Computer Room 95% Finished

My contractor finally found his way back to my house after his most recent hiatus from a hand injury. I'm happy to say ALL the work on his end of things is now complete. I now await the final bill. Am I freaking out a little bit? You bet I am!

The following pics are the state of my computer room as of right this very minute. My picture program, actually my entire computer is acting wonky, so I was unable to adjust the colour on the second pic. Sorry.






The only work left to do in this room is to paint the 4 doors. The door to the storage area, the entry door, garage and laundry room.

Things aren't perfect but they will do! I'm happy with how things have turned out. It would have been less stressful and more enjoyable if things had gone smoother. I was dilussional in the beginning thinking things with renovations would ever go smoothly. This being the first time I've ever paid another to fix things, and not just have my ex-husband doing things, I thought you got in, got out and were finished. Apparently not! Oh well, it's done now.

The only major remaining job is the entryway stairs coming down to the computer room. They need a few more coats of varathane and then the painting is to begin. You can see the stairs in the first picture. Cute Boy will be doing the majority of the painting and when that will happen I'm not sure since he is home sick in bed at the moment.

I will be back later with an update on our plans as to what we're doing as far as building a house. This promises to be interesting if nothing else .

Thanks for sticking with me while all this mess has unfolded.

Hugs!

The Basement Has a Floor

There are no words necessary for this one! YUCKY!!

You can obviously see the colour marks on the floor. The flooring we bought, there was faulty flooring planks, so Cute Boy just coloured them in. I've heard of colour filler stuff, but never used it before. It is really cool. It will have to dry for a few days then we can wash it off. It would normally be something that would drive me nuts, but the match is really very close, as much as it may not appear so from this vantage point.

As soon as Cute Boy installed the last piece of flooring plank, I called the contractor. Insert scream right here!!!!!!! He informs me that he fell last week and sprained his hand. He will do his best to get here today (not seen him yet), but soonest he will be there if not by today.

I was talking to a girl at work about this situation, actually she is aware of the entire saga. She had a phrase for this type of behaviour, but I can't remember it. It is when a contractor over extends himself/herself he will make stories such as this to the lower paying less profitable customer. I know Scott told me I don't have to pay until the house is finalized, his idea not mine, but I hate the thoughts that this might very well be the case. Who's to know really.

I'm trying not to keep a hardline date in my head for listing since I'm almost a full month past my original hopeful list date. Now that being said, I'm now hoping for the Tuesday after the Easter weekend. We'll see that happens!

Still Consumed With House

I can't even tell you how tired I am of all this house stuff. I'm hoping once this place is finally listed and sold I'll be able to see that it was all worth it. I know it is, but right now all I can think about is the desire to be finished and do something other than be obsessed with the condition and progress point of renovations.

Here is my most recent list of things still needing to be done:

Lily's Room
Repaint red above closet - done
Stain the transition -done

Spare Room
Paint all the trim

My Room
Fix spaces in the laminate flooring where the cuts didn't match up properly at the wall area. Hard to explain, but it will need wood coloured putty
Touch up the trim near the door

Hallway
Paint

Bathroom
Paint the ceiling - done

Rec Room
Paint window frames and door trim -done
Fix the drywall tape near the television

Kitchen
Paint trim
Paint ceiling

Basement
Prime garage door - done
Paint the new door
Figure out how to fix the back of the door where ex-husband punched it.

Landing
Paint kick plates -done
Stain both sets of stairs - done
Sand edging to the downstairs -done
Caulk the holes/spaces on the lower stairs -done
Sand around the door
Paint
Pull the nails from the old carpet - done
Paint crown molding

Total Jobs: 12

That is all I can think of right now. Being the perfectionist that I am, I'm sure this list will grow as I see different things that I think could be improved.

I still have many jobs that need to be done outside the house, particularly with the hot tub but I will deal with that once the weather warms up some.

I have to tell you, I've been working on this damn house now for 2 months non stop. I'm exhausted, overwhelmed and so many other emotions I don't even know how to name. I'm at the point most every minute of everyday that I want to cry. I have nothing more to give and I'm stressed to the point, that I look like a bag of shit. My skin is blah, my hands look like I've never washed or lotioned them ever. I just want to go to bed for ever and a day and forget all about this nightmare of my house. It looks beautiful at points, but I'm done! Now, one more thing for me to do, I'm off to go be a taxi cab, but yet again!

Sorry for being such a whiner. I really didn't know I felt this way until the fingers started flying over the keys.

Hugs,

Housing Update

I'm thinking this might be a blog heavy day! There is so much progress being made now. I can barely keep up with it all.

The red items are what is finished!

Lily's Room
Paint the header needs repair still nowhere near good enough
Hang the closet door
Hang the trim around the room, door and window
Hang the curtains - thinking of not hanging them since we have to leave them anyway.

Spare Room
Hang the closet door
Hang the trim around the room, door and window
Paint the door

Bathroom
Mud and sand one last coat in bathroom
Paint
Install the light fixture - being done right now
Install the mirror - being done right now
Caulk the floor/tub area - will be done by the end of the day
Paint the door

Dining Room
Install crown moulding


Kitchen
Paint the ceiling

Front Entrance way
Paint
Install the crown moulding
Repair and install trim around ledges
Coat the stair treads with clear varnish
Install the stair treads to the basement

Basement
Prime Paint
Prime the door to the garage and under the stair storage area
Build door to the under stair storage area
Hang the door over the electrical panel
Lay the floor
Hang the trim at the floor and around the doors

Garage
Clean it and organize it 3/4 of the way complete

I'm seeing a lot more red than not and I couldn't be happier. There are still some major jobs that need to be tackled but that is for Todd and the contractor. I'm really useless at this point in time. I'm a cleaner and a decorator, this I've learned. I'm happy with that except for these moments when I feel as though my ability to help has come to pass. Oh hell, who cares! It's getting done right?

