Sunday, March 24, 2013 @
3:28 pm
Good LATE afternoon! It’s been a bit of a chore neglecting writing
this much. It seems that we’ve been
overwhelmed this last couple of weeks.
Everything is falling in place, but it takes quite a bit of energy, BUT
we’re not complaining, we are having the time of our life with all that is
going on in our new life! The movers
will be here in about 20 hours, but Rich and I have made the switch where we
are living at the new places, and we brought our two kitties with us. They might not have been as exuberant as we’ve
been. What finally worked to get them
into the cat carrier was to tip it on its end and then drop them in. Missy got a scratched nose, but other than that
they did pretty good after finally being caged.
They were quiet on the way over to the new place (about an hour), until
Maury called and then when I started to talk, Missy decided she would like to
talk too, but she quieted back down in short order. They didn’t seem to mind our driving. That was a nice turn of events.
There’s so much to talk
about I don’t really know where to start.
Maybe it would just be to say that we are as excited as Hell to have
made this huge transition. I haven’t
felt yet like it is real. We are at the
point of never going back to the old place.
I left my keys on the counter as instructed by the landlord. I’ve got the Flylady to thank for that. She insists on getting dressed everyday to
the shoes, so we’ve been doing that for like the last 10-12 days and as it
turned out the landlord who we’ve talked to, but haven’t seen the majority of
twelve years walked into our place – the door had been open from Rich bringing
things down to the car … and well, it was just amazing … we were dressed! He asked if we were on schedule and it was as
much as a walk-through as we’re getting.
We of course were happy to say everything was in order. And then, Rich took him around the apartment
to show him some of the problems we were having with the place that needed to
be fixed before the next people came in.
He seemed ok with that as to what we heard, but again Rich took care of
all that. Thanks Rich!
We’ve been following a
tough schedule that Rich and us set-up over the last week or so. Most things got done, but Rich needed to do
an extra trip. It’s just that he needed somewhat
of a break from all that today too. He’s
been working on some necessary household projects today. He put-together my shower chair, and then he
fixed the guest bed (headboard to frame) and now he’s working on the
dishwasher. I think his confidence in
his abilities are improving daily. But,
it is still aggravating because he went over to help Bud and his mother with
their bills today and Bud nagged and nagged him for not having things done
sooner than what was happening. I don’t
think Bud has any boundaries as to how to deal with people or in general … he
just doesn’t have people-skills. It is
very critical and negative to lay that much crap on Rich. Rich is taking it better than we are, but it
still hurts him personally.
I just don’t think its
fair. When people think they are better
than others at things, they should wait to be asked questions IF the other
wants to do that or is willing/trustful enough to talk over the project, but to
have someone acting as if he was incapable.
Just makes my blood boil. Rich’s
mother is the same. Rich accidentally
hit her with a hammer during one of his first attempts to do household maintenance
tasks, so she’s told him ever since EVERY time being able has come up that he
is incapable. That kind of negativity
AND untruth just rusts out the spirit. I
don’t want to say anything more about it because it’s just us complaining and I
don’t really want to be there, but it’s still very aggravating. It does teach me though to be less critical
and more positive when Rich works so hard at fixing things. There’s a lot ahead of him to work on, but
there is no way we shouldn’t look at this as positive. It is just a part of home ownership that
times time, effort, and patience. The list of
things to do is incredible, so it makes sense to just do one thing at a
time and build confidence.
Shoot, Rich just got done
as far as he could. It turned out that
the fixtures were on the opposite side, which would have gone past where he was
comfortably at. Everything got put away
then and he asked for paper to make a grocery list. He’d been wearing down the supplies so we had
less to move … I guess he’s ready now.
Good-good for me! He’s bringing
home fried chicken. SWEET!
I wonder where the cats
went … I do know that they can open and shut kitchen cupboard doors and
especially Missy is real into that.
Yesterday after things were inside we opened their cages, but they hid
in the bathroom where their litter box was.
Part of it was the shock of it all, but partly they are still shy around
other people – even Nikki and Maury.
Nikki is working it through by trying to hold at least Chief when she’s
here … she figures to wear HIM down.
Good deal!
