Meet the Monkeys of Monkey Creek!

Just for Fun

Happy Lunar New Year!

In case you missed the memo, according to the Chinese calendar, today begins the year of the monkey, and you know I’m super excited about it! After all, y’all know I have a slight thing for monkeys, right?

When Todd and I first moved in together we shared a house we called Monkey Creek. Monkey for my current and enduring obsession, and creek for his–now our–last name (which, in Dutch, apparently means “by the creek”). In that house the monkey count was still in the single digits, it was at Monkey Creek II where the most monkeys were acquired.

The Original George. And, yes, he's a monkey wearing a sock monkey hat and cardigan. Like you do.

The Original George. And, yes, he’s a monkey wearing a sock monkey hat and cardigan. Like you do.

You have to understand, though, I was content with a single monkey: The OG–Original George–and wasn’t looking to add more monkeys to the menagerie. But that’s not how these things go, because once you have a favorite something it goes to the top of the list of gift ideas for friends and family. Now our monkey count is hovering around 50 or so (depends on if you only count the plush, or if you count the non-plush figurines; and I’m not going to even try to count the jewelry, pajamas, and other monkey paraphernalia). I thought it would be fun, in light of the Year of the Monkey, to walk you through the monkeys you might find if you were to visit us at Monkey Creek III (aka the Gingerbread Dollhouse).

OG up there hangs out on our coat rack by the front door, keeping watch over the place for us. Let’s see who’s in the living room.

These three (do you see Curious George peeking through my monkey neck pillow?) perch on top of one of the DVD cases.

These three (do you see Curious George peeking through my monkey neck pillow?) perch on top of one of the DVD cases.

Look who escaped being packed up with the rest of the Christmas decorations! He tap dances and shrieks a version of Jingle Bells.

Look who escaped being packed up with the rest of the Christmas decorations! He tap dances and shrieks a version of Jingle Bells.

Just because these monkeys converged on the armchair doesn't mean they won't make room for you, too!

Just because these monkeys converged on the armchair doesn’t mean they won’t make room for you, too!

And these guys are still chilling on the mantle from the holidays. The ones on either end are Nick and Joy from Build-a-Bear--why they didn't stick with the Ns and call her Noel I'll never know. But we call her Noel.

And these guys are still chilling on the mantle from the holidays. The ones on either end are Nick and Joy from Build-a-Bear–why they didn’t stick with the Ns and call her Noel I’ll never know. But we call her Noel.

Naturally I have an assortment in my office (aka The Abyss, which got rearranged and tidied this weekend):

Up on top of the doll shelf, along with Devil Pooh, sit a few of our smaller monkeys.

Up on top of the doll shelf, along with Devil Pooh, sit a few of our smaller monkeys.

And we can't forget this happy dude! He's a puppet I rescued from the clearance bin at Michael's. He currently lives on the top of my easel.

And we can’t forget this happy dude! He’s a puppet I rescued from the clearance bin at Michael’s. He currently lives on the top of my easel.

Some of the non-plush monkeys are on my mantle--first the blingy three wise monkeys and then the penholder that says 'Write No Evil'

Some of the non-plush monkeys are on my mantle–first the blingy three wise monkeys and then the penholder that says ‘Write No Evil’

Chef George, there, was my reward to myself for finishing the cookbook and travels with us to convention appearances as our mascot.

Chef George, there, was my reward to myself for finishing the cookbook and travels with us to convention appearances as our mascot.

While these three cluster on the antique desk Todd and I restored, together, before the wedding.

While these three cluster on the antique desk Todd and I restored, together, before the wedding.

Now, we don’t have any plush monkeys in the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean monkeys aren’t represented at all.

We have a number of monkey mugs of various designs.

We have a number of monkey mugs of various designs.

And this guy keeps a nylon scrubbie close at hand.

And this guy keeps a nylon scrubbie close at hand.

And you know that we'll be enjoying our Year of the Monkey supper on the dishes we picked up on our honeymoon.

And you know that we’ll be enjoying our Year of the Monkey supper on the dishes we picked up on our honeymoon.

