My House

My House

Note:  All pictures and videos below are thumbnails.   To view a picture or video - click on it.  It will be displayed for you in a new window.  

 

 

April, 2007

This blog is primarily for my family and close friends who want to know what's been going on with my house. It's been two years since I bought my very first starter home ... patience ;) My little fixer-upper house will become a home ... and SOON!

In the very near future I'll be getting a loan and hope to get ALL my home repairs done this summer. Maybe I'll even move in by the end of the summer! YAY! So I'm starting this blog now because hopefully once I get the loan, repairs will move along very quickly. I'm SO excited! Yay yay yay!!! :)

Here's a video clip of what my house currently looks like ...

Don't be scared ;)

  

I KNOW it looks REALLY SCARY but I'm brave! It WILL get all fixed! So help me God IT WILL GET DONE! :)

Recent work done:

Kitchen wall removed

Moldy drywall in laundry room removed

Livingroom wall removed

Bedroom wall removed

Part of hallway subfloor removed

Sinks and toilets removed

Both bathroom subfloors removed

99% of work done was by my friend Aaron.

More work will be done SOON! Next major repair will be repairing the support beam and leveling the floors throughout the house. I'll videotape more as new repairs get done! Wish me luck! :)

And here's a picture I just took after mowing the lawn at my house for the first time this spring :)

                   

I took the picture with my cell phone, so it's not the best quality. Trust me, my yard is prrrrrretty ;) I love mowing.

I'll be adding to this blog with new updates, photos and videos as new repairs get done. I can't wait to get started!!! :)

 

 

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Well, I went to the bank after work today to see about getting a home equity loan. They said, "No. You're not eligible for this loan because you're not currently residing in the home." I said, "Well I can't live in the home until repairs are done." They said, "Well you're not eligible for a home equity loan, but maybe you can take out a second mortgage. I'll call another loan officer and ask." And the other loan officer said, "No. You're not eligible for this loan because the home is inhabitable."

I can't believe this. It never even occured to me that I wouldn't get a loan for my home repairs. I have perfect credit and I own my home free and clear. No mortgage. Still, they said no.

I'm not sure what my next move is, but I'll figure it out.

Keep you all posted :)

    

    

Friday, April 27, 2007

Well, I spoke to my loan officer again today and after pleading my case once again ... she said that I most likely will be able to get a 2nd mortgage loan! Yay!!! I'm so happy! It will be a low fixed interest rate and low monthly payments. Everything sounds good so far. First, she wants me to get estimates on EVERYTHING that needs to be repaired in my home. So I've already been setting up appointments with several contractors to get estimates for new ceilings/drywall/insulation, new flooring/subflooring, new doors, driveway paving, new gutters, and support beam repair. Once I get all my estimates, an appraiser will look over the costs and then I'll receive my loan! Fingers crossed :) I hope everything works out. I can't stop smiling I'm so excited! YAYYY!!!

Keep you posted! :)

    

    

Saturday, April 28, 2007

I cut the grass over at my house today. My nephew was with me and I taped him while he was flying his kite in my backyard. So cute :) He's such a good helper too. He helped me rake under my pine tree and pick up sticks.

                                              

A few weeks ago I got my new mailbox set up! Yay! :) I'm already getting junk mail. Last week it was some kind of bridal/newlywed magazine. That was depressing :( And this week I had a rolled up newsletter in my driveway from the KU KLUX KLAN! What in the world!!? I didn't even know the KKK sent out newsletters.

Starting Monday I will begin getting estimates for my home repairs. Then, I hope to get my loan! I'll keep u all posted! :)

    

    

Monday, April 30, 2007

Bad day today. What's with construction guys anyway? WHY can't they simply return a phone call? I called 7 different contractors over the weekend and left them both my home and work numbers. Only one guy called back. He said, "I got your message. I'll call you back at 4pm to set up an appointment." He never called back. All the other guys I had to call again. Why is it so hard just to set up appointments?

I had one contractor come by this evening to give me an estimate on replacing the subfloors and installing new laminate hardwood flooring. He walked in my house and didn't even look through the whole house before saying, "This project is too big for me. I'm gonna have to pass." Wow. So I didn't even get an estimate from him. My house scared him away. Why does it have to be this hard?

Well I'm not scared. I found out OSB board will cost me around $300 to put down throughout the whole house. So I think I'm gonna do that myself. Won't be too hard to remove all the particle board and nail down new OSB. It will take time, but I can do it. I just have to rent a dumpster before I get started.

    

    

Wednesday, May 02, 1007

I had a drywall guy come to look at my house today. He showed up an hour late. And he didn't call to let me know he'd be late. I had to call him and ask him where he was. Ugh, it can't even be just a little bit easy can it? Anyway... he did finally show up to look around. He said he will get back to me tomorrow with an estimate for new ceilings, a few new walls, patch-up work throughout the house, and insulation in the attic. Hopefully he will call me tomorrow like he said he will. I'm anxious to know what the estimate will be.

After waiting and waiting for several of the contractors to call me back and NOT CALLING ME BACK ... I decided to call a couple new contractors. Luckily I got in touch with one. I have a new carpenter guy coming to look at my house tomorrow! Yay! He does practically everything. He says he can install the new doors I need, replace the subfloor and install new laminate hardwood and lanolium for me. So I may wait on tearing up the subfloor myself, until I hear how much he would charge. I'm really curious to know how much this newcarpenter guy will charge me for the doors and floors. I hope he actually shows up tomorrow! And I hope my house doesn't scare him off like it did the last contractor ;)

    

    

Thursday, May 03, 2007

The new carpenter guy showed up today, 45 minutes late . As I was waiting for him to show ... I looked into my backyard to find out what the loud racket was. There were two huge bulldozers taking down tons of trees! I snapped a quick pic on my cell phone.

They put up little flags marking my property line. I heard they might be putting up condos. I dunno what to think of this yet. Will my property taxes be effected by this?

When the new carpenter guy finally showed up, he thoroughly looked over the entire house, even the crawlspace. He offered lots of helpful suggestions and advice. He will be able to tackle all of the repairs I would want him to take on. New subfloors, laminate hardwood flooring and lanolium, new patio door, and a new back door. But he didn't seem very business-like to me at all. Not sure what I think of him yet. Youngish looking, ponytail, sort of hippyish :) I wonder if he does drugs? Well, what matters is what kind of estimate I get from him. If he gives me the cheapest estimate ... then the hippy dippy drugee will be granted access to fix my humble little home :)

He'll be getting back to me in a few days with his estimate.

Keep u posted! :)

    

    

Friday, May 04, 2007

My loan officer canceled my appointment with her today. "You can't apply for the loan until you have all your estimates." she said. I have had the HARDEST TIME getting these construction guys to call me back and come over and give me estimates! I'm STILL waiting on several of them to CALL ME! I keep leaving messages. I never get a live person on the phone.

I did happen to get one estimate today. From the drywall guy. I am going with Rose & Walker drywall to put up the new ceilings, a few new walls, and patching up holes throughout the house. It will cost $2460.

I also went to Warehouse Carpet today to get prices on vinyl and laminate hardwood flooring. Vinyl: $12.95/sq. yard (including installation) and laminate: $4/sq. ft. (including installation and foam) Those are the cheapest they have in their store. Someone from Warehouse Carpet will come to my house Monday at 4 to measure the rooms and give me an estimate. Can't wait! :)

    

    

Saturday, May 05, 2007

I just met with a contractor that paves driveways. He said that all of the existing concrete will have to be removed. The driveway is tore up so badly, there's no way he can just pave over the broken-up concrete. To pave the driveway with asphalt, will cost $4000! To pave my driveway with concrete, will cost $5500! And I have a small driveway! I'm definitely getting other estimates for my driveway.

The driveway guy said that condos are definitely going up behind my house. He's going to be the one to put down paving for the streets and driveways back there. I hope my property taxes won't go up because of this, or my house value go down.

I just finished mowing my lawn and I found a couple happy surprises! A few months ago I found out that my pine trees have these cocoons hanging all over them which contain a kind of worm that eventually destroys the tree. These worms pluck the branches bare and use the pine needles to build there cocoons. One of my pine trees in the backyard had many bare branches and I was afraid the needles wouldn't grow back. Today as I was mowing I noticed new pine needles growing on the bare branches that the worms destroyed! I'm so happy! I took a picture with my cell phone. Nice little green pine needles growing :) YAYYY!!!

And the huge monstrous pine tree I have in my front yard is growing little baby pine cones all over :) So this fall my front yard will be absolutely covered with pine cones. Hundreds, maybe thousands! Anybody who wants some pine cones for Christmas let me know :)

I'll try and remember to bring my camera to my house more often to take better pictures, instead of using my cell phone for pics. Especially when my roses start blooming.

    

    

Monday, May 07, 2007

Someone from Warehouse Carpet came to measure all of the rooms in my house today. She'll get back to me tomorrow with an estimate on how much it would cost to put down new vinyl and laminate hardwood throughout the house. In order to save myself some money, I'll be removing all the baseboard trim so when the new floors go down, they won't have to mess with removing it and then nailing it all back. I'll do that myself.

Thanks to all of you guys for your helpful advice and for giving me names and numbers of people who can help me! :)

    

    

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

After work today, a new contractor came over to my house so I could get an additional estimate on new subfloors, two new doors, and support beam repair. I told him I already received two estimates for the support beam, and I pulled out my two estimates to show him what repairs the other contractors wanted to do. He looked at the first one (I shouldn't post the actual names of the companies so I'll just call the first one company A) and he said, "Don't do business with company A. They have lawsuits against them with several people. I've had to go around and finish their jobs they walked out on. One guy paid company A $60,000 to do a job and they didn't finish. He's suing them now." Wow. Ok... so if this new contractor guy is lying or not ... I can't take the risk of hiring company A right? I just can't take that risk. So company A is gone. Then I told him about the second contractor from company B that gave me an estimate on the support beam. I started complaining about how this guy bailed on me because he is afraid the bank won't pay him after he finishes the job. (See, the bank might be paying my contractors directly. This is why the bank wants me to get all of my estimates before giving me the loan.) The new contractor guy said, "Oh that's my brother!" Uh-oh. I stuck my foot in my mouth this time. Here I am complaining about the company B guy... not knowing I'm talking to his brother! Ugh :( I need to learn to keep my mouth shut sometimes :) But this contractor guy said, "Let me tell you something about my brother... he over analyzes everything!" I'm thinking to myself ..."This is all my fault. I've started sibling rivalry..." and he continues to say, "My entire family has been carpenters our whole lives. I started my own business, and then my brother thought he should start up his own construction business too..." I'm thinking ..."What if I hire this guy? What is he gonna do? Rub it in his brother's face? Nana nana booboo, you turned down Sherry's job and now I have it!" Good Lord my mouth gets me in trouble :) Anyway... he should be getting back to me in a couple days with his estimates.

Warehouse Carpet gave me their estimate today for new vinyl and laminate hardwood throughout the house. $4428! Maybe that price is ok, considering they will be doing my entire house. I'll be getting additional estimates for new flooring though.

I also received an estimate for the driveway today. $3975. And it says, "Price is subject to change due to rising oil prices." Really!? Now I have to worry about the rising oil prices?

I also found out how much it will cost to rent a dumpster. $175 for the week. But if I need it emptied during the week, that will be an additional $130. I'm still thinking about pulling up the subfloors myself to save money. I just wish I had more time. I work full time and when I'm home I care for my nephew. But I still might demo the floors during the weekends. We'll see.

Speaking of my nephew... this really doesn't belong in my house blog, but I had to leave work to meet with his principal today at school. He got in trouble arguing with his teacher and I had to go there to take care of things. A funny thing happened... well it's probably not funny to you guys, but I broke down in the principal's office. Started crying like a baby. (This was after I had dealt with my nephew and he went back to his classroom so he didn't see me.) I won't go into details because it doesn't belong in this blog... but my point is this: I'm stressed. I'm upset. And I get sad... but still, I am happy. Does that make sense? I'm still optimistic. I'm still hopeful. I still expect to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Regardless of the obstacles we all deal with daily... whether it's a fixer-upper house, work, love, or if your life itself is a work in progress... try and stay happy. Stay hopeful. Stop a moment and look at the blessings you have. I've been blessed with a house that I'll call home someday. Sure, it looks junky but I've also been blessed with a strong healthy body and two good hands. I can fix what I can. I have faith that God will pour blessings into the other problematic areas of my life in time. It takes patience :) In fact, that's what I said in the very beginning of this blog. Patience. God works behind the scenes. Quietly. Slowly. It's only after a period of time, that you look back and say, "Wow ok. I see the big picture now." Even when you don't think God is working, He is.

