Monday, March 12, 2018

List Needed

So I was telling my sister today about how there are a lot of projects to do around here, and part of what makes me feel like I am making headway is to get all the supplies for those projects even when I can't start those projects just yet...it is a false sense of accomplishment when nothing is really being done.

In the course of this, I have a lot of supplies and several half accomplished projects (along with many unstarted projects) and thought I better make a list. This is just a list of the ones I have already got supplies for, not all projects which need to be done around here (which would make for a very big post).

Update: as I remember items, I have been adding them to the list, and as I have been finishing things off, I am striking them out. Having this list is actually a really good thing for me...not sure why I didn't do it before.
  • Replacing all four porch lights Aug 4
  • Fixing 220 outlet in laundry room Jan 10
  • Setting up remote garage door opener Apr 13
  • Create new screens (frames and all) for downstairs bedrooms June 7
  • Set up weight room July 21
  • Weedblock bed
  • Reinstalled downstairs blinds July 21
  • Put table together July 21
  • Fixing redwood bench on pool deck
  • Check insulation situation in attic Sept 7
  • Changing lock on downstairs closet door Sept 20
  • Painting white lattice under pool deck
  • Painting all bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways and the laundry room
  • Fixing electrical outlet on pool deck March 25
  • Fixing electrical in garage October 25
  • Fixing electrical in house March 25
  • Replacing lights in two bedrooms January 3
  • Replacing exhaust fan in office with light
  • Mulching beds March 30
  • Replacing porch August 30
  • Changing curtain rods in livingroom March 21
  • Planting items in yard
  • Getting rid of gophers
  • Redoing side beds and border
  • Removing dead stuff from yard
  • Removing overgrown stuff from yard
  • Cleaning grout in kitchen
  • Fixing grout along kitchen backsplash
  • Reseeding grass
  • Fixing fence on right side of house Apr 13
  • Fixing fence on right side of house 
  • Fixing closet in bedroom  Oct 13
  • Patching and retexturing holes in walls
  • Sanding and staining railing
  • Sanding and staining window seat
  • Pruning plants in backyard
  • Touching up exterior paint
  • Caulking kitchen sink and around faucets in tub July 22
  • Cleaning and painting table for pool deck
  • Labeling all plants in yard
  • Painting exhaust fan covers, doorbell cover and intake vent covers July 22
  • Replacing towel racks and toilet paper dispensers in both bathrooms March 23
  • Prepping and painting all stained doors and trim white
  • Installing CO2/smoke alarm downstairs April 24
  • Change filters on heating/cooling system July 15
  • Change out electrical 220 in garage
  • Tiling laundry room
  • Tiling mbath
  • Tiling downstairs bath
  • Installing vanity
  • Installing Magic Mesh March 12
  • Install new vanity lights in mbath August 24
  • Install new vanity lights in downstairs bath
  • Replacing sand filter and multi-port value June 23
  • Install storage for extension ladder April 13
  • New herbs June 15
  • New plants in pots June 15
  • Fix rock wall near pumphouse
  • Fix support in weight room closet Oct 13
  • Fix rock wall in guest parking area
  • Create manual sprinklers for side yard
  • Create manual sprinklers for lower back yard
  • Work on pool deck boards
  • Install reducers on the drip lines
  • Installing new mirrors
  • Moving old mirror from mbath Sept 20
  • Fix electric box cover in laundry room Sept 7
  • Insulate attic opening cover Sept 7
  • Secured dryer vent Sept 7
  • Fix hole from woodpecker Sept 20
  • Install new cabinets in laundry room Sept 20
  • Unpacking 12000+ lbs of household goods  March 10
  • Installing bamboo floors on main floor of house  Oct 13
  • Install ceiling fan
  • Caulking and filling all baseboards on main floor  Mar 11
  • Filling floor in kitchen Jun 9
  • Patching pool  Feb 20
  • Replacing pool liner July 16
  • Powerwash patio furniture
  • Powerwash driveway
  • Fixing drain in bathtub  Nov 20
  • Putting new trim pieces on faucets
  • Fix porch stairs
  • Fix sprinkler problems
  • Fixing fence posts on left side of house
  • Demo cabinet in garage Mar 25
  • Replace shower door May 3
  • Patch and paint touch up on stair walls May 4
These are all the ones I can think of off the top of my head, and as you can see, I have plenty to keep me busy without needing to go get any more supplies any time soon...whew, that makes me tired...LOL

Friday, May 5, 2017

Touch Up Painting at the Bamboo Lagoon

It has taken me forever to get this task done. In fact, I had the upper portion of the stair wall taped off basically since the flooring on the main floor was completed.






