So the house blends pretty well with the snow, huh?
We took full advantage of our snow day yesterday, doing pretty much nothing. This morning, I realized it might have been a good idea to do a little Christmas shopping!
I really don't want to fight the weekend-before-Christmas crowd, so maybe we can squeeze it in one night this week. If we don't do it soon, we'll be delivering lots of gift cards with our Christmas wishes this year.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Snow day!
Today, Bud and I enjoyed the biggest snow we've gotten in a few years. The 4 or so inches of white stuff had a little coating of ice underneath because of last night's freezing rain.
At the office, we squeezed two days of work into one yesterday, just in case the freezing rain caused a power outage. I had a little scraping to do when I finally left work last night, but it was worth it -- because I got almost a whole snow day today.
Bud hit the driveway on the lawn mower with his new snowplow attachment this morning, clearing the way for me to get out and spend a couple of hours finishing things up at work.
Talk about a worthwhile investment! He'd still be shoveling tomorrow if he hadn't bought that blade earlier this year.
He had such a great time with his new toy that he also cleared a neighbor's drive. He even considered driving the mower to our old neighborhood to help those neighbors, and he probably would have, if I hadn't gotten home from work so quickly.
Bud also trekked around the house taking snow pictures this morning. I'll post one or two of those soon.
At the office, we squeezed two days of work into one yesterday, just in case the freezing rain caused a power outage. I had a little scraping to do when I finally left work last night, but it was worth it -- because I got almost a whole snow day today.
Bud hit the driveway on the lawn mower with his new snowplow attachment this morning, clearing the way for me to get out and spend a couple of hours finishing things up at work.
Talk about a worthwhile investment! He'd still be shoveling tomorrow if he hadn't bought that blade earlier this year.
He had such a great time with his new toy that he also cleared a neighbor's drive. He even considered driving the mower to our old neighborhood to help those neighbors, and he probably would have, if I hadn't gotten home from work so quickly.
Bud also trekked around the house taking snow pictures this morning. I'll post one or two of those soon.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Excuses, excuses
I didn't forget this place. See, there was Thanksgiving, during which I was sleeping most of the time because I was sick. So I didn't take any pictures. (But we both know I would have forgotten the camera anyway.)
Then it was time for the annual "Letters to Santa" special section at work. Seeing the letters of 300 kids who want a lot of stuff and then trying to make sure the picture each of them submitted gets published with the correct letter has a way making Christmas not quite as fun as it used to be. Grinchy and Scroogey are good ways to describe the effect.
There have been a lot of home basketball games this month. Bright spots, like last night's win against Indiana, are all the brighter because of losses to schools like VMI and Miami.
I've been Christmas shopping, although I really can't mention what I've purchased. There's nothing like choosing a great gift to put me in the spirit. Bud and I had hoped to finish up the last of our shopping yesterday, but the little elf who was supposed to give us some gift ideas for a few family members didn't meet her deadline.
Lance turned 1 yesterday, and while Bud and I weren't there for the cake-faced bash, we saw some photos. And we're hoping to deliver our gift soon.
Brian, Janie and Eliza are moving much closer to us, which actually is also very close to Janie's family. Brian got a new job that offers family health insurance.
My friend Victoria gave a home to another needy dog. This one, Jasper, seems to be turning out to be great company for Satch, the Lab she adopted a few months ago.
The daughter of my friend Mattie had surgery to remove a huge tumor from her abdomen. I haven't heard an update on her health, so I'm hoping no news is good news.
There's much more to tell you, I'm sure. But after a month of no posts, I don't remember what else I had to say.
Then it was time for the annual "Letters to Santa" special section at work. Seeing the letters of 300 kids who want a lot of stuff and then trying to make sure the picture each of them submitted gets published with the correct letter has a way making Christmas not quite as fun as it used to be. Grinchy and Scroogey are good ways to describe the effect.
There have been a lot of home basketball games this month. Bright spots, like last night's win against Indiana, are all the brighter because of losses to schools like VMI and Miami.
I've been Christmas shopping, although I really can't mention what I've purchased. There's nothing like choosing a great gift to put me in the spirit. Bud and I had hoped to finish up the last of our shopping yesterday, but the little elf who was supposed to give us some gift ideas for a few family members didn't meet her deadline.
Lance turned 1 yesterday, and while Bud and I weren't there for the cake-faced bash, we saw some photos. And we're hoping to deliver our gift soon.
Brian, Janie and Eliza are moving much closer to us, which actually is also very close to Janie's family. Brian got a new job that offers family health insurance.
My friend Victoria gave a home to another needy dog. This one, Jasper, seems to be turning out to be great company for Satch, the Lab she adopted a few months ago.
The daughter of my friend Mattie had surgery to remove a huge tumor from her abdomen. I haven't heard an update on her health, so I'm hoping no news is good news.
There's much more to tell you, I'm sure. But after a month of no posts, I don't remember what else I had to say.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Lawn waste roasting on an open fire
Bud burned for (maybe) the final time of the year last night. In the snow -- which still wasn't heavy enough to mention, but I'm doing it anyway again.
No s'mores or hot dogs because work grumped me out so much that I couldn't deal with just going to the grocery for some buns and marshmallows. I'll be glad when Thanksgiving gets here!
Notice a trend with the nighttime photos? I'm not going through a phase. It's winter, and it's never freakin' light outside when I'm home! How many days 'til spring?
We tried to reintroduce one of our many clocks into the house this evening, but we couldn't figure out how to hang the pendulum. So we're still mostly blissfully unaware of the passage of time when we're in the great room.
No s'mores or hot dogs because work grumped me out so much that I couldn't deal with just going to the grocery for some buns and marshmallows. I'll be glad when Thanksgiving gets here!
Notice a trend with the nighttime photos? I'm not going through a phase. It's winter, and it's never freakin' light outside when I'm home! How many days 'til spring?
We tried to reintroduce one of our many clocks into the house this evening, but we couldn't figure out how to hang the pendulum. So we're still mostly blissfully unaware of the passage of time when we're in the great room.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
By the light of the deck
Our first snow in the new house wasn't much to write home about, but I'm doing it anyway. Here's hoping it foretells a deep, white winter.
I'm not exactly sure what has happened since my last post. It was a lot easier to keep up when I wrote daily.
We got another round of furniture back from refinishing. And we decided that we can use one of those pieces for Bud's side table/remote control storage vault. So we got to cancel the table we ordered from Macy's.
Speaking of Macy's, the great-room rug arrived safely, and we love it.
In appliance news, we thought the dishwasher was leaking, but apparently it was our imaginations. The appliance repair has got to think we're crazy by now.
The treadmill finally made it over from the other house. It came in through a second-floor window. We're hoping that's the last airlift for a while, seeing as how the truck leaked fluids on our pristine new driveway, which made Bud very sad.
I'm not exactly sure what has happened since my last post. It was a lot easier to keep up when I wrote daily.
We got another round of furniture back from refinishing. And we decided that we can use one of those pieces for Bud's side table/remote control storage vault. So we got to cancel the table we ordered from Macy's.
Speaking of Macy's, the great-room rug arrived safely, and we love it.
In appliance news, we thought the dishwasher was leaking, but apparently it was our imaginations. The appliance repair has got to think we're crazy by now.
The treadmill finally made it over from the other house. It came in through a second-floor window. We're hoping that's the last airlift for a while, seeing as how the truck leaked fluids on our pristine new driveway, which made Bud very sad.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Oscar Delance Blevins: March 9, 1929 - Nov. 11, 2008
Laura's dad died Tuesday morning. It's fitting that her family will forever remember their hero, who served in the Army in the early 1950s, on Veterans Day.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Goodbye, gravel!
Hello, blacktop! The biggest house news from the week is that we're no longer stirring up gravel dust every time we pull into the driveway. The pavers came Monday and Tuesday, and by Friday at lunch, we could stop taking the back way in and hiking up to the house from the beyond the garage.
I've delayed posting because I wanted to put up a picture of the new driveway, but seeing as how I haven't posted in a week and the pictures are still on the camera, I thought it was time for a photoless update.
The rug we ordered last week is supposed to arrive Monday. The cable guy is coming back Tuesday to install a jack upstairs.
In non-house news, basketball season started. We enjoyed watching Kentucky win both of their exhibition games by large margins, which we hope is an indicator that we won't be just hoping not to be embarrassed every time we head to Rupp this year.
We were excited that Barack Obama won the presidential election, but it was pretty embarrassing to see Kentucky glowing red from all the network and website maps long before any other states had been called.
I'm sad to say things aren't looking good for Laura's dad. He's home from the hospital, surrounded by family and being assisted by Hospice. Those are the bright spots.
I've delayed posting because I wanted to put up a picture of the new driveway, but seeing as how I haven't posted in a week and the pictures are still on the camera, I thought it was time for a photoless update.
The rug we ordered last week is supposed to arrive Monday. The cable guy is coming back Tuesday to install a jack upstairs.
In non-house news, basketball season started. We enjoyed watching Kentucky win both of their exhibition games by large margins, which we hope is an indicator that we won't be just hoping not to be embarrassed every time we head to Rupp this year.
