oh, yeah, there are pictures

the leaks, the plants, the dining room, i forgot about installing the new digital/programmable thermostat, more plants, my sister-in-law and nieces and more flower beds....

And now... in other news

After 3 straight weekends at the Lakehouse, I've managed to accomplish a lot. None of this was really on the agenda, but it got accomplished in good spirits anyway:

- Removed 2 of the 4 hornet/wasp nests on the property (need more spray)
- Cut down 99% of the "white trash weed hill/goose throne"
- Patched and skimcoated 1/2 of the dining room wall (and discovered a leak behind the other half, ugh)
- tore down part of the chair rail to remove wallpaper in the dining room and discovered that the scale of the chair rail is much brighter, more open without that piece
- removed the dangerous metal transition piece that jabbed at people's socks between the hall and dining room
- discovered umpteen leaks in the basement (now to find a way to get the plumber to call me back)
- installed new outdoor lighting along the driveway since the low-levels seem to have conked out
- installed the blue property line markers so that when the first snow hits, everyone will be able to tell what's yard and what's driveway
- weeded 1 regular sized and 1 humongously oversized plant beds
- transplanted my grandmother's memorial tree and other plants my mom gave me

In Other News

I'm the 41,315,736 richest person on earth! Discover how rich you are! >>

I've been reading a lot about growing up and going green (in particular on Greeen Sheeep) and this one site made me really stop and think. I guess I could be one of those APLS (Afflent People Living Sustainably), I just didn't feel like I was. It is always something at the back of my mind that I am procrastinating toward, "Oh when I get myself together, I will pay more attention to my environmental impact." Ugh. I don't seem to be getting myself together any time soon. So what to do for now? Just doing the best I can. Anyway, I cannot believe how rich I truly am in the grand scheme of things....

Rich enough to be able to afford this at the very least:



Direct Link to Video

Why didn't I know about this before? I guess it's like saving money (in a savings account), it doesn't matter when you start - AS LONG AS YOU START NOW!

Things are looking up

This is my best friend's mother's apartment, which is the mirror-image and right next door to mine. She has been living without a hallway light fixture for months now, all because we got a little too excited when renovating her kitchen (the Tiffany-blue walls you can catch a glimpse of and you can see in all it's glory right here: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/february-jumpstart-2009-entries/how-to-make-over-moms-kitchen-in-one-weekend-february-jumpstart-project-2009-077319

Well, I finally decided to take matters in my own hands this morning while the painters were finishing up at my place. I used the old light fixture from my bedroom (which now has a ceiling fan!) and jerry-rigged the chandelier together using a ceiling bracket and sheer willpower....





In other news, the painters finished.

















I have new brushed satin nickel knobs and handles for the kitchen and they look divine w/the wood and new countertops. I'm still tweaking the layout of the bathroom tile, but it's coming together.

It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for the mind and the soul.... I'm ready to sell this place for a profit and move on to bigger and better things (that purr and woof).

Picture updates

If it's not one thing....

....it's another! Now that the holes in the walls are patched and primed - which was news to me, they never primed after patching before - they decided to slop the gray primer on my brand-new light switches/outlets :( UGH! So frustrating when I could have removed them, but since they have never bothered to paint after patching before.... just frustrating.

Then, of all things, the kitchen P-trap drain elbow split in half on me. I was simply investigating to see what the hold-up was as I'm guessing the workers dumped drywall dust and debris in the sink.... then the P-trap split - water everywhere. This is not the first water damage to sully the under-sink cabinet, but damn. Just not what I was trying to focus on as the real painters are coming tomorrow!!!!

At least with all of these headaches, I am finally looking forward to getting it done and over with.

Updates:

COOP:
1. Plumber to fix kitchen sink and bathtub CHANGE to Bathfitter October 13th
2. Electrician to fix outlet in living room
-Move kitchen cabinets to Left Side CHANGE to add base and upper cabinet in left corner October 13th b/t 3:30-6 and flip refrigerator
-Remove tile from bathroom walls CHANGE to Bathfitter October 14th
3. Plasterer (Mom) to fix walls in all rooms (unpainted walls & ceilings)
4. Sheet vinyl for bathroom and kitchen floor CHANGE to mend tile in bathroom (OCTOBER 9th, ebay) and kitchen (need propane or dry ice) CHANGE to mend hole in floor and put down a thin vinyl (bought 7/25) that won't go too far above the surface
5. Countertop for kitchen - 6 foot and 8 foot -Strip window and door in bathroom
-cut counter for sink and for stove island & install
6. Paint trim (satin) and hall(s)(linen) and Kitchen
-Faux glaze paint over patches CHANGE TO HIRE PAINTERS TO PAINT ENTIRE APARTMENT 7/25 - hired for Aug. 19th
- Workers need to patch up the gigantic holes in my living room before I can sign the contract
-Paint Bathroom window and touch up radiator with rustoleum satin white
7. Replace toilet to 12 inch. model
8. Spray range, hood and fridge
9. Install hardware in kitchen
10. Add trim or shim up the cabinet to meet the new cabinet height
11. Install toe-kick under kitchen cabinets
12. Install ceiling fan in bedroom
13. Fix kitchen sink/drain

Cool Breeze

On the rocks

We are halfway home, folks. I didn't have candelabra lightbulbs, so just the fan is installed. It's making a ticking noise, so I'll have to investigate further before the final reveal....

All in all? Pretty damn proud of myself.