Snapped.

Not me.  Although, I must be close right?

Yup.  Finally just snapped the little tab right off.

 So... that one is now always going to be in the open position.  Still haven't found out if I can buy any of the plastic bottoms to replace the ones that are gummed up....which is all of them... except two .... must go to the hardware and/or building supply shops soon.  No vehicle now...sold my old van.

Anyway... I am not going to dwell on the annoying... let's just move straight to the totally ridiculous shall we?

On Saturday, the tile setter came to grout the en suite bathroom tile.  Great. And... I  must say he did a great job.  But, in the main bathroom... he was also supposed to remove a few tiles that we had spent a lot of time carefully cutting and placing around an area that was to become a laundry chute at some future time.  However, over the past two years, we changed our minds and just wanted to tile over that area and leave a clean smooth look...and not put anything at all beside the sink. But, like idiots, thought we should let a professional cut out the tiles and repair it...especially if one was already here doing other work in the house.

During the morning, we had to leave to look at some tiles for our kitchen and left him to do his own thing.
Before we left, Mr. BV also gave him a tiny left over bag of the original grout to show him the type and colour we used when we did our own thing.... but, ... disaster, ...  we inadvertently gave him the wrong bag.

We came home to find this.... it looked like a purplish rubber next to brownish/grey grout.... it was even smooth instead of sandy and rough.















....  and he was giving us a bad time about the grout...saying we really need to use grout with sand in it...not sand free grout.  That it didn't look too bad and it was in a dark corner so it might not be too noticeable.   We just looked at each other in shock.  Yes.... we had given him the non sanded grout by mistake.... the type to be used with glass tiles.  And, remember ....this is a professional tile setter.  Why on earth would he use it?  Why?  Arrrgghhhhhh!!@#$%^

The hardware store is 3 minutes from our house.... why wouldn't the guy just hop in his van and go get the right stuff?  He could go right ahead and think we were nuts to hand him some of the wrong stuff or wonder if there was another bag of the right stuff somewhere or, sheeeeesh.... . think whatever he wanted...but, why would he use it?  How many stupid things have to continue to happen... how manytimes do I have to ask the same damn questions over and over and over and ov........ ad infinitum......

He asked if we had found tiles for our kitchen and when we told him we were going to use some reclaimed tiles...he started explaining about different sizes, thickness, etc...and how it would cost more ...etc.... we thanked him for his work and ushered him out the door.

Then.. had to make a decision.... try to dig out the grout immediately before it set ....or leave it til Sunday when it would definitely be set but at least so would the thin set that was holding the tiles in position, as he had just also done that previous to placing the grout.

We decided on tomorrow..... went down into our below ground lodgings ... poured some wine ... resisted the urge to scream into pillows or laugh uncontrollably at why or how we are cursed  .... and instead, ate a lovely meal of tenderloin ... done to perfection in my electric frying pan...on our coffee table ... and watched some Formula One racing ...

Sunday.... we took turns digging out grout.....

And, now.... it looks like this.

My hand and arm were killing me when we hit the bed last night...but, today...it doesn't feel much different than it usually does.

Tomorrow the electrician is coming to hang lights and fix things that are hanging at half mast .... (of course before the final painting is complete) .... I'm not asking.....

......and the guy is coming to measure for silhouette window coverings... which must be pretty straightforward....

I think I heard something about appliances arriving and being set up by perhaps early next week....ooooooohhh ....none too soon for me!

I hope they all heard me say I'm rooting around in my storage area looking for my Christmas tree.......

What unsticks polyurethane?

Anybody?

I tried hot soapy water...and even though they say it is water based... which I say is silly anyway..how can that protect hardwood if it is water based? .... hmmm  ... makes no sense to me but, then, I do seem to be the only logical person involved in certain conversations ..

Then I tried prying it with a knife....and hitting it with a bottle with a hard plastic lid..on the only bit that sticks up above the sliding part... and it only sticks up about 1/8 of an inch at that .... too hard to move with my fingers... it just hurts.  My thumb is good and sore now.  And, if I break it off...they are toast.  Apparently they don't even make this size anymore.  One finally moved and is now operational.  I haven't even counted how many more to go... and all but one are stuck in one position or the other.  All.But.One!

