PAINTING Day 1

The painter came today for his first day of work. Said he would like to get the alcove outside the bathroom almost finished.

Well, this house does NOT like the word finished. Job was to remove mismatched crown molding and put up new matched molding, remove loose paint from ceiling, and put on a coat of paint.

First mistake was taking down the large crown molding above the bathroom door. Oops, molding covered unfinished wall. New molding will not cover unfinished wall. Okay, no problem. Will buy more large crown molding to re-cover this area. Check.

On to the rest of the molding to be removed...second mistake. Oh, look, an electrical wire was hiding behind the molding; only it is not connected to anything. Okay, no problem. Cut the wire. Check.

Now to deal with the wall at the doorway where this wire ran up in front of. Nasty, unfinished wall. Well, could put up corner molding...nope, too wide. Remove wood from side of archway and replace with a wider strip. Okay, no problem. Truly was no problem.

Trim electrical wire to floor so the wood strip will fit. Oops, wire is live! Third mistake.

Thought this project could be well on the way to be completed today. NOT happening.

Must find out where the wire is after coming through the floor. Go downstairs and look under the drop-ceiling. Oh, there you are! Make sure the breaker is off and cap the wire. Okay, no problem. Check.

Day is almost over now. Well, no paint on walls in alcove and only an hour left. Patch holes and nicks in kitchen and start repair on livingroom ceiling. Okay, no problem. Check.

The joy of working in an old house. Deep breath. Close my eyes and think about how it will all look at completion.

On Saturday evening, Feb. 19, Hannah came up from VA for a visit. She came Sat. evening because she got a new dog, Ava. Looking forward to meeting her.

After church on Sunday we went out for dinner. Had a fun time at Marco Polo. Just love their food. Best Chinese around!

When we got home we got another surprise. Titus and Shayla had also come up from VA to visit until Monday night.

Nathanael stopped over Monday morning and stayed through the night.

So, we had a full house once again with only Isaiah and Alicia of the Claytor gang missing. Talk about a rowdy and fun time. They were in their glory telling all their stories from growing up. Ah, what a mother didn't know.

Today is Friday...time to be with Brooklynn. On our way over to the house we pass a motorcycle shop every time. Well, this time she says, "When I'm 16 will you get me a motorcycle?" It was hilarious. She was very serious. She knows you have to be 16 to drive. She has already said that when she is 16 she will drive my car to my house so I don't need too. She has also asked me to get her a car...of course, it must be blue. Smart girl. Very good color.

Brooklynn had four shots last evening for school so right now she is taking a nap. They must have really wiped her out. Maybe they gave her sleeping shots as she doesn't always take naps now.

Grandma spent the last two nights here because on Tuesday a young guy who tried to commit a burglary at a house down the street from hers was hiding in her yard behind her kitchen wall and the cement wall. She had opened the door twice not knowing who was there and when she realized where he was hiding and that she didn't know him she yelled at him to get out of her yard and then quickly closed and locked the door. Needless to say it shook her up and she didn't want to be at the house. The police were already searching for him at that time because the owner of the other house was at home and confronted him and chased him. The police didn't realize there was a gap behind the wall of Grandma's house. They have not caught him.

This weekend I must prepare the house for painting. Insulation put in on Valentine's Day and this coming week and the second full week of March the painter will patch and repair the walls and then paint. So, all things on the wall must come off and all small knickknacks must be put away. Now, where do you go with the furniture in the Hobbit house? Um, the middle of the floor. Paint one wall and put furniture back...push other furniture to middle and paint other wall. It will definitely be fun. NOT!! I will need on long vacation when all is finished. It will look nice, but I will be exhausted from things being out of order!

My youngest daughter tells me I should write here on my blog. What do you say when you have not been on since September?

Well, I could back-track and tell you what has happened since then. No, that would probably be long and boring for you to read.

So, I'll tell you that as of today I am healthy and alive and busy and crazy as ever...and...and...and. Well, you get the point.

We had our house insulated on Monday. Some people have sick kids on Valentine's Day...me, I had a contractor come into my house and make a MAJOR DUSTY mess. I thought I would go crazy with the amount of dirt it had left behind. Old plaster walls are very messy. It took 15 hours to dust, suck up, and wash it all away; only to have my youngest daughter pull a book off her shelf and comment about the amount of dust still on it. CRAZY!!

My Pennsylvania granddaughter received yellow roses from her Pappy for Valentine's Day. She was very excited but wanted to know why Aunt Rachel got a glass (vase) to put her roses in and she didn't. All was explained and she loved the roses and the idea of taking them home to put in a glass...no; vase.

Hannah is up for a visit. She got a new puppy today to keep Rocky company. Rocky...take care of that puppy.