Stay tuned! :)

    

    

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

I got my estimate from the hippy dippy drugee guy (refer to May 03 entry above) ... For him to remove the subfloors, replace them with new OSB throughout the house, and then to put down all new laminate hardwood and vinyl: $7289! That seems way too much to me. My house is SMALL. 1000 sq. ft. For him to replace my patio door with a new one: $969. For him to replace the small back door with a new steel one: $431. Forget it! I'm ripping out the subfloors myself. I'd be saving myself thousands of dollars in labor this way. I had no idea his estimate for my repairs would total $8689! Mr. Hippy Man can stay where he is. He's not coming back to my house! So I've made up my mind. I'm gonna tear out the subfloors myself. First, I have to buy one of those cats claw thingys. Then, I'm gonna pull up all the nails throughout the house. Then I'll rent the dumpster and remove the sheets of subfloor. I figure it will be less messy this way. If I get all the nails out first, hopefully the particle board will come up easier without it crumbling too much. I'M READY!

    

    

Thursday, May 10, 2007

I got Mr Hippy Man's estimate in the mail today. (I'm sorry I'm bad with calling people names, I have to stop that :) I have his list now of how much material costs and how much labor he is charging. To fix the subfloors and then put down new flooring would be $7289 total. Out of that total, he is charging $4500 in labor! Wow. I'm saving so much money by doing the subfloors myself. According to what's listed on his estimate, I would need 30 sheets of new OSB board to replace throughout the house and that would cost $243. Not bad. I went to True Value today and bought myself one of those cats claw bar thingys. I saw a pink tool box there. Cute. I'm thinking I might have to buy that one ;) I went over to my house after work to start pulling up some nails. It's not too bad. Lots of the nails come up real easy. Others are really really difficult to pull up. It's like they're in cement! No, it's like they're super-glued in cement! But I'm proud of me :) I didn't break off one nail head. I've pulled up every nail successfully so far. The only bad thing is I think I have a splinter in my butt from scooting across the floors. Hey, do you guys know those knee pads that people use when they're putting down flooring? I wonder if there's butt pads? :)

And here's a pic of my first sheet of subfloor I removed! YAY ME!

Guess what I'll be doing all weekend? :)

 

 

Friday, May 11, 2007

Good news! I got an estimate for my gutters that I'm REALLY happy with! Yay! For all new 6" aluminum gutters, 4 new downspouts, vinyl soffits and facia: $2279. That's a VERY good estimate! I'll be hiring them for the gutters. And it turns out they know my family cuz they helped fix my parent's home when the trees destroyed it. Small world :)

Take a look at how many trees those bulldozers have cleared away now...

You can see houses now on the other side of the clearing! I wonder how many condos are going up?

I pulled up some more sheets of subfloor today. I'm making progress :)

 

 

 

Saturday, May 12, 2007

I was able to remove the top layer of subloors in my livingroom and dining area today! Yay! But I have a new problem. Last summer when I removed the old vinyl from the kitchen floor, it left a paper backing on the subfloor. This is covering the nails in the kitchen, so I can't see the nails to pull them up and it's really hard to get that paper removed cuz it's glued to the floor. Not sure what I'm gonna do about this yet. Maybe a stud finder will help find the nails?

I took a video clip of the livingroom and dining area I worked on today. I'm happy I got so much done :)

I also mowed today. I'm so sore from pulling up hundreds and hundreds of nails and then mowing all the grass. Just lifting my arms to type on this keyboard hurts :( But look! I have baby rosebuds yay!

And look! Little baby daisies too! Aww :) I love daisies.

 

 

 

Sunday, May 13, 2007

I had a very productive weekend. Today I got one whole bedroom done! :)

Before...

After ...

Yay! I think I will bake myself a cake ;)

But I did have a small accident. While removing a sheet of subfloor in the room, the air duct fell through the floor and landed in the crawlspace.

 

Oops. Now I have to go down into the crawlspace and push it back up through the floor. Or, maybe I could reach down through the floor and grab it back up. Ughhh! I really don't want to do this. I guess first I'll try and reach down through the hole and grab it, but what's down there? May be a rabid raccoon family, ready to bite me. Or snakes. Or a skunk. Or monster spiders like this one that I found in my bathroom a few weeks ago!

Ick. I'm getting scared. I don't even want to think about it until I absolutely have to. That air duct will just have to sit in that crawlspace until I'm good and ready to get it! Maybe I can try a fishing pole?

Despite my air duct dilemma, I had a good weekend :) The subfloors in the livingroom and dining area, hallway and one full bedroom are done! I just took a bath and I'm in my Strawberry Shortcake PJ's and I think I actually will bake myself a cake :)

 

 

Friday, May 18, 2007

Got my estimate today from the carpenter who's brother I bad-mouthed. (Refer to May 8 post) For him to remove the old subfloors and install new subfloors: $3396. For him to replace the sliding glass door and a back door: $1250. And for him to fix the support beam: $4950! I am so confused about this estimate for the support beam, because I have an estimate from another contractor who will fix the support beam for $1750! That's a big BIG difference in price! I just don't understand. The problem is... I can't hire the guy who will charge $1750... because that guy has lawsuits against him for walking out on jobs he never finished.

Well, I am waiting on a new estimate for the support beam from another guy. A co-worker/friend of mine told her dad about my house. He owns a construction company and he came over to look at my house the other day. I'm waiting on his estimates for the support beam, the door replacements and the floors. I'm friends with his daughter so MAYBE he will be merciful ;)

I went over to my house today to pull up more subfloors. 2nd bedroom...

Before...

After ...

GO SHERRY! GO SHERRY!!! All I need is pom-poms ;)

I did have another small accident though :( I was pulling up a nail near an air vent. The claw bar slipped out of my hand and fell right into the damn vent! CLUNK! Down it went. My precious cat's claw paw bar thingy!! I CAN'T DO ANY WORK WITHOUT IT! I panicked. I called my brother. Asked him to come over an stick his arm down the vent to see if he can reach it. Well, I didn't want to wait for my brother. I didn't want to sit there on the dirty floor doing nothing but staring down that stupid vent. I put on a glove and stuck my arm down there. I was lying on the floor with my whole arm down that vent and the tips of my fingers touched it! And thank God I was able to grab it back up! YAY!!! What a relief! I proudly called back my brother and told him I didn't need his help :) I'm so glad I got it out! It cost $20. I didn't want to have to buy a new one.

Note: I wish there were more red and purple candies in bags of skittles. There's just way too many orange, green, and yellows.

 

 

 

Saturday, May 19, 2007

You guys, I really am thankful for your words of encouragement. You have no idea how much it keeps me motivated :)

I finished removing the top layer of subfloors in the last bedroom today! :)

Before...

After...

I was able to remove the top layer of subfloors in almost the entire house! The livingroom, dining area, hallway, closets and all three bedrooms are DONE!

Take a look...

All I got left is the kitchen and laundry room floors. Those floors will be hard to do because the nails are hidden behind a paper backing left over from when I tried to remove the vinyl.

There's one small square of warped subfloor under the water heater that has to be removed. I dunno how to disconnect a water heater. It looks like I'll have to hire somebody to disconnect the water heater and also disconnect the garbage disposal and sink in the kitchen so I can remove the cabinets in order for me to get to the subfloors in there. I can try and remove the kitchen sink, but I wouldn't know how to disconnect the garbage disposal. Ughhh :( I'm thinking maybe I can get some books on how to do this at the library... but more than likely, I'm gonna have to hire someone.

Still, I'm happy with what progress I've made on my own ;)

 

 

Sunday, May 20, 2007

I was able to pull up all the baseboard trim in my entire house today! Yay me!

I did have a problem in the laundry room though. Some of the drywall in the laundry room is moldy. The drywall kept falling apart as I was removing a piece of trim.

GROSS! Looks like I have to replace more drywall :(

Look what I found hiding behind a piece of trim...

Awwwww :) Jesus loves me :) I am loving my house more and more! :) :) :) Someone wrote on the back of it "Austin 1986" Wow that little bookmark is over 20 years old! Cool :) I love finding sweet surprises like this. Hope to find more ;)

 

 

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Bad news. I talked to my loan officer tonight. The loan I've been hoping to get... won't help me. There's no point in applying for the loan I'm eligible for. The loan offered to me requires that the contractors be paid in full 1 or 2 days after the job is complete. My loan officer said that the loan will work like this .... I hire a contractor to do a repair, then when the job is finished I notify the bank, then the bank sends over an appraiser to look at the work done, then the bank transfers the money I need to pay him into my account (which will take 1 or 2 days) and then finally the contractor will get paid once I withdraw the money from my account to pay him. The problem is... all the contractors I've met require half the money down first and the other half paid the day the job is finished. NO contractor is going to do a repair for me without half the money first and NO contractor is going to do a repair for me if they'll have to wait a couple days to get paid after they've finished the job. So, there's no point in applying for this loan. It will do me no good. I would have no control over the money in order to pay the contractors the way they require. I'm at a total stand-still now. I have absolutely no idea how to move forward.

I would have to keep saving my money and do just one repair at a time when I can afford it. The first repair would need to be the support beam. But let's say the support beam ends up costing me $5000 to fix... it will take me 6 to 7 months to save that kind of money! Maybe longer! I'd have to kiss this summer goodbye. It could take years to finally move in. I really wanted to move in this summer. I don't think it's gonna happen now.

I'll be contacting other banks to see what can be done. And I'll also keep doing whatever repairs I can do on my own in the meantime.

Keep you posted.

 

 

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Look! A rose bloomed! SO PRETTY! SO PRETTY! ! SOOO PRRRETTY!!! :)

 

 

 

Monday, May 28, 2007

I think it's time for new gloves.

I have some good news :) One of the carpenters I received an estimate from said his father remodeled his kitchen and is getting rid of some nice cabinets that he could give me for free! Aww :) That's so sweeeet! I just may take them, if they'll fit my kitchen well. So nice of him!

Hey... I have a beautiful mountain view in my backyard now ;)

 

 

Monday, June 04, 2007

I was curious to see how much it would cost to gut the whole bathroom. I was hoping to patch up the drywall and paint, but it turns out I would have to remove both layers of subfloor in there... and to remove the whole subfloor would mean I would have to remove the bathtub... and to remove the bathtub would mean I would have to remove the drywall which is installed over the edges of the bathtub... and to remove the drywall would effect the slightly sagging ceiling in there that I was hoping to preserve. So, I was thinking of gutting it all. Removing the 2 layers subfloors, the tub, the medicine cabinet and lights, the walls and the ceiling. Then putting in a new tub, medicine cabinet, putting back the existing toilet and sink, new walls and ceiling. Well, the estimate I got for this job would be $4618! I cried when I saw that number.

I wanted to see just how much it would cost if I added up all the current estimates I got so far for all the repairs needed ... $24,932. I cried some more. I just want to take out $15,000 for a loan. I can't take this anymore. I'm still looking for much cheaper estimates on several repairs.

I'm thinking of gutting the bathroom myself. The problem will be disconnecting the pipes to the tub and disconnecting the wires to the lights in the medicine cabinet. But IF I can gut it myself... then hopefully it would cost much less to have someone put in new walls, floor, ceiling, tub, sink, toilet and medicine cabinet.

I also got an estimate for putting down the new OSB board throughout the house. I was gonna do that myself but some friends of mine have said that you want to overlap the seams where the existing layer of plyboard is nailed down and you should have the new OSB layer screwed down instead of nailed. This is stuff I want done right and I'm not sure I know enough to do it right. So I got an estimate and it's $2386. That number isn't as tearful to me.

 

 

Friday, June 08, 2007

I just came home from the bank. I applied for a $25,000 loan. Good thing? Bad thing? I dunno. I'm leaving it in God's hands. If it's not His will for me to be in debt like this, then I won't get approved. If I DO get the loan, I can do this. I know I can.

Keep you posted.

 

 

Saturday, June 09, 2007

I'm on a mission to get as much demo work done on my own as possible. Yes, I am applying for a $25,000 loan, but I don't have to spend every penny of that if I don't have to. IF I get this loan, I would have $25,000 at my disposal, but I would only have to pay back as much as I withdraw. I'm hoping I won't have to withdraw the whole $25,000. I would hate to go into that much debt.

