Happy Days are here again
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago
7 years agorouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Yee-Haaaa.....The House!
Comments (13)Shades, I sincerely hope I am up to it. I'll be in the way of every subcontractor on the job. I picked up enough of the American Olean 2x4" subway tile squares yesterday for the backsplash at Lowes. I already have the tiles for the exterior wall behind the shower outdoors. I used those tiles in larger format for the master closet floor, and in the mosaic 2x2 sq ft format on mesh for the master bathroom. I like them. They are Italian porcelain not glazed, just total same color all the way through the tile. The hardness on those are rated 5, the very hardest, for public spaces indoors and outdoors, and they don't crack with the cold. Not that I have to worry about that here, I'd be more critical of that rating if I lived in Alaska or some place really cold. I think the most critical parts of the whole remodel will be the roof, the quality of the floor installation, the upgraded electrical system, the quality of the cabinets as well as their installation, and the quality of the windows. Suitability I guess. And I know what I want the windows to do--echo the style and design of the sturdy Lexan window walls of the sun porch. The windows will be something I am super careful about. They must have that open sunny feeling. In my head I have a vision of keeping my cottage style, with a cross between industrial and homey casual. All cleared away, everything with a place to go but relaxed, not all of it visible at one time. That's why I have a galley kitchen with a "L" shape to it. The original kitchen is the galley, left and right. Then the new end with be sort of right angles to it, and thus kept hidden. Sort of fool the eye. The original kitchen footprint is 8deep x 12 wide, with 6' opening when the dining room wall is mostly removed. It T's up to the new portion of the kitchen which is 9deep x 16-17 wide behind that. Part of the long view down the outside wall will be broken, so you don't get the full picture of the washer/dryer (stacked) and the cabs either side of the counter depth fridge. Likewise, you don't see my baking side, and the toaster oven and pegboard where I'll hang stuff a la Julia Child's kitchen. Sigh, I do so adore Julia's kitchen! That hidden part which faces the back deck, sort of has its free end (like a finger) pointed at the fridge, My "work triangle" is according to my own way of preparing and cooking meals. Still a triangle, but it has a twist to it. Eight feet between sink and range, directly across from one another. I guess it is about 8 to the fridge from the range, and then about 6 to the sink from the fridge. The end of the baking peninsula can serve as a countertop to set stuff going into and out of the fridge, which is about 4 feet across to that appliance from the peninsula. Works for me. The cabinet man, James, will be building the window seat as a low cab, heavy duty vertical file drawers two of them beneath. I'll have the right thickness of a cushion/mattress/whatever to complete the dining height bench seating. Just deep enough for sleeping so-so comfortable but not TOO TOO comfy. I haven't ordered the barn door hardware to mount the old heavy cypress louvered door to the master sitting area yet, but it won't be long. I had an estimate 2 years ago, when my plans were just beginning, and as soon as the new/current price is known, I'll order them to be shipped. The real issue right now, is the two exterior back doors I want will take 3-4 weeks for delivery. I want fiberglas, full double pane LoeE high impact with blinds in the middle. I have that now for the front door, and enjoy the amount of light coming into the house. The all-window wall across the back needs to have the two exterior doors onto the deck look the same, so I won't be reusing the old back door. Presently, I am cancelling the part of the remodel which will give me a front entry. It is a matter of slicing off that to stay within budget, or omitting some parts of the job that will give us a really nice kitchen that satisfies my desire to break out of this BOX. If I had gone with IKEA cabs as I originally planned, I could have the new front entry. However, my DH wants good cabs and to keep him happy, that is the option. Oh well, I am big enough to handle great cabs by a good cabinetmaker! The base cabs will be on legs, shaker style doors/drawer fronts. Painted white. Did you ever have any doubt that I'd want a WHITE KITCHEN? With YELLOW OCHRE LIGHT walls? Wish I had the old sign used to be along Highway 90 in Louisiana for THE WHITE KITCHEN.....near Slidell, and where my brother lived until he died in 2013. And beside Honey Island Swamp, where he and I ran swamp tours for a couple of years after I quit working in the oil field offshore. Personal and very nostalgic for me. Perhaps I should paint such a picture myself and hang it near the kitchen. Hmmmm. Why not. More to come. Stay tuned. :^)...See MoreThe end is in sight!
