The Lake House

[lighter]

It's raining cats and dogs and I just got back in the house from a Vet appt... roads full of water and hydroplaning is real.

I'm so not gonna drive down the mountain in this downpour, esp since there were white patches of hail in the yard when I woke up at 7am. 

I will go to Habitat for Humanity, Lowes and Home Depot and hope the weather clears up so I can meet the contractor there.

I really hate cold rain. 

Lighter

[lighter]

My sister is packing in 3 of the large smokeless firepits this month.  Stainless.
 Our cousin picked them up at a great price....now we just have to get them here from her home, out of State.

It brings me pleasure to plan out firepit sites. 

I put a small one at my brother's little cottage and on the covered back porch at the lake. 

This is distraction from likely possibility of ditching Airbnb and hiring Evolve for US property and setting up others for Cottage. 

Right now I feel I could set up 100 new sites .... I'm so ticked at Airbnb. 

I also have the feeling this one necessary step leads to many unexpected places I wouldn't have found, so....managing to stay above the anger....sort of observing it without needing anything to be different than it is....is something I'm noticing.  It's new.

We put LVP in the 2 downstairs bathrooms....plucked them right out of the 80s, it did.

I have the drapes completed in 5 of the 6Bedrooms, which feels amazing.  Moved a drapery rod to the ceiling last week, rather than hemming panels.  104" long..... glorious floral out of the Biltmore  I could roll in and eat with a spoon.

I have 2 dk Brown coats of poly to finish distressed upstairs master bath vanity and one vanity downstairs I've distressed but have to stain.

 All trim is completed, but for the laundry room.  I want to move  the w/d, patch the brick paver floor and add a bunk bed above old w/d space, but that plan might have to wait a while.  Some things have to be done sooner.....still thinking about it.

The alarm and cameras are in....maybe the fancy keyless entry  doorknobs. 

Master shower ceiling and sink replacement are figured out.  Just have to put my hands on and make it so.

I think that, pressure washing the dock and hooking up lights will about do it.

::shaking head::.

There's more....always more....outdoor shower, routering the large bar island top and finishing all bar counters and front.

One of the contractors is picking up 5 large furniture items this month, so that's a relief.

There's my lake update.  The crown moulding on cabinets looks SO Good!

[sKePTiKal]

In fine art, there's an axiom about "knowing when to stop" before an image gets too busy. Maybe less is more in the house?

[lighter]

It's a funny thing ....
feeling like I'm vibrating on the edge of a blade I've been walking on, mindlessly, but now SO focused on....
and ready to fall, step off or get yanked to one side or the other.

When.
To.
Stop.

Exactly!
 

[Hopalong]

Pick "step off", because that involves a choice.

How's the balance for you these days, Lighter?

Lighter's life and Lighter's real estate projects.
Feeling okay about it all?

You sound good, but also maybe ... running in place?

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

The two ceilings left to paint.... got painted.  CHECK.

The headboards and room layouts were finalized in bedrooms..... headboards put in place.  CHECK.

Ugly closet light removed in middle of bedroom ceiling. CHECK. 

New dryer installed.  CHECK.

Firepits ready for guests.  CHECK.

Bird and wasp nests knocked down on porches.  CHECK.

Upstairs closets getting holes repaired/painted in preparation to receive towers so hanging rods can be installed. CHECK.

New alarm installed and working. CHECK.

I think the electrician or the alarm guy cut the power to the upstairs HVAC thermostat.  The weather's been amazing so it's not at the top of priority list, however.  Not sure who can trace and fix that problem.  The dock has no power, so that has to be sorted, as well.  Need to carry power washer there and clean off pollen and chairs. 

New lights for exterior have to be installed.  Will paint existing garage sconces if I can't figure out new ones soon. 

Huge mirror needs to be installed in downstairs hallway.

Much larger than huge mirror needs to be secured in down LR.  Would like to install a game machine or two in front of it, but that's icing. 

I still have to shorten some draperies and fashion a beautiful topper over a bed out of bed rails.... corners need to be mitred and maybe I'll figure that out myself.  Maybe the bored musical instrument maker neighbor will help us out with that AND a comfortable ladder/stair on the bunk bed.  I plan to visit his wife in Florida soon...... she seems so happy to be ruling over 2 hospitals and putting together her little cottage.  I bet it's lovely. 

The plan to move the wire shelves OUT of kitchen (served as handy pantry for a while) will move into basement mechanical room to hold extra bedding and Christmas, etc.  Will move the rolling kitchen island INTO the space where the wire shelving was, making kitchen seem much larger.  Cart can be rolled into or around the kitchen for task work.  Soon to be checked off the list!!

Lighter

[lighter]

Solving little problems like transitions between stone and LVP.  Grout, yup yup yup.

It's overwhelming to SEE what must be finished when what I'd like to do superimposes itself all
the
time.

Like a mind boggling filter.

Jammies will be out of the dryer soon.  Warm and clean.

