Some Randomness

Well, Eli and I have started slowing down a little on working on the house now that it is really starting to come around! And so Ness put together this AWESOME folder for working on schoolwork. Below is an example of Eli's work on day 1. What a smart guy!
Why put a picture of a thermostat? Because it is an example of what we are dealing with when fixing a home "with character". Old thermostat with wires going through the register ... absolutely no space between inner wall and outer stone ... three holes bored into the wall to learn this ... wiring completely redone and thermostat relocated ... one Saturday completely wasted. But at the end of the day a project that should have taken about 15 minutes took 3 hours and no less than 13 different tools used. "Character"? Yeah ... whatever.

Animal Love

We recently got the opportunity to be a 7 pet family (for one day only), and although we were more than happy to do it, it made us realize that the four permanent members of the family are just enough for us! At this time, only one of them is borrowed, and that is Sir Reginald. If you read the previous blog, you would know that he quickly ate into his brand new sleeping pillow. What we didn't tell you was we caught him early enough to do just a little damage ... until the next day!
Of course, it probably was tag-teamed with Bailey, but I'm prejudiced! But they tag team a lot! They have become such good friends that it makes me sad to think of them splitting up. But Bailey and Reggie love to frollick through the woods bringing us dead animal parts (NOT pictured although I could if you want). And it's true ... Ness LOVES having to step over half eaten 'coon skulls on her way to the car.
Then there's poor old Circe. She has become the "Phantom of the Basement". Her food and litter box are down there. She does come up whenever not eating, but she can't seem to figure out where all these other animals came from! But she is a mature adult in the midst of kitten/puppy hell. They always want to play. She wants to be left alone. Makes for one GRUMPY cat.
I included this (out of order of course) because it's a really good picture of him! But we can't seem to feed him enough lately! His Year 5 clothes are NOT small on him, and his typical food intake usually goes like this (he eats like a hobbit):

Breakfast - 2-3 bowls of cereal
2nd Breakfast - PB&H sandwich ... and a glass of milk
Lunch - another PB&H sandwich ... with more milk
Tweensies - a banana and some Goldfish crackers
Dinner - whatever has been made - often 2 helpings and then a dessert
Before Bed - an apple and a piece of buttered bread - with water
Before Bed #2 - "Mommy ... I'm hungry"

Back to the animals! Well ... Bailey had his last appointment at the vets this year (until the snip but don't tell him it's coming), and he weighed in at 45 lbs at 16 weeks. He is very gentle though so don't be scared! Yesterday Ness wasn't feeling so well so she laid down for a nap. And Bailey spent the whole nap with her. Oh ... and we weighed Ava yesterday too ... 44 lbs. Sorry kiddo!

But she's not upset. I think she's a cat person because although she loves Bailey, she LOVES Molly. And it's mutual. This is a normal pose for them, and if you know cats, you know this is not how they usually enjoy spending their time. She had her last visit yesterday too - 3.5 lbs and very healthy. And getting curious about the outdoors. It's getting hard to keep her indoors but we actually want her to make some mousers for us. That barn out back looks LOADED with them. The way we figure it is lots of cats to keep the mice away and one (or two) big dogs to get the Raccoons.
Oh, and the kitchen is all done (minus new cabinets but that's a little down the road)! Looks good too. We learned the hard way you can't re-use someones leftover tile adhesive but we've fixed all that and now all is right in the world. But sadly Donnie's words concerning our attempts to fix up an old house are coming true ... "I think you'll call me 100 times a week and I think everything will take you 10 times longer than you think it should." Sadly, very true. Luckily, Ness and I have all the time in the world.

And so FINALLY, the upstairs master bedroom is next! Just us and bags of plaster/buckets of mud and a dream! Corny I know :)

Your Wish Is My Command

If you already read yesterday's post, then you know that Ness gave this beautiful sink a very short lifetime left on Earth.
I always have said (and my father-in-law can confirm) that I prefer destruction to construction. Very helpful to the psyche after a solid week of tiling. And again Eli was a great clean-up helper. And YES Ness he washed AND sanitized afterwards.
Now Ness gets to do the fun part - going to Meynards to shop for the replacement ... once I identify the mossy substance that is growing around all the fixtures. (I'm not sure if I should leave it, remove it, or call the EPA.)
And just so you know, Carissa, we truly do love your dog. And we are very grateful for your monetary contribution to replace doggy beds. But Reggie was caught red-handed (note the mouth) less than 12 hours after purchase. I believe we're just going to go with the whole "sleeping on a blanket" idea for now :)

Our house is a deconstruction zone

In the last week, our house has been a jumble of pets, floor tiles, kids, grout, and other fun stuff! Due to Reggie the Wonder Dog's sudden urge to eat the kitchen linoleum, we have decided to tackle the Kitchen Floor Tiling Project. Like every other project we have taken on when it comes to our Beautiful Monster, everything is about 5X harder than we think it will be. Eric finished off his attic cleaning project right before we started the kitchen. Poor lil' Reggie managed to get himself stuck in the pile of "attic disaster". God gave that dog a much bigger heart than brain I'm afraid...
...case in point: Reggie stands by as the Scrappy Molly Cat eats his food. What a gentleman Sir Reginald is!
Eric wanted me to point out that he was unable to figure out this puzzle, even after 30 solid minutes of trying...Ava had it figured out in about 5. I think she has her...um...Mimi's spatial ability:)
So...on to the kitchen. Poor Eric tore up 15x15 feet of Linoleum and adhesive. Reggie and Bailey helped a little too!
Here you see three of the seven doors in and out of the kitchen. I have begun to wage war on the wall paper...which is covered by paint....and another layer of wall paper. I am currently down to a layer of lime green shiny lead paint in a few spots. The Lord only knows what is under that...
Just in case you Susie Homemakers needed an image to keep you awake at night. And believe me, you scrape this wall paper long enough and you begin to dream in pears and plaid!
Just a closer look at all that adhesive. My husband has some seriously raw, cracked, callous hands after this job people! We should buy stock in Eucerin.
And here is tomorrow's victim...in case you haven't been to our house, the downstairs family/guestroom has a tiny half bathroom that includes a toilet and shower. The sink is located outside the room between the family/guest room and the kitchen. (Oh the joys of owning a Home with Character!) Needless to say, the sink failed the Ness test and therefore, must go. Eric has his hack saw sharpened and ready. All of the floor construction has given Eric quite the appetite for a little destruction! Good bye ugly vanity, your hours are numbered...
I doubt there are many seven-year-olds in the world with as much wall paper removal experience as this one! Give this kid a scrapper and a bottle of hot water and watch the magic happen!
Yeah, a few spots still need grouted, but WOW! My hubby is worth his weight in tile...um gold...isn't he??
And let's not forget the Fastest Spacer Picker in the House...Eli little man has been an amazing helper to Eric in the whole process. The kid has picked up every piece of linoleum that Eric has scraped up.

Bye Bye ugly linoleum...you are no match for the Conderman Men!!