I went to my brother's house today to ask him if he would please help me gut my bathroom for $100. He said he would help me. We got the bathroom walls, ceiling, and medicine cabinet removed, but had a problem with getting the bathtub removed. I plan on buying a new bathtub. It's such a small bathroom and that old tub was up against the walls so snugly that he couldn't get the tub loose. I didn't want him to damage the surrounding 2x4's and plumbing by yanking violently on the tub. So take a look at what I told my brother to do...

Well it worked! Plumbing and 2x4's still in tact. Tub removed. Bathroom gutted. My brother got up in the attic and started stomping on the bathroom ceiling to get it down. It worked. And think of the money I'm saving in labor!

My brother also helped me remove the floor cabinets in the kitchen today so I can get in there and remove the rest of the subfloor. I found a couple more surprises in my home, hiding under the cabinets ;)

Wow. "God shall supply all your need." This is just what I needed to hear and at the perfect time. It's amazing how God works. I am LOVING my house!

And next to the picture was a rather large pile of seeds? ...

My brother said, "Oh damn! They're pot seeds! It's all pot seeds!" I personally dunno what pot seeds look like, but he seems positive they are. I guess I'll just have to take his word on that ;) Funny.

My brother thought it was hilarious that next to those seeds was the picture, "God shall supply all your need" Whatever ;)

My brother also got the hot water heater disconnected for me. Now I can get under the water heater and remove that warped subfloor there.

I got alot of work done today yay! This time, with the help of my brother. Hopefully he will help me put new drywall in the bathroom and a new ceiling. Also a new tub.

This is what the bathroom now looks like, all gutted ...

A lily bloomed! So pretty :)

I'm happy :) It was a good day today.

 

 

Sunday, June 10, 2007

I FINALLY got the subfloor in the kitchen and laundry room DONE! Yay!

After...

I couldn't see the nails to pull them up and remove the sheets in tact. So I used a shovel and had to hack at the floor. It broke up into millions of pieces. Dust everywhere. Back breaking work. It was horrible! I'm so sore. It's so much easier if you could see the nails and pull them up sheet by sheet. Oh well. At least I'M DONE! WOO HOO!

The neighbors invited me over to talk about the townhouses going up in our backyards. I guess my neighbor got the blueprints from a contractor working on the project. All the neighbors are worried about if these new townhouses will be low-income or section 8 housing. They're worried about if the value of our homes will go down. It was nice of them to invite me over and show me the blueprints. I have a much better idea of what's going on now. This building project is gonna be huge! From what I can see on the blueprints, the homes do look pretty. I think it wi ll be rich people living there. While I was at my neighbor's house, they introduced me to their other neighbor that lives on the other side of them. He's cute :) And I looked horrible. Drywall dust and insulation in my hair, dirty clothes, and a mask hanging around my neck. Lovely.

The dumpster will be dropped off at my house tomorrow and I'll finally be able to start emptying my house out! The pile of drywall and subflooring has turned into a mountain almost as tall as me! I think my dad and brother will be helping me. Yay!

 

 

Monday, June 11, 2007

The dumpster came YAAAAAAAAAAYYY!!!

It took less than an hour to fill. I hurt myself when I tried to lift the shopvac over the edge of the dumpster to empty it. It slipped and I jammed my thumb really bad, but I don't think it's broken. Then on the way down it slammed into my shin bone. I have a nasty bump on my leg and a reeeaally sore thumb. But I'm happy!!! The dumpster came YAY!!!!!! :) :) :)

 

 

Saturday, June 16, 2007

I mowed the lawn today and cleaned up the house with the shopvac. I got up all the drywall dust, small pieces of wood and insulation. I'm so glad I got that dumpster last week and emptied out my house of all the junk. I can finally see the floor of the garage again, and I saw something I never noticed before ...

A leaf imprint in the cement on my garage floor. Cute :)

 

 

 
Tuesday, June 19, 2007

I'm really happy. I had a very good meeting with a new contractor after work today. We spoke for about 2 hours. I went over all my current estimates with him and told him I wanted cheaper estimates than what I have. I told him my issues with the bank and my loan, and he's willing to work with the bank, even sit down with my loan officer to discuss all the details of payment. He sounds promising! Now the big question is... will his estimates be cheaper than the ones I have? I hope so! This is the FIRST contractor that responded in a timely manner. I called him just yesterday and TODAY he showed up at my house! :) He even said he'll work on the estimates tonight. So I should be hearing back from him real soon.

This new contractor explained to me why it was so hard to get that tub out of my bathroom too. Standard sized tubs are 60" wide. The width of my bathroom is 59"!! That explains why parts of the 2x4's are notched out... so the tub would fit! When my house was built, some dummy measured the bathroom wrong!

Hey, I found an old photo of what my livingroom looked like in 2005 when I first bought the house.

On closing day, after I got the keys to my house, I went in and the first thing I saw was that the livingroom ceiling collapsed. A sheet of drywall and insulation was laying in the middle of the floor. But I wasn't scared and I'm STILL not scared :) I'm BELIEVING that everything will be ok and I REFUSE to think otherwise!

"God shall supply all your need" Philippians 4:19

Keep watching! ;)

 

 

 

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Mmmm I smell Downy fresh :) One of the contractor guys told me that fabric softener and water will remove wallpaper. I tried it. It worked so well. I didn't even have to scrape. It just peeled right off. If you ever have to remove wallpaper, try it!

Good news about my loan. My loan officer said that all the funds will be given to me at closing and I'll be able to have full control of my money. This means I'll be able to pay my contractors as soon as their jobs are finished. They won't have to wait 2 to 3 days for the bank to transfer the funds into my account. I get all the money up-front. On closing day, the full amount will be transferred into my account. This really simplifies things for me, and for my contractors.

Well, I've pretty much done all I can do myself. I removed the wallpaper today. All the demo is done. Everything is pretty much gutted. All that's left is to re-build. Put up the new ceilings. A few new walls. New floors. I've done all I can do myself. Now it's time for the professionals to step in and re-construct my house.

My loan officer said that it should be just a few more days until I close on the loan. Hopefully by next week I'll have the money! Fingers crossed ;)

Once I get the money... the re-building should move along real quick. I'm getting real excited! :)

Keep you posted!

 

 

 

July 4, 2007

What am I doing for the 4th? PAINTING! :)

I know the ceilings and 3 new walls aren't up yet... but no reason why I can't get a jumpstart on painting now. All the baseboard trim is up. There's no new floors yet. And since I have to paint EVERYTHING... it makes sense to start painting what I can now. (My bank loan requires that I get repairs done within 6 months.)

I went to True Value yesterday and stocked up on lots of primer and paint. The guy there asked, "What are you painting?" I said, "My whole house." He said," Oh? Kitchen, livingroom, bedrooms?" I said, "Yeah and closets, bathrooms, hallway, ceilings." He said I need to get a True Value card to get discounts, so I did. I started telling him about my fixer-upper house. He then gave me his 10% employee discount! Awwww :) So sweet! I love it when I get nice people like that in my life, if only for a moment. All the paint and primer was almost $200 ... I paid $160 with the True Value card and his employee discount :) He said, "You remind me of my daughter. Very motivated! Good luck!" I told him I'd be back. I'm sure I'll need more paint and other things. He said, "Well, just remind me when you come in to give you that 10% discount." AWWWWWW ... I love this guy! He put a huge smile on my face :)

It's really HOT in a house with no ceilings. The little temperature thing on my thermostat said 95 yesterday. Ick.

Have a great 4th of July everybody! Someone light a sparkler for me! ;)

 

 

 

Saturday, July 14th 2007

I haven't updated this in a little while. Lots going on. I'm getting my support beam fixed! Yay! I still haven't closed on my loan yet, but while I've been waiting on the loan, I've been saving up my money as usual. I saved enough to get the beam fixed now. My contractor started working on the beam earlier this week.

The rotted subfloor in the main bathroom had to be removed, so he's using the open area to get in and out of the crawlspace to fix the beam.

And here's the material for the new support beam to be installed.

I finally tallied up the total cost of repairs that my new contractor gave me estimates for and I'm SOOOOOO HAPPY WITH THE NEW ESTIMATE! An old contractor I was going to hire, wanted to charge around $14,000 for all the interior repairs in my house. With this NEW contractor... he's charging around $7,000 for all the interior repairs! YAY YAY YAYYYY!!!!! EVERYONE SAY YAYYYYYY!!!!!!! I'm saving thousands of dollars with him! And he's a goo d contractor too, from a good company. He's giving me references and a one year warranty on all his work. YAY!!! :)

A wasp has made a nest in one of my kitchen cabinets. A very non-aggressive wasp so I named him George. My contractor sprayed George's nest with Raid... I thought George too was dead... but later I found out he's still flying in and out of that same cabinet, building up a nest that is now soaked in Raid. Poor dumb George.

I've started priming all the walls in my house. I want to get a jumpstart on painting so when the new ceilings go in I'll just have to prime and paint the ceilings and be DONE! I already went through 4 cans of Kilz primer and I went back to True Value today to get 4 more cans. I go through that stuff quick!

Earlier this week I got a porch swing set up with the help of my friend (so sweet) Isn't it pretty? :)

I love it!

Let me think... I think that's all on the updates... OH! I almost forgot... my neighbor came by today when I was painting and said that two cops were looking around my house earlier this week. Why? I dunno. They went around the back... and looked in the windows. Then left. I should call the police station and ask why.
I may do that. But it's good to know my neighbors are keeping an eye on my house and looking out for me.

 

 

 

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

As of today, my support beam is fixed! Yay!!! Unfortunately, they had to replace 3 sections of the beam, instead of just two as originally intended... but my contractor kept the estimate the same :) Yay!

I took pictures of the new sections of support beam...

    

And here's what's left of my poor old support beam ...

   

I wanted to take Before and After pictures of the beam... but last week after I worked up the courage to go into the crawlspace for the first time and take my Before pictures... the batteries went dead! I got into that nasty crawlspace among the spiderwebs, and tarantulas, and snakes and gorillas ... turned on my camera... nothing! Stupid batteries. Went down there for nothing! So I missed my chance at taking my Before pictures, but at least I got some After pics :)

I also talked to my loan officer today. We are cleared for closing! Yay! I just have to give her some final information on my contractors and we're good to go! Not much longer! Fingers crossed! :)

I found another daisy while I was mowing ...

Awww... love daisies ;)

Keep you posted!

 

 

Thursday, July 19th 2007

I got a new subfloor in my bathroom yay!

And my loan officer called. Closing on my loan will be next Wednesday! YAY!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!

 

 

 

Saturday, July 21st, 2007

I got some painting done at my house today. Didn't do much because today is my nephew's birthday :) He's 7.

A new lily bloomed :)

 

 

 

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Well, I have all three bedrooms primed with paint and all three bedroom closets as well. The hallway primed. Livingroom primed. And almost all of the kitchen primed. I still have to prime around the kitchen cabinets. I still have to prime the linen closet and livingroom closet. Then I'm done priming.... and THEN... I have to paint! I'm gonna go over the WHOLE HOUSE AGAIN, this time with white semi-gloss latex paint. (Not to mention I still have to paint the ceilings when they go up and some new walls when they go up too) Ugh :( So much painting.

I was at True Value again today (getting more paint, duh) and I saw something on the shelf I KNEW I HAD TO HAVE....

This power painter spoke to me... it said, "Sherry! I can make your life SO MUCH EASIER! Buy me! I'll cut your painting time in half!! No more sore arms and shoulders!" I said, "Ok! No more messing around! You're coming home with me!"

And now... I just have to figure out how to use it ;)

I mowed today. More flowers bloomed ...

 

This blog will start showing some real big repairs beginning next week. I've closed on my loan now and I'll be receiving the funds Monday! CAN'T WAIT! EVERYONE SAY YAYYYYYY SHERRY!!!!!! :)

Stay tuned! :)

 

 

Thursday, August 02, 2007

I officially transferred my loan money into my checking account Monday. My contractor has already begun on the repairs :)
Here's my first picture of the first repair already done!

Before...

After...

The back garage door has been replaced with a new steel door yay!
It will need to be painted (Yes, more painting. Ugh.) But I'm happy!!! :)

Take a look at how hot it is inside my house...

