Planning 2010 projects

We've started thinking about what we want to get done/fixed this year. One of the top things on our list is the Family Room. It needs basically new everything.

The one thing we have covered is the new Fireplace door. We did that last year. Now we need a new floor, the tiles that are currently in place are chipping and have corners missing. Remove the quarter round molding in every corner of the room...no I'm not exagerating. Okay, I'll give them that there is no quater round along the floor and the bricks of the wall with the fire place. We are also looking at putting in French Doors since the garage door is through the patio door. Currently we have a garage door opener sitting on our kitchen table - the kind you would put in your car - and use that to open and close the garage when coming or going. This is a pain as when you come in you immediately are thinking of putting away the groceries or something and we have forgotten to close our garage. Thankfully one of us is still out and will close it when we get back. The Family Room is also getting the wood panels currently on the walls taken down, and new paint on walls and ceiling.

We are also pricing out furnaces since we were told when we bought this place that the current furnace is probably at the end of it's life. Thankfully it has not given out yet. Knock on wood (knock, knock). We would also like to put in a tankless water heater but this may end up waiting for another time.

Window treatments and new windows may also be coming this year. Window treatments are definately coming this year, it's iffy on the new windows. A few feel like they are not installed correctly or have come away from the opening. Hopefully this will help drown out some of the outside noises too. Let's just say don't go planning a surprise party for one of us while standing in the driveway with the other. The person you intend to surprise will hear everything unless you whisper.

There is also one surprise "project" that will happen either this year or next year. But this is all I'm saying on that subject.

Planning the garden

First step in planning a garden is to find out what you already have. How big the area is, or how big you plan to make it. Measure, use a hose to layout the outline of the garden. See how it looks. In my case, at least this year, I'm trying to identify what the previous owners planted and measuring. It's also important to take note of the soil type - well drained, clay, etc. - and how much light the garden will get.

Next is to think about some possible plants. Make a list of plants you would like to see in your garden. Don't be shy or try to limit the number of plants. Some will surely be eliminated.

Step three is to do some research on the list you just made and then do some shopping. If you decide you don't like how it looks after everything blooms you can change it out next year. While doing your research don't forget to think about if you want annuals (need to plant new every year) or perrenials (come back each year but not necessarily where you want them), or consider bushes and trees. Should also consider water requirements. Can you afford or remember to water every day, every other day, or would it be better to find plants that can go for a while without requiring water.

What is growing in the yard?

After buying a home not only do you need to find the mice that have found their way in because no one has done anything with the home in several months, but you also have to figure what is in the yard and what will go there. Currently there are three different plants coming up in the small flower beds at our home but we don't know what any of them are. Do you?

This one I believe is going to be the plant that looks like a fan, but I don't know what it's called.



This one, is causing some problems. I've tried describing it to a few people and each one gives a different suggestion. Any ideas? Oh, and don't ask for details other than this picture because...I simply don't have them.

This one is a bush of some sort, it looks dead. Maybe it is dead. Or it's supposed to be that color.

The tips remind me of wheat. I'm sure it's not wheat because it's too small. Anyone know what this is?

Ba Hum Bug

Another Christmas season, and another Christmas that my boyfriend has to work. In the now 9 years of Christmas' I think we have shared...ONE. And what makes it worse, this year his request to have Christmas Eve off so he could have that with his side of the family was mostly ignored. He won't be off until late afternoon early evening. Maybe this is part of why I have come to mostly hate the Holiday season. The season is for giving and spending time with others, your family, the ones you love. But what does the season have to offer if most of your family has you feeling like an outsider and you can't spend time with the ones or one you love the most?

Working to finish caulking

I tried the tape trick that I saw on HGTV to keep the caulk from moving up the wall when removing the excess with your finger. I find this actually works.

The hardest part is getting the tape just right. If you get it too low, all the caulk you just put down will be wiped off when you remove the tape. If it's too far up the wall, there will be extra caulk that still needs to come off and that can get tricky to get off and still look as good as the rest.

At least the molding that has been put in is almost done being caulked. All the nail holes have been filled with wood filler and are drying. Tomorrow I'm hoping to finish the caulking and have the molding sanded. Then Wednesday it will all get the touch up painting to hide those nail holes.

Trouble Caulking

Okay, I learned today that I need help when it comes to caulking. Thankfully not too much landed on the floor and most stayed on the wall or was wiped off on some paper towel.

Recently, my Father helped finish put base molding in our master bedroom. He came over and cut it all to size and nailed it to the wall. He is busy with work and other projects so it was left to my Boyfriend and me to finish. All the nail holes were filled with wood filler and will be ready for sanding tomorrow. After filling all the holes with wood filler we attempted to caulk the space between the wall and the molding.

We are hoping even though it is dry we will still be able to get it off the wall and molding in those areas it's not supposed to be. Looking at the wall from a distance you can't really tell that there is caulk on it but you can see some places on the molding where there are some small globs. As you walk closer you can see it on the wall, and even more areas where it got on the molding.

There is still more caulking to be done, I think we will try a trick we saw on a home improvement show. The trick involves putting tape on the wall and while the caulk is still wet, after running your finer along it, you pull the tape off to leave a nice line and no caulk where you don't want it. I'll let you know how the next caulking adventure goes.

New Washer and Dryer

We recently purchased a new washer and dryer from ABC Warehouse. They installed the washer but could not install the dryer since it was gas. When we went to install it we had a little bit of fun.

The gas line that was already existing was a solid metal tube with litte flexibility. I had a hard time getting the tube to bend right so I could attach it to the dryer. The venting was another story in and of itself.

We had purchased a metal flexible tube to attach to the existing venting and replace the plastic flexible tube that was there. While trying to cut away this flexible tubing the existing venting fell apart. Everytime we touched the venting, since we could not see it was full of lint and were trying to clean it out, the venting would come off of the nearest connection. In the end we replaced all the venting except the tube that went to the outside. Instead of using the duct tape the instructions said to use, we used metal tape to help hold the tubes together.

It was fun getting the dryer into position. I had to hop up and over the counter because of how close I had to move the dryer to the wall before I could get the vent to connect to the dryer. And the gas line was giving me a hard time too because it didn't want to bend.

Eventually the dryer was in place, and I've now done a few loads and am loving my new washer and dryer. I'm very happy with them and love my boyfriend for picking them out.