Upon entering the house this morning, I smelled something burned. I couldn't find the source of the smell at first, but then I saw the hot water heater. It's a wonder our house didn't burn down! The plumber said if the door had been on that closet where the water heat is (we removed it for tiling) it most likely would have set the house on fire. Wouldn't that have been something. All this work and a lot of our stuff freshly moved over and then it burns down. Wow.
Anyway, the plumber is already there doing his thing. They'll put in a brand new one tomorrow and all for just the $60 fee the warranty company charges. Sweet.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Who Knew?
A ventahood (is that how that's spelled???) has to actually vent somewhere. Really? The previous owner's must not have known that since there was no venting route in place. And since there was no venting route in place, we, of course, never even thought about it.
Until yesterday.
Our kitchen is all but complete and we were just in there to talk about installing the appliances. That's when the vent bomb was dropped. Bleh. Now we have to cut through the cabinet over the microwave, cut a hole in the ceiling, and run a venting duct through the attic. We may even have to take down a section of cabinets to do the job and then put them back up. You can insert any exclamatory remark filled with frustration and annoyance HERE.
Until yesterday.
Our kitchen is all but complete and we were just in there to talk about installing the appliances. That's when the vent bomb was dropped. Bleh. Now we have to cut through the cabinet over the microwave, cut a hole in the ceiling, and run a venting duct through the attic. We may even have to take down a section of cabinets to do the job and then put them back up. You can insert any exclamatory remark filled with frustration and annoyance HERE.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
I Stink
I had great hopes of what this blog would be, but the honest truth is that I can only do so much. I figure I should probably keep feeding my kids and occasionally dressing them, and every once in a while I need to sleep an hour or two. The only thing I can cut out some is blogging. =(
I'm kind of bummed and kind of excited all at once because we started moving our stuff over today (the good part), yet not everything is done yet (the bummer part). Things will get finished this week but due to several different factors, we needed to go ahead and move a lot of things over. We put a lot of it in the garage (the carpet isn't in yet) and only some in the house on the tile. It was SO thrilling to see my things that have been in a lonely storage room for over a year, but it's frustrating that 1) I didn't get pictures of everything all finished before stuff was brought in, and 2) I didn't get to clean everything before stuff was brought in. I'll definitely have to mop a number of times to get the floors good and clean. I wish I had a Shark Steam Mop!
All of this to say that pictures will be posted, just not yet. We're going to be crazy busy finishing everything and moving in this week and then we're going to Colorado for the rest of the year. I can't wait to post an awesome before and after picture full post!
And don't let me forget to share my cabinet staining fiasco! I'm going to have to blame it on Kablot, I think, due to her down right frightening warning of a comment about my body now being poisoned with toxins! ;) It sure feels good to have someone else to blame for your mistakes. Thanks, Kablot!
My body is screaming for bed after a very long day of church (complete with curling both girls' hair this morning - about a 45 minute job, working in the preschool class, and then the preschool Christmas program, and touching little boy pee when a 4 year old wet his pants), lunch, trying to edit John's paper for school (I fell asleep trying), moving lots of heavy boxes (some of them up the ladder and into the attic), overseeing the completion of a 2nd grade school project (no small thing if you've met his teacher!), and getting all tired and cranky children into bed. Good night!
I'm kind of bummed and kind of excited all at once because we started moving our stuff over today (the good part), yet not everything is done yet (the bummer part). Things will get finished this week but due to several different factors, we needed to go ahead and move a lot of things over. We put a lot of it in the garage (the carpet isn't in yet) and only some in the house on the tile. It was SO thrilling to see my things that have been in a lonely storage room for over a year, but it's frustrating that 1) I didn't get pictures of everything all finished before stuff was brought in, and 2) I didn't get to clean everything before stuff was brought in. I'll definitely have to mop a number of times to get the floors good and clean. I wish I had a Shark Steam Mop!
All of this to say that pictures will be posted, just not yet. We're going to be crazy busy finishing everything and moving in this week and then we're going to Colorado for the rest of the year. I can't wait to post an awesome before and after picture full post!
And don't let me forget to share my cabinet staining fiasco! I'm going to have to blame it on Kablot, I think, due to her down right frightening warning of a comment about my body now being poisoned with toxins! ;) It sure feels good to have someone else to blame for your mistakes. Thanks, Kablot!
My body is screaming for bed after a very long day of church (complete with curling both girls' hair this morning - about a 45 minute job, working in the preschool class, and then the preschool Christmas program, and touching little boy pee when a 4 year old wet his pants), lunch, trying to edit John's paper for school (I fell asleep trying), moving lots of heavy boxes (some of them up the ladder and into the attic), overseeing the completion of a 2nd grade school project (no small thing if you've met his teacher!), and getting all tired and cranky children into bed. Good night!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
a VERY helpful hint I wish I had known before....
I stained cabinets for the first time tonight. I've been dreading this task because I was terrified of messing these custom made beauties up. The blood was flowing through my veins pretty fast when I sat down in the bathroom to get started (staining that is). I thought about it, I prayed about it, and I repositioned myself a half a dozen times. Finally, when I could put it off no longer, I began.
One rule to remember, which I knew, is to always start your staining job at the back of the cabinet. The reasoning for this is just less mess as you lean in. I did a great job following this rule.
Another rule to remember is to never stir your stain midway through your project. This could result in an uneven finish on your wood. I was good at following this rule too. Stir it once and put the stick in the trash. I can handle it.
