A Weekend Well-Spent

Here it is the middle of December and getting colder by the minute, I swear! Lots of work to do, but I am progressing well, considering the short amounts of time I can get here and there to devote to the cabin. 

Arriving home Saturday morning, I decided to get myself settled in and started the unpacking process or, as I like to call it, nest fluffing. My dream is to one day live in a Class C motor home full time. As part of the process to get to that dream, I have been trying to shed the tons of 'stuff' collected over a lifetime. Unpacking on Saturday was an eye opener. There are still too many things it might be too hard to let go of. Of course, there are lots that are designated to go to other households, also. I think one day I will have all possessions down to a manageable load. 

The item I love to tote around most that I will have to one day let go of is my bookcase system. Bricks and boards. You can't beat it for versatility.

Brick, board, brick, brick, brick, board, brick, brick, brick......

Unload a few boxes, and you get

a bookcase! I love it. 

The light in this room bothered me. A good cleaning, maybe some rearranging, is in order. What do you think?

Which do you like better? That way, or this?

Me, too.

I noticed the a/c intake was looking bad.

Yep, a tad on the dirty side. It is supposed to be baby blue.

I did some work with that partition in the kitchen. 

I figured out how to get this thing out of the kitchen without taking it apart. However, in order to get to the metal strip holding it all to the floor, I had to get this panel out of the way, so I guess I did need to take it apart. It will be easier for me to deal with in pieces. I am not sure I could manage the weight of the whole thing at once. 

And removed another shelf off the top of it, too. 

My daughter used the excuse of bringing me a table and chairs to come check on me. I know that is what she is doing, but don't tell her I am onto her scheme. I am always tickled to see her and she knows more than anyone that I do need looking in on occasionally. While she was visiting she had me find the ree-ree tool and she went to work fixing the refrigerator doors so they will open on the right, which will fit this kitchen so much better. 

Ta-da! Misty wondered how often I would try to open the doors from the left side before I get used to the 'new' doors. I am behind in my blogging, so am reporting Saturday's work on Monday evening. Misty, the answer so far, from Saturday night to Monday night, is FIVE. So far. 

I ran into a friend today. She was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. I promised her that if the chemo made her hair fall out, I would shave my head. Well, it did, and I did. We were both bald by the middle of November, 2009. Today we checked out each other's hair and had a long talk about it being a year since that all happened. On Christmas Eve of last year she told me to start growing my hair back. Two months later hers made a reappearance. She is now fully recuperated and very healthy, thank goodness. If you have a friend with cancer, any kind of cancer, give them an extra hug today, would you? It makes a world of difference in the ability to heal, knowing there are folks out there who care. 

God bless.

We are insulated now!

Evening, folks! I am so proud of the work I did today. Unfortunately it isn't going to be all that interesting to look at. However, the cabin is as insulated as I can make it in the short term. 

We have curtains over every window and door, and some have both curtains and plastic. I only have the window in the kitchen at the counter left to do, and it is not too bad about transferring the cold inside, so far anyway.

Even though the plastic is still showing, I think those french doors in the entry hall look better with clothes on, don't you? 

This is the door to the back room. Can't even see that shower curtain, can you?

The kitchen window and door are all snug!

The front door is also well quilted now.

Last, but not least, the window in my room is covered. And to think I did this all with a staple gun! I will hate myself later when I start filling in holes and painting, but folks, the heater is set on 62 and it is still warm in here. That works for me!

After I got the curtains up I started moving things around again.

This last one will be my office, once I have it unpacked and set up. It still just looks like a jumble of boxes, but if you look closely you will see a quilt. That is my desk. There is stuff both behind and in front of it but hopefully soon it will look nice. Always optimistic, that's how old birds like me keep going! 

My plate was full this evening with other things not at the cabin, so I didn't get too far out here. Tomorrow I am going to go see some kids o' mine, but I will be back Sunday to work on this some more. I'd be tickled to have you join me then! 

'Til Sunday, if the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise!

It's getting cold!

Folks, it is getting cold around here. 

After a day of lazing yesterday, to recuperate from the move on Sunday, and after a long day at the office today, I came home and decided it would be a good idea to winterize a bit. The heater ran all night long non-stop last night, and I surely don't want to start facing a gargantuan electric bill, so must do some preventative medicine right now.

First on the list tonight was getting the shop lights taken down in my room. They were attached to the same power source as the ceiling fan, so I couldn't run the fan without sleeping under a florescent light. Not a choice I would make willingly. I got out my trusty 'step-stool' because I still haven't talked anyone into toting a ladder out here for me. I have a ladder to use, just can't get it in a compact car, don'tcha see. Here is what I used instead.

I step up on the pot, then up on the desk, and I can reach most everything I need to, at least right now. I am sure OSHA would not approve, but they didn't bring my ladder out here for me either, so they don't get a vote. 

