Christmas!

Whew!....

My favorite part of Christmas is the time after the activities....this time.  My guests just left around 3:30.  I had Christmas brunch cum lunch (late!) to accommodate worship services.  I'm glad that I didn't have brunch, for I would have never been ready!

After consuming a large and delicious meal last evening, when I came home, I didn't have energy for anything other than pouring the brine into a bag for the pork roast and pouring a glass of wine.  We still had EPA cleanup to do before guests arrived the next day.  We managed to get everything done.

I didn't make a fancy lunch, but it was quite lovely.  I purchased a pork loin (not tenderloin) roast.  It's the type that is beautifully doubled over and tied nicely.  I brined it; brought it to room temp on the microwave low setting (Power 2); browned in a heavy pan over the flame; covered in mustard and then garlic that was mortar and pestled with kosher salt and rubbed through.  I then coated with Italian Breadcrumbs.  I put quarter onions, pears and apples in the pan as well. I put oven on convection at 375 and cooked with a temperature probe to reach 155 degrees.  Took it out and let it rest.  I then mashed the roasted vegetables/fruit in the pan and put on the flame on slightly to incorporate drippings.  I then pureed in food processor. I used this "butter" to slather onto each succulent slice of beautifully roasted and very moist from the brine pork.

Sam's had fingerling potatoes.  I sliced and then coated these with oil and my proprietary blend of spices.  Actually, it was going through the spice carousel in the corner cabinet and grabbing this and that.  No two attempts are the same.  They also had beautiful asparagus.  I simply prepped them, drizzled oil and then roasted them on the grill.  I made a fresh cranberry sauce and had store bought croissants.  Also, we a a smoked turkey, courtesy of one of my husband's colleagues.  I sliced this up in advance.

My stepmom brought a beautiful pound cake (that had been gifted to her--and she and now two!).  I simply sliced it, put ice cream on it and made a quick fudge sauce (bittersweet and milk chocolate discs melted with some half and half).  It was sublime.

It was a wonderful day. I have a clean house and leftovers!    I then sat on the couch with two of my dogs and watched a movie by myself.  Such a nice holiday. I hope that yours was enjoyable too.

Good Tidings

In just a couple of hours I'll fly away to have a fabulous Christmas Eve dinner at my stepmom's.  She is a wonderful cook, and we are fortunate to have the bounty of food, family and health this year.

This is a time of year where many different religious and spiritual paths celebrate.  That we approach the shortest day of the year, and the longest night, it is no wonder that so much activity surrounds this time period.  In most modern cultures, we are no longer close to the edge of living and dying.  But for those that were close to that edge, making it through the longest night of the year was an accomplishment.  And each subsequent night would be less long.

Hope is a powerful force that carries us through dire circumstances.  And we have hope when there are courageous individuals who lift themselves above the fray--unbounded from pettiness, consumerism, politicism, and all other 'isms' that deserve our cutting loose from their hold.

Our beloved belief systems are often founded by individuals who were courageous, and spoke out against the contemporary insanities that grip every culture and divide humankind.  Peace on earth and goodwill toward men is more easily said than done---and achieved after much effort and bloodshed.

My message today is for each of us to embody the responsibility of being a courageous individual.  I found this in one of Thich Nhat Hanh's books.  It always resonates with me when I read it.  I wanted to share it with you today.  It is a reminder to me that all things can be reconciled so long as we approach conflict correctly and take action to reconcile.

Not your standard holiday message, but what you shouldn't be surprised!



In the time of war
Raise in yourself the Mind of Compassion
Help living beings
Abandon the will to fight
Wherever there is a furious battle
Use all you might
To keep both sides' strength equal
And then step into the conflict to reconcile.

Vimalakirti Nirdesa

Friday Melange

Ugh...waking up hot and sneezy.  Husbando is going duck hunting, so he is out the door.  I did plan the Christmas brunch last evening.  I hope my daughter gets the house clean by then! My MIL used to cook Christmas dinner, but she is in her late 70's and frail.  It will be a small gathering as my B/SIL are heading to her mother's.  I prefer the brunch option as it is a time to commune with loved ones and then relax after all of the busy season's preparations.  Well, I didn't have season's preparations...just that @%#!#^ house. 

I felt the pull of the salvage store yesterday.  My intent was to pick up 'stuff' to put in Christmas gift bags for neighbors. Useful things, but not ordinary things.  They had some terrific food stuff (diced tomatoes, black eyed peas, fruit sectionals) all at great prices and unexpired dates--those for my pantry.  You have to watch expiration dates!  I scored some gourmet peppercorns, sea salt, barbeque spices, chicken and beef base--all things to make a nice bag of gourmet gifts for friends and neighbors.  I also acquired several small bamboo cutting boards.  They are functional and pretty.  Of course I bought the bags there too--lovely, colorful but-not- quite-Christmas bags.  I still may make some Almond Toffee or perhaps Molasses Cookies...so long as the house gets cleaned for guests.

I also scored a recessed light hole saw--husbando will need a new one of those for the next project.  I plan to put recessed lighting extensively in the great room/kitchen and downstairs too if access permits.  I bought a leather punch too...Actually, several.  A punch is a useful thing...I'll put it in selected bags.  Wandering down the kitchen aisle (this is where I scored the $189 ScanPan for $19.99 last year--still rated as the #1 pan to own and love by all of last year's gift recipients (and me)), I found . . . .

some free range (unboxed) wine glasses.  They were Stolzle and just $1.99 a piece.  A bargain!  On my last gathering, I was running a little short on wine glasses.  My delicate crystal ones have been broken one by one over the years.  I don't worry about them as I scored them from Tuesday Morning...beautiful and cheap!  I only bought 4 as my cart was full, but I'll go back and pick up the remainders.

With husbando and I in the rehab mode, our eye is now turning toward our own home.  I have cheap light fixtures and cheap knobs on my sold wood doors.  It is not something I noticed so much until the completion of the last project.  So, I'm on a bent to systematically upgrade some of the original fixtures.  I'm cruising the LampsPlus Open Box site.  


I found this light to put in my office. (Merry Christmas to me!). I don't have that many overhead fixtures....just my bedroom, office, son's bedroom, and antechamber room, oh...and 3 bathrooms.  Hmmm...well anyway,  there is one light down! 

We have to be careful what we turn our attention to! I say that partially in jest, but the power of our focused attention is just that...powerful.  And, our attention can be misplaced (hence, 'unwanted attention' or OCD), unfocused (vacuous), laser-beamed (preoccupied--which I think also has OCD tendencies), critical or objective.  Now I am focused on the maintenance needs of my own home.  Baby steps.  Baby steps.








Waxing Nostalgic on the Rehab

My reward for finishing the project was a tired immune system that snagged the first bug coming its way.  In fairness, it fought mightily as each member of my household was felled with it before I finally succumbed. Thank goodness for DayQuil....I'm functional.  I'm staying close to home as no one needs the generosity of a shared cold for the holidays.

Other than the wreath on my door; I have no decorations up.  Our spirits are up, though, because the house is finished (or as finished as we plan to partake in).  The appraiser comes next Monday.  I surely hope for the buyer that there are no snags.  I'm confident that the home will appraise for the price in the purchase contract.

I've prepared a little before/after on Picasa.  You can see it here:

The kitchen looks particularly good:

Here is a before/after picture.  I sent these two photos to the lovely woman who sold me the double oven and the glass cooktop and stainless steel hood.






I'm looking forward to creating another portfolio of pictures for the next property. 