Comments (10)No, my stepkids are great. Surprisingly, they're the LEAST of my problems. I look forward to them being here this next week. Everything is so much more interesting when they're here. (They're girl 16 and boy 13) I probably would've left by now were it not for those kids. We have none of our own. Back in February, my husband had a panic attack while he was at work, came to the ER at the hospital where I work, yada, yada, yada... He was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and has been on disability up until this month--which has paid only a portion of his wages and checks from them have been SSLLLLOOWWW coming. Over the years I've worked with a lot of patients on disability, workers' compensation, etc. and know that this can happen--and with his diagnosis being what it is, the insurance carriers REALLY DON'T like paying benefits on it. Heck, I don't like them paying benefits on it. (I'm a cynic. Comes with the territory.) Anyway, I digress. Since March I have been working the equivalent of two full time jobs just trying to keep the bills paid around here (my one full time and three part time). His disability checks have been just about enough to keep the child support paid and buy a few groceries. I've been responsible for everything else. He spent three months puttering around the house and bouncing back and forth between doctors and counselors. (Don't even get me started on the quality of treatment from some of these so-called 'professionals.') His boss kept calling and wondering when he was coming back. They were very concerned and WANTED him to come back as soon as he could. But he didn't. He said that he "hated" that job. They ended up terminating his employment in June. This is a horrendous feeling to someone who has been working 12-14 hour days almost EVERY day just trying to keep the bills paid. He just basically decided that he didn't want to go back to work there--and has only recently started looking for a job. He was offered one job, but he doesn't really want it so he's not going to take it. He's been doing some work on his own, setting tile, but it's not really reliable and doesn't pay benefits. I keep telling him that he needs to get a full time job with benefits and THEN work on building up his side business, but I may as well be talking to the wall. I've been very, very disappointed in him. There was no reason why he had to stay at a job he hated so much. He could've looked. I told him plenty of times to do JUST THAT. He even told me several years ago after one of our conversations about his job (of which there were many) that it was going to take him quitting and THEN looking for a job to get him to do it. He even forecasted his own panic attack. He just quit, dumped all the financial responsiblity in my lap, and took a four month vacation. Needless to say, I'm very bitter and VERY angry and very, very tired. He's always said that he wanted to be a kid again. Well, that's exactly what he's done. I don't even feel like his wife anymore. I feel more like his mommy. He really, really blew it on this one. I've cried every day since February with the stress of it all and there just doesn't seem to be any end to it. I'm glad the kids are coming tonight. It'll give me something else to think about this week....See MoreOn Stage - A "No Show."
Comments (25)That's what they all say Don, right after " so, whats for supper" My Guacamole was half eaten by voles last year and I thought it dead but low and behold it has 23 shoots showing up this year so are pretty low maintenance , for sure( only vole damage I had ever had ) . Must be a tasty one . My cats have pretty much alienated any in the gardens .Yah!...See MoreOff topic again....
Comments (9)Laura, i usely change my containers in 2 1/2 years, this spring the large fig containers and next spring is citrus turn. This the reason i going with ricehulls instead of peat. I don't like peat, to me ricehulls are more beneficial( not 100% sure), so thatis what i am changing to. If you use 5-1-1 the right way w.a.w small older 1/8-1/4 bark, there would be not much left therefore not a optimal soil for citrus. If you use larger pieces of bark than the peat turn into mush....See Moreflowergirl70ks
7 years agorouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
7 years agogdinieontarioz5
7 years agorouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
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7 years agoFrozeBudd_z3/4
7 years agorouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agorouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
7 years agorouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agorouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
3 years ago
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