HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY #3 – DAY 83

YAY! We had a productive weekend! We tried to go out for breakfast Saturday, but decided too late and the little diner that sounded so great on line turned out to be another ‘wait in line to order and pay‘ place.  We really want to find some real mom and pop places to go out and be served at, but they are becoming harder and harder to find for casual dining, especially for breakfast.

We ran errands Saturday morning and made it home before the skies opened up fortunately.  One of the errands was to buy the new range.  It went really well and will even be delivered sometime today!  I’m so excited – a sink and a range in the same week.  WOW I can cook again!

I had been unpacking and trying to pare down things, but it has become an unruly mess and I will be actually packing a few things back up for now.  We took 6 big totes for donation on Saturday and already have 3 more packed for this week.  I was serious about becoming a minimalist!

One of the things I’m having issues with is my “tools” still all in boxes.  So this week I’m going to empty gram’s old sewing room into the living room which I have spent the past 2 days cleaning out and get that room painted as it’s going to be the spare bedroom which we need done by the 29th.

Then I’m going to get my studio set up so I can get my tools and things organized. I seriously love having ‘deadlines’ to help me stay focused on what needs done next. They really work as great incentives.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We had a cool weekend especially when the wind was blowing and it rained off and on all day Saturday, but it is supposed to be beautiful the rest of the week.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • MONDAY – Empty Sewing Room and pack up a few things.
  • TUESDAY – Paint “sewing” room and turn it into the new spare bedroom.
  • WEDNESDAY – Paint studio and begin organizing.
  • THURSDAY – I bet I’ll still be organizing the studio LOL
  • FRIDAY – There used to be an atrium and gramps closed it in back in 1982 so it has been a part of the house for a very long time, but I just don’t know what else to call this room. Anyway, gramps also “paneled” over the Hardy Plank so it is VERY dated.  We’re removing the paneling (which is what I’ll be doing today) and going to paint the Hardy Plank.  Hubby is then going to get very creative with the molding around each arch where there used to be sliding glass doors many years ago.  Unfortunately gramps just paneled right over the dryrot.  There also used to be a faux beam across the room at a really low level with a ceiling fan, but we removed the faux beam and will be doing track lighting from the electrical outlet at the wall instead.
  • SATURDAY – Laundry, relax & football.
  • SUNDAY – Read, relax & Football.

CURRENTLY READING
I’m pretty tired at night so am not getting much reading done, but I’m STILL reading:

TELEVISION / DVR
Just a few of the normals as we have time.  We have been so tired that we don’t care too much about TV.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
None right now, but I hope that changes soon as I have quite a few ideas for the Old Fashioned Christmas homemade gifts that I’m really excited about.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
C.O.R.N.
Hot Wings & Celery sticks with Bleu Cheese
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

HOMEMAKING TIP
Want to get the rest of the wax out of a candle, but it’s in a stubborn place? Place the entire candle in the freezer for an hour and the wax will shrink and come right out after.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Being able to cook again!
  • Seeing the progress on the house.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

Gramps delivered special delivery mail for many years so this was an awesome find in the garage.  It was in the bottom of a tin can full of screws. I’m going to try and clean it up when I get time.
INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

DAY 80, but we didn’t fly around the world!

It’s amazing how things work.  I’ve always lived by the adage, “Man plans, God laughs, WE adjust” which is so very true for the situation we are now in.  As you know we have been rehabbing my grandparent’s house.  We came here on a Leap of Faith believing it was mainly sweat labor that was needed.  Unfortunately that was a pipe dream and for 80 days now we have literally been rebuilding from the inside out with more sweat than we knew we had and lots and lots of pennies .