This is my LAST post on this rehab project. So with that, I will provide consolidated (geez, it does not look too consolidated) specifics:

  • Flooring:  
    • AFter pulling up carpet, carpet tack strips, underlayment staples etc, sealed putrid floors with Zinser B-I-N.  Adhere to ventilation precautions.  It is alcohol based, and will send you to an alternative consciousness.
    • Installed 1/2" engineered hardwood by Robina:  Gunstock.  Supplied by WoodFloorsPlus.  I purchased close out.  Used DVR Floor Muffler for the underlayment.  The floors are stunning.  Every single piece of flooring from the box was perfect and went together easily.  No warranty as I purchased during super low closeout....but I'm okay with that. Most flooring warranties are to the original purchase. We laid the floor on ALL surfaces, including the bathroom and utility.  Cost $2.30 (for floor and underlayment) per square foot.
    • Silicone sealed bathroom edges.
    • Protected floors from continuing construction with the flooring boxes.
  • Kitchen Cabinets. 
    • Degreased with TSP. Wear gloves and goggles.
    • Sanded where needed.  Wear a mask!
    • Used Bondo and Rockhard to repair deep grooves in the handles.  Sanded all repairs carefully. 
    • Primed cabinets (interior AND exterior) with 2 coats of Zinser B-I-N (found at super low price @ N&W Salvage.  Sanded after each coat.
    • Wiped with a vinegar water solution to neutralize any residue.  Primed with Zinser B-I-N and sanded between bothNote that the instructions tell you not to use TSP; hence the vinegar/water solution.  
    • A word about grease: I had no problems EXCEPT a couple of pin-hole bubbles from some speck residue of grease that remained.  NOTHING covers grease.
    • Painted with Benjamin Moore Cabinet Coat in Chantilly Lace.   Applied paint with Wooster mohair blend, shed resistant mini-roller. 
    • New hardware from N&W Salvage.  Self closing hinges from Home Depot.
  • Other Kitchen:  Formica FX80 countertop supplied by West Coast Tops.  Kohler Enameled Cast Iron sink from the ReStore.    Appliances found on Craig's list ($600).  Gently used, but upscale.  Yes, that is a double oven in the picture.
  •  Doors:  All doors were replaced due to significant damage.  All but 1 passage way door was secured at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for a price of $25 each for a solid wood door. Click on the link to find one near you. (Primed, sanded, painted--3 coats needed).  Bifolds and remaining passage way and closet door supplied by Steves and Sons. 
  • Windows:  All exterior windows had to be replaced.  Mid-South Building Supply supplied Vinylmax windows. Cost was $1600 to include installation.
  • Front door and back patio door were replaced with Fiberglass doors from ProBuild. Cost of about $1000 for both.
  • Paint:  Used Benjamin Moore paint throughout.  Applied Aura Paint in matte for the walls and semi gloss for trim.  In the bathroom, used Aura Bath and Spa. It has a built in mildewside.  Aura is quite expensive, even with a contractor discount.  Nevertheless, it touches up beautifully, has exceptional coverage and color.  With all of the other budget-minded things done, the splurge was on the paint.  I'm confident it will last many years!
  • Colors..wall/trim
    • Riviera Azure/Chantilly Lace (bedroom custom match to customer's textiles)
    • Balboa Mist/Chantilly Lace (ditto)
    • Crisp Straw/Ivory Tower  (Bathroom and ditto)
    • Cameo White/Decorator white (bathroom and ditto).
    • Hawthorne Yellow/Chantilly Lace: Great room, front room, halls.
    • Harbortown Green/Chantilly Lace:  Back room.
  • Plumbing Fixtures:  Faucet Direct.
  • Lighting Fixtures:  Lighting Direct.
  • Toilets:  Toto Drake  National Builders Supply.
  • Electrical:  New Panel from Square D's HomeLine.  You can get it at Home Depot.  Make sure you get the right breakers!  I slept with one of the electricians (who happens to be my husband), so I got a great deal on the electrical work.  
  • Masonry:  Great friend of husband's provided brick repair.  
  • Plumbing:  We had a melange of plumbers who tore out the old oxidized copper pipes and replaced with PVC.  No small task.
  • Heavy lifting for carpentry :  Fitzgerald General Contracting.  They did a terrific job fixing the joists, installing the windows, repairing drywall and providing feedback on other jobs we tackled ourselves.
  • Trim:  We reused (prepped for painting) wherever possible, though see takeaway below).
 
Takeaways:
  • Urine/other stained subfloors can be contained with Zinser B-I-N.
  • Select quality contractors whom you know and trust.  Use referrals.  The cheapest guy in town or work done as a favor may not always the most reliable.
  • Grease on kitchen cabinets must be completely eradicated--any speck will bubble through.
  • There are NO shortcuts in well-prepped wood surfaces.  Use your fingers to ensure smooth prep on all wood surfaces.  IF your fingers can feel it, your eye will see it.
  • For plumbing fixtures purchased on line, make sure to check availability highly discounted items. I had to cancel two orderswith a supplier, because they could not get one of the products, and the other product had more than 3 week lead time.
  • CAULK.  Caulk your trim to the wall.  It makes for a beautiful, finished look.
  • SHOP internet. The internet had great deals and most things shipped free.  I did not have ONE mis-step from any supplier.  Compare prices...the same fixtures can be found more cheaply elsewhere and/or free shipping might be replaced with a lower net price.
  • Shop locally. Designing around spectacular deals (flooring, appliances, fixtures, lighting) can provide many upscale inclusions at a budget price.
    • Go to your Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  You can find some great buys plus you are supporting a local charitable effort. Also, don't forget Goodwill and Salvation Army, both of which have good deals.
    • Craig's List, or similar list.  We were lucky to find upscale, gently used appliances at a very good price.  
  • Minimize custom paint choices.  The end-purchaser had custom color choices.  The next rehab is only going to use 3 paint colors.  It is hard to paint efficiently when each room is a different color choice.
  • Use the right tool for the job.  Missing a tool?  Think of the money that you are saving by doing work yourself and go BUY yourself the tool that you wished that you had.
  • If trim is banged up, and you are moving from natural to painted trim, consider replacing the trim rather than prepping for painting.  Paint grade trim is affordable.  Banged up trim is still banged up when painted.
  • Don't dither on replacement windows.  If the windows look bad now, they are going to look even worse when you spruce up everything that houses them!  The last thing want is for people to see your great work and then immediately say, "but the windows look like shit!".
  • Plans....rules are made to be broken and plans are made to be amended.  It will likely cost you more and take more time than you originally expected.  However, if you plan well, you will be able to minimize deviations to the plan and make considered judgments regarding those deviations. Plan for the worst, expect the best. Keep your budget updated, and reforecast your price to finish so that you know where you are costs.
  • Don't get overwhelmed.  When every where you look something needs to be done or looks like it is half-done, undone, unhinged, then regroup.  I found that as soon as I could call one room complete, I immediately felt refreshed.  We had some real low moments when it seemed that nothing could get completed.  Retrenching to ONE room and doing ALL things, made a huge difference.
  • Be safe. 
    • Buy a first aid kit and make sure that everyone on your job knows where it is. 
    • Buy a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a bottle of sterile eye wash and put them by the sink if there is one. 
    • Wear appropriate protective equipment.  Eye and ear protection are critical. Have safety glasses and ear protection handy.  Protect your skin and eyes from caustic materials.  Have chemical resistant gloves handy.
  • Protect your finished work. Use cardboard boxes from flooring/fixtures to set tool boxes and other items that might damage floors or walls.
  • Organize tools.  We spent too much time looking for stuff because we had to keep moving things.  On my next job, I'm going to buy one of those large chrome shelves from Costco.  I'm going to keep all job stuff and tools on or near the shelf. Put rollers on it to move it easily.  Disassemble and take to the next job.
  • Buy a big trash can and splurge on the thick, contractor bags. 
  • Rags in a Box (by Scott)--...man are these handy. 
  • No water/plumbing? Baby wipes can refresh hands and other areas.







