a deep, rectangular pool like this.

via: ReadyMade blog

Front Yard in Summer

The birds have found this feeder stuck on the window, but as soon as I turn the corner outside the kitchen, they flip out and fly away. I'm going to camp out at the table so I can catch them at it.

This is the view outside what we generously call 'the dining room.' It's more than a nook, but certainly not a room. The dining area? We also just say 'the table.' We don't know what kind of tree this is out front, but I love the mossy trunk the most. And, it wasn't trimmed into knuckles like a lot of other trees in the neighborhood. It's so nice and shady, the grass stays green and the house keeps cool.