Fort Walton Beach

The trip to FWB was a bit different this time as we had gotten word that Sally had gone into the hospital before we flew out of Germany.  She had a sinus infection that knocked her for a loop.  She was thinking she had pneumonia however that didn't turn out to be the case.  She was simply sick and hadn't been taking care of herself because she was sick and it snowballed.  So, we were on a vigil at Don's house to see if we would need to bump up our timeline to head to FWB for assistance.  She remained in the hospital for our visit, however did get transferred to rehab to get her strength back so that she would be able to care for herself once she was able to go home.

The skies flying into FWB were pretty.... 

While in town I got to see Jennie my girlfriend from college - it was sooo good to get together with her and laugh and have a good time.  We went to the beach to have some lunch and talk!

I MISS these beaches....

The little house is looking a little worse for wear as of late.  I took this picture in preparation for PAINT!!!  Yes, we are finally getting her facia repaired and paint done on the old girl. 

HERE are the paint colors I chose.  The DEEP Juniper berry for the brick paint and the Frost for the body of the house with stark white for trim, doors and for the shutters.  There won't be a lot of difference in color between the body and the shutters, but hopefully you'll be able to tell.  If not, no biggie.  it's not like there is a lot of difference now in colors on the top, right?  It's white on white on the house now with red brick.  It will be interesting to see it all painted up!

For those NOT in the loop Butch is boat obsessed and America's Great Loop obsessed.  So we are looking at boats.  We went to the marina in FWB however they do NOT have any larger boats.  They pointed us to the one in Pensacola, so we dutifully went there to see boats - only to be greeted with boat - singular.  AND not the boat we would want as she's not a trawler, she's a party boat.  NOT what we want.  We want a boat which can go on open seas AND be a like a house boat that can travel well in said open seas.

He does look at home on this boat, but sadly it's not the boat for us.

I spent a lot of my time between (and IN) rain storms chinking the back windows because that stuff is just falling out left and right... we need new windows on that place but we'll do that AFTER the paint job is done..

Sally did make it to rehab the last few days we were there, we were able to get her settled in and bring her items to the place before we left and one day when Butch was dropping stuff off and talking to his mom I made friends with the local cat they had there at the place.  He's a trap, neuter, return cat as he has his ear clipped, but he's SO friendly.  He had a little house, food and water bowl in the gazebo there as well, so he may be a feral, but he's a well cared for faral cat.

Butch gave me such flack because I MISS jets... I have spent 25 years near jets and Air Force.  Being on an Army base is weird to me as there are NO jets... so I have to tourist and take pictures of jets when they go by!  LOVE jets!!

I took quite a few pictures at the airport when we were leaving for the next leg of our trip to Vegas to meet up with the girls.

poofy clouds from the sky - so pretty!!  Our first leg of the flight we were in the back of the plane...

BUT the leg from ATL to Vegas we were in FIRST class - lucky us!!

I could almost lay flat but being of larger size it's NOT comfortable for me as my shoulders are crammed in there and I feel like my feet are touching the end... which they were - add to that flip flops and I was leery to lay all the way down.  I did get to the 80% reclined and just pulled my knees up to be a bit more comfortable... so it was nice!

First class "snack box"

And just like that we're in Vegas.... I'm amazed at what folks will WEAR on planes now.... they are skanky.  There was a gal in the ATL airport in pajamas, fuzzy slippers and a robe for crying out loud.  I mean, really???  NO!  Just NO!!!  This gal was at least in a jogging suit BUT the fuzzy slippers do me in... what ARE people thinking?

 

Say a prayer for us!

We're turning the gas on Thursday in the little house. This will mean HEAT and HOT water in the house. What a change that will be from rinsing out paint brushes and rollers in COLD water the last few times we've been there. Why a prayer for us? Pray that the heater is in good working order and that everything goes smoothly with the lighting of the pilot lights for it and the water heater :)

Next up is electrical work and dry wall fixes in the kitchen.

Well, really, next up will be getting the stove delivered into the house on the third THEN getting an electrician into there to get the work done that I want done.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that the delivery is premature as we don't have a floor yet - however, we purchased it at a VERY good price. The price was even less than I could get with Black Friday prices (like $600 off good price)... so we bought it and put it on layaway with very ambitious timelines. Ah, well. We'll put it into the laundry room for now, then get the rest worked on and finished in due time...

We have passed inspection!

After the whole issue with the gas line pressure leaks and such, we have officially passed inspection as of today!  I'm so excited!

 

Sally was a God-send to be there for the inspector today.  I had been getting a crown yesterday when my phone started ringing and it was Butch... I answered told him where I was and that I would talk to him later and then promptly turned the ringer off.  Sigh.  I then proceed to miss four calls - all of them important.  Sigh.  One from the plumbing company telling me that they would be doing the inspection between 9am - 12pm today, one from Sally telling me that she could be there for it (thank heavens), one from Mom and Dad and one from Liz.  Good grief!

 

To my defense, I was numbed to my eyeballs from the crown and didn't come out of my drunk talking numbness until about 7pm that night... so I'm not sure I would have dashed down there regardless... however, this morning at 6am I was sorely tempted to make the run... but then thought better of it as it was pea-soup foggy here and remained so for HOURS after the sun tried to come up.