We were excited that Barack Obama won the presidential election, but it was pretty embarrassing to see Kentucky glowing red from all the network and website maps long before any other states had been called.
I'm sad to say things aren't looking good for Laura's dad. He's home from the hospital, surrounded by family and being assisted by Hospice. Those are the bright spots.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Move a little, buy a little
With all of things we still have to move, you've got to wonder how we could possibly need to buy anything at all. But amazingly enough, even with all we have to choose from, sometimes nothing fits the bill.
Yesterday we bought an area rug, which should arrive in about two weeks. All the rugs we currently own are primarily red, which doesn't work with the aqua/natural/black colors of the great room.
And among the millions of tables we have to choose from, what we don't have is one that's side-table height with a drawer where Bud can store his collection of remotes. So we bought one of those yesterday also, but it won't arrive for eight to 12 weeks. So it's box city on Bud's side of the sofa 'til then.
Today, we're planning to move some larger pieces of furniture and the treadmill. The 'mill goes upstairs, and since Gary and Jimmy are going to replace the handrail on the front stairs Monday, we thought getting it up there before then was a good idea.
Laura's dad does, in fact, have pancreatic cancer. And it's inoperable, which isn't surprising but is very sad. Chemotherapy could be an option, if he wants to pursue it -- but even that's not certain until after a consultation with the chemo docs.
Yesterday we bought an area rug, which should arrive in about two weeks. All the rugs we currently own are primarily red, which doesn't work with the aqua/natural/black colors of the great room.
And among the millions of tables we have to choose from, what we don't have is one that's side-table height with a drawer where Bud can store his collection of remotes. So we bought one of those yesterday also, but it won't arrive for eight to 12 weeks. So it's box city on Bud's side of the sofa 'til then.
Today, we're planning to move some larger pieces of furniture and the treadmill. The 'mill goes upstairs, and since Gary and Jimmy are going to replace the handrail on the front stairs Monday, we thought getting it up there before then was a good idea.
Laura's dad does, in fact, have pancreatic cancer. And it's inoperable, which isn't surprising but is very sad. Chemotherapy could be an option, if he wants to pursue it -- but even that's not certain until after a consultation with the chemo docs.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Slowly, semi-steadily
While I've been back to work and pitching in a little bit at night, Bud's plugging away daily. He cleared a spot in the garage for me yesterday, so the Jeep didn't have to endure last night's freezing temperatures.
We also could have a mailbox by the end of the day today. I bought it last week, and Bud finally got a chance to start working on it yesterday.
Inside, we're expanding outward from the great room, which still has cardboard-box end tables. Bud's office is organized and functional, and if you peek inside the kitchen cabinets, you won't be staring into an abyss anymore. The closet is mostly organized. The medicine cabinets are starting to fill up -- well, at least the one upstairs is.
Still, we've got a long way to go. Last night, I had to pause in the middle of making dinner to drive to the other house and grab a measuring cup. (I brought back four -- and a pot with a steamer insert. My rule is that I can't walk out the door there without my hands full.) Then we had to go back later, so that I could check my hair appointment card, which is still magneted to the refrigerator there, and pick up some storage containers for last night's leftovers.
No pictures yet. The camera has been sitting forlornly on the kitchen bar for days.
Laura's family probably will learn the results of her dad's biopsy Friday. She says his appetite and strength are noticeably less.
We also could have a mailbox by the end of the day today. I bought it last week, and Bud finally got a chance to start working on it yesterday.
Inside, we're expanding outward from the great room, which still has cardboard-box end tables. Bud's office is organized and functional, and if you peek inside the kitchen cabinets, you won't be staring into an abyss anymore. The closet is mostly organized. The medicine cabinets are starting to fill up -- well, at least the one upstairs is.
Still, we've got a long way to go. Last night, I had to pause in the middle of making dinner to drive to the other house and grab a measuring cup. (I brought back four -- and a pot with a steamer insert. My rule is that I can't walk out the door there without my hands full.) Then we had to go back later, so that I could check my hair appointment card, which is still magneted to the refrigerator there, and pick up some storage containers for last night's leftovers.
No pictures yet. The camera has been sitting forlornly on the kitchen bar for days.
Laura's family probably will learn the results of her dad's biopsy Friday. She says his appetite and strength are noticeably less.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Home Sweet Home
All the essentials -- TV, Internet, great-room furniture, bed -- finally were in place Saturday, so we took the plunge. It's still hard to believe we're actually in.
Since Saturday, it seems as if we've done nothing but move and arrange things, and yet, we're still using boxes as end tables in the great room! I have no new photos because I can't stop hauling stuff into the house long enough to pick up the camera, and also because the USB cable with the camera dongle is still at the other house.
Speaking of the other house, it's overwhelming to look around there and realize all of that stuff has to come here. Soon.
Gary and Jimmy are back and working on the to-do list we accumulated for them while they were gone building railings for someone else. After they wrap up those final details, they'll be ready to prepare the other house to sell.
Problem is, I'm not sure we'll be ready for them that quicky.
Since Saturday, it seems as if we've done nothing but move and arrange things, and yet, we're still using boxes as end tables in the great room! I have no new photos because I can't stop hauling stuff into the house long enough to pick up the camera, and also because the USB cable with the camera dongle is still at the other house.
Speaking of the other house, it's overwhelming to look around there and realize all of that stuff has to come here. Soon.
Gary and Jimmy are back and working on the to-do list we accumulated for them while they were gone building railings for someone else. After they wrap up those final details, they'll be ready to prepare the other house to sell.
Problem is, I'm not sure we'll be ready for them that quicky.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Day 407: Oct. 16, 2008
The more time I spend at the house in a day, the less likely I am to take pictures. And the worst part of forgetting today is that Dad came to town for lunch and a house tour!
So here's a photo from a few days ago, just after the front-porch ceiling had been painted. The light fixture is hanging open because it hadn't been painted yet. Now it's black, instead of green, but the unfortunate part is that it doesn't work anymore! Our first plan of attack tomorrow will be to try a new bulb.
Bud and the cable guys got things taken care of this afternoon, so now we can watch TV at the new house. We allegedly have Internet access too, but we haven't gotten around to confirming that yet.
I made a little more progress on dust control in the kitchen this evening. As I cleaned the front of the oven, it occurred to me that none of the buttons worked. That fix was easy; the breaker wasn't turned on.
But we still don't know why we can't get water from the refrigerator.
So here's a photo from a few days ago, just after the front-porch ceiling had been painted. The light fixture is hanging open because it hadn't been painted yet. Now it's black, instead of green, but the unfortunate part is that it doesn't work anymore! Our first plan of attack tomorrow will be to try a new bulb.
Bud and the cable guys got things taken care of this afternoon, so now we can watch TV at the new house. We allegedly have Internet access too, but we haven't gotten around to confirming that yet.
I made a little more progress on dust control in the kitchen this evening. As I cleaned the front of the oven, it occurred to me that none of the buttons worked. That fix was easy; the breaker wasn't turned on.
But we still don't know why we can't get water from the refrigerator.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Day 406: Oct. 15, 2008
Let the boxing begin. Not to mention the kitchen cleaning.
I started battling the dust in the kitchen this afternoon. Unfortunately, Kathy is sick, so I didn't have her expert help.
I also started moving boxes of kitchen things into the breakfast area so they'll be handy when I finally have dust-free cabinets to put them in.
While Bud waited for the cable/Internet installer, he sanded and painted the vent covers we washed the other day. They look great. He also started putting the covers back on the lights on the deck steps. Those look much better too.
When the installer finally arrived late this afternoon, he couldn't do anything after all -- because the company has to drop a line from the pole to the house. So that's the plan for tomorrow.
Laura's dad is still in the hospital. Last I talked with her, the mass near his pancreas still hadn't been biopsied.
I started battling the dust in the kitchen this afternoon. Unfortunately, Kathy is sick, so I didn't have her expert help.
I also started moving boxes of kitchen things into the breakfast area so they'll be handy when I finally have dust-free cabinets to put them in.
While Bud waited for the cable/Internet installer, he sanded and painted the vent covers we washed the other day. They look great. He also started putting the covers back on the lights on the deck steps. Those look much better too.
When the installer finally arrived late this afternoon, he couldn't do anything after all -- because the company has to drop a line from the pole to the house. So that's the plan for tomorrow.
Laura's dad is still in the hospital. Last I talked with her, the mass near his pancreas still hadn't been biopsied.
Day 405: Oct. 14, 2008
Bud whirled all dervishlike outside again today, putting out another truckload of mulch, more grass seed. He also cleaned the patio and the deck.
At lunch, we moved the patio table and chairs from the garage to their rightful place on the deck. Now to have a drink!
Laura's dad is in the hospital. Although his doctors don't know exactly what's wrong yet, they suspect the problem is pancreatic cancer. I'm really hoping that's not the case -- and I know I'm far from the only one.
At lunch, we moved the patio table and chairs from the garage to their rightful place on the deck. Now to have a drink!
