We're Talkin' TIRED

This is such a job!

My muscles ache, I'm bruised all over (amazing how carrying boxes can make bruises - oh, and the falling off the make-shift ladder too), and just plain tired. This is putting my in early-to-bed form.

One room is essentially done, though it will change as I decide to edit out some things.



This is the living room with our old furniture and the rug that has been in storage. The dogs and cats were so glad to see this rug they acted like it was an old friend. It's a kilm with a rough, scratchy texture that I think they really like.



The little windows above the shelves are high enough to avoid the view of houses on the street below, but still give a view of the hillside across the way. Good planning, huh? I haven't hung the clock or any paintings yet. Want Scottie to see and have a chance to put in his two cents worth on where things go.



And, the view out the bigger window gives a close up of one of the big old oaks we have. Love those trees.

We have swallows that visit every evening. I wonder if we built in a traditional flight path of theirs. . . . Ellie Cat sits in this window and almost drools.






Getting that room in shape meant putting everything in this room - the tiny den! It's so crowded anyway with Scottie's oversize desk, then I add boxes and art work and it's a mess. That's on my Monday night list. I had forgotten how much art we have, both mine and that of "real" artists. (Wonder if I'll ever think of myself as a real artist???) The two paintings you can see propped up to show a drop by visitor are mine. The small one on the left is a New Mexico scene of big rock bluffs. On the right is an old, decrepit car that was down the road from where we lived in New Mexico. Funny how I've brought parts of New Mexico with me.


And, you might wonder WHY I would put up a photo of bags of garbage in our driveway. . . . Well, this is a story unto itself!

At the little rental cabin we have the neighbor from hell. He and the landlady had a running battle of his creation for decades. They've been in court 3 or 4 times and he's lost every time. Consequently, he hates everyone who rents the cabin. The driveway to the cabin is over an easement on his land that pre-existed these two owners. He's done all he can to force them to give it up, block access, you name it. On our big moving day, he elected to park his van partially blocking the drive. We could get down it, but a big truck couldn't, and no one could use the circle drive. He's just a dream.

Well, we have the rental through end of the month. Scottie worked his butt off making it super clean, etc. When he was done he put these three bags of garbage (mostly paper towels etc., from cleaning) at the end of the cabin's portion of the drive, where the garbage has gone the whole time we've lived there, where it's supposed to go, where the garbage company does the pick-up, well, you get it.

So, Friday AM, Scottie is out and about on his part-time job and I'm outside trying to keep our front area from looking like a recent arrival from the hills of Tennessee, and I hear a voice yell, "here's your garbage, Garbage," (or maybe he said trash). I looked up and there are Richard and his handyman throwing these bags into the end of our driveway. In itself, the garbage is no big deal. Pick-up here is Monday, and the bags will go away then. The big deal is that Richard has gone to the trouble of finding out where we moved and is continuing his harassment here! He was horrible when we lived next door and kept escalating to the point of threatening. Like most bullies, when we quit being nice to him under the old flies/honey theory and starting pushing back, he quit. Guess he thought the rules changed when we moved. Problem is he's truly threatening at times, reputed to have quite an arsenal, kept a surveillance camera pointed at our parking area next door to him - spooky.

So, I've made a report with the local Sheriff. They took it quite seriously and suggested that his following us to our new home is a bad sign and that I should get a restraining order. That way, if he shows up here again they can charge him with violating a court order AND make a case for stalking! Lovely. So, I'll be traipsing off to the local court house Monday or Tuesday.

Keepin' on keepin' on

What a job!


The living room is starting to take shape, but as you can see, there are still a lot of boxes to go. The old oil lamps are mostly from my Mom. The spittoon (brown pottery piece on the second left-hand shelf) was my grandfather's, and yes, he did really use it.

In the top right hand corner you can see my turned wooden bowl that I got from a Three Rivers artist.


Our room is very quiet and peaceful. These windows have a mostly westerly exposure and need to have curtains soon to cut down the afternoon heat. That's on next week's list.

Ellie Cat seems to be claiming this as her spot.

(FYI, dogs use the last name McArthur; cats don't recognize a pack so remain Lucy Cat and Ellie Cat. It's only logical.)


