saint, let them see it exactly like it is..
..or you will be too tired and they will think
you're a grouchy nut case. LOL

We used to make that mistake too.
Every time someone would call to visit,
we would clean and do until the last minute.

Then later, when we would be on the phone talking about
something else,
they would say "but why are you tired, your house is always
clean and perfect"

I could scream.

LOL, I know the feeling. We had friends over for dinner last night and we're in the middle of a major renovation too. Luckily the friends are do-it-yourselfers too, so we were able to get a few tips from them. Our guests didn't seem to mind the disarray at all, in fact they were quite interested to see our progress.

We've spent the past week in the living room pulling up carpet, which was over plywood, which was over linoleum, to reveal the original 1920's heart pine floors. Now we're trying to get most of the linoleum glue off the wood.

Once that's done, we'll be doing the same to the dining room and kitchen, except instead of carpet there is ceramic tile/plywood/linoleum/glue to remove. I'm already over it!

It really makes you wonder what they were thinking back in the 60's and 70's when they covered up those beautiful wood floors. I guess back then they considered these craftsman style bungalows to be junky old houses in need of updating. We've spent the better part of the past 8 years trying to undo those "updates".

John

I'm glad you both understand my "situation". LOL...

I'm so tired right now, it's not even funny.

John: I have a 1920s Craftsman bungalow also, so I know exactly what you are dealing with!

My current projects include stripping my painted brick fireplace (6 or 7 coats of paint at least on each brick...).

I have the same tile/plywood/linoleum on top of heart pine floors issue in the kitchen. I have read that the 'Silent Paint Remover' works very well on removing the glue. I'm saving that for a 'future' project. Now I know who to go to for rennovation tips on that project! ;-)

None of my friends are DIY'ers, so they all think I'm nutty for taking on these projects.

Oh yeah, this sounds like me too. I can SOOO identify with this whole thing. Too much garden, too many projects and too easily distracted from housework. I've never been a good housekeeper even before I had a big garden so the sad truth is that I'm just messy and mostly don't care. Until someone is coming to my house!

Stash a few things, buy new blooming plants for the hanging baskets, open a bottle of wine and enjoy your old friend.

Kate

Someone you haven't seen in 8 yrs called and wants to spend the day at your house with family in tow? What the heck?
Tell them you'd be glad to meet them somewhere for lunch for an hr or 2 but I don't see why you have to entertain someone's family in the middle of a renovation.

Kristi... grouchy old nut case

I just returned from visiting friends . I kind of wished they hadn't worked so hard to make everything
" perfect " . I much prefer a more lived in cozy home instead of everything so clean and neat .
I would have preferred that they had let us do some of the cooking or bring some food too but they felt obligated to do it all . It is so easy to get caught up in the idea of how you think things should look or how you want them to look when all your visitors want is time with you .
Skip the stress . Scrub the toilet and relax . Ask your visitors for help if needed . Enjoy them !

I agree with all the others, but, you can have them meet you at your house, show them around (listen for their tips and comments), and take them out to a great place to eat, or maybe picnic in a park nearby. They may have just the answer you have been waiting for! And, don't feel bad, if we all don't go though it, we have no idea how it feels, so make the most of your friends' visit and have a great time...none of us know how long we have!

IF it's a good friend she won't mind anyway...surprised the call would come so late though :-( Don't kill yourself, let them see it as is so you can send pictures as the canvas unfolds and becomes your masterpiece ;-)

Tom

Actually, the lack o'notice is pretty typical of many of my friends, so I'm kind of used to it.

I am single/no kids, so many of my married friends 'assume' that means I never have anything going on and/or that I'm available at the drop of a hat. My other friends who are also single tend to provide a bit more advanced notice. ;-)

I think you guys are right. I'm just going to pick up some wine and clean the bathroom and kitchen and trim back the Skyvine. That's it.

They're only going to be here for a day and it's so great to see old friends. This is my best girlfriend from high school and her family. Plus, I think I need a day off from DIY projects anyway.

I still hate how awful my house looks right now...it's BAD!

saint, while you're picking up the tools..
..put your hand on the table and hit it really hard
with the hammer.

Now see, you no longer care how the house looks!

ROTFL, have a great time and enjoy your friends.

Plus, think of it this way, if you put all that mess up
you'll just have to drag it all out again,
and that's double work and time.

Sounds like you already have a handle on it saintp!

My best buddy has a hissy if she sees that I've done anything "special" before she gets here - and she's been around long enough to know if I cheat!

Relax, enjoy and have a great visit!

you need a sign "A clean house is the sign of a wasted life"

I have given up feeling guilty when someone elses' house looks like no one lives in it and their yard looks like an ad for House & Garden.

Close off all the rooms except the living room and guest powder room, open the wine and visit with your friends. If they have kids they just want to relax away from their own messy house lol.

Posted by someone not wasting her life :-)

I have three signs on the wall over my computer. One of them says; "I DON'T DO GUILT".
There will soon be a most apropriate fourth; "A clean house is the sign of a wasted life". Thank you imagardener.
cora ;o)

I think every one has said it, "enjoy and don't stress on the small stuff".
My High School friend and I got together after 20 years! My house was a mess, tore up carpet, plywood floors. After 3 years of getting back together she died! But we had a good time remembering the old days!

Thanks for the advice, the understanding - and the commiserating!

I'm looking forward to my friend and her family's visit! :)

BTW I don't dislike people with pristine houses, it is just beyond my capabilities to put away all the books, magazines, maps, seeds that need to be filed, albums that need to be filled, etc, etc. The "wasted lives" part is too harsh. Maybe the sign I need is "Welcome to our mess".

Denise

How about :
Welcome to my home . It doesn't always look this way . Sometimes it's even worse !

I had the best, best time today! You'd think we were 16 yeard old girls again. We laughed so much - my face still hurts.

I took them to Northshore park for a walk along the beach. We went into the Palm Tree Arboreum - which the kids liked a lot.The kids later went to the Pier and to the aquarium.

Later, we sat out on my patio for wine and cocktails and just relaxed, enjoyed the weather and the birds and our visit.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to not sweat the small stuff. No one cared about the construction goin on. It's funny how we 'worry' about these things sometimes.

Any way, this was a great day!

When I was a kid, my mother's long lost cousin decided to visit in the middle of the kitchen renovation. When I say the middle, I mean the part where there really isn't a kitchen and the fridge is in the dining room and you're cooking on a plug-in burner in the den.

Mom served up one of her signature breakfasts on the porch. Eggs, bacon, muffins, fresh peaches and cream, juice, the whole deal, all on the family china that their mutual great-aunt hand-painted during the Depression. All mom did was unearth the china and clean the porch, realizing pretty early on it was the only thing that could be cleaned. I think she made my brother and me take baths too.

Her cousin commented she had the most lovely old Southern porch for breakfasts.

Of course, I'm not sure we let her in the house to use the bathroom.... I distinctly recall explaining to one of her kids that it was much more fun to pee in the bushes out back, like camping. Mama could clean me up, but she couldn't quite tame me.