Goals....it's been a while (may 2012)

From the last list...and ashamed they aren't done in some cases!
· PAINT the backdoor.
· Sprinklers - yes, we HAVE to add this back on there
We are down to just one (not so) little thing left... and that is run the final wiring to the box by the driveway bump out. Butch wants to go under the driveway for this one... which will entail some tunneling.
For the sake of THIS exercise, I’m going to put the whole “sprinklers” and backyard stuff to bed with a “Butch is doing that"… and pray the progress continues
· get the rest of the house organized with the group
· get the craft room up to snuff (scary statement)
The group is dying on the vine out there and I'm tempted to take it over as I really need to get back on track

New :
Plant the north west flower bed and put gravel down for the drainage area.
Plant the long flower pots

I need to hit the lotto so I can stay home... then I stay home and I don't DO anything...
Guess I don't really NEED to hit the lottery, but boy wouldn't it be nice? Sigh. Not going to happen.

I guess if I would stop buying projects, I could get ahead in life. I have a number of projects...
They are:
(you KNOW I’m doing this to motivate myself, really, I am!)
Left over from last year...
· The cheese domes
o In my defense they are HALF painted now… well, more than half painted, but not fully as I was using my new trusty sprayer and I was running low on paint so the dresser won the battle as it really needed to be painted more than the cheese dome bases J
o What am I going to DO with these domes? Well, the goal is to put them on the mantel during holidays and have them filled with items of the season – easter eggs with grass, pine cones with fake snow during the winter…
o Do I really NEED these? Uhm, probably not… but I still want to get them done!
· Coat rack
o Yeah, about ready to put that bad boy out back to test it in the weather BEFORE I paint it to see if I’m on track with that. I want to put it out there in the winter so my towel will be RIGHT next to the hot tub
NEW this year – well, sort of.
· China hutch – repaint and paper the back wall with something cute. Maybe in a yellow pattern?
· Purple dresser repaint (Angelas old one)
· Paint the desk chair and recover it
· Figure out what I'm doing with the long dresser.
· Refinish coffee table and end stand for Liz
· Refinish small cedar chest

I'm sure there are lots of things that go hand in hand with these tasks as I need to go to Lowes to see about a pad for the palm sander and things like that. All in good time, I guess.

Now that they are on paper (?) again, maybe this will help motivate me again to get things DONE...

It's that time... time to revist (gulp) goals....

·  Back door needs to be fixed near the garage - fix it and then have it vinyl clad to avoid future rot! DONE

OK it's always scary to see it in writing, but it's better if it IS in writing.

What’s the good news? The door was replaced. However, I now need to add another bullet for:

· PAINT the backdoor.

·  Sprinklers - yes, we HAVE to add this back on there

What is the GREAT news on the sprinklers? They were seeing a LOT of progress. New heads put in, water running to them, trenching continues to this day... Pretty soon we'll be down to just one (not so) little thing left... and that is run the final wiring to the box by the driveway bump out. Butch wants to go under the driveway for this one... which will entail some tunneling. What is the BETTER news? I now have a sprinkler in my little garden area. I don't know if I'll know what to do without having to hand water everything all the time. :o) I'm pure-d twitterpated at this point!!

· Revisit tree solution - as sickening as that is to say

The tree solution? Hum... with about 7 of the 50 trees surviving after the drought, lesson learned WAIT until the spirnklers are fully completed.

· plant flower beds to the north side of the pool

This bed too has a sprinkler freshly installed and ready to start sprinkling whatever is put in there... It's "Butch's bed" to plant... so it will be interesting to see what goes in there.
For the sake of THIS exercise, I’m going to put the whole “sprinklers” and backyard stuff to bed with a “Butch is doing that… and pray the progress continues!!

·         Transfer the lovely Wisteria vine dad has for me to my arbor THIS spring.. just before the thaw and the roots start growing...

This is DONE (transplanted) and growing link a, well a wisteria.  It’s almost reached the top of the arbor already – it’s about 2/3 of the way up.  The grapes, however, on the opposite side are going gung ho and are all the way to the top and filling in nicely with grapes actually forming on them this year.  I’m exited!  By next year I should have grapes on the left and wisteria blooms on the right… and by the next year, hopefully they will have intertwined and we’ll get color and greenery all year long across the top of the arbor!

