Travel
I haven't heard anyone else say that for a long time, although I say it once in a while. As most readers know that how I came into possession of the dwelling I'm in is an instance of pure serendipity. I realized there were a lot of things that needed to be done to make the place livable, and a few more to make it somewhat attractive, so I jumped at the chance to improve a shabby 1963 mobile home.
Many things weren't obvious when I first saw it although the owner alerted me to a leak in the roof that was built over what was intended to be a side entrance. That room is now an enclosed porch, and its saving feature is that is contains a decent washing machine. Even at that, I'd like to tear the whole thing down and give away the washer, but my son says there are a few things I should do to the room and it will then be ok.
As we pulled up the carpet we noticed several places where the flooring had obvious water damage. One spot in my bedroom was from the shower, and that has been fixed at least until I can tear out the horrible formica wall panels and install ceramic tile. An area of the old flooring had been cut out all along the living room wall and replacement flooring installed. There is a large window in the center of that wall, and when I took down the curtain rod to paint I saw that there had been/is water damage around the window. That means the whole wall is probably bad, but I'm not going to rebuild this place and spend a lot of money, so I am hoping the boys can paint and recaulk the roof before long. It has been one of my longer-term objectives to replace the windows, one by one, and it is this window that I will start with.
I can't complain about this "gift horse", and I'm not complaining even though it may sound a bit like I am. I am grateful to have a very good place to live and projects that will keep me occupied at least as long as my money lasts.
Today I painted the ceiling and walls with primer, so tomorrow I will try to get started early with the first coat of ceiling paint. If possible I might even be able to do the second coat - I still have to get to Home Depot for the wall paint but that shouldn't take long. As I've noticed with the rooms I've already done, that primer coat is really a good indication of how bright and cheery it can look, and how drab all that paneling is. Actually the paneling is just a case of overkill, but the color of it doesn't suit my tastes so I want it all covered up. Right now just about everything except the dog is crowded into one side of the room, and I hate to think of living like this for the next few days, but at least I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
I can't find my camera in all this chaotic mess, but if I do I will post some pictures of the work in progress.
Well, I found the camera! The first picture is one I've posted around the time the guys were doing the flooring in the living room. The second one is the same area, only now it's primered. The third picture is the window in question (that's the screen leaning against the wall).
- I Drug Myself To Walmart
There are a number of items I want to buy but haven't found them elsewhere, or if I found them they cost way more than I wanted to pay. So I made my "about 4x-a-year-trip" to Walmart. Nothing has changed there - I had several things on...
- Eye Doctor Visit
The eye surgeon is very pleased with my progress and will follow up in a month. He asked me to be patient as it has only been 3 weeks, and I realize I've come a long way and can wait a little longer for improved vision. I'll be glad when I can...
- Finally Back To Work
Joe came by with his two little girls this morning and we had a very good visit. When they left I decided to get started on the roll-out portion of the living room so I began shifting furniture around. I got the ceiling and walls washed and will paint...
- It Once Was Lost, But Now Is Found!
Amazing! I have been looking all day for the roll of blue painter's tape. I used a small bit of it when painting my bedroom, but don't really like it. Today I had enough of laying around and decided to paint a coat of primer in the 2nd bedroom....
- Ceiling Finished - I Hope!
I got the rest of the walls primered and started on the ceiling paint. I am really being optimistic, and at the same time lowering my usually high standards, but I think there is a chance I can get by with one coat of ceiling paint. I really won't...
Travel
Never look a gift horse in the mouth!
I haven't heard anyone else say that for a long time, although I say it once in a while. As most readers know that how I came into possession of the dwelling I'm in is an instance of pure serendipity. I realized there were a lot of things that needed to be done to make the place livable, and a few more to make it somewhat attractive, so I jumped at the chance to improve a shabby 1963 mobile home.
Many things weren't obvious when I first saw it although the owner alerted me to a leak in the roof that was built over what was intended to be a side entrance. That room is now an enclosed porch, and its saving feature is that is contains a decent washing machine. Even at that, I'd like to tear the whole thing down and give away the washer, but my son says there are a few things I should do to the room and it will then be ok.
As we pulled up the carpet we noticed several places where the flooring had obvious water damage. One spot in my bedroom was from the shower, and that has been fixed at least until I can tear out the horrible formica wall panels and install ceramic tile. An area of the old flooring had been cut out all along the living room wall and replacement flooring installed. There is a large window in the center of that wall, and when I took down the curtain rod to paint I saw that there had been/is water damage around the window. That means the whole wall is probably bad, but I'm not going to rebuild this place and spend a lot of money, so I am hoping the boys can paint and recaulk the roof before long. It has been one of my longer-term objectives to replace the windows, one by one, and it is this window that I will start with.
I can't complain about this "gift horse", and I'm not complaining even though it may sound a bit like I am. I am grateful to have a very good place to live and projects that will keep me occupied at least as long as my money lasts.
Today I painted the ceiling and walls with primer, so tomorrow I will try to get started early with the first coat of ceiling paint. If possible I might even be able to do the second coat - I still have to get to Home Depot for the wall paint but that shouldn't take long. As I've noticed with the rooms I've already done, that primer coat is really a good indication of how bright and cheery it can look, and how drab all that paneling is. Actually the paneling is just a case of overkill, but the color of it doesn't suit my tastes so I want it all covered up. Right now just about everything except the dog is crowded into one side of the room, and I hate to think of living like this for the next few days, but at least I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
I can't find my camera in all this chaotic mess, but if I do I will post some pictures of the work in progress.
Well, I found the camera! The first picture is one I've posted around the time the guys were doing the flooring in the living room. The second one is the same area, only now it's primered. The third picture is the window in question (that's the screen leaning against the wall).
- I Drug Myself To Walmart
There are a number of items I want to buy but haven't found them elsewhere, or if I found them they cost way more than I wanted to pay. So I made my "about 4x-a-year-trip" to Walmart. Nothing has changed there - I had several things on...
- Eye Doctor Visit
The eye surgeon is very pleased with my progress and will follow up in a month. He asked me to be patient as it has only been 3 weeks, and I realize I've come a long way and can wait a little longer for improved vision. I'll be glad when I can...
- Finally Back To Work
Joe came by with his two little girls this morning and we had a very good visit. When they left I decided to get started on the roll-out portion of the living room so I began shifting furniture around. I got the ceiling and walls washed and will paint...
- It Once Was Lost, But Now Is Found!
Amazing! I have been looking all day for the roll of blue painter's tape. I used a small bit of it when painting my bedroom, but don't really like it. Today I had enough of laying around and decided to paint a coat of primer in the 2nd bedroom....
- Ceiling Finished - I Hope!
I got the rest of the walls primered and started on the ceiling paint. I am really being optimistic, and at the same time lowering my usually high standards, but I think there is a chance I can get by with one coat of ceiling paint. I really won't...