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« Last post by lighter on January 13, 2026, 12:25:35 PM »
My mountain man journeyman (MMJ offered 3 days work and the lake. That's 3 people offering to complete the wedding arch....maybe benches.
I'm leaning towards MMJ.....after calmly puzzling through stuff (PTS) this morning.
The Puerto Rican family, down the road.....can help, but won't lead the project.
The lake handyman, still hunting and mowing the property, has been MIA for 6 plus months, when I needed him. I suspect he's using, bc he'd call to set up mowing..... something I don't want to be involved in/have said bit to call me about, then promises to show up for things I politely ask him to do, while failing to say he didn't or won't be helping.....giving me a chance to figure something else out. He also let all the baby clover die, in the summer heat, so that's where we were when he asked if I wanted a fallen tree removed from the driveway (he uses regularly too.)
He removed it, then asked to be paid.
I told him I was happy to have him continue hunting, but he'd stopped being responsive to my requests for help ....it seemed fair he'd keep the driveway clear, in return. He said he was sorry for that, and would come by "soon" to discuss the work (I'd already completed with the Puerto Rican families help) and the wedding arch (I've been trying to discuss for more than 6 months.
I need to rename the Puerto Rican family..l The husband speaks no English, and can't be present around crowds. Will have him work on repairing kitchen exhaust down draft fan. The grown special needs son seems lovely. The mother is the leader......sells hand made empanadas to make ends meet, while caring for elderly mother in the home. They're always home....a minute's drive from the lake house. They want to work. The thing is. the dad, son and mum show up for every job.....I pay them all $20 each....one works. One assists. One translates. It's not exactly worked out how to make this work out for us all. I trust we'll get there. I see housekeeping, laundry and event set up, tear downs in our futures. Not explicitly counting on it, however.... there's a strange vibe from the matriarch. Still have to PTS.....see how we work together.
I'm also leaning towards living in the downstairs family room, bc it has a huge closet I can lock, for my stuff. Will be paring down, traveling light.
Will get business license, reboot Airbnb offering, then offer packages for events only, events with upstairs use of house only, events with use of entire home..... I'd drive 2 hours back to mountains, or to Atlanta when while house is booked. Stay, if only upstairs is booked.
I'll consider a package including the downstairs living/kitchenette/half bath and patio package. That space seems integral to entertainment for groups of 50+. Upstairs has seating for 20 guests at tables and counters.
I have lots of figuring to do......drinks and appetizers upstairs, with standing tables on porch and deck?
Bar, dinner and dessert downstairs.....flowing onto covered patio? I have table space requirements and number of seats written out.....will be laying down paper patterns to determine max seating and placement of different size table, with and without seating. Will ask my creative/savvy friend for assistance when she visits.
The garage can be emptied for use OR kept locked for storage. Would need ceiling scraped, so m coated and paint. Cabinets require prep and paint.....new countertop IF used for guests. Also, the only working dryer is sitting freestyle in garage.....stained cement floor needs attention. I have stain for that. Would need to figure out the sanding/buffer rental and grits. I think I'd enjoy that work....always loved walking on stained cement floors.
Removing the garage door isn't in the budget.....replacing with folding glass doors......French doors..... whatever, might not be on the menu, ever, but it crosses my mind. Garage is a good place to store tables and chairs. Repairing small sheds could be excellent storage, freeing up the garage. The big warehouse remains mired in mud, when it rains. Simply emptying it, and gussying it up gains me nothing if it's not accessible in the wet times, when needed most.
Not having working dryer, inside house, remains problematic. I have second w/d set if I can get someone to wire them for me..... downstairs optimally.....I think. Biggie could do that.
Lots to work out and ponder.....want a sink and clean counter space for flower arranging (in Maintenance room,)eventually....as well as the bar, double oven, floral area and decoration storage.
To remove the armour bedroom or not remove....that is a question for another day.
Lighter
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