The foundation work that needed to be done brought on plumbing repairs.  While the foundation contractors that my uncle hired were horrible, the plumbing contractors are far worse.  They have been working here for 27 days and are no where done.  They are at least done on the inside and the remaining work is on the outside closing the tunnels.  Unfortunately the foundation people then have to come back out and re-level a portion where the plumbers removed the piers. I swear they are complete idiots.  They stood there with the piers lying all about their feet and lied to our faces saying they didn’t remove them.  Fortunately for us I take lots of pictures and had the pictures to prove otherwise. ALL of this has slowed the inside progress.

The kitchen is by far the biggest project as the appliances were all trashed and the cabinets were literally falling off the hinges.  I’m still working on the stain to get them all even, but they are coming along nicely.  The new range will be here on Monday and the “working” side of the kitchen will be great!  Having a counter full of dirty dishes has been a long time coming but I now have running water, a sink and working dishwasher! I think I’ll miss doing the dishes in the bathtub said no woman ever!

The floors will be what we do last since we still need to do the”left” side of the kitchen.  The hot water heater has scorched the ceiling and the original piping for the discharge, washer and dryer are a mess.  So our next project along with the master bath is the laundry area.  I’m anxious to get the new floor down, but will wait until all that mess of removing drywall and such is over.

I’m hoping to get the back splash areas done this next week.  I’ve been mineral oiling my butcher block to restore it.  Eventually I will refinish the table top to match the cabinets, paint the legs and chairs  a distressed white and recover the chairs in a coordinating fabric.

The light for over the sink should be here tomorrow and we are still deciding on the vent hood for the range which will be here Monday.

It is just nice to be able to sit at the table to eat again! I had been just stuffing things behind doors as I unpacked.  Today I use the table to empty out several cabinets while I lined the shelves and started running load after load through the dishwasher to begin organizing cabinets.  I was in heaven.  Glasses, silverware, utensils and dishes.  What more could I ask for?

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

We had an eventful and productive weekend with having to adapt the kitchen sink base for all the plumbing reroute issues, but FINALLY we will have a working kitchen sink yet today and hubby even got the old dishwasher working.  LOL when we took out the dishwasher to begin the cabinets we found that whoever installed the dishwasher originally had it running off of the cold water so no wonder it didn’t clean the dishes.  We decided to reinstall it for now (to the hot water) and give it a chance.  I’m just so excited that I won’t have to wash dishes on my hands and knees in the bathtub that I won’t even mind doing them by hand! I admit it, I’m exhausted!!!!! It’s been 76 VERY LONG days of manual labor and emotional strain.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
This past weekend Old Man Winter came roaring into town Friday night with threat of tornado.  Fortunately all we had was torrential rain, MEGA wind and hail and a 25 degree temperature drop over night.  This week is cold and windy, but clear though there is supposed to be more storming later in the week.  I have learned not to take the weather report too seriously though – just stay prepared.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Monday – Idiot Plumbers will be back to begin finishing their tunneling under the house and repairs. Many phone calls including the foundation company to have them come check up on the plumbers as the plumbers have undermined work that the foundation people just did and are claiming otherwise despite my pictures proving differently. Stain the new 3 kitchen cabinets that we decided to add. Grout front entry floor. Lay master bath floor tile. Pick up cleaning and run a few errands.
  • Tuesday – Hang new cabinets. Grout master bath floor tile and start sanding shower for refinishing. Laundry. Tile floor under stove, refrigerator and dishwasher area.
  • Wednesday – Hopefully today is the day we get a stove! LOL Or at least get it ordered. Also buying the new toilet for the master bath and hopefully will have it set by end of day.
  • Thursday – Wash pantry containers and organize pantry and cabinets.  Doing this will get LOTS of things off the tables in the other rooms and make it easier to work.
  • Friday – Start refinishing shower and possibly do floor tile in spare bath depending on the idiot plumbers.
  • Saturday – Flea  Market, Farmer’s Market and Football playoffs
  • SundayCOOK! and Football playoffs

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
We still have no cable and are getting used to this central time zone with prime time starting at 7PM.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
WOOHOO I have actually started my homemade Christmas gifts for next year and believe I have come up with some pretty neat ideas that everyone will appreciate and really like.

