Let's play with my Snazzy Garottage project

8 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

We're building a carriage house (we prefer the term garottage) on a lot behind our house this summer. It will function as garage space (mainly boat/shed storage) with simple guest quarters above. Our original garottage is pictured above... Haha, it was truly a garROTage, built in 1940, I think. It was torn down last fall. Please don't bother telling me how to fix THAT garottage--IT'S GONE NOW! :) I used it as the dilemma icon to remind me how far we'll get with something "snazzier". :)

To be economical, we're planning on a 2-story structure. The new garottage must meet city code and have more living than garage space--61% living space--but the city is allowing a screened porch to count as living (Yay!) so we want to incorporate that on the structure. We hope to get 2br, 1 bath, a kitchen(ette) and laundry from the living space above, and a large-ish garage space below. This is a summer vacation spot and family/guest overflow space is what we're after!

We're meeting with the city planner and our builder/carpenter this weekend. We have some general ideas from looking at plans online, but have not purchased any yet. We'll know more soon about what we can and can't do after talking to our people here.

I don't have a specific dilemma/question yet, but started the thread to have a spot to be able to do that. I'm sure I'll have TONS of things I'll need opinions about! So, I'd appreciate any feedback as this project moves along! I'm terrible at envisioning things, and more terrible at decorating, so I hope the feedback, suggestions, advice and encouragement will keep me sane and make this a snazzy garottage worthy of the lovely setting it's on. Thank you! :)

Featured Answer

fissfiss

2 months ago

Oooo, Ducky, think of the possibilities depending upon the affected body parts!

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Comments (120K)

kcooz07
yesterday
stryker, congrats...I think!
rredpenn
Original Author
yesterday
Aw, hey there, Stryker! I am proud of you! Whoa, Ms. Buzinezz Owner! I hope you are doing well in spite of the longer hours. :) Plz pop in anytime you get a few minutes. We miss ya!

I def channeled my inner Toats here the past few... I never would have done that, or anything creative, had it not been for her. I hope she is doing well, too... :)

For those not familiar with Toats... I can prob dig up a few of her old threads, if you're interested. LOL
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rredpenn
Original Author
yesterday
Lad, what kind of fresh he77 is your diet going through?? You poor thing. No vinegar? That is one of my favorite flavors...
mamabear2014
yesterday
I love the table rred! You are so talented!

Stryker, Hi! Congrats on the new business! You will be successful!

ladma, So sorry you are having such a hard time. I hope you can find some excitement with your meals.
rredpenn thanked mamabear2014
Soccerates
23 hours ago
Mr Soccer is on puppy duty so I get to see what all of you have been up to.
THE TABLE-WOW! So cool, vibrant, interesting and brilliant! You’ve really outdone yourself this time.

Those of you on food restrictions/ major dietary changes-my heart goes out to you all. I don’t have any ideas to offer you.

Congrats Stryker!!

Now that I’ve had the puppies for two weeks, I’m fine tuning their routine. Today they only had one accident each so I’m getting better at predicting max bladder capacity lol. We’re working on “sit” and “come” and when outside “icky don’t eat that!” All day we are busy training, re-directing wayward jaws, getting outside on time and perfecting team napping. It’s an awful lot like having toddlers and I am pooped at the end of the day. And happy.
rredpenn thanked Soccerates
marjie1059
23 hours ago
Table envy! Creativity envy! Good eye for design envy!

Seriously, Rred, that is one wonderful project!!
rredpenn thanked marjie1059
jayapple21
21 hours ago
The finished table is wonderful!!! Not a design repeat that I can see. I hope you get a little smile of satisfaction every time you see it!

A link to a Myers-Briggs Personality test popped up on my computer screen tonight and I thought, "what the heck - let's take a peek". I am amazed - I took it and the results are pretty much right on target for me. Here's the link if anyone wants to try it:

https://upbeatnews.com/spa/find-out-your-myers-briggs-personality-type-and-learn-more-about-yourself/3?utm_source=quora&utm_medium=kts&brws=c&utm_content=qu_kts_003&utm_campaign=un_qu_myersq-02_spa_dt_us_0706_001_kts-s&utm_term=myersq

It's just a fun thing if/when you have a few minutes of spare time. 😊
rredpenn thanked jayapple21
nwduck
19 hours ago
Congrats, stryker! Here you go on another new adventure! Lots has happened since we all first "met" you!
ladma
15 hours ago
Stryker! Good news on the business ownership. Good luck.

