"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

What do you do when it's over 100° out,

your granddaughter's birthday is in two weeks & you are completely insane? You remodel a dilapidated, log cabin "playhouse" into an enchanted doll house fit for a Princess.

This "playhouse" has sat in our backyard for several years. We got it from the neighbors when they moved, as it's made of solid wood & very heavy & they didn't want to take it w/ them. We had to rip out a fence section in order to move it from one yard to another. It's sole purpose has been as a giant toy box...to corral all the outside toys that 5 grands, of all ages, accumulate. Basketballs, footballs, baseballs, bats & huge bouncy balls....ride-on toys, soaker guns, plastic tea sets, pogo stick, slip n slide, sprinkler toys.....wagons, picnic basket, pull toys, dump trucks, etc etc etc. But it's all gonna get condensed into one huge bin that we'll store on the side of the shed & I'm converting the log cabin into a charming, pink doll cottage. Where Caralyn can have tea parties & play house & get away from her brothers. ;o)


Here's a before picture of the outside. The canopy you see is only temporary...we just put it up to provide some shade while we worked. We've replaced the roof & the floor, shingled the roof, painted it white on the outside & pink on the inside, wired in a porch light & inside light & rehung all the doors & windows, adding hardware. All that's left to do is paint the floor, paint some odds & ends decor, spiff up the "garden", lay stepping stones & decorate. Fun! Fun! Fun! At least, from here on out it will be, but it's been pure hard work up til now.


These aren't true before pictures of the inside, cause we had already emptied it of the 2 foot pile of toys. No lie! It was knee deep in toys! I put the shelf in there for them to keep it organized but of course the shelf was completely empty & the floor was a sea of toys. It reminded me of the show Hoarders. My grandkids are hoarders! LOL

The vines kinda scared me when I first saw them...reminded me of the Stephen King flick Creepshow, where the plants are taking over everything.

Wait until you see it! It is still totally empty but already so flipping cute that I can't stop thinking about it. These two are gonna have such fun in it!!!! (Rudy is a willing participant in all tea parties, games of patty cake & dress up LOL)


I'll share w/ y'all lots of pictures of the Enchanted Doll Cottage after it's all completed...I can't wait!

13 comments:

Jenny said...

WHAT? No semi-finished sneak peak? This is going to be amazing.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh, I can't wait to see it. I want one for me!!!

Pat @ My Tattered Elegance said...

I can't wait either.....I know you are having so much fun working on it for your grand daughter.
But be careful, this hot weather is awful. It can do damage if you are not careful. So take care.
Hugs, Pat

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Now Cami, 'fess up, it is more for YOU than your precious granddaughter!! Can I come play?!?!

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

FILIGREE MOON said...

What a cute pair, the grand and the pup! Looking forward to seeing the final dollhouse redo! ~ Angela

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Oh my! I can tell this is gonna be the most fantabulous little tea party doll house ever.

It's 120 degrees here every day and I am staying in pajamas until I have to go back to work a week from now. :) That's how I beat the heat.

Take care and drink lots of water. Best wishes, Tammy

Kathleen said...

Hi Cami!
I haven't visited you in awhile, but I am happy to see you happily busy!
The little one is just precious!
I can't wait to see the final version!
Kathleen

Melissa Miller said...

She is precious Cami!

I hope you are enjoying the summer!
~Melissa :)

Hilary said...

Love your blog...isn't being a grandmother fun?

Charlene said...

I can't wait to see what you do with this! I know it will be amazing after YOU put your special touch on it. AND it is so freaking hot be careful working outside. I miss you let's get together!!! I have another Mermaid Bottle I want you to see. HUGS!
Charlene

Romeo said...

Are you not the most wonderful grandmother ever??!? Although your sanity is certainly being questioned - all that work and in this heat?!? She is going to be some kind of excited and when she's grown up she may question your sanity too ;) But we all know, it's true grandmother love! Looking forward to seeing this beauty!!

Purrs!

Romeo and "her"

maría cecilia said...

Oh, I will be delightful to see what comes up with that little house!!!
cariños

Jan Thomason said...

well, it's going to be cute as can be!!
i'll be looking for the finished pictures.
no.
that's a lie.
i've been horrible at checking blogs so you'll probably have to email me.
yeah.
that would work.

i miss you like crazy, girl! jan