Wow, y'all have great ideas! Thank you for joining in!! Here's the bathroom skinny so far. The house has 1 3/4 baths, with the toilet/shower/sink bath being off the master bedroom. The full bath is the "main bath". It's in the hallway amidst the bedrooms, and we started with the main bath just because it had a tub - we'd rather wrangle kids in the tub than the shower. (It also turned out to be far less structurally damaged than the other bath, thankfully.)
It was a small bathroom (5'x8'). When the door was open, it cleared the toilet by less than an inch (never open that door if someone might be sitting!!) The vanity was just to the left of the door (the 5' is the depth as you look in, and the 8' was the width). The vanity took up all the space from the wall to the door jamb, front-to-back, side-to-side ~ a vast expanse of counter with one lone sink in the middle. The toilet was *right there* to the right of it, in front of the door. The tub was hidden behind the door when the door was open, and the tub spanned the width of the bath on the far right-hand side. That was it. Step in, scootch one hiney cheek onto the vanity counter so you can shut the door, and then step into the tub. Small, compact, and considering everything (except for the rot and such) pretty efficiently laid out for the space constraints.
What we've done/are doing now:
1) That door? Gone. Putting in a pocket door so we don't hog space in the bath or seal off the hallway. Yay!
2) Everything else is gone, down to the joists and studs now. The back wall to the right, which housed the back of the tub, was removed and a new one built a foot farther out. That took a foot from the fourth bedroom, but eh, we'll use the bathroom more often than a fourth bedroom. No regrets, there.
3) The 24" deep, single sink laminate vanity will be replaced by a 22" deep marble twin sink vanity. We'll have to shave a half inch off the ends of the top to make it fit in the 5' space, but that's better than going with one sink instead of the two we'd really like (there'll be a lot of people at the sink every day for the next umpteen years). To get a double sink in a solid surface counter that isn't custom made *cha-ching*, it has to be just a hair over 60", minimum. We're shaving the hairs off right at 60", so we're getting creative. This will give us just a bit more cubic space at the entrance, double sinks, a solid surface counter, and I can get a stock 60" vanity cabinet to put in there. WOOHOO!
4) Toilet. Well, it's a toilet. I know there are myriad options, but this isn't one I wanted to wrestle. It's going to catch urine. The urine of four teenaged boys. And their friends. We went with the one-piece toilet, for obvious reasons. :-)
5) Bathtub/shower. I started with the standard, "what'll fit in there that's in stock?" approach. Zorak, however, had other plans. I like his plans much better than mine. I do love a bath. I do love a deep bath wherein I don't have to roll from side to side to keep warm. Bless him for thinking of that. We'll use the tub/shower combo daily. It's a good investment. And there's already a second shower via the master bath, which is going to get the whomperdine Tuscan Villa Resort treatment in the spring sometime. *cheesy grin*
6) Flooring. It was molded (as in green, not decorative) vinyl over rotted MDF. Lovely, cushiony sensation to walk on, but not much to look at. Not terribly inspiring for those with a chronic fear of falling through the floor, either. We have to jack the floor up about 1/2" over the next few days (another surprise, but not too bad - we'll work in the kitchen while the house is getting it's, erm, tummy tuck). When that's done, we'll put in tile flooring.
*decadent sigh* This is so. much. fun. hee hee. Although, honestly, I much prefer the planning over the shopping. Ugh. Too many faucet choices. Too many things to consider that I didn't ever think about considering (and would rather not start now, but there's that whole "matching accessories" thing going on in there...) However, when you find the CSR at Home Depot or Lowe's who really enjoys the projects and his area of expertise, it's quite painless.
Oh, Lighting. Lighting has me a bit stumped. I think we'll go with a sealed, recessed canister light in the ceiling over the bath/toilet area. And I'd prefer to do the side-lighting on the vanity than the glaring overhead circus bulbs we've always lived with. However, with such a span, I'm not sure if maybe we'll need lighting in the middle, too? I don't. It's tempting to buy eight dozen of those round touch lamps and hook 'em all up to The Clapper or something. Something that doesn't require more shopping in order to plan. *grin*
Anyhow, that's the thing on the bathroom. It's not "This Old House" quality remodeling, I'm sure. But it's ours. And it's safe now. Y-a-y.