Rred, I’m on the low acid GERD diet. And the FODMAP diet. Both designed to calm down my over active GI tract, and treat the findings of an endoscopy, so it’s fairly limited, when things calm down I can reintroduce families of foods, one category at a time. I failed the lactose test, royally! Now I’m afraid to reintroduce the next category!
babophz
14 hours ago
Table looks amazing. And Batty...😻

ladma, I used to make a surprisingly nice, simple cucumber soup. In your case, you'd need a dairy replacement, though. Make a roux, add some vegetable stock, grate and add a cucumber plus some dill seed, let it simmer for just a bit (the cucumber needs to stay crunchy) then add something creamy before serving. I think it was creme fraiche, but it may have been simple cream. The dill seed is what provides the flavour.
rredpenn thanked babophz
babophz
14 hours ago
last modified: 14 hours ago
Jay, I did the test and did not recognise myself in the result. Shall we blame the language/culture thing? 😉 It was fun doing anyway!
babophz
14 hours ago
last modified: 13 hours ago
stryker, congratulations! I hope you get a lot of fun out of it, and preferably some money too... ;-)
ladma
13 hours ago
This is me! ISTP - Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving

You are The Craftsperson. ITSPs are observant in the most menial ways. They have a great understanding of mechanics and can troubleshoot just about anything. They love a nice, practical solution.
rredpenn
Original Author
13 hours ago
LOL

This is partially true...

Mostly, during the quiz I spent more time whacking the ad moles than thinking about my answers. I was sensing, thinking and judging the ads, for sure, and hovered my cursor over the "X" spots to quash them out before I even saw the next one pop up. I guess they should have added "impatient" to that list of attributes. LOL
Soccerates
12 hours ago
Lad, Activia and Green Valley Creamery make lactose free yogurt. These are based on milk with the lactose removed. There are also several brands that make a plant based yogurt; soy, almond, or cashew. My boys were lactose intolerant when they were little. I used goat’s milk to make mashed potatoes or anything that needed milk in a recipe. I don’t know if this could be an option for you but I thought I’d mention it.
Soccerates
12 hours ago
Oh, one more thing, Lad, can you have avocados? They’re loaded with calories and are pretty good on toast!
mamabear2014
12 hours ago
samoken
12 hours ago
Interestingly we have all been introverted and sensing so far. Maybe that’s why we feel so strongly about our hairy duds on the Internet.
kcooz07
12 hours ago
Well I came out Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging. Not sure how because I am VERY introverted and quiet, lol.
samoken
12 hours ago
I was tempted to click on neither agree or disagree on every one just to see what a person who couldn’t/wouldn’t commit would turn out to be.
Seajay Sparkles
11 hours ago
I’m ENTJ - the Commander. 🤣😎 Yeah, I’m pretty much a take charge personality.

……

Rred, I guess I noticed how nice the table edge looked without realizing you repainted it. The copper paint is awesome and the table truly is a work of art. I know you’re done with it finally! but I was thinking if you felt like you needed something to do ;), a fine white stripe between the bumps along the edge would mimic the center hole art. In any event, it was a project well worth the effort.
fissfiss
10 hours ago
Today’s project…
Seajay Sparkles
10 hours ago
It’s always amazing watching those tree guys.
Soccerates
9 hours ago
Aww, it’s bittersweet for me to see a big tree taken down. I understand why but I don’t like it.
rredpenn
Original Author
9 hours ago
Me too, Socc. We just had four big ones removed, and now my scraggly back "lawn" is in revolt too... all their back and forth on the little bobcat thing, hauling out the pieces, didn't help. Plus, we don't water it at all, and we def are in a little drought this summer.
rredpenn
Original Author
9 hours ago
Well, got a coat of poly on the table, and have two more to go, at two hour intervals... plus light sanding between coats. It's gonna be impervious to bird poo and other ickies!