I was really hoping this wouldn't happen, but it has. I'm really starting to love my house again. I'm working on not letting things affect me emotionally. I'm still working through not making the house the way I want it to be, but to keep it general and simple!

I'm off to do my bit with my broom and dust pan! Thanks for all the support. Hoping to have pictures up sometime tomorrow.

Life As I Know It

The MIA contractor has been found. I feel like such a heel I can't even tell you. I called last week and left a message with no reply. I'd had about enough and called again today and was going to leave a snippy message. He picked up and explained he'd been out of town because his mother was sick. I understand that, I really do, but is my expecting a call too much to ask? I don't do bitchy well, but I was about ready to lose it. All things said and done the work will continue and I'm hoping it won't take too much longer and I can list my house.

Scott came by today, totally unexpected and packed up the garage filled garbage and carted it off to the dump. WOOHOO! I can see the garage floor. I could get really ingenious and probably get my car parked in there. I've owned my new car now for over a year and it has never been over the garage threshold. Poor wee car.

Cute Boy, the lucky bum, listed his house today. I'm so beyond jealous! It is really happening and I couldn't be happier than I am in this very minute. Even surrounded with all the uncertainty with my own renovations and listing of my own house I'm just ecstatic with the path my life is taking right now! It's amazing how life can seem so bleak one day and so full of hope and promise the next. It's my life, I'm living it and I sometimes can believe my luck and good fortune. I still look at him some days and ask myself, 'Wow, this is really you and him'. Who'd a thunk it? Definitely not me. Life has a funny way of working out sometimes!

Things, as usual, have been crazy busy. I've still not been to the gym. That will change as of tomorrow morning. I got a new work out journal tonight, so I want to christen it with Krista! I've given her my word and I've broken it so much as of late so I must hold true to this one! 5am and the alarm will be ringing. I must answer the call. I will probably die at the gym, but I must be there.

That being said, I'm not going to work overly hard. I've been having issues with some sort of funky sensation in my chest lately. I get this sensation in my torso, that feels like I'm touching a 9volt battery. Very strange and unsettling. I have a doctor's appointment on Friday and I'm a little concerned and a lot curious. It happens at various times and with no frequency or common contributing factor that I can see. It opens up a whole lot of emotional issues with my mother dying at such a young age (that would be another post entirely). I'm trying not to stress about it which I know will help nothing, but it is in the back of my mind constantly causing me to wonder.

I went to visit my in-laws last night. I haven't seen them in so long that it borders abuse. I have to tell you. I love these two people like no other. They are so good to me. They are sooo happy for Cute Boy, and I, so supportive of my life, my parenting, my decisions. It means more to me than they could ever realize. Simple words can't do justice to my affection for them. It took the end of my marriage and that toxic environment to realize what gems these two people really are!

Mike (my FIL) has such a love for his grand kids it's out of this world. Brenda (my MIL) does too, but when you see Mike's face beaming with pride just looking at Lily, it's enough to bring a tear to your eye. Okay, so maybe it did bring tears to my eyes. Lily was saying tonight how incredible it is to know you're loved so much by another person. It's really very special.

I've been busy tonight too. I went to Kurt and Krista's to check out their new place. In a word - sweet! They did good. I popped in at dinner time (bad girl) and they had me stay. Krista the wonderful host she is cooked up scrumptious pork chops and funky mashed potatoes... they were really good! I felt like I ate and ran, but they have things to do and I would have just been in the way. Not to mention I should be doing stuff at my own house right now.... not blogging. Oh well, what to do. Cute Boy and I are going to look at our schedules so we can try and get over and visit together. As always, it promises to be fun!

Not much going on on the stitching front. I have a little pattern I have to whip up in short order. It is for a very special woman going through a hellish time. I'll post all about it when I finish my piece. I tip my hat to the organizers of this wonderful gesture of friendship and support. I'm honoured to be a part of your lives! Thank you.

I'm off to do what needs to be done on many fronts.

As always, happy stitching days to you!

180 Hours and Nothing!

This post should be filled with a vision of beauty, Love at 180 hours. I could post it, but what would be the use. What you would see is the efforts of my frog trying to one up me. He wins this round! :) That damn amphibian. Trying to keep things positive I could thank the frog since he has enabled me to spend more time with Love than I would otherwise have done. That's it - thank you. I shall kill him with kindness since nothing else is working!

I'm still plugging away on Love and as much as I've had problems with it, I'm loving it. No pun intended. This piece still holds the allure that drew me in in the first place. That is really something.

I'll be back sooner rather than later with an update and a lovely pic to share.

Renovations are still dragging on. I've still not heard from the contractor. Today marks 2 weeks. I called and left him a message and still have heard nothing. Todd is heading over to my place this morning/afternoon to prime my basement, so that is something! I have to be happy with anything getting done at this point. Soon very very soon!

Happy stitching days to you!

Listing Day Is Passing Me By

Today was the day I was hoping to list my house, but things have not worked out quite the way I had planned. Life's like that sometimes.