Yesterday was a major
important day to have shared with Nikki and Maury. Nikki had volunteered them to come over and
help both yesterday and tomorrow. It was
especially a big deal because they didn’t have kids and still spent their time
with us old folks. We couldn’t have had
the beauty of today without them. They
worked so hard and I’m thinking for them they did it easily, though we heard
from FB that they slept in today … Hehehe – ok, enough of that!
What they did was to get
here at about 10:30 AM and stayed til just after dinner. We had pizza J They made quick work of everything. The first major project was lining
shelves. Rich pulled an extra thing with
it last moment … he’d mentioned it before so I should have paid more attention. The two kids worked together, but it seemed
that both of them knew all the jobs … I couldn’t tell because we were trying to
work ourselves, and we just saw them moving … they like never really stand
still and we had confidence that after they took over they could do a much
better job than we ever could have. My
biggest job seemed to be taking things out of boxes and unwrapping. We had to find places for things as well, but
pretty much knew what was going to be happening by then. Rich was the person that was getting things
done in-between all else. I think he was
more ungrounded than even me, but not by much.
We took a couple regrouping breaks in the sitting room and they seemed
to like the new furniture and space. We
got some good time to just talk/listen and heard some about the grandchildren
and things the kids were into. Three of
the grandchildren are in Washington DC with their friends and a few
teachers. They had a very jam-packed
schedule and we’re of no doubt they’d be tired by the end. Nikki thought there should be more
verbal/phone chat, but my guess is that they were running ragged and just didn’t
have the time to slow down their minds to think much of the parent’s comfort
levels. I’m so proud of them for being
able to do something like this. It’s
just impressive.
The kids said that
tomorrow Isa will be dropped off about 9 am and then they’ll be headed over
here again to help with the movers and that coordinating project. They told Isa that she was as a surprise going
to help Gramma move. I was really
touched by that. We’ll definitely work
her in and maybe she can do some of the running if she can maintain
interest. She’s in the first grade this
year, so everything is relative. We’re
hoping she has a real good time. I don’t
think she knows much about the move, but things are going to be very fun for
her. Nikki also said that they were
planning to some special hunting for egg things for the girls either here or
when they got back home. We voted for
the here version … I can’t think of anything more fun than watching them
excitedly taking in the holiday. It’s doubly
sweet they’ll be investigating our new space probably more than us. I hope it’s going to be a nice day. From what I understand the kids hide the eggs
outside and they work in teams. I think
she also said that Isa gets an advantage by them working in the dark. I’m just so thrilled that they would think to
invite us into their plans.
The other things that
happened were that in different parts of the project we worked – especially the
guys on getting some things hung-up. The
map tapestry went up as well as the living room and sitting room curtains. We ended up using the white lace from the Victorian
house with the flowered print I bought at the Brookfield apartment. I think it looks really nice. We are having a little problem with Rich on
hanging though. I’m impressed he’s done
a couple of his map pictures, but he’s set on just hanging-up pictures where
there are already holes or nails/screws.
That is whether or not I want the picture hung there. We are still trying to work that out. When he finished the bed today, he hung-up a
few more pictures in the guest room. Again
he covered old spots, but we were happy he was feeling more liberal about
getting something up on the wall. That
had always been a problem at the old place, because after six years he couldn’t
handle hanging up the maps. Now he’s got
one over the fireplace mantel, but he says it has to be taken in to a
specialist to frame because its missing the glass and a hanger. I hope he doesn’t put it off too much. He’s been really cautious with spending extra
money. But, it’s going to be beautiful
on this side (kitchen) of the mantel. On
the other side I have a picture left by Maury’s mother of a home in a
cross-stitch like design with two birds I always related to blue birds of
happiness. Rich started gathering some
of his trophy-like objects and we started gathering a few small framed
Grandchildren pictures to put on either mantel.
Good stuff.
We didn’t get as far as
hanging the quilt or the two design boards, but I don’t think those projects
are as far off as they had been before.
In some fashion both projects have been started. We also talked to Rich about getting lace for
the four bedroom windows – that and I would still like to make curtains to go
over them at nighttime. I’m thinking
right now I could use some of that muslin that I have for liners to make it
less transparent. Hmm, that’s a good
idea. I will check with CS just to make
sure. We’re just going on what we have
that won’t cost. I’ve got a whole bolt
of it … though we’re thinking it will get used fast. I want to find if it would be enough to make
a difference as to light coverage. It
won’t happen before CS gets here.
