Windows to the World

We spent the last couple of days working on what replacing all of the old plastic and aluminum blinds with the new 2" Bali faux wood blinds that give the whole house the same window coverings.

The main bath with new blinds
instead of an antique shade!

The biggest change probably was in the main bathroom and the kitchen, although having a uniform header or valance in the Florida room is nice to see also.  The main bathroom's window was covered by an original (read "antique") pull-down shade that had definitely done its duty.  We were not sorry to see it go, and although the rest of the bathroom still is pink, at least the window covering matches the rest of the house.

Uniform headers give the Florida room a clean
yet finished appearance for each window.

Since the kitchen and the master bedroom both face the front of the house, having both of those rooms with matching window coverings also will add to the symmetrical appearance of the house.  Additionally, each window now has the same wooden header for a clean, uniform finish.

The 2" blinds allow more visibility than did the old 1"
aluminum blinds, and they add to the Key West theme
of the house.

Sadly, we are still missing one shade in the guest bedroom because we forgot to order two identical shades for that room.  Ah, well, it has been ordered and will be in next week, so that will be a small job when it finally comes in.  Like everything else in remodeling, putting up the shades had an unexpected expense: drill bits.  For each shade that went up, Rick had to drill at least four or six holes, depending on the size of the shade, into the concrete frame of the window.  In some places, that also meant drilling into metal plates, so 1/16" drill bits have a very short life going into such material.  Once again, that is the joy of working with cement block structures instead of the wooden structures we are used to in the north.

We took a little time this morning to do some necessary shopping and to take a stroll through one of the many art fairs that are held each winter in the area.  One thing that we cannot complain about is the lack of activity in Dunedin.  We always have SOMETHING going on, and today it was an art fair.  Dunedin also held its weekly Saturday morning green market (called a "farmer's market" in the north), so we had the best of both worlds.

At the green market, we met with a man who makes brooms.  I had talked with him last year about possibly making me a soft whisk broom like the one I inherited from my father.  The legacy of the broom is an interesting family story.  In 1892, my grandfather Will's older brother Emil contracted scarlet fever, and as a result he became blind.  He had been working as a casket and chair maker in a large woodworking company in Oshkosh, but after his illness, he had to find a new trade.  Some time between 1892 and 1914, Emil learned to be a broom maker.  He eventually went to live with my grandfather and his family, and the 6" whisk broom that I inherited was first used by my grandmother Rose.  When she gave up housekeeping, the broom was passed down and used by my father, and upon his death, it was passed down to me.  I still use it today, so I wanted to know if the modern-day broom maker could duplicate this study yet soft broom that had worked well for almost 100 years.

Emil, the broom maker.

I had taken pictures of the broom when we were in Wisconsin, so I took the pictures in to him and asked him if he could possibly duplicate the broom.  He said that he would seek out the right materials to do so, but that it may take time.  We understand both the scarcity and the cost of quality materials, so we were not surprised by his statements; however, we are hopeful that he can come up with a soft broom that will work well in the house.  Sadly, Emil's broom is more at home now cleaning up wood shop and outdoor messes since it has become soiled over the years.  Also, after all of this time, the handle is starting to unravel a little, but considering its age, I think it is holding up well.

Emil's handiwork, a sturdy whisk broom that
may be over 100 years old.

After our discussion with the broom maker, we ventured back into the art fair and found two prints of schooners and palm trees that we really liked.  The price was reasonable, so we bought them for the living room.  Of course, we cannot agree on how they should be hung.  Rick wants to perch them above the TV, and I think that will both be too high and leave too much space on either side of the wall.  I want to flank the TV with the pictures and add a smaller print or metal piece between the two above the TV, but Rick says that will "look dumb."  So for now we have art but no agreement on where to go with it.  It may end up in the dining room yet; however, that, too, remains to be seen.  We actually cannot do anything with spacing and art until we get the sofas in, and they will not be delivered for at least another month.  Then tables, trees, rugs, and sofas will determine where everything fits.  Did we buy the art too soon?  Not really. If we had not purchased it now, we might not have the opportunity to see this artist again, and we might not have gotten the works for this same price.  As my dad always used to say, "It doesn't eat anything if you store it," so that is what we will do for now.

The prints are great, but where to hang them on this large
wall still is a point of debate. 

Overall, today was a productive day.  The weather is windy but warm, so we may take some time now to do what we have not been able to do yet: take a walk around the neighborhood.  Gladys is presenting lots of work for us right now, but we are still glad to be out of the cold and into an environment where we can get something done and see the results of our labor.