Monday, June 29, 2015

Breaking News

The Doctor woke up around 5:30 a.m., which is unusual, while Sweetheart was out with her friends at boot camp. I usually keep my phone in the living room and I was surprised to hear it ringing at 6:00. Sweetheart was calling to say that she coasted to a stop along the freeway. The vital car needs were a new alternator, terminal post, and brakes. There were half a dozen other needs, such as 2 new back tires, that also needed to be replaced/repaired, so we just bit the bullet and went ahead and had it all done.

Friday night the cables on the garage door, that attach to the drums, both snapped, and we have a call out to the garage door people to have it fixed. The future profit from the rent house is slowly being devoured....


This is the only real maintenance that the car has required for the last five years, except for a new battery. I really shouldn't be complaining since it got me through school without any issues. On the bright side, it couldn't have happened at a better time, since I've got my Dad's truck and the garage will have all of the repairs done by Wednesday at the latest.

Speaking of money troubles, Puerto Rico has declared that they might not be able to pay their creditors. They are a US territory, and possibly our 51st state, but remaining a territory has it's own advantages that they probably don't want to give up.  The financial collapse is hitting a little closer to home.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Leaps and Bounds

Man, what a great weekend. I got a lot accomplished on the list, and I think if I went for broke I could actually have the house ready by the first. I got all of the kitchen, hallway, and laundry room detail paint work done. The outside was pressure washed, and I'm sure that if pressure washers were around about the time of Hercules, it would have been one of his Labors. Also while I had Sweetheart was there, I got the refrigerator moved over to our house. It'll reside in the garage for bottled water, Gatorade, and a few beers with mugs in  the freezer.

Huge difference for curb appeal

First time since 2000 that it's been this clean.
The List:
  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (2nd of 3 applications)
  • Remove refrigerator
  • 2 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 new blind small curtain in master bathroom
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Restore hardwoods. Under contract!!!
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Install quarter round on stairs painted quarter round
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps. ( LR, hallway, master bedroom )
  • Clear house of items.
  • Cut two small trees down in backyard.
  • Added: Repaint quarter round in boys old bedrooms.
Keep Right On Prepping - K






Saturday, June 27, 2015

A Good Day

As the title suggests, a lot got done at the rent house. I made a good dent in the list by getting the kitchen painted, and 95% of the stairwell and laundry room. So that means that the two biggest projects are almost done. I'll still have to tame "The devil is in the details",but I have the full day tomorrow and July 3rd to get things squared away. I've been gradually bringing my tools and other items back to the house, so that I'm not loaded down at the end with a full day's running back and forth.

Finished Product

After floating the wall and repainting the kitchen seating area

A before shot

Bottom of the stairwell with the new flooring installed

The stairwell is really high, and I didn't want the ladder on the stairs!

The staircase is partially finished.





I'll still have to run around and spot paint some trim work, and a few other areas. The risers are painted the same color as the walls, and I'll paint the steps a dark brown color. Anyways, The List....

The List:


  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (2nd of 3 applications)
  • Remove refrigerator
  • 2 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 new blind in master bathroom
  • Install flooring in laundry room.
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Restore hardwoods. Under contract!!!
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Install quarter round on stairs and paint stairwell.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps. ( LR, hallway, master bedroom )
  • Clear house of items. 
  • Detail window sills listed below:
  1. 2 windows in kitchen
  • Repaint Kitchen
  • Cut two small trees down in backyard.



Tomorrow will be pressure washing the house and cleaning along the back fence line. Mopping the hardwoods, and cutting down the two small trees in the back yard.

Keep Right On Prepping - K





Thursday, June 25, 2015

Personal Digital list

I've been mainly updating this list as a personal to-do list that I can access on my phone while at the house. 

The List:


  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (2nd of 3 applications)
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and install bamboo flooring. (quarter round left)
  • 2 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 new blind in master bathroom
  • Install flooring in laundry room.
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Restore hardwoods. Under contract!!!
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Install quarter round on stairs and paint stairwell.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps. ( LR, hallway, master bedroom )
  • Clear house of items. 
  • Detail window sills listed below:
  1. 2 windows in kitchen
  • Repaint Kitchen
  • Cut two small trees down in backyard.
I was able to head over to the house after the boys went to bed and got a few things done. I'm tired today, but gotta keep plugging away.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

List Shrinkage

The list is getting shorter, and I finally have  a company to do the flooring for the house. I'll put the house on the market with a flooring allowance until the floor gets refinished. If the buyer decides to install carpet the company has agreed to refund the money, so I get the house on the market and the floors redone. I have a ton of work to still get done before the first of July...(head down and keeps running)...It'll get there.