I had three light fixtures to take down. This one was over the bed, so I could stand on it to reach that left side. I had the desk right by the bed so I could step over onto it to reach the other chain. 

All three fixtures were plugged in to the box right there by the fan. While I was up there I did clean the fan, but didn't take a picture and now it is running, which doesn't make for a good photo. You will just have to trust me that it is now clean. 

Next I headed for the entry hall, which is where the thermostat is located. I could feel cold air coming in around the french doors.

Always one to recycle, reuse and not buy unless I just have to, I had dragged home some plastic sheeting from work. The things businesses will throw away, I swear!

With a borrowed electric staple gun it didn't take very long at all to get the plastic hung over the doors.

I have curtains to layer over the plastic, but I forgot the box of staples to reload with, so will have to borrow the gun again tomorrow evening to finish this project.

I took that whiteboard down in the back room and put it over the door to the 'storage room' where all the soap factory stuff is.There is another door in the back room to use to access this room, so the factory folks can still come get stuff as they make room for it at their new place.

And I found an old shower curtain and put it over the door to that back room. I had to tape it up as I had used all the staples already. Thank goodness for packing tape!

I am not sure where the credit goes, whether it is the weather being warmer than last night, or the plastic over the door, or blocking those two extra rooms, or the ceiling fan in my room circulating the air throughout the open parts of the house, but tonight the heater is cycling on and off as it should be doing and it is toasty and warm. I still have the kitchen window and door to address and also a window in my room. I also need to go buy one of those plastic strips you stick at the bottom edge of a door to keep drafts out. I have two more rugs to bring out from my daughter's house, also, which will make my toes like getting up in the morning. I think once I get all that done I will be able to meet the electric bill head on! For right this minute though, the only head-on I am interested in involves my pillow!

They say it might rain tonight, so try to stay dry, y'all! 

'Night!

Moving Day!

Welcome to December, folks!! Hasn't it been lovely!

I had fun while on my latest trip. On one of the days I babysat. I was home alone with a 16 month old, with no vehicle, and looked out their back door to see this....

A quick call to 911 and I found out the fire department was doing a controlled burn in the national park right next door. I told that gal that I was alone with a baby, and on foot besides. If that fire got out of control I wanted her to come get me and that baby out of the fishing pond before we got pneumonia! She giggled and promised we were in no danger. Even the little calves were bunching up as far from that fire as possible! I was sure glad when the smoke cleared. I could just see fire marching across that dry pasture and knocking at my door.

Moving day arrived too soon. I arrived home this morning at 9am and started loading my little car. People, I guarantee I can stuff a car plumb full! Believe it or not, I had already unloaded a bunch of it before I remembered the camera! 

Then the elves and pixies showed up!

That's my son, Garrett, hiding behind the truck. My daughter, Misty,  is at the gate. We have entirely too much fun, don't we? Those kids had the rest of my stuff loaded, transported and unloaded in one trip, too! Giggles abounded when they were trying to get the full sized mattress into the van. My grandson, Mikey, got plowed backward and then trapped between the seats in there, but he escaped with very little injury. Getting that mattress back out of the van was even more fun. hehe

Once the vehicles were unloaded Misty left for a meeting. Garrett and Mikey moved that last tree for me, so I now have my tree-lined driveway. It is just as I imagined it. 

Once he had done his Paul Bunyan imitation with the logs, Garrett left to take his family to have their pictures taken with Santa. 

Mikey hung in there though. He declared he had to clean to make sure I was living in a clean house. What a fella! The microwave oven I brought out is on it's last leg, rusting out on the inside, etc. Hey, a gal has to make due at times, and right now I still haven't any cookware to speak of, so at least can nuke that food. Mikey scrubbed that thing clean, too. Kin to his Toobie, for sure!

Meanwhile, I unpacked boxes and sorted things until time to take him back to his mama. Once I had delivered him and gone by the grocer's for some supper (and breakfast), I headed HOME. Wow, I am really in my own place again. It's been awhile, I won't lie to you. You know what I did first once I got the groceries put away, don't you? That's right, I took a big ol' bubble bath in that beautiful claw-footed bathtub! Lots and lots of hot water to soak the sore muscles and clear the mind, that's the prescription for the evening! 

And now, if you will indulge me, I know my mama will want to know how things look today, so let me attach photos....these are for you, Mother. And then I am going to bed! 'Night, y'all!

"My room"

(Notice the heating pad is already warming up for me!)

The 'office', 

And last, but never least, the kitchen...

Lady bug invasion!

Howdy, folks! Glad you could make it back by. 

Yesterday several of the locals noticed that there seemed to be lady bugs everywhere. I even saw several buzzing around the kitchen light at the cabin. I woke up this morning to what looked like a lady bug war zone below a window in my room at my daughter's house. 

