Nothing

That's what I did on the house today. Not one bloomin' thing.

I woke up this morning and realized that I had no clean clothes, my husband is eating cereal out of a mixing bowl, and the maid is on strike.

I had no gumption and no desire to do anything because everything needs to be done.

Somehow during this remodel I failed to factor in the whole general contractor/whip cracker vs. housewife/maid thing. While I've been cracking the whip at a pretty steady rate the laundry has piled up and a mixing bowl full of cereal just might be a bit much for DH at one sitting. The maid must be union or something.

Even though I wore my jammies until 1 PM, I'm proud to say I finally have some clean clothes and DH can have a normal sized bowl of cereal in the morning.

I think a day of doing nothing, a little bit of shopping at Hobby Lobby, and getting my Mom and sister home has done wonders for me.

I've found my gumption and I'm ready to tackle the house again in the morning.

I'm either incredibly brave or unbelievably stupid

I fixed the floor. I can't believe it blended in so well.

I sanded the whole floor with 220 grit and went over it with a tack cloth.

Then I got the palm sander with 150 grit on it and went to town on the shiny spot. I checked every couple of seconds to make sure I wasn't sanding it down too far.

I crossed my fingers, applied the next coat of poly, and walked away. I really thought I'd be able to see it once it started drying. It turned out perfectly.

Unfortunately, everything else I touched today turned into manure. That's okay though. I need a little fertilizer for the perky posies I'll have tomorrow.

I'm an idiot

This is what happens when you disconnect your brain. See that glossy spot? See the satin rest of it?

I started a new gallon of poly just as I was about done with the second coat and forgot to stir it. Now I've got a glossy area in the middle of my satin floor. Grrr!

I'll be spending some quality time on my hands and knees with the sander for this little brain fart.

A floor story

See this spot in the dining room?Now look again. And now it's gone! I love a good sander. It's smooth enough you can sock slide. I did and didn't even kill myself. Most importantly, I didn't knock any holes in the new walls.After a good sanding and multiple vacuum jobs the floors are ready for staining. I used Minwax Wood Finish Special Walnut 224. That's what we used in the other rooms before we found out the flooring was red oak. It still looks good.When I stain a floor I do it on my hands and knees with a rag. I make sure I get stain in all the little imperfections that didn't sand out. I'll show you the saw cut marks in the living room later. Once I stain it I leave it alone for about an hour and let it do it's thing.

While I was waiting, DH put the swinging hardware on my door and we hung it in the opening.Hi Honey! No there isn't any glass in the door right now. It's coming.

After we got done monkeying around and tracking dust everywhere, I got an old cloth diaper and went over the whole floor catching dust and any stain that might not have soaked in.

Now it's time to put up barriers. This goes to the kitchen and now has a door as well as a flowered sheet hanging there.This is to keep the cats from going in the living room from the hall.From this point on, nobody, but nobody gets to walk on this floor but me. If I catch you on the floor I yell and scream and you'll go hide.

I put my hair under a shower cap, make sure I don't wear anything fuzzy and that my bare feet are clean. The first coat of poly was done completely with a brush. If I see a fuzzy of some kind I pick it up and stick it in my pocket. It took 2-3 hours to do both rooms last night. I had trouble seeing once the storms rolled in.

This morning it was nice and dry. Not tacky at all. I lightly sanded it with 220 grit sandpaper and vacuumed again. I put the second coat on using a low nap roller and brushed it out. If you do this make sure not to roll more than you can brush before the bubbles dry and be sure to overlap your edges.

Here's the dining room after the second coat.Here's looking from the dining room into the living room. Can you see the difference? The living room has one coat and it's satin. That's what the whole thing will look like eventually.This is a stinky job, but it's going to be worth it. I love my floors with all of the little imperfections and blemishes.

Be still my heart

We're sanding the floors! My word they are pretty.

I'll answer Autumn Leaves' fuzz, fur, and hair question tomorrow.

For your viewing pleasure

Can you guess what this is?It might help if you click the picture.

Stage I of the remodel is done and we're running full steam ahead into Stage II. Stage II is my favorite because it involves color and doesn't involve sanding.

Happy Earth Day!

Did you celebrate? Do you celebrate? What did you do?

Do I celebrate? Of course! Every day is a holiday around here. I treated myself to the sights at the Old Fishing Hole. I saw sunning turtles...and my favorite migratory bird...the Yellow-headed Blackbird.I also celebrated by planting a tomato plant. I'm looking forward to sun-warmed tomatoes later this summer.

Then I came home and blew the whole deal by using spray paint...twice.

Naked plug surrounded by recycled newspaper.Primed plug surrounded by recycled newspaper.Painted plug surrounded by recycled newspaper.I painted the gas plug in the dining room. Notice the recycled newspaper. LOL.

I'd like to think I redeemed myself when I refused a bag at the hardware store, Wal-Mart, and the grocery store.

I do try to be conscious of what I bring into the house and as a result what leaves as garbage.