The two biggest and pressing projects are the stairs and the kitchen being repainted, along with the other items on the list.

The List:
  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (2nd of 3 applications)
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and install bamboo floooring. (quarter round left)
  • 3 2 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 new blind in master bathroom
  • Install flooring in laundry room.
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Restore hardwoods. (under contract!!!)
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Install quarter round on stairs and paint.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps. ( LR, hallway, master bedroom )
  • Clear house of items. 
  • Detail window sills listed below:
  1. 3 2 windows in kitchen
  2. 2 in Row old room
  3. 1 in Red Ant old room
  4. downstairs area
  5. back bedroom
  • Repaint Kitchen
  • Cut two small trees down in backyard.
Keep Right On Prepping - K

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Father's Day Activities

Today was a nice day to be a father. I got to sleep in until 8:30, then Sweetheart made breakfast for me and the boys while I sipped on my morning coffee. I took Row to get his hair cut soon after the place opened, then came home and collected my things for the rent house renewal projects.

Mother-in-law watched the Doctor, so Sweetheart was able to finish the flower beds, and make a trip to the hardware store for a few more bags of mulch. The outside agriculture is 95% finished. I'll clear the back fence line, and chop two small trees down to finish it up. Maybe 2 hours work?

The inside of the house is moving right along. The concrete-stainers are a no go, so I'll have a vinyl flooring installed in the laundry room. It'll be cheaper in the long run, and my handyman can get it completed in two hours. The carport door area has been leveled, and the bamboo flooring in the kitchen has been extended to the living room area. It looks much nicer! Quarter round needs to be installed and I can mark it off the list.

I painted for five hours today, and that's about my limit. I tried to get by without having to repaint the ceiling, but my previous freestyle border painting says otherwise. There were spots here and there that had the old color in the ceiling area, and I couldn't just let it go. It has to look good.

I'll need to head over every day after or before work to make some good headway coming into the last weekend before my self imposed deadline of July 1st for the house being ready for the market. I'll post as I can....

The List:

  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (2nd of 3 applications)
  • Clean the flower beds ( 2 of 3 cleaned)
  • Mulch (2 of 3 )
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and install bamboo floooring. (quarter round left)
  • 3 2 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 new blind in master bathroom
  • Paint the hallway a neutral color. (touch up ceiling wall area)
  • Install flooring in laundry room.
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Major clean up of back yard (garden area, fence line, mow, and leaves)
  • Restore hardwoods.
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Install quarter round on stairs and paint.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps. ( LR, hallway, master bedroom )
  • Clear house of items. 
  • Detail window sills listed below:
  1. 3 2 windows in kitchen
  2. 2 in Row old room
  3. 1 in Red Ant old room
  4. downstairs area
  5. back bedroom
  • Wash fixture glassware (in dishwasher)
  • Repaint Kitchen
  • Dust ceiling fans
  • Label Generator Outlet
  • Bag leaves by the curb
Items added to list:
  • Cut two small trees down in backyard.
The flower beds are finally finished!

The view into the house from the front door.

Details...ergh! I hate cut in work.

The bamboo flooring mid process.
 
    
The days are numbered for the small trees in the middle.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

This House Will Make You Paint

Row came up with the title for the blog post all on his own. He thought that the play on words paint/faint was quite humorous, and I have to agree. Today, was centered on cleaning, painting, and rekeying the locks. The List continuous to ebb and flow with items being scratched off, and more added. 


Row really wanted to help, so with a little guidance, and canvas on the floor, he took to rolling the paint onto the ceiling. While I've been trying to get the house ready, having Row there just to hang out, and to occasionally help, has been nice. I will endorse this little product...

Shur-Line Edger is faster than putting up frog tape, and the lines come out pretty good, but you still have to go at a slow steady pace. This five dollar gadget is well worth the money in time (and frustration) saved.