Laura's dad is in the hospital. Although his doctors don't know exactly what's wrong yet, they suspect the problem is pancreatic cancer. I'm really hoping that's not the case -- and I know I'm far from the only one.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Day 404: Oct. 13, 2008
Five truckloads of mulch later, Bud's somehow still standing and the area surrounding the deck almost entirely covered.
Upstairs, Chester put a second coat of urethane on the great-room floor. Dwayne, the drywaller, finished up his work on the kitchen ceiling; and Robert and Gary, the painters, got to work on their first coat. They also painted the ceiling of the front porch.
At lunch, I was on wasp duty. About seven or eight got into the guest room through an open window this weekend, much to their regret. Spraying them was scary, but very effective. I spent the rest of the time cleaning wasp spray off the ceiling, the light fixture, the wall, the window and the floor. As of this evening, none of their buddies had shown up to check on them.
Kathy cleaned the upstairs again. I think it's going to be a while before we stop tracking dust from the driveway and rooms that haven't been cleaned into the clean areas of the house.
After work, I moved a couple of small pieces of furniture from the garage into the house -- a jewelry chest that used to belong to Bud's aunt and the mirror that goes on the dresser in the guest bedroom.
Upstairs, Chester put a second coat of urethane on the great-room floor. Dwayne, the drywaller, finished up his work on the kitchen ceiling; and Robert and Gary, the painters, got to work on their first coat. They also painted the ceiling of the front porch.
At lunch, I was on wasp duty. About seven or eight got into the guest room through an open window this weekend, much to their regret. Spraying them was scary, but very effective. I spent the rest of the time cleaning wasp spray off the ceiling, the light fixture, the wall, the window and the floor. As of this evening, none of their buddies had shown up to check on them.
Kathy cleaned the upstairs again. I think it's going to be a while before we stop tracking dust from the driveway and rooms that haven't been cleaned into the clean areas of the house.
After work, I moved a couple of small pieces of furniture from the garage into the house -- a jewelry chest that used to belong to Bud's aunt and the mirror that goes on the dresser in the guest bedroom.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Days 402-403: Oct. 11-12, 2008
So I misunderstood when I thought Jimmy said Jesse was coming Friday. He actually said Chester -- which was even better. Chester sanded the entire great-room floor and put the first coat of urethane down.
He'll be back Monday and Tuesday for the second and final coats. After that, we have to wait 24 hours to walk on it, and then a week to put furniture on it.
Friday night and Saturday morning, I washed bed linens for the new house (using the washer and dryer at the new house!). On Saturday, I put sheets on both beds, and stuffed the comforter for the master into its duvet cover. I also ordered a comforter for the guest room. Bud took care of things outside. Watering the newly seeded grass, cleaning the patio, that stuff.
On Saturday evening, we went to the farm for dinner to celebrate Chris' birthday. I promised myself all day that I would take pictures, so that I could show you my side of the family really does exist. When I forgot the camera, I figured I'd take phone pictures. Then I forgot those too.
Sunday, we vacuumed the central air vents and painted the insides black. We washed the vent covers, which are drying in the garage and will need new coats of paints also.
We moved a few pieces of furniture from Bud's mom's house. There were a couple of large pieces we had planned to move, but they're still crammed full of things, so we made new selections. We'll try to clean out the others this week or next weekend -- since we won't be able to put stuff into the great room yet, we'll have a little time on our hands.
He'll be back Monday and Tuesday for the second and final coats. After that, we have to wait 24 hours to walk on it, and then a week to put furniture on it.
Friday night and Saturday morning, I washed bed linens for the new house (using the washer and dryer at the new house!). On Saturday, I put sheets on both beds, and stuffed the comforter for the master into its duvet cover. I also ordered a comforter for the guest room. Bud took care of things outside. Watering the newly seeded grass, cleaning the patio, that stuff.
On Saturday evening, we went to the farm for dinner to celebrate Chris' birthday. I promised myself all day that I would take pictures, so that I could show you my side of the family really does exist. When I forgot the camera, I figured I'd take phone pictures. Then I forgot those too.
Sunday, we vacuumed the central air vents and painted the insides black. We washed the vent covers, which are drying in the garage and will need new coats of paints also.
We moved a few pieces of furniture from Bud's mom's house. There were a couple of large pieces we had planned to move, but they're still crammed full of things, so we made new selections. We'll try to clean out the others this week or next weekend -- since we won't be able to put stuff into the great room yet, we'll have a little time on our hands.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Day 401: Oct. 10, 2008
As Bud and I took our evening deer cruise last night, a frog hopped across the road in front of us. I stopped, and Bud got out and caught the chilly little guy.
Bud handed the frog to me through the driver-side window, but the pass didn't go smoothly. The frog jumped down onto the floor and disappeared.
When I got out to look for him, he was snuggled up in a tight area above the hood release. I reached for him, and he moved further into the dash.
So we finished the deer run -- with me fearing the whole time that our new friend would jump out of hiding and onto my feet, at which point I would scream and drive off the road.
But we managed to stay off the sidewalks on the way home. I checked the floor and dash again after we had been back for a while. Nothing. Bud looked everything over once more early this morning. Nothing.
We resigned ourselves to the fact that we had sentenced our poor little frog to a sun-baked death and ourselves to weeks of dead-amphibian smell.
When I piled my stuff into the Jeep this morning to head for work, I reached across the console to put my purse in the passenger seat. I checked the floor for frogs, found the right key on my key ring and started to climb in.
Then I glanced down at the console, where our spotty green friend sat calmly (and literally coolly, as I found out when I picked him up) in the change tray!
He was chilled again, so catching him wasn't a challenge. Holding on to him 'til I got to the new house to release him was a little more interesting.
We're hoping he'll hang around his new home in the garage retaining wall for a while. But we've tried to institute an unsuccessful frog relocation program in the past, so we're not optimistic.
Bud handed the frog to me through the driver-side window, but the pass didn't go smoothly. The frog jumped down onto the floor and disappeared.
When I got out to look for him, he was snuggled up in a tight area above the hood release. I reached for him, and he moved further into the dash.
So we finished the deer run -- with me fearing the whole time that our new friend would jump out of hiding and onto my feet, at which point I would scream and drive off the road.
But we managed to stay off the sidewalks on the way home. I checked the floor and dash again after we had been back for a while. Nothing. Bud looked everything over once more early this morning. Nothing.
We resigned ourselves to the fact that we had sentenced our poor little frog to a sun-baked death and ourselves to weeks of dead-amphibian smell.
When I piled my stuff into the Jeep this morning to head for work, I reached across the console to put my purse in the passenger seat. I checked the floor for frogs, found the right key on my key ring and started to climb in.
Then I glanced down at the console, where our spotty green friend sat calmly (and literally coolly, as I found out when I picked him up) in the change tray!
He was chilled again, so catching him wasn't a challenge. Holding on to him 'til I got to the new house to release him was a little more interesting.
We're hoping he'll hang around his new home in the garage retaining wall for a while. But we've tried to institute an unsuccessful frog relocation program in the past, so we're not optimistic.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Day 400: Oct. 9, 2008
Bud rented a mini skid loader this morning and backfilled the remaining area next to the patio under the deck. (Much better, and faster, than a shovel!) Then he used a rake to even it out.
Nice disco-ball effect from the sun shining through the deck, huh?
Reno grouted the front porch, and he said walking on it will be fine by the time to mattresses arrive tomorrow. He also reiterated that it'll be OK for us to walk in the kitchen and sun room too.
Gary (the painter, not the contractor) put a second coat of stain on part of the deck. I think he'll get to the rest tomorrow. Jesse also will be there tomorrow to reinstall the recessed lights that got moved because of the new cabinets.
Bud says the cable installers are scheduled for Wednesday. I guess they got "rushed up" after all.
So that means our big hold-up is going to be the hardwood floors. Time for me to get the phone number from Jimmy so I can pester Chester!
Nice disco-ball effect from the sun shining through the deck, huh?
Reno grouted the front porch, and he said walking on it will be fine by the time to mattresses arrive tomorrow. He also reiterated that it'll be OK for us to walk in the kitchen and sun room too.
Gary (the painter, not the contractor) put a second coat of stain on part of the deck. I think he'll get to the rest tomorrow. Jesse also will be there tomorrow to reinstall the recessed lights that got moved because of the new cabinets.
Bud says the cable installers are scheduled for Wednesday. I guess they got "rushed up" after all.
So that means our big hold-up is going to be the hardwood floors. Time for me to get the phone number from Jimmy so I can pester Chester!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Day 399: Oct. 8, 2008
Here's how close we are to finished: Gary and Jimmy took their table saw today and went to work on someone else's two-day project. Even though they're not gone for good yet, it was sad to watch them leave.
The tile's still groutless, but you get to see it anyway -- because I didn't take any new pictures today. (I think they're grouting tomorrow -- except for the bullnose edges, which won't be here 'til the middle of the month.)
Reno sealed the kitchen and sunroom tile this afternoon. We can't walk on it for at least 24 hours. So, doing out-of-the-house stuff today, we bought mattresses for our bedroom and the guest bedroom. They'll be delivered Friday evening. I hope there's a way to get into the house by then!
