The beginning of less

Now where the hell do I put the rest?  So far, two rooms are packed with wall items, samplers, wood pieces, tables.  I would like to do some consignment at the only shop near here but she doesn't want primitive pieces.  It will be a long process to determine what stays and what goes.  I wonder how much will be stored in the attic or actually let go.

 

My view from the kitchen.  I am still surprised at the change in the room and don't even want to add wainscot now.  The trim will all be painted very light as the sample areas show.  Maybe that will be too boring.  Maybe some color is needed when the room has less, but I'm trying it anyway.  To me, this same room setting would look bare or unfinished without the beams.  Crown moulding would help a sparse room too but I didn't want that look for this room.  Not sure what will end up in the room, but right now it's half of what it was.  Our kitchen is open to the family room on the left, and this room is on the right.  They could easily be switched and I may do that for seasons.

Mike said he will come back to do other simple finishing work for us so I was relieved to hear that.  Dominic should have the cabinets next week and we'll take it from there.

 

I got my XL tops, a long way from the small I used to wear.  The downside to having the looser fit, is losing the incentive to diet.  I fight it, but when I am forced to move up a size and I have things to wear, the urgency is lessened.  But just because it fits, doesn't mean I'm any smaller.

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

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The last zucchini

Tried another bread, this time banana zucchini bread and it is very good.  I followed this recipe except for using only 2 tsp cinnamon instead of 1 Tbsp, left out cranberries, and changed nuts to 1 cup of pecans.  I love walnuts but like pecans with banana breads.  My husband's step-monster (mother) made the best I've ever had and she always used pecans.  Toward the end of her years, we decided to not indulge in her foods.  Just in case.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/141933/banana-zucchini-bread/

I have a question for you.  Since my body is expanding like a rehydrating sponge, I ordered a few new tunics in XL.  Nothing that I have fits me.  The large fits, but the outline during a walk away is very noticeable.  The extra large is bigger everywhere and may look a little sloppy, but the walk away is just a lot of fabric without an outline.  Which would you choose?

 

Mike is here installing the last three beams with Mark's help.  He may consider the wainscot after I make up my mind, we won't know for a while but it would be an easy job for him.  I think doing the smaller jobs and work he enjoys now and then would be good for him. 

 

Thanks for the pumpkin suggestions!  I never thought of buying the fake ones nor did I think of spray painting them white.  My nephew's girlfriend lives in Ohio and has seen them at a market so she will check for me.  First on her list is getting the traps for Carole's feral family.  A long haired calico mom and two long haired yellow kittens with white paws.  She works with a group in Ohio that handles feral neutering and we're hoping to get them trapped.  Our locals never followed through, never sent the paperwork, never called with the info. 

 

Have a good day folks!

 

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Another example

of what schools are teaching today's youth.  There was a halftime show from Forest Hill high school that featured students with toy guns (which you get kicked out of school for) pretending to shoot cops.  They were the visiting team at Brookhaven, where two officers were shot and killed a week before.  A Facebook post asking parents/others to send an email to the superintendent of this school, was of course removed, according to Newsweek's site.

Claiming that this was based on the movie "John Q." is ludicrous.  There is no reason to act out an old movie on the field, and it's never OK for a school to put guns in kid's hands TOY OR NOT.  And then to pretend to use them!!  I thought schools and teachers rally for gun control, or maybe it's OK if used against someone you disagree with. 

 

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Minimal

I used to have corn stalks and pumpkins and gourds and mums and Indian corn.  Used to.  There is a fine line between having just enough, and looking like you started something and didn't finish.  It's not easy!  Too little is sometimes as bad as too much.  The white mum is loaded with buds and should be really nice when it fully opens.  I love the yellow, but couldn't pass these by for $4.

 

I do think corn stalks would be a nice addition in the corners.  Always afraid they are hiding a monster spider, waiting to get loose in my car.  I have huge bags so maybe I'll stick a few stalks in them tomorrow.  May take a ride to Amish country and see if I find any white pumpkins there.  The local farmers' market had none.