·  get the rest of the house organized with the group

· get the craft room up to snuff (scary statement)

The organization is going well too with the weekly "to do" list from the group. I find it doesn't get the exact thing done at that time, but it keeps me moving and somewhat on track to get things DONE. That's a good thing.

As always without moving every few years it’s harder to keep from accruing a lot of “junk” and stuff that I would never miss.  I’m doing better… just really need to concentrate on the crap craft room over the next few months.  Goals are set… let’s see if I can stick to them. 

Saturday project and one more off the goal list!

Let the project begin... all taped up, floor behind and under the washer cleaned.. now THAT was gross!  There were at least three socks, a penny, some jewelry pieces and a lot of dirt and fluff back there! Bleck - note to self, clean that much more often!

 where everything went while we painted!!

LOOK who my helper was today - she painted a good 50% of the whole place - especially above the cabinets and behind the washer/dryer!  She was such a trouper!

 one coat done!

 So sad, I said "do the Vanna White Pose" and she had NO idea who Vanna White was.  I'm so old!

We're almost done!  The fish are semi-permanent - one goes on the back porch and they were so inexpensive when I got them (clearance of course) that I got two and the twin has been in the laundry since!  I guess when the outdoor One (which is fading!) dies, this one will move out and I'll get a proper rug.

Now to put up my vinyl on the back wall (to the right in this picture - above the garbage)...

The more I do Laundry... the more I understand Nudism. 

Not sure what color vinyl however...

hahahaha!

And if you remember correct this was done in the BRIGHT color of the three pack I had looked at color wise.  I do believe the kitchen will go to the middle shade rather than this.. It's pretty - just NOT in a large amount in the kitchen.  Lighter for Kitchen it is, descision made - however that painting effort will wait for another weekend.  It will require removal of a boarder... not looking forward to that!

Goal revisited

• Kitchen    • Tile in the kitchen backsplash
   • Paint the kitchen (ok, these have to go in order – tile first – THEN paint)
• Master bathroom
   • Paint the ceiling with the new ceiling paint I just purchased
   • Paint the walls to match the brown in the potty room.
• Have the living room painted (by someone else)
   • I would LOVE to get some crown molding put up at the same time….
• Trees:
• Install screen door
• Paint the front door frame
• Sprinklers:
   • Find the sprinkler box UNDER the ground from when the wall was put in a year ago…
   • Get the new sprinklers laid
   • Borrow the trencher and put the new sprinklers

I think I first published these goals about a year ago... but look they ARE getting done.  I'm still toying with the kitchen color.  I think the current goal is to paint the laundry room first so I can see if I like the much BRIGHTER color for the whole room, or if I should tone it down for the main room.

So there it is in writing - PAINT ... starting with laundry room
how about I just get the laundry done today instead?
Yeah... that sounds good.
I did accomplish another coat of paint on a LOT of little projects outside today.. so that is something... not really the end goal, but something :)

Goal accomplished!

Front door frame painted! YEAH!

And what is everyone else doing while I'm painting?  Well, Butch WAS mowing the lawn, the took a dip to cool off.  Angela and her friend were swimming the whole time and rocking the pool :)  Fun stuff.

• Kitchen
•   Tile in the kitchen backsplash
•   Paint the kitchen (ok, these have to go in order – tile first – THEN paint
• Have the living room painted (by someone else)
•   I would LOVE to get some crown molding put up at the same time….

**I called to get a quote on the crown molding the other day... the guy who did our moulding in the dining room will take a look at it and give us a price sometime this week!
• Install screen door

**part way there, I had the men cut it on Easter Sunday to FIT the door frame... now to get it hung!!
• Paint the front door frame• Sprinklers:
•   Find the sprinkler box UNDER the ground from when the wall was put in a year ago…
•   Get the new sprinklers laid
•   Borrow the trencher and put the new sprinklers

Weekend Work

It may not seem like a lot, but I actually got caught up a bit this weekend… I had to have a LIST for part of it, but it is now 99% complete!

It all started on Friday on the way home from work:

I got my prescription from the base (#1- from a phone in refill)

went to pay a deposit (#2 - they were closed! **later**)

went to BFK to get a check (#3)

went to bank (#4 - just BARELY made it! *funny story to follow*)

went by the doctors to pick up a prescription (#5 - they are closed on Friday – news to me!)

and the final thing on the list was (#6) go grocery shopping… sorry, but I wasn’t THAT motivated… I pooped out!

