Arrrrrggggg

Ok, so some of you remember my tales of woe when we were remodeling down here--long before the days of Bob the Builder--back in the days of Bob the Blind Guy. On November 19, 2007, I posted about all the problems we were having plus the fact that our overhead fan and light hadn't worked since the previous spring when Rusty and Dusty had put in our new ceiling, wall board etc. So that would have been April 2007. Well, we have complained to them on numerous occasions at which time they promised to come out. Well, guess what--they showed up unannounced this morning. Luckily we were here. After they tore down half of the ceiling and have styrofoam spread all over the place, they THINK that they have found the problem and rectified it. Of course it meant putting in wire (which obviously was there at one time because the fan worked before April 2007), putting the ceiling back up, and re-wiring the fan. But hey, even though the ugly yellow cord is hanging down beside the window and plugs in to the outlet behind the entertainment center, it is up and working!! Of course after almost 2 years of non use and the humidity which we are known for down here, the blades are now sagging dangerously low and could really clip anyone over the size of 5'10" so now we have to go buy new blades and attempt to put them up. Maybe that will be a good project for #1 (and only ) son when he comes to visit next week.

And then, remember my tale of woe about my new stove a couple of weeks ago? I was so thrilled to have a new oven which I could actually bake in. Well, yesterday I went out and spent a small fortune on ingredients for Chex Mix and several kinds of Christmas cookies. Last night I decided to make the Chex Mix. It says to bake it at 250 for an hour and 15 minutes stirring every 15 minutes. I checked it at 15 minutes and things were getting a little toasty. I checked again at 25 minutes and most of it was burnt to a crisp. The thermometer in my oven said that even though it was set at 250, it was actually 425 degrees!!! So, here I set with my small fortune in Christmas cookie ingredients and company coming next week and an oven which burns anything it sees! Arrrggggg!

By the way, please excuse the fuzziness of the picture. I took it kind of quickly and about scared the you know what out of Rusty as he was doing some rewiring at the time the flash went off!!

A Bob the Builder Saga minus Bob the Builder

Ok, so this doesn't really involve Bob the Builder but with the run around we have had, it might as well have involved him.

Our trailer is 21 years old. We bought a new "used" A/C unit when we bought the place 8 years ago. So this fall, we had to get a new one. No problem there. Then the fridge which was 21 years old went belly up. So, we had to get a new one. No problem. And of course, the stove which is also 21 years old isn't at the top of it's game. Actually the oven hasn't worked in several years. So, we had to get a new one. PROBLEM!!

We aren't wired correctly to have an electric stove. There is no natural gas here in the Park. That leaves propane. Finding a propane stove. No problem. Finding some one to install it. PROBLEM!!

When we first started looking for a stove, we were told at Home Depot that they would sell us the stove but they couldn't install it. We needed someone special to do that. They recommended Bill Smith Appliance. So, we checked there. Nope they couldn't do it but they would sell us the stove. Call TEKO for installation. We kind of let this slide for a month or two but with Christmas rapidly approaching, company coming, and my desire to bake some Christmas cookies, we started working on this again.

I finally, after much searching, discovered the phone number for TEKO (whatever that is). So I call them and discover that they aren't even in Fort Myers but elsewhere in the state somewhere. It was also one of those cases where you can't even get to talk to a real person. Finally after about three tries and listening to numerous messages, I finally got a real person. But, no, they couldn't install our stove. She tells me to call Balgas.

So, I call Balgas. She very nicely said, "Uh, I don't know" and gave me the number of Bob (no, not the Builder). So, we call Bob. Bob says, "Well I can't do it but I will give you the number of Larry. He is a contractor." Geez, just what I need, another contractor. So, we call Larry. Larry says, "Yeah, I can install it but you need to call Bob back and get the stove from him." So, we call Bob and Bob says, "I need to talk to Larry first. I'll call you back." Finally, finally, finally, Bob calls back and says yes, they could get us the stove, deliver it, install it, and take away the old one.

I went out for some girl time with my friend Diane today and when I got home, guess what was waiting for me? My spanking new, beautiful little propane stove. I haven't used the oven yet but I'm betting it works alot better than the last one did. So Christmas cookies, here I come!!

Bob the Builder is Still at It!

