Yesterday we moved upstairs.
Showered in our new shower.
Slept in our new bedroom.
Moving is a lot of work. We were sore and tired.
Our new curtains keep it dark in the morning when the sun hits the windows. The bathroom is a lot darker in the middle of the night, which allowed me to notice that the new doorknobs are a different shape. The new window A/C cools the room nicely. The new cabinets give us a lot more storage space so the bedroom can be more wide open. The closet is not as full because we purged when we moved out last year.
It has been a year!
Of course we were gone for six months. But still.
Now, this is us, so we still have four drawers with the wrong fronts. The grab bar in the shower isn't up yet. And the hardware on the pocket door still has to be swapped. But we still love it, and all that will be done soon. What a good word, soon.
Today, WM will pick up the last of the boxes everything came in, so even the clean-up will be complete.
New adventures can't wait. I leave (alone) for Skagway on Monday. When I get back, Peggie will have taken over the entire bathroom. I probably won't have anyplace to put my toothbrush.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Something to Write (Home) About
Eating a late lunch in Willcox, I asked Peggie how the enchilada sauce was.
She answered, "It's ok, nothing to write home about."
I quipped, "Oh, too bad, I was looking for something to write home about."
Then, at the same time, (we have been married a looong time) we both came up with the following topic.
If you read Peggie's facebook you know about our trip to place the trailer in Eagar for her summer heat-avoidance get-aways this summer. I created check lists for all of the outside duties associated with moving and setting up the trailer, and she practiced them and did all the driving from Tucson. She intends to drive to Oregon in September, where I will meet her at the end of the season.
We had time to take the scenic route on the way home today, so we headed south on US 191. It is a beautiful drive, but slow, so we only go that way when we can leave early and arrive late.
So, the topic: we were driving along, looking for wildlife, comparing the condition of the post-Wallow Fire forest to the tour we took in 2011. I noticed light precipitation floating over the cab, not quite hitting the windshield. I thought, "Snow?" So I slowed to a stop (no traffic on the road) so I could look at it. Just as I did, Peggie said, "Elk!" And there she was. A lone cow elk at the edge of the road. She looked at us, trotted 100 feet and stopped to look back. Quite serendipidous for her to be there when I was stopping anyway.
It was snow. Very light. Very tiny flakes. We were looking at the elk, but the snow was falling so lightly that we could have counted the flakes as they hit the hood. And just in time, because within a quarter mile we were out of the snow shower.
She answered, "It's ok, nothing to write home about."
I quipped, "Oh, too bad, I was looking for something to write home about."
Then, at the same time, (we have been married a looong time) we both came up with the following topic.
If you read Peggie's facebook you know about our trip to place the trailer in Eagar for her summer heat-avoidance get-aways this summer. I created check lists for all of the outside duties associated with moving and setting up the trailer, and she practiced them and did all the driving from Tucson. She intends to drive to Oregon in September, where I will meet her at the end of the season.
We had time to take the scenic route on the way home today, so we headed south on US 191. It is a beautiful drive, but slow, so we only go that way when we can leave early and arrive late.
So, the topic: we were driving along, looking for wildlife, comparing the condition of the post-Wallow Fire forest to the tour we took in 2011. I noticed light precipitation floating over the cab, not quite hitting the windshield. I thought, "Snow?" So I slowed to a stop (no traffic on the road) so I could look at it. Just as I did, Peggie said, "Elk!" And there she was. A lone cow elk at the edge of the road. She looked at us, trotted 100 feet and stopped to look back. Quite serendipidous for her to be there when I was stopping anyway.
It was snow. Very light. Very tiny flakes. We were looking at the elk, but the snow was falling so lightly that we could have counted the flakes as they hit the hood. And just in time, because within a quarter mile we were out of the snow shower.
Friday, April 4, 2014
The Remodel is done....except for the hem.
The contractor cleaned up and left today.There are four drawer fronts still to be changed out. The guy came to change them, and brought the wrong ones. The electrician has to install the dimmer switches (Monday).
We take the trailer to Eagar tomorrow. Come back Sunday. We will be moving upstairs next week. We can use the shower as soon as we hang the curtain. I used the toilet today. The mirrors are true works of art.
Whew, just in the nick of time
I leave for Skagway on the 14th.
Oh, the tiles came a day late. And two of the fifteen sheets were incorrect. Luckily, we had some of the correct ones from the original supply.