(Patty, the back deck is a prime spot for a hot tub!! It's not in the immediate future, but it's on the map, definitely! Mmmm, that sounds so heavenly right now...)
Thank you for sharing your great ideas and suggestions and - as always - cute stories. This is a fun phase in our life right now, but it's exhausting. So it's nice to come home at the end of the day, plop down with a cup of coffee and enjoy being greeted by your comments and emails. Thanks!
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
If you don't mind the construction dust, come on in. The coffee's hot, the food's good, and the door is open...
Thursday, October 27
Bath question.
Do you think a 44" tub is too wide (from the wall, sticking into the bathroom) to put in a 5'x9' bathroom? It's curved, but I can't find the dimensions of the shallower end bits, just the part that sticks out the farthest.
It's a really great looking tub, and that's a lot of room (you could pile four children, or two adults in there quite easily)...
but there's not a lot of room in the room...
Ideas???
Other than that, a quiet day, and as you can see, it's well after midnight. I'll blog more over coffee in the morning.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
It's a really great looking tub, and that's a lot of room (you could pile four children, or two adults in there quite easily)...
but there's not a lot of room in the room...
Ideas???
Other than that, a quiet day, and as you can see, it's well after midnight. I'll blog more over coffee in the morning.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
Tuesday, October 25
So Normal, It's Scary
Today was...
It was...
Um...
That was nice! I hesitate to say it aloud, but I think we might be getting into... you know, that thing... that's like a rut... only... Not Bad. (Starts with a G, but don't say it!)
I'm amazed the difference going to bed before three AM makes. I've actually been hitting the hay around midnight, giving me a solid six hours sleep. That most likely has a lot to do with the new flow to our days. Or at least, my new flow. The boys are their typical rowdy, frolicking, playful, happy selves. I'm just no longer grouchy with them about it. This might be worth making a habit, eh?
You will not believe this, but we did math today. That makes two days IN A ROW that we've done both Language Arts and math! We almost feel productive. *sheepish grin* The boys also had several spurts of independent reading, which was nice, as I hopped on the bookwagon and did some of my own, as well. (Currently reading The Oxford Book of Gothic Short Stories and Don Quixote. Finished Quicksilver, and am reminded why I swore after finishing the Aubrey-Maturin series that I would not pick up another book with sequels. Now I have to go back to the library and try to find the second book.)
Lunch was yummy: rice with broiled pork chops and sliced apples. Supper was easy tonight: roast in the crockpot with 'taters, pintos with garlic, sliced cucumbers, and for dessert - ice cream with sprinkles! The roast came out like prime rib! I felt like I could take on Betty Crocker herself and only get mildly whooped.
James improvised a "new knot" today, then tried it out by making hammocks to sling from the top bunk. They worked! The boys spent a good four hours of the day suspended, swinging freely between the beds. It was like a gargantuan butterfly garden at hatching time!
Zorak is back out at the FH, doing his thing. Tomorrow he'll take a break and take the boys to Pioneer Club so I can pester the Lowe's guy on faucets and bathtubs a bit more. That's just not something best done with children in tow, so I truly appreciate the reprieve!
And here it is, a little after eight - the house is clean, the boys are all asleep, laundry's caught up... I'm going to go play!
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
It was...
Um...
That was nice! I hesitate to say it aloud, but I think we might be getting into... you know, that thing... that's like a rut... only... Not Bad. (Starts with a G, but don't say it!)
I'm amazed the difference going to bed before three AM makes. I've actually been hitting the hay around midnight, giving me a solid six hours sleep. That most likely has a lot to do with the new flow to our days. Or at least, my new flow. The boys are their typical rowdy, frolicking, playful, happy selves. I'm just no longer grouchy with them about it. This might be worth making a habit, eh?
You will not believe this, but we did math today. That makes two days IN A ROW that we've done both Language Arts and math! We almost feel productive. *sheepish grin* The boys also had several spurts of independent reading, which was nice, as I hopped on the bookwagon and did some of my own, as well. (Currently reading The Oxford Book of Gothic Short Stories and Don Quixote. Finished Quicksilver, and am reminded why I swore after finishing the Aubrey-Maturin series that I would not pick up another book with sequels. Now I have to go back to the library and try to find the second book.)