I think we have to
consider other projects too like doors and bathroom windows. Maybe we can make some shower curtains for
ourselves too. I like the ones in the
guest room, but the curtains and shower curtains in the master are just thin
white and blue striped like they used to make old pillows from. BLAH!
Rich really wanted something new other than the one I’d used for the
Brookfield apartment. Actually that
curtain was purchased for the Victorian house and that was like 25 years ago …
he’s right … we could do better. Maybe
we’ll ask CS to show us a few things on the sewing machine like how to make
buttons so we could sew holes for the shower loops to go through. And, I’m not sure, but we might need more
skirts for the tables due to different coverage. I was saving the curtains from our old sewing
room because I love them so much … but it is the same material as being used on
the skirt panels, so maybe if CS taught me the ruffle attachment we can
complete the table skirts using the regular curtain materials. We also could use extra material from the
curtains to make covers for the couch arms where we had problems with the cats
scratching. The color goes with the
couch and curtains, and there is not enough curtain to go on the longer
window. We’ll find something that
coordinates in that room.
We did look at some lace
curtain places for reasonable prices at “Paul’s Home Fashions.” We picked one out we liked called, “Irish
Lattice Print.” It says:
IRISH POINT JACQUARD
LACE SHEER URTAIN PANEL PAIR and VALANCE-
Bring a lovely romantic look to your home with the tailored Irish Point curtain pairs and matching valance.
Bring a lovely romantic look to your home with the tailored Irish Point curtain pairs and matching valance.
Features a fine gauge jacquard lace inspired by traditional Irish Point design.
80" wide pair available in four different lengths.
Available in White or Ivory .
Size = 80"x 36". 80"x45",80"x 54", 80"x 63", 80"x 84", and 80"x96"
Master bedroom 80” x
45” and 80” x 63”
Sewing Room 2 – 80”
x 63”Guest Room 80” x 63”
Rich’s room 2 80” x
63”
Master bath 80” x 45”
and 2 – 80” x 84”
LR 80” x 45”
So total of
3 - 80” x 45” = $20.99
x 3 = $62.97
6 - 80” x 63” = $26.99
x 6 = $161.94
2 - 80” x 84” = $31.99
x 1 = $63.98
TOTAL = 11 curtains
sets for $288.89
Shoot that gets
expensive, but from memory the old curtains cost like $120 a piece – just for
one set – not sure which size … just always thought the curtains were around
that area. I have no illusion the
bedroom curtains would be as nice as the other, but it would be fair for the
cost. But, then you have to figure out
the cost of fabric yardage to go along with that. I would order from Jinny Beyers. She’s charging now $10.50 per yard … I would
need 1,107 inches or 32 – 35 yards at 10.50 = $367.50 + 288.89 = GRAND TOTAL OF
$656.39 … MAN OH MAN – so much think Rich isn’t going to go for that – specially
after we add the cost of curtain rods … oh Lordy it’s like a thousand dollar
package if between the lace rod and the curtain rod cost a total of $30 … PLUS
couldn’t insulate/darken them at 35 yards of curtains!
Hmm, just found our
colors are going to be the coral/pink, olive green, brown, gold and a little plum/purple
in the master bedroom/bath, but in the process of really looking carefully at
the walls in each room. There were
colors in each that I wasn’t aware of but the good news is that the rooms that
had color the predominant color was the same coral/pink and olive green as my
master colors. I’m pretty happy with
that for now. I can honestly say I’d do
a really nice job for $1000 to the four bedroom/bath walls. Not much being done in the kitchen – one small
window with a lace valence that is ok and I wouldn’t worry about the red
valence in the sunroom (with the red carpet) which seems ok for what it is –
mostly a seasonal indoor/outdoor room.
Rich is home now and
we’re going to be eating dinner soon. He
has to put groceries away to figure out his new space. I’m going to post and get to the dinner part J Oh, I did tell him that I’d figured out the curtains and I’d do a
really nice job with them, but that we’d have to save up some money … he kind
of laughed I’m hoping it really wasn’t nervous laughter. Hehehe