When last we left Bob the Builder, he had called in Susan the Savior to finish his work--or the work he didn't do. Of course, we left Findlay before the work was all done. Bill, who lives with us, told us that she had painted the hall woodwork and was coming back to do the computer room ceiling. Bob the Builder hadn't told her about painting the trim in my bedroom. So, she emailed us today. He had told her only to paint the windows, not the 3 doors. Now why, I ask you, would I want just the windows and not the doors??? So, she said she would give us a quote, would go out and buy more paint since Bob the Builder's son didn't buy enough and then she would do the work. I wish to heck that we had found her originally! We have lots more work to do next summer but unfortunately she is being transferred by Marathon Oil to Houston. Drat.
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This is the first time that we have come south this early. Usually we don't come until mid October but due to us being Florida residents now and Ohio law says that they can charge us full state tax if we are there over 3 months, we came down earlier this year. And believe me, it is HOT--and MUGGY! As I revealed on this blog a while back, due to my restless leg syndrome and sometime insomnia and Mr. Snowbird's snoring, we sleep in separate rooms. When we are down here, that means that I sleep in the Florida room. Usually it isn't too bad and sometimes during the winter it gets downright cold. Unfortunately, the Florida room is not heated or air conditioned. So, since we got back down here, I have been sleeping in a sauna! And the overhead fan hasn't worked since we had the Florida room remodeled. (I think Bob the Builder's cousin did the work here!) So, I have a tower fan which is aimed right at my futon. It helps a little but I tend to wake up dripping from perspiration from time to time. I can't wait until it starts to cool off a bit. Three or four weeks I am told.
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BTW, I did pick up a little something, put it in a cage and transport it today. :-)

The Saga of Bob the Builder Continues

Ok, so I haven't updated you on the Adventures of Bob the Builder lately. So here goes. When last we met here, Bob had hired Susan, the Concrete Guy's girlfriend. She came in Monday and Tuesday of this week after her day job at Marathon Oil. She worked about 3 to 4 hours each day. AND--she got more done in those few hours than the guys did in all the time they were here! I asked her why she got so much more done and her answer was that the guys are always taking breaks and long lunch hours. And yup, she was right!

Anyway, the living room and bedroom (well, except for the light fixture in the bedroom) are done. Yay!! I finally was able to move all the stuff from the family room back to their rightful spots. I know that my daughter kind of scorned at beige and it does kind of look that way, especially in the pictures, but it does have a green tint to it and I LIKE IT. So there. LOL.

So here are some before and afters so you can see the difference.

The fireplace wall before.

The fireplace wall after.

The entertainment center wall before.

The entertainment center wall after.

This gives you an idea of how the paint looks with the wallpaper--which, by the way, is going to go bye bye next summer in lieu of painted walls.

This is the before of the bedroom with walls primed and no carpet.

Mr. Snowbird was in charge here and picked out the colors, the drapes, the carpet, and Comforter. Not too shabby I would say!

So, there you have it. We still have so much more to do next summer. A new kitchen, get rid of wallpaper in the living room and family room, probably new carpet, possibly redo the bathroom etc. But you better believe that Bob the Builder WON'T be doing it. If anybody can recommend a good contractor in Findlay, Ohio, let me know, ok?????

Bob The Builder Update

We called Bob the Builder yesterday to see when--or even if--he was ever coming back. The last time we saw anyone from his crew was a week ago last Monday! He said he couldn't come until next week. Grrrrr. About an hour later he called and said that his crew was busy putting a roof on a house but he could come today. So he and his significant other showed up at 9:00, dropped some stuff off, and promptly left to go shopping for something--who knows what. They came back with a few things and finally started painting about 9:45. Then they discovered that they didn't have enough paint so Mr. Snowbird went to get some rather than let them out the door again. At 12:30 they left for lunch since B the B's lady friend had to go to work. He came back about 2:00 and continued to work on the living room. Our living room is one HUGE room which is "divided" into two parts. There is paint on one end and wallpaper on the other end. We left the wallpapered end alone except that the woodwork needs to be painted the same color as the painted half. Also, the woodwork goes upstairs and there are 6 doors upstairs that need to be painted also. But, I digress. B the B finally got the painted half including the ceiling finished today. When we asked when he was coming back, he said next week! Mr. Snowbird told him for the umpteenth time that we wanted to leave for Florida by the end of the month. This month, not two months from now!! So, he caved and called someone else and offered them the job. He actually called Concrete Guy's girlfriend. She will be here Monday afternoon and hopefully will finally get the job done for us next week. If she is as good as Concrete Guy, I won't have any gripes--finally!

So, anyway, I was able to FINALLY--after 2 months--put coats back in the closet, put Hummels back in the cupboards, put pictures on the wall, and move the furniture back into place. Tomorrow we will put the drapes back up. I can't put everything in it's place though until the other half of the room is done. But, at least progress is being made. And we can finally walk through the family room again since that was where everything was piled.It was all I could do to get to my plants to water them.

The bedroom is all painted and we are just waiting for carpeting which will be here on Monday so that room will finally be finished. Slowly but surely things are finally getting done.

