MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE

 These two vanities were my inspiration. The one on the left is by J. Tribble and far to expensive for my budget.

I found this dresser on Craig's List for $90.

I tried to live with the original color and the original brass knobs, but in the  end I decided to paint the vanity the same color as the walls ('celery salt' Benjamin Moore) and replace the knobs.

Ok ,idiotically I measured incorrectly and the new drawer pulls do NOT fit. How stupid. So, I will use ribbons for now --until I figure out what to do next. At least the knobs for the top row of drawers fit. 

The buttercups are blooming.

The landscaping planted in December is nicely filling out now that we have begun the rainy season. 

           Common name: White Alder, Sulphur Alder, Politician's Flower, White Buttercup

Botanical name: Tunera subulata

Family: Turneraceae (Yellow Alder family)

welcome to the Grove

 saw this van driving around Coconut Grove. Who knew it was legal to have a full body burial at sea? (four or more miles off shore please) . I love living here. 

Mango Season in my front yard

During the renovation I was worried that all those giant trucks digging up my yard and hauling equipment around would kill the only two trees in my front yard. The mangoes survived and it looks to be a fruitful spring. 

cleaning day, open windows, breeze coming from Biscayne Bay

The rental house I lived in for 5 years while I searched for house to renovate was very dark and depressing. Hardly any sunlight came in through the windows (by design--to keep the house cool). I need bright and airy rooms and I am so happy with the abundant sunshine in my upstairs hallway. One of my favorite spots in the entire house. When I clean the floors I love to fling open all the windows to let the breeze float in. 

keeping in shape with daily Pilates.

Every morning he finds the spot of sun and does his calisthenics ...I caught the very end of it.

This OLd House 2013 Reader Remodel Contest~ wish me luck...

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/yourtoh/remodel-contest/gallery?entry_id=5131edfd92a6c32436000004&image_id=1

YARD SALE SCORE~ Coral Gables Congregational Church annual Haiti yard sale

the table: $10; the working "Bell" phone : $2~ the Church yard sale. The lamp was $8 at the Salvation Army in Naples, Fl.

2010-2013

Tropical Audubon Society annual native plant sale

I went to the annual native plant sale at the Tropical Audubon Society in South Miami to pick up a few trees to plant in my yard . I also went there to take  a peak inside the Doc Thomas house circa 1931. I was so excited to see that the house still has the original kitchen and bathroom! 

I love the scalloped wood valence.

oh those bathtub knobs! the toilet! the sink!

the breakfast nook (love the birdhouses hanging out there)

the original coral rock fireplace 

"The house was built in 1931 at a cost of $4,500. It was designed by Robert Fitch Smith, the first chairman of the Department of Architecture at the University of Miami. The interior and exterior walls are red tide-water cypress. The living room floor consists of random-width boards decoratively pegged with mahogany and separated by walnut strips. The floors in the kitchen, breakfast nook, and bedrooms are Dade County pine. The fireplace incorporates both kinds of limestone found in South Florida: key stone and oolite. Keystone, so named because it underlies most of the Florida Keys, is fossilized coral containing the remains of sea fans and other marine animals. The very porous inorganic limestone, called oolite, underlies Dade County." read more here:

http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/DTH.html

http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/index.html

The Steinberg Nature Center—named in honor of 30 year volunteer Alan Steinberg who is still active at 84 years old—-occupies three subtropical acres at 5530 Sunset Drive