Home disaster at Xmas time or how to make lemonade out of lemons

16 years ago

Soooooo...here I am so consumed with decorating the house perfectly when my roof decides to leak. I noticed an area of the popcorn ceiling over the fridge bubbeling. When I touched it it was wet and fell down. Panicked me starts to investigate and finds that an area around a vent pipe on my roof is leaking and the water is running through the walls two stories down into my kitchen ceiling. I managed to climb the roof (mind ya I am not very fond of heights and 27 feet up is not my idea of fun) and complete a tar patch job from preventing anymore water from coming in. However I had to open a piece of the ceiling drywall in the kitchen to check just how much water was in there. I found about a 1/4 inch of standing water which I was able to dry out. Now it's a few days before Christmas, family from Texas came into town yesterday, there is just no way I can get this ceiling fixed before the Holidays. What is a decorating fool to do?...lol

Well here is my emergency solution...what do you think?

Hole in the ceiling...

Emergency Santa solution...

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Comments (31)

lynnencfan
16 years ago
OMG - I just LOVE it - So sorry you had the roof/ceiling problem but MAN what an ingenious way to get by during the holidays - great job - big thumbs up......

Lynne
Sandi_W
16 years ago
Tam,

I've been reading a lot online lately about leaking roofs mostly due to snow funneling. I can't believe YOU climbed onto the roof and patched it. Good for you girl!

But, your emergency Santa solution is wonderful! I have to admit I was cracking up when I saw your clouds and airplane. What a great idea.
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Craftlady- Blue raspberry vodka with lemonade...that sounds good and very pretty. You're right, better to find out now, than with half of the house missing! LOL ae2ga- Butterscotch schnapps and Bailey's Irish Cream. Wow! That does sound good...I've got to tell my mom about this drink. She doesn't like very many alcoholic drinks, but I think she would really like that one! Boxerpups- You are so sweet! Thank you for the wonderful pictures and the very nice message. That lavender is so beautiful! As for my new plan, it's really an older plan that I started out with...and looking at it again, I really like it! I made a few changes and added some ideas (like the bump out window seat) but I think it could be even better than the old plan. For one thing, the living room (not shown) doesn't look small, compared to the kitchen/dining area...and the porch is a whole other living space, which is kind of fun. It gives me another room to decorate, too :) Here's the plan, with the work table already pictured, instead of an island, and lots of bookcases (I love books). Bookcases opposite the marble topped work table, against the oven/microwave and a short antique bookcase (my grandmother's) against the wall, by the table. Above that, I have a really pretty gold painted, metal tea cup and saucer holder. I need to take a picture of that and post it. The hutch (not purchased yet) is on the other side of the table. The laundry/pantry area has storage on either side of the bench or table at the far end (which can be easily moved) and the storage is for things like Christmas presents and sewing stuff, I don't use very often. The washer and dryer are on the kitchen side, with a counter for folding, with pull-out hampers below, and upper cabinets above. On the other side (from the small window) is the freezer, the farm sink we found, under another window, with cabinets on both sides and a bench with hooks over it (mini-mudroom). Across from this (backing up to the fridge wall) is a small pantry for larger items. The porch has a hutch and small bistro table, with two or three chairs. The hutch will be full of tea accessories (I have always wanted a place for tea) and the table is the perfect size for two or three people to share tea and conversation...and lavender cookies! The seating area is probably wicker and cushions, with a very small woodstove in the corner and a bench with plants, under the window. Best part...I can put a little crystal chandelier, over the bistro table and a fan over the seating area. Maybe these roof lines, making me change my plan again, is a really good thing, after all! :)
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I'm not sure the status of your plans, but I did work on a couple, based on your current plan. Traffic...I would definitely try to direct traffic through the left side of your kitchen rather than the right. Through-traffic will be in the way of any work being done if the right side is utilized (that's where all the primary work zones are). This means making sure you have a clear path on the left, not cluttered with stools, etc. if the aisle is too narrow. If it is cluttered, people will perceive that the right side is easier to navigate and will use it...even if someone is working there! Seating at an "island"...If you don't really need the storage on the left wall, you might consider eliminating the bookshelves (see Layout #4 below for an example of what might be possible). Pantry/Laundry Room...Just how much pantry storage is there in the "Pantry/Laundry Room"? It looks to me like you have a 30"x12" pantry and a 21" x 24" or so broom/utility cabinet ("Br"). I don't know what "F2" is. How would you feel about moving the door to the Porch and installing a corner pantry? A walled-in pantry might help to reduce the impact of the laundry's steam/heat on the food in the pantry. Plus, it will be "hidden" in case your pantry isn't always "photo ready". See the very last layout for what I'm suggesting. Tall Cabinet or Shelves...As to the bookshelves vs a utility/pantry cabinet to the right of the range, I would actually recommend getting rid of it altogether...unless you really need it. You can store baking supplies in drawers and upper cabinets...meanwhile you gain "permanent" working and landing space b/w the range and oven. Refrigerator...To be able to open the refrigerator door fully (assuming there's a door w/a hinge on the left), you will need to either reduce the depth of that wall to approx 24" or pull the refrigerator out so the refrigerator carcass/box is flush with the "end" of the wall. Some modification (or pulling out) will be needed regardless of depth...counter or standard. I don't recommend a refrigerator with one door with the hinge on the right...it will make it more difficult to get things out of it and place them on some landing space. OK....here they are: .. .. .. .. .. And...no set of layouts is complete without at least one with a prep sink! :-D .. Pantry/Laundry Room: (12" deep shelves on the left; 15" deep shelves on the "top")
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wodka
16 years ago
That is hilarious - way to go! Enjoy your company - they are lucky to have you as their hostess!
yborgal
16 years ago
Love your "fix"!
jaybird
16 years ago
You are an absolute GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!! That is wonderful!!! Merry Christmas to you and your Texas clan...tell them they are a long way from home!
grimmylep
16 years ago
You are very creative! Great job!!