I will list the things that still need to be done:

Princess' Room

• Paint the header
• Hang the closet door
• Hang the trim around the room, door and window
• Hang the curtains

Spare Room

• Hang the closet door
• Hang the trim around the room, door and window
• Paint the door

Bathroom

• Mud and sand one last coat in bathroom
• Paint
• Install the light fixture
• Install the mirror
• Caulk the floor/tub area
• Paint the door

Dining Room

• Install crown moulding

Kitchen

• Paint the ceiling

Front Entranceway

• Paint
• Install the crown moulding
• Repair and install trim around ledges
• Coat the stair treads with clear varnish
• Install the stair treads to the basement

Basement

• Prime
• Paint
• Prime the door to the garage and under the stair storage area
• Build door to the under stair storage area
• Hang the door over the electrical panel
• Lay the floor
• Hang the trim at the floor and around the doors

Garage

• Clean it and organize it

There is a lot that still needs to be done, but all in all things are coming together as much as this list seems incredibly long. I'm trying to return to my positive outlook because I feel as though lately I've become a Negative Nelly and I don't like it.

I will come back here as things are finished and update my list.

I thank all of you for your support while I fumble my way through this life changing event. It means more to me than you can imagine.

Wicked Weekend

I think I need 3 day weekends more often. They would rock, but the money or lack thereof would bite.

I had an extensive list of things I needed/wanted to get done this weekend and as much as I didn't take care of everything on the list, I did lots plus things that I didn't expect to accomplish. So there! Take that house! I win this round!!

The list is long and I will list it, not that I expect anyone to read it all.

• Primed bathroom door and Lily's bedroom door
• Primed the door to the laundry room
• Painted the picture frame I want to hang in the bathroom
• Vacuumed computer room of drywall dust. Not once, but twice!
• Sanded both closet headers
• Primed both closet headers
• Bin painted (stain covering paint) the trim
• Cleaned the spare room. You can actually move in there now
• Cleaned the kitchen area from being a dumping ground. Made Lily smile, so was worth effort
• Washed the living room floor
• Did all the laundry
• Shovelled the driveway some - hate this job!
• Put out the garbage
• Painted the attic door
• Cleaned some of the garage. Looks worse than ever!
• Touched up paint on Lily's ceiling
• Cut and installed new transition piece for Lily's bedroom floor
• Painted the kitchen and put it back together again. Stuff on the walls! WOOHOO Lily helped with the painting. Actually, she didn't most of it. That kid rocks!

For fun this weekend I watched Nascar on Sunday, after doing open houses with Lily. Nothing much to report on that front. Not much to report on the Nascar front either. The Hendricks Team did not have a great showing on Sunday, minus Dale Jr.! That was cool. Poor Jimmie.

I stitched this weekend which wasn't a success either. It was more frogging than not. I had to pull out another full section. I hadn't thought about any further mistakes from my mistake from my frogging a couple weekends ago, but I should have. I had a line placed wrong that I discovered about a month ago and just last night I realized I counted the 2 following lines in the verse from an incorrect spot. It was heart wrenching to frog, but it wasn't something I could fudge nor something I would want to fudge with this particular piece. It means too much to me to be making it up as I go, especially this far in.

My most recent setback will hinder my goal of finishing this piece in February. I have to remember stitching is about the journey and it is not a race. I still very much love this piece and look forward to being able to pick it up again. I made sure to complete all frogging so I could pick it up again knowing all was good with it and it was forward progress rather than the backwards slide I've been experiencing as of late. Maybe I should put my stitching away until things are settled in my personal life because I've never had so many frogging episodes ever!

I do have pics to show of my kitchen but my picture program is being a crap head as we speak, so they will have to wait for another day.

Okay, I couldn't give up so easily. I don't all the pics, but here are a few that will at least give an idea of the difference.

This was taken waaaaay back when...

These were taken earlier this evening. Big difference!

Until next time, happy stitching days to you!

Snow Everywhere

Even the inside of my house is covered with snow. If it's not enough that I have snowbanks taller than me, outside at the end of my driveway, I'm surrounded by white crap in the house too.

This would be my basement yesterday after Cute Boy had finished the sanding. Is there a more annoying substance to clean than that of drywall dust? This fine particle dust is in everything I own. It has been tracked upstairs compliments of the dog, on wet fur. Oh what a lovely mess that created. I washed the front room floor which will in the end, be fruitless.

I feel so very negative about these house renovations and it is very upsetting. I feel as though I'm always ragging on someone about something and I hate it! The frustrating thing, as much as Scott has said I can pay him when the house sells, I think he's become complacent with getting things finished. I don't think I'll hire him as a contractor again, as matter of fact, I know I wont. When he did work for me before it was through another company that contracts Scott out, but this time it was me contacting Scott directly. I've not seen him since last Saturday. I've talked with him numerous times about my expectations, the hopeful listing date, everything. I've explained to him, my agent's views on the importance of timing in the housing market and I don't think he's getting it. As a matter of fact, I know he's not getting it. My agent said mid-February, I'know I'm very anal, but mid February was Thursday or Friday, depending how you look at it. Military postings are going out soon and my agent wants to hit that market. I've no time for an MIA contractor.