Lunch was yummy: rice with broiled pork chops and sliced apples. Supper was easy tonight: roast in the crockpot with 'taters, pintos with garlic, sliced cucumbers, and for dessert - ice cream with sprinkles! The roast came out like prime rib! I felt like I could take on Betty Crocker herself and only get mildly whooped.
James improvised a "new knot" today, then tried it out by making hammocks to sling from the top bunk. They worked! The boys spent a good four hours of the day suspended, swinging freely between the beds. It was like a gargantuan butterfly garden at hatching time!
Zorak is back out at the FH, doing his thing. Tomorrow he'll take a break and take the boys to Pioneer Club so I can pester the Lowe's guy on faucets and bathtubs a bit more. That's just not something best done with children in tow, so I truly appreciate the reprieve!
And here it is, a little after eight - the house is clean, the boys are all asleep, laundry's caught up... I'm going to go play!
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
Monday, October 24
Not "too" normal, but good.
Today was Smidge's New Patient dental visit. He was none too compliant, but very sweet about it. I guess that's something. He loved the tongue cleaner, though... and by hanging him upside down like a bat, we got him to laugh enough to count his teeth. The hygienist let the boys shoot the water gun (man, why weren't dentists that cool when I was a kid?!? Everyone in that office is amazing!) And we go back on Thursday for the boys to have their work begun. This is more time than I care to spend at the dentist's office, but it's good stuff and needs to be done. We have a lot of catching up to do. Weeee!
The boys and I ran errands this morning after the dentist's visit. They were wonderfully helpful and have been so patient with all the upheaval. Then, for a special treat, we headed to a matinee to see Wallace & Grommit. YIKES! It has, evidently, been a long, long time since we've been to the theater! The cost of taking the four of us to a matinee was more than I'd have anticipated for taking all five of us to an evening show. No wonder Netflix is so popular! However, you'd have thought the boys had fallen through the Looking Glass and into some magic land. It was worth it. The boys wanted to sit Up Front. Oh, I've never been able to understand my poor mother quite so well... *sigh* So we started out in the front row, and within a few seconds everyone voted to scootch back. I'm glad it was their suggestion, and I have no idea how in the world I could ever stand sitting *that close* to the screen!!
We'd talked ahead of time about some of the inappropriate things they might see in the movie, and at one point James did lean over and whisper, "I'm glad you warned us about that. It would have been embarrassing if we weren't prepared for it." Yeah, I know. But in all, the movie was cute. We got a lot of laughter out of it, so it was good. It was a bit loud - for all of us - and pretty overwhelming for Smidge (although he sat in my lap and laughed quite a bit).
Zorak is out at the Forever Home tonight, doing a little solo work. He called a while back to say it was coming along nicely. I think he's enjoying the process, and that time alone is good stuff, really. There's just something very fulfilling, I think, for a man to tend to his own home - a sense of satisfaction in making it not only safe, but nice for his herd. The upkeep, hearth-warming, bookshelf-stocking, and general sustenance are my realm, but this - the roots and foundation building - this speaks to his desire to provide in so many ways. I love seeing him this happy. (And on a purely selfish note, I truly adore being the recipient of his love and the focus of his desires. I'm so blessed!)
Oh! Big News!! Our Wonderful Neighbors From AZ, Ben & Claudia, closed on their house today! They're now Alabama homeowners, and I had to giggle when she called because my first thought was, "The commune gathering has begun!" Yay!! They were still waiting for a moving van to come available when last we spoke today (because, you know, reservations mean nothing in that world...) I don't envy them the move, but boy, oh boy, are we excited for them to be close again!
That's about it. We enjoyed a day of reading, talking, working and playing. We hugged and giggled a lot. It was good. It was Intentional and wonderful. Oh, it was also COLD, so the boys got to wear their new coats Aunt B sent them. Everywhere we went, the old guys gravitated to them to comment on their "cowboy gear" (the coats are these awesome, tan suede-like coats w/ cream fleece lining, cuffs and collars - very cool, indeed!) The boys simply beamed and beamed. We sure do appreciate it when strangers find a kind word and a smile to share with the little ones. I don't know if they know how much it means... or perhaps they do. Sure makes the days a bit brighter, regardless.
