Good Hair Day

 

I buzzed Carson's hair into a Faux Hawk for Halloween.  It was only supposed to last a day before we shaved the rest of it off, but now we have all grown to like it.  

Halloween 2011

Disco SWAT Guy and his Zombie Bride

Last smooch before candy

Halloween snuck up on us and, as usual, we were pulling costumes together at the last minute.  My initial disappointment at Quinn's choice of costume (SWAT guy) turned to glee when at the last minute he abandoned his costume's no nonsense helmet and returned wearing a 'fro and dark glasses, a sudden and dramatic transformation into....Disco SWAT Guy.   He and his zombie bride Banyan even posed for a smooch.

Fall storms

View of snowy Flatirons from master bedroom

first snow of the season

tree damage from storm at 8th and Pine

heavy snow

snow covered trees

two silver maples at 1109

silver maples before removal

picture after tree removal

We have had two fall snow storms, both of which dumped 8 plus inches of snow on Boulder.  There was massive damage to the trees around Boulder, since many of the trees still had 75% of their leaves still on their branches.   The first storms of the season are always as dangerous as they are beautiful.  We did not have any tree damage around our property because the two most dangerous trees close to our property, two towering silver maples, were removed as a condition of  buying the house last March.   A week before we were to close on the house on Pine, a severe wind storm brought down a large branch on the east side of the property, causing damage to our neighbor's house.  We had the trees examined by an arborist from Taddiken Trees and they recommended removal.  They called the trees "hazardous".  In fact, hundreds of of silver maples that were planted throughout downtown Boulder during the 1890s could be classified as hazardous.  Appreciated for their fast growth and majestic height, 200 alone were planted by locals along Mapleton Avenue (formerly known as Hill Street), giving Mapleton Hill its leafy beauty.  Unfortunately, due to their fast growth, they are internally weak and prone to limb loss as they reach maturity.   Every year, during Boulder's wind and snow season more silver maples collapse or lose their amazing branches.  The problem is so severe that the city of Boulder posts tree recommendations on their website City of Boulder , providing alternatives to the silver maple that are well adapted to Boulder's climate and soil.  

Gravel courtyard

gravel courtyard

laying gravel over landscaping cloth

applying the landscaping cloth

removing concrete

courtyard before

While I was away in Winter Park for a ladies weekend, Grant started on our first landscaping project, the creation of a gravel courtyard, which will become our dining area next spring.  Since it is close to our kitchen and is already a flat space, we decided that it was the perfect area for future dining.  More importantly, it seemed like a project that was small enough to tackle before the cold weather.   While the project was relatively small, there was still a ton of work to be done to get it ready to receive the gravel.  First, the area needed to be cleared of ivy, dirt and shrubs, which amounted to several truck loads that had to be removed.  The following weekend, they removed the concrete around the base of the fountain (the cast iron fountain was bought by Leonard Kirby from a mansion down the street in the 1930s) so we could gain some space to fit a table and chairs.  Next, we put down a layer of landscaping cloth to control the weeds.  The area, which is about 22' x 15', needed about 2 tons of gravel to create a depth of 2" around the perimeter.  In the spring, we will plant a green screen to hide the house next door.  

Chandeliers

Our Robert Abbey chandeliers arrived.  With their 36" diameters and 18 bulbs apiece, they make a bold  statement in the living and dining room.  My enthusiasm for them was nearly squashed when Grant asked our electrician if running them was like having 36 lamps on at one time.  I think I know the answer!  At least they are on a dimmer.

The Kitchen Island

The untreated timber

timber pieces glued together after planing--3 1/2 inches thick

Newel post legs 

Sealing the top and painting the legs

The finished island 

Wood island and soapstone counters

The island in our kitchen is one of my favorite elements in the kitchen design.  It was built by Joel's carpenters Rob and Andy and it is made from old timber salvaged from a mine near Boulder.   It's a great size, 7x3, and has become the heart of the kitchen.  There are endless options in designing a kitchen island.   At first, all I  knew was that I wanted something unique for the space.   Once I confirmed that the island did not need to hold more cabinetry, we were freed to imagine something more furniture-like.    After many discussions and an initial design of a farm table on casters, Joel came back to us offering the douglas fir timbers.   At first glance they looked pretty rough, but after a week long process of planing and sanding and gluing and sealing, they turned into something very elegant and refined.    The thickness and durability of the wood is also a nice contrast to the more delicate soapstone counters in the kitchen. Immediately, the island has become more than just a large surface in the kitchen.  It's a prep surface for cooking; a homework and craft project station for the kids; our everyday dining table; and a gathering spot for parties.  I imagine that  it will become one of the most used and functional piece of furniture that we will ever own--and perhaps the most original.

We've moved!

kitchen (west)

Kitchen (north)

Family room adjacent to kitchen

family room and kitchen

Office

Dining room

Entry hall 

living and dining room

1880s Brunswick billiards table 

After a whirlwind 6 months of work on the house, we are in!  Our amazing contractor Joel got us in ahead of schedule--on September 26th!  We are now quickly unpacking boxes and settling in to our new home.   Here are some pictures of the first floor (still lots of boxes upstairs!).    We are overjoyed and a bit overwhelmed.   Moving forces you to own up to all that you have acquired and gives you the rare opportunity to part with all the things that are no longer relevant to you. If you adopt a ruthless attitude and set the "keep" bar very high, it can be a great opportunity to lighten your load.   But it's not that easy.   Selection is hard, sometimes bizarrely emotional, and curating and editing your collections--be it kitchen gadgets or art can be tougher than it seems.  In addition, due to all of the stuff that came with the purchase of the house, it has been a harder move than usual since we are also sorting and sifting through furniture and objects that the previous owner left behind.  Since we aspire to live in a more minimalist, er, uncluttered way, we are selectively integrating a few wonderful pieces that we inherited.  To that end, the grandfather clock is now back in its original place in the front hall, the 1880s Brunswick billiards table is in the upgraded basement, and I have claimed a small secretary desk for my use, which tucks into Grant's office quite nicely.   And the best part for me?  The kitchen.  It's a perfect combination of form and function.