This is the problem.  Somebody in their infinite wisdom decided to stain and seal the hardwood grates without bothering to take off the plastic bottoms...which houses the opening/closing mechanism.  Soooo ... they are now stuck open ...or closed.. depending on how they were when said person took them out of the openings in the floor.

Why on earth didn't they just remove the two tiny screws that hold on the lower plastic piece.... and stain the wood separately from the plastic and then... gee..... screw back on the plastic part when things were dry?  How hard would that have been?

Is it so much to ask for a tiny bit of common sense?  And everybody seems shocked or insulted if you say anything about any of it to them.  Good grief.  Has it come to this with every darn thing?  Yes... let me just answer my own stupid question.  Yes it has Veronica.  Did you even have to ask?

Now ...I've rigged up my own little tray of tinfoil and am soaking the plastic piece in Paint Thinnner ... aka Varsol...  that outta do it.   Hate the smell...hate the fact it totally wrecks hands... which are already dry and not happy with the current cold spell... so it's all out in the garage.

Later:::::>.... well, it happened...I broke off one of the slider tabs........ and it is still not sliding .... it is still stuck in the closed position.  What next ......

it's officially winter...

....... at least it is at my house.

This morning it is -8C .....and it snowed about 6 or 7 inches yesterday .....

If it wasn't for the temperature and the snow... I would be singing that old boll weevil song....again......... "looking for home."  Anybody old enough to remember that one? .... .....  we still have no address .... no street numbers on the house.... the plate with them on it sits in the basement....along with all our other stuff....and, of course, us.  Waiting now for a much warmer day so that the rock guy can come and take off the tacky ruined chunk of hearthstone he thought we should use to put the numbers on.  Then... drilled holes into it by some unacceptable method that caused chipping and flaking around every hole for the stainless screws.  And, then.... glued, mortared and screwed it into position and then... placed rock around it.

Yep... it has to be chipped and chiseled off now...and quite a bit of rock with it.... replaced with my new idea of a metal plate which a young guy made exactly to our specs.... powder coated with a lovely matte black and our stainless numbers on it.  Then... it has to be placed, screwed into position and the rock reworked to look good around it.  And it won't be happening in this cold.

The weatherman is saying +9 C  by Monday...I sure hope he is right...... we need a couple warmer days when the rock guy can come to do the necessary stuff ..... oh, please let there be a warmer day .....soooooon........we need numbers.  It is the law....they must be displayed....

a week zipped by..

it's Monday....again......

The weather has taken a drastic turn.  A few days ago it was fall......

now......it's winter...

-5C .....

snowing lightly......

Won't be using the Barbie''''.... I'll be 'toaster-ovening' some chicken.... that little guy works great.

Guess we can put away the patio furniture ...
Looked out the basement window and saw the spruce decorated with snow and pretty red leaves that had blown into it from the Mayday tree....which is now naked after some cold and blustery winds...

Not long now til we decorate our indoor trees ....

hmmm....lots of swearing going on upstairs...hope it looks better than it sounds when it is all done.  The finishing carpenter is up there ..... sawing, hammering and of course, swearing and grumping.... not many people sing, whistle or hum while they work do they?  Maybe they all need an attitude adjustment...or ...a new job.....

In floor heating..

...   in the ensuite bathroom.  The tiles were laid yesterday and Saturday.... but, now the room is piled high with doors, a bathtub and the surround for it ...some shelving and oh, yes... sandpaper.  Sandpaper for the big sanders....

The hardwood (which is everywhere except the bathrooms) was given a first sanding today.... then, coated with filler and the second sanding is underway.

WOW.   I was a total skeptic when the contractor told me the hardwood sanding would be "dustless".  Yeh...right ...and I'm the Queen of the Nile.  I can't remember my exact words...but, they probably were more or less that...or maybe shorter four letter ones....can't say for sure.

