5/31/2015
Yesterday afternoon, Jeff and I, armed with lawn chairs and reading material, went to Scott's townhouse so that someone could come and clean the house. Scott found her on Craigslist and she was willing to come out on short notice. She originally asked for $250, but Jeff got her down to $200, which meant she wouldn't do any dusting!
Since the house has been completely redone, we weren't talking about a lot of dusting, just window sills and the fireplace mantel. $50.00 for that was way too much.
Her emphasis was to be on the kitchen, which included cleaning the inside of the refrigerator and the bathrooms. She made a passable attempt at mopping the kitchen and dining room floors, but didn't exactly work up a sweat during the three hours she was there.
Jeff and I sat in the living room, reading and/or "resting our eyes" while she cleaned. Although we did nothing but sit, by the time we got home we were both exhausted. Sitting around is hard work, particularly if you are basically watching the hands of a clock go round and round.
Today, Scott and Jeff are meeting with a real estate agent and hopefully we'll get this townhouse up on the market this week. Though it's not "staged", it should show well with all new paint, floors, carpeting, cupboards, and bathrooms. Basically, it's bring your furniture and move in ready. Keeping our fingers crossed for a quick and profitable sale.
P
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
Townhouse Update
5/29/2015
For more months than I can count, Jeff has been helping Scott remodel his townhouse to get it ready to sell. Over time, every house, apartment, etc., needs a little, and sometimes a lot of, TLC. The townhouse was in the latter category.
With Jeff and Scott working side-by-side on weekends, they tore out carpeting, flooring, cabinets, shower stalls and pretty much anything else that was attached to the house. Yesterday, one of the last pieces of construction was finished - brand new carpeting!
Jeff took me over to see the townhouse last night and the place looks great. Scott and Jeff have painted every square inch of the house, put down new flooring in the kitchen, dining room and bathrooms. The kitchen has brand new cupboards and granite counter tops.
The only thing left to do before putting the house on the market is cleaning. The bathrooms all need to be cleaned as well as some of the kitchen appliances. If I was younger and able to do laborious work, without needing to stop often to rest, I'd tackle the cleaning myself.
But since I don't qualify as either being (a) young; or (b) able, that only leaves option (c) find a cleaner on Craig's List or wherever to come in and do the dirty work. I believe that once the house has been cleaned, a realtor will be happy to put it on the market. Since everything in the house is brand new, it will show well and hopefully sell quickly.
Since construction is now over, except for perhaps one last dump run, I can't imagine what Jeff will do with all of his spare time on the weekends! Fly perhaps?
Keeping our fingers crossed for a quick and profitable sale.
P
For more months than I can count, Jeff has been helping Scott remodel his townhouse to get it ready to sell. Over time, every house, apartment, etc., needs a little, and sometimes a lot of, TLC. The townhouse was in the latter category.
With Jeff and Scott working side-by-side on weekends, they tore out carpeting, flooring, cabinets, shower stalls and pretty much anything else that was attached to the house. Yesterday, one of the last pieces of construction was finished - brand new carpeting!
Jeff took me over to see the townhouse last night and the place looks great. Scott and Jeff have painted every square inch of the house, put down new flooring in the kitchen, dining room and bathrooms. The kitchen has brand new cupboards and granite counter tops.
The only thing left to do before putting the house on the market is cleaning. The bathrooms all need to be cleaned as well as some of the kitchen appliances. If I was younger and able to do laborious work, without needing to stop often to rest, I'd tackle the cleaning myself.
But since I don't qualify as either being (a) young; or (b) able, that only leaves option (c) find a cleaner on Craig's List or wherever to come in and do the dirty work. I believe that once the house has been cleaned, a realtor will be happy to put it on the market. Since everything in the house is brand new, it will show well and hopefully sell quickly.
Since construction is now over, except for perhaps one last dump run, I can't imagine what Jeff will do with all of his spare time on the weekends! Fly perhaps?
Keeping our fingers crossed for a quick and profitable sale.
P
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Shoe Graveyard
5/28/2015
Confession time - I'm a "bit" lazy, or perhaps under motivated might be a better word. When you are no longer working, you have plenty of time to do "x" today, tomorrow or never. And I have to tell you that it's very easy to fall into the never category. To dust today, or not, is just one of the "big" decisions I have to make every day! I know it's tiring to be me :)
In the den, I counted last night four different pair of shoes or slippers. Like you, I only have two feet so you're probably wondering how so many pairs manage to all be in one spot? Easy. This is where the slightly lazy part of me comes into play.