The new sofa sleeper in the den. Luckily our neighbor Bill just happened to be visiting his lot and was agreeable to being dragged into the "favor" of helping Scottie unload it. It's been years, no decades, since I've owned one of these, and they are still just as heavy! We did want to have something for ground floor sleeping space, but won't be able to open it while it's sharing space with Scottie's BIG desk in the den. Hopefully it won't take too long to get his office done. Just need power and phone to that building.





Dogs are loving it. Cocoa, aka The Spook, still has issues with the dog door but is getting better. They also are on a 5:30 rise and shine schedule! In the cabin, where the bedroom got no AM sun and the place as a whole was dark, they'd sleep in. Not here. At least not yet. Cocoa won't go downstairs until we are both up.












Buck, being Buck, is quite content. He's just an easier dog. Cocoa's inner puppy was definitely damaged by whatever happened to her before she came to live with us. Happily, Buck does return after all of his jaunts. Wasn't sure he would. Most folks in this area let their dogs roam. While we don't plan to do that unless we are here, it's nice to be able to let them have that freedom. The kennel is there for when it's needed.



And Scottie? Well, along with cleaning the cabin and trying to get all the spiders out - OK, kill them - he's watering the driveway.

He not being obsessive/compulsive, OK he is that, but not in this case. We had road base delivered to repair the Fed Ex damage and the water helps it to compact. Sorry for the quality of this photo. I took it through an upstairs window with a screen in it.










Yep, we are in and caught up in the process of unpacking, making this place a home, and finding the things that need to be fixed in the new house. Do they still call that a "punch list" in the construction industry???

While I remain very happy with this house over-all, I'm quite disappointed in some of the simply careless things we've found. The latest, and worst, is the plumber's return Tuesday to fix the hookup of the washer. While here he elected to re-check the other appliances, I'm sure so he wouldn't get called back again. Good idea, except he screwed the dishwasher into the cabinets more tightly - BUT not properly. Managed to affix the top drawer, with dishes in it, to the cabinet in a way it won't open and I'm afraid will have damage to the finish when they figure out how to free it!

I keep telling myself that I have confidence in George that all this stuff will be taken care of, but it's impossible not to be disappointed in things that are simply careless and/or stupid. Example: the little window in the shower of the master bath is the one place where the covering for the crank mechanism that opens and closes the windows is missing. Wouldn't you, if your business was miles and miles from the house, check that before you leave; and, wouldn't you be especially careful of that in a shower where moisture is obviously an issue??? I could go into a "what is the world coming to" rant, but I'd end up sounding my age. Can't have that.

The move from - that really hot place!

What a few days we've had! And, it ain't over yet.


Here's George after turning over keys to yours truly. There are still some small things to be taken care of, but we have a good, trusting relationship built up and no doubt all will be taken care of.





Buck, ever the helpful soul, could tell how hard I was working packing up an decided to pitch right in.


Our movers nearly bailed out on us mid-job. They loaded everything from our storage unit, but when they got to the little cabin and saw the horrendous access issues their first response was that they simply wouldn't do it! Great. I nearly cried.




But, we all took a step back and several deep breathes and decided to make it work. Steve, on the left, and Johnny, on the right, came back for day two with 2 extra guys for help, having unloaded the first batch on Saturday. They got us moved, but barely. We had them place only the biggest heaviest pieces, both to save some coin, and so they could get away in time to have some part of mothers' day free.

This lovely shot is in our living room/dining room. Cost of the move: $1000 - because of the access issues at the cabin! Not good.


But major thanks are in order that it did get done. Here they are, with Scottie of course, once all was over. Well, make that THEIR PART is over. Ours won't be for some time.









Morning one at the new house Buck decided to bolt and go visiting the neighborhood dogs. I think he found something like a leach field. This is how he came home. Yes, he had to be hosed off. At least we know he does come home. So this AM I let him have a romp before putting them in the kennel. Cocoa is completely freaked out by the dog door (even though they had one in New Mexico), so I'm guying her doggie tranks today. (For those who need it, check out petcomfortzone.com for a coupon. It's an aerosol & does work.)



This is the view from my makeshift desk, up our drive and looking at Eagle's Nest. Or maybe it's Eagle's Roost, I'll have to check. Cool breeze this AM, gorgeous views, peaceful sounds. Yep, it will all be worth it.


OH - the movers told us the cabin was totally infested with tiny, tiny spiders that have gotten into our furniture - so I bought a spray and am using it over and over and over. I am quite glad to be out of the cabin. It's in a beautiful and peaceful spot on the river, but between the access issues and the condition issues, it has been a very difficult year plus.


