The end of October 2016

When I clicked on the "weather" button on my phone 72 came up.  I looked outside and the sun was bright and the wind was calm.  My tennis team has it's first match this afternoon.  I have only been able to round up 8 players and of those 3 are out of town this week.  I need 6 for the 3 matches so we asked a guy to just play today.  I played once, Saturday, since May 14th so we will see what happens.  I will play court #2
Terry will not come to the match as she still has much pain and finds it difficult to sit or stand for any length of time.  She has PT tomorrow and we are hoping to get some relief then.
It will take me some time to adjust to Naples this season.  I am so used to just going out to my wood shop when Terry is busy or is not available but of course there is no wood shop here.  I did start a book yesterday as I did not read during the summer so that is one way to keep busy.
We did not bring our bikes down so went  on Craig's list to find one and guess what!  There is over a 1000 listed.  Did did get one yet.
No moreFP

I am in a different world

Terry and I arrived in Naples yesterday at about 2:30.  I am in a different world now.

• I did NOT dream about how to hang the bathroom door last night but instead I had visions of myself playing basketball in HS (I play tennis at 7:30 today)
• I got out of bed, opened the door and was in the living room instead of going down a long flight of stairs.
• The temp is 73 and not 54.
• In the garage is the car and not work items.
• I see palm trees and not trees that have shed all their leaves.
• When I look out the back I see a swimming pool and a pond, not a cedar tree and the neighbor's house.

I am not saying one is good and one is bad just that it is a different world!
There were difficult moments coming to Naples again.  Our friend Ben R is battling the issues of a severe stroke and we will not see him this winter.  Our neighbor Diane is battling a major health issue and we may not see her and John this winter.  A friend Bruce B died over the summer and I do not think his wife Linda will come down.  I know that we all get older and things change but this is difficult.  When I step onto the tennis court this morning for the first time in 5 1/2 months I will think about Ben and Bruce.
Our trip here over the last three days was uneventful and it went fast.  Last spring we did a camping trip on the way to MN and drove 5000 miles in three weeks.  This time we did not visit anyone or anything and we drove 1720 miles in three days--a big difference.
I know that Terry is often in much pain yet but I do think she is getting better each day.  I feel it will help to not have any steps in the house as here everything is on one level.  She will have PT Tuesday and we are hoping she can get some ideas for water exercise.  If so will will heat the pool and she can start that. 
No paper yet and I hope it arrives.  There should have been one yesterday when we arrived home but there was none.  Of course we did not know if it was delivered or not.
Enough for now as the FP is nearly gone.

YesYesYesYesYesYes the major work is done!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday PM

Tuesday Pm

Wednesday Pm

Thursday Pm

Friday PM

Saturday PM

Monday PM

Tuesday PM

Wednesday PM

Thursday Pm

Friday PM

Today

Today

Today

Today

Today

Today

There is touch up left and trim but it is a 100% functioning bathroom and we are thankful for what we were able to accomplish this summer.  The remaining work will greet us when we return in the spring.
We are bummed out as the camper is in the garage and will sit there all winter.  My main concern is getting Terry back to 100% so camping and the camper will have to wait!
When we leave Wednesday the high should be 48 and when we arrive in Naples on Friday the temp should be 86! No complaints!
Terry has one more procedure today and we are hoping and expecting that she will be fine to travel for the next three days.
I will not blog until we arrive in Naples and perhaps have played my first tennis in almost 6 months.  I am hoping that I have forgotten all my bad habits!  Do not be so negative, I can always have hope!

Ten years ago

Ten years ago I walked Cynthia down the aisle of the Cathedral. I had a smile on my face and a tear in my eye as my little girl was venturing into her own world with Michael.  The little girl who came into our lives November 1, 1980 and fulfilled a dream for her mother Gail.
Look what has happened!  Five little little ones and a sixth on the way.  They have a special house which serves them so well and as one can see it is full of life.
Happy 10th anniversary Cynthia and Michael, may today be special and the coming year bring you more life, more joy and God's rich blessings.
Love, Dad and Terry

Today is the day!!!!!