Well....it is.  Dustless that is.  Totally.  I'm still in shock.  And, I love it.
                                                           

The sanders have big bags on them...... plus they are attached to long vacuum cleaner hoses that lead to this.... two vortex vacuums.  Almost 90% goes into the small one...and the really fine stuff ends up being siphoned off into the larger one....somehow.....

Sanded entryway.. .. the old hardwood...with patched areas...

Now that I can see that beautiful wood under there all sanded and pristine, I just want to leave it like that!  No stain, no colour not even any lacquer ... it looks amazing...

But, ...colour we must.... and choose we must......drat......

Some arms...

.... and a body.... the beginnings.....

Even though I usually try to sort of get the same amount of fluff set out for arms.. they invariably end up different in size.  Now..it is a matter of adding some to one in order to get them the same size.

This little guy is not much like my others.... and I am trying a different shape and size for body and legs and arms...we'll see how he looks.  If I like it ...fine...if not.... I'll just alter the shapes.  It's all a matter of my personal preferences as I go along.  There is never a wrong or a right with fun stuff.  It just ends up being what I like at the time.  As it should.

I'm trying to begin a new little bear..

In the midst of the chaos.....  haven't gotten very far along.  Am using some lovely soft brown wool sent to me by a fellow felter in Poland in exchange for some I sent to her.  She seems to have moved on to stitching little guys from recycled sweaters.  Some of them are very cute.

Also trying to plot some new landscaping..... including moving sprinkler heads and pipes around....

Two large trees will be removed from the property first because one dwarfs the house now...and the other is diseased and damaged internally.

The electrician is upstairs ...arcing and sparking away.... getting things hooked up again...finally.  It's been a long time on temporary plug-ins...and only very few of them at that.  I don't want to stay on here long in case the power goes out totally and shuts me down.....

Going to the mall..... hahahha...and not to shop.  For some peace and quiet.  I could take the fluff with me...but, my arm only lets me do a small session anyway...not even worth carrying it over there really.  Guess my elbow is toast... forever now.  It just isn't getting any better even after a year and plenty of therapy.... no strength and no stamina for small motor movements at all it seems.  I am going to try something called an osteopath next.... some runner friends have had a bit of luck with this particular clinic.

Once upon a time ....not so very long ago....

We had a beautifully functioning sprinkler system.

This is what our yard looks like at the moment..... pretty sad .....

In 2009 we installed our own underground sprinkler system....and it works perfectly.  Let me rephrase that ...it used to work perfectly.  Now?...well, who knows....

Some of it is crushed...some dug up... most of the small spigots stepped on.  It will all have to be repaired.

I remember how excited we were the first time we turned it on and the heads all popped up and it worked perfectly.  We clapped and laughed and had a great time admiring our handiwork.

This was how pretty it looked then....


http://bumblebearies.blogspot.ca/2009/06/photo-week_15.html

Only a Decker will do...

My first little guy was a Black and Decker... and ticked on for a very long time.  So...when I saw this one on sale for only $49....I had to get him.

Easily twice the size of the original, so pretty tough to call him Decker Junior.  Maybe he will have to be Mister Decker.
There is a bump out at the back so that a large pizza can fit in there.... the rack is even curved to allow all of that.... wow....

...hahahha...and.... look....  the elements are also covered with protectors.  For $49! You would think they might all get onto that....but, even some pretty expensive ones don't have them.  I checked.  I'm sure it prevents bumping the elements when taking things in and out and also helps somewhat to protect against unfortunate spills and splatter, which in turn must extend the natural life and efficiency of the machine.   Oh, just a minute....maybe that's why nobody tries to protect things.... planned obsolescence..... our throw away society...and the almighty bottom line.   Just for that, I'm supporting Black and Decker.

I still want to be back in my kitchen though, .. with my real oven.  Hahahhaha.... right.......silly me... there is no oven....and the place still looks like this...so ...not for a few weeks yet ... I guess .... looks like it will be close to tree trimming time as I suspected.