Stay tuned.

Fun & Games with Fed Ex

Ahhh, there's some old saying about the best laid plans. . . .

Mine were to spend an our or two at the new house this AM, come back to the cabin and pack, go back to the new house for a hopefully short time to meet Fed Ex for delivery of our new table.

Not quite what happened. For reasons that will become clear I couldn't get away from the house this AM. Then, Fed Ex had a window of 1 to 5 PM, so I waited, and cleaned, and waited and cleaned. . . .

When the FE truck finally got there, and unloaded, the next thing to happen was that the driver, Larry, got stuck. Of course, the fact that he had a tough time backing down the driveway should have been a clue.

And, he didn't have sense enough despite saying he's been driving for them for 28 years to QUIT when he started spinning and digging into the driveway.

Fed Ex wouldn't take a chance on an unknown tow service, so they called someone from Fresno to come down, an hour and a half.

I was still being quite nice to Larry, understanding, etc., until he kept whining and whining and whining about how he shouldn't have agreed to come down the driveway at all, it's his discretion, etc., etc., etc. , and including how late he was not going to be getting home. (Be advised that I had not talked him into driving down and he hadn't suggested that maybe he shouldn't.) I finally said, in one of those sugary sweet tones, "Gee, Larry, if it will help I'll see what I can do. My daughter (who had called while all this was going on) suggested that I just drive it out for you." (And, yes, she really had made that suggestion; not that I necessarily could have.) Poor Larry's male truck drivin' ego was shattered. He told me I really knew how to hurt a guy, but he did finally shutteth up about how bad he had it. I didn't get home until after 7 PM, and NO packing got done. And, I'll be calling Fed Ex tomorrow for some conversation about repairing the driveway.

On to other things: Scottie and Rene, finishing off the gate to the kennel. Dogs tried it out today and like it fine. We put up the portable shade thingy for them, and they seem pleased.






Then we have Sergio installing the dish for our Wild Blue satellite internet connection. Think it's going to be just fine.



Sergio has been doing this for 10 years, since the days of the BIG satellite TV dishes. He looks about 22, but that can't be right.






Pat and Barrett doing the final on the installation of our vacuum system. It works great and I love it!

P & B are a father and son team. Barrett still lives at home so spends pretty much 24-7 with his dad. I asked if they fight and he said hardly ever. Nice guys too, both of them.












Mike the plumber did us a little extra favor and
hooked up a couple of appliances for us while he was there.

Mike is a kick! He's wiry to the point of thin, smokes like a smokestack, wears his hair in a braid, and is just a super-nice guy.

He tells me he's been subbing for George longer than anyone and claims it's because George "runs 'em off."






This is Erin, who works with Mike. That tiny little spot where his arm is. . . he had the top half of his body in there! He did some tweaking of the drains for the sinks in very tight quarters.


And, we had George there along with Neil, one of the finish carpenters, and two guys from the glass company (I missed their names) with mirrors and glass doors. Everyone had questions. And THAT is why I ended up there all morning.

Then, the inspector paid us his final visit. Yes, we have an occupancy permit! Darned good thing since we have a mover scheduled for Saturday. Tomorrow, Friday, Jimmy the painter is back to fix all the dings and gouges and scratches. George will be there too. We are almost IN.

A mini-update

This hardly counts as an update, but it's all I have time or energy for right now!


This is the layout of the small kennel or dog run for the puppers' temporary outdoor area. Scottie and friend Rene' are doing a great job installing. To the left and out of the photo is the area that needs fill dirt, which is why we can't finish this off now. If we went any bigger, it would block dirt delivery when we are able to do that.

Since we are heading into hot weather I suspect Cocoa and Buck will spend most of their time indoors anyway, and the dog door is in and looking great!



And this is the door hardware
that is being put on - not what we picked! I have no idea how that happened. I'll be talking to the supplier today, and need to decide whether to be OK with this or ask for the plainer style that we were expecting. Somehow, communications were bungled.

George tells me this was a special order, and he has absorbed the cost. I'm inclined to just be OK with these door handles 'cuz I don't want him to bear the cost of something not returnable. I just can't figure out how it happened in the first place.

And, my one concern is that the dogs will be able to open doors by bopping the handle with a big paw. Hmmmm.

