6-24-08 Midsummer update

The flooring is done - and looks quite nice.

The office is almost done and looks quite nice.

Now, we just have to put the rest of the junk away.
sigh

A friend asked me to send photos of the office re-do. I promise that I will... as soon as I find the camera!

Gary and I went to IKEA to buy the new office furniture. We ended up buying tables (instead of desks) and two, two-drawer filing cabinets. We also bought some bamboo-rice paper curtains to use as closet doors. I must say, it all came together nicely. Now, we have to unpack our stuff and put it all away. We are getting rid of most of the computer equipment that sat on a server rack (I know - a household shouldn’t have its own server... but you know how it goes). I de-cluttered and tossed a paperbox full of old files, FAFSA applications, student loan documentation, school papers... etc. I actually burned it in the fire pit - don’t want anyone to get a hold of my personal info...

Next on the list is to figure out if we have fleas.

Yes, I said fleas.

I have done the bit where I walk around in white socks and look to see if any jump on my legs (they show up on the white socks). But nothing.

So, I bought organic flea powder and spray anyway- sprayed the mattress, couch, dog bed, curtains, and anything else that looked like it would harbor fleas. I washed all the sheets and throw blankets that were on and around the sofa. And I did the flea powder on the rug that the bed sits on... and vacuumed and vacuumed...

It was a lot of work but (hopefully) worth the effort. I did sleep well last night - didn’t wake itching with new bites. I am still itching from the old bites but that is better than old and new!

I still don’t know if it was fleas... we did frontline on the dogs and cat (we’re normally good about that but forgot to do it in May). Whatever it was, I sure hope it is gone now.

The garden looks good - lots of tomatoes on the plants. We pulled up the last of the cabbage and broccoli a week ago and Gary planted peppers in its place. I hope that by August, we will have so many tomatoes that we’ll be complaining!

The plum tree is full - to the breaking point. I think that I need to start picking plums - they are beginning to ripen. I still have gallons of plum juice left over from last year. Gary tried his hand at making plum wine to use some of it up... I don’t know how that is going to turn out.

That is it - midsummer update.

Monday - 6.2.2008

I realized that having new flooring installed throughout the house is as much work as moving.

Really

I’ve spent hours and hours packing all of our books, barware, wine, doo-dahs that we display, electronic equipment, more books, and did I mention books? It feels like I’m packing for a move, because everything actually must be moved from one room to another. However, I don’t have the benefits of moving into a new place.

Now I know why people don’t remodel as much as they do on TV. It is too much work! Even if you are paying someone else to do the remodeling - you still have to work! I thought that if you paid someone else to do the work, all you had to do is write a check, wait a few days and taa-daa... it is done!

Nope

Wrong-o

I get to work.. and worry that the work won’t be done in time....

And where am I going to put the piano?