I am not gonna do anything to the edge bumpies... that would be a nightmare, I decided. LOL

But, I was just eyeing the plain black bowling ball my brother left with me once upon a time. It just sits in the corner of the patio, waiting to become a "garden feature." Maybe I'll coat that thing in that copper paint, and make it the "centerpiece" to go over the umbrella hole? LMAO
nwduck
9 hours ago
It's ESTJ for me. I've taken the test as part of work and was ENTJ. OH did it too at that time, and we were both the same.
ladma
9 hours ago
Soccer, Avacodos are high in sorbitol, one of the forbidden elements. When I reintroduce sorbitol foods, I might tolerate them. Right now peanut butter is my high calorie fix.
ladma
9 hours ago
It does hurt to see trees taken down, but when they are too close to the house, they need to go.
Soccerates
9 hours ago
Apparently I’m an ISFP. Funny, I don’t think of myself as free-spirited now but I used to be.
fissfiss
8 hours ago
After one comes too close to falling on you, the decision is much easier. At home, we have kept everything that is unlikely to hurt anyone. Even the dead ones, for habitat.
juliab51
8 hours ago
My DH has had phone call after phone call this morning from an elderly relative of a relative with dementia whose computer has gotten some kind of virus, so I don't think I'll be taking any tests from unknown sites on the internet today, LOL.

Rred, bravo! You've really outdone yourself! It is fabulous.

Congratulations, Stryker! Wishing you and the business every success.
rredpenn thanked juliab51
glschisler
7 hours ago
Congratulations Stryker!

And Fiss, I am glad to see the dangerous trees come down. It makes for afternoon entertainment lol.

RRed,that will be such a fun table to sit.
rredpenn
Original Author
6 hours ago
Two coats of poly and now it’s got that “glow.” LOL. One more coat to go!
I am cleaning the garage and loading stuff to take to Goodwill from Mom’s. Every so often I reward myself with a moment like this. LOL
Alice Edwards
6 hours ago
Rred, a table like yours and what you’ve done is priceless!
rredpenn thanked Alice Edwards
Seajay Sparkles
5 hours ago
In magazine in doctors office today
rredpenn thanked Seajay Sparkles
rredpenn
Original Author
5 hours ago
last modified: 4 hours ago
LOL Sweet! I'm gonna save that and try it! I forgot that the clitano is another must for bahn mi! And, another reason to say it wrong and have a giggle!
fissfiss
3 hours ago
I have tried store bought ground chicken…I would stick to ground turkey. My recipe mixed the mayo with some crème Fraiche, and either sour cream or yogurt would sub. Foodie with family has an excellent recipe for pickled carrots, which go in a water bath and last…garlic, ginger and a spicy pepper are in with the rice vinegar.
fissfiss
2 hours ago
So, lad, can you do almonds and other nuts? If you like them, could give you a bit of a break from the monotony. Nut butters are pretty widely available. And how do you feel about coconut and is it on the list? Talenti to used to make a peanut butter sorbet that was to die for. Truly as good as ice cream, but no dairy…if you did a deep dive on the internet, might find a recipe, and kids luuuurve helping make homemade sorbet…..Worth the cost of a cheap ice cream maker.
I’m kinda surprised that dairy was reintroduced so early, given how many issues it causes in “normal” folks…it is usually the first thing that anyone suggests eliminating.
ladma
2 hours ago
You can pick what ever group you want to reintroduce first, so I picked dairy. I love almonds, and I think small amounts are allowed. I had a problem with rapid transit and almonds in the past, though, so they make me nervous. I’m going to wait a week, then try to reintroduce a new food group. Dinner tonight was haddock, with a little butter and a squirt of lemon, white rice, and cooked carrots. ( Mr had pinko bread crumbs on his fish.
rredpenn
Original Author
2 hours ago
Try almond butter or almond milk first. It's less chunky. ;)

