The Big Blue X

When I got home yesterday, I walked inside and saw a big blue X on the front door. My first thoughts were that Ricky had put it there to remind me to unlock the door before going out. However, the real reason it was there (or so I'm told) was because the step that is at the front door on the outside had been removed and this was a reminder not to go out this door. It is a major drop from the inside to the porch and you can really hurt yourself if you walk out and step down. Ricky said the siding folks removed the step and didn't tell him and he walked out that door and almost fell! OUCH!

My reminder to (a) unlock door before exiting or
(b) don't go out this door or you may hurt yourself.

The Keeper of the Key

I have managed to lock myself out of the house way too many times lately. I have forgotten to unlock the front door before walking out and closing it. The lock on this door  is one of those that you can open from the inside without having to unlock it but it is still locked on the outside. The first time I did this it was raining and Doug and I had walked out to look at some work that had been done on the front porch. He just looked at me and said "You can walk around to the side door and come let me in." Ok, so I walked around to the side door that was unlocked and opened the front door for Doug to come in.

The second time I locked myself out it was 6:00 a.m, dark, and 30 degrees outside AND I had three dogs with me! When I reached for the door knob and couldn't get in, I had six little eyes staring up me wondering what was going on. They were cold and wanted to get in so they could get their treat. So I knocked and knocked on the door hoping Doug, who was in the shower, would hear me and come downstairs and let me in. Thank goodness he did hear me but was not a happy camper. Did I mention he had just gotten in the shower.

The third time I locked myself out was four days later! Again it was 6:00 a.m., dark, and cold outside but this time I had four dogs. I knew Doug was in the shower so I decided to stay outside and wait until he got out. Since it was cold, I thought I'd sit in Doug's car with the heat on to stay warm. I loaded all the dogs up in his car, cranked it, turned the heat on then realized he was almost out of gas. Oh well, for that bright idea. I turned the car off and just sat there for a little while. Then I decided to walk around to the back of the house and shine the flash light up at the bathroom window in hopes he would see it. No luck. Finally after about 25 minutes of being locked out, I knocked on the door. Doug had just gotten out of the shower and heard me knocking and came to let me in. He still wasn't a happy camper!

The next day I did it again. But this time it wasn't 6:00. When I went out at 6 I did remember to unlock the door. But then I had to take the dogs out again at 7:15 and I did it that time. Doug had put a key in his car the night before but he had already left for work so that didn't do me any good. All I could do was walk the dogs some more and hope that Ricky was going to show up at my house at his usual time, which is between 7:30 and 7:45. When he arrived I told him I had locked myself out AGAIN and I was so glad to see him. I know he thinks I'm half looney! When Doug got home that afternoon, he took the key out of his car and put it on Kolle's harness. Now Kolle is in charge of all locked doors.


Kolle with key on her harness.

Kolle is telling me she will exchange the key for a treat.

Tuesday Happenings

What another beautiful day here in Georgia. Its a shame I was stuck inside behind a desk all day. But while I was working on state reporting, Ricky and Joe were busy putting the flooring on the deck and building deck steps. Bo and his son were busy at work putting up more board and batten.

On a side note, Doug showed me this January's electrical bill compared to last year's. We've had some really cold weather this year compared to last year but our electrical bill was less thanks to the new windows and insulation that we now have!

Recessed lightning in great room.
Chet completed this yesterday and I forgot to post it then.

Flooring on deck was completed.
It is a smooth transition from the porch to the deck.
That is a couple of pieces lumber on the porch that
makes it look like you have to step over something
to get to the deck.

Our new deck and steps.

Another view of deck and steps.

View of back side of house.

More board and batten went up today on south side of the house.

Ahhh...I'm loving it!

Guess what? The tub has been moved again.

Yesterday it was taking a shower.
Today its leaning up against the vanity...
where it will be tomorrow no one knows!

Productive Construction!

Today was a very productive day at our house. More cabinets were installed, dining room flooring was put down, recessed lights and dimmers were in put in, paint was put on walls, construction on deck continued, and more board and batten was put up.

Cabinets in master bath were installed.

Another view of cabinets in master bath.
The vanity wasn't put in today.

Tub has been moved again. This time its
sitting in the shower!

Some of the cabinets were installed in laundry room.

Glass doors were installed in cabinet
in kitchen

Wood flooring was put down in dining room.
Walls were given a coat of primer.

Dining room flooring.

Deck under construciton.

Another view of deck.

View of covered porch with deck.

Great Room furniture

More board and batten was added to south side of house.

Dinner in Dining Room

After eating upstairs in the bedroom for almost five weeks, we decided to break in the new dining room even though its not finished.  I went to The Home Depot and bought a 4 ft. folding table then went home and swept (and swept) the dining room floor before setting up the table. The lighting hasn't been finished so I put a floor lamp in the dining room, brought the chairs and stools downstairs and put them around the table, then waited on Doug to cook. We enjoyed sitting around the table with Nick and Kristen. Wow, what an awesome meal!

Our first meal in the new dining room.
Steaks, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and salad.

I'm not sure what Kristen is doing.

Now Nick is acting foolish!
We were just so happy to be eating downstairs
in the new dining room!

Deck!

Saturday was another busy day for Ricky and Co. Jeff, the plumber, showed up around 8:30 this morning to install the drain and water line for the sink that will go in the laundry room. After Jeff left, Ricky then started framing up the deck that will be off the covered porch.

The drain and water line was installed for the sink
in the laundry room.

Framing has begun for new deck.

Every one meet Ricky! Yep, I finally got a picture of him.

Ricky, Sam, Joe, and ? working on deck.

Ricky instructing Joe on how to frame a deck.

Another view of framing.

Kolle, Kensleigh, and Charkee enjoying
the sunny day while supervising from the pen.

View of house with new siding and framing of new deck.

Another view of the deck framing.

And one more view.

One more....

And the last one!

A lonely dandelion! Is this a sign of spring?

Thursday and Friday Updates

After a day off because of snow and cold temperatures on Thursday, the folks who put up the siding were back at work on Friday. Ricky never takes a day off and on Thursday and Friday he was inside installing and grouting the tile in the laundry room, master bathroom and closet.  The painters were also here.

Board and Batten siding on west and south sides of dining room.

View of west side.

View of board and batten siding on south side of dining room

Tile and grout have been finished in laundry room.
Ricky even moved the washer and dryer back in
and hooked it up! Yay! Thanks Ricky!

Tile and grout in closet

Master bathroom.
Tile and grout has been installed
on floor. That's the bathtub leaning up against
the wall. That tub has been moved around
more than the refrigerator!