The dining room is similarly light on monkeys, but we do have a notable hanger-on.

He likes to keep his eye on the 99 Bananas.

He likes to keep his eye on the 99 Bananas.

The library is where a lot of the monkeys will live in perpetuity. The plan is for some stellar floor to ceiling built-ins, eventually, to give breathing room for our books as well as the monkeys.

This coconut monkey tagged along home after our first cruise together in 2009.

This coconut monkey tagged along home after our first cruise together in 2009.

A cheeky little monkey bank serves as a bookend (or, really, a book middle, separating two subjects on one shelf).

A cheeky little monkey bank serves as a bookend (or, really, a book middle, separating two subjects on one shelf).

On a temporary shelving unit with some of my paperbacks are this trip of pint sized monkeys.

On a temporary shelving unit with some of my paperbacks are this trip of pint sized monkeys.

And these guys are hanging out on one of the benches under the window.

And these guys are hanging out on one of the benches under the window.

Another shelf holds a beaded monkey we bought at Animal Kingdom and the little monkey figure I painted at Firefly Pottery.

Another shelf holds a beaded monkey we bought at Animal Kingdom and the little monkey figure I painted at Firefly Pottery.

You’d think that more monkeys would hang out upstairs, them liking heights and whatnot. Until last night, though, the guest room was severely lacking in helper monkeys.

But we had some still in storage from the move, so now they're having a slumber party.

But we had some still in storage from the move, so now they’re having a slumber party.

Even Todd’s office has a token monkey.

We call him Voodoo George... doesn't he just look like he wants to climb a skyscraper or something?

We call him Voodoo George… doesn’t he just look like he wants to climb a skyscraper or something?

Our bedroom, of course, has a decent complement of plush friends.

A perfect pyramid on the mantle. Some of these guys have been known to hop in the bed while I'm in the shower.

A perfect pyramid on the mantle. Some of these guys have been known to hop in the bed while I’m in the shower.

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And the travelling trio–two pillow monkeys (the smaller one Todd won out of a claw machine) and my security monkey, Mindy.

Finally, the upstairs bathroom features this cheeky little monkey.

He wasn't fab at being a toothbrush holder, but he's great at keeping an eye on the room while we're away.

He wasn’t fab at being a toothbrush holder, but he’s great at keeping an eye on the room while we’re away.

Yes, we have a lot of monkeys. I’m sure there are more packed away with Christmas and Halloween decorations, but the George-Borg is strong in this house. Why do we have so many monkeys? Why not? And why do we display them throughout the house? Again, why not? They’re fun, they don’t harm anything, and they make me smile. As long as we keep just this side of “My Strange Obsession” levels, I think we’re okay.

Do you collect anything to the degree (or more) that we do, monkeys? Do you wonder why we’re not on a lunar calendar? I mean, really, 13 4-week months makes a heckuva lot more sense to me than the alternating but not really 30/31 system we’re on.

Everything In This Post Could Be Wrong

The Gingerbread Diaries

Does anyone else remember those sorts of disclaimers in tech manuals?

Direct link for the feed readers: Gingerbread Diaries 2.5: Downstairs Bath Renovation, Week 3

That was the lesson we learned as we took up the first half of the bathroom floor bright and early on Saturday morning. Turns out that the joist we were basing everything on, the one we uncovered as we opened up the 10″x8′ gap in our back hall, the one that had been “supporting” the existing bathroom wall, that one? Was the lowest point in all the bathroom joists.

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Todd’s Wreck-It-Ralph overalls are getting some real use this week!

So, yes, that whole conversation about what level we were going to build up to, etc. was next to useless and the rest of the room is already that high. Okay then!

The new plan became to pick the most level joist in the bathroom itself and work to that. With said joist identified, we then had to adjust 3 others–one was too high, one was too low, and one was even lower than that! For the two low ones we bought 2″x1/4″ slats (for lack of a better term) to sit on top of the joists–one needed one, the other needed 2 stacked on top of each other, and for the third we would “take it down” about a quarter of an inch.