There is progress being made though, so as much as I'm hating the mess I have to live with it - for now. Cute Boy came over this morning again to do a coat of mud on some spots he couldn't do yesterday because I ran out of compound. I'm extremely greatful since he is doing this work for me after a midnight shift, before he heads to bed. Cute Boy will be back in the morning to do another sanding. Oh joy, more drywall dust. He is hoping to only have to do two coats, then its on to the primer, paint, flooring and trim.

Princess and I are heading out to open houses today which I'm looking forward to doing with her. Just being able to hang out with her is always fun and to do so while looking at houses, all the better.

I will be coming home after the looking and plunking myself in front of the television with my stitching and watching the boys of Nascar tearing it up. Go Jimmie Go!

Off to get showered and get rid of the layer of drywall dust covering me. If only cleaning the house were as easy as a shower is for me!

Until next time, happy stitching days to you!

House Updates and Stitching Chatter

My contractor made it back to my house on Saturday. He is now feeling better so is hoping to make some progress. He's been held up some from being sick and in trying to find a contractor to do the drywalling. He couldn't find anyone, so as it sits now he's going to try and do the taping and mudding himself. He says he's slow and not the best at it, but right now I don't care!

I had a drywall contractor come in and look at my house last week. Can you say total waste of time?! I wanted to throw him out of my home in less than five minutes. He wanted to tear out all the work that had been done, inspect the electrical and all this garbage about this that and the next thing. GRRRR

Back to my contractor, Scott. I have some issues with the drywall tape letting go in the front of my house, so the repair will be somewhat extensive. To combat the trouble, we, as though I have anything to do with it, I'm just paying for it. He is going to install crown moulding around the front of my entryway. It will also have to be installed in my dining room as well since I now have drywall compound on the stucco and there is nothing to repair the stucco. The dining room alone will be an additional $40-50 to repair. Oh what's another $50, added to a bill of a couple thousand!?

Todd and I spent another 2+ hours looking at houses yesterday. We looked at 4 pre-owned and 4 or 5 model homes. There are certain things about both pre-owned and model homes we liked, it's just deciding what to do. How is it with more information, I'm more confused now than when we began yesterday? It's a little bit funny, but not!

We looked at a resale home in my neighbourhood, that the more I think about it, I love it. There are so many upgrades and things we wouldn't have to do to bring it to the level we would like it to be. I think it would fit in really well with the '5 year plan'. When I see Todd tonight we'll have to talk about it and see where his head is. His youngest daughter asked us, after we'd seen all the houses, if we had to choose one right now, which would it be and we both answered this house. That is a good sign! :)

On a stitching front, if one even exists, there is a SAT this week on the Cross Stitch Crazy board. I have the best of intentions to contribute, but I'm not sure how much since this week's work schedule is not conducive to good stitching time. If I'm able to find the time, I'll definitely be adding to my Love piece.

Pumpkin - Sorry to hear about the flooring bubble. One good thing is you noticed it before too much time had passed and it was near the end of the job. The one good thing about the new laminate is that it is click and not glue. The original laminate in my home is the glue! GRRRR If only we'd waited another year or so before installing the laminate we'd have click lock throughout and not the glue.

Happy stitching days to you

House Hunting Bee

I don't really have much to say today, but I have this urge to blog.

Things are still the same old crazy in my world. Renovations are a standstill. Not from anything on my end. I've seen hide nor hare of Scott since last Wednesday. When we last spoke he was going to stop by a guy's place and talk with him about doing the work at my house. I've not heard from Scott since, so I'm somewhat in the dark about what is being done and when.

Cute Boy and I went to Home Depot on Saturday to buy what we need to finish up both our houses. It was a dream shop for me! I love Home Depot. We came away with everything I need minus the stair nosing. I'll not even get in the fiasco of that job. It was a job started by my ex-husband and it is going to take some magic with a saw or some ingenius product to make a smooth transition from the stairtop to the flooring. GRRRR

I ended up purchasing all the flooring and underlay for the computer room, the stair treads, the transition for the flooring, the electrical outlet covers (I needed 2 and spent 15.70 for a bag of 6 - ouch), transition for the bathroom and the vent cover for the bathroom. The flooring and stair treads came to total of $350.00 and the rest of my stuff was $120.00, so my total bill was $470. I expected it to be around that much so I wasn't all that surprised. Cute Boy's bill was just over $200, so we walked out to there finalized at about $700. I'm rather impressed! This money will go a long way towards sprucing up both our houses. There was a special that anything over 299, was don't pay for a year. YEEHAAWWW. Even if I don't use the money from the sale of the house, the payements for my purchases are about 21.00 every 2 weeks paid off in 1 year! Good deal, I think.

I'm really not liking this downtime I have with seeming as though I can't get things accomplished in the house and that I'm always waiting on someone or something. I want to paint the new doors, but don't want to risk them being dinged when the closets are being installed. I came up with the idea that I could at least prime them and save myself the time in having to do that after the installation of the closet doors and the basement drywalling. I will also paint the trim ahead of time and then just touch it up after it's been installed. I'm so smart I scare myself sometimes. Not really, I'm just a wee bit sarcastic. No really, I am.

Cute Boy and I went to look at Open Houses yesterday! OMG is probably the best word to fit the experience. We looked at 4 houses. House #1 - NO! House #2 - Potential spacewise, but just too dated and needs too much work. Beautiful updated kitchen was pretty much all this house had going for it. House #3 - Best one of the lot and would have put an offer on this one if it wasn't coming off the market today - long story. It was a 5 bedroom (would have given me a craft room. - awwww Cute Boy you're way too sweet on that one) House #4 - Holy wow! Can you say small and cut up?!