I received a call from Cold Springs MN yesterday  and the install for the vanity top is on.  Going back:

• late June we decided on granite
• early July we started looking
• about July 10th we found what we thought we would like but it was in Duluth MN
• July 13th we drove to Duluth and said we would like it
• the bath redo went on and on and on and things needed to happen in a certain order
• painting had to be done, the floor had to be in and etc before the cabinet could go in
• about July 20th we visited Paulson Brothers woodworking and decided on red birch for the wood as that would compliment the granite
• the vanity was finally put in about 2 weeks ago and we were set for the granite to go in last Tuesday BUT the slab cracked and we had to find another that was the same-a separate story
• we did that and made arrangements for Overstock Countertops to get it
• yesterday the call came that install will be TODAY
• 3+ months comes to an end

Terry has a dr appt this morning but Steve, the tiler, will be here if the granite comes before we arrive home.
I may sound a bit "over the top" with this but I have owned two houses over the last 45 years and this is the first ever "new" upgrade to a house. I have fixed, painted, repaired, did landscape and more but never have I had an upgrade to the interior of my home so it is a BIG deal for sure.  The install of the granite is huge because after that I can hang the mirrors and things will look kind of complete as the tile should be in by Friday and after that it will be putting the finishing touches on things.  NOW saying that,  I admit that finishing things is NOT my strong point so I need to push on.  I am super at ideas and starting things but to button things up and say "amen", I need to improve big time and I will. 

Day by day

Before the tile started--this was my work

The cement board went up first on Tuesday--from here on it is not me but Steve the tiler

Water proofing was next on Wednesday

Thursday was spent getting many things ready

Friday the tile was brought in and a starter board was put in

The tile started to appear Saturday.  The green markers are to flatten the tile as all tile has some unevenness to it

At this point in time Steve has put in about 22 hours.  He said he will be here all of next week.  I am guessing he will need another 25-30 hours to finish the tile.  As I see what he does and how he does it I am thankful I did not tackle the job!

Grandma and Grandpa Lee

Came across this picture of Grandma and Grandpa Lee.  I am guessing it was taken about 1957 or so.  I am not sure when they moved into town.  The old stone house is now in ruins. The walls are falling in and one could walk through open windows.  My memory tells me that the house was fine, not fancy or not a place rich people would live but it was homey and I always enjoyed staying there.  I am guessing Grandma would have made ANY house into a cozy home!  They are standing at the west entrance which is where Uncle Henry would stand in the winter and smoke those AWFUL SMELLY cigs!

Queen for a day!

Happy birthday Audrey!  Please stop growing up Audrey, you are 8 now and that is old enough!  Audrey is cute, smart, athletic and a super gal.  She is one of a kind and will do great things!  We love you Audrey--Grandpa and Grandma Terry

A difficult detour yesterday for sure!

In July Terry and I drove to Duluth to look at a piece of granite.  We purchased a slab, the only one of its kind in three stores that this business had.  The piece was shipped to Cold Springs MN to be cut when things were ready.  Since the purchase we picked the paint and the tile to coordinate with the granite and of course we had the vanity in mind also.  Everything was working to what appeared to be an exciting ending for our new bath. As my phone rang yesterday I saw it was Cold Springs and I expected to hear what time they could come out today, that was not the case.  I was informed that our granite had cracked and they could not use the slab.  Michelle said she found a piece similar in Albertville and she sent me a picture.  It did not look like the same colors. Yikes, it looked like our story ending was not going to be good.  To shorten the story I went on line and found the same granite at a different wholesaler.  Terry and I drove to Plymouth and looked at it, purchased it and we are now good to go for an installation next Tuesday.  So our detour was a bit better than my picture this morning.
We covered plants for the first time last night but it looks like our temp will bottom out at about 36 this morning.  The next few days are supposed to be nice and then the temps will dip again next week. 
Our tiler worked all yesterday and has the walls pretty much ready to waterproof.  So far his work looks great. 
I received all my lab reports from my dr. visit.  They all were in the "normal" range.  I gave myself a pat on the back and looked in the mirror.  I said, "Way to go Carmen, you are normal--that's different!" I was glad to see the results. 
I am daily amazed at our world and how computers are so much a part of it.  Years ago, when you went to the doctor and had tests' you waited for days/weeks for a letter giving you the results.  I saw the doctor on Monday and looked at my test results on Tuesday PM.  Yesterday when I was dealing with the granite I went to Google and typed in "Crema Bordeaux granite" and up popped a list of places I could find it.  How awesome is that.  As frustrating as computers can be life would be very different without them.
Not much else to write about this morning.  It is one of those days where my tank seems to be starting less than half full.  We will see as the day goes on.  Perhaps that darn door problem is wearing me down.  No details but as I looked at things yesterday the problem seemed worse.  It is looking more and more like I may just create a "busy" sign and forget about the darn door.  Oh, come to think about it our three-holer on the farm had a door and the busy sign!
One more cup of FP before I shed my leisure wear and get dressed.