Before





After
The List:
  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (2nd of 3 applications)
  • Clean the flower beds ( 2 of 3 cleaned)
  • Mulch (2 of 3 )
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and relay something?
  • 3 2 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 new blind in master bathroom
  • Paint the hallway a neutral color
  • Remove flooring in laundry room to concrete and stain same color as office area &
  • Stain concrete. (rethinking another type of flooring since contractor troubles)
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Major clean up of back yard (garden area, fence line, mow, and leaves)
  • Repaint the ceiling lines in living room better (NOT FREEHAND STYLE).
  • Restore hardwoods.
  • Paint two closets in downstairs back bedroom.
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Change locks (keys not returned).
  • Paint, trim, and lay runner on stairwell (make it nicer).
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps
  • Clear house of items. 
  • Paint ceiling in main bathroom
  • Detail window sills listed below:
  1. 3 2 windows in kitchen
  2. master bathroom
  3. 2 in Row old room
  4. 1 in Red Ant old room
  5. main living room
  6. downstairs area
  7. back bedroom
Added Items:
  • Wash fixture glassware (in dishwasher)
  • Repaint Kitchen
  • Dust ceiling fans
  • Label Generator Outlet
  • Paint stairwell
  • Bag leaves by the curb
Keep Right On Prepping - K

Saturday, June 13, 2015

The Devil's Handiwork

I swear that mini-blinds are the Devil's handiwork. I could have painted a room with the amount of time that it took to hang four of those suckers. Dropping the screws, mounting the frames the wrong way, and other operator errors made the process a real pain. Makes one want to open a cold beer. I did get a few items scratched off The List, even with a late start and a trip to Home Depot. Oh, I bought an eight pack of light bulbs...one was broken and one didn't work.

I did get some time with Row. He was my helper on a few projects, maybe some it sunk into his brain. I sure didn't appreciate my Dad showing me how to do stuff at the time, but I'm glad he made me watch. LOL, I'm sure Row is thinking that holding the hose and hammer, while I climb the ladder to clean the gutters, is a waste of his time. I'm sure this process has been going on since caveman days...


The List:
  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (2nd of 3 applications)
  • Clean the gutters, check the nails, and flush spouts.
  • Clean the flower beds ( 2 of 3 cleaned)
  • Mulch (2 of 3 )
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and relay something?
  • 3 2 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 new blind in main bathroom
  • 2 new master bedroom blinds
  • 1 new blind in master bathroom
  • Paint the hallway a neutral color
  • Remove flooring in laundry room to concrete and stain same color as office area &
  • Stain concrete. (rethinking another type of flooring since contractor troubles)
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Major clean up of back yard (garden area, fence line, mow, and leaves)
  • Repaint the ceiling lines in living room better (NOT FREEHAND STYLE).
  • Restore hardwoods.
  • Paint two closets in downstairs back bedroom.
  • Float, sand, and paint  one wall (kitchen and downstairs bathroom).
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Change locks (keys not returned).
  • Paint, trim, and lay runner on stairwell (make it nicer).
  • Paint color samples on the walls.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps
  • Clear house of items. 
  • Paint ceiling in main bathroom
  • Detail window sills listed below:
  1. 3 2 windows in kitchen
  2. main bathroom
  3. master bathroom
  4. 2 in master bedroom
  5. 2 in Row old room
  6. 1 in Red Ant old room
  7. main living room
  8. downstairs area
  9. back bedroom

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Repositioning

I had the concrete stainer cancel our Monday appointment due to a forgotten walk through on a completed project. He promised to call, and hasn't. The hardwood restoration person was also supposed to be by for a Monday morning bid, but she also had to cancel due to an ER emergency. She rescheduled for today, and didn't show up and also didn't call.  I texted her and also left a voice mail around 10:30 am,and she promptly texted back at 3:30 that she "has a lot going on". Normally, I would have written the company off, but I rescheduled another bid to take place on Wednesday. I guess the economy is really good since I can't get any contractors out to the house for a bid...

I do have a rather solid hardwood flooring person coming out Tuesday to put in his bid. He comes highly recommended. The List has a few items knocked off of it, but it has been mostly repositioning items for this weekends work. It looks like it will be mostly inside painting, with maybe a few outside jobs before the heat and humidity kicks it into high gear.

 The List:


  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (1st of 3 applications)
  • Clean the gutters, check the nails, and flush spouts.
  • Clean the flower beds ( 2 of 3 cleaned)
  • Mulch (2 of 3 )
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and relay something?
  • Buy shower curtain and put it up in bathroom
  • 3 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 blind in bathroom
  • 2 new master bedroom blinds
  • Paint the hallway a neutral color
  • Remove flooring in laundry room to concrete and stain same color as office area &
  • Stain concrete. (rethinking another type of flooring since contractor troubles)
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Major clean up of back yard (garden area, fence line, mow, and leaves)
  • Repaint the ceiling lines in living room better (NOT FREEHAND STYLE).
  • Restore hardwoods.
  • Paint two closets in downstairs back bedroom.
  • Float, sand, and paint two walls (kitchen and downstairs bathroom).
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Change locks (keys not returned).
  • Paint, trim, and lay runner on stairwell (make it nicer).
  • Put new doorbell on front door area
  • Paint color samples on the walls.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps
  • Clear house of items. 
Added items:
  • Paint ceiling in main bathroom
  • Detail window sills
The customary picture per post:




Keep Right On Prepping - K

Monday, June 8, 2015

Slower Pace

I got over early to the house and watered the plants, and got my Dad's truck taken back to a nearby town, then headed into work. The handyman showed up at the rent house and got some work done, and wanted another $60 on the labor. I told Sweetheart that he would show up today since the money was gone. I told him that an envelope would be waiting at the house in the morning with the balance for supplies and labor. With the work that was signed off on, he was still $5 in the advanced labor column. I left $20 for supplies to repair the dryer vent, and wrote a detailed ledger of work completed and the running balance. He is still $25 in the advance column for labor, and that will disappear pretty soon. I image the pace of the work will pick up since it is a "pay as the work is done" system.

 The List:

  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (1st of 3 applications)
  • Clean the gutters, check the nails, and flush spouts.
  • Clean the flower beds ( 2 of 3 cleaned)
  • Mulch (2 of 3 )
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and relay something?
  • Buy shower curtain and put it up in bathroom
  • 3 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 blind in bathroom
  • 2 new master bedroom blinds
  • Paint the hallway a neutral color
  • Remove flooring in laundry room to concrete and stain same color as office area
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Major clean up of back yard (garden area, fence line, mow, and leaves)
  • Repaint the ceiling lines in living room better (NOT FREEHAND STYLE).
  • Stain concrete.
  • Restore hardwoods.
  • Paint two closets in downstairs back bedroom.
  • Float, sand, and paint two walls (kitchen and downstairs bathroom).
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house. (trenched)
  • Change locks (keys not returned).
  • Fix carport door.
  • Paint, trim, and lay runner on stairwell (make it nicer).
  • Lag bolt on carport railing.
  • Put new doorbell on front door area
  • Paint color samples on the walls.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Annual sump pump inspection.
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps
  • Clear house of items.


The renter should be very happy that Mr. Handyman was able to repair the existing door, because a new one would have cost her over $300 off her deposit. All I have to do is buy another door knob and then I can send off her refund minus the fees.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Sunday, June 7, 2015

The List Shrinks and Grows

I didn't get as much done today as yesterday, primarily due to the soreness of my muscles, but I did get a ton of stuff done the first day. The backyard was mowed and a third of the yard cleaned of twigs and leaves. Roundup was applied along the fence line, but we'll see what survives....

The concrete contractor had to reschedule for sometime next week. He forgot about a walk through on a completed project.

This will be the last time I use my handyman. Whenever I advance him some cash for work, he never shows up like he promised. Plus, my mother-in-law fronted him the $120 cash for some wooden shutters almost three months ago, and he still hasn't installed them nor contacted her about them. He was supposed to work on the staircase on Wednesday, but didn't show up or call. He texted that he was going to show up Friday to start some projects around the house, but since I hadn't left the key hidden outside since Wednesday, it was too much to drive ten minutes to collect the key from my wife. He headed to Texas for the weekend to surprise his Dad. Finally, today he called and said he would be over at the house on Monday. I'm sure that he'll show up this time because he needs another advance. We are going to pay as the work is completed.



Sweetheart did an awesome job on the first two flower beds.


The real estate agent suggested a rather low starting price point. I'll spare everyone the details, but it was about $10K too low in my opinion, especially when Zillow appraises it about $6K higher than his suggested starting price point. My first thought was that he was looking to make a quick turn around for the commission.


 The List:

  • Clean the twigs and acorns off the roof
  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it. (1st of 3 applications)
  • Clean the gutters, check the nails, and flush spouts.
  • Mow the front yard and trim edges
  • Clean the flower beds ( 2 of 3 cleaned)
  • Mulch (2 of 3 )
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and relay something?
  • Buy shower curtain and put it up in bathroom
  • 3 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 blind in bathroom
  • 2 new master bedroom blinds
  • Paint the hallway a neutral color
  • Remove carpet, padding, tacking, and staples in hardwoods upstairs for restoration
  • Remove flooring in laundry room to concrete and stain same color as office area
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Major clean up of back yard (garden area, fence line, mow, and leaves)
  • Repaint the ceiling lines in living room better (NOT FREEHAND STYLE).
  • Clean and wash balcony.
  • Stain concrete.
  • Restore hardwoods.
  • Paint two closets in downstairs back bedroom.
  • Float, sand, and paint two walls (kitchen and downstairs bathroom).
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house.
  • Change locks (keys not returned).
  • Fix carport door.
  • Replace hinges on screen doors.
  • Paint, trim, and lay runner on stairwell (make it nicer).
  • Lag bolt on carport railing.
  • Plant summer flowers in flower beds
  • Put new doorbell on front door area
Added:
  • Paint color samples on the walls.
  • Make the under the sink in the main bathroom more attractive (hide water damage).
  • Annual sump pump.
  • Clean under carport
  • Quarter round along some walls to cover hardwood flooring gaps
Keep Right On Prepping - K