And since Winter simply refuses to wait for me to get on it and finish those scarves, I think I'll take this opportunity for a little quiet time to do some knitting (haven't sworn in twenty or so rows!!)
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
The boys and I ran errands this morning after the dentist's visit. They were wonderfully helpful and have been so patient with all the upheaval. Then, for a special treat, we headed to a matinee to see Wallace & Grommit. YIKES! It has, evidently, been a long, long time since we've been to the theater! The cost of taking the four of us to a matinee was more than I'd have anticipated for taking all five of us to an evening show. No wonder Netflix is so popular! However, you'd have thought the boys had fallen through the Looking Glass and into some magic land. It was worth it. The boys wanted to sit Up Front. Oh, I've never been able to understand my poor mother quite so well... *sigh* So we started out in the front row, and within a few seconds everyone voted to scootch back. I'm glad it was their suggestion, and I have no idea how in the world I could ever stand sitting *that close* to the screen!!
We'd talked ahead of time about some of the inappropriate things they might see in the movie, and at one point James did lean over and whisper, "I'm glad you warned us about that. It would have been embarrassing if we weren't prepared for it." Yeah, I know. But in all, the movie was cute. We got a lot of laughter out of it, so it was good. It was a bit loud - for all of us - and pretty overwhelming for Smidge (although he sat in my lap and laughed quite a bit).
Zorak is out at the Forever Home tonight, doing a little solo work. He called a while back to say it was coming along nicely. I think he's enjoying the process, and that time alone is good stuff, really. There's just something very fulfilling, I think, for a man to tend to his own home - a sense of satisfaction in making it not only safe, but nice for his herd. The upkeep, hearth-warming, bookshelf-stocking, and general sustenance are my realm, but this - the roots and foundation building - this speaks to his desire to provide in so many ways. I love seeing him this happy. (And on a purely selfish note, I truly adore being the recipient of his love and the focus of his desires. I'm so blessed!)
Oh! Big News!! Our Wonderful Neighbors From AZ, Ben & Claudia, closed on their house today! They're now Alabama homeowners, and I had to giggle when she called because my first thought was, "The commune gathering has begun!" Yay!! They were still waiting for a moving van to come available when last we spoke today (because, you know, reservations mean nothing in that world...) I don't envy them the move, but boy, oh boy, are we excited for them to be close again!
That's about it. We enjoyed a day of reading, talking, working and playing. We hugged and giggled a lot. It was good. It was Intentional and wonderful. Oh, it was also COLD, so the boys got to wear their new coats Aunt B sent them. Everywhere we went, the old guys gravitated to them to comment on their "cowboy gear" (the coats are these awesome, tan suede-like coats w/ cream fleece lining, cuffs and collars - very cool, indeed!) The boys simply beamed and beamed. We sure do appreciate it when strangers find a kind word and a smile to share with the little ones. I don't know if they know how much it means... or perhaps they do. Sure makes the days a bit brighter, regardless.
And since Winter simply refuses to wait for me to get on it and finish those scarves, I think I'll take this opportunity for a little quiet time to do some knitting (haven't sworn in twenty or so rows!!)
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
Oops, technical correction...
Never blog so late at night!
"calibre" is not the correct word, referencing the .22's mentioned in yesterday's post. It is actually the "Super Colibri .22", and is available from Aguila. They rock. They're seriously quieter than you would ever expect, and are a lot of fun to shoot.
I apologize for winging it on the spelling.
Dy
"calibre" is not the correct word, referencing the .22's mentioned in yesterday's post. It is actually the "Super Colibri .22", and is available from Aguila. They rock. They're seriously quieter than you would ever expect, and are a lot of fun to shoot.
I apologize for winging it on the spelling.
Dy
Sunday, October 23
The Remodel, Day 9
Ahhh, today was better. We installed the "First New Board" in our Forever Home. It went in (say it with me) The Bathroom. The boys signed their names on it. James titled it, and Zorak dated it. We got pics, of course, since (God willing) we'll never see it again after we're finished. It's lovely.