Good thing Decker makes great muffins.  I may even have to mix up a batch of no knead bread.... that will keep a fairly low profile ... and try baking a small amount....I bet it will work..... ooooh, yeh....fresh bread.  That'll be great to smell...as long as nobody sprays any more lacquer on the same day...ick..... that'd be 'orrible.....

.... look at my ingenious idea to do only one baking at  time ....

Two of the foil disposable/reusable muffin pans wouldn't fit into it at the same time...   so I cut one of them in half and put three more dollops of muffin mix into the cups  Voila.  9 smaller muffins at one time...don't want to overfill the cups and cause havoc with the top elements when they rise.

As you can see....the centre row gets a wee bit browner than the rest...but, ..eh..... it's all good.  Greg likes them a bit browner anyway....and if I want the others brown....just pop out the middle row of muffins and put the rest back in for a few more minutes.

Strawberry Lemon Muffins..... mmmmm...... no painters showed up to work yesterday....their loss.....

I killed it.....

.... my poor little toaster oven.

It just couldn't handle being on at 400F for half an hour .... and then again a second time.
It was pretty tiny and old.... and, I had to do two separate bakings to use the muffin mix I had made up.

But, look at the first batch....they were great...

Quite a bit tinier than I'm used to baking...but, eh ..  ...I found some foil containers that fit the oven exactly ...so they had to do....

How I miss my kitchen and doing some proper baking....

Yesterday... instead of hanging out in the stinky, smelly garage ...cuz it was even worse in the house and basement than it was out in the garage ...I went shopping.  Bought a new toaster oven...on sale for $49.... down from $79....  the cheapest thing I have bought in the last 3 months.  There just aren't any bills that low in Reno Central, believe me.

We were forced to evacuate the premises (even had to stay in a hotel for a couple nights) by the eye watering fumes of the lacquer they were using for door and window casings..... how do they stand it, those poor painters?  And...they don't even wear masks!  NOT a good thing.  That stuff has to be totally toxic.  It doesn't seem to bother anybody else quite as drastically as it does me..... and I know my sister has the same problem with horrible odours ... she declared that the two of us are like the canaries of the world.... others should take heed if we begin to feel faint...or drop off our perches......

Here is the story for those who may not know about such things.

"""Life for an actual canary in a coal mine could be described in three words: "short but meaningful." Early coal mines did not feature ventilation systems, so legend has it that miners would bring a caged canary into new coal seams. Canaries are especially sensitive to methane and carbon monoxide, which made them ideal for detecting any dangerous gas build-ups. As long as the bird kept singing, the miners knew their air supply was safe. A dead canary signaled an immediate evacuation.

Even as gas detection technology improved, some mining companies still relied on the canary method well into the 20th century. Other animals were used occasionally, but only the canary had the ability to detect small concentrations of gas and react instinctively.

Today, the practice of using a bird to test the air supply has become part of coal mining lore, but the ideology behind it has become a popular expression. The phrase "living like a canary in a coal mine" often refers to serving as a warning to others. The actual canary had little control over its fate, but it continued to sing anyway. In one sense, living this way indicates a willingness to experience life's dangers without compromise."""

poor little birdies....  I bet it wasn't meaningful to them.... 

and... I don't know about the willingness to experience too many of life's dangers part either ..... especially without compromise......that just seems plain silly doesn't it? .... but, then what do I know?  I'm just a canary.

Portulaca still blooming....

and doing beautifully.....

There are dozens of tiny plants that just appeared as if by magic this year.  I wonder if it was a milder winter...or did I maybe not dig one or two of the pots much or ...what?  Anyway... they all sprouted and now..are blooming way late and looking so much healthier than the leggy and dead looking others.

I hope they all grow again next year..... this is great.

the boxes are open....

the banging, sawing and hammering began on Monday....and so far..... the cabinets are more or less getting to the finishing stage.

Not without some hiccups ....of course.  Why would they be any different than the rest of a renovation?  Or, for us... why would it be any different than every darn thing we ever order so carefully.... and finally buy.... and wait and wonder what will be wrong with it.....