Mission control, we have a problem

We have a new bathtub---this is not it!

I know, there is no mission control but I have found out that for each thing that is done there appears more finish work to be done!  I installed the small window with frosted glass yesterday and for sure there right before my eyes was much trim work that needs to be done.  It is almost like our rock picking days on the farm, the more we picked the more rocks there was in in field.
Steve will arrive this morning and the tile work will begin.  I do not know how long it will take him but I think it will be several days.  We are one more day closer to the vanity top being installed and for that we have waited a long time.  IF I were to go back and look when we picked it out in Duluth I am guessing it was 2+ months ago.  Photos are great so I just looked at the properties of this and the picture was taken 3 days short of 3 months ago!  Yikes, we must be slow workers.

This is what it looked like in the shop, Thursday we will see what it looks like as a vanity top.
I saw the doctor yesterday.  I needed to talk about my meds and then I wanted them to do a Lyme test again just to ease my mind that I am healed.  They insisted they take my weight and height and sure enough I am getting wider and shorter--old age is GREAT!
Enough for now, it is time to wash the FP cup as there is no more.

The week ahead

Terry and I are looking at kind of a busy week.  I say that and then think back 20 years and a week then would make a week now look like a walk in the park. 

• I have a dr appt this morning.  Not a big deal, just to review my meds (I take 2) and talk a bit about the Lyme thing.
• Tomorrow the tile should start in the bathroom, that is a BIG deal
• Thursday the vanity top should be put in and that is an event that we have been looking forward to for a long time.  I can mount the mirrors after that.
• Terry has an appt and is scheduled for an injection in her back on Friday and we have hopes and expectations that will help her pain. Also tomorrow we can take off her first pain patch and put on 2 which I feel will help.
• It is possible that by next Monday we will have a working sink in the bathroom, how great is that!  A working tub,toilet and sink in the new bath---YES.
• We got some work done on Terry's car yesterday and the same guy will put in some work on the Honda as well.  With 101,000 miles it needs brakes and a timing belt before we head south.  
• I am hoping to get the door up in the bathroom this week.  With that slanted floor maybe we should just get a sign like we had on the farm.  It said busy.  That may be a good idea.

Terry is doing a terrific job of dealing with her pain.  We had hoped and expected that the medication patch would be of more help but as of now it has been minimal.
Terry talked to a friend yesterday who is in Florida and the hurricane had no effect where we live, that is good. 
No, it is almost 7:30 and the FP is gone.  I need to get out in the wood shop and put the panes in the last of the storms that I worked with.

No doubt!

steam from the coffee at breakfast time--means the house is chilly!

The green garage roof was white with frost this morning

I stumbled down the stairs to stare at the indoor/outdoor temp readings and there it was, 34!  Yikes, fall is here in a big way.  This thin Florida blood is failing to run through my body in a warm stream.  Okay, I admit it is October and this is normal BUT we do not see these temps in Naples in January so I think I can complain a bit.
The bathroom update, Pete is coming today to put the final coat of finish on the floor.  I could not work in there yesterday as the floor was drying.  After today I can again get some things done until Tuesday when the tile is started.  Then on Thursday the vanity top will be put in and I can figure out how to hang the mirrors and put the light in the vanity top.  It is slow but I have to tell myself every day that some more work was finished.
Terry had a fruitful Dr. visit yesterday at the pain clinic.  We found out that most of her pain is coming from an injured hip as she fell and not so much from her back.  I am not saying that her back is fine but it was good to learn more about what is happening.  She put on a pain patch today and by the sound of it that should help the pain a lot.  We almost felt like a druggie with all the paper work needed to get these patches. She has two more follow up visits in the next 10 days so that puts a bit more clarity to our schedule this month. Do we know what it will be?  No but now we can look at things and make some decisions.
I just poured myself a second cup of FP so will sign off and start the day with some work.

new floor

the floor at 8 in the morning

the floor at 10 in the morning---two more coats of finish to put on and NOT by me!