Anyway, there you have it. The saga of Bob the Builder continues but at least progress is being made and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Yet Another Garage Sale--And Remodeling News.

Yup, that's right. I'm having another garage sale. I kept everything set up from the last sale so all I had to do to get ready for this one was to add some stuff, put the ad in the paper, and open up at 9:00 this morning. Now that's the way to have a garage sale.

Brad the Concrete Guy has been doing a fantastic job. So much so, that Mr. Snowbird keeps hiring him to do more jobs. As I said, when you have a 100 plus year old home, it becomes something of a money pit. The base of the house is made of stone taken from a nearby quarry. The mortar was starting to erode so Brad took care of that. Then Mr. Snowbird decided that the basement windows needed replacing and caulked--which actually they did. We are also hiring him to fix the inside basement walls which tend to leak when we have 100 year floods. And apparently he paints too--so he will paint the basement and a couple of the windows upstairs that need it. Geez, I wish I had known he painted before we hired Bob the Builder!! Speaking of Bob the Builder--haven't seen him or anyone of his crew for a couple of days. Have no idea when they will make their next one day appearance!

I hope the Olympics get done tonight a lot earlier than they did last night. I'm a sucker for gymnastics and I finally gave up at 1:30 this AM before they were even over. But, tonight is the Women's all around so they will probably run just as late. Makes it tough to get up and out to the barn for the garage sale. But hey, the Olympics only come every other year so I'll stay up to watch them. Of course I guess I could tape them, huh?

The Longest Night and Other Stuff

So, it would seem that my body has finally recovered from whatever had me sidelined. Or at least I am about 98% back to "normal"--whatever that is. I had been sleeping about 18-20 hours a day since last Thursday. Yesterday was the first day that I got up at 8:30 and stayed awake the entire day. I did a LOT of genealogy work on the computer (I'm putting my data online at Ancestry.com), watched some TV, played around on Second Life (yeah, I do that too), and read some. So, when I discovered that it was midnight I figured that maybe I should go to bed. So I did. My body was ready for sleep but apparently my mind had gotten it's fill of sleep the past few days and refused to shut down. It got to be 1:00, 2:00 3:00 etc. I got up and had some comfort food (a glass of milk, crackers and peanut butter and grapes--yeah, weird, I know) but that didn't do any good. I took a Tylenol which usually works. Nothing! The last time I remember seeing the clock was 4:00. Then it was 5:30 and nature called. Back to bed and of course my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) kicked in. Nothing worse than crawly, twitchy legs at 5:30 AM when you have only slept for about an hour and a half. So up for more Tylenol! I did sleep, though somewhat fitfully, until 8:30. I looked out the window and saw that Concrete Guy was here to take out our back porch and part of the sidewalk. Good thing I was up because the huge pneumatic drill was enough to wake the dead! So, anyway, I feel like new again! Except for the fact that I only had about 3-4 hours of sleep. Oh well. I guess the old bod just decided it had better things to do than sleep.
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Bob the Builder and friend put in the 4 new windows in the barn yesterday. Whoopie! Also went out and bought the new door for the side of the barn. Didn't install it--just bought it. Can anyone explain why a door costs $150 and the installation costs $250? Mr. Snowbird did say it's because they have to put a new frame in. He is a whole lot more lenient on this whole construction thing than I am. Of course, I'm still looking at a living room where the paint job hasn't even been started yet. Oh, and the bedroom where the kid painted the walls and part of the baseboard but left a strip around the bottom near the floor. I guess he thought the new carpeting would cover it. Bob the Builder did admit that he has a lot of other jobs going right now. Well, excuse me, but I think we were first in line before these other jobs came in!
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Ok, I don't usually go nuts over People Magazine pictures or celebrity babies etc. but did anyone see the latest People with the pictures of Brad and Angelina's kids? Not just the twins but all of the kids. What a fantastic, happy, marvelous family these two have assembled. Just to see the pictures of the older kids with the twins and with each other just brought a smile to my face. Way to go Brad and Angie.
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Oo, oo, oo, I just looked out the window and Bob the Builder is actually putting the new door in. I wonder how long it will be before we see him again?
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I'm sure that unless you live in West (By God) Virginia or were on Interstate 77 in that state yesterday, you didn't hear a word about this. My son and his family have been vacationing in Gatlinburg, Tennessee since last Thursday. They were headed home yesterday as Ann had to work today. He called about 5:00 and said they were stuck in traffic on I77 and would I google it and see what I could find. Sure enough, I found out about these accidents. Two semis had collided and later a semi and car had collided--both close to the same location. From what I could figure out, Dave et al were about 2 miles from where it happened. He said they were moving a bit and hoping to make it to the exit where they could get off. He then called about 9:00 saying they got fairly close to the exit at which point they were turned around and sent back the other way and were now in a traffic jam waiting to get off on the other side. People were running out of gas etc. I asked if they had anything to eat. He said he had beer and the kids had flaming Doritoes. I assume, since they had been camping, they had a wee bit more than that. Ann started a 1200 page novel and the kids were watching DVD's. They seemed to be in a fairly good mood. That was the last I heard from them so for all I know, they are still on I77 in the hills of West (By God) Virginia.
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OK, that's enough stuff for now. Just know, that I am sooooooo glad to be well again. There were times when I really doubted it would happen!