Finito

On Sunday, the final plumbing work was done to render this house passable for an appraisal.  Is it finished?  Largely so; however, there is about a day's worth of painting/touchup that needs to be done...but not by me.  I say that with a large exhale.

I am accumulating my pictures and will do a before and after when I get some better after pictures.

Pinterest seems to be all the rage with the young adults in my sphere.  My daughter is addicted to it.  Another bit of voyeurism...but a wonderful way to find ideas to inspire you.  I stumbled upon it when I was searching for paint color combinations.

I'm looking forward to moving onto my next project.  Already stuff is coming in.  The vanity and the several light fixtures that I've picked out have been delivered, and I couldn't be more pleased.  Because I can shop closeouts, I'm able to get some great deals. 

I have finally decided on the colors for the interior.  I'm balancing an "Ah! not Blah!" neutral look.  For the great room, the walls/ceiling will be Benjamin Moore's Winter Wheat matte and Winter Wheat (232) semi-gloss on the woodwork.  I have Winter Wheat in my home, and I love the color.  The master bedroom will be Cream Fleece (233) walls with Linen White woodwork and ceiling.  The other bedrooms will be Linen White on Linen White.

We are no longer going to paint the cabinets, but rather clean them and change out the hardware. That will be work enough as there are many cabinets!  I plan to use Skimstone on the counterops...transforming perfect working condition, but perfectly dated dark butcher block formica to something exciting.  Outside of my Spreadstone project, I have no experience.  But my Spreadstone turned out pretty well even though my color was not all that pretty.  I just used what I could get to get the application learned.  I was happy with the results.

I'm confident that I will have the same problems (hinge throws slightly different) as I had on the other house, but forewarned is forearmed!   I'm toying with the idea of putting glass inserts in the front facing cabinets.  I'll try not to get too fancy!














Q@#$%^$Q%&&

My beautiful blog template is bastardized beyond my time and energy to repair.  While Blogger has made its templates more easily customizable for folks without their learning CSS (which I bothered to do in a very rudimentary way), it rendered my "Notebook" by Ray's Creations unusable.

Oh well.  I nabbed a template and made a few adjustments.  I've no energy or time to figure out a better fix.  Who knows what you might find here.  At least my other blog template is working.

Yesterday I called in the calvary for help in re-hanging my kitchen cabinets. If you are going to tackle the job of putting on new hardware onto 30 year old cabinetry, you should keep these two points in mind:

Cabinets are made to fit the available hinges
  Hinges today are not the hinges of yesterday (many, many yesterdays).  There is a little something called the "throw".  The throw + the inset are likely not the same on a different brand of hinge than the original.  While your cabinet might close, it might not fit as snugly at the hinge.
So...I had to suffer the indignity of my husband's certitude that I had just bought the wrong type of hinge.  In honesty, I did buy the wrong hinge on two separate occasions.  (Time 1, I failed to get inset.  Time 2, I failed to get self-closing). However, at Time 3, I had the right hinge, but all manner of issues that I had no experience in working through.  With 17 doors to hang, and 4 of those miserably failures, I tooted the horn to call the calvary.

To my credit, with each of my 4 failures, I got a little further along--but not fer enuf (sic).  I had learned that when applying the new hinges, I had to scoot the hinge up enough to fully clear the previous holes. If your holes line up perfectly centered with the new hinge, then you'll be fine so long as there is enough grip for the screw.  In my case, the hinge holes were just a wee bit off.  When you are a wee bit off, the old holes will act like a neutron star and suck your screw into the previous recess.  This will make your hinge crooked, and there is no good that can come from that. Same goes for the cabinet faces. 



Gerald came to the rescue. When he rolled up the work van, I did a happy dance. (My happy dance is hopping in a circle with both feet together and clapping my hands.  I don't do this often.)  Calling in the calvary was not without its embarrassment on two counts.  Count 1:  you have to admit defeat.  Count 2:  you have show someone your goof-ball work.  Pride really must be pushed aside at times if progress is to be made.  I needed a bulldozer to push my pride aside. 

He was kind enough to tell me that I was on the right track (but truly that train had jumped the tracks).  Not only did we have to hang the remaining cabinets, we had to rework my mishaps.  He decided that it would be best to start with a fresh door (to which I had already applied the hinges clearing all of the old holes).  He had the same issue that I had, with the hinge pulling once screwed in.  The fix?  Pressing hard on the butt of the hinge to flatten it, and then screw it to the cabinet face.



Oh....there are neutron stars of past screw holes on the cabinet faces.  There is a fix.  The glorious toothpick. (Image pinched from American.com)  Insert the toothpick into the hole (bigger holes may require more than one), and then snap them flush with your hand.  Use a hammer to make them flush.  Yes, had I known this trick, I might have been able to leave my hinges at the same spot on the door.  But tomorrow's knowledge is of no help today, and you have to work with what you got.

But the toothpicks were placed in the cabinet frames with impunity.  Because I had moved the hinge on the door, the "indentations" on the pine faces are evident.  It is an imperfection that is not all that noticeable.

Gerald worked with two drills.  One of them armed with a self-centering hinge bit.  If I learned anything from my screw ups (I now see a pun), precision does count. (More later).  So a beautifully centered pilot hole for your hinge-setting projects will enhance your project experience.

Once we got all of the cabinets working properly (happy dance!), the task list was to hang 2 pairs of bi-fold doors, hang a solid wood door (mortise hinges and  bore for latch) and a closet door (already bored.  When we finished, I did another happy dance.  I had some minor things left on my list, but Mark and I can do those.  The heavy lifting was done.  I only have a cell phone pic of the cabinets...I'll take a decent pic and post before and after pictures.

The day was not done yet.  Gerald left, and I sat down and rested my head on my knees.  I was tired.  We had steadily worked all day without a break.  My feet hurt, and my arms hurt (from the cabinets).  They really hurt today!

The next task was to bore 4 holes in the brick steps to re-mount a broken rail.  This is a 'must' for an FHA appraiser.  Two days night before, I brought home the hollow core drill, and it worked for 10 seconds.  We could not revive it.  It appeared to be an electrical problem in the GFI.  I returned it to Rental Works.  Those folks are fantastic.  They could not get it looked at until the next day (yesterday), and it was ready to be picked up for a second try.

Four holes and two wet feet (Mark's) later, we had successfully cut the brick without....ooops...yes, the very last hole managed to break the brick.  An easy fix.

We now just have a small bit of plumbing hookups to execute, and we are ready to wash our hands of this project.

I was very tired today from yesterday. I had to take the drill back, meet a truck for the vanity that was delivered, pick up some stain and paint. I have to finish staining the pine steps the same color as the flooring.  I didn't have it in me to do that.  I went to Lowe's to get an oscillating multi-tool.  I then saw all manner of things that  were interesting.  I'll write on that tomorrow, as this post is getting long winded.









IKIWISI

I'm transitioning from Hannah's house to the "new" house. This house is on a tight budget too, but not so much as Hannah's house.  Unlike Hannah's house, I have no plans to execute the painting.  However, I have to choose the paint colors.  I might as well be working to bring cold fusion to a marketable concept!

The good news is that I have sourced the flooring for the kitchen and the bathrooms. Having the floor will eliminate many of the color choices that I might want to consider--getting me that much closer to making a frickin decision.  So many colors!  So many possibilities.

I was hovering the "backroom" of my local Best Tile like a buzzard an eagle intent on its next meal.  I stopped and talked to a gentleman who was looking at some marble for his fireplace.  As I turned to re-inspect the center aisle of goods, I spotted the Wildland Canyon.  I had already missed it in the first two passes.