I come down in the morning with a pair of something on my feet. While reading during breakfast, I shuck those shoes off and head upstairs to dress. When I come back down, I am wearing yet another pair of shoes/sandals, etc. Since I have extreme difficulty in tying shoes, everything I wear now is some kind of a slip on, which makes them also easy to slip off!
If I'm going outside to water plants, I pick a shoe (more like a ballet flat) that can be put in the washing machine. Once my outside work is done, the shoes come off, probably because I got them wet by playing in the water. If you're keeping count, I now have two pairs of shoes in the den.
When I go to the store, I wear sandals, which makes my third pair of shoes in the "graveyard". Once back home I take the sandals off and opt for a pair of Isotoner slippers (ballet flats). I own three pairs of these slippers, and each pair is in a different degree of being worn out.
If I'm going out and a lot of walking is part of the outing, then I put on my velcro tabbed walking shoes.
So you can see that if an emergency occurred, as far as shoes were concerned, I've got every situation covered!
P
Confession time - I'm a "bit" lazy, or perhaps under motivated might be a better word. When you are no longer working, you have plenty of time to do "x" today, tomorrow or never. And I have to tell you that it's very easy to fall into the never category. To dust today, or not, is just one of the "big" decisions I have to make every day! I know it's tiring to be me :)
In the den, I counted last night four different pair of shoes or slippers. Like you, I only have two feet so you're probably wondering how so many pairs manage to all be in one spot? Easy. This is where the slightly lazy part of me comes into play.
I come down in the morning with a pair of something on my feet. While reading during breakfast, I shuck those shoes off and head upstairs to dress. When I come back down, I am wearing yet another pair of shoes/sandals, etc. Since I have extreme difficulty in tying shoes, everything I wear now is some kind of a slip on, which makes them also easy to slip off!
If I'm going outside to water plants, I pick a shoe (more like a ballet flat) that can be put in the washing machine. Once my outside work is done, the shoes come off, probably because I got them wet by playing in the water. If you're keeping count, I now have two pairs of shoes in the den.
When I go to the store, I wear sandals, which makes my third pair of shoes in the "graveyard". Once back home I take the sandals off and opt for a pair of Isotoner slippers (ballet flats). I own three pairs of these slippers, and each pair is in a different degree of being worn out.
If I'm going out and a lot of walking is part of the outing, then I put on my velcro tabbed walking shoes.
So you can see that if an emergency occurred, as far as shoes were concerned, I've got every situation covered!
P
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Turning the A/C On!
5/27/2015
Most of you by now, have already turned your air conditioners on. Jeff and I turned on ours last night after he came home from work.
The cost of running the air conditioners (we have two) is super duper costly. I can manage during the day with the help of fans everywhere, but oh do I love a cool (nah cold) bedroom. If the bedroom is hot, I know that eventually I will stop flopping around and go to sleep, but initially I begin to think about winter and being snugged up in blankets!
Jeff left the a/c on today, but I have set the thermostat for 80 degrees, so it doesn't run constantly. I think we're going to have rain or thunderstorms later today, which means I probably don't have to go outside and water my new plants.
On today's to-do list is to put away the laundry I did yesterday and make spaghetti for dinner. Oh and if I feel super housewifey I could dust the furniture. Or not.
I'm in the middle of a good book that I'm reading on my Kindle and hate having to stop reading just so I can do some chore. For a long time I didn't use my Kindle very much and tried getting books from the library. The problem with the library is they have a limited amount of large print books that I want to read. And, unfortunately I can no longer read small print, so paperbacks are out of the question. With the Kindle I have the text maximized so reading isn't a strain for me. And, I really do love to read.
Be cool wherever you are.
P
Most of you by now, have already turned your air conditioners on. Jeff and I turned on ours last night after he came home from work.
The cost of running the air conditioners (we have two) is super duper costly. I can manage during the day with the help of fans everywhere, but oh do I love a cool (nah cold) bedroom. If the bedroom is hot, I know that eventually I will stop flopping around and go to sleep, but initially I begin to think about winter and being snugged up in blankets!
Jeff left the a/c on today, but I have set the thermostat for 80 degrees, so it doesn't run constantly. I think we're going to have rain or thunderstorms later today, which means I probably don't have to go outside and water my new plants.
On today's to-do list is to put away the laundry I did yesterday and make spaghetti for dinner. Oh and if I feel super housewifey I could dust the furniture. Or not.