The satellite for our internet connection - Wild Blue - gets installed this afternoon (Wednesday); Thursday is the delivery of the dining room table; Friday is the phone turn on; Saturday we move; and Sunday the satellite TV installation takes place. Are we having fun yet? OH - am I done packing? No where close! At least we have the rental cabin until the end of May and I can got back for clothes, small items, etc., and for cleaning.

Floors are done & hood is in!

I'm not sure how late Dave worked yesterday, but the steps are done and look great.

This is looking up & shows the gate to allow us to close off either the up or down-stairs for the dogs. It's made to match the railings.




You can see the neat job on the steps too.








Looking down you get a view of the two-step landing. I like how it turned out too.

It may be that I'll put a plant in one of these corners, or maybe not.









The neat lights in the dining room look even better now that the floors are finished in that area.










Then, moving to the kitchen side of the half wall, you can see the hood over the stove top and beyond that those same dining room lights.

We still have the island covered up - did I mention it took SEVEN HOURS to put together???

Actually there are a bunch of dings and scratches on walls and cabinets. Jimmy the painter had warned me that would happen and said he would be the last contractor in the house, the one fixing everything. He was right.

I have a day-by-day list of all that has to be accomplished this week. It's Sunday night, I'm exhausted, and I expect to be more so this time next week. Stay tuned.

Closer - a week to go!

Dave the floor guy had the place to himself today. We made just a brief visit.





Here's Dave at the bottom of the steps.

He's spending a great deal of time fitting each tread and riser and it shows!

I love the play of light on the floor.







Scottie looks a bit baffled 'cuz I didn't give him time to pose for the camera. I wanted to get a shot of the newel post, the two-step landing, and the funky light.

The two lights that go up the steps have wire basket-type protectors over the bulbs, giving them a bit of an industrial funk.



We seem to have managed to combine Scottie's desire for a traditional and "comfy" home with my love of clean, modern lines, funkiness and all things not too matchy-matchy.

That meant a simple Shaker-style cabinetry design for the kitchen, black granite tile counters, and stainless steel appliances and black accents.

The built-in microwave is finally in above the oven. I opted for a micro in that spot rather than a double oven. It seems that I only use both ovens once or twice a year for holidays. I'll manage that with the electric roaster I have.


We picked up all the bathroom hardware today and will take it to the house tomorrow. Dave was to have finished the steps today, and I'm anxious to see that done.

We also chose the fabric for the banquet seats in the kitchen, and the window seat in the den. No clues 'till it's time for photos.

Monday is drywall repairs and, I think, lighting of the pilot lights for furnace, stove and water heater. Not sure what else happens then. Tuesday is the finish carpentry guy. I think Wednesday may be the day Jimmy the painter returns. Sometime the washer and dryer have to be hooked up. Then we will be ready for final inspection.

Friday will be a day of major cleaning in prep for Saturday's move-in! Sometime between now and then Scottie and friend Rene' are going to fence in a small dog area. We'll increase the size of that later, but we are just not able to do it all before moving! I have barely begun packing at the little rental. One advantage of being in a tiny space is that by far the most of our stuff is in storage and all sorts of things still in boxes. I should be able to handle what has to be done here in evenings and spare hours. Or, I could say I HAVE TO HANDLE IT! Not being ready Saturday is simply not an option. Collapse will have to wait a while.

Can we hold this frantic pace 'till 5/12???

This was yet another insane day!


We had so darned many trucks at the house it was just nuts moving things around.


This light fixture is in our den where we've gone with a slightly different look than the rest of the house. This room is more dark, cozy, etc., so the light fixture is darker too.






This fixtures is in the small downstairs half bath & an identical one is in the guest bath. It's funny how I sort of forgot what I'd picked since it's been so long. Good thing is that I still like them!







Moving to the outside, here are the lights in front:



You can't really see the fixtures well, but I like that there are three lights. They are both photo- and light-sensitive, only coming on at night and with movement. Part of California's energy conservation stuff.










This is our bedroom fan and light. I think most ceiling fans are butt ugly, but I really like this one! And, I like having a fan for those times that you don't need air conditioning but want a bit of cooling.

So, as you can see the electricians were very busy today.


The propane tank was delivered and set in place.
The garbage guys had to make an extra run to dump the big dumpster.




This is Dave the floor guy hard at work.

Dave tells me he's been doing this 17 years, and he's only 34. He's done with the upstairs now and started downstairs. Last to be done will be the stairs.