Grimmy
bonniee818
16 years ago
Genius idea!
Looks great.....my dh flys , he would love it!
bonnie
phyl345
16 years ago
how absolutely, brilliantly creative of you! ... i wouldn't have thought of that in a million years & would still be sitting on the floor crying & moaning about my bad luck! ... way to go kiddo!
phyl
kathleen_li
16 years ago
Tam, only you could think of that! It looks adorable, and It think you should do it next year even if you don't have to!!!
Merry Christmas!
thrift_shop_romantic
16 years ago
Oh, that's entirely too funny. Talk about thinking fast on your feet!

--Jenn
maddya
16 years ago
Way too cute indeed! Now enjoy the holidays, and be proud of yourself.
***
Maddya
kareen
16 years ago
Amazing! I too chuckled at how cute and creative it actually is. Now all thats left is to enjoy your family and have a beautiful and dry Christmas . Kareen
prosperity66
16 years ago
My God! What ingenuity!

When I think that if it happened to me, I would still be sitting on my sofa wondering what I would have done... I'm ashamed!

Great job!
shaun
16 years ago
OH that is funny!
donnawb
16 years ago
That is the cutest thing and love that you found away to hide it so you can relax and have a good time. To funny. Sorry about your roof tho.

Merry Christmas!
sharlanet
16 years ago
You get the creative prize of the year. Way to go!
kathi_mdgd
16 years ago
ROFLMAO That is too funny!! Not the leak,but your way of camoflaouging(sp) it.Gave me a good chuckle
Kathi
angelcub
16 years ago
LOL! You need to send a pic of this to one of those diy shows. Who needs a pro roofer when you have batting and a cute ornament or two. If there's a prize for most creative problem solving, you win! : )

Diana
Purplemoon
16 years ago
Tam, you are absolutely AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!
What more can I say, other than "ditto" to all the other posts.

hugs, Karen
minnie_tx
16 years ago
This belongs on one of the home shows fantastic!!
teacats
16 years ago
Well done indeed!! Ingenious! :)
Jim_Andrews
16 years ago
That's hilarious and ingenious! I love it!

Jim A
luvstocraft
16 years ago
Tam, I don't know how you ever came up with that idea, but it is just inspired. So very cute and no one would ever know it wasn't planned. Sorry about the leak problem, but big kudos to you Gal for such a creative solution. ;o) Luvs
piper101
16 years ago
Tam - OMG,,You just gave me a coughing fit. I have a cold but the laughing got me to coughing. That has to be the cleaverist way out of a bad situation I've seen in a long time!!! When I run into a stumbling block, I will think of your creative way out. So cute too!!! Nobody will ever know unless you tell them. All that trouble and no nervous breakdown??? I applaud you right there. I'd be in a bad mood for the rest of the day at least.
yachter123
16 years ago
You are just TOO CLEVER! I wouldn't have thought of that!

Sorry about your leak, it happens though, you pulled it off great, though!
nonacook
16 years ago
Very nice 'fix'!! I love it!
I had my own mini disaster--Hanging limbs from the past hurricanes are beginning to fall and 2 fell on the shed. One made a 6 inch gash in the tin roof. They fell during a rain. All kinds of crafting stuff stored in that shed!
luvstocraft
16 years ago
Nona, I'm beginning to think you need to get out of Florida! My goodness, first all the hurricanes, then someone steals your trailer full of things and now old limbs fall and damage your storage shed during a rain! That is just too much!

Didn't the city or county send crews around to look for and remove old broken limbs after the storms? Seems like that would be a big safety issue--they could fall on someone just as easily as they fell on your shed for goodness sake!

Well, I'm just glad your house wasn't damaged so you are still safe and snug at least. Take care.

Luvs
blizlady
16 years ago
LOL!! This is GREAT! What a wonderful sense of humor you have! I would probably panic and cancel any holiday events. Best wishes to you and your family!!
jayokie
16 years ago
I would NOT have been up on the roof....frantically calling friends, yes. Climbing on the roof...uh, not this gal! What nerves of steel you found! And I love the way you hid the damag...Simply fantastic!!!!
tamgypsy
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you EVERYONE for the nice comments.
None of the family caught on...lol and the solution worked just beautifully. I am dreading pulling it down this coming week because that means reality will hit and I'll have to deal with getting it fixed...LOL
jannie
16 years ago
My biggest disaster was my tree. Instead of my fake pre-lit one,DH insisted he wanted a real tree this year. The Saturday before Christmas,ge was nowhere to be found so I went to the lot alone. Found a bushy round balsam pine for $40 and lugged it home but we couldn't get it to stand up. The tree stand we own just wouldn't work,it kept tipping over. So we dragged it out to the curb, and i went back and got a table top tree for $9. It looks very cute, I was able to put our electric star and two strands of light on it and about two dozen smallish ornaments. Can't post a digital photo, but it was okay. I'm tired of looking at it, I hope to get it down sometime this week. Other than that, Christmas was good, food good, ate a lot, everyone enjoyed their gifts. And Happy New Year. I have my champagne and roast beef ready for tonight. And Eggs Benedict for brunch Jan 1.

Home disaster at Xmas time or how to make lemonade out of lemons

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Home disaster at Xmas time or how to make lemonade out of lemons

Comments (31)

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