HOUSE PROJECTS
LOL See my to do list!

KITCHEN WISHES

  • flooring
  • counter tops

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
??
??
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
??


DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
COCK-a-LEEKIE soup


C.O.R.N.


MALIBU CHICKEN & VEGGIES
Cream of Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese



DESSERT






RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
This is the first time in quite some time that I took some time off this past weekend and actually read a few magazines and cookbooks.  With the weather having turned so cold I was really interested in some stews and soups and I just happened to have a magazine of recipes I received at Christmas.

  • Cock-a-Leekie Soup
  • Chicken BLT Soup
  • Chicken Soup with Potato Dumplings
  • Brazilian Black Bean Soup
  • Goulash Soup
  • Ham & Vegetable Stew
  • Mexican Potato Soup
  • Stuffed Baked Potato Soup
  • Edamame Soup
  • Creamy Cabbage Soup 
  • Buttermilk Pecan Pancakes with Bourbon Molasses Butter
  • Filet of Beef with Horseradish sauce
I believe this quote speaks to my state of mind right now!
I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.  ~Martha Washington

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Seeing the progress in the kitchen.
  • Seeing less and less packing boxes in the living room!
  • Having less laundry to do.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

DAY 71, MY TOP FINALLY BLEW & WE’RE STILL MOVING 17 STEPS BACKWARD FOR EVERY 2 FORWARD

I have to be honest I’m exhausted and as much as I want to keep things updated here, I run out of steam each day before I get around to it.

It took 3 trips, but we finally got all the cabinets home. They don’t look like much now, but wait a few weeks and they will look fantastic.

It also took a couple days more, but they are almost all installed.

I got the tile laid in the entry hall. My mistake was asking hubby to change the light fixture before I did the grouting.  We’re now waiting on the electrician to deal with the rusted wires and shorted fixture before I do the grout.

We have at least made final decisions on the flooring and backsplash.

We are not sure where this guy came from, maybe came in on the cabinets?, but we also weren’t sure what he was so just gently escorted him outside.

The laundry area needs to be completely redone to contend with the walls that were opened to deal with the foundation and plumbing problems so we are going to take this opportunity to update and bring to code the water heater too.

We’re not sure what all the stains are from, but we’re just going to remove the ceiling and repipe to the vent while also updating to code the platform and pan for the water heater before putting up the new ceiling and walls.

On another note we are livid with the current situation surrounding the plumbing issues.  I do have to say I finally blew my top tonight regarding the picture below.  I have profusely apologized to the plumber who did the work (he was only doing what he was told to do) and WILL be taking up the issues with EDDY who is supposedly the one who is in charge.  Honestly I wouldn’t put this idiot in charge of walking my dog!  This has been a complete clusterf**k since day one.

21 days ago EDDY stood in our kitchen promising to have the sink up and running the next day.  The next day came and they called saying it would be the following day before they began due to scheduling conflicts, but it would be done by the following Tuesday (3 days before Christmas).  The day they began the one in “charge”, EDDY announced he’d be gone the following week, but his next in line would keep things running smoothly.  Tuesday comes and  I STILL HAVE NO SINK!  The new man in charge, Armando says he needs to go to his truck for a part to hook up the sink.  He gets in his truck and promptly leaves.  A few minutes later the other workers close up shop for the holiday and leave. WTH? I still have NO sink, have an open gaping hole under the house that is filling with rainwater and 2 tons of wet clay type mud 4 feet tall up against the garage (it was supposed to ALL be in a pile outside the fence but apparently they changed their minds with no consideration for us, our animals or ANY other worker we have scheduled).  The mud pile is blocking the electrical fuse box, the gas meter, and has left us sleeping under that horribly broken window as we could not install the new one which we had to find a temporary home for in the garage.