We talked to our Real Estate agent today about getting packages to build houses. We'll see where that goes. There are so many options now that we have this crazy ball rolling. I know the latest I want to be putting my house on the market is Thursday February 21st. I'll see if I'm able to hit that target. If it were me alone, I'd have no problem, but I'm just not handy with a saw, but especially, I drywall mud like a dork, so maybe me on my own I'd not really hit that date. How about it I were in control of things I'd have things done on time.

I'll keep you posted on whatever progress I make or such as this post, lack thereof progress.

Witty me, signing off!

Life is a Whirlwind

I don't know how my life can get so out of control sometimes. I know I have lots going on at times and then there are times I'm in such a lull that nothing happening.

I've bounced back from the loss of 'our' house. I had been secretly hoping the financing and stuff would fall through for the other couple. I don't like being selfish, but I was really seriously hoping something would go awry for the perspective buyers. No such luck! We found out today, it is a firm done deal. Well, congratulations to them! :) In all seriousness, it is a stunningly beautiful home, I do hope the buyers find a lifetime of happiness there. The setting is certainly perfect for it.

I've been a bit remiss in keeping my blog updated in regards to my house renovations. My bathroom is not 100% complete yet, but I can understand the reasons for it. I have a tub, shower, sink, linen tower and vanity. I got the new door installed today and the knobs put on the vanity and linen tower. All that remains is the drywall work, the painting of the walls, the door and the trim work. My contractor is trying to find a drywaller that will come in and drywall the bathroom areas that need repair as well as my basement and the headers. It is a small job and drywallers don't want to come out for anything less than a whole house. Small job; coulda fooled me. I thought the job was huge. Shows ya what I know!

I've made a decision about the flooring for my computer room. I went to End of the Roll today to get an estimate - NO THANK YOU! The computer room dimensions aren't huge. They are 6 stairs, a section 3'x4' and then the main computer room 8.5' x 36'. To buy carpet it would have been just shy $600 + $220ish to install it.... somewhere around $800. Holy, I think not. Todd and I went over to Home Depot, which I love by the way, and laminate flooring would cost me $200+ and then I'll do oak stair treads and still come in way under $800. The laminate flooring isn't the best quality, but it's better than the alternative. The best part of this new deal is that Home Depot has no interest, no payments for 1 full year and Todd is going to put the flooring on his credit card and then I'll have a full year to pay it off. I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief. I was very apprehensive about the estimate for this room and I now know why. It is insanely expensive to do carpet and had a gut feeling it would be. Trust the instincts!

Todd and I have been doing some talking about our options now... buy a pre-owned home or build. We are thinking of staying in the city, or outer city limits for now. It would be prudent to do this for the next 5 years and then decide if we want to sell and look to the country for living. Doing this 5 year plan would enable Lily to grow up some more, gain some more independence and make the overall transition for her a lot easier.

The thing Todd and I are pondering is, buy a pre-owned home and sell in 5 years, or build and stay longer... build what we want and make a commitment to stay in it longer than we would if it were a pre-owned. So many decisions and major ones to consider. We went to a friend of Todd's today that just built a home in June. OMG what a home. 1400 sq feet and it seemed as though it were 1800, just from the way they've designed the layout. They used every available sq foot to the maximum. I left their house more confused than when I went in. I love it though. The house is gorgeous, the decorating is amazing and the idea of doing what we want is really tempting. A lot of work and a lot of pressure, but oh so tempting.

I think today has resulted in more questions than answers. Oh, to know what to do. Am I supposed to be having fun yet? I've barely slept in almost a month. I go to bed at night and sleep awesome for about 2-4 hours and then the rest of the night I'm up tossing and turning with my head running in circles. I'm driving myself insane. I've not been to the gym in over 2 weeks. I'm frustrated in that respect, but when I'm laying awake at 3am, the thought of getting out of bed for 5am is more than I can bear. I really wish I could slow myself down and not be such a raving lunatic!

On that note I'm off to do a bit of stitching before bed. I miss the quiet and grounding I get from my stitching. Long winded post tonight, sorry about that!

Happy stitching days to you!

Bathroom Renovations Day 3

A couple shots at the end of day 3.
This would be the shower walls pre-caulking. I'm able to have a bath now, but not a shower.

Here is the new sink and faucet.

I don't think Scott had a successful day today. Poor guy.

I had a bath last night with the protective plastic still on the tub. I thought it would be weird and I would feel it but I couldn't. I had to wash my hair in the tub. OMG what a moment that was.... I'm deathly afraid of hair and wet hair.... OMG I'd rather you just shoot me.

I was lounging in my great big soaker tub when I can hear a noise like gushing water. Now, let me rephrase that, not LIKE gushing water, but actually gushing water, waterfall like. My new tub was leaking into the laundry room. I quickly jump out of the tub, drain it and while it's draining run downstairs to investigate. Lo and behold there is water free falling from the ceiling. Out comes the shop vac, away goes the lake now resting in my laundry room. Scott forgot to tighten the drain. No biggie. It's fixed now.

I get up for work this morning knowing I still have no light fixture nor a mirror to get ready by. I'm sitting in the hallway in my pajamas and housecoat with a tea, straightening my hair by using the old mirror leaned up against the wall. What a sight. Thank goodness Lily didn't have to get ready to go anywhere like this. She was the smart one and booked it to her sister's last night.