I was not aware of a 'leak' at that window, so they must have come in through the doors, which were all open to let in some cool air last evening when it was so hot and muggy. They must have sensed this cold front that is plowing through the nation. Let's pretend they settled in my room because I am so sweet. Right. I thought these poor lady bugs were dead. 

When I finally got home this evening they were still there, lying on the floor in poses of lady bug rigor mortis. Now, at bedtime, there is a miracle going on. They are crawling up onto my bed, flying around my monitor and sitting on the pillow beside me, looking for all the world like they are reading as I write. I hope they aren't harsh critics! My theory is they came in to escape this cold front that is blasting through, but got too cold during the night, going into hibernation. They must have heard the heating pad turn on when I got home and are crawling up here to share the heat. That's okay, too. I ain't afraid of no lady bugs! 

It is nearly time for me to move into the cabin to live. Sunday is moving day; I think I told you that last night. So far, that date is holding. Tonight when I got out to the cabin with my third (or fourth, I've lost track) car load of possessions, I made sure the floor in the front room was cleared. When we get my rug out there it can be laid down and my bed set up while I have helpers around. 

All clear! I even walked around the room, making absolutely sure all the spots of wax and soap, lotions and potions were gone, and am happy to report the floor is ready for that rug.

The kitchen had to be cleared out as well. My daughter is donating a kitchen table and chairs to the cause, so a spot must be made for those. How about right by the window?

Everything here got moved to the back room on the other side of the house in anticipation of starting work there once I am settled. The huge trash can, the mop bucket, and the organizer full of rags and towels; even the box with nails and such, all went to the small room on the other side of the house, since that is where I will begin the reclaiming of this house. 

Now, isn't this better?

It is amazing how much the stains on that partition stand out on the photos. It doesn't look nearly so bad in person, so to speak. That partition will eventually be taken apart and removed, so I am not too worried about cleaning it thoroughly. After the table is in, I will clean up whatever is obvious around it, then not worry about it until I start taking the thing apart. I hope I can salvage the wood out of it for some other project, but will just have to see as I go along.

Unloading the car was a real chore.

This is just part of the load I brought in tonight. All these boxes go under my bed. Photo albums, scrapbook boxes, my PROM dress (yes, we had proms in the Dark Ages, my dears). My daughter suggested I put these boxes in storage, but I can't. If I do, what will I put under the bed? I must have that space filled, so the maniac that escaped from the insane asylum can't crawl under there. Remember that old campfire story? Yep, must fill up the space under the bed with something!

The landlady has a new mattress and box spring for this house that need to be stored. It is too big for the room I will start out in, so I can't just set it up and use it. I had a bit of a problem trying to decide where to put it until I have room to set it up. (It will go in the room where all the soap factory stuff is stored now). There is no place that it will be safe and I surely can't be moving it around by myself. What with painting and cleaning going on all the time, I fear having it out there. I thought on it for over a week before the solution came to me. You see, I want to close off that front room, especially when cold weather comes in, like tonight. What I finally figured out is to use that mattress, etc, to block as much of that front room door from the entry way as I can, and then hang a curtain to keep the higher portion of the doorway blocked, as well. No sense in wasting electricity heating that area of the house, after all, when no one is going to be in it.

The problem is that I had stacked empty boxes in the corner of that front room, blocking the door to the back room; saved for use in packing up the things in the front room as I get time. So this is what it was looking like.

Moving the boxes out of the way was not a problem. Finding somewhere else to put them was. Isn't it always the way that when you move you feel like you are playing one of those tile games, where you keep moving the tiles around until you have a picture? I shuffled things around in there until I had a spot for the boxes. I think it looks better now.

The door out to the entryway can now be blocked off, as we will have access to the front room when needed through this door between the two 'bedrooms'. Ta-da. Give me a little time and I will figure it all out.

Tomorrow after I get off work I am going to go wander around Texas again, but will be back and raring to go Sunday morning. I have one truck lined up for sure, another that is a maybe at this point. If you aren't busy Sunday, come help me. There isn't much furniture, but man, I keep adding to the pile of boxes that have to go! (I need to find the hand mixer. How can I make cookies without a mixer? This is why I keep adding to the list. It is the fault of the cookies, I swear.)

Happy trails until Sunday evening, when I write the next blog entry - the first I will write AT the cabin! Have a good week, y'all!

Back after a long break

Sorry to have abandoned you lately, folks. On the 15th some bug got a hold on me, and to quote Rosanne Rosanadana, I thought I was gonna die! Coughing and feeling miserable, I was a very whiny patient, I'll tell you right now. I did go out to the cabin and to work on the 16th, but didn't have the energy to blog about it then. 