I'm finishing a video on using a router....BUT I need to fit a vacuum to it to avoid the dust, which is a bit bonkers, I realize. 

I'm learning to use a router, for the first time and it's on the bar edge in downstairs kitchen.  It needs to look ok.

Not worried, but not resolved to give up on vacuum yet either.

I have the will and really good tape.

[lighter]

My moss friend and her dh stayed the night earlier this week.  She's a dynamo organizer with impeccable taste, as well as an artist.

He's all around great with landscaping and tools...is currently building a room of bookshelves for his brother.

I appreciated their input, but man...they were instructed to be ruthlessly honest and they were.

They voted to remove the bunk bed from the family room and replace it with the Q bed currently located in the downstairs LR...walls constructed from antique armoire and silk draperies.

Some love that crazy bedroom, so removing it feels like killing one of my darlings.  The house would sleep 4 fewer people in beds with 1 fewer bedrooms.

She rearranged fireplace mantle stuff and organized drawers....got rid of half the silverware....live/die choices on bedding, etc.

It was fun to have them and the husband said this was an upscale Airbnb experience many times, which felt good.  He also thought all 4 fireplaces had gas fires, when really they're just flicker bulbs.  He thinks zero real fires in the house....I was thinking we'd offer real fires in upstairs LR, but he was adamant it's a dangerous mistake, bc people are careless.

She feels all the cowboy trophies and "stuff" need to go.  Another darling killed.

We moved the antlers out of the room we designated the hunting room, bc now it has the huge and very fancy bespoke pineapple headboard.  She wants bedding in there and family room changed out.

The up master closet draperies should be inside mounted, which is fine with me.  The ocean painting to be mounted over the closet. She simplified so many swirling questions for me!

I gave her two empty nests from the porches and she'll add them to her sunroom porch collection.
Lighter

[Twoapenny]

Busy, busy Lighter!  Amazing you get so much done.  Have you had people stay there yet?  I've lost track.  I do agree re no real fires.  People are dumb.  And drunk.  Most I wouldn't even trust with gas lol.

[lighter]

Ya..... no real fires. 

That has to be how it is and it'll be easy in the warm months. 

I'm really tired, but have to get a first coat of stain on countertops and barfront now.

Timing is going to be tight... with the move and trip coming up. 

DD23 might have to drop the pug at the lake IF I'm not back home before her out of town trip. 

Must move dental appointments... I think 

Pug needs a vet visit. 

Lighter

[lighter]

It's raining and that's good for driving solar light spik s into the ground.  Also good for the fruit trees and grass.  Mowing yesterday was a very dusty affair. 

The dock has had 3 failed pressure washing attempts made with only the ceiling cleaned.  I can put up solar lights now, sans wasp and spiders.  I enjoy watching the birds, who's nests remain tucked away, safe and in tact. 

I likely can't drive to the out building in the mud today, which is a bummer.  Lots to do.

Onward and upward.  Guests arrive July 2nd. I work with the maids on the 1st.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

One of the things I appreciate about the studio reno is "no deadlines". Takes the pressure off.

We've got some drywall patching to do (from moving plumbing) and the new window trim, then we can finish painting. Hol has suggested painting the base of my 4x8 work table the same color as the walls, to make it disappear. Right now it holds the contents of what will go in my custom cabinets (delayed for how long?)

But the new huge rug is here. The bar has been assembled. The "vision" is coming together. Might be "done" some time this fall.

[lighter]

It's raining and that's good for driving solar light spik s into the ground.  Also good for the fruit trees and grass.  Mowing yesterday was a very dusty affair. 

The dock has had 3 failed pressure washing attempts made with only the ceiling cleaned.  I can put up solar lights now, sans wasp and spiders.  I enjoy watching the birds, who's nests remain tucked away, safe and in tact. 

I likely can't drive to the out building in the mud today, which is a bummer.  Lots to do.

Onward and upward.  Guests arrive July 2nd. I work with the maids on the 1st.

I'm glad you're working without deadlines, Amber.  Hopefully you used a wet rag on those Sheetrock patches, instead of sandpaper.  Sheetrock dust would drive me over my edge right now.
Lighter

[lighter]

I feel really good about progress for July 2 guests.

Is everything like I want?

Nope.

Is it going to be good enough.

Why, yes.
 I believe it is!

Might even have my fancy bird feeders filled and up.  The feeders are clean.  The birdseed arrived.  Just need time and food hanging places.  The one hummingbird bird feeder is in service.

Today we seal the dock and cement patio, with it's lovely patina.  The dock went from black algae green to pristine!!  Lights hung.  Big voluptuous hostas planted and moist in the back yard....at the corners of new walkway off patio and ends of same.

Shelving going into owner closets now.

Feels amazing to get out of the heat!! So frickin hot!!
Lighter

[lighter]

Something nibbled every leaf off the apple and peach trees.  Well, there's one bug eaten leaf left.  How do I protect them?

There's toad crap around the house.  Not happy about that, for sure.