Speaking of garbage. Did you know a little old man took my paneling from the living and dining room to put up in his cabin at the lake? It didn't go in the landfill.

The ceiling tiles were tested for asbestos and found to be positive so they didn't go to the landfill.

The plaster is going to be crushed and turned into something else.

All of the lumber is going to be recycled into a greenhouse for me one of these days.

The metal strips from the drop ceiling went to the recycling center.

Part of the carpet was taken for a dog kennel. I didn't know people carpeted dog kennels, but that's okay.

I'm sure I could have done better, but I think I did a pretty good job. Happy Earth Day.

Tomorrow I'll give a house update.

More sanding?

Unfortunately.

I got the second coat on yesterday and I'm in the process of sanding. I really dislike sanding this stuff.

DH decided before we started this that he wasn't mudding or sanding. It's a job he hates.

I'll give him this, he's been a man of his word. While I've been cussing and on the verge of tears a few times, he's been in his recliner watching TV.

Lousy man of his word.

I can say I've mudded and sanded 1371.5 square feet of drywall, including the ceiling.

It's done

Hallelujah! Unfortunately we had some casualties. The sander and the shop vac both bit the dust. Literally. Rest in pieces.

Today I've spent some quality time with a broom and dust pan. I'm so glad my granny taught me how to sweep.

In other news, I took the trim to the wood man and he's making me 98 feet of trim to match the original stuff. It should be ready in two weeks. Hopefully I'll be ready for it.

I hate this

But at least I'm on schedule. I started sanding bright and early this morning. I hope to put the second coat on later today. I can only sand for so long before a)I can't breathe for the dust, or b)my hands go numb. It's going to be a long day.

And I thought the ceiling was hard

Well honey, that's nothing compared to the corners. I've got the equivalent of 32 corners to do and have exactly four done. I guess I'd better go get busy.These slackers aren't being any help at all.

Waffle Hair uh, I mean House

Some times life is funny, but then again, not so much.

I'd never ever eaten at a Waffle House until today. Chances are I'll never ever eat at one again. I'm plowing through my breakfast like a farm hand when I spy a hair. I think to myself, hmmm looks like a cat hair, so I start to pull it off the plate. But, it just keeps coming and it's not a cat hair. Ick! That son of a gun was a good 6 to 9 inches long and under half of my food. Gag. Never again. The good news, I didn't blow my diet eating at the Waffle House on Meridian.

I got Mom dropped off at the airport for her impromptu trip to South Carolina. My baby sister's been having some problems and Mom's going to take care of her and try bring her home for a little while. They should be home Saturday.

DH's dad has decided to check himself and MIL out of the nursing home on May 1st so they can spend the summer in the mountains. I hope to Pete it works out okay because that room will go fast and I don't know where they'll lay their heads at night if there's a problem.

DH's dad also insists that you don't have to pay taxes on interest and dividends. Hello? If I get a 1099I or 1099D I'm declaring it and paying the taxes whether he likes it or not. This has turned into a huge debacle and I refuse to participate any longer.

In house news, the wall between the living and dining room is almost finished and I'm nearly done with the dining room ceiling. I'm shooting towards having all of the mud work done by Friday night so I can sand Saturday or Sunday. I'd love to be texturing come Monday.

I've got a crick in my neck, a rip-roaring case of bronchitis, and enough drama to float a boat. I'm not whining. Just telling it like it is.

Playing in the mud and other fun stuff

I'm two-thirds of the way through a 50 pound box of joint compound and I'm not done yet. I've got most of the screw holes covered and am working on the seams. I haven't tackled the ceiling yet.

Here's what DH has been working on. He's building a wall between the living and dining room. Why you ask? Well, remember these? This is where they're going. Now for a home improvement tip. If you should sometime find yourself filling rather large spaces with drywall compound think like a woman.
Get a pastry bag or heavy duty zip top storage bag and pipe it in the crack like frosting. Trust me. It works so much better than trying to cram it in with a putty knife.

Once DH picks himself up off the floor he's going to think I'm brilliant. I just know it.

A better me - week 13 of this diet thing

I'm a little excited. I'm down 2.2 pounds this week for a total of 16.4 pounds lost.

I also have 21 reasons to stay away from clearance Easter candy. I've lost 21 inches since January 5th. That's nearly 2 feet less of me.

I hope everyone is doing well with their diet endeavors.

Happy Easter!

I want to wish each and every one of you a glorious Easter. Stay safe and I hope you enjoy your weekend.

A quick update

Here are the floor boards in their final resting places. I can't wait to sand the floor and get it finished. That job is still a way off.
This spot took the longest because we had to rebuild the subfloor before putting the floor down. I jumped up and down on it and it's sturdy.As of 10 minutes ago we can say the sheet rock is all up and ready for mudding and taping. DH is glad this job is over. He's tired of climbing the ladder. We had lots of holes to cut for outlets and switches. I'm proud to say we only had one miscut and that was around the air vent for the heater. Nothing I can't fix. Now I get to cover up all those screw holes and tape the seams. I can't wait. Finally, something I can do without DH.

