We’re sitting here scratching our heads, wondering how on earth another year could have passed. But the more we think about it, I guess it makes sense when we remember everywhere we’ve traveled, the projects we’ve completed, and the things we’ve accomplished. So, here’s a little (okay, maybe lengthy) 2011 wrap up for you as we reflect back on what was an amazing year.

Projects Checked Off

Organic Vegetable Garden - This summer we tried our hand at building an organic square foot garden. For a couple weekends worth of work, we were thrilled with the results, and enjoyed months of fresh herbs, kale, ichiban eggplant, and much more (including cabbage that we thought was broccoli for several months). 

Farewell Crappy B&B. Hello Guest Bedroom. - As I've done many times before, I grew restless with the slow progress of the vestibule reconfiguration and informed Alex we would be doing a quick makeover of our guest bedroom. The pink walls and cracked ceiling had helped the room earn it's nickname of the "crappy B&B." (That's what Alex and I called in it while we slept in this room for a year while our own bedroom was undergoing its renovation.) He may have fought me tooth and nail, but I know both of us, including our guests, are thrilled we took the time to check this one off the list. 

Vestibule Reconfiguration - By far the most ambitious and labor intensive project of the year, the vestibule reconfiguration involved flip flopping our front door and french doors to the way they once were years ago. But of course we couldn't use the doors we already had. No siree. We instead retrofitted an old door and two sidelights for their new home, as well as stripped all the original molding and wainscoting, and installed a new tile floor, overhead LED light, salvaged hardware and transom house numbers. Oh, and agonized over the front door color, letter slot location and creepy perverts, the color of the new doorknob, and much more. Thanks to everyone who stuck with us through this one...and the record breaking 29 posts we devoted to it. It was a doozie, but we're smitten with the finished results.

Curb Appeal 2.0 - This project goes hand in hand with the vestibule reconfiguration project, but we also worked hard to improve the curb appeal of our home this year. After completing our front stairs project several years ago, we turned our attention to other parts of our home. And during this period, the front of our house started to look a little shabby. One might say we were bringin' ghetto back due to the broken light fixture, gaping hole, and construction cone where our tree once flourished. So I nagged the city arborist for months until our replacement tree arrived, meanwhile Alex cut and replaced the beveled pane of glass in our front light. Mission accomplished. We still need to work on the planted area at the base of the tree, but that's a next year sort of thing.

Roof Work to Stop That Pesky Leak - Though we just posted about this little project the other day, it was an ongoing source of frustration and work over the last several years. We're thrilled that the leak seems to be gone...for now...but you better believe we'll be keeping our eyes on it for the foreseeable future. If all goes well, maybe I'll be able to convince Alex to fix the crack in the ceiling the roof leak caused.