Take it down you say? Why, yes, we needed to remove some of the wood, and I was concerned that the method Todd first mentioned (planing) would have us in a too much, build it back up, too much again, etc. loop. So I asked if sanding would be a decent alternative (figuring it would make for less drastic changes per pass compared to a planer).

And that’s how we ended up with a belt sander.

Week 3, tool 3… I sense a trend, here.

Our Lowe's Haul (Week 3, trip 4)

Our Lowe’s Haul (Week 3, trip 4)

After a trip to Lowe’s for said sander and half the store’s complement of PVC elbow joints, Todd started in on the sanding. Even with the added power, it was still a tough, tedious job. I haven’t tried the sander for myself (I will when we get to the next half of the floor which will need similar treatment), but I did get to use the reciprocating saw this week!

We needed to build up the joist we’d put in the previous week, a task easily accomplished with a spare 2″x4″x8′, but there was a small section at the end that needed fitting in. I took it upon myself to notch out the bottom of the stud that was in the way (the sawzall is pretty cool!), trim an offcut of 2×4 to the right length (with the hand saw), and nail it into place.

My handiwork! (Considering the thought of powered blades sends chills down my spine, this is actually a pretty big accomplishment for me!)

My handiwork! (Considering the thought of powered blades sends chills down my spine, this is actually a pretty big accomplishment for me!)

Ta-freakin’-Da!

Todd cut down the first sheet of plywood (3/4″, I believe) for the floor and I suggested going ahead and cutting both but we were a) losing the light fast and b) losing Todd–he was pretty wiped out by this point so we stuck with the single, got it into place, and called it a night.

The double box on the right will be for the lights and the fan vent. The single box on the left is for a GFI outlet.

The double box on the right will be for the lights (what is currently hanging in the middle of the room) and the fan vent. The single box on the left is for a GFI outlet.

Sunday brought with it a revision of our plumbing plan of attack (the new toilet location will be set up and hooked up before we remove the other half of the floor) and an overwhelming urge to nap. Not super productive, but super needed. The rest of the changes for this week are small by comparison.

  • Filled in some gaps in the clapboards and where the walls meet (from the original, inadequate build) with spray-foam. That stuff is awesome.
  • The removal of a kajillion square nails from the studs as well as removing the braces that once were–we’ll replace them with our own.
  • The building up of two exterior wall studs–they installed them flat to the wall rather than perpendicular, then placed a brace across them, rather than between.
  • Sistering the guide-joist of the bathroom after I noticed it had a crack radiating from a knot that became more visible when Todd leaned on it.
  • Determining the height of the light switch and outlets and installing the boxes for their eventual wiring-in.

Last night Todd tackled actually attaching the floor to the joists (couldn’t be done until the wall studs were in place, so I’m not ragging on him for the delay) and was employing a 2×4 as a lever to scootch it up as close to the wall as it could go, when I asked “Oh, is it raining again?”

Y’all, I wish I’d been recording that, because this would have been a scene just perfect for Renovation Reality (did anyone else see that show?). The lever had shifted a pipe under the house and what I heard as rain was actually it draining. Now, in Todd’s defense, he didn’t hit the pipe, he hit the cinder block-and-brick rigging that was holding it in place because the braintrust that last fixed it didn’t use the correct coupler to keep it in place on its own. And it’s one of the pipes that we’ll be moving soon, anyway, but still. Not something you want to do, much less have to rectify, at almost 10 pm!

But it wasn’t all sandpaper and rusty nails! While at Lowe’s we accomplished a couple of side quests by confirming what tile we’ll be using (the same one I snapped on my Pinterest board) and picked out our grout (a dark grey to coordinate with the faucet, etc. and it even has some glittery flecks in it to look shiny, not just dull and grey. Also, while browsing the lighting aisles to try and get an idea what we might want (because I seriously had no clue on this so far), we ended up finding and purchasing the most perfect light for this room–it echos the details on the sink and toilet we’ve picked out, came in brushed nickel, and was only $25 in store (website shows a higher price). Score!

Anyone want to place bets on what the week 4 tool purchase will be? I have a strong feeling a nail gun and compressor are now on the short list, but will we bite that bullet this week or wait a bit? Hmmm….