They also included in their quote having to remove a tree to do this work.  They did not remove the tree, but went in right next to it, leaving the roots cut and exposed ALL this time and now the tree is dying and we HAVE to remove it!

So EDDY comes back from his week away for Christmas and doesn’t understand why I’m upset.  He claims I wasn’t specific enough that I wanted a kitchen sink before Christmas and is now claiming that it wasn’t part of the deal.  He agrees to move the mud the next day so we can get the electrician and gas guy in to do the pipe for the range.  Needless to say it was 6 days later when the mud was finally moved which also left us with a mess on the back of the garage wall and it has ruined the paint.  They also pumped the water out of the hole through our fence instead out the gate and have left the fence stained.

Their inability to act like professionals has created a HUGE domino effect in our life.  We cannot completely unpack, we WILL be missing the sale on carpeting that we signed up for and since completing this project so we have a home is completely contingent on them finishing their job we WILL be filing a complaint with the better business bureau who they claim to have an A+ rating with.  They have cost us money and lots of precious time as well as ruining our holidays.

I was able to get the gas guy here yesterday finally, but can’t get the electrician to start until tomorrow, a full 21 days after he should have been able to get here.

As I sit here this morning writing this. it’s 9:45 and no one has shown up or called.  I guess this is just PAR for the course with this company who like I said I wouldn’t hire to walk my dog let alone work with EVER again!

On a happy note all the cabinets have had at least one coat of stain. It is an oil based stain so I too will be wearing the color for about 10 days. I’m hoping to get better pictures of these 2 views of the new farmhouse kitchen soon.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We are starting the week cool and clear which I love because I want to get the “Christmas” tree planted in the new planter today and set outside where it will do well.  We are supposed to temporarily warm up for a bit later in the week with thunderstorms, but they keep saying not to get used to it as mid month we will turn quite cold for the rest of the winter.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Monday – Remove cabinet and 2 walls in master bath to assess plumbing needs. Remove hot water heater wall in laundry area to asses parts to redo the platform and bring things up to code. If there is time I will put the second coat of stain on the insides of kitchen cabinets and then shower to run errands and go to grocery store.
  • Tuesday – Going to IKEA to pick up lazy susan and rug for dining room as well as have lunch, nightstand shopping and central market. Then off to home depot to pick up last parts for the kitchen sink plumbing, stain for cabinet outsides and the flooring tiles.
  • Wednesday – Installing last cabinets in kitchen and hooking up kitchen sink (hopefully) finally!
  • Thursday – Laundry and some more unpacking I hope.
  • Friday – moving water heater and starting the kitchen floor.
  • Saturday & Sunday – Football playoffs and a few

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Not much, but I do want to see a few of the returning and new shows beginning this week.
 
CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Making a list and compiling what I need to begin Christmas gifts for next year.  We’re planning a BIG Old Fashioned Christmas for 2016 and I want to get an early start to doing it right!

HOUSE PROJECTS
See below
 
KITCHEN WISHES
Hoping to have the range later this week.
 
MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
C.O.R.N.
MALIBU CHICKEN & VEGGIES
DESSERT






THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • The kitchen will be done soon!
  • The entry way is almost done!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
There are several this week as we progressed through the kitchen. Green board is mostly up, cabinets are level and attached to the walls and quite a few boxes have been unpacked.  For now I’m just stacking everything behind closed doors to get rid of the packing boxes (which we use for trash like taking out walls) and I will do a major clean and organization in a few weeks.  I have found a few broken pieces, but all and all everything has done well for having been packed nd stored for so many years.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

GOOD MORNING MONDAY

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! My cousin hosted this year since we are in such a disarray, but I promised I’ll do next year.  We had a WONDERFUL day with a terrific meal and TONS of laughter.  It’s great to be around family with lots of memories and stories.

