Weekend Project

After Jeremy moved out, we cleaned up the bathroom. New paint, new shower curtain, new rugs. It looks really nice, but I wanted to do something with the mirror. The original plan was to frame the mirror, but as TOM never got around to doing it and I know nothing about saws and wood-working, I opted for mosaic tiles. The project ended costing more than anticipated, it always does, and we had a few challenges.

The first shot is what we started with. Pretty bland/generic.

After the first row or so, we determined that if we put the glue on the tiles and let them sit for about 10 minutes, they adhered to the mirror better. We also discovered the strong odor of the glue in a room with limited air circulation. Not enough to make us pass out though. At this point (below) we decided to take a break to let the glue set and to watch a movie, "Love and Other Drugs".  

About two hours later we resume and get the final row of tiles installed. Let it sit overnight for the glue to really grab and grout today. It got pretty messy for a while there, but I think it turned out pretty well. I like the glass tiles that we purchased and they work well with the wall color. They are neutral enough that if we paint again at some point in the future, we don't have to tear out the tiles. 

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the Creative Arts room

 

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When Jeremy moved out we had an extra room in the house. Heaven forbid that we actually turn it into a guest bedroom. Actually, we can if we need too. We are going to purchase a blow-up bed that can be used when we have guests. 

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When not being used as a guest room, we are using this as a place to get creative. I have a table with my paints and brushes and portable easel. A cabinet that we purchased at the flea market. We do have to repair one door and replace the glass, but the price was right and it was the right size for the room. I am trying to decide if I want to paint it or not. 

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Next to the cabinet is an easel that TOM built for Jeremy a few years ago. He was trying his hand at painting and being the supportive parents that we are ... well you know. He did not take it with him so I am using it as a stand for a book of flower paintings by Georgia O'Keefe. 

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Along the wall, I have a bookcase with photo boxes, books, candles, and a boom box. There is also a chaise lounge tucked in the corner if you want to sit and read or just relax. So now maybe I need to get off this computer and go get creative...

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I case you're wondering what that 'thing' is hanging on the wall with the stripped fabric, it is a headboard for the inflatable bed (or the real bed that used to be there). We made it about 5 years ago when Jeremy moved out the first time. Well, actually the second time, but who's counting?

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Almost Finished

 

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This project consisted of:

Paining - cabinets and walls

New - light fixture, faucet, rug, shower curtain, bowl brush and trash can

Nice to do - frame the mirror, glass tile on the counter top

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Bathroom Touch-Up

 

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Now that Jeremy has moved out, we are going to clean up/repaint the bathroom. 

The walls will be painted Oyster, the cabinet will be painted dark brown. 

We are not changing the floor as it is in good shape. However, we are updating the other fixtures. 

Lighting, faucets, shower curtains. Maybe art. 

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We have several holes and divets in the walls that need to be patched. 

We are hanging a curtain to keep as much dust as possible in the bathroom. 

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Approximately 5 hours later, the holes are patched. 

The cabinetry is sanded. Everything is ready for primer.  

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Window Installation Redo

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The Farr's ala Grant Wood

I knew tensions would rise once we got started with the removal

of the old window and the installation of the new and that we needed to

have a couple of laughs before we started so I took these first two shots.

It's been about four weeks since we ordered the second window. I don't 

know why it took so long, the first window was ready in two weeks.

The waiting time did allow us an opportunity to mentally prepare ourselves for the upcoming task.

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The window came out relatively easy. I was on the outside pushing in and

TOM was on the inside yelling 'push harder'. I'm not giving birth to a baby dude! Anyway, it

finally started to break loose and he's still yelling to push harder. I finally dropped the

'F' bomb and boy did it feel good. Did I mention it has been a couple of really rough

weeks at work? Story for another day. The window is out and it's time to install the

new window. We lift it up into the frame and we find we have some bricks that need to be

chipped away. Scary...new glass, hammer, and chisel. You figure it out. 

Finally, the new window is in place. A few screws, some caulking and expanding 

foam and phase one is complete. TOM gets started on the finishing work. Two hours later and

the job is fini. Not the hardest project we ever worked, but one of the longest.

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The Replacement Window is the WRONG Size

To catch you up, about a month ago the picture window in the sitting room was broken. How you say?