Remodeling-Day 4 and We Are Out of Here!

Well, it is lunch time and Brandon has painted the ceiling. He is at lunch now. When he comes back, he has to repaint the walls near the ceiling where he got white ceiling paint on it. I suppose then he will have to repaint the ceiling where he got green paint--and on and on and on. LOL.

Mr. Snowbird has decided that he wants them to finish the bedroom while we are gone. Granted, there is no furniture or carpeting in there that they can ruin but the ceiling guys haven't finished the ceiling yet so that has to be done first.

Anyway, we fly to San Diego from Akron/Canton airport tomorrow morning at 5:50 AM. We fly to Atlanta where we have a 3 hour lay over. Ugh. We are taking our oldest grandson with us so he can get reacquaintedwith his cousins. It's been almost two years since they've seen each other. I know Noah remembers Sam but I also know that Ethan and Luka have no idea who he is. I just hope they remember me. It's been 6 months since we've seen each other. I hope to be blogging while we are there but I probably won't have any pictures. We'll see. Anyway, that is it from here.

Update at 2:45. The laundry room is done--finally. And I have to give the kid props. Even with all the problems, it turned out pretty darn good. So, one room down and 3 to go! Well, four if you count the trim in the upstairs bathroom.

Remodeling-Day 3

The plasterboard guys showed up at 8:00 and spent about 10 or 15 minutes doing something. Don't know what because it doesn't look any different. Then left announcing that they would be back tomorrow.

Brandon showed up at 9:00 and said his dad wouldn't be there today or tomorrow. Still meeting with insurance adjustors on some major jobs he has. I have to assume that these are homes that were damaged in last August's flood. Many homes have either been torn down or need major renovation. Anyway, back to our major renovation! Mr. Snowbird talked to Brandon about his less than stellar job yesterday and he agreed. So, he spent the ENTIRE day painting the room and the tiny connecting 1/2 bath again. He came to me at one point and asked if we really needed the shutters on the window because it was very hard to paint. I told him that yes, I needed them and to do the best he could! He left about 3:30 saying he would be back tomorrow to do the ceiling. Mr. Snowbird and I agreed that we probably would have done the ceiling first so that it doesn't drip all over the new paint job but hey--he's the professional! I have to admit, though, the paint job looks much better today than it did yesterday. I was able to get things back in the cupboard but still have to wait to put other stuff back until the ceiling is done.

It is very difficult to tell what color this actually is. It is a yellowish green I guess. Not a whole lot different but not nearly as bright!

These are the shutters that Brandon wanted me to get rid of.

We did talk them into delaying any further indoor work until we get back from San Diego. Yay!! They will, however, put the new door and windows in the barn, install the new wrought iron railings on the porch and fix the eaves trough which is leaking like a sieve.

So, there will be work done tomorrow but I don't know how much. But at least I can go on vacation and not have to worry about what is going on in my house. Now the worry will be--when will they be able to get back to work after our vacation!

Remodeling-Day 2-Part 2

I swore last spring I would never go through this again--and here we are are once more! Remember Bob the Blind Guy last spring? Well, this time we have Bob the Absent Guy. He showed up for all of about 10 minutes today I think. Since they had to patch a crack in the living room ceiling and the ceiling has a swirl pattern on it, he tried to duplicate the pattern. He did a great job of duplicating it. I just wish he had used a ground cloth when he did it! He took a wet sponge and wet the plaster patch, then swirled it. Yeah, it worked great--but--it also dripped all over the floor, all over the walls and all over my gold chair. And, either he didn't notice, or didn't want to, but he didn't clean it up! After he left, I noticed it and quickly got a Mr. Clean sponge and cleaned it as best I could. Grrrr. And he has to do the same thing in the computer room tomorrow. Believe me, we will suggest that he use a ground cloth!

Then, Brandon, sweet boy that he is, painted the laundry room today. Well, lets say he tried to. When he left he said he had to get another quart of paint to finish up but the inside of the cupboards, the shelves, and the louvered doors were done and I could put stuff back in them. So about an hour later, I went to put stuff in and noticed the lousy paint job!! The ends of the shelves were painted, the louvers look horrible and even the walls where he used a roller weren't totally covered. It will take more than a quart to fix it, believe me.