 

It’s February, Do You Know Where Your Goals Are?

Just for Fun

The thing about making goals (resolutions, etc.) is that they are not set-and-forget sort of things. In order to keep up with them, we actually have to look at them and, you know, make an effort!

I don’t know if I’ll post about it each month (unless you want to read it, then absolutely), but I figured at least right now, after the first month of the new year, I’d do a public check-in on all those goals I set last month and see how I’m stacking up.

First up was house projects, and we’ve definitely gotten the first big one underway (our downstairs bathroom remodel progress so far can be found here: week 1, week 2) and we’re still trucking right along with another update to come this Friday. The smaller project for the beginning of the year was a recycling sorter and that’s functionally done.

Our semi-finished but fully functional recycling sorter

Our semi-finished but fully functional recycling sorter

By that I mean the sorter is up and in place, though it technically lacks the hinged top and front pieces. Still, we’re using the bins and even made our first trip to the recycling center last weekend on our way to Lowe’s for the umpteenth time (okay, only the 4th, for January). Todd can take his time on the finishing touches to the sorter once the bulk of the bathroom work is completed.

So far we’re 2 for 2 (the other house projects being for later in the year).

On the family goals front we’re still not to those tasks, yet. March and April for the birthdays (though planning is definitely underway) and we’ve been hunting through the dog listings on about 4 or 5 sites looking for a likely candidate but it’s not realistic to bring one home in the messy middle of the bathroom project. For this category I’d say we’re on track.

Career-wise things are a little slower. I’ve been checking listings regularly (and have a saved search over on Indeed) and almost got an interview, but the position didn’t pay near enough to cover my bills. Shame, the hiring firm really liked my resume. BUT! They did ask if it would be okay if they kept in on file in case something else came up that fit both my skills and my salary requirements. Of course I said yes! I also put in for some part time work and created an account over at 99designs and UpWork (though I need to update my portfolio that came over from eLance) for freelance work. I’m still not 100% sure about 99designs–it’s technically spec work, but the jobs do pay out as opposed to the contests for **exposure** that I flat-out refuse to participate in. We shall see.

Print Your HeART Out kit contents from The Crafty Branch.

Print Your HeART Out kit contents from The Crafty Branch.

The Crafty Branch released it’s newest kit yesterday, the Print Your HeART Out kit is all about monoprints and the gelli plate and I’ve had loads of fun using the plate myself to make kit samples as well as a couple of other projects. The gelli plate is definitely not going to be leaving my work table any time soon (though I may move up a size since I’m enjoying it so much). And I’ve begun implementing my social media strategy, but realize it’s something I really need to work up to rather than jump in with both feet (because the latter is rather overwhelming). I’m also looking into a VA for those tasks.

No movement on the book projects, yet–I need to start putting that on my to-do lists or it’ll never get anywhere–but the house project updates are helping me keep my weekly video goals (though I need to get quicker on the editing) and I created my 2016 Editorial calendar for Scraps Of Life.

For career I’ll say 3 out of 4 in progress. That’s not bad for the first month.

Finally, in personal goals, I had three: move more, be more productive, and art every day.

I know that the remodel is definitely getting me more active on the weekends but I’m not even up to an average of 7,500 steps a day with the activity band, much less the 10,000 “norm” so I’ve got a ways to go. What I have noticed is that it’s going to take a little bit of a mindset shift, but not the one you might expect. I’m really big on efficiency, so I group tasks together: everything from stacking items to go upstairs together so I only have to make one trip (usually when I head upstairs for bed) or grouping tasks away from my desk at work so I can minimize time away from my computer (and the space where I do much of my work). This efficiency of tasks is costing me movement! Now, sure, it’s well-reasoned, but is it what I need to stick to or can I change it without losing the “grooves” I get into on tasks that increase how much I can get done.

Good question. One I don’t yet have an answer for.

Speaking of productivity, we’re going to go about 50/50 there–I’ve gotten a fair amount done this month, but I know I’m capable of more. Take Sunday, for instance–we had things we wanted to get done, both Todd and I, but we independently and simultaneously decided that a 2 hour nap was what we were going to do. Productive? Nope! But it felt really good!

