That first snow...

She waited until November 30th, but Mother Nature finally gave us a decent covering of snow.   That first blanket is usually temporary.  Just a taste of what is in store for us the next few months.

It does strange things, that first snowfall.  On one hand, it's romantic.  A magical dusting of Christmas or Hanukkah for some.  A chance to make snowmen, forts, and snow angels.  The promise of ice on the pond and branches of trees sagging.

For others - it blows their mind.  They forget how to drive, either slowing down excessively or recklessly ignoring effects of the snow on the road.  People in their 4-wheel drive trucks and SUVs impatiently whipping around the others, confident in their ability to stick to the asphalt and get themselves out of whatever trouble they might slide into.  

For runners - it's the untouched snow that is the biggest temptation.  To be the first to lay down a set of tracks and hear that squeaky crunch under your shoes is like getting up and realizing the buses are cancelled.  Clear, crisp mornings with just a light jacket and your iPod.  Those are the runs that bring you back and keep you wanting more.  The legs don't burn, the lungs don't heave, and the body is naturally cooled by the early winter breeze.  

There's so much promise in that first snow.  Strange to think it's just bits of frozen water falling from the sky.

The Powder Room

See?  How can you not get excited about a tag line like that?  Makes you wonder, doesn't it.  If you've read a few other blogs, you'll see my recent "thing" has been painting.  Porch posts, garage doors, and now... the powder room.

I wasn't sure what colour to paint it.  I know we didn't want brown.  Tim has always been a little hesitant with bold colours, so I was completely shocked when he pointed to a deep, rich, purplish-brown or a very bold dark green.  There was also a mention of beadboard.

After stuffing a few chips behind the mirror for a week or so (and slowly throwing out ones that didn't thrill us), Purple Haze was the winner.  You read that right: PURPLE.  Tim wanted a deep green with beadboard.  I wanted purple without beadboard.  The compromise was purple, but with beadboard.  Right now, the beadboard was a little beyond the scope of time that we had, so it's full on purple for now.  With bright white fixtures and bright white trim, it rocks!

And of course, as you know, I always have to learn something from everything I do.  So what did I figure out?

Don't be afraid of bold colours, but go over your walls with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying glass - they show everything.
There is absolutely no reason to cop out on painting behind the toilet.
Painting around a pedestal sink is a pain in the ass.
Cling Wrap is your best friend for masking toilets and pedestal sinks.

I gotta be honest - I'm not rushing to put the beadboard up.