Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving




Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!  My family gathered around the table for our Thanksgiving dinner and we each gave thanks for many blessings.  We ate rather late in the day and then after the food was put away and the dishes done, naps were in order.  Now we're ready to play a few games and have that pie that we were too full to eat earlier.   

Comments are closed today.  See you soon!  

Happy Thursday to you!
xo Cheryl

Friday, November 14, 2014

My Friday Randoms

 

I'm still around!  I told my daughter that I was going to blog about how much fun we are having at The Project and she laughed.  And laughed.  Then she said, "Where have you been hanging out?"  lol!  I could write a small novel about all the problems and delays we've encountered during this renovation/remodeling project.  

Our son was home over the long weekend and he helped BG put in one of the doors.  It didn't go very smoothly and they spent the biggest part of a day working on it.  The next door is supposed to be put in Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.  The bathroom window is in and a few other things have been done.  I've updated the list in my last post.

I have a suggestion to make to those who manage home centers.  Please spend a little more time in training your employees.  I have spent countless hours trying to find help with locating items we need for our Project and someone to answer questions I've had.  It's been amazing the number of employees I've encountered who don't know anything.

Our daughter is very fearful that her center, which is a non-profit child care center, may have to close due to severe funding cuts.  She has reached out to many potential funders only to be turned down.  They are doing everything they can to cut back on expenses, but it's going to be very hard to stay afloat without the funding they had been receiving.  It's scary times economically for many.

Now let's talk food!  Thanksgiving is just under 2 weeks away and I'm thinking about my menu since we won't be going to Branson this year in order to work on you-know-what.  That means I'll be cooking, of course.  We'll have a smoked turkey that BG gets from work.  We'll probably have the usual sides of mashed potatoes and dressing.  Salad, rolls and dessert.  Maybe another side or two.  What will be on your menu?  Do you always have turkey at Thanksgiving?  

Linking to Tanya's Willy Nilly Friday 5

Happy Friday to you!
xo Cheryl

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

My List...Yikes!

The Project.  That is how I refer to the house we recently bought and are fixing up.  The plan is for our daughter to move in as our first renter.
 

Most days I'm happy we got it, other days I want to slap up a For Sale sign.   I still think it was a bargain although it needs a lot of fixin'.  We've run into a few problems along the way.  Some we knew about beforehand, others have been discovered or maybe I should say uncovered as we began working.  I like to makes lists, so I've decided to make a list of what yet needs to be done and highlight it in red as it gets finished.

Bedroom No. 1:  

- this room is in pretty good shape, but needs painting.  (paint purchased)
- the spackling of nail holes, etc, has been DONE).  
- windows will eventually be replaced.
- floor is good


Bedroom No. 2:  

- spackle and paint (paint purchased)
- take down ceiling fan and hang new light fixture. (DONE)
- decide about flooring...carpet? 

Extra room:  (this is a room which is part of the deck and has a flat roof overhead)

- we discovered mold on the drywall in a closet which indicated a
water leak.  BG got on the flat roof above this room and did what he could to stop future water leaks until something else can be done in warmer weather.  This room and deck area has different roofing than the rest of the house.
- drywall to be taken out of closet and replaced.  (started on)

- new exterior door needs to be installed. (DONE)
- old carpet was in this room and a lot of the backing of the carpet is stuck to the flooring.  Backing has to be scraped off (started on) and a new underlayment will be put down prior to new floor covering.

Bathroom:  

- needs a new window and the bathtub, vanity and toilet will be replaced.  (items have been purchased) (window installed)
- walls will be cleaned, painted and beadboard put up on part of the walls.  

- a tub enclosure will go around the tub.  Flooring will be installed. (flooring purchased)
- the closet needs painting and some electric wiring will need to be redone.   
- a new light fixture (bought) and mirror (to be found, purchased) will be hung.

Living Room:   

- sanding of the trim has begun.
- spackling of walls DONE.  
- paint walls and closet.  (paint purchased) (closet painted)
- paint the fireplace.  

- decide about floor...probably carpet. (order carpet)
- install new ceiling fan.  (purchased)
- windows have been washed.   
- new exterior door needs to be installed.  (DONE)

Kitchen:  
- replace and repair drywall after washer/dryer hookups removed.  
- buy new light fixture to replace ceiling fan. (purchased)
- new faucet bought.  
- replace sink?
- dishwasher works, needs sanitizing.  

- floors to be cleaned...and painted or tiled?  
- patio door and window needs cleaning and screen replaced.  (DONE)
- stove and refrigerator are waiting to be moved in.
- blinds need to be special ordered.   

- threshold between kitchen and hallway to LR needs to be planed down.

Hallways:  

- walls need painting.  Spackling DONE.  
- floors need cleaning.  Possibly painted or replaced. (old hardwood floors torn out, new hardwood waiting to be installed -DONE)

Upper walkout deck:  

- light fixtures have been cleaned and bulbs replaced.
- new dusk to dawn light needs installing.  

- steps need repair.  
- railing tightened.  
- painting will be done next spring.  
- exterior door bought and will be replaced (see Extra Room above).  (DONE)

Basement:  

- mold removal and gutting of all sheetrock and ceiling has
been DONE. 
 

- new furnace has been installed.  Central air which is part of heating unit is in good shape.  
- ditto water heater.  
- gas lines repaired.
- some plumbing issues still to be done.  

- broken window has been replaced.
- sealing a crack where a small amount of water seeps in during heavy rain to be done. (DONE)

- wiring issues needs to be done at a later date.  
- flooring to be decided.  (carpet squares purchased for some rooms)
- walls will be finished at a future date.

- bathroom fixtures to be replaced.  (vanity and toilet purchased) 
- washer and dryer ready to be moved in and hooked up.  
- new exterior door to fit shorter opening to be found
and installed.  (order)

Garages:  

- new garage door bought and ready to be hung in No. 3 garage. (door didn't fit, returned.  Not a priority, will replace next spring.)
- No. 1 garage needs new door opener.  (purchased)

- cleaning has been done.

Other buildings:  

- cleaning out to be done next spring.  They aren't needed
at this time.

Barn:  

- cleaning has been done.  
- new opener for large door will be needed.

Outside: 

- house to be painted next spring.  
- some soffits need to be replaced. (DONE)
- missing shingles have been replaced and chimney inspected.  

- window well covers bought and will be installed. (DONE)
- yard cleanup is mostly completed. 
- purple martin house poles need painting.  (mostly done)
- patio area under deck needs repainting next spring.

That's all I can think of at the moment.  More will be added later, if necessary.  As you've no doubt concluded, this post is more for my benefit as I'll be referring back to it.  Feel free to check back, too, if you are interested in our progress.  We're beginning to think having this house ready before Christmas is impossible quite a stretch.    

Posting and commenting will be limited during at this busy time while I think about work on The Project.  Enjoy these days of November as we'll soon be preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving!

Happy Wednesday to you!
xo Cheryl