I'm in the middle of a good book that I'm reading on my Kindle and hate having to stop reading just so I can do some chore. For a long time I didn't use my Kindle very much and tried getting books from the library. The problem with the library is they have a limited amount of large print books that I want to read. And, unfortunately I can no longer read small print, so paperbacks are out of the question. With the Kindle I have the text maximized so reading isn't a strain for me. And, I really do love to read.
Be cool wherever you are.
P
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Pesky Bugs
5/26/2015
We keep the dogs' kibble in the garage in a plastic trashcan with a flip lid. It's narrow so it doesn't take up much space. The problem with the trashcan is that every time you open the lid to get out kibble, a swarm of these teeny little bugs fly out. And to this I say "nay nay". I don't like bugs. Any bugs come to think of it. And I really don't like things that fly around my head and they're way too small to kill with a fly swatter. They're like knats or something.
A month or so ago I was having the same problem with the dogs' bones. And I found a solution: the Vital Vittles Vault on Amazon. The vaults come in all different sizes, but the concept is the same. There is a spin top with a gasket which keeps pesky bugs (ants, etc.) from getting inside. Some of the reviews indicate that people keep their "vaults" outside filled with birdseed, etc. Trust me dogs can't get inside these containers, or come to think of it, any other animal! Perfect indeed.
Yesterday, I traded in my plastic trashcan full of flying bugs when the top is open, to a vault sized to hold 50 pounds of dog food. The price difference between a vault that holds 25 pounds rather than 50 pounds, is minimal.
I have a lot of spare time, so I started cutting and/or tearing out book reviews from the newspaper and magazines and now three hole punch them and put them in a notebook. I don't know if that's sad or not, but it's convenient.
When I was working, my cubby was organized. I had a special container for paper clips, binder clips, etc. Everything was absolutely in order - all the time. Now that I have moved my "office" from Jeff's office upstairs, I have everything I need and within reach. I suspect there is some "OCD" in there somewhere, but if so, it has served me well over the years!
Happy Tuesday wherever you are!
P
We keep the dogs' kibble in the garage in a plastic trashcan with a flip lid. It's narrow so it doesn't take up much space. The problem with the trashcan is that every time you open the lid to get out kibble, a swarm of these teeny little bugs fly out. And to this I say "nay nay". I don't like bugs. Any bugs come to think of it. And I really don't like things that fly around my head and they're way too small to kill with a fly swatter. They're like knats or something.
A month or so ago I was having the same problem with the dogs' bones. And I found a solution: the Vital Vittles Vault on Amazon. The vaults come in all different sizes, but the concept is the same. There is a spin top with a gasket which keeps pesky bugs (ants, etc.) from getting inside. Some of the reviews indicate that people keep their "vaults" outside filled with birdseed, etc. Trust me dogs can't get inside these containers, or come to think of it, any other animal! Perfect indeed.
Yesterday, I traded in my plastic trashcan full of flying bugs when the top is open, to a vault sized to hold 50 pounds of dog food. The price difference between a vault that holds 25 pounds rather than 50 pounds, is minimal.
I have a lot of spare time, so I started cutting and/or tearing out book reviews from the newspaper and magazines and now three hole punch them and put them in a notebook. I don't know if that's sad or not, but it's convenient.
When I was working, my cubby was organized. I had a special container for paper clips, binder clips, etc. Everything was absolutely in order - all the time. Now that I have moved my "office" from Jeff's office upstairs, I have everything I need and within reach. I suspect there is some "OCD" in there somewhere, but if so, it has served me well over the years!
Happy Tuesday wherever you are!
P
Monday, May 25, 2015
Sunday/Monday
5/25/2015
While today is Monday, it feels more like a Sunday. Sleeping in a bit and feeling not up to doing much today. I still have to do my Sunday chores - laundry for Jeff, macaroni salad and watering my plants. After that, my day is pretty much open to whatever I choose or choose not to do!
Our nighttime "critter" did not return yesterday. Of course, we also removed everything possible from the kitchen counters, so it's possible I suppose, that he came to whatever opening he is using and sensing no food, decided to leave. I'm okay with that. I'd be happier if this yet to be known animal would just go away - permanently. We have lived in this house for 29 years and there has been a doggy door in the basement all those years. There has never been an animal, other than our dogs use that door. But, I suppose that a savvy outdoor animal could easily figure out how to come inside the house.