Speaking of mattresses, I've been puzzling over when I can stop with the "Day XXX" post titles. I think I've decided to give them up after we spend our first night in the house.
But even then, we not be fully in. We also stopped by the cable office this afternoon, and although the woman told Bud she'd try to "rush them up," the first appointment was for the beginning of November!
They're coming to do the phone a couple of weeks before that, so we're hoping they can do both (and the Internet too) at the same time.
The tile's still groutless, but you get to see it anyway -- because I didn't take any new pictures today. (I think they're grouting tomorrow -- except for the bullnose edges, which won't be here 'til the middle of the month.)
Reno sealed the kitchen and sunroom tile this afternoon. We can't walk on it for at least 24 hours. So, doing out-of-the-house stuff today, we bought mattresses for our bedroom and the guest bedroom. They'll be delivered Friday evening. I hope there's a way to get into the house by then!
Speaking of mattresses, I've been puzzling over when I can stop with the "Day XXX" post titles. I think I've decided to give them up after we spend our first night in the house.
But even then, we not be fully in. We also stopped by the cable office this afternoon, and although the woman told Bud she'd try to "rush them up," the first appointment was for the beginning of November!
They're coming to do the phone a couple of weeks before that, so we're hoping they can do both (and the Internet too) at the same time.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Day 398: Oct. 7, 2008
Bud spent another day shoveling dirt, and it shows. The side yard is smoothed and seeded, and the gutter drain lines are buried.
The railing above the front porch is complete. The one on top of the house is yet to be started.
Harold Wayne and his helper, Reno, continued tiling the front porch today. I'm really enjoying the way it's turning out, but I'm trying to restrain myself from posting a photo until it's completed and grouted.
And how 'bout this for good news: The kitchen cabinets are fixed! And, wow, do they look great!
Having the refrigerator surround the correct depth makes all the difference in the world. I fell in love with the kitchen all over again. (You'll have to wait for that photo too -- because the repairs aren't complete from where we had to move some recessed lighting to make room for the deeper cabinets.)
The railing above the front porch is complete. The one on top of the house is yet to be started.
Harold Wayne and his helper, Reno, continued tiling the front porch today. I'm really enjoying the way it's turning out, but I'm trying to restrain myself from posting a photo until it's completed and grouted.
And how 'bout this for good news: The kitchen cabinets are fixed! And, wow, do they look great!
Having the refrigerator surround the correct depth makes all the difference in the world. I fell in love with the kitchen all over again. (You'll have to wait for that photo too -- because the repairs aren't complete from where we had to move some recessed lighting to make room for the deeper cabinets.)
Monday, October 6, 2008
Day 397: Oct. 6, 2008
On Friday, six dump truck loads of dirt were delivered to backfill the area under the deck. Today, when the backhoe arrived to move the dirt, the guys discovered that the bucket wouldn't fit under the deck.
So Bud and Jimmy had the unexpected job of shoveling all that dirt. They finished the driveway side today. Fun, huh? And speaking of moving dirt, in the picture, Bud is smoothing the side yard for seeding tomorrow.
At the front of the house, the tilers started laying the porch floor. Above that, on the porch roof, Gary started putting up railing.
The electrician and the drywaller prepared the kitchen for the return of the cabinet installers, who are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
So Bud and Jimmy had the unexpected job of shoveling all that dirt. They finished the driveway side today. Fun, huh? And speaking of moving dirt, in the picture, Bud is smoothing the side yard for seeding tomorrow.
At the front of the house, the tilers started laying the porch floor. Above that, on the porch roof, Gary started putting up railing.
The electrician and the drywaller prepared the kitchen for the return of the cabinet installers, who are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
Day 396: Oct. 5, 2008
Moving stuff tends to require both hands, which means no photos -- so here's another great one from yesterday.
You can see that Lance knows his way around a motorcycle already. He's a natural motorsports guy.
As I mentioned, Bud and I moved a few more things around today. It didn't go as quickly as we had hoped because a couple of the pieces we wanted to move still had drawers full of stuff. That added up to a lot of sorting -- because the stuff was the now-typical assortment of incredibly interesting memorabilia and broken oddities.
But any moving is progress. And it all has to be done at some point. Even the drawer sorting.
You can see that Lance knows his way around a motorcycle already. He's a natural motorsports guy.
As I mentioned, Bud and I moved a few more things around today. It didn't go as quickly as we had hoped because a couple of the pieces we wanted to move still had drawers full of stuff. That added up to a lot of sorting -- because the stuff was the now-typical assortment of incredibly interesting memorabilia and broken oddities.
But any moving is progress. And it all has to be done at some point. Even the drawer sorting.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Day 395: Oct. 4, 2008
Today we got to meet Eliza for the first time!
Brian and Janie were nearby, visiting her family, and they made a special trip to town so we could see their girl in person. Laura and Lance were able to come into town for the morning too.
Eliza was, of course, adorable. She's five weeks old. What else could she possibly be? At first, Lance wasn't so sure how to take some who's even smaller than he is. But he's a smart guy, so he figured the whole thing out pretty quickly.
The rest of the day, Bud and I got a little cleaning and furniture moving-in done.
Brian and Janie were nearby, visiting her family, and they made a special trip to town so we could see their girl in person. Laura and Lance were able to come into town for the morning too.
Eliza was, of course, adorable. She's five weeks old. What else could she possibly be? At first, Lance wasn't so sure how to take some who's even smaller than he is. But he's a smart guy, so he figured the whole thing out pretty quickly.
The rest of the day, Bud and I got a little cleaning and furniture moving-in done.
Day 394: Oct. 3, 2008
Kirby's memorial stone arrived today.
I still forget that she's not here anymore. I practically have to remind myself aloud not to check on her and not to save our leftovers for her. So I'm glad that she at least has a nice marker for her new home.
A while ago, Bud moved Roscoe from the current house to a spot beside Kirby. Kirbs was sad and lonely when Roscoe died in 2003, so I'll bet they had a great reunion.
I still forget that she's not here anymore. I practically have to remind myself aloud not to check on her and not to save our leftovers for her. So I'm glad that she at least has a nice marker for her new home.
A while ago, Bud moved Roscoe from the current house to a spot beside Kirby. Kirbs was sad and lonely when Roscoe died in 2003, so I'll bet they had a great reunion.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Day 393: Oct. 2, 2008
We have gutters. Which means we're finally ready for that final inspection. (It's scheduled for tomorrow morning!)
Gary and Jimmy were nice enough to begin installing our Roman shades today, a relief for Bud and me because we really weren't looking forward to tackling that job.
Bud installed his patio speakers this morning. You can see one at the corner of the addition in photo. (And you can see one of the post caps too.)
Kathy cleaned more this afternoon. Bud and I took the bed frame up to the master bedroom and put it together this evening, and we also moved the hall tree into the entry hall.
It's still hard to believe we're actually putting furniture in the house.
Gary and Jimmy were nice enough to begin installing our Roman shades today, a relief for Bud and me because we really weren't looking forward to tackling that job.
Bud installed his patio speakers this morning. You can see one at the corner of the addition in photo. (And you can see one of the post caps too.)
Kathy cleaned more this afternoon. Bud and I took the bed frame up to the master bedroom and put it together this evening, and we also moved the hall tree into the entry hall.
It's still hard to believe we're actually putting furniture in the house.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Day 392: Oct. 1, 2008
Now here's some progress! Bud picked up the dining room table, its chairs and the sideboard from the refinisher this afternoon.
See, there they are ... IN THE DINING ROOM!! How shocked are you?
Bud was talking with Gary and Jimmy this morning about where we could put the table until the final inspection, and it turns out that we can move into the old part of the house even before the final. Who knew?
So when Kathy made her first cleaning visit today, we asked her to start in the dining room instead of upstairs. (She's speedy, though. She also got the master bedroom finished, except for the windows.)
Outside this morning, Bud, Gary and Jimmy placed the post caps on the columns and Gary sealed them. They're bigger than I pictured, but they're fine. They're already growing on me.
Back to the dining room furniture. It belonged to Bud's maternal grandparents. Remember we went to the auction preview last week of the house that used to be theirs? This is the table that used to be in their dining room there.
See, there they are ... IN THE DINING ROOM!! How shocked are you?
Bud was talking with Gary and Jimmy this morning about where we could put the table until the final inspection, and it turns out that we can move into the old part of the house even before the final. Who knew?
So when Kathy made her first cleaning visit today, we asked her to start in the dining room instead of upstairs. (She's speedy, though. She also got the master bedroom finished, except for the windows.)
Outside this morning, Bud, Gary and Jimmy placed the post caps on the columns and Gary sealed them. They're bigger than I pictured, but they're fine. They're already growing on me.
Back to the dining room furniture. It belonged to Bud's maternal grandparents. Remember we went to the auction preview last week of the house that used to be theirs? This is the table that used to be in their dining room there.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Day 391: Sept. 30, 2008
As you can see, we now have a door on the new part of the basement.
Gary and Jimmy also installed the washer and dryer -- at which point Bud discovered that we were missing one of the adjustable feet on the dryer. So he went to Lowe's and was able to come right back with one!