Saturday, June 6, 2015

My Own D-day Report

Not to make light of the sacrifices that happened on the beaches of Normandy, I have my own action report to file. The renter moved out of the house May 31st, and left the inside of the house in good shape. The outside is another story though, and after talking with a neighbor it seems that the yard was moved only once during the entire year. We have decided to sale the rent house, since property values have gone back to acceptable values, and a few other reasons. The rental property has been nice, but the taxes on the income versus the tax write-offs, and the possible future taxes on the sale of the house once we get out of the "living in the house two years out of five" rule make it rather unattractive to keep. Any major repair could very easily eat into a couple of years profit. I have a huge list of things that need to get done to have the house attractively marketed by July 1st. Once school starts the housing market doesn't pick up until spring.

The List:
  • Clean the twigs and acorns off the roof
  • Spray 10% bleach solution on roof moss to kill it.
  • Clean the gutters, check the nails, and flush spouts.
  • Mow the front yard and trim edges
  • Clean the flower beds 
  • Mulch
  • Remove refrigerator
  • Remove tile by carport entrance, level floor, and relay something?
  • Buy shower curtain and put it up in bathroom
  • 3 new kitchen blinds
  • 1 blind in bathroom
  • 2 new master bedroom blinds
  • Paint the hallway a neutral color
  • Remove carpet, padding, tacking, and staples in hardwoods upstairs for restoration
  • Remove flooring in laundry room to concrete and stain same color as office area
  • Paint outside trim around doors that were installed a year ago.
  • Pressure wash house, sidewalks, and carport.
  • Major clean up of back yard (garden area, fence line, mow, and leaves)
  • Repaint the ceiling lines in living room better (NOT FREEHAND STYLE).
  • Clean and wash balcony.
  • Stain concrete.
  • Restore hardwoods.
  • Paint two closets in downstairs back bedroom.
  • Float, sand, and paint two walls (kitchen and downstairs bathroom).
  • Paint the doors in the hallway.
  • Replace dryer vent under house.
  • Change locks (keys not returned).
  • Fix carport door.
  • Replace hinges on screen doors.
  • Paint, trim, and lay runner on stairwell (make it nicer).
  • Lag bolt on carport railing.
  • Plant summer flowers in flower beds
  • Put new doorbell on front door area
I have two contractors coming out Monday to put in bids. I'll also got to figure out the final deductions for the deposit refund. Sweetheart will be taking The Doctor on her shopping trips for supplies, and picking out the new colors, flowers, and other various needed items tomorrow.



Before and After shots (not the same angle PP) of the little side of the yard.


One of the three flowers beds after much TLC by Sweetheart. Especially after all the crap I blew off the roof into it....oops.


The backyard is gonna take a lot of TLC to recover to an attractive backyard for prospective buyers. A good month of study work. The leaves staying on the yard all year really broke my heart. I had the back yard looking good....


I started at the back of the house, the master bedroom, and worked on pulling the carpet and pulling the padding up...


prying the tack board up, and the staples from the padding were a special kind of hell. Evidentially it is standard practice, when installing new carpet, to stomp the old staples into the hardwood floor. The installer must have been paid per staple used...


Finally completed to my standards.


Thankfully, both of the boys old bedrooms were not carpeted. Our old bedroom, the hallway, and the living room were the only rooms with carpet.



How do you deal with the old tack board and room transition bars?


Cut some carpet and make a tacky burrito!

I'll update "The List" as the progress is made, and keep the pictures rolling along.  Today we were able to scratch off removing the carpet, mowing the front yard, cleaning the roof, applying one application of bleach solution to the moss, cleaning the gutters, mowed a portion of the back yard before it got too hot, and cleaning out the one of the flower beds. A very good day, and I'm pleased with the progress made...hopefully Sunday will bring the same amount of stuff scratched off the list.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Oh! The Doctor started walking at 9 months and 26 days.