I love Christmas and it was EXTREMELY difficult for me this year to not be able to put up a tree or decorate, but especially not be able to make all the goodies and applesauce for neighbors and friends.  I’m already looking forward to and planning for next year.  I even threatened to start in July in an effort to make up for this year.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
FINALLY it’s cold enough to call it winter which makes think, “Be careful what you wish for!

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • MONDAY – We’re getting up super early to get to Lowes and Home Depot before we have to be back  to let the plumbers in. The plumbers bailed last week and NEVER finished announcing they would be back today.  Needless to say they will be getting NO more work from us ever! They left me without running water anywhere near the kitchen and I’ve been doing the dishes in the bathtub! We’ll spend the remainder of the day green boarding the kitchen back splash area and installing kitchen cabinets.
  • TUESDAY – Painting and tiling the entry way.
  • WEDNESDAY – Peeling wall paper in the master and spare bath.
  • THURSDAY – unpacking kitchen items.  The idea is to get them unpacked and put behind close doors any way possible for now so we can get rid of the boxes and start on the living room.  The electrician can’t begin to figure out the dead plugs until he has more access to them.
  • FRIDAY – Taking the day off and watching the rose parade and whatever else we want to do.
  • SATURDAYHOPEFULLY working on restoring order to the backyard and maybe installing the bedroom window.
  • SUNDAY – FOOTBALL and relaxing!

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Whatever happens our way though we’re looking forward to getting cable in the next week or so.
 
CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Nothing new, but hoping that can change in the next few months. I’m really hoping to start next year’s Christmas cards and projects early.

HOUSE PROJECTS
Everything!

KITCHEN WISHES
A stove by mid month.
 
MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??

??

DINNER


C.O.R.N.


C.O.R.N.
DESSERT








THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • SAM the elf was a success!
  • I’m starting to see daily progress in the remodel though we are seriously sweat rich and penny poor at this point.  It was never supposed to be like this. 

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

The donations are piling up and since I took this picture you can no longer see this room. I’m so glad to be giving so much to the women’s shelter.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

With so much to do on this remodel I have been working 12-14-16 hour days and lost track of ALL time!I hope you are all ready for spending some quality time with your family and friends.  Don’t overdo so you can’t enjoy it.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We’ve warmed up considerably (which I HATE) and are supposed to be having scattered thunderstorms all week.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • MONDAY – Finish the Christmas shopping and grocery shopping. After that I’ll be shifting furniture and boxes to TRY and create a living room area. Hopefully the plumbers will be done with the repair to the collapsed drain line.  The foundation guys strike again!  Evidently they piled too much dirt on top of the sleeve where they struck the line with a tool and it collapsed the line backing it up into the drain line in the wall.  I also need to call the restoration guy to seal the shower and refinish it as well as float the walls in the master bath.
  • TUESDAY – I’ll be having lunch with an IRL friend that began as a blog friend.  I can’t wait to see her. Cleaning up after the plumbers and trying to make some sense of the mess in the office area hopefully..
  • WEDNESDAY – Hopefully I’ll be doing laundry ALL day and finishing the furniture and box shift.
  • THURSDAY – Finish wrecking out the dated 70’s paneling in the office area to finish exposing the dry rot so we can deal with it.
  • FRIDAYMERRY CHRISTMAS – dinner at my cousin Kevin’s house.
  • SATURDAY –  Try to clean up the yard – the plumbers have made a HUGE mess behind the house where they are tunneling under the house. We have to do this so we can install the window in the master bedroom and the sod the backyard.
  • SUNDAY –  Unpack what I can and begin to organize a bit.

CURRENTLY READING
I keep trying to read before bed, but am so exhausted at the end of the day that I doze off before I can even read a paragraph.

TELEVISION / DVR
Not much – not enough time!

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Hoping to find my Brother and SIL’s Christmas gift I’ve been working on and get it finished as fast as possible.  Unfortunately it WILL be late, but it will also be from the heart so I know they’ll understand.  This remodel and not yet having unpack has put a serious cramp in my style!