On the lower stair wall, I had to do some wall repair before I could paint.




But now I am done, both with the upper and lower stair walls and it looks so much better.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Less Brass

Finished
While the brass shower door in the master bath has been something I wanted to replace for ages, I have held off because it was merely a cosmetic issue and not a need.

Lately however, the door has started to not work as it should and not be connected to the stall correctly. This has made the choice to replace it more of a need and less of a cosmetic issue.

This door is one of four things left in this house that are brass, and I am thrilled to be rid of it. The new door makes the shower look so updated even though the stall itself is original to the house. The lines and color really just update it so much and I am so pleased.

Unfortunately because of the unique shape of my shower stall, this wasn't something I could just order and replace myself, I needed to to have it done. I got an estimate last week and then the door was custom created and the install was today.

Before
I have to wait forty eight hours before I can use it so that the silicone has a chance to dry, so I pulled the necessities out so I could shower in the guest bath downstairs for the next two days.

Next week we start on the fixing of the front porch!

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Demo At The Bamboo Lagoon

This has been on my list for a very long time...this is a rough cabinet that was made many years ago to give us some extra storage and counter space in the garage. It was great for the garage it was built for and was even useful in the garage we had in another house, but it absolutely was just taking up room in our current garage. It is also a spider attraction so I was dying to get it out of here.


I thought it was going to be a super fast demo but it ended up being a bit more work, and so while I did get it all done and cut up and loaded in my truck, I wasn't able to get it dropped off at the wood recycler. I'll do that tomorrow when I go to get a part at another store near the recycler.



It is amazing how much space I have now in the garage with that thing gone. It was about 8 ft long by 36 inches high, and 30 inches deep. Now I can move the other big work bench and both of the big saws into better position to actually be used and get the garage organized, which has been a long time coming for sure.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Unpacking at the Bamboo Lagoon

After organizing
So, we had two big shipments of our stuff...the stuff that was in long term storage was packed in 2007 and mostly contained stuff that we would not need living overseas...the second shipment was the items that we did take with us but still sat in storage for a period of time.

Most of our yard stuff did not make the trip because we didn't know what kind of housing we would end up with and we were limited on weight so anything too heavy and not absolutely necessary did not make the cut.

These four big boxes along with all the stuff that is sitting around them was stuff that didn't make the cut and still didn't have a home in our yard quite yet so I was content to leave it packed up.

Before starting...trashcans, tarps, coolers, and boxes

This week, we had a big storm coming our way, and I needed to get the gutter in the back of the house cleaned out. This gutter is actually under the covered area of the back porch so it can't be accessed from the roof and has to be cleaned out using a ladder on the back porch. I couldn't get to that section due to these boxes and extra stuff, so I was motivated to tackle the boxes.

Midway through gutter and cleanup

While doing this, I found a little hidey-hole that a neighborhood rodent has been using...lots of droppings and half eaten acorns, but that little spot no longer exists. Found a half eaten ant trap too...didn't realize those were a delicacy.

Nasty little hidey-hole

It took me a while to get it all unpacked and ended up finding a few surprises (the movers always put a few things in the boxes that don't really make sense), but for the most part, it was all yard stuff.

Some of the yard art will go up on the walls of the house rather quickly (once the storm has passed), but the number of pots we have is pretty immense and most of that was stacked back up near the house in prep for the storm and will be sorted out later.

So while it doesn't look like a lot of accomplished as far as moving things out, in reality it was....everything is cleaned up, organized, and accounted for.