The painters were at work on the front porch today, so it's nice and crisp white. Harold Wayne is supposed to be back next week to install the tile out there.
The gutterers hope be here Thursday, and I'm sure I'm hoping harder than they are. I might cry if we have to let another weekend pass without being able to start moving in!
Tomorrow could be exciting. The post caps for the columns should be in. (Can't believe it's already been three weeks since we ordered those.) Kathy is scheduled to do her first round of cleaning upstairs.
And the dining room table is refinished and ready to be picked up. I'm not sure where we'll put it -- too bad we're not finished with the final inspection -- but I'm excited to see it!
Gary and Jimmy also installed the washer and dryer -- at which point Bud discovered that we were missing one of the adjustable feet on the dryer. So he went to Lowe's and was able to come right back with one!
The painters were at work on the front porch today, so it's nice and crisp white. Harold Wayne is supposed to be back next week to install the tile out there.
The gutterers hope be here Thursday, and I'm sure I'm hoping harder than they are. I might cry if we have to let another weekend pass without being able to start moving in!
Tomorrow could be exciting. The post caps for the columns should be in. (Can't believe it's already been three weeks since we ordered those.) Kathy is scheduled to do her first round of cleaning upstairs.
And the dining room table is refinished and ready to be picked up. I'm not sure where we'll put it -- too bad we're not finished with the final inspection -- but I'm excited to see it!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Day 390: Sept. 29, 2008
Using 197 blocks, Bud, Gary and Jimmy built the retaining wall under the deck today.
Meanwhile, Jesse passed the final electrical inspection.
Now all that's left is the overall final inspection. Before we can get that, Gary and Jimmy have put an entry door on the area under the great room. Gary has some quarter-round molding to install in the house. And the gutter subcontractors have to do their thing.
Please let all of that, including the inspection, be finished by the end of the week!
Meanwhile, Jesse passed the final electrical inspection.
Now all that's left is the overall final inspection. Before we can get that, Gary and Jimmy have put an entry door on the area under the great room. Gary has some quarter-round molding to install in the house. And the gutter subcontractors have to do their thing.
Please let all of that, including the inspection, be finished by the end of the week!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Day 389: Sept. 28, 2008
Nothing to report, except that the Raiders are actually winning at the moment.
The photo, from several days ago, is another of the wild cats from our back yard. This one we may call "Leaf." (Can't do the spelled-like-a-name "Leif" because that's pronounced layf, right?)
Anyway, before this picture, we had a lengthy discussion about whether that thing lying by the tree was a cat or a pile of leaves. I voted leaves.
The photo, from several days ago, is another of the wild cats from our back yard. This one we may call "Leaf." (Can't do the spelled-like-a-name "Leif" because that's pronounced layf, right?)
Anyway, before this picture, we had a lengthy discussion about whether that thing lying by the tree was a cat or a pile of leaves. I voted leaves.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Day 388: Sept. 27, 2008
After a relaxing morning and an afternoon ride, we're watching Kentucky overpower Western Kentucky. Yay.
Nothing to report housewise, except that everything seems undisturbed despite a lot of extra foot traffic nearby because a festival downtown this weekend.
The picture is the steps that will lead to the under-deck patio from just outside the garage entry door. We didn't get them from our usual materials supplier because their only set was chipped on one corner.
So Bud had to go out of town to find these last week, and when he got back, the guys discovered that the steps are so heavy and unwieldy that manpower alone (even though we had a lot of it) wasn't enough to get them unloaded from the back of his truck.
Our usual supplier was nice enough to send a forklift over to save the day (also probably saving Bud, Jimmy, Gary and the painters from serious injury).
Nothing to report housewise, except that everything seems undisturbed despite a lot of extra foot traffic nearby because a festival downtown this weekend.
The picture is the steps that will lead to the under-deck patio from just outside the garage entry door. We didn't get them from our usual materials supplier because their only set was chipped on one corner.
So Bud had to go out of town to find these last week, and when he got back, the guys discovered that the steps are so heavy and unwieldy that manpower alone (even though we had a lot of it) wasn't enough to get them unloaded from the back of his truck.
Our usual supplier was nice enough to send a forklift over to save the day (also probably saving Bud, Jimmy, Gary and the painters from serious injury).
Friday, September 26, 2008
Day 387: Sept. 26, 2008
Painting and deck stuff. Other miscellaneous things, like the guys hung the mirror in the closet room.
Now that the great-room floor has dried, it turns out that the spot is still there. So it looks like Chester's coming back again.
The picture is the blocks that will form a retaining wall around the patio under the deck. That's on the agenda for next week.
Now that the great-room floor has dried, it turns out that the spot is still there. So it looks like Chester's coming back again.
The picture is the blocks that will form a retaining wall around the patio under the deck. That's on the agenda for next week.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day 386: Sept. 25, 2008
Bud picked up some pre-cast concrete steps for the patio under the deck today. Gary and Jimmy continued deck work.
Two of the painters stayed at work staining the underside of the deck, while Robert painted and caulked the half-moon attic window.
Chester stopped by in the afternoon and refinished the great room floor. Jesse checked all the wiring in the kitchen.
Bud and I walked through a house a couple of doors down that will be auctioned next weekend. A couple of owners ago, it belonged to his other grandparents, his mother's parents.
Two of the painters stayed at work staining the underside of the deck, while Robert painted and caulked the half-moon attic window.
Chester stopped by in the afternoon and refinished the great room floor. Jesse checked all the wiring in the kitchen.
Bud and I walked through a house a couple of doors down that will be auctioned next weekend. A couple of owners ago, it belonged to his other grandparents, his mother's parents.
Day 385: Sept. 24, 2008
We now have all three central units -- the original one, which controls the original furnace and the temperature in the first floor of the old part of the house; a new one to control the entire upstairs; and a second new one to control the addition. Here's hoping they're all very efficient.
Jesse is supposed to return Thursday to do the electrical part, so it's possible that we'll have air conditioning by tomorrow afternoon.
I chose a fabric and ordered the window seat for the closet room. It should be ready in a couple of weeks at most, I think.
Chester, the floor guy, apparently made it back yesterday afternoon. He installed the thresholds, which look good -- although we may need to do a little something to even up the one between the original house and the kitchen.
He also took a shot at fixing the pool of urethane in the living room. That didn't work out so well, so he's going to come back and reseal the whole floor.
Jesse is supposed to return Thursday to do the electrical part, so it's possible that we'll have air conditioning by tomorrow afternoon.
I chose a fabric and ordered the window seat for the closet room. It should be ready in a couple of weeks at most, I think.
Chester, the floor guy, apparently made it back yesterday afternoon. He installed the thresholds, which look good -- although we may need to do a little something to even up the one between the original house and the kitchen.
He also took a shot at fixing the pool of urethane in the living room. That didn't work out so well, so he's going to come back and reseal the whole floor.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Day 384: Sept. 23, 2008
More staining. More railings. One of the central air/heating units is finally in place! One more to go.
Bud and I ended up behind Jimmy in a drive-thru line at lunch. When we got to the pick-up window, Jimmy already had paid for our lunch. So nice. (But sneaky!)
Bud and I ended up behind Jimmy in a drive-thru line at lunch. When we got to the pick-up window, Jimmy already had paid for our lunch. So nice. (But sneaky!)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Day 383: Sept. 22, 2008
Don, a friend of Bud's, died last night in a motorcycle accident. He was driving down a four-lane highway, and a car pulled out of a gas station and into his path. From the looks of things, he never had time to react.
We didn't see Don often, but ironically, we'd just run into him a couple of times recently. He was on both the poker runs I wrote about over the past few weeks, and he actually helped organize the one that benefited the animal rescue. He was a good guy.
At the house, Gary and Jimmy put up more railing, and the painters continued to stain the deck. Bud used caulk to seal the backs of the lighting fixtures on the deck stairs. "Looks like the circus came to town," Bud said the first time we saw all the light leaking from the underside of the steps.
One of the electrician's helpers stopped by and apparently fixed the power to the dishwasher. But when I tried to test it, it didn't fill with water. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.
We didn't see Don often, but ironically, we'd just run into him a couple of times recently. He was on both the poker runs I wrote about over the past few weeks, and he actually helped organize the one that benefited the animal rescue. He was a good guy.
At the house, Gary and Jimmy put up more railing, and the painters continued to stain the deck. Bud used caulk to seal the backs of the lighting fixtures on the deck stairs. "Looks like the circus came to town," Bud said the first time we saw all the light leaking from the underside of the steps.
One of the electrician's helpers stopped by and apparently fixed the power to the dishwasher. But when I tried to test it, it didn't fill with water. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Day 382: Sept. 21, 2008
Most of the day, Bud and I cleaned up the house and yard. We hope the remaining subcontractors will take the hint and begin to treat the place like a home instead of a construction site.
I had planned to give the dishwasher a whirl, just to make sure it works correctly, but I guess it won't have power until Jesse comes back to finish up the electric.
