A BIT OF CARPENTER WORK

We started yesterday out with a bang!  

Bill hefted the large sectional up and out of the way so I could finish the baseboards!  Remember I did the rest of the house several years ago (2021) but couldn't move the big stuff at the time and did what I could reach but the time finally happened to get the whole job done!  

I worked behind one section and when I had finished, 

Bill moved the other half out of the way-

and I finished that side!  I will note, the nail gun was a huge time saver and I wish I had one when I did the other 8 rooms and 2 halls but hey, now this room is really done and

 It was also good to get to clean under the sectional 

and find all kinds of kid toys and cat toys! lol

As long as I was in the sprucing up mode, I spray painted this old table that had lost its coloring.

I even cleaned both sides of the heavy glass top and set it back in place!  Overall, it felt good to get the room put back in order and know that it is done deal!

Now the only place in the house that needs finishing, is the wall behind my huge and heavy king-size bed/frame

 but that will be saved for another day!

 

TRYING TO BE UPRIGHT

It is hard to build up some stamina after being in bed for so long.  My headache has lessened but not gone away, I am trying to learn to function with it like I had to do with the MS symptoms when  they moved in.  Anyway, I have new furniture for the lanai so I tried to sit and start putting some together yesterday.  Nyki was a lot of help, as usual!

I managed to get the coffee table screwed together before I was done in--45 minutes, a record! lol

Bill is digging up the plants from the open areas and we will be cementing them closed-maybe Friday!

While removing the plants-we saw quite few lizards--and even these baby ones--he is only 1 1/2' long!

I made these two octopi--at first glance they look similar in size but---

when you see them on the shelf, you can see the differences!  (didn't you love to find the 'differences' on the pages in Highlights magazines when you were a kid?!)

WATERCOLOR AND A FINISH!

Continuing the landscape series, I tried to paint some mountains.  These are pretty low in elevation but I will tackle mountains again.

And the doors came in and our contractor gave up his day off to work to install it today and just like that....it is finished!  I will really miss the noise, dust, smells and mess.  Not!  

 

SHOPPING FOR MATERIALS-

The men finished their work and took down the plastic which had covered everything BUT the cement dust was everywhere anyway! (it could've been a lot worse, I know!) I had to empty the linen cupboard and wash all the linens .  The medicine cabinets had to have all of the meds removed and cleaned.  I then waxed each cupboard to let the wood get a good drink!  That should be all of the super mess for this project!  Today, we will meet the contractor to purchase the supplies he needs to start the building of the walk-in shower!

I loaded up this QOV that a local woman made-I get to do the stitching!  I am getting a lot of tops done so that there is a frame-queue again! Today at quilting group, I will be making some more of the patriotic star blocks for my table runner.

 

PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE!

We have several stalks of bananas growing again! 

 These will be ready around August.

My lilies are blooming again!  So tall and ellegant! 

 So while it is pretty on the outside....

the master bathroom looks like this! 

 We have hired a man to rip out our fiberglass insert shower.

The plan is to make this a walk-in, tiled shower with glass doors.  He will build a shower seat and two niches for shampoo, etc. 

He will also install wall grips.  

We need to plan on making this safer as we age!

 The downside is that it will take a couple weeks to complete! 

 I had to move out of my own bathroom! lol  

It will be worth it! 

 Can you say excited?! 

Today,  I'll be quilting on the other end of the house they remove the insulation and chip out the cement slab so that it will slope

to the lowered drain.

 

Out and About

I went for xrays of my hand and feet yesterday for the 'proof' of psoriatic arthritis then a doctor's appointment after that--it is tiring to be out and about!  I have this new kit to tackle for the Moroccan Afghan and I can't wait to dig in!  This installment is to add triangles on each side so that it is a square in a square--it should prove interesting to learn how to make the shaping on each side!

I only did a little work on the house--I framed in the attic access in the dining room.

 Here is what it looked like before I framed it--just 4 long screws to hold the 'door' in place.  This is one in the hall and I will make the frame for this one today so that area will be completed.  I might mention that working on the floor (bending over and kneeling) isn't a ton of fun but I will do that any day compared to working over my head!!!!  Wow, is that awkward and uncomfortable!

I will get to that dress today and load the Dreamscape Window top on the quilt frame!

What will you be doing?!

A NEW PROFESSION!

I had to move all of the furniture in the guest room so I could install the baseboards-are you tired of the theme I have lately?!  I'm on a roll and only have two more bedrooms and then my studio and I will be done! lol

I pushed everything to the middle and just barely fit myself around the edges so I could do the nailing 

and measuring of those pieces!  

The room is 16" x 12" with only one closet door to break up all of the lines;  much easier than the hall!