So, Mr. Snowbird is planning on having a talk with them tomorrow. I am so afraid to leave on vacation and let them finish up on their own. If this is the kind of work they do when we are here, can you imagine what will go on when we aren't here??

Anyway, more of my woes tomorrow, I'm sure.

Oh, and Tink, thanks for the suggestion of having an adult beverage. Even though I've been on a diet and avoiding that type of beverage, believe me, today I had one!!

Remodeling-Day 2

Well, actually this is Day 3 but since Brandon was only here for about an hour yesterday applying another coat of plaster to the cracks, I won't count that.

The day started with Mr. Snowbird bouncing me out of bed at 7:45. The guys were here already!! What happened to 9:00?? Anyway, when I opened my door there were three guys moving furniture out of the other bedroom. As I was walking out of my room, they practically ran me over hauling stuff into it.

Sitting on our front porch were four 6x12 slabs of plasterboard. They looked at the board and then looked at the stairway and decided there was noooo way that those boards were going to go up that stairway. So, they had to cut them in half and it was still a chore.


Downstairs, Brandon was sanding all of the plaster patches. There is now an inch of plaster dust all over the house, I swear. He asked if we had picked out our colors--to which I replied "yup". So we went over what we needed in what room. We added the 1/2 bath and hall closet onto the list of things to be painted. The ceiling in the closet is cracked but we opted not to fix it as that would take another 2 days! Anyway, Brandon says, "Gee, I'm not very good at this. How much paint do you think I will need???" Ok, I'll give the kid some slack here. He is only 21 and I'm sure Dad has done most of the paint buying. So, we figured out together what it might take.

As Brandon was heading out the door, he said they we needed to get all of my collectables out of the living room since they would start painting in there. So all the stuff that had been moved from one end of the living room to the other now had to go to the family room. Plus, my antique cabinet (which belonged to my g.g.grandfather who died in 1854) had to be emptied of its contents as well as the other cabinet containing the rest of my Hummel collection. So, even before my first cup of coffee, I was hauling stuff from one room to another. (Geez, why do I have so much stuff??) And of course since we decided at the last minute to paint the closet, all of that stuff had to come out too. So, now there is barely room to sit, much less walk, in the family room.

Just some of my Hummels.

My great great grandfather's cabinet. I LOVE this thing!

This is all the stuff hauled from the living room and closet into the family room.

Upstairs, the guys have run out of plaster board and need to go get more. Once they get back and have that installed, then comes the job of plastering or filling the cracks between the plasterboard or whatever they need to do on the ceiling.

The bedroom before major reconstruction begins.

Bob, our contractor, who was at a funeral yesterday showed up at 10:00. He had been waiting for his insurance adjuster to come to his house for something. They were late so he came over here but got a call from them and had to leave again. Argggg! All this and it is only 10:30.

So, Brandon gets back with the paint. I forgot that since they were painting the laundry room and bathroom, EVERYTHING had to be moved out of the cupboards and cabinets in there! Wanna see what my family room looks like now?? Well here it is!

HELP!!

So, everyone is busy now working in the bedroom and in the laundry room. Brandon is painting the laundry room and it does look nice. I sure hope the people who buy this place eventually like it too!!!

Anyway, more later as the day progresses. It looks like they might even get to the living room today. How about that?

Remodeling-Day 1

At 9:00 on the dot, Bob and his son, Brandon, pulled up in front with a trailer. After some discussion, and moving our car, they moved the trailer to the back yard where it will stay until the end. Ron showed Brandon through the house and told him what needed to be done. They were going to put the windows in the barn today but apparently Ron's significant other had a death in the family so he had to spend time with her. Brandon stayed and patched the cracks in the living room, laundry room, and computer room ceiling. This, of course, entailed moving furniture in the living room so I had to empty my cabinets of my Hummel collection so they could be moved away from the walls. Right now, everything is in the other half of the living room stuffed in corners, under a cabinet etc. Of course all that will have to be moved when they start painting. Arrrggg!

This is the wall behind the entertaiment center. These weren't wide cracks but did stretch across the whole wall.

This is the fireplace crack. Brandon found that the whole wall behind the plaster was made of brick. Apparently those bricks are settling a bit and that is what is probably causing the cracks. I just hope that this patch job will work!

This is some of the stuff we hauled from one side of the room to the other.

This is the rest of the stuff. Behind the speakers and under the cabinet are about half of my Hummels. As I said, when they begin painting, those will all have to be moved again.