I had planned to give the dishwasher a whirl, just to make sure it works correctly, but I guess it won't have power until Jesse comes back to finish up the electric.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Day 381: Sept. 20, 2008
At the house this morning, Bud removed the construction trash from the front yard. I took the pot rack that I'd almost forgotten from the garage to the kitchen, so the guys don't forget to hang it.
This afternoon, we rode the motorcycles to a fall festival, a trip that included a ferry ride we usually try to do a couple of times a year.
Nice day, nice ride. It was a good way to find some time to contemplate the happiness in Kirby's life, rather than dwelling on the sadness of the past few days.
This afternoon, we rode the motorcycles to a fall festival, a trip that included a ferry ride we usually try to do a couple of times a year.
Nice day, nice ride. It was a good way to find some time to contemplate the happiness in Kirby's life, rather than dwelling on the sadness of the past few days.
Day 380: Sept. 19, 2008
Gary and Jimmy finished the replacement railings on the front porch this morning and started on the deck railings.
The siding guys finished putting up the shutters. The painters were touching up everything they could find.
Bud suggested a weekend trip, in our usual get-out-town-to-take-your-mind-off-the-bad-news style. But both of us slept so little Thursday night that we weren't up to trying to hit the road Friday after work. So we went out for sushi instead.
The siding guys finished putting up the shutters. The painters were touching up everything they could find.
Bud suggested a weekend trip, in our usual get-out-town-to-take-your-mind-off-the-bad-news style. But both of us slept so little Thursday night that we weren't up to trying to hit the road Friday after work. So we went out for sushi instead.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Day 379: Sept. 18, 2008
Gary and Jimmy have been building the lower posts and railings for the front porch this week. They're not quite finished, but you wouldn't believe the things they've had to do to match the sizes on the original porch railing!
We have pictures of a baby Bud standing on one of the lower posts that used to be there. His dad removed them -- Bud guesses because keeping them painted became too much trouble -- but we love the way they looked, so we're putting them back.
Robert, the painter, has started putting sealer on the deck. The plumber came back today and fixed the smelly water problem, which was a relief. We're not sure what's become of the HVAC guys, but they're not finished yet.
The new shutters starting going up today. I didn't look carefully enough to see if they're all installed yet.
I forgot to mention in Tuesday's post that I called Bryan again to try to get an estimate on when he'll be back. He says four weeks. Guess we won't be truly in for at least a month, huh?
We have pictures of a baby Bud standing on one of the lower posts that used to be there. His dad removed them -- Bud guesses because keeping them painted became too much trouble -- but we love the way they looked, so we're putting them back.
Robert, the painter, has started putting sealer on the deck. The plumber came back today and fixed the smelly water problem, which was a relief. We're not sure what's become of the HVAC guys, but they're not finished yet.
The new shutters starting going up today. I didn't look carefully enough to see if they're all installed yet.
I forgot to mention in Tuesday's post that I called Bryan again to try to get an estimate on when he'll be back. He says four weeks. Guess we won't be truly in for at least a month, huh?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Day 378: Sept. 17, 2008
We said goodbye to Kirby today.
Fourteen is up there for a dog, and she had been showing her age lately. She was getting thinner and thinner, didn't want to eat, could hardly see a thing.
It wasn't easy to accept those changes in Kirby. I chose her from the animal shelter for my birthday in 1996, when she was 2 and I was 24. We went through a lot together, and I continued to think of her as a young girl. (I know she wouldn't appreciate being just a couple of blog posts away from a cat!)
This morning, she was so weak she couldn't stand. After I spent some time snuggling her and talking with her, we took her to the vet and sent her to Rainbow Bridge.
She's buried in a nice shady spot under a couple of trees in our new back yard, where we can visit her often and remind her what a good girl she is.
Fourteen is up there for a dog, and she had been showing her age lately. She was getting thinner and thinner, didn't want to eat, could hardly see a thing.
It wasn't easy to accept those changes in Kirby. I chose her from the animal shelter for my birthday in 1996, when she was 2 and I was 24. We went through a lot together, and I continued to think of her as a young girl. (I know she wouldn't appreciate being just a couple of blog posts away from a cat!)
This morning, she was so weak she couldn't stand. After I spent some time snuggling her and talking with her, we took her to the vet and sent her to Rainbow Bridge.
She's buried in a nice shady spot under a couple of trees in our new back yard, where we can visit her often and remind her what a good girl she is.
Day 377: Sept. 16, 2008
Gary and Jimmy continued replacing trim. When there wasn't enough old trim leftover to surround the door from the hall to the downstairs bathroom, Bud took Gary to a new source, the second floor of the building where my office is located.
Decades ago, Bud's dad was the owner and publisher of the newspaper where I work now. (Bud's grandfather bought it in 1921.) Bud's dad and Bud's aunt sold the paper to a newspaper group in the early 1970s, but they still owned the building -- so we own it now.
Above the newspaper office were several more office spaces, including Bud's grandmother's hat shop -- where Bud and Gary found trim very similar to what's in our house.
It's not easy to see in this picture, but C.E. Bond, the guy who built our house near the turn of the century, signed the back of this trim piece, which Bud and Gary borrowed from the office for our bathroom door!
Decades ago, Bud's dad was the owner and publisher of the newspaper where I work now. (Bud's grandfather bought it in 1921.) Bud's dad and Bud's aunt sold the paper to a newspaper group in the early 1970s, but they still owned the building -- so we own it now.
Above the newspaper office were several more office spaces, including Bud's grandmother's hat shop -- where Bud and Gary found trim very similar to what's in our house.
It's not easy to see in this picture, but C.E. Bond, the guy who built our house near the turn of the century, signed the back of this trim piece, which Bud and Gary borrowed from the office for our bathroom door!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Day 376: Sept. 15, 2008
While Bud made sawdust of the fallen trees today, one of the wild cats that roams through our yard kept him company.
When we stopped by the house in the winter, we even saw her lying on the front porch a couple of times. We just call her “the gray one.” LOL. We probably can do better.
Jimmy was sick today, but Gary worked on trim. We chose a color to stain the deck (dark brown), and Bud thinks the siding guys may have finished up the columns.
The HVAC guys are supposed to place the central heating/air units tomorrow. I'm not sure whether the plumber ever reported in today.
Still no word from Bryan on when he thinks his guys will be back to fix the cabinets. Guess I'll call him again tomorrow.
When we stopped by the house in the winter, we even saw her lying on the front porch a couple of times. We just call her “the gray one.” LOL. We probably can do better.
Jimmy was sick today, but Gary worked on trim. We chose a color to stain the deck (dark brown), and Bud thinks the siding guys may have finished up the columns.
The HVAC guys are supposed to place the central heating/air units tomorrow. I'm not sure whether the plumber ever reported in today.
Still no word from Bryan on when he thinks his guys will be back to fix the cabinets. Guess I'll call him again tomorrow.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Day 375: Sept. 14, 2008
Some of the remnants of Hurricane Ike arrived today, which made for an adventurous motorcycle ride to breakfast. Gusty winds have a tendency to move you in directions you weren't expecting.
This evening, we found that we had lost one tree in the back lot -- but only because part of a neighbor's tree fell on it.
In disgusting house news, I cleaned the downstairs toilet, which someone had used before the plumbing was ready. Blech. We also started working on the dirty tub, but we had to cut it short when I accidentally turned on the hot water. Long story.
Just before we started the remodel last year, we discovered that the hot water had developed a horrible sulfury smell. Last week when I cleaned the sinks, I noticed that it's still there. The plumber's supposed to be back Monday to troubleshoot.
Here's hoping the HVAC guys are there Monday too, as scheduled. Nothing would help us more than some air conditioning!
The photo is the deck at night, by the way.
This evening, we found that we had lost one tree in the back lot -- but only because part of a neighbor's tree fell on it.
In disgusting house news, I cleaned the downstairs toilet, which someone had used before the plumbing was ready. Blech. We also started working on the dirty tub, but we had to cut it short when I accidentally turned on the hot water. Long story.
Just before we started the remodel last year, we discovered that the hot water had developed a horrible sulfury smell. Last week when I cleaned the sinks, I noticed that it's still there. The plumber's supposed to be back Monday to troubleshoot.
Here's hoping the HVAC guys are there Monday too, as scheduled. Nothing would help us more than some air conditioning!
The photo is the deck at night, by the way.
Day 374: Sept. 13, 2008
When we got home from the volleyball game Friday night, we were greeted by lights on the deck steps. Hooray!
We did part of a poker run today to benefit a local animal rescue program. It started late, and we had an appointment with the interior-shutter measurement guy, so we only made it to the first stop before we headed home.
Speaking of measuring for plantation shutters -- wow, that was a hot couple of hours! But we have our order forms now, which we're supposed to take to Lowe's on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
The shutters should arrive in four to six weeks -- either at the installer's warehouse or, more conveniently, at our house, depending on whether the company will agree to ship them to us.
Happy anniversary to Linda and Bill! If I'm counting correctly, this makes 23 years!
We did part of a poker run today to benefit a local animal rescue program. It started late, and we had an appointment with the interior-shutter measurement guy, so we only made it to the first stop before we headed home.