And then there’s my Art Every Day personal challenge. Yeah, I know this one hasn’t happened, I’ve missed some days. But to figure out just how many I missed, I had to flip through my photos and journal to see how many days I was creating something versus not.

My Art Every Day Results for January

My Art Every Day Results for January

If I count things like video (which I do, because it is creative in its way) I managed definite creative pursuits in at least 18 of the 31 days, or 58% of the month. Not stellar, definite room for improvement. Of course, some of those days I worked on multiple projects but only listed the larger one. But the point is to make a conscious effort to exercise my creativity EVERY day. So I’ll work on that for February.

I have one other goal that I didn’t actually list in January but it’s one that I’m actually doing well on, so let’s end on a high note: I’ve gone 34 days without impulse shopping or superfluous spending of any kind! More than a month–that’s a record for me, I’m sure! I’m being very strict with myself over my budget right now (it needs help) but I’m really committed to it so it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it might. And it’s not that I can’t buy anything fun, I just have to plan and budget for it (hence the no impulse shopping). And I didn’t use my credit cards this month, either (well, okay, less than $5 on my Kohl’s charge because it was tied to the discount code I was using, but the other $50 of the purchase was covered by a Christmas gift card and it was a planned purchase on top of that; so I’m not counting it against my record). Remember my budget worksheets? All of the balance trackers will show down arrows on the February sheet and that’s definitely a good feeling!

Have you checked in with your goals so far? How are you doing with them?

We Have a Door!

The Gingerbread Diaries

It doesn’t have a wall, yet, but that’s just details.

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Considering how many doors we’ve removed in this house, you’d think adding one back wouldn’t exactly make me jump for joy, but this one’s different. This one, the pocket door we bought last week, is replacing one of the largest eyesores in the house, one we see every day when we walk in the back door.

So, yeah, it’s a big deal.

(Direct link for the feed readers: Gingerbread Diaries 2.4: Downstairs Bath Renovation, Week 2)

When I said that I thought we’d done most of the demo last weekend? Yeah, so not the case. We’d done the impressive part, but the fiddly bits of getting the small sections of the hallway that will become the bathroom took almost as much time and effort to remove as the entire interior wall structure! So, yeah, the devil’s in the details and all that.

Then we had to do something that you can’t even see: install the new joist. That meant cutting away a 10″ or so strip between the old bathroom wall and where the new one will be. And while Todd was getting ready to do that, we found this:

That would be, starting from the upper right corner, the original porch flooring, the old pressboard and vinyl tile that were to be removed during the renovation, and the new concrete board the contractor placed on top of all that mess. Not pictured is the new vinyl flooring they put in (it's folded back).

That would be, starting from the upper right corner, the original porch flooring, the old pressboard and vinyl tile that were to be removed during the renovation, and the new concrete board the contractor placed on top of all that mess. Not pictured is the new vinyl flooring they put in (it’s folded back).

Seriously, folks. What the ever-lovin’ hell was that contractor thinking?! Yes, I told him I would be replacing the floor **covering** in the next two years (so I didn’t want to pay a lot for the material we’d be ripping out) but I didn’t realize that translated to half-assing the whole thing?! No wonder the back door wouldn’t open after they installed the new floor! So aggravating.

It was (and is) irritating, but it’s not the end of the world. Todd was planning to replace the sub-floor anyway, apparently (I thought we’d only have to patch where plumbing had been, though hindsight shows a full new floor is the better route even then). We also had to have a conversation about just how far to build the floor up, then–to be level at it’s current height or to build it up to meet the level of the dining room. The hall is the part in play, since it’s something like 20° off from one side to the other, and I don’t mind a slight step down between the hall and bathroom, but Todd ultimately decided that he’d rather do two layers of plywood subfloor for added strength as well as to bring it up to approximately the right level, and go from there. It’s a small room, the extra materials aren’t going to kill the budget, and it’s probably the best solution in the long run.