These are HORRIBLE working conditions. I'm miserable painting in this hot house, and I'm sure my contractors are hating it. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET CEILINGS PUT UP! Then, I'll actually be able to feel my central air! Can't wait!!!!! :)

Here's the new sliding glass door that will be installed shortly ...

I'm so happy work has begun!!! I feel like doing cartwheels!!! :)

 

 

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Did some more priming today. I just have one small closet left and some drywall around the kitchen cabinets. Then the priming is DONE! Well, until the ceilings and a few new walls go up :)

Yesterday I cleaned the house. I sucked up all the dust, insulat ion, cobwebs, and dead bugs with the shopvac. I put all the stray screws in a baggy. And all the miscellaneous thingamajigs like metal brackets and hinges, etc.. in another baggy.

The new sliding glass door is in! ...

Isn't it prrrrrretty? ;) Hey! I can see through it!! YAY!

I may use the money for re-paving the driveway and get new kitchen cabinets instead. The ones I have are very beat up. I was hoping to re-finish them, but it may not be worth it.

The ceilings will be going up soon! Can't wait! I'll take lots of pictures!

 

 

 

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Lots to tell you about! Yesterday the gutter guys came over to remove all the gutters, soffits, downspouts, trim, etc...

Today they came over to start putting up the new! ...

So far, they've just put up the soffits and trim. I'm guessing tomorrow or Monday they will put of the rest... gutters and downspouts. Looks good so far yeah? Yay!!! :)

I mowed today and did alot of yard cleaning. There was lots of old bird's nests, bee hives, twigs and grass, even dead birds all over my yard when the gutter guys removed all the old gutters and stuff. Birds and bees have been nesting in the soffits for years!!!

Take a look at just ONE pile of twigs and grass stored up in my roof by the birds!!! ...

Dead bird...

Another dead bird...

Oh! And I snapped a pic of George today ...

He was hanging out on a window... I thought I'd introduce you all to my friend :)

Oh! And my new tub was delivered the other day ...

I hope they will be able to fit it into my bathroom as easily as possible. My contractor will install it later this week.

Have a great weekend! Stay cool! :)

 

 

 

Monday, August 14, 2007

The new gutters are up! YAY!!!

Before...

After...

Looks nice huh?? I'm really happy! They did a great job!

 

 

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The vinyl was put down in my bathroom today.  Yippeeeee!!!  Things are finally moving along. It's getting so exciting!!!

 

Pretty isn't it??? I'm so happy!!!!

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Guess what!!??? The tub is in!!!! You all know what I'm about to say ....

YAY!!!

It's starting to look like a bathroom again!!! Woo hooo!!!

But there were some problems. The guys had to remove two walls and a kitchen cabinet just to get the tub in.

In this picture, you'll notice the upper cabinet removed...

Here's the cabinet they had to yank out and they broke some trim around it, oops...

In this picture you'll see they had to remove part of the laundry room wall ...

It doesn't look to me like the laundry room wall had to be removed, but what do I know! :)

In this picture you'll see they removed part of the hallway wall, I guess to get to the plumbing ...

Well at least the tub is in! Guess what happens next??? THE DRYWALL AND CEILINGS GO UP! YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

I will take lots and lots of pictures when that happens!!!

Oh, new wasps are making another nest in my house ... I think George has invited his relatives :) This time they're hiding in a fold of insulation batting ...

Pesky wasps. But I'm glad they're non-aggressive :) No worries... I'll be kicking out my unwanted roommates soon.

 

 

 

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Look look LOOOOOK!!!!

     

My house is filled with drywall!!! Yay! My contractor said that the ceilings will go up tomorrow!! Can you believe it??? I am so excited! I'll actually have ceilings!!! And the house will feel much cooler when I put the central air on! Woo hoo!!!

Things are really moving along. I can't stop smiling :)

My contractor also put up new 2x4's for the bathroom/kitchen wall. Now that the tub is in, they can put the wall back up...

And they put back up the kitchen cabinet too.

I am SO ANXIOUS to see what my house looks like tomorrow when I get off work!!!

Have a great night! :)

 

 

 

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The ceilings and walls are FINALLY up! WOO HOO!!! :)

Hallway ceiling ...

1st bedroom ceiling ...

2nd bedroom ceiling ...

3rd bedroom, new ceiling AND new wall ...

Kitchen, new ceiling and new wall ...

Livingroom, new ceiling and new wall ...

 

New walls in laundry room ...

 

New ceiling and walls in main bathroom ...

The mold spot in the garage ceiling has been replaced with new drywall ...

Next, a new crew is coming in to finish the job. Tape and mud and texture the ceilings. Then I'll begin with the latex painting! Yay!
I'll finally be able to try out my new paint sprayer :)

It's finally starting to look like a home again! AND IT'S FINALLY COOLER IN MY HOUSE! SWEET RELIEF! YAY!

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Well the crew has been taping and plastering all over the place! And they're doing a great job so far. They've taped and plastered the seams and the holes and the walls and ceilings are really starting to look good again! Yay! Soon they will be texturing the ceilings and then the drywall will be DONE and ready for the final painting! WOO HOO! My sweet friend Aaron came by to help me put together my paint sprayer and I'm READY TO GO! Can't wait to use that thing!

Here's a pic of the kitchen drywall. This gives you an idea of what the rest of the house currently looks like so far ...

I have been trying for SO LONG to take a picture of a cat that always comes to visit me when I'm at my house working. Ever since I got my house in 2005... this cat has kept me company :) In the fall when I'm raking leaves and pine needles, this cat will lounge under my pine tree and watch me. When I'm relaxing on my porch... here comes kitty rubbing up against me legs. But everytime I get up to grab my camera, he leaves :( Nice lil' cat but very independant and doesn't stay long. But this time I got him! Snapped a quick pic of him on my cell phone ...

Aww :) He needs a name. I think I'll call him Ralph.

I snapped another pic on my cell phone of some pretty flowers... or something... dunno what it is actually, but the leaves are really pretty too! I know I'm camera crazy ...

Can you believe it's almost September? Where did the summer go?

 

 

 

Thursday, September 6, 2007

SO MUCH IS GOING ON!!! ... So I' thought I'd give you all a quick video update. I know you've been asking for it! :)

After work today I stopped by the house to check on things and John, my contractor, was nice enough to set-up some temporary lights throughout the house! He wired some bulbs in the ceilings so I'll have more light while working! SO NICE! I can work at my house late into the night now if I want to! Think of how much more work I can get done now!

It's really starting to feel like a real home now. I can walk through the rooms, flip a switch and there's light! Wow!!! I have ceilings too! WOW! I'm easily pleased ;) Ceilings and light! Woo hoo!!!

 

John also started putting the new subfloors in today too!
So far the new subfloor is in two bedrooms...

 

They nicely textured the new section of ceiling in the garage too. It blends in so well, I won't be able to tell the new part from the old once it's all painted...

Hoosier drywall did the ceilings and walls and they did a great job! I'm really happy so far!

It's really coming along! After the new subfloors are all in, I'll finish the painting. Then comes the hardwood floors and new vinyl. Then a fridge, stove, washer and dryer ... then MOVING DAY!!!

It won't be long now!!! YAY!

 

 

 

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

The new subfloors are all in! All done. My house is sound and sturdy now. The support beam in the crawlspace has been fixed, the damaged subfloors have been removed. The new subfloors have been installed :)  Here's a pic...

This is pretty much what the whole house looks like now.
New subfloors throughout, new textured ceilings throughout, and I already primed the new walls.

My contractor has just a few more small things to do. Install a dead bolt lock in the new back door and put back up the trim around the door. Also a little more sanding to do over some plastered patches. After his job is finished... I'm gonna go in a paint paint paint!

 

 

 

Saturday, September 15, 2007

As of yesterday, my contractor, John, is finished with his job. Support beam is fixed. Subfloors installed . Ceilings up. New walls up. New doors installed. New tub installed. Everything is done. Now it's my turn to go in there and paint. But I've been sick. Since last week. After I primed the new walls and bathroom last weekend, I was so nauseous. It passed, but I've been so tired ever since. I talked to John about it. He said fatigue is a symptom. I must have made myself toxic from all the primer I've been using for months. That explains why I've been so tired for weeks. I dunno if I have it in me to paint the whole house again with latex paint. My will is strong :) But my body is arguing with me :( So I asked John if he'd give me an estimate to paint the whole house. He did. $2500. That's including the garage. I can't do that. It's way too much money. So I have to do the painting myself. Maybe it won't be so bad. The fumes from the latex paint aren't as strong. Plus, I have a paint sprayer now. So maybe it will go faster. John also said that I don't have to prime over the plaster patches all over the walls. Since I'm using satin and semi-gloss, the patches shouldn't show through. If they do, I'd just have to hit it again with a little more paint. I'd much rather do that than use the primer again. Ihave no appetite. I'm so tired. I'm gonna go and paint in a little bit. I'll take lots and lots of breaks. My boss wouldn't let me leave work yesterday until I took his large floor fan to help pull the fumes out of the house. He said, "Wait! You have to take the fan!" I said, "No. I'm lazy. I don't want to lug it to the car." He said, "FINE! I'LL GO GET IT!" And he carried the fan to my car, limping :) He recently injured his foot. He lugged the fan to the car, looking all pitiful :) It was funny. But sweet :)

 

 

 

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Well, I couldn't get the paint sprayer to work. I mean, it functions. It's not broken, but I can't figure out how to use it. It sprays out blotchy and spotty. And even when I have it cranked up to maximum power, it doesn't spray as forcefully and as evenly as I was expecting. So, instead of wasting my time with it... I went back to the rollers. I've lost patience with painting and I just didn't want to spend additional time on trying to figure out that stupid sprayer. But I can look on the bright side ... using the paint rollers to paint my entire house all over again is building up my muscles ;) Anyone wanna arm wrestle? :)

The latex paint isnt' bad. It's not making me sick. I'm still very tired, but I'm not sick. I love how easy clean-up is. When I'm done painting for the day, I go back to my parent's house, jump in the tub and it just comes right off. And washes out of my hair real easy too. Love that.

I took Monday and Tuesday off work to paint. So far I have all the closets, both bathrooms, the laundry room and the kitchen done. I mean COMPLETELY done :) But I have to say ... I'm a lowsy painter. I'm a HORRIBLE painter. Painting with latex paint is easier than the primer. It rolls on easier and the gallons of latex lasts longer... but I'm not happy with the painting I'm doing. I can see the roller marks. It's hard to evenly cover the corners of walls. I'm having to go over some areas 2 or 3 times just so it doesn't look blotchy... and STILL I'm not happy with the paint job. But I'm doing the best I can. And hey... I'm saving $2500 by not hiring professional painters. I have the 3 bedrooms, livingroom, hallway and garage left to do.

While I was over there painting the other day, my neighbor stopped by to thank me for feeding her cat while she was on vacation. She gave me a plant. Well it's actually gonna grow to be a large bush. It's called a burning bush ...

She says it's called a burning bush cuz in the fall the leaves turn bright red. It will be pretty to see. She said her husband will plant it for me as soon as I pick a spot for it. She's so sweet. I'm thankful I have such nice neighbors.

My poor boots...

I can't wait for the day I'm done painting.

 

 

 

Sunday, September 23, 2007

First I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL! :)

Just took a quick video of what I've done this past week...

I finished the hallway today.

The 3 bedrooms are left to do. Then I have to tackle the garage. That will be a big job because I have to haul out all the stuff stored in there. I have to wash the walls and ceiling. The garage ceiling is higher up than the rest of the house, so I'll have to use a ladder. I have to tape the trim around the door and window. I have to patch the holes. I have to prime the walls (I'm gonna buy water based primer this time and HOPE it won't make me sick) and then I'll paint it all again with latex satin paint. The ceiling and everything. I don't think I'll cover the floor of the garage because it already has stains on it. I think I'll buy some of that garage floor coating stuff. Something like this ...

I'll put that on the garage floor after I've painted all the walls and ceiling. The garage will be a big job, but when it's done... I'm DONE painting!

 

 

 

Sunday, September 30, 2007

I've finished painting all 3 bedrooms. All that's left to paint is the garage. I first have to remove everything in the garage and store it all inside the house somewhere. Then, I have to wash down the walls and the ceiling. Then remove the nails. Patch the holes. And tape the trim. THEN... I'll be able to prime and FINALLY paint.

Here's a quick video ...

A few days ago, I pulled into my driveway to begin another day of painting and sitting by my lamp post was this ...