Mike the plumber was back again to put a pressure reducer on the line. We had about 180 psi on the line which Mike said would blow out interior connections. Scottie was very grateful to have the reducer on as I'd been considering it next on his honey-do list!







Oh, Monica asked for an updated photo of the fireplace wall. Here it is with the can lights above. The cans will actually end up being eyeball type when all is done, and there are shelves that fit in the side units.









And while all this was happening, these two guys arrived from Tuff Shed to deliver and set up our storage building. One more big truck in the driveway.





You can tell that these guys have done this installation thing a time or two. They drove an hour and a half, arrived at 9 AM, and had the whole thing done by 3 PM or so.








So, the little shed is in place and locked up tight. Somehow I doubt it will take us long at all to have it filled to overflowing!





And, finally, the moving and resetting of the dog gate at the top of the stairs:

The gentleman that is second from left is the architect of our beautiful stair railings and the matching dog gate. Only problem was that the gate was installed to swing the wrong way.


So, George got him back up there to re-hang it, giving me the opportunity to meet him and tell him, through his nephew on the right who interprets, just what a beautiful job I thought he'd done.

In return I got a broad smile, kiss of the fingertips blown my way and even a half bow. We may not speak one-another's languages, but we managed to communicate just fine thank you!

Fast and Furious

Check out this cool light fixture in the kitchen eating area - it has a counter weight that allows it to go up and down!


There were so many trucks at the house this AM that they had to move them, shuffle them around, etc., to make room.


Bob Kellogg and boys were there struggling to get the skid-steer onto their trailer to take it away. Not an easy task since it won't start, but they got it done.

These three lights will hang above the long dining room table, which (by the way) is shipped and on its merry way to us right now.

This is my touch of funky-modern in a traditional/farm house.


Dave was working on floors, two guys from the electrician's hanging fixtures and making outlets "hot", George doing what George does, Scottie putting in our mail box, and yours truly taking photos. BUSY.



This fixture hangs above the old bathtub. The crystals on it came with it, and I'm going to add just a few more off my friend Yvonne's fixture. Other parts of that fixture are being salvaged for other uses!



So, I'm scurrying around with camera in hand, probably in everyone's way, but I did take time to run the weed whacker until my arms couldn't take it any more.







These lights are in the same bathroom in the vanity area.



Are you seeing the vision yet?










Meanwhile, Scottie is up at the end of the driveway digging a hole and putting in the post for our mail box. Hard work.











But, a great result.


Mr. Goofy has lost so much weight with his bike riding that his shorts were falling down. So, he pulled them up to look like high water shorts. Lovely.

And finally, another Bob Kellogg touch:

I finally wore out from the weed stuff and had to go back to our rental for a nap. When we went back up to the house, Bob had added a 2007 silver dollar to the top of the bench. What a perfect way to commemorate the year the house was built!!!



How totally cool is that???

Some folks have a true generosity of spirit!

Bob Kellogg has finished his latest job for us, beautifully as is to be expected. Not expected but a wonderful surprise and gift is this rock bench! Wow!

The small retaining wall will mark the edge of our front yard, kept deliberately small 'cuz we've got better things to do than mow grass.

The bench and surrounding mulch were a gift from Bob, Jeff and Steve. I am THRILLED.

Here we have Bob on the left; Steve, his nephew; and Jeff, his son.

I'm told the two boys did the actual building of the bench. Good training these young men are getting, not just in rock work but in work ethic, honesty and generosity.


In the midst of this, the Kellogg crew had yet another misfortune. The injector pump (see, I can learn these mechanical terms) on the end loader died, meaning no diesel can get to the engine. Major oops. Bob promises me that this series of less-than-wonderful-accidents won't keep him for doing another job for us!

Here we have Scottie, the man in my life (well, except for Buck our boy-dog) posing atop the other wall the Kelloggs just finished. Once we have more dirt brought in, this will be the location for our future carport. To the left is the back porch.

Also out in this general area will be the fenced part of the yard dedicated to Buck and Cocoa. We aren't sure yet exactly how it will lay out, but puppers have to have their space.



And, the wood floors have started going down. This is in the master bedroom. We picked a rustic look so any additional distressing caused by our critters or ourselves won't look out of place. This flooring also has both lights and darks, and I'm hoping a mix of woods and finishes will work well.

I'm not one that likes things all matchy-matchy. I like to mix stained pieces and painted pieces, old and new, light and dark, etc.

We are getting there!