What's up?

Hubby watched kids Saturday night...
I was supposed to help..
It was like someone turned off all of my power, I went into complete sleep mode for about 5 hours, woke up for an hour and a half and then slept again for the entire night, in my own bed.
Thanks goodness Marlo, Midge, and Cliff as well as Tink were around to help Hubby. I certainly wasn't.
I was completely out of it. But, I did get up feeling rested. I still have this "wear you out" cough, and absolutely no energy, but I don't feel as miserable. YaHooooo!!!
Brino began the master bath on Friday evening.
I came home to a repaired main bath and a huge hole in my bathroom. It looks so weird in there right now. Dark and spooky and "old" like. I know when we finish ripping out the cabinet and walls it will be brighter, but right now it looks kind of creepy.

unfinished ramblings

I really think there are differences in language/meanings/definitions. I finally finished (yipee!) the blue flannel gown/sets, sent off my pix to confirm they were wonderful and...
they weren't. So, just what exactly is a jabot, a high collar, and a ruffle?
No worries, they are going to order again (yipee!)
Helped Kater with a blanket for the upcoming yesterday, I have now taught her the cutest one I know and also the most challenging. Way proud of you Kater!
Hoperdoo decided she liked being "nerdy" and brought home 2 student of the month awards for the month, I don't think I have ever had anyone do that before, new experience and... be just as "nerdy" as you would like Hoperdoo.
The project is rather at a stand still. However, as it is Tuesday Marlo thought she may go up and do the touch up paint. Hiker set the counter tile and cut all of the floor tile. Next time he is home to do something other than sleep...guess what?
I have decided to make my old toilet look new, any suggestions on paint? With the car repairs I am going to need to cut back somewhere on the remodeling. And Marlo informed me everything else in the project was painted, so the door I just varnished needs to be painted too...sometimes I wonder why?
The baby goats have lots and lots of new friends and there is a large pen filled with big chickens in the field now. And more cows next door... I wonder why this is?
Madi informed me there were ___ many days until school got out and Tink informed me there are ___ many days till she goes to the lake. I think Air has it right, Tink needs Brino to set up/take care of a fantastic zipline (way cooler than last time, don't know how), and Brino can't be without his family he will need their help and Brino and Air will need Marlo to watch their children while they are working on the zip line and then Brino will be hungry ...so that means I will need to go as well cuz everyone knows I make the best lake food. And if I go, then Hoperdoo will be home all alone...Need I say more?
Way excited about going to Vegas tomorrow. Going to go to fabric shops!!! and Ross and Target and Marlo informed me I need to sew up what is in my room first, then buy more. So, I am taking all of the "stuff/fabric" out of my sewing room and giving it away. Then I will have lots and lots of room for more cooler fabrics. Started on this project yesterday and hope to finish with some part of it today.

Wow

Last night Hiker started cutting tile for the counter...
imagine a sad face...the blade was pushing the tile over and not being very nice to the tile.
Hubby and I grabbed a couple of friends and hurried to George (I have been eagerly anticipating this event and wanted nothing to mess it up!).
Found and purchased a spanking, brand new blade
and a rubber gizmo
and a different type of grout
and these itty bitty tile spacers.
"ran" through the drive through at Sonic...we needed to thank the couple who "ran" with us and buzzed right home.
Result....Hiker and Marlo finished cutting the tile for the counter and installed it!!!

It looks fantastic
I think I will have a perpetual smile on my face all day long...

Made it Better

Okay, Salsa...
I went to the cannery and helped bottle 158 cases of Salsa yesterday.
Now the shift supervisors said we completed 158,
but honestly, I think he just said that to keep me from asking any more questions (he was counting).
You know, make up a number and this lady will shut up.
So of those 158, 8 came home with me. A few for Chaser and one for Air.
I haven't heard from any other family about if they wanted some of my work or not. Also, I will be making a dry pack trip next week. So if you want, Tell me...

Now, on to make it better...a few days ago I was "grumpy", the home repair store had just made me mad. After canning the morning away... I went to the home repair store and "vented". I vented at the return clerk, she looked at me and asked,
"would you like to talk to a manager?"
"Yes!"
"Just a moment please, while I call a manager."
and just a moment later here came Josh, a manager, to make all things better.
I very calmly informed him I was unhappy and needed to vent for a few moments.
I explained I had been into his store several times,
had requested assistance almost every time (specifically in flooring),
and received assistance,
but never from someone who specialized in flooring.
He listened very politely and called his flooring manager over.
I explained again.
We then,
(Four of us, I think one was a bouncer disguised as an employee) went over to flooring where we discussed different things about thinset.
I showed the flooring manager what I had purchased,
she asked,"did you buy the additive?"

"of course not, it doesn't say on the label I have to purchase the additive, it says, 'for a stronger bond'" I replied.