I knew right away it was my neighbor :) She's such a sweetheart.  I went next door to thank her. She said she was getting some flowers at Krogers and thought to buy some for me. SO SWEET! It makes me smile. I love flowers. I am SO BLESSED to have such nice neighbors. Good people ... we need more of them in this world.

I finally planted the burning bush she gave me last week. Here's its new home ...

The leaves are falling ...

I'm sad summer is over, but it was a good summer. I got alot done.

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

I got my estimate for new kitchen cabinets. $3519. That doesn't include the cost of new countertops. I would also have to buy a new exhaust fan for over the stove, and a new dishwasher. So I'm guessing it will be around $5,000 when all is done.

The $3519 I guess is a good estimate though. It includes labor and installation of the cabinets, countertops, the dishwasher, sink and exha ust fan. It's for oak cabinets. In a dark wood finish so it will match the existing trim throughout the house. I was hoping to knock down the estimate by looking for pine cabinets in a dark wood finish but my contractor said he can't find the dark wood finish in pine. I'll do some looking around myself and maybe I'll get lucky. The cost of the oak cabinets alone (not including the labor and installation of everything) is $2564. I'm not sure where to look for pine cabinets in a dark wood finish that will be cheaper than $2564. Anyone have any ideas?

I noticed lots of dried paint drips in the bathroom. I never noticed it before. I have to scrape them off with a razor blade. Sand the area smooth and paint over it. Hopefully that will fix it. Ugh. I didn't even notice the drips before! So I still have some final touch-up painting to do throughout the house. (See, I told you all I'm a horrible painter!)

I hope to clear out the garage this weekend, to prepare for painting.

Note: I don't have time to chat about my house very much, which is why I post the updates in this blog. It's much much easier if you just subscribe to my blog. That way, when I update my house blog, you'll get an email saying "New Blog Post from Sherry." Then you all will know right away when I've got something new to say! K?

Click the link to subscribe ... My House

 

 

Saturday, October 06, 2007

My dad helped me today :) I asked him if he would help me haul out the kitchen cabinets into my backyard for me. He did! He also helped me remove the top kitchen cabinets as well. I'm saving money doing this myself. My estimate will be cheaper now. All my contractor will have to do is install the new. Now I need to rent another dumpster and get it all off my property.

Take a look at my kitchen! ...

I also sorted through all my baseboard trim today. All the trim that had lots of paint on them, I added to the junk pile in my backyard and I kept the trim that had no paint spots. They just need to be cleaned.

I successfully scraped away all the dried paint drips I found, sanded and painted over the areas. So it looks smooth and pretty now :)

I finished painting my bathroom cabinest too! I actually got alot done today.

Oh and another thing my dad did for me is clean up my two toilets and now they're as good as new! Earlier in the week I took my two toilets over to my parent's house to clean them. Well, I haven't had time to clean them cuz I work full time and take care of my nephew. So during the week while I was at work, my dad scrubbed them clean and replaced some parts that were leaking. All fixed! And then he brought them back over to my house. Yay! I love my daddy :)

I wanted his help to install all the light fixtures throughout the house but he doesn't do electric. He wouldn't know what wires hook-up with what. So I tried. I started reading through the directions and got a few wires joined together, but then it was talking about ground wires, neutral wires... and then there'adys wires I see that aren't even mentioned in the directions! ... so I had to quit :(
I'm gonna ask my brother if he could help. I hope he can cuz my contractor said it's $35 to install a light fixture. That's $210 to get them all installed throughout my house. If my brother can't help, I'll try again! It's just electricity ... no big deal ;)

 

 

 

Monday, October 15, 2007

I got alot of work done this weekend. Friday after work I mowed. I mowed over SO MANY mole hills! It's getting so bad, my yard feels like I'm walking on a sponge! The soil is so soft. I'm tearing up my yard everytime I mow over another mound of dirt. My neighbor noticed the problem I was having and he said that he's gonna lend me one of his mole traps and show me how to set it up. He’s so nice. I really am thankful for such kind neighbors :)

Saturday morning I went back to finish the last of the painting inside my house. Touch-up painting. I painted over a few more plastered spots and FINALLY finished all the interior rooms COMPLETELY!

Then, I moved onto the dreaded garage. I hauled everything out of there and stored all my stuff in several areas of my house ...

Then I wiped down the garage walls and ceiling, taped the trim, swept the floor and started priming the walls...

By 1pm I was STARVING! I went to McDonalds and got a double cheeseburger, chicken nuggets and a chocolate shake. Wolfed it down and went back to work!

The batteries in my camera went dead so I wasn't able to take a new picture of the garage. I got all the garage walls primed and I've already plastered all the holes in the walls. Next, I'll sand smooth the plastered spots and prime over them. Then, I'll prime the ceiling. Then, I'M DONE!

I was thinking of painting with latex satin after the priming was done, but I'm changing my mind. This new primer (water based Kilz) is really really good! It's white pigmented and it looks really nice. I don't think I really need to use satin paint over it. So really all that's left to do is prime the plaster spots, prime the ceiling... DONE!

I may not use that epoxy garage floor coating. I do have some paint spots on the garage floor, but it's really not too bad. The garage doesn't have to be perfect. I'm happy with just patching the holes and priming the walls and ceiling.

But knowing me ... I may change my mind again ;) I tend to do that alot. So we'll see!

Here's the light fixtures I'm gonna have throughout my house...

Here's my ceiling fan for the livingroom ...

Oh! And my dad helped me yet AGAIN! I don't have to rent a dumpster to haul away all the kitchen cabinets after all. While I was at work, my dad hauled it all off and burnt it all in his yard. A big bonfire. My nephew roasted marshmellows over it ;)

Now my yard is junk free!

I have a dead patch of grass, but it's all clean! I love my Daddy ;)

Can you guys believe it!??? I'm REALLY REALLY CLOSE TO FINISHING! The garage is half-way done already! Can you feel the excitment!???

 

 

 

Sunday, October 21, 2007

There's no words to describe how happy I am. I am DONE painting! I FINISHED PAINTING THE GARAGE!

Last weekend I primed with the water-based Kilz and patched the holes. Throughout the work week I went over there in the evenings to sand smooth all the patches. This weekend I primed over the patches and then primed the whole ceiling. DONE! I don't need to use satin latex paint over everything. This new water-based Kilz is great. It's much brighter than the oil-based Kilz I used on the rest of the house and it even has a nice sheen to it, alot like satin. I just wish I would of used the water-based all along! Ah well.... live and learn ;)

I AM DONE PAINTING! Ahh... just to hear myself say that (and type it) ... I AM DONE PAINTING! I AM DONE PAINTING! I AM DONE PAINTING! WOO HOO!!! YAY MEEE!!!

      

I made a horrible mess all over the floor though :( I told you I was a sloppy painter! I went to True Value and got that epoxy garage floor coating. I am going to see if I can get my contractor to put it on the floor for me. There's dangerous chemicals and some kind of acid in that floor coating. A friend of mine said that it will give me an asthma attack. (I have mild asthma and I don't want to take the risk.) So if my contractor gives me a reasonable estimate, I'm gonna have him do it.

The guys at True Value see me every weekend. I believe I spent around $1000 there on paint and supplies, maybe more. This weekend when I ran in there (with paint splatters all over me as usual) I told them, "I'm buying my last few cans of paint! I'm finishing the garage! So the next time you see me, maybe I'll look CLEAN!" And they said, "Well, how would be recognize you?" Funny guys :)

Can you hear the relief in my voice? ;)

I have been painting for over 3 months. I started painting on the 4th of July. Every weekend since then, I've been painting! For 3 1/2 months I have been scrubbing paint off my skin! For 3 1/2 months I have been wearing the same painting clothes! For 3 1/2 months I've been sick and exausted from painting. I'M DONE! IT'S OVER!!!

And now I'll show you my lovely painting clothes I have been wearing since the 4th of July (I think the paint splotches really bring together the whole outfit don't you?) ...

I'm sexy. You want me ;)

 

 

Friday, October 26, 2007

My brother installed all the light fixtures for me this week. The ceiling fan too! I'm SO HAPPY!!!

 

Sooo pretty ...

 

Beautiful isn't it??? :)

I have TONS of pine needles to rake up!!!

Well... I have to look on the bright side ... soon, winter will be here and I'll be DONE with mowing and raking! Yay!!!

No mowing! And no more painting!?!? What will I do with my weekends?

 

 

 

Saturday, October 27, 2007

I WANT THIS ...

It's SO me ;)

 

 

 

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Today is my dad's birthday! Happy birthday Daddy!!!

I hired John, my contractor, to put the epoxy coating on the garage floor. $80 labor. I figured it's well worth it. No asthma attacks for me. Also, I didn't have the tools needed to prepare the garage floor anyhow. On Friday, John cleaned the garage floor with the acid solution. It has to dry thoroughly before he applies the epoxy. Hopefully Monday morning he will go back to apply the epoxy coating and finish the job. Once the garage is done... I'll move all my stuff back into it and start on the floors in my house! YAY!!!

I've been thinking about getting vinyl flooring throughout the whole house. Yes, I know I was planning on getting hardwood laminate throughout the house, and only vinyl in the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room ... but since I'm having to buy new kitchen cabinets, I'm trying very hard to stretch my budget.

John said there's some great no-glue vinyl flooring in 12 ft. sheets at Lowes and Menards. They have a wood grain texture. I went to Menards to look. I found one that has a lifetime warranty. $1.49 sq. ft. It's no glue ... so if I ever have enough money in the future to replace it with real hardwood, I can. It will be easy to pull up and remove. No muss no fuss. I would just have to remove the baseboard trim and roll up the sheets of vinyl. So this might be an affordable alternative for me right now. I would be saving about $2000 if I choose vinyl instead of hardwood. So this is something I'm seriously considering. Just haven't made up my mind yet! :)

Here's the two floor samples I got from Menards ...

I have a budget of around $17000. I have to get all the flooring done. I have to buy a new hot water heater. I have to buy new kitchen cabinets. New countertops for the kitchen and both bathrooms. (I painted the existing bathroom cabinets, but I need new countertops for each of them) I still need to buy a fridge, stove, washer and dryer. I still need to get insulation in the attic. I still need to pave my driveway, which will be almost $5000.

So as you can see, I really am trying to stretch my budget. I want hardwood flooring... but I'm really trying to get everything done with what money I have left.

Let's see... what else did I do recently. I mowed and raked up leaves and pine needles this weekend. I removed all the tape from the trim in the entire house. I put back on all the light switch and outlet covers. I'm STILL smiling about getting all the painting done :) And I LOVE looking at my new light fixtures and ceiling fan :)

I tried to take a picture of a ladybug I had on my hand, but it flew away :( Ladybugs are pretty :) Yes I know, I'm camera crazy.

Take a look at all the cute stuff I got on camera when me and my nephew went Trick or Treating!!! ...

Ok... so I know this doesn't really belong on my house blog, but I couldn't resist! Isn't he the cutest whoopee cushion you ever saw??? LOL! :)

UPDATE!!! Guess what!??? I just went over to my house and SURPRISE SURPRISE the garage floor is DONE! John left a note. He was there this afternoon and finished the job! The note also said it will take 72 hrs to dry completely.

Before ...

After...

I'm so happy!!! So in 3 days I'll be able to move all my stuff back into my garage and start on the floors! YAY!!!

 

 

 

Saturday, November 10, 2007

I moved everything back into my garage today. I got my estimate for vinyl throughout the house - $3500. I really thought it would be cheaper :( My estimate for hardwood flooring is $4400. I really won't be saving lots of money by going with the vinyl ... so I changed my mind again. I'm gonna stick with the Warehouse Carpet estimate for hardwood flooring. It will be $4400 well spent.
I'm gonna call them on Monday to set up a time for them to start on the floors. YAY! Can you believe it? I'm ready to get new flooring! Woo hoo!!

I was at Menards and noticed all the Christmas trees they had up :)

Yes, you know me well :) I snapped a pic on my cell phone. I couldn't help it! I LOVE Christmas trees! It's my favorite part of Christmas! When I was a kid, I would listen to all the other children in school talk about presents and Santa... I talked about my Christmas tree :) I spent alot of time in Menards just looking at all their Christmas stuff. And had a big smile on my face the whole time :) I really want to get into my house before Christmas, so I could set up my tree and make my home festive!