I didn't have my measurements with me (though I was 'sure' that I had them upon leaving the house).  I said !$@%@5% it, I'll get it anyway. It is regularly  $6.99/sqf tile, but with 81 sqf left in stock, they were offering it $2.99.  There was just enough square feet (within a mouse's whisker short) to be used in the kitchen. 

It is a porcelain tile, so the color goes all the way through.  It is textured, so it will not be slippery.  Yes, it will be hard underfoot, but the gel-mat people need to make a living too.  I'm really drawn to the earthen tones and the tactile look and feel of this tile.


The unfortunate thing about being highly intuitive (well there are many unfortunate things about it), is that you take "I know it when I see it" (IKIWISI) to a whole new level.  Seeing the Wildand Canyon was one of those instant IKIWISI moments.  It is a 12" x 18" tile, so I think that it will look good in the kitchen which has a much narrower floor than its length.

I was also drawn to this 12 x 24 tile. (Mora Medley in Creme)

I purchased this for the bathrooms, but it would look equally good in the kitchen.    No discount, on this, but given that the bathrooms need eye wow without budget pow, I elected to go with small sqf pow!  This tile looks super cool on the walls too.

The case for the basement.  Much space.  Much potential.  Here is the "great room" of the basement.  It truly is a great room.  Wood stove (needs some fixing).  Fire box.  Great brick chimney.  All the woodwork will be painted.  I will leave the brick alone. . .. for now.


At some point in time the basement had water casualty. I'm not sure exactly from what as I can see a number of contributory issues:  there was an upstairs plumbing leak, as well as some downstairs plumbing issues and a clogged outside drain.  There is a wall shared by the bathroom that has some major issues.  I'll let my contractors due the heavy lifting on that.  There was carpet down there as evidenced by (1) the roll of unremoved, badly stained carpet and (2) the carpet tack strips around the full perimeter of the room.  This is a 1300 sqf, fully finished basement.

I've received competent, professional, though conflicting, advice:  Paint the floors and let the new owners decide v. install floor covering.  The first advice was to keep costs down.  The second advice was from the realtor to resale.  My gut tells me that any person contemplating buying this house will only see the additional expense needed to cover the floor.  And, given the square footage, it is quite a bit of floor to cover.  The best thing to do is marry the best attributes of both tendered opinions:  scrounge up an inexpensive, attractive flooring option.

I went to my favorite flooring supplier, Wood Floors Plus.  They have a beautiful pre-finished engineered hickory.  I would LOVE to put that down in this space.  However, it has to be glued or stapled--and in the basement, it can only be glued.  That is not a DIY project, and it will be another $1.50 a sqf to install (my guess), and the glue is an expense as well.  To keep costs down, choosing a floor that we could competently put down (or sub out cost effectively) was the answer.

WFP had a premium laminate, Pergo Elegant Expressions, 10mm, in Buchanan Maple, at the very special closeout price of $1.59 per sqf. They had limited sqf, and I ordered about 1/2 their remaining stock.   It is a discontinued product, and the closest price comparison was $2.69 on special from FloorOne.com There are some other styles priced at $3.69.  All in all, I feel that I got a very good deal. 

It has pre-attached, 2mm, backing and requires an inexpensive 6mil vapor barrier.  This is a floor that we can easily lay.  It is a double plank, so it should be much speedier than the individual boards.  I think that it will make for a durable, beautiful floor.  It has a lifetime warranty,however, because I bought it at super-duper clearance, I don't get that.   I'm okay with that. After reading the warranty language of most flooring folks, I've concluded that there are enough loopholes to trip you up should something happen requiring a warranty claim.  I consider the shipping, almost free. It is about the cost of the sales tax, and it is delivered on a lift-gate truck.  I'll choose the paint once the flooring comes...I still need to narrow my choices.

I sourced a 50"  bathroom vanity at a very attractive price from Modern Bathroom. It is clearance priced at $899--that includes the mirror and marble top and free shipping (no faucet). It's a quick, beautiful and attractively priced fix for the downstairs bathroom. 


That poor cabinet was presumably chewed by a dog, and both the upstairs and downstairs vanities are far too low to be used comfortably. The upstairs vanity requires a new top (sink, etc).  A   I have to figure out what to do with the upstairs.  I may order a second one for the upstairs bathroom if the stock holds.  I'd like to see it first.  It appears that their products are highly rated, and an exceptional value.  I'll give feedback when this cabinet comes.





Crossing the Finish Line....

I believe that we'll cross the finish line to completion by this coming weekend's end. The list of 'big things to finish' is getting smaller. The painter (me) seems to have a never-ending list of things to do.  I sorely underestimated the job or overestimated my energy/speed when signing up to do all of the painting prep/execution (or some combination of the two!).

My brother and sister and law were very kind and gave us a hand on Friday.  We got the last of the lighting fixtures in (a fan and a light). Most of the primed/first coated baseboard had been re-installed.  Stretches of it had something needful....nail hole filler, nail hole filler sanding and all of it had to be caulked.  But before caulking, there is cleaning.  My SIL cleaned all of the baseboard; I manned the caulk gun, and my SIL came right behind me to finish off the bead.  It was a huge help--as it reduced by 1/2 the amount of stooping and swiping that I had to do (or 2/3 if cleaning it were involved).

On Saturday, I was back on my knees painting the baseboard.  It's all cut-in work, but with a high quality brush, it went pretty quickly. Of course, my painting skills/speed have improved mightily since the beginning of the project.  I still have one more room to both caulk and paint.  It currently is housing the kitchen cabinet doors...I did not wish to move them for the 20th time.

With that accomplished, Mark was able to put down the shoe moulding which I had previously stained.  Boy, does it look beautiful put up.  The Helmsman Provincial wiping stain was the perfect stain to match the floors.  The floors are just gorgeous...just gorgeous.

Sourcing a 22' drain pan for the water heater turned out to be a major event.  Had I utilized Home Depot's on-line inventory reporting, I would have saved myself some time.  Also, the Williamsburg store is quite a bit closer than the store we normally go to (as the house is in eastern New Kent, not western New Kent where we live).  A 20 minute ride puts you right in touch with a Lowe's and a Home Depot--literally back to back.  Another forehead-slapping "had-I-known" opportunity. 

At the HD, we also achieved a major milestone in acquiring a vanity for the downstairs bathroom.  The existing cabinet was a strange size that meant that a custom top had to be made.  And 98% of that would have to be cut away for the sink. It had a granite top in just the colors that complemented the colors of the bathroom.  That the undermounted sink was white was fine, as it melded perfectly into the overall look.  We had to purchase a new faucet as the one that I had was for a widespread application. So the existing prepped cabinet was tossed and the new cabinet that we found on a back aisle at the HD will replace it.

In both bathrooms, I had to scrape the walls where the old back splashes were attached.  None of our replacement options covered the old space, and I had not considered that eventuality (to my chagrin).  Removing the old caulking meant that some of the paper from the drywall came with it.  I fiberglass-taped over the scraped areas, and then applied drywall.  My skills are nascent at best, but my lack of foresight gave me a chance to build some skill. Gratifyingly,  I produced a fairly professional looking finish that looked better than some of the drywall in that bathroom! Both spaces are primed and ready for 2 coats of finish paint. 


We did have a bi-fold door casualty--a fatality which occurs when one has to "take a little off" that cuts into the core of an MDF door.  When you add 1/2 inch to your floors, all manner of evils unfold--one such evil is that your door jambs have to be raised or you have to cut the bottoms off your doors.  Standard doors, are no longer standard.  We bought new interior doors (from the Re-store), and thankfully, none of those required trimming (but they were solid wood).  But the side door was a problem, and the front door (though it was newly placed and adjusted for flooring) didn't have enough clearance for the threshold.  Mark raised the door jambs on both.