You're all invited to come see the final product.
But call first.
We take the trailer to Eagar tomorrow. Come back Sunday. We will be moving upstairs next week. We can use the shower as soon as we hang the curtain. I used the toilet today. The mirrors are true works of art.
Whew, just in the nick of time
I leave for Skagway on the 14th.
Oh, the tiles came a day late. And two of the fifteen sheets were incorrect. Luckily, we had some of the correct ones from the original supply.
You're all invited to come see the final product.
But call first.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Third setback
See how smart I was to start numbering them?
First, an update on previous setbacks.
We found that the two incorrect vanity cabinets work well to support Peggie's cutting table in the studio.
Who knew that's where they would end up? Show of hands. Yeah, you guys are all pretty smart.
We also get to keep the incorrect drawer fronts. They will make pretty shelves. Where? You know.
Today the shower floor was going in. The main floor and shower walls are all done, and gorgeous.
We were invited to come up for a look. The shower floor tiles are in 12" x 12" sheets of 1" pieces. Except some of them are not. Some of them are slightly larger, so there are only 11 pieces per row in the square foot sheet. Hmmmm. The lines don't match up. On closer inspection of all the sheets, we actually have four different lots of tiles. Different thickness, different sizes. Whoever filled the boxes didn't look closely enough.
So we went to the tile store. They looked around and found some in Albuquerque. They can be here on Monday. Sure. The tile was supposed to be done and sealed by Saturday. Soooo. We hope the tiles coming are at least all the same size. Doesn't matter which size, just all the same.
Still the carpet is supposed to be done on Saturday, anyway.
The counter top came in and is installed. There are still a few drawer fronts to be changed out. The new ceiling fan works in the bedroom.
We really want to get moved in before I leave. I want to try the new shower.
Stay tuned.
First, an update on previous setbacks.
We found that the two incorrect vanity cabinets work well to support Peggie's cutting table in the studio.
Who knew that's where they would end up? Show of hands. Yeah, you guys are all pretty smart.
We also get to keep the incorrect drawer fronts. They will make pretty shelves. Where? You know.
Today the shower floor was going in. The main floor and shower walls are all done, and gorgeous.
We were invited to come up for a look. The shower floor tiles are in 12" x 12" sheets of 1" pieces. Except some of them are not. Some of them are slightly larger, so there are only 11 pieces per row in the square foot sheet. Hmmmm. The lines don't match up. On closer inspection of all the sheets, we actually have four different lots of tiles. Different thickness, different sizes. Whoever filled the boxes didn't look closely enough.
So we went to the tile store. They looked around and found some in Albuquerque. They can be here on Monday. Sure. The tile was supposed to be done and sealed by Saturday. Soooo. We hope the tiles coming are at least all the same size. Doesn't matter which size, just all the same.
Still the carpet is supposed to be done on Saturday, anyway.
The counter top came in and is installed. There are still a few drawer fronts to be changed out. The new ceiling fan works in the bedroom.
We really want to get moved in before I leave. I want to try the new shower.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Kudos to Sears
Our truck needed new tires.
I asked the dealer to give me prices on appropriate tires for my vehicle and my usage.
They came up with three recommendations at three price points.
I went on-line to see what kind of reviews they each had. Finally, I made a choice, but Sears had the same tires listed at considerable savings. So I ordered them through Sears, to be delivered at the store for installation. Yesterday, I got the call that they were in and ready, so I took the truck and a book and went in.
Estimate: one hour.
One hour later I got "The Call." You know, the one where something has come up that will require more services and more money.
This time the problem was that the wrong tires were sent. I ordered E rated tires (10 ply sidewalls) because they resist puncture from cactus and stand up well under towing loads. They delivered 6 ply.
"No problem." The guy says, we can substitute these other tires: different brand, longer warranty, higher mileage rating, higher price.
Luckily, I'm a retired gentleman of leisure. So I say, "If you can get me those tires at the price I already paid, fine. Otherwise, let's reorder and I will come back." And I pointed out that if I was going to pay more money, I could just get the tires I wanted at the dealer. ( Another point I was considering was that Sears are located all over the U.S. and Canada making warranty adjustments easier.)
Nobody wants to lose a customer, so, deal. Better tires at the same price.
Then when I am settling up to leave, the guy informs me that there is a mail-in rebate from the manufacturer and I will get $80 back. SCORE! Their mistake gets me tires worth $130 more, at a savings of $80.