All four of us looked at the package.
I was right, she said to me,
"Everyone buys the additive, except the pros who only need to guarantee it for a year. If you don't use the additive is kind of crumbles up in about a year."
I was thinking, "Duh!"
She then looked at me like I was as dumb as a box of rocks.
I looked at her manager and said,
"Hmmmm, seems to me I would have known everyone buys additive if someone from the flooring department had been here when asked to assist me."
The manager gathered up a couple of bags of thinset (with the additive already mixed in) and
dumped them into my cart.
We also added a box of glass tile adhesive...(this one does not need additive).
They, all three of them, walked me up front, the store "comped" my purchase and then walked me to my car and loaded it for me apologizing all of the way
.
Wow, what customer service.
Too bad I didn't have it when I first asked for it.
The project would have been finished by now.

Oh by the way...

If you were wondering what the bathroom aka "the project" looks like here is a pix of its current state. Yes everyone, that is Hoperdoo actually laboring on "the project". No complaints from her and she even cleaned up her mess.

Just for Tink...you wanted to know what the cabinets were looking like here is a pix for you...

And I finally had my camera with me while driving down our road. A pix of the Baby Goats (unfortunately, they aren't so "baby" anymore). But still are cute...

And, this big, old cow was just very unhappy he wasn't the focus of our attention. He was bellowing and snorting and was really letting us know he was important too.

Grumpy over business practices.

Why would a business readily sell a product they were aware had problems? What justification do they receive from an irate customer?
Needless to say, I am ticked. Now, I know I shouldn't get my heart rate up and I will need to be "ok" for when I go in to have my chat...but, good golly. If a particular business ever had a sales associate in the flooring/tiling department perhaps these things wouldn't happen. Not once have I actually chatted with an associate who belongs in the tile department. Does anyone (besides me) know how many hours I have invested in two aisles? Or how many trips?
After purchasing, then returning, and repurchasing thin set Tyler has spent "hours" getting ready to lay the tile. The result, a brittle, chalk like substance which is supposed to hold the tile in place until it is chiseled out. Nope, no way, the tile just "pops" right off. Grumpy you may ask? You bet, if the thin set I purchased needed an additive perhaps a sales associate should have said, "Oh, you need this with that", but no, the bag (which I read and so did Marlo) says if you want it stronger, why on earth would you want it stronger?, purchase an additive. The bag doesn't say "Will not work without additive", it says "for a stronger bond use this additive". Maybe if the tile were going on the ceiling or perhaps maybe even the wall... But the floor?
Grumpy, grumpy, grumpy...so now another trip to George after loading and unloading this lovely thin set which actually has to have an "additive" to work properly. If businesses had their "associates" knowledgeable life would be so much easier and
my project would be "done".

Lesson Learned...

When you purchase something at a yard sale...
do you check to be sure it works?
look and see if everything is there?
be certain it truly is Okay?
Obviously, you are understanding where I am going with this conversation. So...
when you go to the "Restore" you need to be sure to do all of the things above, even if the box is closed and appears to be brand new. Appearances can be deceiving you know.
Hence, the $23.00 bathroom exhaust fan. For $24.00 I could have purchased a new, quieter exhaust fan. However, what I did purchase was the "appearance" of a new exhaust fan, in a nice, new box. Which appeared to be the proper size and "perfect". Housing and cover included...no fan or motor.
Off to Hiker's favorite store...when I asked the salesperson if it all was there...he looked at me like I was stupid and opened the box...Yep, all there!
Lesson learned, "Ok, Pandora, look inside the box!"

the project continued

So how is "the project" going you ask...It sort of appears to be at a standstill...
But it isn't.
You just really can't tell that the ceiling has received a second coat of paint, or that the backs of all of the doors have been painted. Now, this is what is left:

Paint the walls a lovely shade of green (Me/Marlo)--done

• Glaze (Chaser please, Marlo is scared and so am I) and varnish (Me/Marlo) cabinets--Chaser taught, Marlo was brave...done and done.
  

• Install ceiling light, vanity light, and fart fan (All electricity belongs to Ticklebug)
  

• Install tile (Hiker, and I know it is much more)
  

• Set sink and faucet (Brino)
  

• Put in new toilet and seat (Any volunteers? Thank you Rosco)
  

• Install trim around the door (Chaser) and paint it (Me/Marlo)
  

• Fix the door (Chaser) now me...
  

• Paint the doorknob (Me)
  

• Install cabinet hardware (Chaser) Done...
  

Now, I realize this is kind of a long list, but I have to appreciate everything which has already been done. And, not everyone's time schedule is the same as mine. Not to mention, if you want it done right, then you gotta take the time to do it right. So...I will be patient and I know it will be amazing when everyone is done!!!

It occurred to Hiker yesterday...the tile is ready when he is...hmmmm.
Marlo and I made a trip into Georgetown to pick up a few more details.
A new light fixture cuz, if the vanity has a new light, the ceiling will get jealous and need a new one also.
Just think about it, you know I am right.
If we just let the vanity be new, the ceiling light would have a fit, quit working after it started a small fire.
So, I just saved myself the hassle...new light.