But this last rule is one that nobody bothered to share with me - probably because it's just so obvious. When you are going to stain something, anything, wear gloves! This is especially important when you are using a rag to stain and not a brush. I did not know this was a good idea until it was too late, and by that time by hands were already well on their way to turning a very dark brownish black.
I can now tell you some things that do NOT get stain off your hands:
dish soap
lemon juice
bleach
ammonia
sos pad
boiling water
flaming fire
Ok, I didn't try everything single thing in that list, but nonetheless, those things don't work. If you are a dodo like me and happen to get stain all over your hands, then you better pray to God Almighty that you have some vegetable oil in your house, because that's all that's getting that nasty, sticky stuff off!
The cabinets are looking great though, so I guess it's worth it.
Pictures. Tomorrow. On it.
One rule to remember, which I knew, is to always start your staining job at the back of the cabinet. The reasoning for this is just less mess as you lean in. I did a great job following this rule.
Another rule to remember is to never stir your stain midway through your project. This could result in an uneven finish on your wood. I was good at following this rule too. Stir it once and put the stick in the trash. I can handle it.
But this last rule is one that nobody bothered to share with me - probably because it's just so obvious. When you are going to stain something, anything, wear gloves! This is especially important when you are using a rag to stain and not a brush. I did not know this was a good idea until it was too late, and by that time by hands were already well on their way to turning a very dark brownish black.
I can now tell you some things that do NOT get stain off your hands:
dish soap
lemon juice
bleach
ammonia
sos pad
boiling water
flaming fire
Ok, I didn't try everything single thing in that list, but nonetheless, those things don't work. If you are a dodo like me and happen to get stain all over your hands, then you better pray to God Almighty that you have some vegetable oil in your house, because that's all that's getting that nasty, sticky stuff off!
The cabinets are looking great though, so I guess it's worth it.
Pictures. Tomorrow. On it.
Monday, December 8, 2008
I Owe You
I know I owe you soooo many pictures and I really do keep meaning to get them! The problem is that I'm too stinking busy doing all the work to take pictures of the work that is happening. I can tell you about some of the things that have happened, but that's kind of boring I know. Hmmm....How about I tell you now and then add the pictures very soon. (I promise, very soon.)
- baseboards are all in and painted
- all painting is done, save a few touch up places
- master bath is done except for staining the cabinets
- outside trim is about halfway done and we changed our color choice - I love it!
- new bedroom door and closet door are installed
- ceiling fans and lighting fixtures installed
- final electrical work done (I hope it's the final work anyway)
- carpet gets installed
- granite goes in
- kitchen back splash is done
- fireplace is tiled (mantel will probably come a little later)
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Painter's Neck
I'm not sure if that's an actual term, but I've got it. It's caused by painting ceilings and it's not fun (the neck and the painting both). The good news is that other than a few places that need a touch up, the painting is done! (Ok, that's not including the base boards either but they are almost done too!) I can't begin to describe my elation - imagine the elation level once it is actually, totally, completely done. To think that in two weeks we will be sleeping in that house with our own furniture, well, that's just unimaginable right now (which is unfortunate because it MUST happen). Our deadline is firmly in place:
- December 14th - all the guys go to the Cowboy game (no drooling please)
- December 15th - carpet installed (this is tentative as I have to make sure the installers are good to go for that day, but it shouldn't be a problem)
- December 16th, 17th, 18th - move in and unpack
- December 19th - John David's Christmas party at school (remember, I'm Marge)
- December 20th, 21st - Christmas with John's family
- December 21st - fly out to Denver for Christmas with my family
- December 22nd, 23rd - packers and movers arrive and Clay and Sandy's house to move everything that's left to go to Tulsa (that's why we have to be moved!)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Someone Call the Trophy Shop Please
Seriously, because I soooo deserve the dodo award. I'm so annoyed with myself! I have painted bedrooms 2-4 count it.....one....two.....THREE TIMES!
But that's not the worst part. After three times, it's still NOT the right color. And do you know what color I will probably use? The color I painted it the first time around. I told you I deserve the dodo award. It's really no wonder that the painting will never end. I'm way too wishy washy on my color choices.
In case you're curious....
Round One: Nomadic Desert (same color as the living room and kitchen)
Round Two: Dove White (a very creamy off white that just ended up looking way too blah)
Round Three: Tea and Biscuits (supposed to just be a lighter version of what's in the living room and kitchen but ended up with a freakishly orange hue)
Sigh......
So now everyone knows why the posts here have not been too frequent. I've been grunt slaving around with the paint roller on a never ending quest to find the perfect color. How wonderfully frustrating.
But that's not the worst part. After three times, it's still NOT the right color. And do you know what color I will probably use? The color I painted it the first time around. I told you I deserve the dodo award. It's really no wonder that the painting will never end. I'm way too wishy washy on my color choices.
In case you're curious....
Round One: Nomadic Desert (same color as the living room and kitchen)
Round Two: Dove White (a very creamy off white that just ended up looking way too blah)
Round Three: Tea and Biscuits (supposed to just be a lighter version of what's in the living room and kitchen but ended up with a freakishly orange hue)
Sigh......
So now everyone knows why the posts here have not been too frequent. I've been grunt slaving around with the paint roller on a never ending quest to find the perfect color. How wonderfully frustrating.
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