Chandeliers and Ceiling Roses: Hung

Our chandelier and ceiling roses are finally hung on the ground floor level. Our dining room got the larger set as the room is spacious and the area it is in is relatively empty. We had originally ordered plaster roses but could barely lift them, gave up and ordered the light Styrofoam ones. Both Nigel and I each found a second hand chandelier that we liked and tried to talk the other into. Then we realised we needed more than one. Nigel's is the larger, more thin and elegant one with the rose to match. Mine is the more chunky eclectic one with a rose to match. (Hmmm, you wonder if this suggests our characters?) Mine was put in the smaller room, but is the one that is viewed from the street.

Small WC is Transformed to the Victorian

Our small WC is transformed. It slots halfway under the stairs.
Again, Keith, my father-in-law came and expertly put up our fancy wallpaper.
Gold is hard to photograph.

The floor has been completed in the same wood flooring the kitchen has.
Then I begin applying the wainscoting.
  
 
And the top trim.

A grey base coat is applied.
 
Then the final colour, a brownish purple.
 
The ceiling architrave gets cut and painted.
   
Ooooh, I am liking it already.
 
I am given an old wood shelf which I cut up to slot into the nook in the back.
 
 I add a lower shelf to fit above the radiator.
 
This was the before from the hall.
 
This is the after.

The books are shelved immediately since they have been piled in stacks around the living room for too long.

Before: the sink view.
 
After: the sink view. We are still figuring out how we will cover those pipes.
 
I put up the painted architrave moulding.
 
Before: toilet and corner.
 
After: toilet and corner.

Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, Canada

We set out on a snowy late afternoon to find the waterfalls in the Englishman River Falls Park on Vancouver Island, Canada. The temperature is -2 and I am wearing light canvas sneakers. Teresa is ever the true outdoors woman as she sets off on the hike while due to give birth any day. The road is long and wide and we break off into smaller groups as we walk. The kids are intent on rolling big balls of snow. Or maybe they wanted to throw the snowballs at the adults I realise as I am hit. Squatting down to eat the snow is the other option. I really like being back in Canada in the forest in the winter. We find the falls. And the runoff to the falls. They are massive and there would be no surviving a fall into them. What a great family holiday, all thanks to mom and dad! Thanks, you two! Now into the bathtub. I can't feel my toes.

Family Photo Shoot

A family photo shoot. The announcement is made. A few people start to gather, but not everyone hears. The adults start lining up behind the couch and now the kids want to go back there too. Kids, we can't see you back there. You need to sit in the front. They climb over the couch at which point we realise there is no where to prop the camera. A change of position, but I miss getting in the photo. Everyone is in but this one turns out a bit blurry. There we go! A few quick shots of family groups for our walls back in the UK. Nice and ethereal! The girls ask for a photo shoot. We start with goofy. And move on to smiling. Confusion? And general happiness. And finally distraction. The older cousins move on to entertaining their baby cousin. Then they all take a break and watch some cartoons in the back bedroom. We go outside for our final family grouping. And try to keep all the troupes in one place. Lovely!