Once I finished moving things around for a new layout, 

I did a lot of dust bunny removal and a good clean

 as long as I was making a 'new' room!  

This is my hope chest bought for me 45 years ago by my husband;  I added a thick cushion to the top which is held in place by elastic casing around the edge of the cover.  It makes a good window seat!

After 56' of baseboards, the only place you really see them is on the walk in and by the window seat!  

But I know it's there! 

The moon was fantastic on the drive home from church last night but it was hard to see through our headlights.

I changed my phone to night vision and for a split second, Bill turned out the headlights and I caught this fantasy view !  Cool!  Once home, I walked all around the yard trying to get a view I could get a photo of but it was doomed-we have too many trees on our south side.  If I wake up at 3am, I might add a new photo here:

I did unwind with a bit of knitting and a good YouTube lesson for water coloring...I have the urge to paint again  but not until the baseboards are finished!

 

Momentum

I was frustrated because I kept leaving my tools where they weren't convenient;  and sometimes way in the garage when I was back in the house!  I almost called Bill, who was in town for errands, but thought I didn't need to do that-

I could sew my own tool apron!

It fit well with the little bit of elastic in the front keeping it securely in place even when loaded up!  It sure was nice to have everything right where I was every time!  The center was full of the nails I needed and I daresay, I worked much more effectively!

In fact, I finished all the fussy cuts for the quarter round pieces--see all of the angles?!  Might I add that houses do NOT have square angles anywhere! lol

While I was working away, Bill was having a very different adventure; on the way home, his truck engine blew a rod right out the bottom!  A friend saw him pulled off to the side of the road and gave him a ride home to await the towing company who brought the truck along much later. 

 What a very sad event! 

Whenever we think of going to only one car, a day like Thursday arrives with both of us having dr appts but at the same time in two different towns! 

 Nope, not ready yet to be a single vehicle home yet.

And I did finish the binding on the latest QOV-what a good feeling to see a completed quilt!

 

Fixing Things

I did a bit of sewing this morning;  all of the setting triangles are sewn in and rows are being joined!

I ripped out the last two rows and made the long white posts stand up straight!

And then Bill joined me to work on the baseboard! I can't believe how it finished the room!  It matches the flooring and cupboards beautifully.  

Sigh with exhaustion--we had a bit of trouble with our 45* cuts but think we have it down now--since we have the whole house to do, we will have lots of practice!  Super was late but welcome.

 I ripped out the first start on this sweater because I realized the problems I was having with gauge was because I bought the wrong yarn!  I bought DK but needed Worsted Weight!  I love the new quicker delivery process from Webs--new yarn is here and I will start over today....

Baseboards and Quilting Corners!

Yesterday was another day we were away from home most of the day.  We stopped at Home Depot and bought a ton of baseboard and quarter round so I will finally have some in each of my rooms!  Guess what I will be doing for a few hours each week!

I also had a doctor's appt to take care of a suspicious 'spot' on my arm (froze it off) and to discuss my swollen and painful hands.  (will be going to a Rheumatologist to discuss Psoriatic Arthritis) but we did go out for a late lunch on the way home for a good reward.

After a rest, I did cut out the corner blocks for the Mystery QAL-don't they really set off the other blocks!?!

I can't wait to add them to the rows and get this top done and on the frame!

I also finished the center medallion on the crocheted afghan.  I don't like the way my front posts lean back on each side except the one on the right so I will be ripping out this morning and setting them level!  I sure have gotten my mileage out of these 17 rows! lol

 

One More Big Sleep...

I painted the other end of the shuffleboard...

taping it first took the most time!

Once finished, I enjoyed painting and sealing the purchased bird house and then I sprayed the one I built; 

 I will show it hung up tomorrow.

I took a half log and loaded it on the lathe

 to make a grapefruit bowl.

It had some of the beautiful orange wood, too,  It so nicely;  it felt good to take 20 minutes of leisure at the lathe again!  The work is almost done----my parents are coming for a visit, being accompanied by my sister and her husband!  It has been 17 months since I have seen them! 

 I can't wait to sit and bask in their company-in person!

 

A Day of Painting....Again!

My friend and I started right in for our marathon of painting for the final time!    Goodbye golden yellow, hello sage green!   

Hours and hours later, I have a very different dining room!

It is calmer and a bit more formal looking to me!  I need to get used to this!  I ran out of energy after the big clean-up at the end of the day and didn't have the oomph to put back a few decorations.

I did take the time to appreciate the astromeria that are in bloom!  

And then I thoroughly enjoyed knitting in my recliner, cat at my side and The Desolation of Smaug on the screen.....

I have plans to finishing the 'putting to rights' the rest of the displaced items and then I will do a bit of piecing in the studio!  Nice and slow for a change!