 

 

 

Monday, November 12, 2007

When I got my construction loan earlier this summer, I was told I have 6 months to get all the repairs finished.  This January 30th will be 6 months.  I have only a couple months left to get everything done.  Wow.  I'm getting scared.  I hope I can get it all done in time.

I went to Warehouse Carpet today to pick out the vinyl and hardwood laminate flooring.  On the 19th the vinyl will get installed in the kitchen, dining area, laundry room and small bathroom.

They have to special order the hardwood laminate.  They won't get that installed until the 28th.  Ugh.  Well, at least the flooring will be done by the end of this month.

As soon as the flooring is done... I'm gonna start moving in the big stuff.  My piano.  My beds.  Dressers, desk, table, etc.

I called John, my contractor and asked him if he could install the new kitchen cabinets immediately after the vinyl is installed in the kitchen.  He said he has to order the cabinets and that could take a couple weeks.  Ugh!  I'm SO GLAD I called him NOW, instead of AFTER the vinyl gets installed on the 19th!  At least he can order them NOW and when the 19th comes and goes... he'll only have about another week til' the cabinets come.

So I'm guessing around the 26th John will install the kitchen cabinets.  So if I'm lucky... maybe the flooring AND the cabinets will all get done by the end of this month!!!

Then I'll have a little over a month left to get the fridge, stove, washer, dryer, and hot water heater installed.  I think it's possible.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

The last major repair will be paving the driveway, but that can't get done until the weather is warmer.  I don't think I'll worry about the driveway until spring.

I can't believe time has slipped away from me so fast!  I CAN'T BELIEVE in about 8 weeks I might be living in my house!!

 

 

Tuesday, November 14, 2007

I met with John, my contractor, at my house today after work.  He wanted to take some final measurements for the kitchen cabinets and do some measuring for the new baseboard trim I need to buy.  He also gave me an estimate to install the hot water heater - $95 for labor.  Not bad.  I just have to go buy the hot water heater.  I also need to buy the trim, the dishwasher and overhead fan for the stove.  John will install everything for me.

I found out something interesting ... John plays the piano AND organ!! :)  We talked about music for a good chunk of time.  I get the impression he's a VERY good player too!  Much better than me!  He played at the Crystal Cathedral!! Wow! He also played the huge pipe organ at the Paramount Pizza Palace in Indianapolis!!  I'm so impressed!  So I told him as soon as I move my piano into my home... HE'S GONNA PLAY FOR ME!  And if he'll let me, I'm gonna tape him and post it on my house blog! Haha!   It's only fitting... my contractor playing beautiful music on my piano!  The perfect way to christen my new home!  :) 

And guess what else??? ...

My dad and brother went over to my house while I was at work and installed a toilet in the main bathroom!  Yay!!!  A functioning toilet in my home!  What progress!!!

Ok, I'm crazy I know ;)  I recorded my flushing toilet ... but I know you're smiling :)   It's a pleasure entertaining you all :) :) :)

 

 

 

Saturday, November 17, 2007

I spent $4000 at Menards!  I can't believe it, but I did.   I got all my major appliances.  Fridge, stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher, hot water heater, and microwave hood range for over the stove.   I also got 2 toilet seats, 2 sink countertops for the bathroom cabinets, 2 medicine cabinets, 2 bathroom faucets, 1 kitchen faucet, and a garbage disposal.  I also bought all the new trim I need for the house.  I need to stain 280 ft. of trim!

I've been so busy ever since I got off of work on Friday.  Friday afternoon, I got home at 3:30 and went right back out to Menards.  I got home at 9:30!  I spent hours there!  But I'm SO GLAD I got it all done!  All my appliances will be delivered around the 25th.

I had to drive back to Menards today because I noticed an error in my order slip.  They special ordered 2 dryers, instead of 1 washer and 1 dryer!  So I went back there to fix it.  I brought my special order slip with me, but they said they needed my reciept too (which I forgot to bring with me)  So I had to drive back home to get the receipt.  I did alot of running around today, but it was ok :)  I enjoyed it.  Driving, listening to the radio, and the weather was nice :)

I grabbed some images off the web of the appliances I bought so you guys can see what they look like! :)  Yay!  I can't wait until everything is installed!

Whirlpool 4.5 Cu. Ft. Super Capacity Plus Cabrio Washer ENERGY STAR - $853 ...

Whirlpool 7.0 Cu. Ft. Super Capacity Plus Cabrio Electric Dryer - $673 ...

Maytag 18.9 Cu. Ft. Top Mount Refrigerator ENERGY STAR - $583 ...

Whirlpool 30-Inch 4.8 Cu. Ft. Capacity Ceramic Glass CleanTop Electric Range - $358 ...

Whirlpool 1.6 cu. ft. 1000 watt Microwave Oven that mounts above the stove - $180 ...

Magic Chef 5 Cycle Built-In Dishwasher - $188 ...

Richmond 50-Gallon 4,500-Watt Electric Water Heater - $199 ...

I got 2 of these sink countertops for the bathroom cabinets ...

I got most of these appliances on sale!  I think I did pretty good.  I hate that I spent around $4000 on everything, but I needed all of it.

I went around my house and measured all the areas where the new appliances will go, so I would be sure that everything will fit properly.

I couldn't find images on the web for the 2 medicine cabinets I bought.  I'll be sure to take pictures when they're installed! :)

 

 

 

Monday, November 19, 2007

The guys from Warehouse Carpet are starting to lay down the vinyl in my house today.  I couldn't wait to get off work and see the new floors! :)  But they're not quite finished yet :(

      

Well ... tomorrow I'll have a pretty new kitchen floor, laundry room floor and bathroom floor :)   Can't wait!!!

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I raced home from work to go see my floors today :)
Waiting for me was a new kitchen floor, laundry room floor and bathroom floor! Yay yay yay!!!

      

The rest of the flooring left to be installed will be the hardwood.  That will go in the livingroom, bedrooms, hallway and closets.   The hardwood flooring should go in on the 28th!  CAN'T WAIT!!!

This is the FUN part!  Now that all the demo is done... I can build the house back up and make it look pretty!!!  I'm loving this part!!!  Everything is painted! YAY!  I have new ceilings! YAY!  New light fixtures and ceiling fan! YAY!  And now new floors!!!  YAY!!!

It's looking prettier and prettier!   I'm smiling so big right now.  I'm so glad I can share this all with you!

 

 

 

Saturday, November 24, 2007

YAY!!!  THE APPLIANCES CAME TODAY!!! ...

And I even got all my new trim stained!!!

Staining the trim wasn't so bad actually.  I was dreading the fact that I had to pick up a paint brush AGAIN, but staining the trim went fairly fast.  I think it took 4 or 5 hours.  Not bad... considering it took me around 3 MONTHS to paint my whole house ;)

I have to go over all the trim again tomorrow with polyurethane and then I'll be DONE with the trim! YAY!  Just in time too ... cuz in a few days the hardwood floors will be installed!  Woo hoo!!!

And also sometime this week (hopefully, fingers crossed)  John will be installing my kitchen cabinets too!!  I'm dancing in my chair right now!  Yayyyy!!!

 

Friday, November 30, 2007

I'm a little disappointed.  Nothing got done this week.  No new kitchen cabinets.  No new flooring.   

The kitchen cabinets haven't been delivered yet.  They had to be special ordered and my contractor is still waiting on them.  He is trying to reassure me saying, "I will begin installing the cabinets just as soon as I get them.  On the very day they're delivered!" 

The hardwood flooring was suppose to be installed the 28th,  but Warehouse Carpet had to special order my flooring too.    I called them this morning and they said that they recieved the flooring today,  but can't deliver it to my house until Wednesday of next week.   After it's shipped to my house, it has to sit in there for 24 hrs. to adjust to the room temperature.  Then on Thursday they will install it.   The flooring will probably take a couple days to install.   So I'm guessing it won't get done until Friday or even later than that.

I'm anxious to start moving my stuff in the house, but I can't until the floors are in.  I really want to start rolling in the appliances too!   Right now they're all stored in my garage ...



My poor appliances :(   They're saying,  "Sherry install us!!   It's cold and lonely in  your garage!"

I'm getting nervous.  I need to have all my repairs done by January 30th.  Tomorrow is DECEMBER.  




Saturday, December 1, 2007

My brother came over this morning to help me install the medicine cabinets in both bathrooms!  Yay!!!   We also got both bathroom cabinets partially installed too!
  
  

I'm having some difficulties with the bathroom cabinets,  so my contractor will have to finish installing them himself.    My brother doesn't have experience in hooking up the plumbing.  I don't have the pipes for hook-up anyway.   I don't have plumber's putty either. 

Also,  one of the countertops won't fit right on the top of the small bathroom cabinet.  I got the correct size sink,  but the bowl is too big.   Take a look ...

  

The sink bowl is slightly too big for the wood frame.  So this is just another reason why I'm gonna have my contractor finish the job.  He'll have to shave away some of the wood inside the cabinet, for the sink to set down in there properly.   Ugh :(    

It's ok though!  I'm HAPPY!   My medicine cabinets are up!  Yay!!!   And the bathroom cabinets are in place!   Woo hoo!!

I may get the larger medicine cabinet re-positioned though.   You'll notice in the picture above that it's not centered over the sink.   I might have my contractor center it and lower it just a bit.

My brother did a good job though.  I'm happy!!!   I gave him $50 and so he's happy too! :)

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The hardwood flooring was delivered today!



Here's a closer view of the planks ...



It's a dark walnut finish and the planks are about 8 inches wide.  I wanted narrower planks but the first ones I chose were out of stock, so I had to choose this style.  There were many other size planks to choose from in a walnut finish, but they were more expensive.  This plank I ended up with is the cheapest so I had to get it.   I'm hoping it won't look too rustic.  Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised :)






Friday, December 7, 2007

Warehouse Carpet finally started installing the hardwood floors today!!!
Here's a video of what's been done so far ...



The livingroom, hallway, hallway closets, and one bedroom is done already.  I'm real excited about them finishing the floors on Monday!  They just have two bedrooms left to do!  I'm so anxious to get into my house :)

    


Here's another video ...



I just HAD to put up my Christmas tree! :)   I know I'm not living in my house yet, but I couldn't help it!  The livingroom is all done, so I couldn't resist setting up my dinky little dollar store tree for the first time in my first home.  

I sat on my new livingroom floor for quite a while, just staring at the lights :)   The room was glowing.  The shiny floors were reflecting all the pretty colored lights.  It was peaceful and beautiful.  I loved every minute of it!



It's already starting to feel like home :)







Monday, December 10, 2007

Well today is a day to celebrate!  All the hardwood flooring is installed!  ALL my floors are done!  Any room I walk into... I'm walking on new floors!  This is something I have been looking forward to for a very long time. 

I'll never have to deal with damaged subfloors again!  Or even LOOK at subfloors again!  All there is to see are pretty floors throughout!  I've been waiting for this day for over 2 years!  

Most of you know the back breaking work I did early in the summer, pulling up sheets of damaged subfloors.  I had so many splinters in my butt, scooting across the floors, pulling up THOUSANDS of nails!  I wore out my gloves.  My fingers were poking through the holes.  I hauled out so many sheets of particle board.  It was horrible.   (I just scrolled up to where my pictures and videos are of the work I did on the subfloors.  Glad that's ALL OVER!)

So having new floors is a REALLY big deal for me!  When I got off work, I went straight to my house!  I opened the door and slowly walked through the whole house... smiling :)

I'm STILL smiling.  
Here's the pictures of all the rooms that have the hardwood floors ...

Master bedroom (my bedroom) ...




Second largest bedroom (which will be a guest bedroom for friends or my nephew) ...




Smallest bedroom (which will be my office) ...




Hallway ...




And my lovely livingroom ...




The kitchen and bathrooms already have new vinyl.  So now my contractor will start putting down the baseboard trim!  Hopefully tomorrow!  Once the trim is down,  I'm gonna start moving in all the big stuff.  Beds, dressers, desks, tables, sofa, etc.  I'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO START MOVING THINGS IN!!!  WOO HOO!

Now,  about the kitchen cabinets ... there's been a delay :(   They had to be special ordered and Menards won't recieve them until the 15th!  I'm really upset that I have to wait ANOTHER WEEK for those cabinets!  But there's nothing I can do.  My contractor is going to install the cabinets just as soon as Menards recieves them.

But in the meantime ... John will be able to put down the baseboard trim, install the hot water heater, move the washer and dryer into the laundry room for me, finish installing the bathroom sinks, and a few other little jobs I need him to do.  So at least things will keep moving along.  John said he should be able to start on some of these projects tomorrow!