Zorak then proceeded to finish replacing the rotted boards, chalking the line for the new wall, planning venting. (Side note: were you aware that every drain is supposed to have a corresponding vent? Sinks included. We've ripped out a lot of sinks before and have yet to see one - this house is no exception- but it's true. One of the things a vent will do is prevent other drains from gurgling when you flush, drain, or run water in your pipes. The more ya know...)
I ripped up carpet and padding in the study and dismantled the erstwhile coat closet turned* utility room. It's ready for framing the last wall and will get subfloor and rough-in during the week. It's going to be strange to see the house with internal walls again someday.
While Smidge napped, the boys explored the Joys of Flight. There's a swinging monkey bar on their swingset and I guess they tired of leaping from the swings themselves because suddenly James came galloping up the steps, shouting, "I FLEW!! And I SAT in THIN AIR!" He was so proud (and wasn't bleeding), so we congratulated him and went back to work. Not ten minutes later, James came bolting into the house shouting, "John tried to fly, but gravity kicked in and he's HURT!" Well, John was up and walking, but a bit bruised and obviously uncomfortable. It seems their flying scheme involved the same stunts tried by children of every generation since the invention of the monkey bars: hang by some appendage, start swinging, and let go at the height of your swing! They don't even have playmates to teach them these things on the school grounds! Some curiosities are simply genetically ingrained, and we comfort ourselves with the knowledge that if it weren't for that drive, man would still be using the donkey cart for transport and crossing oceans on the occasional land bridge rather than by boat or plane. The sound barrier would still be unbroken, and our world would not be as rich as it is.
We sat for a while and I told them a Mommy story about my exploits on the monkey bars when I was a little girl. Within a few minutes, the tears had dried and been replaced by giggles, snickers, and all-out guffaws. Soon, they were off to perfect their landings and I meandered back into the house feeling like I'd just glimpsed something pretty special, thankful that it didn't include capes or a trip to the ER.
The boys played and played and played. Then they came in for snacks and a movie. The movie picking session wasn't your Classical Homeschooler's media event daydream. Among the selections from which to choose were such classic titles as Pollyanna, Old Yeller, The Adventures of Huck Finn. The choice? By unanimous vote (even Smidge raised his hand in the air and said, "Me! Me!") they picked Tom & Jerry. Well, for five bucks and an hour's peace, I am SO good with that. Plus, we don't have any problems with these cartoons. We enjoyed them as kids. (And we've had The Talk about anvils and, on a similar vein, ordering anything, ever from ACME.) Charlotte Mason can help me bridge the gap after we're moved in. Right now, we're in survival mode.
Wow. The video is about an hour long, and they did not stop laughing. At all. James had tears running down his cheeks more than once. John was laughing so hard he choked. Smidge giggled so hard, for so long, that he had to lay on the sleeping bag. The laughter was so non-stop that Zorak and I found ourselves chuckling three rooms away; not because of the video, but because of the boys. That was five bucks well spent.
We threw out more stuff, pulled more nails than I can count. It was a wonderfully productive day. Then, to unwind a bit and provide a little cheap entertainment (because little boys, and big boys, love to see things explode) we took one of the commodes out to the field... and shot it. The calibre .22's aren't tough enough to do any damage to it, but your basic .22LR will do the trick on the tank. Even those will only chip the bowl, though, so we'll take the shotgun out next time. (Yes, shooting is legal out where we are. We checked first.)
We dined at Chez Taco Bell, enjoyed a wonderful evening together, and the boys were comatose by the time we pulled into the apartment parking lot at eight. It was, truly, a great day.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
*edited b/c Jess pointed out that I hadn't used the, erm, best term to post on the 'net. *blush* Thanks for watching my back while I'm too tired to think straight!*
Zorak then proceeded to finish replacing the rotted boards, chalking the line for the new wall, planning venting. (Side note: were you aware that every drain is supposed to have a corresponding vent? Sinks included. We've ripped out a lot of sinks before and have yet to see one - this house is no exception- but it's true. One of the things a vent will do is prevent other drains from gurgling when you flush, drain, or run water in your pipes. The more ya know...)