HOUSE PROJECTS
Finish wrecking out the dated 70’s paneling in the office area to finish exposing the dry rot so we can deal with it. Hubby still has a few pieces of molding to paint and install, but we did get the carpeting last Friday in the master bedroom

KITCHEN WISHES
Planning on starting the cabinets and flooring this next week.
 

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
Grilled Hamburgers with Cole Slaw
C.O.R.N.
Ham Steak with Mac & Cheese
Dinner at my cousin Kevin’s house
??


DESSERT








HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP
So I tried the glass of vinegar in the freshly painted room trick and guess what?  It works!! Within 10 minutes the walls were still wet, but there was NO paint smell!

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Being able to finally see past the mess from 55 days ago (that feels like years).
  • Sleeping in my own bed instead of a futon.
  • Spending time with friends and family.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

I actually have 2 this week.  We finished the bedroom, well at least 95% and began putting away the clothes.  The spread I ordered is too small but fits perfectly in the spare bedroom. Now remember we have been traveling for the better part of a decade and A LOT of things were in storage so we HAD a lot of clothing and much of it cold weather. So we had a ton of decisions to make on what to keep and what to get rid of.  EVERYTHING is now in the closet, a drawer or the donation pile. We did keep quite a bit of cold weather clothing, but with the new walk in closet just stored it in totes on the top shelves. It’s going to take a while to inventory all of this for donation!

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

TWO STEPS FORWARD AND TEN STEPS BACKWARD and RAUL LIED AGAIN!

We have REALLY been trying hard to move forward in spite of ALL the obstacles we have been jumping over the past 49 days.  We are so close to having at least a bedroom and feeling like it is somewhat livable and then WHAM! 10 steps backwards we go.  I did get the pantry (short of the floor) finished though. The overall theme (eventually) will be farmhouse chic. Hubby and I both love this shelf paper – eventually when the floor and door molding are in the cohesiveness of our ideas will show through. Imagine a Tuscan green old fashioned screen door on the pantry and it will be done LOL.

We received a call yesterday telling us that our carpet was in and they can install it Friday – SCORE.  All we have to do is finish painting the bedroom, no problem. Hubby finished framing the window yesterday and we only need to paint now.  What a difference a brighter color makes. I can’t wait until we can change that window!  Foundation people said we have to wait 3 months to allow settling so I finally put a sheet over it!

I also called the plumber yesterday to come fix the the leak caused by the foundation guys.  We now know why the foundation guys were in such a big hurry to get out of here.  Raul lied AGAIN! Raul told hubby the leak was in the wall above the foundation and asked if hubby would mind fixing it after he tore the wall off because they were late to their next job because of the rain delay day they had to take during our job.  We tore out the wall and found that the leak is in and under the foundation and should have been repaired at the same time they repaired the other leak they cause when the jack hammered into the washer drain.  Now they have closed the holes and in order for the plumber to fix it new tunneling from a different direction is required taking out a tree in the back yard so hubby and I spent an hour moving all the pavers and things that will be in the way of the digging.

The bottoms of the cabinets were rotted, but today we learned just how badly.  Good thing we’d already decided that they needed to be changed because we couldn’t get them clean enough to paint. The electricians were also scheduled to be here today to fix a splice area and some funny wiring.  Hubby and I intended to have the sink and the rest of the cabinetry out of the way, but ran into a stumbling block when the leaky 40 year old garbage disposal was hard wired in behind everything.  So everyone decided to get in on the job.  My question is how many men does it take to move a sink?

Garage disposal bottom

No wonder the garbage disposal was leaking. Don’t you just love the dumbing down of the wood industry that they have to paint construction grade 2×4’s flourescent pink?