I get home from work today to see the panelling up around the shower. The vanity and linen tower secured, as well as the sink installed. Scott had to make a couple trips to Home Depot today to get some extra tubs of glue and caulking because I didn't buy enough. Uh oh. When Scott's showing me the faucet for the sink, it starts to leak. When he was at Home Depot he bought additional piping and re piped the entire sink only to find it wasn't his plumbing skills causing the issues, but the faucet set is faulty. What major waste of him on his part and in turn mine too.

I just got finished telling Todd, I don't think I would ever make it as your typical rich upper class citizen. I don't like paying people to do things for me. Not the paying part so much, although that is going to hurt big time. I have no idea what this is going to cost me and I'm a little bit, okay, a lot nervous. The fact that I've hired someone to do a job for me is extremely strange and not something I'm used to at all.

I'll be back with further updates as the saga develops.

Vicki ~ too funny how two people can see the exact same thing and come away feeling completely opposite in their views. I've paid for renovations before, my ex-husband always did things so I figured a professional would be so much faster. I will say, in his defence because I feel as though I'm slamming him, he is good and very much a perfectionist.

End of Day 2 of Bathroom Renovations

This would be a partial shot of the linen tower and the vanity.

A shot of the toilet and tub. The tub and toilet are white as much as they look beige against the very white of the vanity.

Another shot of vanity and linen tower from a different angle.

My shower still doesn't have walls, but I need to bath. I haven't bathed or showered all day today and I feel like a grunge monkey, to say the least. I'm going to have to bath in my new tub with the plastic protective cover still on it. Scott asked me to keep it on so that when he's installing the barker tile tomorrow the tub is still somewhat protected. Oh, how I'm looking forward to this bath. NOT!!

I have to work tomorrow so Scott is going to have to come her while I'm gone to work. Had I realized he wouldn't be finished today, I would have had Princess stay home this evening. I'm not concerned with Scott being around when I'm not here, but it will definitely upset the poor dog. Poor baby girl.

Here's to hoping that tomorrow sees the end of the bathroom renovations. I know this bathroom has been a big job, but I wonder is he slow or am I impatient. I know he's a perfectionist which I appreciate, but this has been a process to say the least. Maybe it just seems like a long time since I've barely left the house in 2 full days and I'm exhausted.

Bathroom Reno Progress

This would be the oh-so-lovely bathroom I've used now for way too long. It has been over 2.5 years since I've owned everything needed to renovate my bathroom. Today is a very big day in my house. We are in the process of getting a new bathroom! I couldn't be happier. I won't even begin to tell you how psyched Lily is about this upgrade! Do you know how hard it is to feel clean after showering in a bathroom this dilapidated? It is downright disgusting!!


Isn't that just a lovely sight?? Yucky!!!!

This, as you can see, is under the vanity. There have been no doors on there for about 1.5 years. The threading on the piping has been leaking for quite some time, hence the black mold... what a special treat. What you don't see under there is that all our princess products were being stored in laundry baskets on either side of the pipe. I'm not going to miss that!

Another lovely shot. Just oozing with sarcasm, I am.

We're making progress. I have to keep in mind you must make a mess to make progress. I don't do mess well.

This would be the flooring under the vanity. The water stain you see there is the water from the leaky drain piping. Not good at all. The plywood will be replaced to help secure the floor and to give a smoother surface to adhere the new floor.

This would be the finish point of Day #1. You may notice the toilet seat doesn't fit properly. I need to get another one! I finally have a toilet again after not having one pretty much all day. Never take for granted indoor plumbing. Velda, you have no idea how much I appreciate the loan of your loo a couple times today. Thank goodness you live close. You're a trooper!

It was an interesting day. Scott was here from about 9:30a, started working about 10:30 and left somewhere around 9pm tonight. He took about an hour for his lunch and dinner and maybe another hour to run to Home Depot for supplies.

I sat in the rec starting around 7p and stitched the night away while a little corner of my world was being transformed. There is something sweet about that. I was finally able to have a tea after Scott left, secure in the knowledge I could relieve myself if the need should arise. There is something sweet in that too.

I'll be back tomorrow with further updates.

Holy Dinah House

My real estate friend just left. I'm overwhelmed and very much in a good way overwhelmed. He said my house isn't near as bad as I thought it was, but he can understand my thinking so, especially with my perfectionist tendencies. That is only a little bit funny.

I will do my best to summarize the visit and the things I need to do.

• Caulk the trim to the wall. There are spaces, and caulking it and painting it will present a more finished look.
• Get the transitions for the rooms, which I already have, get them sanded and varnished to a nice glossy shine
• Replace the doors if I really want to - I really want to. Velda????? LOL
• Paint the kitchen - being done this evening
• Trim out Lily's room and the spare room.... having that looked at this evening
• Buy carpet to go down the stairs towards the computer room and get an estimate to see what it will cost to have carpet laid to the rec room
• Prime and paint the computer room and the doors in the computer room going to the laundry room and the garage.
• Get bi-fold doors for under the stairs.
• Install quarter round for the kitchen area to give it a good finished look.

I think that's it for now

Scott (renovation guy) is coming on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week to start my bathroom. I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to this renovation. Scott is also going to do the headers in the two bedrooms and install the new closet doors. There will be before and after pics - happy V?