I ripped up carpet and padding in the study and dismantled the erstwhile coat closet turned* utility room. It's ready for framing the last wall and will get subfloor and rough-in during the week. It's going to be strange to see the house with internal walls again someday.
While Smidge napped, the boys explored the Joys of Flight. There's a swinging monkey bar on their swingset and I guess they tired of leaping from the swings themselves because suddenly James came galloping up the steps, shouting, "I FLEW!! And I SAT in THIN AIR!" He was so proud (and wasn't bleeding), so we congratulated him and went back to work. Not ten minutes later, James came bolting into the house shouting, "John tried to fly, but gravity kicked in and he's HURT!" Well, John was up and walking, but a bit bruised and obviously uncomfortable. It seems their flying scheme involved the same stunts tried by children of every generation since the invention of the monkey bars: hang by some appendage, start swinging, and let go at the height of your swing! They don't even have playmates to teach them these things on the school grounds! Some curiosities are simply genetically ingrained, and we comfort ourselves with the knowledge that if it weren't for that drive, man would still be using the donkey cart for transport and crossing oceans on the occasional land bridge rather than by boat or plane. The sound barrier would still be unbroken, and our world would not be as rich as it is.
We sat for a while and I told them a Mommy story about my exploits on the monkey bars when I was a little girl. Within a few minutes, the tears had dried and been replaced by giggles, snickers, and all-out guffaws. Soon, they were off to perfect their landings and I meandered back into the house feeling like I'd just glimpsed something pretty special, thankful that it didn't include capes or a trip to the ER.
The boys played and played and played. Then they came in for snacks and a movie. The movie picking session wasn't your Classical Homeschooler's media event daydream. Among the selections from which to choose were such classic titles as Pollyanna, Old Yeller, The Adventures of Huck Finn. The choice? By unanimous vote (even Smidge raised his hand in the air and said, "Me! Me!") they picked Tom & Jerry. Well, for five bucks and an hour's peace, I am SO good with that. Plus, we don't have any problems with these cartoons. We enjoyed them as kids. (And we've had The Talk about anvils and, on a similar vein, ordering anything, ever from ACME.) Charlotte Mason can help me bridge the gap after we're moved in. Right now, we're in survival mode.
Wow. The video is about an hour long, and they did not stop laughing. At all. James had tears running down his cheeks more than once. John was laughing so hard he choked. Smidge giggled so hard, for so long, that he had to lay on the sleeping bag. The laughter was so non-stop that Zorak and I found ourselves chuckling three rooms away; not because of the video, but because of the boys. That was five bucks well spent.
We threw out more stuff, pulled more nails than I can count. It was a wonderfully productive day. Then, to unwind a bit and provide a little cheap entertainment (because little boys, and big boys, love to see things explode) we took one of the commodes out to the field... and shot it. The calibre .22's aren't tough enough to do any damage to it, but your basic .22LR will do the trick on the tank. Even those will only chip the bowl, though, so we'll take the shotgun out next time. (Yes, shooting is legal out where we are. We checked first.)
We dined at Chez Taco Bell, enjoyed a wonderful evening together, and the boys were comatose by the time we pulled into the apartment parking lot at eight. It was, truly, a great day.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
*edited b/c Jess pointed out that I hadn't used the, erm, best term to post on the 'net. *blush* Thanks for watching my back while I'm too tired to think straight!*
The Remodel, Day 8
We have ordered neuralizers and they should be in by Tuesday. After that date, we will have absolutely no recollection of Day 8 in the remodel. We have agreed to leave no written record so that it will remain that way.
~The Demolition Crew
~The Demolition Crew
Friday, October 21
The Remodel, Day 7
Full day today, and we're all pooped. But the main bathroom is ready for subflooring and rough-in!!
***Pause here to do my Caddyshack gopher dance!!!***
We had to yank the entire master bath today. The shower came out and it was worse under there than we'd anticipated (if you can believe that). I think we wriggled something else loose, too, because then the sink began spewing water and we figured we'd might as well yank it all out. Let it dry. Work on it tomorrow. While it wasn't what we'd hoped to do today, it was on the radar anyway. So, better now, and we have more room to maneuver and work. So, it's good.