While Brandon was patching, Mr. Snowbird and I went out to Lowes to pick up some paint samples. I had no idea how hard this was going to be!! I know what I would like but it seems ridiculous to have to pick out paint for someone who may or may not like it 3 or 4 years from now!! So, we came home with what seemed like hundreds of paint chips. My two favorite names were "Sand Between Your Toes" and "Sanibel Grey". Can you believe it?? And guess what, Mr. Snowbird chose Sand Between Your Toes for his bedroom. It is a beige but a tad darker. Next I had to pick something for the living room walls and trim and for the laundry room. I love the yellow in the laundry room but it is a bit bright. So, after looking and looking and looking, I chose "Homestead Resort Parlor Sage", a big name for a greenish color. It is light, airy and I think will go good in there. Then on the the living room. Ugh!. I finally decided on Coastal Dune Grass. It is kind of a greenish, greyish, beige. I think what won us over what that this chip had a couple of accent colors on it and one was the same red that is in the wallpaper. I think it will look ok. I hope!!

Sand Between Your Toes and Sanibel Grey. Would I like about a thing like that??

We will leave the carpet in for now and will decide later what to do. More carpet or hardwood floors. We also have to deal with the kitchen but will wait until we get back from San Diego. Bob said they hoped to be done by Friday but I don't see how. So we gave them a key to the house and they can work while we are gone. Meaning it may be a big surprise when we get back.

Somewhere in this pile of colors are the three we picked.

Brandon said he would come back tomorrow and put another coat of patch on the cracks. Wednesday, a crew is coming in to put plaster board on the bedroom ceiling. Where we go from there, I don't know. All I know is that there is NO WAY they will be done before we head to San Diego. But--at least they have started. More tomorrow.

And So It Begins

We had thought that the contractor was busy until August--which was fine since we are leaving for San Diego on the 19th and won't be back home until the 30th. Then we are taking off a couple of days later for the weekend. (Highland Games in Detroit). But, he called yesterday and said he was starting tomorrow!!! He promised he would be done by Friday. I hope he has a BIG crew! So, I guess I will be trying to get ready to go on vacation with madness going on around me.

I appreciated everyone's comments on the post before this one offering up advice about what we should do. I didn't mention our family room which is also wallpapered. The paper is starting to come off so I think we need to address that too. Right now, we are going to do what I had mentioned before--living room, laundry room, bedrooms, trim etc. But, we are hoping we can get this guy back in August and attack the kitchen, family room and possibly get rid of the red carpet. Mariby had suggested that we re-finished our hardwood floors. Mr. Snowbird was very receptive to that idea. It would mean getting some rugs though. I go barefoot all the time and I'm not sure my tootsies will welcome a hard floor instead of fluffy carpeting.

I've also been on the computer practically 24 hours a day for the last 3 days. I have been putting my family trees on Ancestry.com. I have done my dad's line--which goes back forever, Mr. Snowbirds natural father's line, and his natural mother's line. Next I have to do his adoptive line as well as my mother's line. The last one will take forever as I swear I have practically gotten a couple of her lines back to Adam and Eve!!! It has taken a lot of time but I'm really enjoying doing it. You can post pictures and everything.

Anyway, hopefully I can post some pictures of our re-modeling and hopefully it won't be nearly as traumatic as the Florida Room remodel was. Wish us luck.

Here We Go Again!!!

Many of you will remember my posts from last winter when we were going through remodeling woes at our place on Sanibel. Well, for a litany of reasons, we are going through it again--in our Findlay home. HELP!!!

And what might those reasons be you ask--you did ask didn't you? Well, here you go:
#1. Although we have no plans to sell our home anytime soon, there will come a day.
#2. We live in a lovely old 100+ home which has decided to start "settling" again. And so, we have developed cracks--big cracks in some places. We used to have a quarry nearby and they would often blast. If that were the case I could understand the cracks but why does a home this old start to shift?
#3. We haven't remodeled since 1978 and even though we like it, I'm afraid that anyone looking to buy is going to run screaming for the hills--although Mr. Snowbird would argue with me about people not liking it.

So, we contacted a contractor--or contracted a contactor--whichever. He has given us a quote and may be able to begin work on Monday. Of course, we are leaving for San Diego on Saturday so this could present problems! But, we'll face that hurdle when we get there. We are having the laundry room cracks fixed and the room painted--a neutral color. He doesn't like our yellow. We are having the cracks fixed on the living room walls and ceiling and the room painted. We are having the woodwork painted in my bedroom and the ceiling cracks fixed and painted in the computer room. And, the big job will be the master bedroom which has been "nude" since Mr. Snowbird took the wallpaper off years ago and never got around to painting it. We also have to have a new ceiling in there. And of course carpet. As I said, HELP!!
Oh, and did I mention new windows and door in the barn and new cement steps and partial sidewalk out the back door? And the contractor suggested new counter tops, stove and dishwasher in the kitchen. We're still mulling that one over.