 

I'm thrilled to say the least - now to get the water turned back on, the gas hooked up and the appliances running (heater and hot water heater)and tested... we'll have HOT water in the house now - what a shock to the system THAT will be!!  I've been washing paint brushes in cold water for the last few months at the house.  It wasn't so bad in October, but let me tell you what, in November with the colder temperatures that cold water is SHOCKING first thing in the morning - even if it is just on your hands :)

 

So... next up is drywall, then flooring... and the list goes on and on and on....but we're moving right along.... slowly, but moving along!

 

And we're outa here...

Let's take a tour, shall we? (Entering from the carport far right middle)


The VERY messy kitchen. This is our staging area, so it's a bit trashed.


The newly painted hallway. You're looking yo the bedrooms.


Entry way looking good. Need to paint the front door, however the rest is nicely painted and holding for a closet door to be prepped and painted. (Looking north from the living room left side door)


Back into the hall and into the main bath. Still holding on some fixtures to be installed on the cabinets.... (I'm standing in the tub)


Onto the darkened master bedroom (we didn't take the paper off this morning. No more work to be done in there for the most part.


The master bath. Note there is a DOOR. it's the little things in life. We spent a few days without potty doors :). Freaked out the Plumbing guy ;)


Doors in place here too however missing a few (all) of the magnetic door latches.


On to bedroom number two. Looking good here too. Note paper on one of the windows :) This is the lower left bedroom.


Bedroom three AKA numbed room. Note that it's a happy room. :) thanks Angela.


On to the living room. Full circle now! Yes that's Butch photo bombing me!


Here's the last shot (taken from where Butch was). And with that we're still short a gas connection. Still need to arrange flooring and electrical. And the list goes on....

Day four (really five, but we took a day off)

I'm gonna cry today. Damn gas line is still leaking!!



Yep that's a confirmed LEAK still. ARG!!! I have NO idea how we are going to remedy this. I called them (guys who "fixed" it) and left a message that there is still a leak.


On a positive note trim is looking GOOD as are walls and ceilings.


Butch doing trim work!!

We worked until we lost light. We managed to get 2 coats of paint in the back side of the house and the ceiling pained on the living room before we were working by lamp light. Not ideal for painting for sure. We called it a night and went to Stewby's for dinner.

Fresh seafood!


Liz has a happy hush puppy. ;)


Angela made a happy french fry - until LiZ bit his head off ;)

We had a nice dinner then home for a rousing game of Push the Dummy. Liz and Angela went to the movies to see Big Hero Six.

Happy thanksgiving.

A day full of electronics.


Do you think they're ready to eat?


Butch and his mom finishing their prep!



Dig in!!


The aftermath!


Lush!! (Really is sparking cider)





And a great Thanksgiving day was had by all. Especially the paint crew who didn't have to work :)

Day three ...

Day three and zero pictures. To my defense nothing has really changed. There is just a bit more paint on the walls and trim, but nothing was really different/different ya know.

The gas line leak has now been fixed for the 2nd time to the tune of $150+ the original "fix" was the gas line move ($400+ chaching!!) yeah ouch.

Oh yeah hardware!! Door hardware, specifically the 1/2 bath door was reinstalled. Why is this important?? Well the plumber dude wanted to use the bathroom however I had to tell him that we had no doors and to use the front potty and we would keep folks out of that room. Ha! That door has been reinstalled and is now able to be shut and locked. Whoohoo! It is indeed a great thing to pee in private again ;)

The trim is now 99% done. The back bedroom still needs first coats of all paints as well as the living room. The small bedroom needs another coat of wall paint and it's pretty well done.

The baths are deemed done but we need to put the doors all back onto the cabinets. Along with its hardware. Then cleaning. Kitchen is a far cry from done. Nothing touched yet. Sigh. So much to do, so little time!! Tomorrow is a holiday and we're not working in the house. (Unless I sneak over and paint something)

Oh, and I painted my seat in my car. Sigh. Gotta get that off tomorrow as well.

Day two.... Shoot me now

Should have taken a picture of the lovely gauge at ZERO. Ugh. We have a leak. }}%*'^%<£¥ what does this mean? $$$ I'm sure. Sigh. So the plumbers were called back and they will go on a leak hunt and we will hemorrhage a bit of money. Sigh.

BUT the rest of the house went very well today. Doors almost all done - well those that were prepped. There is ONE more to pull off the hinges (front hall closet) and one bedroom door that we have to drill out the blasted hardware.

This is a sample of the art work around the house :)


Those are blinds in the floor anyone need some vertical blinds??


My paint crew :)


The beginning.


The hall done. The trim needs a few more coats.


The master again the trim (base boards) need another coat if paint.


The closer doors are looking GREAT in white rather than brown.


The tiny room is happy. Ha! Painted walls, ceilings and walls.


Need to paint the closet.


The crew hard at work...not really, they were painting messages on the door.

The day ended early as it was. Dark and dreary day. Rained all day on and off. In the end we have the master done with the exception of baseboards. The smallest bedroom has two coats on the ceiling and one on the wall. The hall has one on the walls. Mostly cause I want to wait for Butch to see if he wants to take out the whole house fan this weekend.

Tomorrow is hardware day. I need to get hardware for the bathrooms and the interior doors. Start putting SOME things back together.