Funny story about the bank.  I had a check from a music company that I had been renting from.  I had been doing a bill pay payment for a  while through the bank, but the opportunity came up to get a step up flute for $300 instead of renting.  Her rental would have been $450 to buy with the rent to own… but why not get the step up for $300 instead?  That’s what I thought too – I bought the flute and arranged pickup.  I had looked at bill pay and noted that there had been a payment that went out the DAY I cancelled my rental.  Not knowing if I was paying a month in advance, or a month in arrears, I opted to let the payment going through – justifying that they would refund it if not needed.  So THAT was one of my checks to cash.  I sent it in and the teller nicely told me it was made out to the company from me, not vice-versa.  I assumed a mistake on their part… I spend 15 minutes on the phone with them trying to figure out what was the deal… then it finally dawned on me what she was saying – that was the check that my bank had drafted to them for me via bill pay… the BANK didn’t even recognize it for what it was…. A check from them to the company.  The company basically returned my check to show they didn’t cash the last one – too funny.  Sad that I’m too blond to catch on faster!  Ha!

Saturday, I did get up an go grocery shopping.  Even looking for good deals, I spent $200 and NO meat.  I mean, come on – really?  I NEVER spend $200.  Mostly because I shop Sam’s Club for the paper goods and meal type foods… so this is just some fluff and a few staples.  Sad.  So check #6 off the list… AND I checked #2 off the list to boot :o)

Liz also cleaned out the fridge and freezer in the house – now don’t look at the one outside!!  I stuffed all the extra out there.. and made the inside one look better.. :o)  I’ll have to share a picture of the suicidal olive jar… olives EVERYWHERE!  Oh, well, makes for a clean fridge AND a clean floor :o)

That would make me at 99% of my list!!  Whoop!  I came home and cleaned a bit on the backyard… let the little girls wash the car for me… mostly they washed themselves and the whole driveway – but they were happy and out of my hair… more power to them!  I cleaned out the hot tub and got the yellow ring cleaned out for the day… yuck - pine pollen!

Sunday… I woke up to find Butch already at work – yes, he’s working insane hours.  He said something about his time card the week prior was 100 hours… yes one HUNDRED hours of work.  Lovely, eh?  Yeah… good thing I’m independent!  I didn’t even hear him leave, so he must have been up early… I got up and Angela was getting ready to go to church with her friend…she’s such the dedicated child.  So there I sat… house quiet as the teenager will get up at the crack of noon…. Unless rattled earlier.  I made myself some eggs and toast, watched a TV show, got motivated and moved the tree in the back 40 where I wanted it (pray it survives), then put the shovel back and noticed that my Sunday paper was still in the driveway – soooo shocking!  So I sat down and read the paper and enjoyed the rest of my day J

A new found heart by Angela

then she ate it... would that be eating your heart out?

The bunny is holding a very pretty weed bloom in his paws :o)

Daffodils are my favorite.  I remember riding to the old farm house foundations up the road and picking them growing.  You knew it was spring then.  All the daffodils would come into bloom.

A few accomplishments...

Today put in two new sets of door locks - and have them rekeyed to a single set of keys... now to start the replacement from brass to stainless through the house... three done... 12 more to go (give ore take)

• Kitchen
     • Tile in the kitchen backsplash
     • Paint the kitchen (ok, these have to go in order – tile first – THEN paint
• Master bathroom
     • Paint the ceiling with the new ceiling paint I just purchased
     • Paint the walls to match the brown in the potty room.
• Have the living room painted (by someone else)
     • I would LOVE to get some crown molding put up at the same time….
• Trees:
• Call the dentist
• Install screen door
• Paint the front door frame
• Sprinklers:
     • Find the sprinkler box UNDER the ground from when the wall was put in a year ago…
     • Get the new sprinklers laid
     • Borrow the trencher and put the new sprinklers

The list is shrinking... slowly, but it's shrinking... and what did I do this weekend?  NOTHING!!

One more project DONE!!

And without lifting a finger - just having an opinion on placement between leaving work and going to my Dr's appointment - now that's a trick! 

Now everyone say a prayer that these lovely trees grow and fill in and make a very PRIVATE backyard and lovely little oasis for our world...