This is a crack that has formed above our fireplace. There is another wicked one below the mantle. I just hope the whole chimney doesn't come tumbling down.

This is what happens when you remove a stick down cat bed from a window sill. Of course paint is chipping in practically every other room too!

This is the color of one end of the living room now. That same color is on the woodwork in the other half of the room and extends all the way up the stairway and onto the woodwork in the upstairs hallway. So, the contractor is suggesting we repaint the living room--well, we have to after the massive fireplace crack is fixed. And in painting, then it has to go all the way up the stairs to the hallway, right?

Ok, I told you we hadn't remodeled since 1978! And it's no secret that I love red! But--I just don't think others feel the same way--but can you believe it--the contractor thinks the wallpaper and carpet are ok. So, that is one less thing, at least for now, that we have to deal with.

I love my cheery, yellow laundry room. If you have to spend time in a laundry room, it should be cheery, right? But, the contractor doesn't think it will sell. Sooo, bye bye cheery yellow, hello dull beige.

And here is our outdated kitchen. I happen to like it and thought it would be ok. Sure, we need a new stove and dishwasher to go with the new black disposal and fridge but hey. But, the contractor cringed when he saw the orange. I guess it does look a bit like halloween now that I look at it.

So, that is that. I'm sure you will hear a lot more moaning and groaning from me over the next few weeks as we live with contractors. Poor Bill, who lives with us, works nights and sleeps days. We have decided that the best thing for him to do is move a mattress to the basement where he can get some semblance of rest. Anyway, stay tuned for the latest in Remodeling Madness.

Downsizing!!

For those of you who suffered through my posts when we remodeled our Florida Room on our Sanibel home--well now, you have to suffer through cleaning my attic in my Findlay home!

We live in a 100+ year old home. It has a full basement, a first floor with 4 rooms, a utility room, and a half bath, a second floor with 4 bedrooms and a full bath, and a FULL attic. And I do mean full! We have lived here for about 35 years and after 46 years of marriage, two kids, and 5 grandkids and inherited items from parents, stepparents, aunts, grandparents etc--you tend to collect stuff! So, yesterday I started to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, and started pitching. Well, I didn't exactly pitch--I just moved it to the garage. I have this grandiose vision of having a garage sale this summer and making enough money to go to Ireland next summer. (yeah right!!). So now, my attic is half empty and my carriage house/barn/garage is full. I actually wore my pedometer yesterday to count steps and I had almost 7000 steps. That is 3 miles of up and down steps and walking to the barn. Man am I sore today!! So, now, I need to get back to the attic and start going through boxes and possibly weeding out more. But unfortunately, this is stuff I have saved (mementos and such-can't get rid of those!), books from my childhood (can't get rid of those!), antiques and glasswear from various relatives (can't get rid of those!), baby clothes from Mr. Snowbird, my kids and from me (can't get rid of those!), my wedding dress (can't get rid of that!). Well, you get the idea.

Anyway, I'm off to the attic. More later--if I can crawl my way back to the computer.

Oh by the way, Karen, is this your teddy bear or your brothers?????

FINALLY--the Remodeling is DONE

Today, Bob the Blind Guy came and installed our new living room blinds. We ordered them a looonnnggg time ago but between our vacation to San Diego and our visit from Bob, we couldn't get together with Bob the Blind Guy. So, today he was on the island and came and installed our beautiful new blinds. We were amazed that the blinds actually match the molding. We are very happy with them. So, finally, the remodeling is DONE!!!!

DONE!!!

Bob the Blind Guy came today and installed the mini blinds on the front windows in the Florida Room and on the doors. Then in the mail today, we received a gorgeous black with white dots Futon cover from a very nice friend (Thanks Linda). So that means—except for probably painting the two little bookcases and the entertainment center white---we are DONE!!!!! Well, actually we are waiting for the guy who put in the windows to come back and fix them so they can be removed to be cleaned. And I guess actually we need a futon cover for the other futon. But hey, we are done with Home Depot. Well, actually we’re not. They are coming Friday to install the new carpet in the Living Room and of course Bob the Blind Guy measured for new blinds in the Living Room today so those have to be ordered, waited for, and waited for, and waited for, and installed. Then we will be DONE!!!

And the saga continues.....