Good job Sears guy.
I asked the dealer to give me prices on appropriate tires for my vehicle and my usage.
They came up with three recommendations at three price points.
I went on-line to see what kind of reviews they each had. Finally, I made a choice, but Sears had the same tires listed at considerable savings. So I ordered them through Sears, to be delivered at the store for installation. Yesterday, I got the call that they were in and ready, so I took the truck and a book and went in.
Estimate: one hour.
One hour later I got "The Call." You know, the one where something has come up that will require more services and more money.
This time the problem was that the wrong tires were sent. I ordered E rated tires (10 ply sidewalls) because they resist puncture from cactus and stand up well under towing loads. They delivered 6 ply.
"No problem." The guy says, we can substitute these other tires: different brand, longer warranty, higher mileage rating, higher price.
Luckily, I'm a retired gentleman of leisure. So I say, "If you can get me those tires at the price I already paid, fine. Otherwise, let's reorder and I will come back." And I pointed out that if I was going to pay more money, I could just get the tires I wanted at the dealer. ( Another point I was considering was that Sears are located all over the U.S. and Canada making warranty adjustments easier.)
Nobody wants to lose a customer, so, deal. Better tires at the same price.
Then when I am settling up to leave, the guy informs me that there is a mail-in rebate from the manufacturer and I will get $80 back. SCORE! Their mistake gets me tires worth $130 more, at a savings of $80.
Good job Sears guy.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
When the unusual happens...
I have to write about it.
I adjusted the timer on the drip irrigation system today to account for our warm, dry weather and walked around the yard to assure that all the plants were getting watered. I spotted what looked like a small bird carcass and went to pick it up. But it wasn't a bird carcass. It was a FISH carcass. I guess it was a sand trout who accidentally surfaced in my yard and got confused by the fence and couldn't get out.
I adjusted the timer on the drip irrigation system today to account for our warm, dry weather and walked around the yard to assure that all the plants were getting watered. I spotted what looked like a small bird carcass and went to pick it up. But it wasn't a bird carcass. It was a FISH carcass. I guess it was a sand trout who accidentally surfaced in my yard and got confused by the fence and couldn't get out.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
First and second set-backs
Notice I am numbering the set-backs.
Cynical? Nah, realist.
The painters took two days, one to prime, and one to finish. Looks good.
The cabinetry came. The fronts are natural hickory with knots and grain showing. Very pretty.
But.
The drawer fronts are the wrong style. We are told the correct fronts will be sent, no cost to us.
The sections of the vanity that fit under the sinks were supposed to have a cabinet above a drawer. They came with a drawer above the cabinet. Won't work, because the sink drops into the drawer. We are told that the correct models will be sent. Not only no cost, but we get to keep the errors.
One of them can be used when we get around to remodeling the downstairs bathroom, and I am sure we can think of a way to use the other one. At least we will store it somewhere until we figure it out.
We don't know what kind of delays this may cause, but we hope it can be resolved in the two weeks it will take to get the vanity top made.
We have all of the fixtures and hardware either here or on the way. We think. At least all the decisions have been made. Electrician will do installs next week.
We will be moved in by the end of the month. That is the plan.
Meantime, we have taken advantage of the dumpster bag to get rid of some of the larger pieces of junk around the house. Gee, we didn't even know we had any junk.
Cynical? Nah, realist.
The painters took two days, one to prime, and one to finish. Looks good.
The cabinetry came. The fronts are natural hickory with knots and grain showing. Very pretty.
But.
The drawer fronts are the wrong style. We are told the correct fronts will be sent, no cost to us.
The sections of the vanity that fit under the sinks were supposed to have a cabinet above a drawer. They came with a drawer above the cabinet. Won't work, because the sink drops into the drawer. We are told that the correct models will be sent. Not only no cost, but we get to keep the errors.
One of them can be used when we get around to remodeling the downstairs bathroom, and I am sure we can think of a way to use the other one. At least we will store it somewhere until we figure it out.
We don't know what kind of delays this may cause, but we hope it can be resolved in the two weeks it will take to get the vanity top made.
We have all of the fixtures and hardware either here or on the way. We think. At least all the decisions have been made. Electrician will do installs next week.
We will be moved in by the end of the month. That is the plan.
Meantime, we have taken advantage of the dumpster bag to get rid of some of the larger pieces of junk around the house. Gee, we didn't even know we had any junk.
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