Hubby also found good and bad news yesterday when he finished tearing out the bathroom drywall.    The good news is that the mold was only on the front of the wallboard and the vanity.  The bad news is that he had to rip out the wall board out of precaution to realize it wasn’t on the back.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Good morning my friends.  I’m getting an early start this week.  Seems like my 14 hour days are just not enough to get it all done!  I hope you had wonderful weekends.  We had wind and rain and I loved it! I had plenty to keep me busy, so it was wonderful to watch out the window.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We had tons of rain and wind over the weekend, but today is gorgeous! The rest of the week is supposed to be clear and nice also.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • MONDAY – Contact plumber about the leak caused by the foundation people, finish the Christmas shopping, grocery shopping, prep the boxes for mailing, finish hanging the clothes in the closet, 2nd coat of paint in the pantry, 1st coat of paint in bedroom and build framework for the kitchen sink so we can finish ripping out the lower kitchen cabinets.
  • TUESDAY – Electrician will be here to fix the problems in the kitchen and finish  – PROGRESS!, paper back walls of pantry, cut shelf paper for pantry shelves. Finish removing the vanity and sink in master bath to determine where the leak is coming from.
  • WEDNESDAY – If the plumber is done I want to tile the laundry room and refrigerator area as well as the pantry.
  • THURSDAY – PAINT!!!!! Make appetizer for the Holiday party at the clubhouse
  • FRIDAY – Carpet installation? 
  • SATURDAY – If carpet is done, finish the molding and move into OUR bedroom FINALLY.
  • SUNDAY –  FOOTBALL!!!

HOUSE PROJECTS

  • MASTER BEDROOM
  • PANTRY
  • LAUNDRY ROOM

KITCHEN WISHES

  • FLOOR 
  • LIGHTING
  • CABINETS
  • COUNTER TOPS 
  • BACK SPLASH
  • RANGE & HOOD
  • DISHWASHER

 MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
WAFFLES


PANCAKES & BACON
LUNCH
FRUIT &  CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
??


MEAT & CHEESE
?? ??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
C.O.R.N.
OUT


DESSERT




CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE


HOMEMAKING TIP
As you know we have been doing a ton of painting around here.  A tip that REALLY works is to place a glass of vinegar in the room you are painting and it absorbs the paint fumes!

I know you have all seen this, but I’m actually doing it!  Turn ALL your hangers backwards at the beginning of the year. At the end of the year, any hanger that is still backwards should be donated.  I already filled 2 bags just hanging the clothes that had been in storage.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • FINISHED PROJECTS!!!!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

After 47 days here I can FINALLY begin hanging clothes in the closet!

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

We didn’t get as much done today as we originally intended, but we did get some of the “bigger” thorn in our sides things done.

My uncle had a charity come to pick up the pain in the butt display case, freezer from the garage, 40 year old trash compactor, oven and microwave that could not be donated because the 2 questions thrift stores asked were 1) Do they work? 2) What condition are they in?  LOL In the end he ended up paying the guy to remove the items.

Hubby got the molding in the closet finished so I can hang the clothes tomorrow.  He also started the door molding.  I can’t wait for the finished room!

We had to have a tree too.  We don’t have room for much so we did a “Charlie Brown” tree that’s alive and can be planted after Christmas is over.

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

Every day seems to be over before I get my list accomplished!  Today’s to do list started with:

  • haul out as much trash as humanly possible
  • master bedroom closet molding
  • hang clothes
  • meet with electrician
  • paint entry
  • paint pantry
  • fix laundry leak from the foundation people
  • make stew
  • quit early

LOL hubby and I spent over an hour looking for the miter box to do the molding and never did find it so we moved onto the next project until we get to Lowes tomorrow.

We love the new electrician!  He was able to fix what the last electrician broke and then some.  Our biggest concern was an outlet in the office area that shorted out when I plugged in the shop vac a few weeks ago.  Hubby was going to change out the outlet, but the insulation started cracking off on ALL the wires so we decided it was time to call in an expert. He found that someone (probably my grandfather) had made an outlet where there wasn’t one before by using the outlet in the next room and a length of cut up extension cord. He’ll be back next week for the next go round fixing the kitchen issues!