Putting the floor before the walls

I had to make an executive decision about the order of operations around here.

DH is ready to hang the sheet rock on the wall next to the old floor furnace, but we have to fix the floor first or risk tearing up the wall getting it in. Ditto the other spots that need floor boards.

I ended up on a flooring hunt that required two trips to OKC because a man told me it wouldn't fit in the trunk and I stupidly believed him. Don't ask. I blame it on the allergy medicine. However, the nice lady knocked $1 a foot off the price for my trouble.

Here is 19 sq feet of quarter sawn red oak flooring. Half-pint, the 20 pound cat, has given her approval. She latches on to anything new brought in and has to give it her approval. She's a control freak that way.Here's the big hole again. We had to drop the furnace unit and rebuild the subfloor so we'd have a place to put the new floor boards.This is what it looks like in place. I managed to get three boards in before I gave out. This is a job for DH. I love to delegate. :)
Tonight we hope to get the floor in and hang a couple of sheets of sheet rock. I'm so ready to have walls again.

In other news, the window treatments for the windows flanking the fireplace came and I can't wait to put them up.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday.

A better me - week 12 of this diet thing

I haven't done one of these posts in a while.

Week 9 I gained 0.4.

Week 10 I lost 0.4.

Week 11 I skipped because I wanted to stay home and throw stuff at my husband.

Which brings us to week 12. I lost 3 pounds bringing my total to 14.2 pounds lost since January 5th.

I'm a little disenchanted with WW right now. The program is fine, but they took my leader away and put someone else in the position. I'll give the new leader a chance, but so far I'm not liking the meetings much.

Wanna see my floor?

Pardon me for not sweeping. The carpet and padding are up and here's what we have. It's always dicey when you have an old house and carpet. There's no telling what you'll find.

How about a big honking hole to fix?Here was another floor furnace. At least this one is replaced with floor boards. Notice the singed wood around the edges. Scary!When all else fails, any old board will do.
Again, just find anything that sorta fits and shove it in there. I spy a little old termite damage.
Have I mentioned that I hate tack strip? It's evil, nasty stuff. It bites and doesn't apologize. Fortunately this is the last of it. I can see some creative doings to make this mess look decent.
Overall, we're tickled with the shape of the floors. It could have been much worse. We've done the floors in four other rooms and they turned out just gorgeous. I don't see any reason why these won't as well.

Who wants to help haul carpet off? Anybody? Hello?

Working on the walls

We made a good start on getting the 1/4 inch sheet rock up on the walls. We had to reframe the doorway into the hall, but it worked out beautifully. Now there's not a lick of rough cut lumber anywhere that I can see.We're using 1/4 inch on the plaster walls and 3/4 inch on the walls we insulated. Somebody remind me later to paint that gas plug.Today's to-do list: Get more sheet rock, pull out carpet and padding along with all those stinking staples, go to WW tonight.

Have a great Monday!

The ceiling is up

We're done with the ceiling. The lift went back to it's owner and it only cost us $130 in ransom, but worth every penny. When I say done I mean done putting the sheet rock up. We're a long way from being done. In fact, we've got six weeks to pull this place together so I can clean house before the kids come to visit.

I'll leave you with a picture of our latest disaster from last night. This is the second masonry bit to bite the dust. They don't do well when they fall 8+ feet and hit the floor. This one actually stuck into the hardwood through the carpet and padding. I buy these two at a time.

Next up, the walls. I miss having walls.

I bought a new old door

Mom and I went door hunting today and this beauty came home with us. I plan to use it between the dining room and kitchen as a replacement swinging door. We found it at an antique store for a good price. You sure couldn't buy a new one for what I paid.
It's missing five panes of glass, but that's an easy fix. A good sanding and a coat of paint will fix it right up.

The swinging door fairies were with me today because I found the swinging hinge on sale for $13.99, regular price almost $100 depending on the finish.

We're four sheets away from being done with the ceiling. The bad news is DH is somewhere in a hole putting joints of pipe together for a water line. We're to the point we need to take down the dining room light and if we wait too late we'll run out of light tonight. The lift has to be back tomorrow by 12:30 or we'll have to pay for a couple of days we won't need it.

In other news, I've been busy picking paint colors, drapes and other window treatments. Now, I think I'll go make a pillow while I wait on DH.

Slow going

I always wanted a ceiling medallion in my living room and now it looks like I'll get to have one. DH doesn't cut circles very good. LOL.

We're still working. We decided to put 1/4 inch sheet rock up on the ceiling and call it good. Much faster and cleaner than tearing out plaster. My only complaint is it's a slow process.

Even with the lift it seems like we can only get about three sheets hung a night before it gets too dark or DH gives out. The good news is we've moved from the living area into the dining area. This is big.

If things keep working like they are now, we should be done hanging sheet rock on the ceiling by Saturday. Cross your fingers.