Well, we got two calls yesterday--one from the installer and one from the measurer. Both would be here sometime today between 8:00 and 11:00. We even got an email today from the installation company giving us the installer’s name and badge number and picture!! Wow, that’s service. Then we get another call this AM saying he will be here between 9 and 10. And sure enough Dennis the Installer showed up between 9 and 10. He walks in the house and says, “This is supposed to be an empty room. They only send me on calls that have empty rooms. They send a team of younger guys when furniture has to be moved. ” I about freaked for the umpteenth time. We had paid an extra $50 to have the furniture moved. So he calls the store and I’m not sure what was resolved. He said that we could delay installation until another day and I said, NOOOO!! We will help move the furniture.” Which we did. He made some noises about not knowing where he was going to lay the carpet out to cut it.

About that time, Gary the Measurer shows up. So we have Dennis the Installer in the bathroom changing clothes (not sure why) and Gary the Measurer measuring the living room and hallway and bathroom (after Dennis the Installer gets out of there) for new carpet. Then Dennis the Installer without saying a word jumps in his truck and takes off! Gary the Installer, Mr. Snowbird and I just stood there wondering what the heck was going on. Apparently Gary the Measurer used to be Gary the Installer and he said there was no reason he couldn’t cut the carpet in the room. Anyway, after Gary the Measurer left, Mr. Snowbird went in search of Dennis the Installer. He found him down near the office with our carpet spread out on the lawn cutting it. Now my pessimism goes into overdrive and my thought is, “What if he cuts it the wrong size and we have to re-order this whole thing again??” So back comes Dennis the Installer in his super loud truck which you can hear a block away.

Ok, so he brings it in and I LIKE it. Then Mr. Snowbird questions whether it is actually the pattern we picked out. I’m not sure but I’m NOT sending it back!!! You would have to drag it out with me attached to it kicking and screaming. So he lays half the room then we three senior citizens move the two futons to the other end of the room so he can do the other half. Hey, it’s beginning to look pretty cool out there. Of course my back is beginning to yell at me a bit! And he and Mr. Snowbird are very chatty so work is slow to get done. Come on already, I want to see what it looks like. After all, I’ve waited for this for exactly 1 month 2 weeks—or 46 days. I’m too lazy to figure it out in hours.

Well, Dennis the Installer finishes the job and takes his leave. And now I look at my new carpet, blinds, paint etc and then I look at the tacky entertainment center and bookshelves and futon covers and I think hmmmmm, I think we need some new furniture. Even Mr. Snowbird agrees. So, now I guess it’s off to Sauders or some other such place to look for new furniture. Don't think we will do Home Depot! Will it never end?

But at least everything is installed. Ooooh that’s right, we still have the front blinds to install yet. Of course they haven’t arrived yet. Hmmmm, wonder if they got ordered? I’ll keep you posted.

FINALLY!!!

The carpet installer called today and said he would be here between 8:00 and 11:00 AM Monday morning. Yay, yippee, at last!!

I'll believe it when I see it on the floor and he is walking out the door! Does that make me a pessimist? Do you blame me??

FINALLY-Something to cheer about

Bob, the Blind guy--I mean the blinds installer guy--arrived about 10:30 today. Three hours later our blinds were in and are beautiful. One thing did go wrong, I mean it would have to wouldn't it. One of the headers was broken so another one has to be ordered and he will have to come back to install it. Now, Bob the Blind Guy, is really a super person. Remember, I said we couldn't put vertical blinds on the front windows so have to get mini blinds there. Bob measured for them and then said that since he had to come back to put the header on that if we would order the mini blinds and have them mailed to us, he would install them when he came back. No middle man!! And money saved. Told you he was a super person. He also measured for new blinds in the living room so that we could get a ball park price of what they would cost us.

So off to HD to order the new mini blinds which are almost the same color as the verticals and which will be sent directly to us. Also looked at some new Faux Wood blinds (per Bob the Blind guy's suggestion) and some carpet for the living room. (I must be crazy to even think of ordering more carpet!!!) We had new carpet installed a few years ago but it is a stain magnet and that isn't great when you live so close to the great outdoors. Everything gets tracked in.

Remember I said that the original color of carpet we had picked out for the Florida Room couldn't be had until mid January? Well, we went in Tuesday and picked out a new color which will work. Then I called Home Services and told them of the color change. She said that it would be shipped in 24-48 hours. So, when we were at HD today, we checked on the status of the carpet. After they waded through pages and pages of orders, cancellations, orders, cancellations, orders, changes etc on our order form on the computer, they finally discovered that it was shipped today!! So it should be in by Monday and Wednesday at the latest. It has to come ALL the way from Georgia--about 12 hours away maybe?? But, as long as it is on it's way, I can live with it.

So, we finally have something to cheer about and I don't have to sleep in a plywood aquarium tonight. The plywood is still there but no more fishbowl.