Interrupted Life

It is amazing how something like fixing a problem in the house can just take over your life.

It all started with me just thinking that I'd love to have some crown molding in the living room. The other problem was a crack in the dining room ceiling, which led to replacing that very old sheetrock.


Well, the living room ceiling was just as old, and it became obvious to me that it was silly to spend all that money having crown molding put in the living room and then possibly having to take it all down to replace the ceiling.

Yesterday the BIG day finally arrived, and after all the weeks of trying to fix stability problems and raising the living room ceiling, MCM started the crown molding in the living room.

It was a moment to savor, and I certainly was there to take a picture as the first pieces were put into place. I told him that this is what I'd asked him to do in the first place and he could now consider himself 'back on the clock.' He smiled. It's a good thing he has a sense of humor.

I'm not sure if mine is still intact or not. As I said earlier, my life has been interrupted. Nothing much has been the same. I've pretty much been a prisoner of my living room and the mess in the house. I have painting to do too, so am not free yet. Somewhere along the way, my humor has shifted a bit. I think I'm just tired, and when one is too tired to get out of a chair at night, one is too tired to try to fire up a little humor.

At any rate, things are coming along. There is painting to do today. I need to get busy and paint woodwork. I've done some prep work on that, so am going to try to get some real paint on the woodwork. I did paint the walls.... two coats... over the weekend. It almost killed me, but I got it done.

I do believe I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. MCM should be finished today or tomorrow, and then he will haul all his stuff away and leave me to put my life and house back together. I will admit that I'm going to miss watching him work wonders. He really is an artist with his craft, and I love to see what he accomplishes.

I must be off and getting on my nasty paint clothes. I've got to work. If I'm ever to return to normal, I have to take charge and get busy. I want my life back.... soon.

Coming Along

MCM (Master Carpenter Man) has arrived early every day since Oct. 1. This started out about getting a little crown molding. We've been through this before.... a project gone wild.

At this point, the sheetrock is all up, mud and sanding has been done. MCM is doing a last cleaning here before starting more painting.

I think I'm beginning to see that light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, he is leaving me to do the final painting of the walls and the woodwork. I did beg him to cut in around the new crown molding before he leaves. Actually, I mentioned it quickly in passing yesterday, and today he suggested that he might cut in around the new molding with the wall color for me. I just love subtle suggestion.

Yesterday the sanding dust was thick in here again. I truly hate it when he has to sand. It isn't so much the mess as knowing that he is having to breathe that dust. Terrible! Of course, he has a mask, but that dust is everywhere...

Although yesterday's dust was not as bad as before, I did feel sorry for him. When he was finished sanding, I poked my head in the living room and asked if I could bring in the Shop Vac.

Although I'd intended to just help a little, my question was met with his face lighting up like a beacon. He said, 'Do you want to clean up?' Good grief NO, I don't want to clean up!! The floor looked like freshly fallen snow. The air was thick with dust. Now, why would I WANT to clean up?!

The problem was that the 'sorry for him card' had been played, and I just couldn't refuse to go in there and clean up. So I said, 'Sure, I'll clean up." At that, the man made the fastest get-away one could imagine. He practically ran from the room, picking up his lunch box on the way. I was left holding the Shop Vac and wondering how I could have gotten into this mess.

Grace had called earlier in the afternoon with an offer of stew. It was a cold day, and stew looked awfully good at this point, so I put down the Shop Vac and fled the scene myself.

With a full tummy and knowledge that I MUST clean that dust packed room, I returned and swept on into the night.

Of course, MCM came in this morning, grabbed the sander and 'touched up' a few spots. Then he took the Shop Vac and did it all again. MEN!

Here Today

Today we are here. I'm the observer, MCM is the one working. Occasionally I snap his picture to make sure he has enough light in the attic to work. Actually, he has learned to ignore me.

I had some insulation left over from stuffing it in the walls downstairs. So.... what do you do with left over insulation? Of course, you insulate.

MCM was a tad unsettled about having those big white rectangles of insulation just plopped on top of the rafters. He said they just didn't look right.


Actually, I had those laid in the attic as insulation when the ceiling was dropped as didn't want anything shot down into the space between the old ceiling and the lowered one. As it turned out, shooting something into that empty space would probably have landed the ceiling on my head. I'm glad I checked with MCM before doing such a thing.

So... MCM took the left over and nicely fitted it in over most of the new ceiling area. I think it made him feel better. He also put the white on top of it, so had to remove the 'vapor barrier' on the white. That meant I had MCM Droppings in the attic and had to bag those to take to the trash. I did put my camera down long enough to do that job. One thing is for sure, I have insulation over the living room!!

MCM is going to start sanding this afternoon. Now, that is a messy part of this sheetrock and mud process. Major MESSY! I'm not looking forward to it. I'm sure it isn't MCM's favorite job either. At least I can escape and hide somewhere. He is stuck in there with mud dust flying everywhere. We'll put a fan in the window and point it outside. I hope the fire department doesn't show up.

I've got to go get extra stuff out of the living room so MCM will have less to manage when he starts sanding.

A Continuing Saga

I was so excited the other day as thought that Sheetrock Mud Day was at last here. WRONG! MCM arrived and started digging holes in my current sheetrock.

Then he did THIS! He decided it would be easier to just put new sheetrock over the fireplace. Granted, there were problems there... big problems. So.... my dreams of mud went out the window for the day and he dug holes in my walls and put in lots of screws.



He finally left me to clean up the mess, so I swept and swept. I even had orders to take a broom and sweep the ceiling. I did that too. See how nicely I lined up his sawhorses. I'm such a peach.

