You want me to go to the bathroom where?!
I
married a farmer. Quite
literally. My husband grew up on 20 Mile
Farm here in Cincinnati. He was the 3rd generation of his family to work that land. But 20 Mile Farm is a story for another
day. Farming is relevant only in that it
emphasizes my husband’s approach to projects and his staunch unwillingness to
part with money. He comes from a long
line of German and Dutch frugal peeps.
These farmers don’t pay people to do anything.
But my
husband married an incompetent and spendy Greek. Here is a
quick example: in college I couldn’t rub
two nickels together. When Dad would
occasion to visit he would often give me 20 bucks. What did I do with $20? I did not run out & buy a bazillion raman noodle
packets and thereby feed myself for weeks.
No. What did dumb Spendy do? “Wooo hoo!
Dinner and drinks on me girls!” And
*poof* my golden ticket vanished.
Back to
the story. I moved into my husband’s
house, a 1960’s ranch with only 1 bathroom the day after we married. The
first in a long line of necessary renovations was the bathroom. The previous owners had sponge-painted it pink. I immediately slapped some
leftover paint I found in the garage just to cover up that hideousness. But, well, that was like putting lipstick on
a pig.
As
would become our habit, we discussed our options with his parents. After about 2 minutes of deliberation, mr. V and
his parents announced we would be doing the renovations ourselves. ‘Say what?!
But but but…can’t we just pay someone to do this quickly? How long will it take?! I don’t know how to do any of that!!!!’
When my protestations fell on deaf ears I
resorted to hysteria. ‘PEOPLE, where do
you expect me to pee?!!!’ As it turned out,
the backyard. FOR TWO WEEKS.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25NJ6VrT7y-axhAqioCFgaS7AVcDtAahxoH3bSa9rL-nSN5q9lvTCYipZyX1gRHGz4yu3zgb4uzeUwoZO0-SWTzhJdxDKiI1SOnt9v6_nmG8rbEZ1o2YPQo8n6BHmXH0_72hYCE4kI6Uz/s640/Before.JPG) |
mr. V & his mother - only evidence of sponge city sweetheart |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ciR2TfRRkOWcuvpazZd424VyV123etiwordhAhAp19dJzMh8mWZou8JxCQ3NEK5-OVA3LvWJQ_zt2mkjlkzg5abJ9bJ6MHmKJJj3HiTInfd13JlZbJzkkwWpgV_g55man9h24K05CWqG/s640/DSCN0504.JPG) |
I am an unwilling participant but quickly enjoying it with every swing |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVC81q0JAWUp3He7upVZaLQaQ_abepy71sFIjwTdBdbUAbd__GvaufFmFf66r5QtQeVoW03UyrTmjpJirCgfMldXvaih96VuxiOFrE_Y9WEeENNueOM0YGf_d-xEdNthAci8iHKR5zpPzV/s640/DSCN0506.JPG) |
mrs. V caught getting her hands dirty. the horror. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz0U8QqV3h9tWYd5WldtuFtjM80MdBmJ8EGoyBGidMp24FZpCofjd47OMyB3E54tpQ9FtUO3gyuIKyd3f3rwPIrmvCHjlKKDlNjbNv-J0Vl1H_7OwGlylvEe8atTFoON3xJfahyTBcNKN/s640/DSCN0519.JPG) |
Snipping tiles and filling in gaps |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojJBfapg5YRcYz9947Re5gG9KdTAbuHYuy4SlNzvjhyphenhyphenD2mmTsED6ba-UVBMyyPOWHGqk9gjCJ6oUHSZkXy8FB38OLroEQ9JkBdqXDWXigOR45odeEwJoXyGlkdVDNhI38t_jg3GQNMWdl/s640/DSCN0523.JPG) |
best deal - Costco vanity for fraction of the Resto Hardware price |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHPqWSKZUEcIbEM2nGAABOH_hOYL6kfL-INz-E-ZAQrUUuLvP5HcxEhJ1I1-FXRKo12ZeBw1GAhN7L6qHa6XZHt0BzGctyCkw9FNp810aOG5KkdJ65SNzg3AP_x9ZsXlv-j-rOS1xEbju/s640/DSCN0526.JPG) |
New tub, tile and hardware |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYq_6EyBx1itXrAk0tQ2Ldv3sWuknK7HRaZYKDoELScLjbyUEr_7jgsHMBVpUVET3omaSctVEtBubZTwqmx1hs1Mb6DEjN7rXkxIvlzOLL5K4dEZkcRciLjno9c8CrupuhEBo40zs-byW-/s640/January+Interior+Shots+063.JPG) |
Current state - view from hallway |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpk3TvtauvVV2Rn8rTUflnasXcp12ANZyE3Lo_GjZSQwTtA5oj2UoDz4V1uJZU44IlmsHd43Fel1TBMXwn1FB66kgLJdgxMHsRMqZkCbRljIDFixMJAMw2DgURFMPIFHUjtSVTojzRTlh/s640/January+Interior+Shots+067.JPG) |
It is small & impossible to photograph |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDhIyRXQICDRQ-mkmbT7ctyW8Jz6m2csJeftSoXyRigxABqldNalXB06JvsMdqypoVOLwUaGu82pOCzmzS4pkmhpdKSfhHVRKpc7kODgZnD9ku0PGlt-coWYXOro6MPeMCUFX0PV02DGy/s640/January+Interior+Shots+070.JPG) |
Tall Stacks artwork by Richard Mantia |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTpFuVwuvOmWRvMavwgvcjGU8kLGLzHfSsm2qfmsd8KIGGGKix_MDgY_-h5QUV2ubS8OlyGvtQiZ6HEqVh25snRsIQS8siaK94nnwHXKly5CKNsVNpH5boZ8nvbDAhpw-ihbtbSK_KBWf/s640/January+Interior+Shots+073.JPG) |
Vanity |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30gcXE05MagKcnKNkfI4pqVLqsXF-odHyOxDMAngZQssNd9FsB_MvxlGZJkEu9-yTT_azCavKGIeTK7hhYTIxrNn75WI78k-LUttNPIBeDwbvi4Mu79Hs2kyG11FpFIahyphenhyphenugoLVFrQIoR/s640/January+Interior+Shots+079.JPG) |
Not styled - dirty towels and bad light |
In the end, it was worth the hard work. It marked the beginning of my DIY ways. I learned how to tile, grout, drywall, soldier plumbing, cut crown molding. You know, all those finishy things that you take for granted when you walk into a bathroom. Unless you've done them yourself. Unless you've PEED in a bucket in the backyard for TWO WEEKS yourself.
kisses, mrs. V
1 comment:
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