Cabin transformation - first steps

When we bought the cabin one of my least favourite parts was the bathroom: it was dingy and cramped with an old top-loading washing machine and electric dryer taking up a lot of the room. The dryer also boasted a long power cord draped across the room.

The washer and dryer were functional - but only just.  By December we noticed that the dryer was running very hot and was I not confident that it would not combust with all our clothes one day. We replaced the laundry equipment with a stacking front-loading washing machine. (Also energy efficient and low water use).  We also had an extractor fan installed to stop the dampness of an unventilated bathroom, and bought an electric towel rail, to warm up an unheated bathroom!

After all this expenditure I thought that the very least I could do was invest in a gallon of paint. This nice sunshine yellow is a pearl finish, so rather shiny (shinier than eggshell) but ideal for a bathroom.  The woodwork and the cabinets are in a white gloss.  I stayed at the cabin one day over the winter break while everyone else went to try to ski on the minimal snow. 

I was so delighted with the results: how instantly more cheerful the room looks, that I rushed upstairs to paint the tiny bathroom as well.

You can see from the photograph how very tiny the bathroom is: luckily neither Nigel nor I have particularly long legs!  Hanging on the wall is a leftover of the Kath Kidston bunting that I made for Gill for Christmas: I have a little in the bathroom and a little more on the bedroom wall and it makes a very cheery decoration.

Winter wildlife

We went up to the cabin last weekend for a non-snowboard-team trip to the slopes. Weather on Saturday was lovely; possibly the best weekend skiing we have had this year. Overnight it snowed about 6" and we woke to that soft quietness that means snow.  The cabin has a metal roof, so the transition from rain (very loud) to snow is rather noticeable.

While we were eating breakfast we noticed that we were not the only ones eating. Three deer were noshing away on the new leaves of the dogwood trees.  We have seen three deer several times over the winter, so I wonder if it's a 'local family'. Anyway - they hung around for a long time before slipping away into the trees.

Te Papa

Nigel came back from New Zealand in November with the perfect name for our cabin: "Te Papa" is the name of the Museum of New Zealand in Wellington and means 'our place'. I decided that the cabin needed an actual name plate so bought a cheap pyrography kit from Amazon and had a go at making one myself.

As well as the cabin name it also has symbols for us all. From left to right: whiskers for Charlotte, a fish hook for Fin, knitting needles for me, a downhill snowboard for Adam, and bike wheels for Nigel.

It was fun to do, and not too difficult, although I found straight lines easier than curved ones. I managed to make this sign without setting anything on fire or burning myself so I think that counts as a 'win'.  I varnished the plaque with a matte varnish and it's now mounted by the front door.  I can't think of anything else I need a pyrography kit for now - anyone need a wooden plaque??