Our construction dumpster *finally* arrived this afternoon! We've had some serious Bad Neighbor action building up on the front porch, the balcony, and in the living room, and were running out of places to put the torn out materials, so its arrival today was cause for celebration. The driver was great! The boys had a blast watching him drop the container from the truck, and he showed them how it all works. Good stuff, there. And I'm so thankful he could get over the culvert! WooHoo!
The boys are really hanging in there. They love, love, LOVE the pickup and spent a great deal of time hanging out in the bed for snacks and Just Because. They also spent several hours throwing tile off the balcony into the dumpster that finally arrived. We threw the tub in and made that the "target" for them to aim for, and it was definitely a fun-filled time! They did great, and the front porch is nearly cleared off now (I kept their ammo fresh by bringing the stuff out in a wheelbarrow).
Zorak had to throw the big stuff overboard. I tried one, and while it wasn't too heavy to lug up 'n over, it did catch on my belly on the way up. I'm not terribly coordinated at the best and thinnest of times, but this thing really seems to jut out there. So, Em and I decided we'd rather go hang out with Spartacus and do subfloor duty. :-)
Oh, guys, it's starting to look So. Good.
And FALL IS COMING! (Yes, yes, I know it's been "fall" for a month.) There are little spurts of red and orange popping up on the property. The sunlight filters through the leaves so beautifully, and there's been a (yay!) breeze all day! It was all I could do not to grab a blanket and a cup of coffee and curl up on the balcony to stare into space. (Well, and my aversion to getting beaned by toppling acorns helped curb that desire a bit, too... what is the velocity of an acorn at the end of a 40' fall, anyhow?) Oh, but it is a gorgeous time of year to gut a house!
Zorak needs the computer to do a little HomeWork, and I've got to go hose off and pamper myself with a little reading before bed. Tomorrow is a big, big day! Yay!
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
Oh, I almost forgot. I think Zorak lost it today. We went to lunch at a quaint little diner in town. (It is THE only sit-down restaurant in our town.) As usual, the boys attracted a lot of attention, and as usual, at least one person just had to ask if we've figured out what causes that yet. Zorak laughed and said, without missing a beat, "Of course! Why do you think we have so many?" I nearly choked on my okra, but the Questioner laughed heartily -- and stopped asking cliche questions. GO ZORAK!
***Pause here to do my Caddyshack gopher dance!!!***
We had to yank the entire master bath today. The shower came out and it was worse under there than we'd anticipated (if you can believe that). I think we wriggled something else loose, too, because then the sink began spewing water and we figured we'd might as well yank it all out. Let it dry. Work on it tomorrow. While it wasn't what we'd hoped to do today, it was on the radar anyway. So, better now, and we have more room to maneuver and work. So, it's good.
Our construction dumpster *finally* arrived this afternoon! We've had some serious Bad Neighbor action building up on the front porch, the balcony, and in the living room, and were running out of places to put the torn out materials, so its arrival today was cause for celebration. The driver was great! The boys had a blast watching him drop the container from the truck, and he showed them how it all works. Good stuff, there. And I'm so thankful he could get over the culvert! WooHoo!
The boys are really hanging in there. They love, love, LOVE the pickup and spent a great deal of time hanging out in the bed for snacks and Just Because. They also spent several hours throwing tile off the balcony into the dumpster that finally arrived. We threw the tub in and made that the "target" for them to aim for, and it was definitely a fun-filled time! They did great, and the front porch is nearly cleared off now (I kept their ammo fresh by bringing the stuff out in a wheelbarrow).
Zorak had to throw the big stuff overboard. I tried one, and while it wasn't too heavy to lug up 'n over, it did catch on my belly on the way up. I'm not terribly coordinated at the best and thinnest of times, but this thing really seems to jut out there. So, Em and I decided we'd rather go hang out with Spartacus and do subfloor duty. :-)
Oh, guys, it's starting to look So. Good.