Mark has really been a saint through all of this--though I have tested his sainthood in asking too many questions or offering unsolicited 'suggestions'.  I've known him long enough (32 years) to know that he has to try things his way before he considers the utility of my way.  There have been some instances over that period of time where my was really was the most feasible/efficacious way.  That being said...he is far more knowledgeable in any of this stuff than I am.

With the scotia moulding down on the floor, there is a beautiful, finished look to everything.  It is satisfying (miraculous!) to see how this filthy, poorly maintained home has been revitalized.  Rather than miles to go before we sleep, we have a few hundred feet which we'll cover by putting one foot in front of the other.


Thanksgiving--Post Meal

I achieved my two simple goals:  prepare a lovely meal and stay conscious.  My SIL brought a potato and fennel gratin.  This dish really pulled together all of the savory scents and tastes of the other dishes.  It was the perfect complement.  It is also the first time I've allowed somone to bring food to my table!  I was glad to not have this extra side dish to complete, and as I've had it before and my SIL is a great cook, I new it would be good.


Desserts were spectacular, and when I have time, I'll post the Maple Pecan Chocolate Tart.  It is an extraordinary dessert that I have been making on and off for many Thanksgivings.  It compliments any meal.  It has one of those, rich, persnickety crusts that requires you to work quickly, and it needs two refrigeration stages, but it is worth it.  And it is divine slightly warm with some high quality vanilla ice cream.  For the life of me, my crusts never look great, but they sure do taste good.  The Sweet Potato Marscapone with fresh whipped cream (with a wee bit of Grand Marnier in it) was delicious as well. They make two nice choices (and several of my guests chose to have a piece of each.

The turkey was beautiful and delicious.  It was just under 15 lbs...plenty for 11 and some take-homes for guests and sandwiches for us.  The ham was a delicious a one as I've ever cooked.  It took almost 4 hours to cook to temperature rather than the 2 I expected.  I use a meat thermometer...you know the probe with the wire, snakey mesh that allows your oven to close.  These are a must in the kitchen, and put it on your gift list for your special cook in your life.  s/he will thank you for it.  It will save many a dish from under/over cooking.

Time know for my indentured servitude at the house.  Creeping across the finish line.  The weather could not be more beautiful...lovely Indian Summer.







Thanksgiving-1

We are undergoing a mini-EPA cleanup.  My goal is to keep my sink clean and enlist my minions to help.  They are energetic for a bit, and then disappear quietly until I roust the out of their tranquility.  Ella is underfoot, hoping that gravity will work its magic yielding a tasty treat.   I shoo her out of the kitchen.

I've removed the ham from its 12-hour hot sauna.  That method works well in leeching out excess 'stuff' from the ham to make it so that you can eat a few bites without going into some sort of salt coma.  I still find the odor offensive--feeling as if I should be working in a mortuary as strong as the chemical smell is.

I'll be pecking away at some posts to make myself sit down from time to time to spare my legs.  My goal is to not be too tired to enjoy my guests.  It is a beautiful Indian Summer day here.  Much to be grateful for.


Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Here it is Wednesday, I'm just getting started.  For the first time in years, I waited until today to get my victuals.  I had a client deliverable that just needed to get done.  I handed it in this morning after working on it as late a 2 a.m. last evening. 

I normally have an organized list of 'stuff', but not this time.  I'm winging it like the poor turkey.  This will be my 24th Thanksgiving Dinner...I ought to be able to wing in.  I'm in cut back mode--meaning fewer side dishes and not even a 'new' one this year.  I generally make a new dish, but I've not had a moment to consider an entree for an entre into my menu.

I have been getting a free range turkey from BJ's these last couple of years.  I went to BJ's to be greeted by an empty bin where the turkeys should have been perched.  The meat manager explained that there was a turkey shortage (which explains why only 2 turkeys could be purchased by my daughter's school who was trying to get turkeys for kids in need at the elementary school).  "If you don't have one by now, you may not get one," the meat manager said unhelpfully.

I looked at the smithfield country hams, noted the price, and then dashed out the door to Martins.  Thankfully, there was a bird there for me, but I would not have wanted to be any later.  It was a fresh-ish bird...still partially frozen but not a frozen turkey.  They seemed plentiful and at .39/lb v. 1.07/lb a bargain.  But my preference is fresh (though I've seen where frozen may actually be better).  Oh well...no time to thaw a bird either!

I also saw that the country hams were cheaper than at BJ's, so I picked up one (more later).  Back to BJ's and procuring the balance of my victuals.  Cream.  Half and half. milk. Brussels Sprouts. Cranberries. Peanut butter. Cat food.  Pecans.  Walnuts. Shrimp!

Dinner as follows:

Shrimp cocktails
Turkey (brined)
Ham -- Go here to see my cooking method
Brussels Sprouts Hash with carmelized Shallots
Potato and Fennel Casserole (my SIL is bringing this---a departure...because I never let any bring anything)
Cranberry Sauce 
Sausage and Cornbread Dressing
Sweet Potato Marscapone Pie
Maple Pecan Chocolate Tart
Steel fermented Chardonnay from the New Kent Winery

The cranberry sauce is one that I adore.  It has whole cranberries, cooked to bursting.  Sugar, Granny Smith apples, ginger clover and cinnamon added after pureeing in the food processor.

For many years, I made Sausage and Cornbread dressing by making the cornbread.  Last year, I did what seemed to be the unthinkable--I used packaged crumbs.  I have to say, my family liked it better and so did I.  So this year, I will do same.

I always make from-scratch desserts.  They are time consuming, but worth it.  No refrigerated pie crust...they just don't taste the same to me.  I'm boiling the sweet potatoes now as well as the vegetables for the stock for the turkey brine. The Sweet Potato Marscapone Pie is a glommed recipe--stolen parts from a pumpkin marscapone pie, sweet potato etc.  It is a lovely pie--the marscapone adds  so much to the texture and richness of the pie. 

The Maple Pecan Chocolate Tart is an old Bon Appetit recipe. I lost the original recipe, but managed to recreate parts of it.  It is an elegant and delicious dessert.  Served slightly warm with ice cream is a heavenly indulgence.

My motto for Thanksgiving is simple...

Stay Conscious.

I wish you the best in your cooking, consuming and regaling.

Happy Thanksgiving.
















Digital Disgust

These last few days have been frustrating. 

First...  I am now on day 3 of not having my internet connectivity with Cox.   This would not be so bad except:
  • trying to call and report it presents two frustrations.  First, finding a phone number to call.  Second, once calling having to call through a digital agent that requires you do "stuff" that you've already done prior to calling in the first placed.  
  • My my backup--connecting through my phone--was whacked out.  So connecting to the internet was liking surfing through molasses.  It was so slow it was almost worthless.
My phone connectivity has been nothing but crap since I bought a new phone.  The reason I bought a new phone in the first place was because my Blackberry modem tether was broken.  It would no longer connect to the tether socket.  The new phone presented new technology challenges on top of just not doing what you think it ought to do, and it says on the menu that it should do:  tether to your computer and access the internet.

I'll not drag you through all of that...but I will say that the technical support was beyond excellent.  When the technician called me back later that day, he stated that this was one of the most interesting work tickets that he has presented.  What that means for me is simply, there is some IP address conflict or the phone is faulty.  To give you an idea of the speeds in which I'm operating (who knows if this image will upload), take a look at this:


Yep, that is me the blue worm crawling across the lowest of the low performance, while the green line is what most enjoy.  Now you get a sense of my frustration.  This is not what I'm paying for.