Pete, the floor guy, came to sand, seal and put a finish on the floor this morning.  He sanded and sealed and then left for another job.  He will be back later today to put the first finish coat on and then once more this weekend to put the final coat on.  In my opinion, it is looking great at this point.  Now if I could wave a magic wand and make the floor level that would be great BUT it will be "figure out how to make it look nice in a crooked world!

Fall continues to show it's colors

Of course, October is pumpkin time!
Fall is here and I think the summer is only a memory now.  The temp this morning was 45 and the house was cool or if you were to ask Terry she would say it was cold!
I am having one of THOSE mornings.  I actually did not stir until 6:20 and then I had to touch my body to be sure it was attached to my mind.  There was a bit of an ache here, somewhat of a pain there and the mind seemed to be in space, far away.  I pinched myself and it hurt so I as sure I was me!  BUT I felt that I may be in a free fall with no bottom.  Finally as I fell/crawled/climbed out of bed I realized that I was indeed alive and this was another day--guess what, nothing of yesterday had faded.  It all was true and I had better get up, stand up and face life!  I thought about the uncertainty of the next month or so, the tasks that remain with the redo of the bathroom, the fall things that HAVE to be done, the relating to family and friends, things that Terry and I would like to see resolved (not about us but about things in life--enough.  Finally I was up and I thought I would celebrate life with a special breakfast--no bacon/hash browns/eggs for me today, no I went all out and had milk on cold cereal!  After making that decision I decided to blame Dave and Marlys as this cold cereal idea came about after our visit last month.  Well to celebrate with Corn Flakes, that says what state of mind I am in.
Okay, I got that out of my system so here is the latest scoop on the redo.  A guy came to scope out the measurements for the granite top.  He found out that on the left side of the vanity the wall is not straight!  After we figured out what to do he was gone and said the install is scheduled for next Thursday.  I then started to work on framing the doorway.  Much to my surprise the floor leading into the bath is 3/8 of an inch lower on the right than the left.  NICE!!!  I enjoy meeting challenges in woodworking but this may stretch me tooooo far I am afraid.  On to other things, Pete is scheduled to come tomorrow and start to sand and put a finish on the floor.  That means that by next Tuesday, maybe, I can start to put in the baseboards.  The tiler is scheduled to come next Tuesday and that will be great.  By the 18th or so we should be looking at a new bath minus some finishing touches.  At that date it will be time to fill the air tub, turn on the 120 air holes and jump in with a glass of scotch--plastic glass of course!
I could go on and on here but it is time to put out the garbage, unlock the wood shop, enjoy the last sip of FP and start an exciting day. 

Progress and I learned something new

All my life I admired people who froze or canned tomatoes as I thought getting the skin off would be really difficult.  I did this yesterday and it was a piece of cake!

I need not say which is the old and which is the new.  I love new windows.  It would be perfect if we could put new windows in the kitchen as that would almost be the end of old windows but that is not in the cards for now.
I had my FP much earlier in the day so this is it!

Welcome to October 2016

No pictures today but I would like to make some comments on our bath project as if I haven't done that in the past!  At times major projects seem to crawl and then all of a sudden they come together.  Well that is the case of our bath.  There is MUCH work to be done but for the week we are just saying good-bye to here is what was completed this week:

1. The walls and ceiling were painted
2. The tub was put in place
3. The water for the tub and shower was connected
4. Floor was put in but it is (it still needs to be sanded and finished)
5. Towel rack was completed and installed
6. Both the small mirror and the large mirror were framed and are ready to be put up
7. The vanity and medicine cabinet were installed
8. Both window frames were primed
9. All four window panes were primed and painted

In addition to the bath items I was able to scrape, prime and paint some spots on the outside of the house and two storm windows were chalked.  I also was able to get the lawn mowed twice and take the car in for an oil change and an alignment as we put on new tires. As I write this I realize why I am sore and tired.
We have had perfect weather and it sounds like it will go into next week.
Terry is still pretty much stationary but we have hope that recovery will speed up and she will start to feel much better soon.
Next Wednesday the granite people will come to measure so they can cut and install the granite.  I am excited to have the granite in as that means we can hang the two mirrors and put the frame around the small window.  I am waiting to see when the floors can be sanded and finished.  I can not put the baseboards up until after the floors are done.  We will also get the toilet in Tuesday and that will be NICE.
Here it is 7:00 PM and outside is pretty dark, welcome to October.