Speaking of measuring for plantation shutters -- wow, that was a hot couple of hours! But we have our order forms now, which we're supposed to take to Lowe's on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
The shutters should arrive in four to six weeks -- either at the installer's warehouse or, more conveniently, at our house, depending on whether the company will agree to ship them to us.
Happy anniversary to Linda and Bill! If I'm counting correctly, this makes 23 years!
Day 373: Sept. 12, 2008
Lots of inside stuff going on today. Most important, the medicine cabinets are finally installed! They look great, and the mirrors are huge! (The picture is the downstairs bathroom -- with the back stairs reflected in the mirror.)
The other bath accessories went up too -- towel racks and rings, robe hooks, toilet paper holders. And the rest of the doorstops found their homes also.
Outside, siding is still going up. We chose exterior shutters Thursday. Actually not much of a choice -- we just went with exact replacements for what's already there and decided how many more to add.
In an exceptionally warm Memorial Coliseum, we watched the Kentucky volleyball team defeat Indiana. We'd love to go back if someone could find the thermostat.
The other bath accessories went up too -- towel racks and rings, robe hooks, toilet paper holders. And the rest of the doorstops found their homes also.
Outside, siding is still going up. We chose exterior shutters Thursday. Actually not much of a choice -- we just went with exact replacements for what's already there and decided how many more to add.
In an exceptionally warm Memorial Coliseum, we watched the Kentucky volleyball team defeat Indiana. We'd love to go back if someone could find the thermostat.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Day 372: Sept. 11, 2008
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Laura.
Happy birthday to you!
For Laura's birthday, I got to see her! And Lance. And even Louis.
Gary, Jimmy and Bud installed the light fixtures on the steps. Jesse hasn't been back to wire them, but we're all really excited to see them lighted.
I think I forgot to mention that we passed our final plumbing inspection Tuesday. Not quite ready for the electrical yet, though.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Laura.
Happy birthday to you!
For Laura's birthday, I got to see her! And Lance. And even Louis.
Gary, Jimmy and Bud installed the light fixtures on the steps. Jesse hasn't been back to wire them, but we're all really excited to see them lighted.
I think I forgot to mention that we passed our final plumbing inspection Tuesday. Not quite ready for the electrical yet, though.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Day 371: Sept. 10, 2008
Gary and Jimmy installed the storm door today. Not an easy job, apparently. But it's finished, and it looks great.
While they were slaving over the door, Bud and I slogged through another errand day.
We visited two block places to find capstones for the deck columns. After all that driving, we ordered from the first place we had been. The stones won't be in for three weeks.
While we were close, we stopped by Lowe's because the representative who's supposed to measure for our plantation shutters hadn't called yet. We talked to him this afternoon and made an appointment for Saturday afternoon.
The electrician's helper worked on the deck lights late in the afternoon. Looks like he finished a few.
I cleaned out the sinks when I stopped by the house this evening for photos. The tub is so covered in dust and dirt that I think we should vacuum it before I turn on the water!
While they were slaving over the door, Bud and I slogged through another errand day.
We visited two block places to find capstones for the deck columns. After all that driving, we ordered from the first place we had been. The stones won't be in for three weeks.
While we were close, we stopped by Lowe's because the representative who's supposed to measure for our plantation shutters hadn't called yet. We talked to him this afternoon and made an appointment for Saturday afternoon.
The electrician's helper worked on the deck lights late in the afternoon. Looks like he finished a few.
I cleaned out the sinks when I stopped by the house this evening for photos. The tub is so covered in dust and dirt that I think we should vacuum it before I turn on the water!
Day 370: Sept. 9, 2008
Gary and Jimmy put one of the medicine cabinets together this afternoon. You can just see the corner of the other cabinet door in this photo -- it's not attached to the rest of the cabinet yet.
They also replaced some warped deck boards and cut holes for the lighting fixtures on the garage-side steps.
Bryan stopped by today and agreed to fix the too-shallow area around the refrigerator.
He'll also replace the panels and trim that surround the wall oven -- because that area is connected to the refrigerator compartment by the arch over the French doors (which means that the beadboard on the ceiling between the arch and the wall will have to be replaced with bigger panels too).
Such a mound of rework! Now you know why I was so stressed.
They also replaced some warped deck boards and cut holes for the lighting fixtures on the garage-side steps.
Bryan stopped by today and agreed to fix the too-shallow area around the refrigerator.
He'll also replace the panels and trim that surround the wall oven -- because that area is connected to the refrigerator compartment by the arch over the French doors (which means that the beadboard on the ceiling between the arch and the wall will have to be replaced with bigger panels too).
Such a mound of rework! Now you know why I was so stressed.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Day 369: Sept. 8, 2008
Gary and Jimmy continued to work on the holes for light fixtures on the deck steps. They also tried a few post caps on for size.
Robert, the painter, is out of town this week, but he'll stain the deck when he gets back.
The guys also installed the laundry room windows, which were the right size this time. That's it for windows. So at least something's finished. (Or at least we think it is. Is anything ever really finished on this project? Probably all the new windows will crack or fall out or something tomorrow.)
I called Bryan this morning. He and Billy, the lead cabinet installer, are supposed to stop by tomorrow morning.
Robert, the painter, is out of town this week, but he'll stain the deck when he gets back.
The guys also installed the laundry room windows, which were the right size this time. That's it for windows. So at least something's finished. (Or at least we think it is. Is anything ever really finished on this project? Probably all the new windows will crack or fall out or something tomorrow.)
I called Bryan this morning. He and Billy, the lead cabinet installer, are supposed to stop by tomorrow morning.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Day 368: Sept. 7, 2008
One of the Roman shades I ordered last week arrived Saturday, so we stopped by the house this afternoon to check the fit and color. The second size should arrive tomorrow, and the other two (which are the same two sizes in a different color) were on back order 'til later in the week.
That's it for excitement at the House of Naps today.
That's it for excitement at the House of Naps today.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Day 367: Sept. 6, 2008
Along with our neighbor Mark, we went on a poker run to benefit Kentucky's Healing Field, a memorial honoring military members who've died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The memorial, which features a flag and plaque for each person who is honored, was dedicated a little less than a year ago. This past spring, high winds destroyed almost all of the flagpoles. The run raised more than $9,000 to rebuild the memorial.
Bud and I had horrible poker hands, as usual -- although not bad enough to win "worst hand" honors. Mark got two pair, but that wasn't enough to score one of the two plaques for the best hands.
At our last stop before the run concluded, we watched the sky as the Goodyear blimp flew overhead. (It was much closer than it appears in this phone picture.) We wondered if it was going to the Kentucky game, but that's not exactly the direction it was headed.
The memorial, which features a flag and plaque for each person who is honored, was dedicated a little less than a year ago. This past spring, high winds destroyed almost all of the flagpoles. The run raised more than $9,000 to rebuild the memorial.
Bud and I had horrible poker hands, as usual -- although not bad enough to win "worst hand" honors. Mark got two pair, but that wasn't enough to score one of the two plaques for the best hands.
At our last stop before the run concluded, we watched the sky as the Goodyear blimp flew overhead. (It was much closer than it appears in this phone picture.) We wondered if it was going to the Kentucky game, but that's not exactly the direction it was headed.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Day 366: Sept. 5, 2008
lanceplays
Originally uploaded by budandmary
Not much to say about the house today. It rained this morning, and everyone went home.
Bryan e-mailed me with a couple of plans for fixing the kitchen. Bud and I are discussing what we want to try.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Day 365: Sept. 4, 2008
Welcome to one year! It would be fitting to report some big breakthough or exciting accomplishment for the day, but as you can probably guess, I have none.
Gary and Jimmy continued to work on the deck. They placed the fixtures for the lighting in the posts. They also cut the holes in the driveway-side steps for the lights that will go there.
Bud suggested tonight that we install lights in the garage-side steps too, so we visited a couple of Lowe's store and managed to scrounge up enough fixtures.
The replacement top for the downstairs vanity arrived today. I tried to look it over carefully before the installers left. I didn't see anything, but Bud found a tiny scratch after they were gone. I think we can live with that.
Still haven't heard back from Bryan. I left him a voicemail this morning.
Gary and Jimmy continued to work on the deck. They placed the fixtures for the lighting in the posts. They also cut the holes in the driveway-side steps for the lights that will go there.
Bud suggested tonight that we install lights in the garage-side steps too, so we visited a couple of Lowe's store and managed to scrounge up enough fixtures.
The replacement top for the downstairs vanity arrived today. I tried to look it over carefully before the installers left. I didn't see anything, but Bud found a tiny scratch after they were gone. I think we can live with that.
Still haven't heard back from Bryan. I left him a voicemail this morning.
Day 364: Sept. 3, 2008
More work on the deck today. Bud and I went back to Lowe's to request an appointment for measuring the windows where we've decided to put plantation shutters.
We also went to the dentist. Woo hoo. It was my first day back to work -- so I was glad to stay just half the day, even though the reason I left was to get my teeth cleaned.
The replacement vanity top is scheduled to arrive Thursday morning. No word from Bryan yet on a cabinet solution.