Happy day :)   I have new floors.  I HAVE NEW FLOORS!!! :) :) :)







Saturday, December 15, 2007

All the trim is done in the house!  John finished with the trim on Friday and called me at work to let me know!  He said, "You can FINALLY start moving stuff into your house!" 

I know I'm camera crazy but I'm not gonna take new pictures of all the rooms just to show you the new trim!  So here's just one pic ;)  



I picked the perfect stain for the trim!  It matches the hardwood floors perfectly and blends in well with the rest of the trim and doors throughout the house. 

John also told me that the kitchen cabinets have FINALLY arrived at Menards!  So John will start installing them Monday!!!  :)










Tuesday, December 18, 2007

John brought the kitchen cabinets over to my house today!

 

He hasn't started installing them yet, but he will tomorrow.

I went to Lowes after work today to look at countertops.  Here's two samples I chose ...

 

Which one do you guys think goes better with the dark wood cabinets and vinyl floor?  I think the darker colored one looks better, but I want to know what you guys think.

John also rolled the washer and dryer into my laundry room!



I just have to plug them in and hook-up the water and dryer hose. 

He also installed the hot water heater!



The bathroom sinks are installed too!  I HAVE RUNNING WATER!!!




I'm so close to moving in!  SO CLOSE!  I can almost feel the warmth of my first bath in my new tub ;)







Wednesday, December 19, 2007

John started installing the cabinets today :)

 

Two cabinets haven't been delivered yet.  So I don't know if he will be able to complete the installation this week or not :(

He still has to install the kitchen sink, dishwasher, and microwave range for over the stove.  He's gonna roll the fridge and stove into place for me as well.  So I'm sure these are things he can do until the final two cabinets arrive.

It's really starting to look like a pretty little home :)







Thursday, December 20, 2007

Almost finished!!!

 

John still has to install the two remaining cabinets when they arrive.  He brought the microwave and dishwasher into the kitchen, which will be installed next!



I noticed some small chips along the edges of the countertops where he had to cut them to make them fit the cabinets ...

 

I don't know if I should complain about this or not.  Do I really want to waste extra time to have John replace the countertops?   I really want to move in NOW.  January 30th marks the end of my 6 month time period to finish all of my repairs.   I just don't know if it's worth complaining about.  

The chipped edges were probably unavoidable anyway.  Afterall,  I purchased the absolute cheapest formica countertops available.   Maybe I can get some paint that matches the counterops and touch up the damaged areas?  Tell me what you guys think I should do.







Saturday, December 22, 2007

I'm off of work for two weeks! YAY!  I don't have to go back to work until the 8th!  Guess what I'll be doing?  MOVING!    Wow... did I just say that?  I'm MOVING!!!!   MOOOOOOVING!!!!!  

My funny, but slightly dimented friend made a funny picture of me.  I just had to share ;)



Thanks Eric!  You're a regular comedian ;)








Sunday, December 23, 2007

I got alot done at my house today.  I set up a bed ...




I got all my curtains up! ...




And I put in my new floor vents ...



Pretty huh? ;)


It was starting to snow a little while I was there and the wind picked up a whole lot!  I was sitting on my kitchen floor trying to put together my refrigerator drawers when all of the sudden I saw my poor swing fly right off the back porch!



I'm glad it didn't get damaged.  I love that swing.  It has sentimental value. 








Tuesday, December 25, 2007

I went  to my house today to move in some more of my stuff and I walked next door to my neighbor's to give them a gingerbread house and wish them a Merry Christmas! ...



Cute huh?  My mom makes gingerbread houses every year.

While I was there Linda said, "Let me show you my Christmas village!"   We went into her family room and I expected to see a couple of those cute porcelain houses with lights in the windows.  I was shocked what I saw!  Take a look! ...

 

Yep, I just HAD to take pictures!  Isn't it GORGEOUS?   She has been collecting these houses for YEARS!  She has a farm, a Church, stores, homes, little people, animals, trees and lamposts.  She even put down little pebbles for the roads!  Just EVERYTHING you could imagine!  It's HUGE!  I just had to share it with you guys :)


Merry Christmas!











Friday, December 28, 2007

I have lots of updates to tell you all about!  YAY!!!  :)

I had John replace the chipped countertops afterall.  I just didn't want to pay for damaged countertops.  John didn't argue one bit.  He just replaced them for me! :)  No muss no fuss.  He tried a different cutting blade and it worked much better.  He's a very agreeable, very friendly and very professional guy.  He wants his company to maintain its good name.  Whew!  Glad I got them replaced!   They look MUCH better!




The dishwasher is installed! ...




The kitchen sink is installed!  And I have HOT running water! YAY! :)




I got the washer and dryer hooked up and ready to go!!! ...




I also plugged in the fridge and assembled the drawers and shelves.  I need to go grocery shopping now! :)



All the appliances are up and running now, except the microwave which still has to be mounted above the stove.


I got my bed set up!  All comfy cozy ;)




And the extra bed in the spare bedroom is ready for guests!!!




I already moved most of my clothes into my big beautiful closet! ...




Now that I have hot running water,  it's cleaning time!   All the woodwork and windows have accumulated so much drywall dust and sawdust from all the construction work done.   The windows and doors will sparkle and shine when I get done with them! ;)








Saturday, December 29, 2007

The bedroom dresser is in!




The desk is in!




The armoire is in the livingroom!  And I already put everything in it!

   


I put my first set of mugs into my new cabinets today :)



These mugs were a Christmas gift from a co-worker.  I love the people I work with!  :)

Wow.  I still can't believe I'm in the process of moving!   I'M MOVING!!! :)








Wednesday, January 02, 2008

It's a new year!  I got so much accomplished this past year.  I learned alot too.

I have 5 days of vacation time left.  I was hoping I'd be living in my house now,  but there's a problem with the bathtub faucet.  It leaks really bad when the hot water heater is turned on.  John is waiting on a replacement part for the bathtub faucet and I won't be able to take baths until that faucet is fixed :(

The two final cabinets haven't arrived yet either.  I did start to put things away in my kitchen cabinets though.  I'm really anxious to get the cabinets completed.

I've unpacked most of my things already.  I also went to Kmart today to get new towel holders, toilet paper holders and a new shower curtain ...



Cute huh? ;)

I wasn't intending on buying pictures but this one jumped out at me and I had to get it ...

  

I'll be hanging it in my bedroom.  A nice reminder to wake up to in the morning :)

Happy New Year everyone!








Thursday, January 3, 2008

I have a big problem.   Let me first give you a little background information...

Before I started this blog... I had some other repairs done on my house that I didn't document or take pictures of.  One of the projects done was by a sloppy electrician early last year.  I had him do alot of re-wiring throughout the house.  He installed all new phone wires, cable wires and wall jacks in several rooms.  He tore up the drywall when installing the wall jacks.  I also had him remove the old thermostats from each room. (My house use to have cable heating inside the ceilings and each room had its own thermostat)  Since I replaced the ceilings and bought a new heating/cooling unit ... I no longer needed the thermostats in each room, so I had this electrician remove them.  I asked him not only to remove the thermostat units, but also to remove the thermostat wires which are connected to the circuit breaker box.  I made a point to tell him I didn't want any live wires up in my attic.  Well,  this guy said all the wires don't need to be removed from the attic, they only need to be disconnected from the circuit breaker box so no power goes through them any longer.  So he did that.  He disconnected the wires and also marked each wire DEAD.  So anyone needing to go up in the attic for electrical work in the future, will know that these wires don't work.

Ok... so today I met one of John's subcontractors who came to install the additional power outlet I needed in my bathroom.  He did a great job and he didn't tear up the drywall at all. A much better electrician than the first!  After the job was done, he said, "I noticed some wires marked DEAD up in the attic, but tested one and it's live."

So what do I do?  Do I believe this new electrician?  It would be foolish of me to ignore what he says, hope he's just lying, and hope for the best.  That's a big risk to take isn't it?  Cuz what if there IS live wires up there still?  It could start a fire!  I don't know how to test them myself.  So I feel I have to take his word for it and have him fix what needs to be fixed.

You're probably thinking I should just call back the other electrician and have him fix his mistakes.  Well,  I don't want that guy back in my house!  He was sloppy and he would make me nervous crawling around my attic after I've installed NEW CEILINGS!  Not to mention (if this is true) if he didn't disconnect the wires like he was suppose to, then I'm FURIOUS with him and don't trust him to ever do work for me again!

I'm really mad about this.  I'm stuck in a hard spot.  It's hard to trust people.  Who am I suppose to believe?  I want to believe the new electrician.  He is one of John's subcontractors and I completely trust John.

I'm suppose to set up a time for this new electrician to come back and test the wires throughout my attic.  I think I will.  I really have no choice.  Maybe it won't be so bad.  He might not charge alot.








Friday, January 4, 2008

There is NO WAY I can afford new furniture for my home.  Luckily my sister is needing a place to store her furniture... and I NEED furniture... so it's a win/win situation :)   She gets free storage space and I get free furniture! :)   I'm very thankful I'll have some useful pieces of furniture for a while, until she needs them back.  

I already have her dresser, desk, armoire and now her sofa! ...

 

Unfortunately, I did have to shell out some money for bookcases.  I have lots of books, scrapbooks and photo albums.  I desperately needed a couple large bookcases.  I assembled them today! ...

 

It took FOREVER to put together those bookcases!  It was so tedious and time consuming!  It's enough to make a bookworm such as myself NEVER want to buy another book EVER AGAIN!  :)

Glad it's over!  Now I can unpack all my books! YAY!!! :)








Saturday, January 5, 2008

I met with John's subcontractor again today.  I had him come back to look at the live wires in the attic and make sure everything was fixed.  He did such a thorough job.  Not only did he go up in the attic to check all the wires,  he went through every breaker in the circuit breaker box to see what is what and what's connected/disconnected.  Everything is now safe and sound.  After it was all done,  I asked him how much I owe him and he said NOTHING!  Can you believe it?   He didn't charge me :)

He has to come back though.  The kitchen power outlets don't have those GFI protectors on it, like in the bathrooms.  That's not up to code and I need to have them replaced with the new GFI outlets.  That won't cost much.  He said about $13, plus labor... it shouldn't be too bad.  I don't really want to waste the money, but my loan officer wants to have a home inspection and appraisal done soon and I want everything done right and up to code.








Thursday, January 10, 2008

I have several updates for you all :)   John fixed the leaky faucet in my bathtub and I now have the hot water heater turned on permanently!   I have hot running water! YAY!!!  No leaky pipes!  Everything works perfect!  I can take baths!  I can wash clothes!  I can use the dishwasher!  EVERYTHING!   

I assembled a storage cabinet for my bathroom the other day.



I need all the extra storage in there I can get!  Hey, I'm a girl ;)   I have lots of girly things.   I just wish this bathroom cabinet didn't look so UGLY!   But I'm stuck with this one because it's the only cabinet that fits my bathroom corner perfectly.   Maybe I could get a lace runner to cover up the ugly black screws.

My sister got me a housewarming gift.  It's a digital picture frame!!!

 

I love this thing!  I'm gonna have so much fun with it!  You all know that I'm camera crazy!   All of my pictures are digital.  I have SO MANY pictures!  This digital picture frame is perfect for me!   I just have to transfer my photos from my computer to the picture frame and it displays them as a photo slide show!  It can even play music!  

My mom also got me a housewarming gift.



Pretty!  Shiny!  Silverware!  I needed some too!  I was planning on just stealing some from my mom's kitchen :)   Now I don't have to!  

I also called Insight cable today.  They're gonna get my cable tv hooked-up this Saturday.  

I just have a few things left to do:

- Get insulation in the attic.
- Get my phone turned on.
- Get my dad to install the 2nd toilet in the small bathroom.
- Get my sister's kitchen table.
- Get the new GFI outlets for my kitchen
- Get John to install the last 2 cabinets and microwave over the stove.
- Get John to move my piano!  YAY!!! :)

John is going to try and move my piano this weekend!  As long as it doesn't rain or snow.  Fingers crossed!  I sure hope it doesn't!  I still need to go grocery shopping too.  I hope to do that this weekend!   I can't wait to start cooking in my new kitchen!  YAY!!! :)








Friday, January 11, 2008

GUESS WHAT?  John moved my piano!  YAY!!! :) 
One of his subcontractors helped him move it.   They put it in his trailer and his subcontractor sat on the piano bench with my piano to protect it ;)   I took a pic of them on my cell phone.  It would of been funny if he would of played all the way home! :)



I wouldn't let John leave until he played for me ;)  Here's the video! ...