And FALL IS COMING! (Yes, yes, I know it's been "fall" for a month.) There are little spurts of red and orange popping up on the property. The sunlight filters through the leaves so beautifully, and there's been a (yay!) breeze all day! It was all I could do not to grab a blanket and a cup of coffee and curl up on the balcony to stare into space. (Well, and my aversion to getting beaned by toppling acorns helped curb that desire a bit, too... what is the velocity of an acorn at the end of a 40' fall, anyhow?) Oh, but it is a gorgeous time of year to gut a house!
Zorak needs the computer to do a little HomeWork, and I've got to go hose off and pamper myself with a little reading before bed. Tomorrow is a big, big day! Yay!
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
Oh, I almost forgot. I think Zorak lost it today. We went to lunch at a quaint little diner in town. (It is THE only sit-down restaurant in our town.) As usual, the boys attracted a lot of attention, and as usual, at least one person just had to ask if we've figured out what causes that yet. Zorak laughed and said, without missing a beat, "Of course! Why do you think we have so many?" I nearly choked on my okra, but the Questioner laughed heartily -- and stopped asking cliche questions. GO ZORAK!
Gearing Up
We are learning that it is difficult to switch gears so drastically, and so often, but we are learning, which is good. We spend three days working non-stop on the house, with very little actual interaction with the boys (which we hate, to be honest, but it's a necessary evil for the short term), then spend the next four days trying to get back in the Normal Groove. So far, it's been on that last day that we hit the groove, just in time to gear back up for another three-day round of work.
Today was significantly more Intentional than yesterday, and we all felt the difference. I am so thankful for today, as it regenerated our spirits, soothed our rough edges, and infused us with a renewed enthusiasm for the coming days' work.
Today we read counting stories to Smidge; we sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to Emily (at least that's what we think we'll be calling her); the boys and I explored the world of genetics and albinism, the realm of the whales, and the mysteries of numbers. Today the boys and I talked more, touched more, laughed more, and played more than we have all week. We also did an inordinate amount of laundry, general housework, cooking, and baking (wheat free gingerbread cookies!!) I got more sleep last night, which made a tremendous difference. The boys took their time savoring the delicious parts of the day, and sharing them with us. That was nice, as well.
Tomorrow begins another round of frenetic activity. This weekend is a big push. I'm not sure what we need to have accomplished by Sunday evening, but it looks pretty big from the sketches we've done so far. It's a little scary, and I know that we've undertaken a truly astronomical task, considering the circumstances, but it's still do-able, and still quite thrilling. And we've only got three weeks and one day to have it in a condition which will allow inhabitation. Eek. That's both good news and really, really scary news! Since I'm fairly well-rested at the moment, it seems brighter than it might otherwise feel. Remind me of this Sunday night, when I'm dead on my feet and convinced we'll have to live in the basement for the next ten years, ok?
All is well, but I promised myself I'd get to bed at a "decent hour" tonight, and well, that has long since passed... so, to bed.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
Today was significantly more Intentional than yesterday, and we all felt the difference. I am so thankful for today, as it regenerated our spirits, soothed our rough edges, and infused us with a renewed enthusiasm for the coming days' work.
Today we read counting stories to Smidge; we sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to Emily (at least that's what we think we'll be calling her); the boys and I explored the world of genetics and albinism, the realm of the whales, and the mysteries of numbers. Today the boys and I talked more, touched more, laughed more, and played more than we have all week. We also did an inordinate amount of laundry, general housework, cooking, and baking (wheat free gingerbread cookies!!) I got more sleep last night, which made a tremendous difference. The boys took their time savoring the delicious parts of the day, and sharing them with us. That was nice, as well.
Tomorrow begins another round of frenetic activity. This weekend is a big push. I'm not sure what we need to have accomplished by Sunday evening, but it looks pretty big from the sketches we've done so far. It's a little scary, and I know that we've undertaken a truly astronomical task, considering the circumstances, but it's still do-able, and still quite thrilling. And we've only got three weeks and one day to have it in a condition which will allow inhabitation. Eek. That's both good news and really, really scary news! Since I'm fairly well-rested at the moment, it seems brighter than it might otherwise feel. Remind me of this Sunday night, when I'm dead on my feet and convinced we'll have to live in the basement for the next ten years, ok?
All is well, but I promised myself I'd get to bed at a "decent hour" tonight, and well, that has long since passed... so, to bed.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
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