On another digital front, I'm trying to close on a house that is wrapped in a process that is mostly digital, seems to involve primary processing in India (with difficult to understand English, and tersely written e-mails) but the US address is in Georgia. Trying to call and get a person gets you a voice mail that you are unable to understand because the English is spoken so poorly.  Please do not misunderstand me--I'm no nationalist!  I'm no bigot!  But I fully expect to do business with people who I can understand and who can understand me.  Nothing is more frustrating than trying to resolve an issue or complaint with there being such a large gap in communication/understanding. 

Solving customer issues is more than a nifty algorithm that requires sequential processing and multiple parroting back of what the customer is saying by someone whose cost per hour is significantly below that of a US person.  We sometimes forget that communication is as often a style/cultural expression as it is structural. I notice this being a Southerner and doing business in other parts of the country.  There's a huge difference in pace and style of communication--but there is a cultural underpinning that allows that to be bridged.  There is no cultural underpinning when one starts to jump oceans--and when you are a customer with an issue (product, service, technical), any of these differences start to inflate and exacerbate the problem.

Remember, I'm talking about the customer experience, not a corporate global integration and having to work with team members on a different continent.  These are two different things.  Corporate cultural integration is internal and there is lots more time/venues to develop understanding, shared objectives, etc.  The customer experience has none of those latitudes.

As I'm sitting with my notary, signing the papers, I note an error in the documents.  It is not a small error....rather they are requiring me affirm certain pieces of information about a property that I'm buying.  ONe of those affirmations is a statement that there is going to be a mortgage placed to  encumbering the property.  There is no mortgage; and I try to call and e-mail my "closer" to discuss how they want to handle as there can be no changes to the documents.

No luck getting any.  Dial 0 out of voice mail and you get nothing.  So, I line through the erroneous statement and initial like any normal person would.  Signed the documents, and inserted the legal description of the property where it was conspicuously absent, and then scanned the docs and sent them via e-mail in addition to Fedex. 

I still have not heard from my closer (who I know is in GA).  All of this supposedly from a six sigma organization.  Right.

What is the difference in these three digital dilemna's?  With Verizon, I easily got to a human being who was interested in resolving my problem: no hoops, no digital assistants to hold me at bay and drag me through steps already taken, no any digital walls (voice mail, e-mail) to ignore me and require me to fend for and make decisions for myself on a contract that should have been correct in the first place and no offshore customer service that presents a communication cultural divide that cannot be bridged.

There are some things that you can outsource (offshore or digitally backfill), and there are other things that you ought to ensure that you preserve---such as keeping customer service focused on both the customer and the service.






Time/Space Intersects

Yesterday was a busy day running hither and yon to close on a property.  I was soaked to the core after leaving the FEDEX office which required me to sprint in the rain, both to and from, my vehicle.  As I was driving home, my daughter called me.  She was ahead of me by just a few minutes.

All of a sudden, there appeared to be a vehicle pulled halfway into the road.  As I closed in, I saw the smashed in front of the truck, and I realized the vehicle had wrecked.  There was a man standing beside the truck, and   I rolled down the window to ask if he was okay. He was clearly shaken and a bit bewildered.  I backed up to put my flashers on and gathered him into the car out of the rain.

He had originally said he had called the police, but he did not have his phone on him.  I asked if he was bleeding or if he had anything broken.  He said no, but his head hurt.  He knew his name and gave me his wife's telephone number.  I called her, and told her who and where I was and that I would call the police and ambulance.  I relayed my amateur assessment of his condition.

Frankly, I was a bit shaken myself.  I called #77 and gave them the information. Several passers by stopped to ensure that everything was okay. First responders were there quickly, and  he was evaluated.  They put him in a neck brace and then put him on a back board.  I called his wife to confirm the hospital that he was at, and explaining what they did.

As they were talking to him, I realized that he was coming from the opposite direction.  He either hydroplaned or hit a patch of water that caused him to veer off the road and then over correct, careening him to the other side of the road and into a tree.  He was not facing a tree, so the impact must have turned him around more.  He is lucky to not be more injured...and his airbag likely saved is life or at least reduced his possible injuries.

IN thinking about the time/space intersect, I was reminded that had I been a little further ahead, or had my daughter been a little further behind, either one of us could have been entangled in that event.  This was so similar to another event where both my husband and I were the first ones there when a young girl wrecked her car.  Oddly enough, I've been the first one onto an accident for no less than 4 times now.  Not sure what the odds are on that.  Luckily, the people were intact.  Other witnesses see much worse.


Homestretch...........

I have managed to use the 12" mitre saw without losing any of my fingers.  I've also used the jigsaw without losing any digits.  I've been under-the-weather these last couple of days.  I went out to the house with full intention of breaking out the paint brush for final coats of paint on doors, but I elected to sweep and take random pictures.

This sink along with the countertop will be trashed.  It has served, admirably, as a work sink. My daughter cleaned my bucket screen last, and I was not happy with the job that she did. 


New countertops should be installed next week.  I neglected to inquire about the lead time on the Formica...(because I did not think that there would be one!).  I had a bead on some countertops that I could "re-purpose".  That turned out to be a total bust (time waster).

Below is the room of a thousand doors--4 pairs of bi-folds cam in and I'm painting them.  You can also see the kitchen cabinet doors in the second pic along with the air compressor.  At least the bi-folds were primed, but they need two coats.  This is what I had planned to do last evening, but I could not muster the energy.

That damned air compressor jolts on and makes enough racket to scare every evil out of your body.  It's a purgative experience, and I'm certain that I'll be much more saintly when all of this is done.  The left over Floor Muffler  (green stuff that I calculated exactly!) makes wonderful floor protection along with the cardboard from the floor boxes. I ended up with 8 boxes of flooring left over.  Since I put the flooring down in the utility and bathroom area...these boxes might come in handy in the event of a water issue.  However, I had a piece of flooring outside for several days (that included rain) and nary a warp or whittle in the finish or structural integrity.

Mark came along shortly, and we took measurements for the base molding and shoe molding.  We re-used most of the base, but the shoe moulding was largely too nasty to reuse being victimized by whatever was used to soil the carpet so badly in the rooms.

On Friday, the electricians were working hard hanging light fixtures, putting in new switches and receptacles...the room above has been used to store trim and other sundries.  I went out with the truck with the bed extender to get shoe moulding.  I bought red oak scotia which I stained using Helmsman Provincial stain.  The engineered flooring has enough variation in the colors that it blends in nicely enough.  It is pretty moulding, and looks terrific.


Today, a first coat for some and a second coat of paint for the bifolds.  Tomorrow I plan to finish the bi-folds.  I also painted the stairway.  I had a stairway ladder, but I was not planning on being on it without a spotter.  My daughter, the former cheerleader, was an able spotter.  I painted the stairwell, and managed to use the last of the Hawthorne Yellow.  I didn't expect the stairwell to take an entire gallon, but it did.  I'm basically done painting all of the walls.  What a great feeling.

Now, to finish the many doors....and the cabinets... But second (and thrid) coats are easy coats, so I'm expecting it to go quickly.  As I sit in my office, I think about what color to re-paint if I were to do so.  I have a very nice office that has always intended to be an office.  It is right off the kitchen and the great room and has a 1/2 bath.  It faces north, so unfortunately, there is no great natural light--not like our southern exposed rooms.  But it is an amply-sized room that has afforded me the opportunity to work productively from it for many years.

The walls are Lancaster Whitewash with Peale Green trim.  I like the colors, but it needs to be freshened up. My room also contains a large, 1929, walnut encased Victrola.  It was something that my Grandad (my mother's father) bought.  I never met him.  I'm glad to have this beautiful behemoth in my home.  It does take up lots of real estate, but I love it.