I have been treating myself lately to an almond milk cold coffee/mocha drink... Hyster's husband (One of the remaining Dans--LOL) got me hooked on it. It's so decadent and yummy! It's really good over ice.
rredpenn
Original Author
2 hours ago
Well, I got a load waiting to put in the car and drive to Goodwill today, and four loads of laundry done too. I have to wash the dog blankets in the back of the car, now that the family laundry is done. LOL Then, I'm gonna do the deep clean of the downstairs rooms tomorrow to get ready for Hyster & co. to stay here for two nights before we push off for the lake for the rest of their week in Iowa. They are pausing here in DM to attend the Iowa State Fair and a pool party at her good friend from forever's parents' house. I guess she still has a few peeps to see/visit here in her hometown besides her sibs. LOL

Otherhalf had a landscaper come today and discuss fixing some of our retaining walls, regrading our sinking back lawn, which needs loads of soil to even it back out, and we need to reseed if we want a lawn next year. I also got him to look at fixing our mudslick on the Zen Garden side of the patio/house with proper paver stone/landings spaced out in a low enough grade so that the lawn tractor can still make it around to the back and the front stoop to our entryway needs to be redone bc the yahoo that built it did a terrible job and yeah... lots of action items on my list.

We had to wait for all the tree work to be done before we could address the backyard mess. Joy. Now, it's time.
Seajay Sparkles
1 hour ago
I drink Cold brew coffee with almond milk and a squirt of chocolate. Yummy.
rredpenn
Original Author
1 hour ago
That stuff up there is like drinking a candy bar. LOL I try to limit myself to one a day. LOL
liasch
1 hour ago
Back home… I am going to need a vacation after my son‘s vacation and helping them out with the two kids every day.😵‍💫

I love mocha anything but unfortunately can’t do caffeine so 90% of the premade stuff is off the table for me. It’s hard enough to find a decent decaf.

I do almond butter, smooth almond butter instead of peanut butter. that’s pretty calorie rich.

I’m also addicted to this coconut whipping cream in a can. If you can have coconut. it’s not that bad for calories but it’s a nice treat.
rredpenn
Original Author
1 hour ago
I love coconut. I'll have to look for that for when the kids are at the lake! They love all kinds of goodies like that, and I may as well get something I'd like too. LOL
ladma
43 minutes ago
Coffee and chocolate are on the GERD no no list. Thanks for all the suggestions, though! I have the Monash FODMAP app, and it steps you thru the process. My SIL Is a dietician, she gave me some ideas. At this point I think I’ve stopped losing weight. So that’s a plus.
Rred,your energy always astounds me, and entertaining all summer long is impressive.
rredpenn
Original Author
18 minutes ago
Honestly, it's been nice to have a couple of days to catch my breath...

Only to notice that there is another new plague of the insect variety on my doorstep, literally...

DUCKIE ALERT!! AVERT YOUR EYES! This one is gross!

Meet Mr. Geranium Budworm.

This little F#ck3r and his sibling in the next planter over have been eating out all the buds on both my geraniums, so there is nothing left to bloom. Here is what these things do... this was gonna be a big flower head, but not any more...

Because pollinators visit, I can't really spray for them... the only thing I can do is hand pick the little devils and drop them in soapy water and hope I got them all. Like I have time to do that! Grrrrr!
rredpenn
Original Author
10 minutes ago
The internet suggests I stop buying geraniums. Great.

Maybe next year, I'll get me some concrete flowers for my front steps. The concrete pumpkins I got work so well in the fall. Nothing gets those things. LOL
rredpenn
Original Author
2 minutes ago
I can't wait for fall. My favorite time of year. I get to burn things and listen to football on the radio while I spend time alone in the backyard and there are no bugs.

I am looking forward to winter/Christmastime too. At that art show, I got myself three new "forms" from this guy who makes things from rebar, including these Christmas trees, for my light show. They will reside permanently in the driveway border, where I can place them strategically in the growing seasons to deter the giant mice (aka deer) from trying to eat all my asters. For now, they are here, front and center, where I can look at them, and dream of bug- and animal- pest-free days ahead.