The water had been seeping under the linoleum for the past couple weeks and making a HUGE mess!  This place was already a fixer and didn’t need any help at being a project!
LOVE how they ran the pipes from the hot water tank above AND below the gas line hook up for the dryer.
It’s NOT pretty, in fact it’s REALLY UGLY, but at least it is somewhat clean now.

When the foundation people were here they broke 3 things concerning the plumbing.  The first was the main into the house and we got that fixed.  The second was the drain line for the washing machine under the slab and they fixed that while they had the hole open.  The third was (according to them) and elbow for the washer drain in the wall.  Today we found were going to fix that leak except it is not what they said.  The leak is in a piece of pipe that goes through the slab.  So, once again we are deferring to the professionals (if they ever call us back).  Bad news is that we are not going to b able to laundry here for awhile!

BEFORE
AFTER

Getting the pantry clean and then painted has been a real issue with both of us.  It also seems to have taken forever! There’s only coat of paint so far and it will get 3, but it feels beautiful already!

 A couple weeks ago hubby and I started the entryway by removing the 2 layers of old cat pee soaked tiles as well as some carpeting and tack strips.  We’ve been treating the area and FINALLY the smell is gone and the area is sanitized. I started the first coat of paint and can’t wait until we can get the new front door.  We definitely need one with some light for this dark hallway.  We also bought a new light fixture with a higher voltage to add to the lighting issue here.

Remember when hubby found the garage issues?

Well we found a temporary fix with pressure treated 2×4’s and Liquid nails.

DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS

I woke up feeling a bit more optimistic, even a little excited about how well things have been going.

 I was able to get the first layer of grout down fairly easily on the master bedroom closet floor.  The carpet installer came and measured the bedroom and said we might even be able to have carpet by next week! I also got my desk chair put together – it’s been in the box for 5 years! I also got 5 loads of laundry done, folded and put away.  I was able to put together a “rag” tote for hubby in the garage and today was trash day so spent some time hauling things out for our awesome trash guys.  They would take it all anyway, but with the beer/soda incentive they do it with smiles on their faces.

We were able to narrow down the paint color choice – FINALLY! We started with BEHR “Bakery Box”, but hated it after it was on the walls – too institutional.  Good thing each rooms needs at least 2 coats and 3 in some areas LOL.  Next we chose SHERWIN WILLIAMS “Greek Villa” but found it too plain despite what we saw in the store so it has now become the “primer” for the master bedroom and kitchen.  We finally decided on OLYMPIC “Arctic Cotton”. It will not only match the gray tone carpet, but also the whitewashed birch tone tile for the farmhouse kitchen and bathrooms.

I helped hubby move a few heavy things in the garage and that’s where our day started taking a turn for the not so great.  You’ll notice behind hubby what appears to be daylight near the floor.

Well, it not only appears to be daylight, but IS daylight.  The siding is rotting away and in about 40% of the areas not even attached to the studs so we’re looking at some serious reinforcing and rebuild in these areas.

After helping hubby and feeling so good about so much trash being gone, I decided it was time to tackle the master bath vanity in preparation of getting the new vanity.  The water was turned off due to a leak in this bathroom quite some time ago.  What I was afraid of is what came to light – mold.  We will need to tear out every wall, find the leak, change out the plumbing and build from the ground up so to speak.

I have NO idea how long the water leaked before it was turned off.  I also have NO idea why or even where it leaked so this should be loads of fun!
DAMN I was really hoping NOT to find that BIG black spot!
As it always is with water it will take the path of least resistance.  In this case it was a crack in the floor under the linoleum.
Like water, mold will follow that same path.  In this case it also traveled up the back side of the wall paper so ALL these walls will be torn out and replaced after the leak is found and repaired.

So we decided we needed a quite “special” meal and since we still don’t have a kitchen we broke out the BBQ! We added a baked potato and salad and it was perfect!