I told my daughter that she should have made a shadowbox of the disgusting things in this house, so that she will always remember them.  She said the photos and the memories were enough.  Here's the front of the house with the new shutters, and the newly-painted door.  The brown and yellow have been freshened up to green black and yellow.  There are remnants of brown...but that is just the way it will be.






My sister is visiting soon.  She saw the house in its former state.  I cannot wait to show her the home in nearly-finished condition. 


I had dinner with two friends Thursday evening. I arrived early (for a change). The first friend showed up soon after. She lost her significant other in August and has been going through the transition of life without this man she loved so well. We talked a bit. I have no particular global wisdom about 'stuff', but I do have some solid go-to's that I deploy for myself and others at appropriate times. My encouragement to those (and myself) facing life's daunting challenges (and none of us escape those moments when life bears down so hard it hurts), is "Courage and Grace." 

I feel that courage is the root value from which all others emanate.  It takes courage to be compassionate.  It takes courage to forgive.  How so?  It is courage that allows us to surmount our fears and embrace whatever challenge is facing us.  It takes courage to "set aside" those things that abrade against our sensibilities and vulnerabilities.

I combine grace with courage because grace suggests an idealize comportment in such times where we must gird our loins.  We can be courageous and fearsome--a pairing that works well on the battlefield.  A far more refined pairing is courage and grace.  I make no claims to having cultivated either to the level that I would wish, but it is an ideal worth emulating.  I have moments in life where if have been the model of courage and grace--and I've had other moments of polarity that are best not worth remembering!


Embracing courage and grace helps maintain perspective.  If we are to see clearly, and act rightly, we must have proper perspective.  My friend later shared the video below--and I wanted to share it with you. It thought it a lovely composition of music, words and images.  I hope you enjoy it.





The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead...not only is it fit for Halloween, but it aptly describes how my husband and I feel this Monday. after wrangling with the temperamentally undulating subfloor and our attempt to float flooring over it.

This house's major bugaboo was the joist problem.  Though the problem has been fixed (rotting joists replaced), the floor had some major unevenness--a result of the joists combined with poor attention to detail during construction.  Using a self-leveling compound was not an option as there was not a sturdy enough substrate.  There was some heavy lifting involved, which involved work that I was blissfully not involved in, so I won't bore you with it other than to tell you that it involved cutting the subfloor, some joist work and then some new subfloor.

As we were floating flooring (engineered hardwood), various unresolved ills raised their ugly head.  One area was the steps that from the beginning was a problem.  After an interminable amount of time which involved many different shim configurations, I made an executive decision--I did the unthinkable--I face-nailed the damn board to hold it down.  It worked; stabilized the rest of the work across a wide expanse until.....

The downstairs is such that there is a great room with two adjoining rooms on the right hand side of the house.  Laying floor required that we do a fair amount of planning to ensure that we had seamless entryways into the other room.  The back hall presented a problem--a bit too much float (which I call sponge).

So Mark and I spent a good bit of time on Sunday de-sponging and re-checking other "problem areas".  Here is husbando cutting one of several shims that we used to shore up uneveness.



I cannot bring myself to throw away aluminum, and as this is a construction site, there is a pile of rubbish, including cans, that needs to get transported to the dump.

Mark left, and I stayed lay as much floor as I could.  I had some help.  She'd be more help if she had an opposing thumb.

I did pretty well.  Thankfully a junction point that exceeded my saw skill to navigate combined exactly with my gas tank being empty.  I packed it in and went home with every bone in my body (particularly my knees) reminding me of every inch of floor that I had installed. A few more wall/opening work arounds on the flooring to be cut, and the balance can be finished.  I made another executive decision to install this flooring in the utility and the upstairs bathroom.

Now, I know there are better choices....but we (read me!) are in no mood for other color or installation choices given that I have no floor differential to worry about nor color choices to make.  We have plenty of flooring, and engineered is not a horrible choice.  I see it as a temporary solution.  The total spend is about less than $100 in materials, and the labor is free.  She can pull it up easily without compromising the entire install.  I'll put high quality silicone caulk around everything, and she'll have to ensure that she has a good bathroom rug, plunger! and shower curtain.  I think that it will be fine...and off my watch when ultimately resolved.

I believe that the worst (heavy lifting) of this project is over--though we have 'carpenter doors' to hang--and that will be a bit of work.  I thought I had done a great job getting these solid wood doors at the Habitat for Humanity ReSource store. However, my husband only grumbled when he saw them.

I also was successful in getting another house.  This one is a bank owned.  Plenty of work that needs to be done, but none of it involves repairing floor joists! Like the current project, it needs to be painted--which includes transforming the dark wood trim.  It is a rancher with 3 bedrooms--it also has a full basement.  Both floors have a fireplace.  I'll write more on that later.  Time to put this baby to bed.  Today was my expected end date.  That is not to be...but I can almost taste the champagne that I'm going to drink when this project is done.








Weekend

Husbando had a chance to go fishing in the OBX with a friend.  I was left to my own devices--which means I didn't have to fix dinner for two nights.   I still refer to the rehab project without any curse words, so I think that it is a good thing.   However, yesterday, Hannah and I worked until we could stand no more and my limit was sorely tested!

 I got there a bit earlier with my trusty side-kick Ella (who we have had almost 3 years now). I primed the last-repaired surfaces so I could paint them later that day.  I really detest working with primer---its utility (stick-with-it-ness) is superb which accounts for its stubbornly moving from your applicator to the surface. 

My second job was to paint the ceiling (stamped drywall).  Once all of the interior sprucing up had been done, the ceiling, much like the windows, became an eyesore  Not only was there an 8x4 repair in the ceiling (to re-plumb the upstairs) that was so brilliantly white, but there were more concentrated dark rings around the former fixtures and gradiently dirty areas around the vents. This just could not stand.

 To the BM paint store for some Super-Spec flat ceiling paint.  I had to roll this ceiling before husbando came back on Sunday (today) from his fishing extravaganza.  He had spent a very long day on Wednesday (on his vacation), leveling the downstairs floor (with our paid professionals).  This required cutting all the way through the existing subfloor and doing something with the joist to get the hump out of the floor. Once the heavy lifting was done, then new luan (1/8" from the specialty lumber store) had to be applied in areas to (1) act as shim to level floor; (2) repair areas where older luan pulled up; (3) and to bring the other rooms (formerly carpeted) up to the same level as this.  My husband deserved a 2 day (if not longer!) fishing trip after doing this.

I would rather have needles stuck in my eyes than paint a ceiling.  Part of this painting required cutting in around the kitchen cabinets.  Cutting in a rough surface (ceiling) against a smooth surface (top trim on cabinets) was not easy.  A reminder why there is a reason for sequential steps in painting (ceiling first, trim next, walls last).  I cut in, and Hannah and I took turns rolling.  My extension pole (I'm not sure that it was anything more than a mop handle) snapped at the screw base (it was plastic).  Luckily, my paint-laden roller missed my head and merely imprinted my left arm with 1/4 roller's worth of paint.  I had another extension (broom handle?).

We finished downstairs.  With paint in my bucket, we went upstairs to inspect the bedrooms.  One greatly benefited from a coat of paint.  I had saved several of the flooring boxes which I had opened flat to create floor protection.  I also had a drop cloth.  As with the windows, upon inspecting our ceilings, we exclaimed, "I'm glad we decided to paint these ceilings!"  At least it was just two problem areas...but it was 500+ square feet. Our collective necks, arms and backs (and feets! (sic)) think that is was more than that. It is done, though.