Sorry the video quality is terrible,  but I had so much fun!! :)











Wednesday, Janurary 16, 2008

Well it happened.  It FINALLY happened.  It's a momentus occasion.  Really it is!  This is what happens when a girl is DONE with demo work ...



My nails are FINALLY growing back!!!  YAY!!!  I'm starting to feel PRETTY again!!!  ;)

Aside from this very important fingernail news ... You may also like to know that I'm getting my phone turned on in a couple days!  (I already have my new number!)  I'm also getting ready to have insulation put in my attic, finally!  YAY!!! :)








Saturday, January 19, 2008

I got my cable hooked up!!!  YAY!!! :)



And it's on the Food Network :)   My favorite channel.  I LOVE baking!

My phone is hooked up too! WOO HOO!!!   I'm now officially linked to the outside world!   Phone and TV!  I'm a happy girl!!!

The insulation was put in my attic yesterday, so that's done too!!! :)  

Many of you have been asking me if I'm actually living there yet.  The answer is no.  Not quite yet.  I'm trying to tie up all the loose ends first.  I want to be able to move into my house... breathe a sigh of relief ... and know that the work is COMPLETED!    

I'm waiting on John to finish the kitchen cabinets and install my microwave.  I use the microwave more than the oven and if I moved in there now,  I'd be running back and forth to my parent's house to heat things up in their microwave! :)   I don't want to do that.  So I'm waiting for John to finish up the last of his jobs.

Truly,  I can't wait to be in my home. To relax and enjoy the fruits of my labor.   It could be any day now!  John is simply waiting on the cabinets to arrive.

I'll let you all know when moving day is!!! :)  
Stay tuned!!!








Saturday, January 26, 2008

The kitchen is COMPLETED!   Well, almost.  John has to put up one final strip of trim to cover the ugly light above the sink.    But it's 99.9% DONE!  Wooo!!!

 

I FINALLY went grocery shopping today for the very first time! 
You think I got enough food? ...



It's amazing how much a person needs when you're starting with an EMPTY KITCHEN!  Yes, I know I'm just one person, but did I mention I LOVE to cook?  



FOOD!  YAY! YAY!! YAY!!! :)

No,  I'm not "officially moved in" yet.   I think it will be next weekend.  Feb. 3rd is my birthday,  so if I move into my house next weekend ... I think that would be the most perfect birthday present I could give myself!  :)

Keep you posted!








Monday, January 28, 2008

I had a pleasant surprise today when I checked my mail.  A friend of mine (and loyal blog reader) sent me a little housewarming gift!  I just had to show you guys!  ...



Eric,  I LOVE your beautiful address label!  LOVE IT! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!! :)  Sorry guys, I had to blur out the addresses on the label.  I gotta be safe!   I really wish I could show you!  Eric wrote my name and address with different colored crayons :)  HA!  I love the drawing of my house!  Eric, you're very talented ;)  Did you draw my house on there in case the mailman couldn't read your crayon written address?  HAHA!  You crack me up Mr!

Here's my housewarming gifts ...



I LOVE the mittens!  They're so comfy, cozy and warm!



Oh, and Eric... I get the joke about the hot cocoa with little itty bitty teeny tiny baby marshmellows ;)  

THANK YOU!!!  I love the gifts, but I think my favorite thing is your kick ass address label ;)   It's going right on my fridge! :)








Thursday, January 31, 2008

Well,  it's the end of January.  This marks the end of my 6 months time frame, and I did it!  YAY ME!!!  All major repairs are done!  Well, there is one major repair left to do.  I still have to get my driveway re-paved.  But that will have to wait until warmer weather.

I'm not sure what happens next!  I'm waiting to hear from my loan officer.








Monday, February 4, 2008

I'm here!  I'm home!  Yay me!!!   I moved into my house yesterday.  On my Birthday :)  On Superbowl Sunday!  Happy happy day!!! 

My sister came over to give me a Birthday cake :)



Luckily,  I bought a cheap little folding table and two chairs at Menards just in time to put my cake on!



See!  All I needed was a pretty little table cloth to cover it and PRESTO!  I got a cute little kitchen table now :)

Shortly after my sister came over with the cake,  my two brothers and nephew came by to visit also.  They gobbled up my cake, drank my pop, and left me with a sink full of dishes :)

I decided to buy a futon at Big Lots.  I needed more sleeping space for friends when they come to visit.



My sister's sofa was beautiful, but too formal and too small.  It just wasn't practical for me.  I needed more lounging and sleeping room for friends. 

I love this futon!  It's so cute!  It doesn't even look like a futon!  It looks like a real couch!  I just pull the backside inwards ... it clicks and unlocks ... and POOF!  Instant bed!



While I was at Big Lots, I also saw a beautiful dresser that I knew would look PERFECT in my livingroom.  It was on clearance.  It was the last one.  I just had to get it!  I love it! 



I also bought a cheap little coffee table at the Dollar Store.  Just a little something I can put snacks on, put my feet up on, and really relax! :)



My livingroom is all done!  It's so comfy and cozy now!  I love it!!!



So the major repairs are DONE.  Moving is DONE.  Everything is unpacked!  There's really not too much left to update you guys on.  It's looking like this blog will finally come to an end real soon.  Sorta sad, but liberating too :)   I've been updating this blog for almost a year!!!

There's several small things left to do...

- 2 motion lights in the front and back of house.
- 2 porch lights to replace the old ones in the front and back of house.
- New lamp post.
- New doorbell
- Install smoke detector
- New crawlspace opening
- Fix broken water spicket in front of the house.
- Fix holes in ductwork, or replace ductwork if necessary.
- Fix small bathroom door, so it closes.
- New entry door.
- New closet shelf and rod in hallway closet.
- New GFI outlets in kitchen.

I also hope to get the driveway re-paved this spring.  

I'm still waiting to hear from my loan officer.  Soon, I should be getting a home inspection done and new home appraisal.  I'm anxious to find out the value of my home after the appraisal!

I am getting so excited about spring!  Now that all the interior work is done,  I get to work on the outside of my house!  I can't wait to plant a vegetable garden!  I'm going to plant a flower bed too!  If I can save up some money,  I might have my siding powerwashed and painted also.  I can't wait for warm weather again! :)



I'm home!  Woo hoo!!! :)








Friday, February 8, 2008

I finally spoke with my loan officer.  It turns out I don't need to pay for a home appraisal or a home inspection.  Someone is going to come over tomorrow morning and simply confirm with the bank that I completed all the repairs.  I'm surprised.  In the beginning, when I got my construction loan, they said after 6 months I will have to pay for a full inspection and a home appraisal.  Now I don't.  Not sure why things changed.   Oh well,  maybe when the appraiser comes over tomorrow morning, she can give me a general idea of how much she thinks my home is worth because I'm very curious to know.

I got a couple new area rugs for my livingroom and hallway! ...


 

Aren't they beautiful?  I absolutely LOVE my livingroom now.   It's so comfy and cozy!  So relaxing!  I can't stop looking at it! :)

Pretty soon I'm gonna run out of things to show you all since my house is done!
But hey ... I can show you my new coffee maker :)   Some of you already know how much of a coffee addict I am ... so showing you my new coffee maker wouldn't seem all that strange to you!  HA! :)



It's a Bunn commercial coffee maker.  For the serious coffee fiend!  Which I am :)  It makes 10 cups of coffee in 3 minutes!!!  Woo!!!  When I want coffee, I want it NOW! :)  Coffee coffee coffeeee.  Mmmm ;)

Here's a picture of my office. 



I love the fact I have a place for all my important stuff now.  I have two drawers filled with filing folders.  Everything's organized.  Property taxes, bills, receipts, homeowner's insurance, auto insurance, etc.   Having an office is so much better than piling up papers on the kitchen table! :)  

I'm really enjoying my new home! 








Sunday,  February 10, 2008

I have been in my house for one week today!  Yay!  I am celebrating!  I baked a cake in my new oven for the first time! ...



Yummy :)   CHOCOLATE CAKE!  Mmmm!!! ;)    Chocolate cake is best eaten at 2 or 3 in the morning.   I always wake up in the middle of the night craving chocolate.  I'll be digging into this cake tonight!  ;)



One whole week in my house!  Yay!!!  I'M LOVING IT!!! :)








Thursday, February 14, 2008  

I got a surprise package in the mail today :)  My amazing friend, Brad, sent me a little housewarming care package!  There's just so many cute things to show you!!!  

 

He got me a candle, matches, a flashlight and batteries cuz he knows I'm scared of the dark :)  Shortly after I moved into my house, there was a severe thunderstorm and a tornado warning.  During the storm I realized that if the power goes out, I have no matches for my candles and no flashlight!  I sorta panicked.  So what did my wonderful friend do?  He got me my own emergency supply of light! Woo hoo!  Brad you're so thoughtful! ;)  

He also got me a magnetic shopping list, a cute girly notebook, colorful pens, sticky notes, magnetic chip clips, duct tape, CHOCOLATE for my 3am cravings (I'm actually eating some right now) 3 packets of seeds for when I start my garden this summer, and my favorite... Strawberry Shortcake Band-Aides!!!  Awww!!!!! :)  

The Strawberry Shortcake Band-Aides are SO CUTE!!!  There's even cute little square ones! It almost makes me wanna get a boo-boo just so I can put one on!!!  Oh whatever ... I'm gonna put one on right now! HA! :)  

 

Is this not the most adorable band-aide you ever saw? ;)  

When I saw the garden seeds, I started laughing!  I want bunches of tomatoes in my garden, so Brad got me tomato seeds.  My nephew said he wants watermelons and pumpkins.  I started cracking up when I saw those seeds too! :)  Brad says I should start a new blog when I begin all my outdoor work and call it "Sherry's Outdoor Adventures!"  Hmmm, that's a good idea.  This house blog will be coming to an end very soon.  Ok Brad, if I decide to start a new blog, I promise I'll call it "Sherry's Outdoor Adventures!"  

Brad you are SO SWEET!!!  THANK YOU!!!  This is the most thoughtful gift I ever received!  You thought of EVERYTHING! :)

Happy Valentines Day!!! :)








Sunday, February 17, 2008

The appraiser came by to look at my house.  Basically she just looked around to confirm that the repairs have been done.  She wasn't here very long at all.  I asked her how much she thinks the house would appraise for, and she is guessing at around 90k.  Which is good considering my home is smaller than any other home on the block.  My house is only one story.  The rest of the homes around here are two stories.  The two story homes are going for around 100k to 110k ... so 90k for my home is good I think :)    She didn't appraise my home though.  This was just her guess.  If I were to get an actual appraisal done,  it may be more than that, considering I have hardwood floors,  all new appliances,  new furnace, etc.

I went to Bed Bath and Beyond the other day to buy a cake container, a cookie jar, and some wine glasses.   I'm in the cooking mood!  Maybe this time I'll bake some cookies! :)








Friday, February 22, 2008

There's something I never shared with you all before.  It has alot to do with how I bought my home.  Actually it has everything to do with why I bought a home.  And now is the time to tell you ...

In 2003 I won a luxury minivan in a Chrysler sweepstakes.  I sold it and used it as a downpayment on my house.



2003 was a challenging year for me.  I had to take a leave of absence from work and become a temporary caregiver to my nephew.  I don't see it as a coincedence that in the same year, I won a prize minivan in a sweepstakes.  It was a much needed blessing.  God's gift!

But He didn't wrap my gift up with a pretty bow and hand it to me on a silver platter. Selling the van, buying a home, and fixing my home was all brand new to me.  I never done anything like this before.  It has been extremely difficult and very time consuming. The real blessing wasn't the sweepstakes prize.  It was what I learned from what God's given me.  I learned so much about myself.  I learned that I'm physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of much more than I thought.  The real blessing was how this journey made me a stronger, wiser person.  This experience has really made me come to believe in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."


Here is one final video ...



This is my last post to my house blog.  It's time for a new chapter in my life!  No... forget the chapter.  I'm gonna open up a whole new book!

I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me next!!! :)

To my loyal readers: Thank you for letting me share my experience with you all! It's my hope that this blog has inspired you to keep your faith strong and recognize your own blessings in your life that God has planned for YOU. 

God Bless!
~Sherry