For those wondering they are Cryptomeria - Japanese Cedars - although looking up everything they really aren't a true Cedar - which makes me happy as Mom is allergic to Cedars.  They should get HUGE and fill in nicely.  I'm hoping for at least a 2' growth this next year and continued as time goes on.... everyone say a prayer they all do well and flourish!!

One HUGE project done...

...during... not sure why I never seem to remember to do a "before" shot!

After - 1

After - 2

OK, so the thing was, I got the wild hair to check ONE thing off my "to do" list.. and thought, why not the ceiling?  I got started painting... near the sink and completely ran out of ceiling paint.  Crap!  Popcorn ceilings SUCK up paint.  So... I went to Lowe's, and thought while I was going, i would pick up the wall color too.  Just in case I decided to get REALLY ambitious. 

Well, I got the WRONG color.  I picked up the paint chip for the front door instead of the bathroom - can you say CAVE dark??  Yeah, that color is sitting in the garage now waiting on a project for someone, anyone to use it on. 

So... I go BACK to Lowe's and get the correct color - in for a penny, in for a pound, right?  I get the ceiling painted and decided that yep, while on a roll, get the walls done too.  I cut in all the walls and I think I got the first coat on before dinner.  Then sliced my finger wide open making taco salad of all things.  Yikes... however was determined to get the 2nd coat on the wall and be DONE with this tonight. 

This is the end result.  Every time I would sit down and relax - as in for dinner, I got sooo stiff, I figured I had BETTER get it ALL done tonight or it will NEVER get wrapped up tomorrow!  I did get some trim paint too, however, that will wait for another day, I'm afraid!!

Lighting throws these pictures off, shading etc.  I'll try and get some with natural light tomorrow.

Goals revisited....

• Kitchen
     • Tile in the kitchen backsplash
     • Paint the kitchen (ok, these have to go in order – tile first – THEN paint)
     **not done, not started, not even thought about… sad, but truth in advertising.
• Master bathroom
     • Paint the ceiling with the new ceiling paint I just purchased
     • Paint the walls to match the brown in the potty room. 
     **not done, started, but just not done… the first coat of the spackle fix stuff had to dry to convince me that it wouldn’t look so horrible… now I need to be convinced to paint the entire ceiling in there… GAG
• Have the living room painted (by someone else)
     • I would LOVE to get some crown molding put up at the same time….
     **not done, not started, not even thought about
• Trees:
     • Tree farm. I have to make it to the tree farm as well to order trees for the backyard.
     • Call our general contractor that I love (Steve – the one who did my wall, the arbor, etc)… to see how much he would charge to come and auger the holes for the trees
** DONE** – well, sorta done… hear me out, I didn’t go this route… after going to the now defunct tree farm, looking around, calling around and having folks tell me that FIFTY trees aren’t enough to be considered “bulk buying” (hello?) I gave up to some extent on the “do it yourself mode. I called a local tree guy (well, not so local, but close) and had the whole neighborhood (will, 4 families and 16 trees) involved in getting some LARGE pines removed… so that part was done in prep to put in the screening trees. I’m on my way; I have them “ordered” and contracted to be installed… Need to call him tomorrow about time frame.
• Call the dentist… I need to have a tooth worked on
     **DONE and the good news? It didn’t need a crown. It will need one in time.. However with no cavity, nothing wrong but a crack, we’ll let it ride until something goes south and we HAVE to crown that bad boy!
• Install screen door
     **not done, not started, thought about it, but I suck!
• Paint the front door frame
     **not done too COLD to think about it
• Sprinklers:
     • Find the sprinkler box UNDER the ground from when the wall was put in a year ago…
     • Get the new sprinklers laid
     • Borrow the trencher and put the new sprinklers
     **not done I did borrow a metal detector; however it’s a “toy” one… I’m going to borrow one of Bob’s heavy duty ones from work and see if that will do the trick a bit better… and to add insult to injury? Butch lost his CUSTOM wedding ring in the yard somewhere… lovely – maybe we can find it with the metal detector? If not, he’s out of options for rings now… I quit – this is #2 that he’s lost – the first had diamonds in it… it’s gone. I replaced it with a custom job with waves, just for his Scuba soul… and the pea picker lost it… so I warned him on the last one, he’s down to clearance rings now… I have two from Target that I’ll dole out over time… both less than $25 plus the cost of sizing… I can deal with him loosing those… now watch he’ll keep those for YEARS to come, won’t he? Bless his pea brain.