Lawn mower + rock = broken window

We have never replaced a window before so we were both a bit apprehensive. We measured at least three times. Together. Normally, I would have blamed this all on TOM, but I was right there with him. Confident with our dimensions we headed over to the local home store and placed our order.

Two weeks later we picked up our new window.

We were heading for a trip to the Gulf so we put the window in the garage. The week after our return TOM was out of town on a business trip. We finally get around to replacing the window about a month later. We remove the moldings and the sill and pull out the window. At this point the replacement window is still in the garage. We lift it up and realize that it is too small. About 2 inches on each side. Needless to say we were dumb-founded. Or course, the girl at the store made the mistake, not us.

Luckily we did not break the second pane of glass when we pulled the broken window out so we put it back into the gaping hole in our wall. We grab our receipts and head to the home store. We have to pay a restocking fee of $50, plus the difference for the 'new' replacement window, which was about $100 more than the first replacement window. 

Lessons Learned:

Buy clean top soil

Measure the rough opening for your replacement window

Check the size of your replacement against the you are replacing before you pull it out  

Happy Birthday, Sean

My son Sean turned 31 today. It seems like only yesterday that he was just a baby. My husband was in Korea when Sean was born. I was staying with my parents. I woke up in the middle of the night with excrutiating back pain. Never had a pain like that before. Anyway, after a couple hours I got up to go to the john. Try anything to relieve the pain, right? As soon as I stood up, my water broke. Now this is my first child and I really was clueless. (It took me three months to figure out that I was pregnant.) I went to get my parents for the ride to the hospital. This is a snippet of our conversation:
Me: (Knocking on bedroom door.) Mom, I think it's time to go to the hospital.
Mom: How do you know.
Me: My water just broke.
Mom: You didn't get any on my new carpet did you?
Me: No. (Dad just rolls over.)
(I am not really sure about my response or if I got amniotic fluid on her carpet.)
FYI, she had that carpet until last year.
Because my husband was away, I had my mother go into the delivery room with me. She never gave any clue as to how she felt about that, but I bet it
was the last thing she thought she would do that day.
My son finally made his appearance at 12:57 pm.

Let the adventure begin.

What's Next?

I tell you what, this has been the week from (almost) hell. First, we lose Lady. Then, the feeder hose for the ice maker springs a leak. Easy fix, but we didn't realize we had a leak until the hard wood floor in the living room was wet (saturated in some places).

We turn off the water and begin to work on drying the floor. The shop vac works pretty well to suck up the water and use the mop for the rest. We still have significant damage to the floor in one spot. I am sure the drywall was damaged as well.

We run to the local home store to purchae the replacement hose and install. When TOM turns the water back on, he discovers that the water shut off valve has sprung a leak (apparently a common occurence when turning the valve on or off for repairs). TOM cannot fix this becaue he does not have the right tools.

Did I hear you say plummer? And if you don't think I need to call a plumber, let me tell you about the $75 light switch : )

A New Project

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. We started a new project today. It is relatively small compared to most of our projects, but it does involve construction. I can't say too much at this time because it is a gift for someone who might read this blog and I don't want to give away the surprise. We spent about three hours, cutting, gluing, and nailing. A good life.

Who Built the Dog House?

Opening hunting weekend in Alabama and TOM was not hunting, but I'll tell you why. First, on Saturday he committed to working on House of Heroes. HOH is a charitable organization, that thru the help of volunteers, repairs homes of retired veterans, fire fighters, and policeman. Depending on the work that needs to be completed, contractors donate time and supplies to make the repairs. Anyhoo, that was his Saturday. After a long day on the job, son #1 calls and asks his dad to help him build a dog house for his dog Gypsy, which means no hunting for TOM on Sunday. Now when said son says "I'll be over at 10:00 a.m., he really means sometime after noon. I don't know how this one manages to make it to work on time. Anyhoo, they had a great day for building a dog house. The only injury, aside from a couple of splinters, was a severely smashed thumb. It bruised all the way thru and he, my son, will probably lose the nail. But they finished the house and it turned out great. And TOM is glad he didn't go hunting : )

Life is good. Go out and enjoy it.