Window Wating

What a difference from last weekend's hustle and bustle! This one was calm in comparison - a much needed breather for both of us, for sure. Sunday was calmer then calm, since the guys weren't able to come by to work on the porch. Stairs next weekend! We even have the materials list in hand and soon to be ordered up.

We actually attempted to go to Home Depot, since we needed less then our usual HUGE load of materials. Plus, I wanted to check out and purchase a big 'ol window for the kitchen. (Tax credit expires 12/31 people!) But, once again, HD let us down. They didn't have the right length of board. Ok, fine. I'll give them that. So Mike went to pick out the next longer, no problem. But all the boards were of very poor quality. He gave in quickly. We didn't need them at that very moment anyway, so why not order them?

Moving on to the kitchen window.
We currently have dos kitchen windows with the fridge in between.

We'd like to push the fridge over to the left, ditch that first left-side window, and install a larger window centered on the right hand side. A little Photoshop action and you can see the possible result:

Pretty sweet, right? Imagine this with a new fridge.... oooo, so cool. (Literally)

So I researched the possible fridges I might want and found that they all were about 36" wide. (By the by, that's like 6" wider then our current fridge... imagine the space!) I then measured the approx space taken up by our corner cabinet, since we'd need to install a second one to butt up to the fridge. That was about 6" additional. In total, I figured we'd have a max rough opening size of 60" by 48" - and that's the MAX.

Back at the 'ol HD, we checked out the window section. I didn't imagine they'd have anything in stock to meet our needs. I thought we'd be ordering something for sure. But believe it or not, they had a 4' x 4' sliding glass window with screen in stock for the low low price of just $107.

That seemed like a super low price to me. For some reason, I had it stuck in my head that we paid around $100 for the small sliding window above our stove. Maybe not.

Then I started thinking out loud, well we've got more room then that. Maybe this is going to be too small. But as Mike pointed out, "How big a view of the DRIVEWAY do you want."

Excellent point.

We were there, the window was there, it matched our over-the-stove slider, and it was only $107. I'd be a ding-dong not to buy it. So we did.

Mike was even half tempted to seize the day, rip all the siding off that side of the house, remove both old kitchen windows, install the new one, and plywood the entire side. (Since we probably have enough ply in the basement to do such a thing.) But he also really needed to do some wiring in his truck as well as an oil change and a few other maintenance type things in and around the garage. In the end, sanity won out and we didn't rip apart anything. Probably for the best. No job that large is ever so easy that you can complete it in one day. Something always goes awry.

Next weekend, our wood will arrive and stairs will be built, come what may.

Ready to Rock and Roof

Step flashing? Check. Ice & Water? Check.

We're officially ready to roof! Not sure if Mike's talked to Tim yet. He had some errands to do last night in addition to picking up the flashing and ice & water and didn't get home until late. And tonight we're supposed to be getting some potentially severe thunderstorms... so tonight is out.

Maybe Friday night?! Oh I am so excited, you have no idea.

Meanwhile, Mike is going to order some a/v cable from work so we can wire the porch for speakers. In talking about it, he estimates it'll take less then a day to get all that taken care of. I'm thinking Sunday might be that day. Yes, we have a bday party smack dab in the midst of the day, but if Mike can start early, break to go with me to the partay, and then come back to finish in the evening, I'd imagine we'd be golden.

Of course we'd have to prepare for that scenario by purchasing all materials today or tomorrow.... that's doable. Hmmm. Plans 'a brewin over here. (This is what happens when I start writing - I get crazy idears.)

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STREZZED OUT

Hard to believe that just a year ago yesterday I was 39 weeks prego and Mike and I were on our big last hoorahh trip to Boston. That little weekend escapade was so incredible and relaxing. Wish I could have done it again this year... unfortunately no time to take a day off. Not so much because I have a teething baby, although that doesn't help things any, but because work has been just overwhelming.

Plus I have so much personal junk that I just haven't been able to do because I need a day off from work to do it all and I haven't been able to take a day. And it's not that my boss said "NO" because he said "Sure, whenever you need to go." But I just haven't been able to. Too busy. I could take a day... but then that would mess me up on all these tight deadlines, presentations, shoots, and other madness I'm trying to juggle. It's getting so frustrating.