Andy (real estate friend) wants me to have Scott look at doing some of the other things around the house and when he's here on Tuesday to start the bathroom, I'll present him with a list of the things Andy says needs to be done. Scott is a perfectionist as well, but Andy said to just get it done, do it with quality in mind, but pretty is the key.

I'm soooo excited and not even a little bit overwhelmed right now. I know I said I was overwhelmed when I started the post. I'm not stressed. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but for the first time in a long time, I feel I have some direction about where I'm going and how I'm going to get there!

Andy and I were talking about various things, of course, and he says to try and shoot for getting this work done by mid-February and get my house on the market around that time and I should have no problem selling it and getting good money for it! OMG is this really happening?

The Wonders of Sleep - Long Winded Life Chatter

Does life's outlook ever change when you get a good night's sleep. I'm up and ready to face the world today with a full 8 hours sleep, minus 15 minutes. Minus 15 minutes, you ask? Settle in I'll tell you a little funny about this handsome man! I'm sleeping like a dream, I can't remember what time it was exactly, but I'm sleeping away and little man decides he wants to say hello. You see, I usually lock Tip (that's his name) up in the basement at night, because he is a cat that will meow 24/7 regardless of his food dish level, water, cuddles, whatever. He also has a wake up time from his previous owners of about 5am... no thank you! So, a little history there about handsome man. Last night I'm getting ready for bed and Tip is in my bed snuggled in to the chenille throw I have haphazardly laying on my bed - ya right it's staged. Tip's all cuddled in, one of his favorite spots to sleep and I didn't have the heart, probably the energy, to move him. I made sure I slept with the bedroom door open so he could access his box and off to bed I went. He doesn't really move too much in the night, so I was confident he wouldn't wake me. Who was I kidding, he wouldn't wake me? As I said I'm sleeping away only be woken by this strange feeling on my eyes. At whatever time Tip decided he wanted to start the day, he came up stood in front of my face and oh so gently rubbed his darling soft paws over my eyelids. I turned over to hide my face on one side and about 15 minutes later found my face on the other side of the bed and did it again. I felt like I was in some sort of strange horror movie where the slasher character has an obsession with eyes or something. If I wasn't laughing and truly wanting to do bodily harm to Mr. Kitty I would have been major creeped out. He does this paw touching thing every time I'm at the computer, actually he's doing it right now as I type this, but I'm telling you, it is some kind of different in the dark dead of night and on my eyes!

Lesson learned - A male of any species in your bed at night is going to lose you some sleep and depending on the specific male, might just scar you for life and creep you out in the process!

Now, on to more day to day of my life. Alyssa was over last night... my goodness what a child. I don't even know where to begin with her anymore. Her and Mike are moving out of their own place and back to his mother's.... funny how she didn't ask to move home. Too many rules from good old mom. I don't even know what to do. I just keep listening even though the message and words are not what I want to hear. She thinks in her infinite wisdom of 17 she's got it all figured out. She still reaps the benefits of my life and doesn't follow a single rule. I sometimes want to cut the string and draw the hard line, 'you want to not follow the rules and venture out on your own, then stop coming to me for most everything'. She just doesn't seem to get it. Have I failed her as a parent? I think so. She has these ideas of grandeur and dreams (dreams are good), but doesn't see the challenges she's put in front of her that she may never be able to overcome. Children, and yes she's a child, should be living at home, going to school, working part time jobs to save money, buy clothing, go to movies (I know times have changed). Girls of 16 shouldn't be wanting to have sleepovers with boyfriends, and hang out all hours of the night and then when things don't work out, hit the highway! It just breaks my heart. This situation between had outside manipulative forces, I know this and she now sees it, but it will never be the same. A child that leaves home at 16 - really why? I know there are success stories out there, but what if her story isn't a successful one?

Stitching updates:
Not as much progress on Love as I would have liked last night. Work was weird, so stitching time was a little wonky. I had a wee visit from the frog, which I knew was coming. I miscounted when I went from one sheet to another. Don't worry ladies I won't send him your way. I made short work of him, I stomped him down and out!

Dani - I'm only working 5 hours per piece once around just because the pieces have been dormant, some for more than a year. I will then choose another of my pieces, probably Job's Tears and work on it as I am with Love until it's finished. I'm hoping this 5 hour thing might help in regards to whether I really want to do certain pieces. I've never scrapped a piece before, but I'm a little fearful it might happen. Sad, but true.

I'm off now to the myriad of jobs that call my name. I'll be back with an update this afternoon after the real estate guy has been here. I'm hoping I'm on the right track with what I'm focusing my time and money on!

You girls rock! Love ya bunches!!!

Happy Dancing For A Mitre Saw

I have a mitre saw! I have a mitre saw! My friend brought her husband's mitre saw to work for me today! I'm dancing in the streets! I really am. I went to Debbie's car to get the saw from her trunk to put it in mine and when I saw it, I squealed!

I have to figure out what wood products I need to buy now - ouch says my Visa. I'm heading to Rona or Home Depot in the next day or two to get my supplies. I can't even tell you how excited I am about having this mitre saw. It takes a mighty big man to part with his electrical tools, but Karl being such a great guy, and not just because he has loaned me his mitre saw, he came through big time.

In case you didn't catch my excitement in the opening paragraph with all my exclamation points, I have a mitre saw. I'm as happy as a cat with a big ol' bowl of milk.

Good things cometh

I don't know how it happened or when it happened. I'm just extremely grateful it did. A little background - Lily is home from school sick today. I told her last night I would be home this morning because I had things to do, but I would be as quiet as possible for her to still sleep while I puttered away.