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But before we could get the joist in we needed to make a Lowe’s run for longer nails. We were able to borrow a truck from Todd’s office and picked up the dryall for the new wall and plywood for the floor (which are both chilling on the front porch for now) along with the nails, ear protection for me, the 2x2s to (I believe) reset the hall ceiling, etc. that we had to cut into and a shop-vac. We’re now closing in on $700 of the budget spent, including the tools, so that’s not too bad.

Now, I hate vacuums with a passion, but I wanted the shop-vac because sweeping was just not cutting it for the debris we were creating and my ancient vacuum would not have been able to hack it. Not that I’ve actually used Robbie the ShopVac yet (it reminds me of Robbie the Robot and I like to name things; like the puppies on the Puppy Cam on Animal Planet Live we kept checking in on between tasks last weekend; they were ardorable), but Todd has and it definitely does its job. Just like the reciprocating saw, that thing has been put through its paces and is making life so much easier!

Saturday evening felt a lot like when we first bought the house: construction debris in the back hall, a trip to Lowes, and a swing through a drive-thru because we’d skipped lunch. Unlike those early days, though, we couldn’t pack up and head back to a separate house in another state when we were through, but that’s not such a bad thing.

Sunday’s big job was installing the new wall framing. It looks deceptively simple, folks. And I know the saying goes “measure twice, cut once” but it’s really somewhere along the lines of measure half a dozen times, cut it, try to install it and find that it’s still just a hair off, and while we’re at it let’s review the way we were going to install this framing in general. But my incessant question-asking actually helped because we figured out a better way to deal with the studs and the brace along the top and all was well.

Unlike last week we (and by we, I mean Todd) actually made some evening progress during the week. We had to re-position the pocket door studs (which necessitated trip #3 to Lowe’s–it’s officially a project by Todd’s standards, now–for more screws) after placing them at the wrong intervals the first time and then we could finally remove the rest of the wall framing from the old bathroom wall. Last night Todd got in there, even though he got home 2 hours later than he’d planned, and ripped out the old ceiling beams and, folks, we’re talking major transformation here.

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The old ceiling met the wall just above the window (below the 2×4) and extended straight across. We’re regaining only about 4″ on the window wall but on the door wall we’re talking several feet. This room will no longer feel like a hovel and it’ll actually fit in with the rest of the house! It’s a small thing, folks, but this feels super big to us.

Because that last bit was going on right up to 10 o’clock last night, the video won’t be posted to our YouTube channel until this weekend so I can include the full week’s progress. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss it!

This week coming up we’ll tackle the floor, place the drywall for the hall-side of the new wall, and work on electrical and plumbing. I hope. That’s the plan, at any rate!

Haaaave You Met Whitney?

Everyday Adventures

Whitney from Much Ado About Jax, that is. Whitney was my Solidarity Sister for December’s challenge.

muchadoaboutjax

Solidarity Sisters is run by Susannah of Simple Moments Stick. You sign up, get paired up with another blogger, then you get a new challenge each week to chat back and forth about, helping and encouraging each other along the way. I really enjoyed getting the know Whitney and, as I’ve been blogging for ages and she’s fairly new, I had the pleasure of offering her some tips that I’ve learned over the years.

When I saw who I was paired with I was immediate a happy camper: I figured Jax had to refer to Jacksonville (it does) and we love Jacksonville. From the weekend we spent at the Jacksonville Zoo for my birthday a while back, the annual trip over for Ancient City Con each summer, and the amazing restaurants and shopping, Jacksonville is one of our favorite local getaways. (They’re also getting an IKEA in 2017, so much closer to us, even in Thomasville, than the Atlanta or Orlando stores.)

Whitney and her family call Jacksonville home and you definitely want to check out her blog if you want local event information because she’s got it! In addition, she blogs about “family inspiration, family fashion, diy projects and much more” (in her own words). Her most recent posts have been about organization and how the whole family pitches in. And even though she’s a relatively new blogger, check out her archives for some really great DIYs like her Dresser Rehab from October!

So head on over and show Whitney some love and if you want to connect with other bloggers, think about signing up for the next Solidarity Sister challenge. Sign-ups for the February challenge are going on now!

Solidarity Sisters

Aaaaand 10 points if you recognize the HIMYM reference in the title.