I had visions again of mud coming along. I know that some day soon (soon?) I'll be back in the living room with all things new and nice. In the meantime and beyond, I have the mess. However, I'm not complaining. I'm just not the complaining kind. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.



MCM arrived and got out a mixer and attached it to his drill. Then he started mixing. I thought about what a lovely big loaf of bread could be blended with that huge mixer blade. It did my heart good to see him mixing away. He said he was going to put this stuff on all the little holes he had dug out in my walls. I just loved him for that.







Meanwhile, I'm still living with this mess, which I fondly refer as MCM droppings. His stuff is everywhere.... EVERYWHERE!

I understand... I really do. There are buckets, tools, pieces of cardboard, shingles, masks, sacks and cans of nails, screws, bolts, etc. There are drills, a halogen light, and who knows what else... all in my dining room. I'm not going to show you the kitchen. You'd cry!




Yesterday MCM got down to the mud business. He came really early and put on one layer. It took a long long time. Then he went home for awhile and returned in the early evening to add another layer to the ceiling. So... this is what I have now. Pretty? I guess that truly is in the eye of the beholder. At least we are making progress. Someday... whenever that is.... there will be a real room here again.

My favorite Scripture is when Jesus said that He goes to prepare a place for me. 'Thank you! Thank you!' I say. I'm NOT being disrespectful. I'm just making Him smile a little.

As for the here and now, I'm really glad to see MCM when he comes. I know he is making a mess, but it takes time to do things and do them right. He is a perfectionist, and I'm glad. I tend to just wear out and slap things together. Not MCM. He works patiently and takes things in stride. I'm sure I can learn something from that.

Building

The day has arrived and sheetrock will be going up on the ceiling. I've been so busy with doing little things around the house that I've not had time to look up, much less think about posting on a blog.

This photo is from yesterday when Master Carpenter Man was putting the finishing touches to the new ceiling support system. It has been fascinating to watch him. I've said it before, but he really is a master at his craft. He is a perfectionist and has been working at building for years. He knows how to do all kinds of home building things, and probably has done them all. I love the fact that he doesn't hurry and just slap something together. It is done right when he finishes it. He really is a finish carpenter.

I know this sounds rather bazaar, but I think I might actually miss seeing all this lovely wood framing. It is being covered as I write this. I have taken pictures at every step of the way, and I think I'm just going to have to make a little mini scrapbook of the event. It has been quite a journey.

I laugh every once in awhile and tell MCM that all I really wanted was a little crown molding in here. I'm certainly going to have that too. It is going to be fabulous!

I have a list of things I need to go do, but just had to find my blog and add a little something. I'll be back soon with updates. Riveting stuff, huh? I should be taking pictures of the other rooms with all the stuff crammed in them. I'll be washing glassware and sit-abouts from now until the cows come home. Now, there is a good old country saying.

I know that one day soon MCM is going to desert me, and I'm going to be left alone in this new room with all the wall painting to do. I'm going to be a sad sad sack. I'll miss someone who really knows what he is doing getting all this work done. Like I said, it will just be me left to my own devices. I'll have no choice but to step up to the plate and get the work done. That is a thought for another day.

Waste Not, Want Not

Daughter I-Needa has been busy changing out things at her house too. She bought this ceiling fan and light for her house when she first moved in. Having recently gotten the same fan for the guest bedroom with a different light, she found the guest bedroom light put out much MORE light. So.. she set out to replace the light in this fan too.



I do believe that I can safely say that daughter I-Needa is frugal at times. I will also say that teachers have a knack of finding multiple uses for almost any object.

Therefore, it came naturally to I-Needa to find some use for the globe covering the old fan light.

Well, Folks, there you have it: A new fruit holder and table decoration. Such elegance. Well now, you have got to give I-Needa credit for reusing and recycling. The kid is GREEN! Go, I-Needa!

I Didn't Sign Up For This!

Well, the decision was made and the living room ceiling is coming down. We've passed the point of no return, and it is going to have to be full speed ahead.

I felt a little guilty about all this extra work that MCM didn't sign up for in the beginning. I know it is just part of the process, and he really doesn't care, but I'm still dealing with a tad bit of guilt.

I therefore opened my mouth and said something like 'I'll do what I can to help.' Wrong move!!

During the dining room ceiling demolition, MCM's son was around to tote all that old sheetrock out the door to the waiting trailer. It seems that MCM thought I could help with that little chore. So...... believe it or not...... I've been shoveling sheetrock into my large blue rubbermaid tub, placing it on my dolly purchased from QVC, hauling it outside to the waiting trailer, and dumping it there. Seriously, I've been doing that! Trust me, I didn't sign up for this!

MCM hollered to me at one point and asked if I'd ever had a worker that had disappeared. I couldn't believe this khaki pair of pants hanging from the sheetrock. That's one big rag. Of course, I ran for the camera. I told MCM that he could have them if they fit. Generous of me, huh?

There was also a squirrel skeleton up there. Yuck. He made sure to point that out to me too. I let him know that I wouldn't be getting that down. It was his job! Men's work.. yep, not my job! I sure didn't sign up for skeleton removal.


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I know this really doesn't give you the full sense of the mess in the living room, but it looks mighty big to me. It manages to cover the floor. MCM has left the building to take one trailer load to the dump. I've taken the opportunity to sit down and rest a bit. My head may think I'm forty-five, but my body says 'It's a lie!' Besides, you really need to see what I've been doing today.

I really do want to make you feel good if you are reading this. You can be sooooooo glad that it's me and not you. One thing is for sure, I'm going to have the cleanest house in town when I get everything put back together. Everything is dirty, so everything must be cleaned. I don't believe I signed up for that either. As soon as all of this is done, I'm going to get a little notebook and fill it with my writing over and over 'Get no more bright ideas!'