She got up about an hour ago and we've done nothing but talk and chatter the whole time. She got up and right away noticed that all the trim has been painted. Now the walls still need to be done, so the difference is startling. She said the house will soon enough start too look better, if I just keep at it. And then, "Is there anything, I can do?" I just about shit! I thanked her for her offer, but it was about the time for me to start getting ready for work - darn it.

She then started talking to me about things. She said it's sad to be finally getting the house finished and fixed up only to be possibly selling it. I have to agree with her. She then told me she is going to miss this house (the only home she remembers). I agree with her. Then the tears started, tears from both of us. I tried to reassure her and ask her not to get too concerned because as of right now, there are so many things with the 'new' house that Todd and I aren't even sure it's going to work out for us. She cried extremely hard at times, but continued talking. I gave my darling baby a hug and kiss and left her to her tears and sadness for a bit.

After the initial onslaught of tears, she was ready to talk again and this time the topic path was much different than I could have ever dreamed. I told her Todd, his brother in law, sister and myself were going to see the house on Sunday. Todd's BIL used to sell real estate, so we want him to look at the house with a discriminative eye. I threw out the offer to Lily that she could come along and she said she just might.

The conversation carried on in bits and pieces, with things like I want to see it now -as in NOW. I want to paint MY NEW room light blue with silver accents.... can I get a new bed for my new room? She then asks me what is my favorite thing about the house? My answer 2 bathrooms, which brought great bouts of laughter from her.... we fight over our little itty bitty, badly in need of renovations of a bathroom.

I want to thank each and everyone of you that has posted comments urging me to stay positive and do what I need to do. I hoped Lily would come around eventually, but didn't expect it to happen as fast as all this. I know we will still be faced with numerous trials, be it this house we buy or another one, but for now there is a peaceful calm once again within the walls of my home.

I learn so much everyday. This morning I was exhausted and overwhelmed and feeling more than a bit defeated. This afternoon I feel like a million bucks and as I'm going to be able to win in this situation! Lesson learned - never give up hope. Keep reaching for what you're wanting. Who knows what you might get in the end.
~~~~~~~~~
In answer to a few questions posted in the comment section -
Great approach idea from Pumpkin -
I am going to tackle the house room by room. I'm going to have Dave look and see if he can do trim and if he can, I'm going to have him trim out Lily's room - the walls, window and door. I will then paint the trim. I will also see if he can build closet door headers and hang the bedroom door, which will then need painting. If he can do these things for me, Lily's room will be finished.

Going Crazy Rant

I'm sitting here with my tea, my wonderfully warm chai tea. I'm convincing myself this is my morning routine when I'm home and it'll be okay if I take a few minutes before immersing myself in with paint brush and paint. I'm exhausted! I'm sleeping like crap. I'm major guilt tripping. I've flaked on KP (so unfair) at the gym yesterday and today. I lay in bed awake for most of the night and I can not drag my sorry excuse for a butt out of bed at 4:50a. Then a day without the gym frustrates me. I'll never hit the weight loss I want if I don't hit the gym. Seems logical, does it not? If I could get points for the running in my head, that would be something, right?

I've often said I love a challenge, but I love one challenge at a time as opposed to challenges everywhere I look all day long. I want to get as much done to the house as I can. There is one challenge - so far you can score one for the house because it is winning right now. I have the challenge of weight loss, score one for the fat because it's winning right now too! I'm not in so much of a defeated mood as it may seem, I'm more or less just taking stock of the crappy start to my week.

I do have a funny to share with you. In this you'll notice my sarcastic humour. It may sound as though I'm being ungrateful, but I'm really not. I got an e-mail from one of my best friends, Velda where we were discussing my lack of focus and the desire get things done around the house. She tells me, as only she would, the blog junkie, that renovation before and after photos make great blog fodder! Oh, this I know! She tells me the oooohhhh and aaaawwwing I get will be inspiring and push me to get more done. This too, I know. My very sarcastic reply to her (and she gets my sarcastic, and not critical of others humour) was you need to have progress to get AFTER shots..... I think it might have been a 'had to be there moment', but it is very true.

My frustration is that some are telling me they'll help me. I'm such the person, you tell me I expect it that is the way I am. I will not go around begging and bothering you to help me. I will not do it. I will get frustrated and annoyed, but I will not harass you. If I had a dollar for the number of times I've been told I'll help you and then it not happen I'd have all my debt paid off! Velda, I'm not talking about or in any way referring to Sunday and the door. I fear you're thinking I am - honest honey!

Oh, I have a line on a mitre saw! Yaaaa!!!! A co-worker (friend of 16 years) called her husband last night when we were working together to ask it he has one. He does and SHE says I can borrow it. I don't think she quite grasps the concept of a man's attachment to his tools. She is too cute and has no idea what she has just offered to lend me. She thinks she's going to be bringing this in to work for me.... I think not. This saw will probably weight 20+lbs. I was almost crying when I was laughing at her! I love you, Debbie. You are always good for a laugh.

So, that is the most recent installment of the house renovations saga.

Dani, if you've made it this far - yes I can see a funk coming on! I'm fighting it, but I can feel it creeping in and around!

Stitching progress has been good my one night of work so far. I put 193 stitches into Love and I'm almost finished the corner piece and a portion of the one line of script. I see no problem in accomplishing my SAT goals. Something is going right!!! WOOHOO