First Snow

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! I didn't have to worry about clearing any of it. That was a pleasure. Once the plow came into the parking area between the buildings, all I had to do was move my car to a designated place that had already been plowed. I only had to clean off one side of my car because of the way the fierce winds were blowing.

A crew of strong men cleared the parking lot, the sidewalks and my doorstep. How cool is that?

I used the basement door for coming and going and proved the wisdom of having that vinyl put along that wall in front of the slider and over to the stairs. It worked out perfectly...just as I knew it would.

It was so freakin' cold last night I wasn't able to sleep with my window open. Even open just a crack and the wind was howling. I did manage to cool the room off, but I didn't sleep well knowing the window was closed. I have a draft blocker under my bedroom door and weather stripping all around just so I can sleep with the window open. I know. Some of you think I'm nuts, but there is nothing like fresh air while sleeping under a pile of light-weight comforters...which I will do tonight!

Basement Update

The boys (my two sons) put the vinyl down 2 or 3 weeks ago. The carpet tiles finally came in...only took 2 months.

I have started putting the tiles down and find it's a harder job than I thought. At the perimeter of the space it takes a partial tile and it's more than a half tile.

As I come to the end of carpet tiling, I can see I'm going to be about 12 tiles short. The section I will have to wait for will be where my office space will be, so I can afford to wait. I will be able to bring down the bookcases and all the books. It will feel so good to have that stuff out of my living room.

I'm having my carpet guy come in to do the transition from carpet to vinyl. He'll cut the last row of carpet and put down the transition piece. That way I know it's done correctly. I also want him to cut the two pieces that go around the door frame under the folding doors to the storage area.

The chair that is out for reupholstering is due to come home in a day or two. That chair goes in the living room upstairs. The chair that will stay in the basement and be reupholstered in denim, is the next chair to go.

Little by little it's getting done. It is taking far longer than I thought.

Let me take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with an Abundance of All Good Things!

The Vinyl is Down

Yesterday morning Paul and Andy came over to put the vinyl down on the basement floor. As you see in the photo, it’s only along the short, back wall then “L’s” seamlessly to the bottom of the stairs. You can quite see the "L" in this pic, but it's there.

The rest of the floor will be carpet tiles. Yes! The elusive carpet tiles. Wouldn’t it be nice if they came in early so I could have this done before Anne comes on Dec. 10th?

There’s plenty of vinyl left over to completely cover the floor in the furnace/laundry room. That is going to be awesome!

Thanksgiving

My grandson, Joe, is a United States Marine in Afghanistan. We’re so proud of him and all the men and women serving our country and insuring our safety.

Joe’s family (both sides) and many friends came together in Thankful Celebration yesterday at the Warehouse Point Fire Department meeting room. The WHPFD has a great kitchen with a stove with ovens galore. They also have a great TV, so we were able to watch the Patriots trample the Lions. The food was unbelievable and there was lots of it. It was comforting to have all that family around Andy, Lori and Jonathan, to let them know that they were not alone in their concern for Joe’s safety.

Joe wasn’t with us physically, but he was definitely there in our hearts and prayers.

I have so much to be thankful for. My life has truly been Blessed. I give my Thanks and Gratitude to God.

If the only prayer you say in your life is “Thank You”, that would suffice.
(Meister Eckart, 13th century German, Dominican mystic.)

Thank you.

The Basement Will Be Finished!

Photos:
Left is the vinyl still on the roll.
Right...3 bookcases and 17 boxes of books that do not belong in my living room!

So I had to special order both the vinyl and the carpet tiles. The vinyl is in the house! The roll is downstairs waiting for Paul and Andy to have the time to put it down. It’s beautiful. I love it. Last I checked, the carpet tiles won’t be in until Dec. 9th! Nothing I can do about that. Anne will be here on Dec. 10th…so I guess I’ll have help putting the tiles down. ☺

Once all that is done, I’ll place the furniture. Almost everything is down there now. However, and this is a BIG however, what need to be brought down is not trivial…three bookcases and 17 boxes of books. That is going to take a good-sized work crew of very strong people. I’m buying the pizza and beer!

I recently put a thermometer in the basement and the temperature is two degrees cooler than the upstairs where the thermostat is set at 68°. I don’t think that will be comfortable. But, is not to worry, I have two electric radiators. I think one will do the trick. Come summer, that two degree difference will be wonderful. With the cooling set at 74°, the basement may be even more than two degrees lower.

Down to the Wire

I was determined that today I would find and buy the carpet tiles and vinyl for the basement floor. The vinyl will be along the wall in front of the slider and over to the bottom of the stairs. That way, when I come in with wet shoes or bike tires, I won't be messing up carpeting. The excess vinyl will be put in front of the washer and dryer. That part of the floor is borderline disgusting.

The carpet tiles will be on the remainder of the floor. I intend to install the floor coverings without glue. That means double sided tape. I want to make it as easy as possible for the next owner, 20 or so years down the road, to be able to change the floor covering if they want. The house I just sold had carpet glued down to the cement floor in the basement. I pity the poor guy who wants to get that stuff up. It won't be easy.

What I bought today is custom order so I won't have it for another 2 weeks. I had hoped to have it all done in 2 weeks. Oh, well!

AND, it is also the end of my budget! Actually I went over by $200. If I hadn't taken a large chunk of $$ to pay moving bills I'd still have some left over, but those bills had to be paid. I'm satisfied that it has all worked out as well as it did.

I can't wait to post photos of the completed basement!!!!!!

Critters!

If there’s anything that will set me off, it’s critters. Specifically, critters in my space.

Yesterday afternoon I started hearing a noise coming from behind my fireplace. Then it was on the left side, then the right. What? This kept on for quite a while before I realized it wasn’t my neighbor doing something to her fireplace. The two do not occupy common space.

What ever it was, it was clawing on sheet metal. At one point, I swear I saw the mesh material on the left side of the fireplace bulge out. IT was pushing.

Finally I called the management company and they called an animal control person who called me. Don’t you know this guy knows my kids!

Anyway, I didn’t sleep a wink last night even though Critter Thing hadn’t made any noise since around 9 pm. But it was on my mind and in my fitful dreams. Plus, I knew Frank was going to be here at 6:30. I usually get up at 6, but set the alarm for 5 to be sure I would be up and dressed.

Frank showed up on time and looked around. His inspection of the fireplace showed the flue was open…he closed it…manually. Apparently there is no handle. Hmmm. Anyway, he couldn’t find any way anything could had gotten in, but when it comes to squirrels and chipmunks, they are stealthy!

I have Frank’s card. Should the noise come back all I have to do is call him.

Please. Please. Don’t come back! ☺