The opening for the microwave.... which is in the butler pantry area..... is big enough to fit another wall oven into.  Some idiot, in his infinite wisdom... plucked some numbers out of the air I guess.... but, why?  They had the microwave and trim kit measurements and specs.  They had designs and pictures.  They didn't even choose the measurements of our oven that we will be getting in the actual oven opening...just some random measurement.  How weird.

Which will make the pantry cupboard beside it all wrong on the door faces... they will not line up to the other cupboard doors on the right hand side of the microwave...  sheeesh...now we have to decide ... with the kitchen police when they show up to do the final walk through... what will be our options to fix the problem.  My question right off the bat is ...why continue til we get the proper sized face for the microwave.  Why put all the rest of the things together at all? ...  Apparently not the way they do things.   Good grief!  why us?  Why does every single thing or service we buy have a problem?   Must be some sort of energy field or grid we live in or something.  Enough to make a person tear out her last three hairs..


The contractor, who did see our original cupboards and who commented at the time about how nice and how well constructed they were, asked us why Mr. BV just didn't build our own .....  which, if he had time or inclination any more.... would be easily as good or better...as we see now after we have torn out the ones we built 15 years ago.  Sh**!

House of Turquoise would definitely want to put up our photos if she sees this shot......  but, I do think I will be changing the colour to something a bit lighter.

And, now....back to the couch.... I am hacking, coughing and feeling pretty out of it.  My ribs are hurting already.  Got it from Mr. BV....who got it from his old boss.... who got it...well, who knows where ...but, I wish they had all kept it to themselves!

it's December ....

hhahahah...no it's not!  But, it seems like Christmas to me!  And, I want you to know that I risked life and limb clambering over plenty of "stuff" in the crammed storage space to find my tiny tree for this shot!  It just had to be done didn't it?

Mr. BV said no way will you ever find it and if you do see it...you definitely won't be able to get to it....hah!  Oh, yeh?!

Boxes were delivered.... but, they are tightly wrapped ....and then...nobody came to open them the next day or to install the cabinets inside ....sigh.

The contractor showed up later in the day and seemed surprised that I hadn't opened at least one to get a sneak peek at my new kitchen.  It is strange I suppose.  But.. with some things? ....I AM patient....  not many, but some......

As you can see, there is some colour on the walls.  They add colour to the primer coat .. so you get an idea of how it will look.  Too dark for me...too blue-ish for Mr. BV...   back to the drawing board.  Or paint chips as it were.....don'tcha hate how tiny they are ?  Who can tell what a whole wall or room will look like ....  I mean really?  Yes, you have sort of an idea...but no, not really.

Doors, casings and window mouldings were also delivered...

As you can see.....the "dust bunny" as they called her, was also around.  She vacuumed all areas to remove most of the drywall dust after the taper left.  Wow... it looks darn good in photos ... real life, ..... nyehhh.....  not so much.

Still plenty of mud, dust and stuff all around..

The hardwood has been patched in all the areas where we extended rooms and moved walls ...we pushed the walls back almost three feet in the master bedroom.........

oh, and yeh...where the kid with the skill saw got careless....

All patched areas just very lightly sanded for now....the whole floor will be sanded and refinished closer to the end of the reno.......it's tricky to keep up with the progression of steps really.... like painting a first coat before hardwood being done etc.  But.. apparently it is better to paint the primer onto the newly taped and sanded drywall...for protection during the rest of the things being done.  There will, of course, always be damaged areas that need touch up.

This area near the front door.... ..... you can really get the idea in photos perfectly.  It has always been a danger zone.

Can you notice that there is a step down from the living room onto the foyer area?  It is pretty much invisible with the grain of hardwood going in the same direction .... and several people have taken a misstep there.  So...this time we had a lighter strip of Maple wood inserted into the area,  I hope it is enough to give people the clue.  It had to be repaired anyway as we widened the doorway.  The doorway below is my hobby room.... which also now has a wider doorway and some French doors will be hung there instead of just the original pocket door.  Here is a shot of the bottom of the step.  You can see the step from the lower side no problem.......still needs a piece of hardwood inserted there as well...

.......... it continues.......................................