I was also informed the "fart" fan, must be replaced.
I ask myself "why?", all it ever does is make a bunch of noise and no one ever really turns it on.
Why bother?

Answer, No one turns it on, because it makes so much noise. The "fart" fan also happens to be on the ceiling... so I guess it just had a temper tantrum some time ago and I am just now finding out about it. New fan.

Did you know when the "boys" changed the cabinet plans for the bathroom,
this also changed how many door handles/pulls were needed?
I didn't really think about it until I noticed there were several more drawers/doors than I was planning on.
Consequently, more handles/pulls needed to be located.

And...if we are replacing all of the other things, might as well make both sides of the mirror slide easily, right?
Right.
However, that stuff only comes from the specialty glass store. And...
I forgot. Next trip perhaps?

Marlo has been painting, Chaser came and gave us a lesson on "glazing",
be careful when you sand or you have crap.
True statement.

This has been just a quick update on "the project".

the "project"--burial of the hideous light fixture

Chaser has been available the past few days and man is he meticulous. He measures and remeasures and levels, and then marks and nails and glues and putties ...and then, he sands. By hand he sanded, amazing. He dug around out in the back room for a bit and said, "this will work, it will look sweet". Me, I just have to have faith and trust. It looks like a wood cabinet to me. So, I now need a trip into Jones for a special kind of glaze/stain for the cabinets, while I am there I am supposed to get some more glides for the mirrors and some kind of special clips for the tops so they don't bang together. Maybe in a week or two, I will be able to paint. (Smile when you read that!) The hideous light fixture now resides in the trash! Chaser was brave about the electricity and pulled it down. We didn't even have a ceremonial burial for it. Just here, Hoperdoo, get rid of that...
End of an era...can't wait to see how it finishes out!

Ugly!

Wow, would you look at that? That is truly ugly. I know there is a way to say ugly all stretched out in writing, but I don't know what it is...so ug-ly.



I plan on pulling that lovely green contact paper out, lightly scuffing the shelving and its "box" and painting it a bright white.


The light fixture from Grandma is going also, I think we have gotten our twenty years of use from it, and the lovely green back splash went with the trash man last week!


The sink was definitely a "Malcolm" challenge ...all the way to the wall, bright, shiny and new. And, can you believe it Brino and Hiker found a leak in the wall...Funny thing after they repaired the leak in the wall.

Brino came over last night and was reframing the shelving box. He said he would be continuing tonight.

Rosco also came over last night to take care of this gizmo in the basement that isn't working right, it likes to leak a gallon of water a day down there. He unhooked it, cleaned it, checked it, and rehooked it at a different location. Then said, "I think that should do it!" Great thing about "it" is most likely we won't know if it did "it" till next winter!!! He also was looking around in the lovely spider heaven room and said "Hey, I think this leak must be stopped, it looks like the water is drying up!" Thank you Rosco and lovely repair upstairs Brino and Hiker!

I just "love" projects which are slowly coming together...

So much to chat about!

Let me see, a phone call at 10 p.m. led to this statement. "I won first place!!!, I pinned everyone...I got a big medal." Way to go Brans. Fantastic to finish up the season with a first place win.

Another 10 a.m. phone call led to this statement. "Madi is running in the marathon, come at 11 and watch her finish!", out into the rain we went to watch her "finish". She came running in with a great big smile on her face and all of her cousins cheering her on. Wonderful run Madi!!!

We were all wet and cold after watching the amazing finish...so we came home and everyone had hot chocolate (with marshmallows) and toast! We just really needed to warm up.

Because it was raining Brino didn't have a project to do.
I have lots of projects, inside and out.
Because it was raining Brino really couldn't go outside to play. And he went bowling just last week. And it costs money to go to the movies as well.

So, Brino came over and "played" with one of my projects. He learned why we all refer to our home as "the house that Malcolm built". Hiker came in and said, "Gee, that looks like fun, can I help?", he also learned about "the house that Malcolm built". And Chaser grumbled about the parts for his tracker and being able to get them off, then having the wrong parts and good golly what else could go wrong? Occasionally, he would stick his head in and provide "technical" support. All in all I really can't complain, two trips to Scholzen's Plumbing and six trips to Ace. Not bad for a "house that Malcolm built" repair.

Then, because it was still raining I fixed dinner...
Actually, I didn't because I was driving circles for "the house that Malcolm built", I started dinner, homemade rolls
(Thanks Air and Marlo for shaping them and watching them and baking them) and they even made cinnamon rolls as well!
I also started homemade chicken noodle soup, with homemade noodles, of course (Thanks Air and Marlo and Brice for rolling them and cutting them and stirring them). Consequently, the dinner I started was turned over to Air and Marlo to finish (in reality cook). And everyone ate and enjoyed soup and rolls and yummy cinnamon rolls for dessert.

After all, it was raining.

So now, we are one step closer, I want to paint the ceiling...but I am pretty sure I will be in the way.