And in the midst of all this, there's a million events coming up I need to plan for. Bday parties, bachellorette parties, graduation parties, bridal showers, bike week, the annual dance recital we shoot for work.... So there's presents to buy, invites to send, RSVPing to do, babies to arrange.... I just can't seem to get a leg up on the pile.

So why am I taking the time to complain about it when in the time it takes me to write this blog, I could have made 5 phone calls, shopped online, printed some invites, and coordinated my calendar?! I dunno. Don't ask me stoopid questions right now. I'm too twazzed out.

As you can imagine, with a mental load like this, I've been less then proactive in the hacienda department. But, with this past weekend as rainy as it was, who really cares, right? Good time just to hang in and try to get a grip on yourself.

But our good friend Timmy who did the roof on our house stopped in to take some measurements out at the new garage addition and write up a materials list. He's going to give Mike a hand in building and roofing the roof, hopefully this Sunday if the weather holds out.

And as for the porch, I still don't know, but I'm beginning to think not, which is pretty disheartening. I think if I'd known that things were going to be this crazy now, I would have definitely shelled out the cash to finish the thing the same year we started.

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The Roof Race is On!

What a wash of a weekend! Saturday morning, Mike and I battened down the hatches for the impending tropical storm Hanna. Then we sat inside and suffered in the 97% humidity watching movies and waiting for the storm.... which turned out to be a whole lot of nothing. But at least we got the scaffolding put away and the plywood downstairs. Not a total loss for our cleaning efforts.

Sunday morning our neighbor's nephew came by to look at and measure the roof. The good news is - he can do it and our neighbor will help out too. He measured it and told us everything we need to get. And the bad news? Well, we've got to order up all those materials. I'm not sure what the cost is going to be, but I'm sure it won't be pretty, whatever it is.

I'm not sure if we're even starting this weekend - considering the forecast already predicts rain all weekend. We'll see - they're always changing their minds mid week.

Hopefully Mike will be able to make a call into Morse Lumber to get a price on and order (if the price is do-able) the materials. The guys estimated it would only take a couple of weekends to get the entire thing done, which is great news. Fall is upon us.

Rain, Materials, and Bdays

I just checked the hour by hour forecast, courtesy of weather.com - providing hour by hour forecasts to psychotic planners like myself. And by 3pm the chance of thunderstorms, wind, and rain jumps up to 80%....

Not good for exterior work.

But despite all that, Mike (hopefully) ordered nearly all of the rest of the materials from Morse today. The remainder of the decking, the stuff for the roof, etc. All that will be left to buy is roofing and trim... and of course siding and all that jazz.

TJ our master carpenter was really eager to get the roof on and all that this weekend - but with Saturday a rain-out and Sunday Mike's Bday - I doubt that's happening.

Sunday we're having a little Impromptu-BQ for Mike. Nothing big. Some friends offered to come over and bring some food and drinks - and who was I to argue?! I've been too tapped out to plan anything.

But if by some bizarre chance the winds shift direction or something like that... which has been happening quite a bit lately... we'll be ready to continue on.

Plunging In, PT First

Tomorrow's the big dive. Mike's going to order up our first round of materials from Morse Lumber. Notice I did not mention a certain big box store.... and that's key here. Who wants to spend hours and hours hand picking 2x10's from a mountain of cruddy 2x10's? Who wants to load them all in and out of the truck? Who wants to pay up the wazoo?

Not us.

When large quantities of materials are on the line, and I have the cash to cover it, I would much rather order from Morse Lumber, who will deliver it to my driveway same or next day absolutely free and I've always been highly satisfied with the quality of their product. Plus we have an account there, courtesy of our neighbor Matt. (He and his dad run the business, you know.)

The only reason we don't go there for all our small stuff is that I normally don't have the cash to cover it.... and I don't have a normal credit card. Just a DeepHo card. And the Home Depot is a little bit closer to our house. Which is all ridiculous logic... I wouldn't even call it logic, actually.

Anyway, back to the subject on hand. With materials ordered, you just know we'll be working all memorial day weekend. I can't wait - weather's going to be great - I might even buy paint and start on the garage, just for the fun of it. And maybe I'll see if I can dig up some shutters on craigslist....