I think Jeff is going to put up a camera in the kitchen, so we can see what we're dealing with. Please don't let it be a rat. I don't like having a strange animal in the house, but I suppose I could better deal emotionally if our "guest" is a squirrel, racoon or chipmunk.
I do have to admire our "guests" taste in trail mix. He wants the nuts and tosses the raisins onto the counter. I feel much like he does. I see no reasons for raisins either!
Well friends, it's time for me to get my heart started. I just can't sit around the house all day, though that does sound appealing!
P
While today is Monday, it feels more like a Sunday. Sleeping in a bit and feeling not up to doing much today. I still have to do my Sunday chores - laundry for Jeff, macaroni salad and watering my plants. After that, my day is pretty much open to whatever I choose or choose not to do!
Our nighttime "critter" did not return yesterday. Of course, we also removed everything possible from the kitchen counters, so it's possible I suppose, that he came to whatever opening he is using and sensing no food, decided to leave. I'm okay with that. I'd be happier if this yet to be known animal would just go away - permanently. We have lived in this house for 29 years and there has been a doggy door in the basement all those years. There has never been an animal, other than our dogs use that door. But, I suppose that a savvy outdoor animal could easily figure out how to come inside the house.
I think Jeff is going to put up a camera in the kitchen, so we can see what we're dealing with. Please don't let it be a rat. I don't like having a strange animal in the house, but I suppose I could better deal emotionally if our "guest" is a squirrel, racoon or chipmunk.
I do have to admire our "guests" taste in trail mix. He wants the nuts and tosses the raisins onto the counter. I feel much like he does. I see no reasons for raisins either!
Well friends, it's time for me to get my heart started. I just can't sit around the house all day, though that does sound appealing!
P
Sunday, May 24, 2015
The Case of the Returning "Critter"!
5/24/2015
After having been lulled into a false sense of relief that whatever animal had been destroying our kitchen, for he didn't appear for two nights is now gone. He returned last night with VENGEANCE!!
When we came down this morning for breakfast, it was very, very clear that this animal (fox, raccoon, chipmunk, squirrel) had a fine time in the kitchen last night. His muddy prints were everywhere. I had a zippy bag of trail mix, which he opened. He, like me, apparently doesn't like raisins because they were tossed everywhere.
We had inadvertently left a piece of chicken on the counter - well we don't have to worry about it anymore - it's gone. So whatever animal is coming into our house, uninvited I might add, is big enough and strong enough to carry around a large piece of meat.
Jeff had set two mousetraps and he managed to spring them without being caught. We have a baby cam and might set that up tonight, along with something tasty to eat, to see who we're dealing with. It's obvious that a regular old mousetrap isn't going to work on this guy.
While he doesn't do a lot of harm other than to my trail mix and any leftovers he can find, it's unsettling to me that this guy is bold enough to apparently wander around on the kitchen counter during the night.
I am not a phobic kind of person, and I can deal with the occasional mouse caught in a trap, but the kind of damage this guy did last night leaves me feeling a bit paranoid. So while it wasn't on my list of things to do today, my kitchen will need a good scrubbing before I'll want to cook or bake anything again.
P
After having been lulled into a false sense of relief that whatever animal had been destroying our kitchen, for he didn't appear for two nights is now gone. He returned last night with VENGEANCE!!
When we came down this morning for breakfast, it was very, very clear that this animal (fox, raccoon, chipmunk, squirrel) had a fine time in the kitchen last night. His muddy prints were everywhere. I had a zippy bag of trail mix, which he opened. He, like me, apparently doesn't like raisins because they were tossed everywhere.
We had inadvertently left a piece of chicken on the counter - well we don't have to worry about it anymore - it's gone. So whatever animal is coming into our house, uninvited I might add, is big enough and strong enough to carry around a large piece of meat.
Jeff had set two mousetraps and he managed to spring them without being caught. We have a baby cam and might set that up tonight, along with something tasty to eat, to see who we're dealing with. It's obvious that a regular old mousetrap isn't going to work on this guy.
While he doesn't do a lot of harm other than to my trail mix and any leftovers he can find, it's unsettling to me that this guy is bold enough to apparently wander around on the kitchen counter during the night.
I am not a phobic kind of person, and I can deal with the occasional mouse caught in a trap, but the kind of damage this guy did last night leaves me feeling a bit paranoid. So while it wasn't on my list of things to do today, my kitchen will need a good scrubbing before I'll want to cook or bake anything again.
P
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