With that done, I grabbed my last gallon of Hawthorne Yellow to paint over the repaired walls and put a second coat where needed.  I'm glad it was my last gallon, because I would have finished painting the last bit of walls otherwise.  We had already pushed ourselves pretty hard--and we really were beyond our bodies' capabilities at 9 hours of non-stop work.  I need one more gallon of HY to finish painting the stairway (may I survive that endeavor) and the few other places.

On Sunday, husbando returned, and we began the process of laying the floor downstairs.  Finding a true line from the wall required some planning given that walls/rooms/houses are rarely true.  This house, with all of its problems, had surprisingly true walls.


Exterior work

Here's the house with washed exterior, new windows, new front door and new shutters.
 We still have to paint the front door.  I'm second guessing the top lights in the door, but they do let in light.  Once the door is painted another color, it will be less 'stark' those two peeping pains. The roof is so visible and so brown that tannish that borwn shutters and door were a logical choice.  But we don't like the looks of yellow and brown and freshened the color a bit with blackwatch green shutters.  Washing the exterior helped a bit too! It still has brown gutters, but I'm not going to worry with that just now.  The pics were taken with two different cameras.  Notice that some of the bushes (azaleas), were planted far too close to the foundation.  These will have to be pulled up and (two were already sacrificed) am moved away a bit.

I'm waiting for drywall to cure for the interior work required be complete.  Yesterday (I started this post yesterday a.m. and am tacking another whack at it), I painted the back room...the only room not to receive any paint. It is a beautiful color, BM's, Harbortowne.  It is a lovely green/gray.  It looks terrific with the Chantilly Lace Trim and is pleasing to view as a transition from the Hawthorne Yellow.  Hannah worked on the trim pieces--putting a first coat over the sanded primed trim.

 While there are several big things to get done (counter tops, flooring downstairs), the interminable amount of painting has disappeared.  I still have painting...but very discrete, manageable pieces.  And that feels very good.



Windows!

The windows have been installed on the house, and my only regret is that I did not make the decision sooner to replace them.  I would have saved some time sanding, painting, repairing etc.  They look fabulous--and most importantly, they are functional.  A window should open and close easily and without causing you bodily harm. Shutters have arrived, and they will be installed this week too.  Once I get that done, I'll post a picture.

Husbando is heading out to Hatfield and McCoy in West Virginia.  At 56 years old, he still is riding his KTM along with others his age.  It is a trip met with much anticipation.  I just hope none get hurt.  It is very hard riding--long and technically difficult.  My husband is a very advanced rider--but anything can happen.  For myself, I'm on vacation too! 

Here is one of the scenic and utilitarian pics of what he will encounter.




Weekend Stuff

This weekend was very busy.  First a picture:





Here's our first completed room of the hardwood (engineered) flooring.  My husband and I laid the floor (having done same at our home when we build it many years ago).  We've had a long respite from laying floor.  This is what it looked like previously!

The engineered hardwood went down beautifully.  There were no 'rejects' in any of the flooring boxes that we used.  I was surprised how uniform the flooring was; how easily it went down; and I how it turned out surpassed my expectations.  Though the floor boxes are supposed to be random lengths, in general, the flooring was either full sized or 1/2 or (with just a smattering of something smaller).  In pawing through 3 boxes, I found not one piece that was less than full size.  So, I surely wish there were more randomization.  With a 9" minimum on adjacent row staggered seams, with only a few variable lengths, it gets a little tough!  Because it locks in place on all 4 sides (except adjacent to walls where there is a cut end on one side of the other), there is no "butting together" like regular hardwood.

All that aside...it was far more easier to lay than the solid stuff.  My fingers hurt from handling the wood. 

After laying flooring (lots of squatting and raising as my thighs are howling sore), I went home to take a nap.  I was tired.  I was doing a mega-leg to help out the Above and Beyond English Setter Rescue...drove to Rocky Mount and then back again to overnight two five month old English Setter/lab mix puppies and a Dachshund.  The Dachshund was sprung from a kill shelter...two more days and he would have been down.

They were coming up from Georgia. By the time that I picked them up, they had already been traveling almost 15 hours...their day starting at 7 a.m.  They were very hungry.  I had no food, but their sensitive noses knew that I had eaten.  Jill (sister of Charlie), licked every surface of my car that might have come in contact with food.  After about 30 minutes they settled down.

My main concern was not staying awake (my nap and a Pepsi helped), but rather the deer.  Rutting season is upon us.  I did not want to have a close encounter of any kind with deer.  Unfortunately, they are very active at night.

We arrived home safely.  Where there are farts, there is fire.  Not very elegant phraseology, but if you drive dogs, you know, at some point, when they have to go....they go.  And as dogs cannot speak, you must pay attention to the odoriferous signals. Dogs are not unlike some people....'to go' requires harmonic convergence of time and space.  If neither is right, then nothing happens.  At some point in time, biological imperative overcomes time and space, and it happens.

Despite my best efforts to orchestrate harmonic convergence (I don't think harmonic convergence is orchestratable), nothing happened at the preferred intersects of time/space.  Rather, the biological imperative happened inside my home during the mad frenzy to investigate new surroundings, sniff out the cat food and the remainder of my dogs' dinner.  They were so eager to eat, I had hard time getting their food to them without being mobbed.  

The gulped their food down.  I was tired.  It was 12:30 a.m.  Time for my winkie land.  I put them in crates with comfy blankets.  One of them did not go down so easily.  I put sheets over 3 sides of the crate of each of them.  That provided some comfort.  Off to bed.

Next a.m. we had brief potty, lite breakfast, another inopportune poop by one, and then a drive to Fredericksburg.  None of these pics is very good, but here they are....




Sunday we finished the second upstairs bedroom.  A very productive weekend.  Replacement windows go in Tuesday.  Everything is starting to really come together.



















Faux No!

I'm writing a quick post before I take a lovely English Setter boy to a longer term foster situation.  My step-mom is riding with me...her first time.  I've not been able to visit with her much as I've been working on this house on the weekends....and she lives in the opposite direction.  So we'll get to catch up (as my sister and I did while transporting Ollie) during the drive from Richmond to South Hill.

As we continue our progress (which is now taking exponential leaps) on this house rehab, we found out something, err, "interesting".  I have to give my daughter suitable projects which do not in any way involve painting.  She is a workhorse; however, she has some bull in the china shop tendencies (some honest DNA she received from me, but she lacks my many years of refining that proclivity!).  I told her that it was time to scrub the kitchen wall behind the countertop.

The kitchen wall had what we both thought to be a textured, faux application.  It was a bit rough, and I was unsure of the materials, and a blend of greens, yellows and browns.  I did know that it needed to be cleaned, so I set my daughter on the project.  Well, what we soon came to find out was that the application was not a faux application at all.  Rather, it was......grease splatters.



Here's a photo that shows the remainder splotches (which have since been cleaned--this was a photo taken during my daughter's break).  Notice my beautifully painted cabinet on the left.  By the time my daughter finished cleaning that edge between the wall and the cabinet, she managed to scrub off 1/2 inch strip of paint.

The pot you see on the stove is our source of hot water as the water heater had to be pulled out as part of the plumbing redo.  How many years of grease accumulation exists here, I do not know.  This 'faux no!' will be something that we always remember.  I think that a metal or tile backsplash will be in order.  The logistics of why the wall accumulated grease are not going away. 

Our weather has cooled quite a bit here.  Yesterday morning we found a tree frog and a giant dragon fly on an outdoor lamp.  My husband turned the light on to warm up the tree frog who is tucked in.  These pictures are not great, but I'll share them with you anyway.  Thhe first is our tree frog tucked on the outside of the glass. 

This one shows some of the lovely detail of the dragon fly's wings and body.


I'm off now to drive.