 

Jason is coming in a few weeks to work on the landscaping and we still have not found a concrete company willing to do a small job.  Sure, we could get an individual to lay some down but without proper foundation it is a waste of money.  We've had more than our share of shoddy work. 

 

Mark installed the strongbacks in the attic and when we removed the jacks, all held.  Not perfectly level but the beams will be able to meet the ceiling across the span now.  Mike decided to go on disability for his PTSD so he won't be doing the rest of the work.  I didn't know you could go on it at 72 after being on social security.  Regardless, we need to find someone else.  Again.
EDIT - has nothing to do with SS.  He will be getting a large check monthly from the VA and income or SS or age has nothing to do with it.  Did not know that.

 

I hope your weekend is going pretty damn good.

 

Thanks for visiting this boring site.

 

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If something can go wrong,

it will.  Our ceiling is so uneven, that after two beams, the others had a 1 1/2" gap where they met the walls.  The outside edges of the ceiling were much higher than the rest and that gap is huge.  Mike was not able to handle this and became very flustered so we told him we will decide on a solution and he can come back Monday.  So what can you do with such a space?  Too large for caulking (which I hate), way too large for joint compound, perfectly cut wedges to insert in the space?  We did, but it was so obvious that the beam was much lower and bigger on the ends.  What's a girl to do? 

Jack it baby. Bottle jacks to the rescue.  The 4x4 at the top easily corrected and leveled the defects and the gap closed to 1/8".  YAY!!!  We even took out the wedges and now the wonky one is good.  Whew.  Mike is relieved and should not have any difficulty finishing this job.  Let's just hope that the supports Mark will make Saturday to hold this correction, stay!  Surprisingly, there are no cracks in the drywall other than the ones that showed up right after the drywall installer left years ago.  I hate drywall. 

 

With only half the room installed, I am surprised at the difference.  We had cedar beams years ago but these are running across instead of lengthwise.  Huge difference in the feel of the room.

 

Thank you for the prayers, Sandy passed away Monday afternoon, years after being diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia.  Until then, we never heard of the condition.  She taught in New Prague MN and traveled throughout the world every summer.

 

I'm not sure what I did but currently have either a broken rib, torn cartilage, or a cross over.  Started with soreness but now it is very painful.  I know the doctors do not recommend wearing compression or support, but it makes such a difference.  I bought the Mueller low back support neoprene band.  Had broken ribs before and lying down is misery because my body seems to spread out (it expands monthly) and that causes my ribs to feel ....  pressure or something.  Without the support band to hold them from moving, I could not sleep.  There's swelling down from it (unless it's a new fat roll) and I may go to the doc next week if there is no improvement. 

 

First weekend in October!  I bought white mums for the front and looked for white pumpkins.  Must have been a bad year for them because there are very few and most already sold.  No big deal.  I won't get to selling anything else until Mike is done, then we can paint that room and Dominic should have the cupboards in two weeks.  Still not sure about the dining room.

 

Hope your weekend starts swell.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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And so it begins

I compromised on the beam construction, not that important.  So he came back, we ordered new wood, he started over.  We banged and cut and slit and sanded and stained after he left.  The first two beams have nice markings, the subsequent had fewer and more shallow distressing.  Didn't take long to wear us out. 

 

 

The walls and ceilings are so off kilter that it is a real puzzle to fit them.  Mark is helping him and the first one hits at the corners and the center ceiling is much higher so the supports are showing.  Here we go!

 

This is the cabinet that holds the peanut butter and peanut M&Ms and I can't keep dodging the tools and ladders to get to them.  As a result, I must make my way down to the cellar and open the microwave door in order to gain access to the Dove dark bags.  Construction can be so disruptive. 

 

At this point, after several years of waiting, I'm just glad for progress.  Any kind.  They did such a poor job on these rooms for Mom initially, it's impossible to expect any more than we will get now without tearing it down and starting from scratch.

 

Nit was not happy with the beams taking floor space in his pad where he crashes at night.

 

Have a good one!

 

If you are so inclined, I would appreciate a prayer for my cousin in MN with FTD who has started her passage to the every after.

 

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