Once I got over that bit of evil, it was the holiday. I rode with family up to the Panhandle and had a good visit there. I want to thank my Mom for the goodies she sent back with me, which I will show you in a minute. And I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one,  as well.  Donations of pecan pie are being accepted, if there's any left at your house.

Now that the holiday weekend is over, it is time to get back to work. I took the carload of things I had brought back from Mother's house out to the cabin tonight after I got off work. After unloading that load, I rolled up the ol' shirtsleeves and got busy.

First let me show you the handiwork from the 16th. I really worked hard on that kitchen floor that day. I would pour warm, soapy mop water on an area about 2 feet wide and 4 feet long and let it soak while I worked on doors and windows. Most of the day the kitchen looked like this in one spot or another. 

The final product doesn't look very pretty yet, but it is now mostly clean, believe it or not.

While on our trip I found some wonderful ideas for refinishing this floor, which is actually subflooring. With the floors being so uneven I doubt tile or even a vinyl floor covering would work well in here. But I found some marvelous ideas, if I can figure out how to reproduce them. We will see as this project progresses.

While floors were soaking I started on the door and window in the kitchen.

After knocking down the dirt daubers nests I went to work scrubbing off the door facings and even cleaned the inside of the screen door! Scrubbing the door itself revealed a nice sturdy door. Needs paint, but I nearly hate to even say that any more, I've said it so much. After I got all the woodwork clean I worked on the glass. Took the curtain down and put it in with the laundry to do when I get near anyone's washing machine. 

Once the door was clean I attacked the window and it, too, looks much better. Look, you can see outside! Nature! Trees! Yeah! I need a ladder to do the outside panes on the window, couldn't reach them from the ground.

In between rounds of mopping, which progressed fairly quickly once I was past the high traffic areas, I had my choice of chores to do while waiting for the next floor section to soak. I decided to keep working on doors and windows and headed to the front room. 

Much better, I think. The bugs and mildew and dust are all gone. 

I didn't have the tools needed to fix the hinge on the entry way door. It became clear that it couldn't take much more use without the repairs, so I did the next best thing and put a stop to using that door for now by blocking it with one of those big wooden cabinets we had set out on the front porch.

As you can tell, it was getting pretty dark by then, and I was feeling worse and worse. For the next several days it was all I could do to drag myself to work and back home, so the cabin was sorely neglected.

Fast forward to today, the 29th. The plan (today; it may change tomorrow, or even in an hour, who knows) is for me to move in on Sunday. I have an area rug I want to use, so decided the biggest issue would be to get the front room floor clean, so the wax and soap spots don't ruin my rug. 

See all the black spots? That is what I have to remove. The white stuff near the top of the photo is Lysol cleanser, sprayed on with a spray bottle. 

The main trail of spots is in this general area. After scrubbing with a mop, I got down on my knees with a green scrubber and scrubbed the remainder off. Well, I did have to use my thumb nail to scrape some of it off. So much for that manicure! 

I think I mentioned that my mother sent things for me to use in my new home. While my floor was soaking I unpacked towels and window sheers and decorative items. Most of it went in my bathroom, with the following results.

It is starting to fill up! Notice my 'step' to use getting into and out of the tub.There are cinder blocks all around the house, so I put some of them to use. The edge of the tub is just high enough that it is difficult to get in and out of the tub, so this should help with that problem.

See that doll sitting on the top shelf? My grandmother Reagan, who we recently lost, crocheted that doll. Isn't she pretty? It won't take long to finish filling these shelves, once I start unpacking my things.

I hung the freshly washed kitchen sheer back on the kitchen door.

Mom had sent a pair of blue sheers, but they were too long for the bathroom window, so I put them on the front room door.

Notice the shelf on brackets to the right of the door? Every time I walked in or out that door I would hit my head on that thing. Yes, I have an overabundance of coordination and grace, I'll admit. However, my patience levels have been below par lately and that shelf reached out and tapped me once too often. I had in my possession an electric drill, so decided that tonight was the night to take that shelf down. 

The wall needs a good scrubbing, but after working on the floor all evening it was put to a vote and unanimously decided that could wait until tomorrow. (Hmm? Yes, it was just me out there. Why? Of course, it was unanimous. What's your point, anyway?)

Another chore I had thought about doing was also tabled until tomorrow. In the front room are three florescent lights. I want to take those down, however, I couldn't find the ladder I thought was here. It was getting too dark to tromp around outside to look for ladders or anything else. 

Tomorrow. I will do that job tomorrow. Right now I have to go back to my daughter's house and get another load packed and in the car to deliver out here tomorrow!

Thanks to Mother for all the goodies. I had fun fixing up the bathroom with them. 

Last on today's items to discuss, but definitely not least -

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRACY REUTHER!!! Forever 21! 

I'll see y'all tomorrow!