We also went to the dentist. Woo hoo. It was my first day back to work -- so I was glad to stay just half the day, even though the reason I left was to get my teeth cleaned.
The replacement vanity top is scheduled to arrive Thursday morning. No word from Bryan yet on a cabinet solution.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Day 363: Sept. 2, 2008
Gary and Jimmy said they can't recess the refrigerator into the wall for lots of reasons -- from the structure of the house beyond the wall to the fact that plumbing and electrical are already inside it.
So after we talked to them this morning, I called Bryan, who's supposed to call back with his possible solution.
We took care of some other house errands this afternoon.
We picked up the storm door from Lowe's and delivered it the garage. While Bud prepared the deck lights for the guys, I went back to Lowe's to return one of the lights that didn't have its lens cover.
We also picked up the bottoms to the dining room chairs from the refinishing place and took them to be reupholstered. While we were near Lowe's again, we checked on interior shutters.
Then we went back to the house, did some rough measuring on the windows and decided it's beyond ridiculously expensive to put the shutters on all of them. So we're thinking we'll do a combination of shutters and Roman shades.
Last step: Back to Lowe's to turn in our 'Measurement Estimate Request Worksheet,' so that someone will come take measurements. We have to take a piece of trim too so we can choose a paint color.
I already ordered a couple of different sizes and colors of shades for us to try.
Oh, almost forgot the picture. The siding subcontractors started working on the columns today.
So after we talked to them this morning, I called Bryan, who's supposed to call back with his possible solution.
We took care of some other house errands this afternoon.
We picked up the storm door from Lowe's and delivered it the garage. While Bud prepared the deck lights for the guys, I went back to Lowe's to return one of the lights that didn't have its lens cover.
We also picked up the bottoms to the dining room chairs from the refinishing place and took them to be reupholstered. While we were near Lowe's again, we checked on interior shutters.
Then we went back to the house, did some rough measuring on the windows and decided it's beyond ridiculously expensive to put the shutters on all of them. So we're thinking we'll do a combination of shutters and Roman shades.
Last step: Back to Lowe's to turn in our 'Measurement Estimate Request Worksheet,' so that someone will come take measurements. We have to take a piece of trim too so we can choose a paint color.
I already ordered a couple of different sizes and colors of shades for us to try.
Oh, almost forgot the picture. The siding subcontractors started working on the columns today.
Day 362: Sept. 1, 2008
So, about the refrigerator. See the picture? That's as far as it goes into the cabinetry! Not cool.
The whole thing sticks out about 8 inches. Part of that is the doors, which obviously need room to open. But more than 4 1/2 inches of it is refrigerator body! It looks awful.
I can't stand to be in the house right now because it makes me so mad!
The whole thing sticks out about 8 inches. Part of that is the doors, which obviously need room to open. But more than 4 1/2 inches of it is refrigerator body! It looks awful.
I can't stand to be in the house right now because it makes me so mad!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Day 361: Aug. 31, 2008
Time to head home. The trip around Chicago on I-294 may have been the worst part. I thought it would never end!
After a late lunch somewhere mid-Indiana, Bud's idle cable broke!
We were nervous the rest of the way home, each planning what we'd do if the throttle cable gave way too. (It's happened to him before. He coasted to a stop, and that was all she wrote.)
Luckily, we made it into the driveway with no further problems. After we unpacked, we delivered the bikes back to the other garage and took a few quick pictures of what happened while we were away.
As you can see, most of the columns for the deck are built. Inside, plumbing is started and lots of doorstops have been installed. There may be more to tell, but we were too tired to notice lots details.
One detail wasn't so great: the fit of the refrigerator into the cabinets.
After a late lunch somewhere mid-Indiana, Bud's idle cable broke!
We were nervous the rest of the way home, each planning what we'd do if the throttle cable gave way too. (It's happened to him before. He coasted to a stop, and that was all she wrote.)
Luckily, we made it into the driveway with no further problems. After we unpacked, we delivered the bikes back to the other garage and took a few quick pictures of what happened while we were away.
As you can see, most of the columns for the deck are built. Inside, plumbing is started and lots of doorstops have been installed. There may be more to tell, but we were too tired to notice lots details.
One detail wasn't so great: the fit of the refrigerator into the cabinets.
Day 360: Aug. 30, 2008
Bruuuuuuuuce! We concluded our trip with a Bruce Springsteen concert on the lakefront in Milwaukee. That was one crowded place!
Unfortunately, my camera-phone photos left so much to the imagination that they weren't even worth posting. For a set list, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Earlier in the day, we toured the Jelly Belly plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisc. It was really just a trip around the warehouse (see the photo), so we think all of the actual candy-making must take place in California.
We also zipped over to the Chicago Harley shop for a couple of shirts before napping briefly to get set for the concert.
As we pulled out of the parking lot after the concert, the police officer directing traffic told Bud to turn on his headlight -- which was strange because it's supposed come on automatically when you start the bike.
Turned out that the low beam was out -- so Bud hit the high-beam button, probably to the annoyance of a few drivers, and we pulled onto I-94 once again.
We had decided to take a back road home, hopping off the interstate just before we reached the construction zone. That turned out to be a better plan than we could have dreamed because before we got back to the hotel, Bud's high-beam light stopped working too!
So for the final 15 or 20 miles, headlightless Bud followed me, trying to use my headlight to see and unable to avoid quite a few potholes in the darkness.
When we got back to the room in the wee hours of Sunday morning, we packed and showered so we could hit the road for home when we got up.
Unfortunately, my camera-phone photos left so much to the imagination that they weren't even worth posting. For a set list, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Earlier in the day, we toured the Jelly Belly plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisc. It was really just a trip around the warehouse (see the photo), so we think all of the actual candy-making must take place in California.
We also zipped over to the Chicago Harley shop for a couple of shirts before napping briefly to get set for the concert.
As we pulled out of the parking lot after the concert, the police officer directing traffic told Bud to turn on his headlight -- which was strange because it's supposed come on automatically when you start the bike.
Turned out that the low beam was out -- so Bud hit the high-beam button, probably to the annoyance of a few drivers, and we pulled onto I-94 once again.
We had decided to take a back road home, hopping off the interstate just before we reached the construction zone. That turned out to be a better plan than we could have dreamed because before we got back to the hotel, Bud's high-beam light stopped working too!
So for the final 15 or 20 miles, headlightless Bud followed me, trying to use my headlight to see and unable to avoid quite a few potholes in the darkness.
When we got back to the room in the wee hours of Sunday morning, we packed and showered so we could hit the road for home when we got up.
Day 359: Aug. 29, 2008
All business today. Lots of ABCs of Touring photos to get!
Traveling back and forth from our hotel to Milwaukee on I-94, we hadn't noticed a 'Welcome to Wisconsin' sign. Maybe that's because of all the construction.
Anyway, we decided to take a photo at a Harley dealership for our Wisconsin photo. So there I am at Racine Harley-Davidson.
We also visited the Buell motorcycle factory in East Troy, Wisc.; the Powertrain Operations plant in Wauwatosa, Wisc., which was particularly difficult to find, even though it was right there; the Harley headquarters on Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee; and the new Harley museum on Canal Street in Milwaukee.
We couldn't go into the museum because entry was by lottery draw during the 105th celebration. But we visited the store and had dinner at the restaurant.
We also stopped by main festival grounds on the lakefront before a dark, chilly ride back to the hotel.
Traveling back and forth from our hotel to Milwaukee on I-94, we hadn't noticed a 'Welcome to Wisconsin' sign. Maybe that's because of all the construction.
Anyway, we decided to take a photo at a Harley dealership for our Wisconsin photo. So there I am at Racine Harley-Davidson.
We also visited the Buell motorcycle factory in East Troy, Wisc.; the Powertrain Operations plant in Wauwatosa, Wisc., which was particularly difficult to find, even though it was right there; the Harley headquarters on Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee; and the new Harley museum on Canal Street in Milwaukee.
We couldn't go into the museum because entry was by lottery draw during the 105th celebration. But we visited the store and had dinner at the restaurant.
We also stopped by main festival grounds on the lakefront before a dark, chilly ride back to the hotel.
Day 358: Aug. 28, 2008
Thursday morning brought rain. But we were OK with that because we were ready for some rest.
After some great Chicago pizza for lunch, we set off for the 25th anniversary event for the Harley Owners Group. There, we took pictures (like this one of Bud) for ABCs of Touring, looked around a bit and bought a couple of shirts.
We didn't stay very long because there was more rain the forecast, and we knew the place would be a madhouse of scrambling motorcyclists as soon as the first raindrop fell.
Back in Kentucky, Brian and Janie welcomed Eliza Jane to the world.
After some great Chicago pizza for lunch, we set off for the 25th anniversary event for the Harley Owners Group. There, we took pictures (like this one of Bud) for ABCs of Touring, looked around a bit and bought a couple of shirts.
We didn't stay very long because there was more rain the forecast, and we knew the place would be a madhouse of scrambling motorcyclists as soon as the first raindrop fell.
Back in Kentucky, Brian and Janie welcomed Eliza Jane to the world.
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