This and That

We were out pricing a new AC, so we stopped at JoAnn's to check on a crochet hook price.  Wow!  Their prices were much higher than Wal-mart (who was sold out of what I was looking for).  I found that our area Meijer had them, and less expensive than Wal-mart.  No big news, but I was shocked at the high prices at JoAnn's (also much higher than on Amazon).

I am always saying I wish they would put a store back in our hometown, but I'm not sure.  Hobby Lobby was built at one point, putting JoAnn's out of business, then later the Hobby Lobby closed.

Cute bags at store!  I didn't check the price.  We had plans to actually eat breakfast out at a diner, but found them closed for the holiday.  Apparently, many places are closed this weekend to celebrate the holiday.

We are getting lots of rain right now.  If it's dry enough this morning, I'll head out to tie up more tomato plants.  My husband is already asking about zucchini meals ha ha!  Soon, I told him.  Soon.  We have a Mediterranean salad we'd like to try, as well as just enjoy the garden goodies. 

Speaking of Mediterranean style dining, I found it odd, that our Meijer had zero cookbooks on their shelves.  I decided to order books from the library instead.  I just need some fresh ideas.  My husband's doctor told him to think "Mediterranean dishes" when he eats.  He also wants him to work out with intentional cardio and weight lifting.  We have the home gym in motion, but could use an exercise bike, and of course gym flooring.

We are not in a hurry for the spare bedroom to be done, but the floor is first.  The gym is more important right now.  He climbs ladders at work, and I push a wheelbarrow and tiller, but we both need intentional exercise.  We are both looking forward to it, to be honest.

We didn't do anything special for the 4th this weekend.  We can literally see all sorts of fireworks from our front porch.  Despite the rain, there were still many last night.

On a very sad note, and this is why I do not like to be on roads during the holidays, a person was killed yesterday in my hometown.

A drunk driver (day time), somehow created an accident in the roadway downtown,  putting his truck up on a sidewalk and into a tree.  He ran over a person on a bicycle, killing the person.

I am up a bit later than usual, but letting my husband sleep in.  He doesn't know it yet, but I have a honey-do list for today, ha ha!  I'm hoping to get even a few items checked off.  There is much to be painted yet, and I think we decided on a color for the remaining doors, 6 downstairs for now, not including exterior painting for other doors.  He is just now getting used to being home on the weekends, and tends to want to stay home. I'm going to take advantage of that ha ha!

This and That

 I haven't lost my mind with this living room project just yet.  Getting to town is hit or miss.  The truck is needed to haul wood and blocks etc.  

Also, I get so excited to add a new recipe to my "Christmas" binder and then realize it is buried in the office.   I got excited about a free ornament pattern to make for a daughter, then realize the yarn I need is upstairs.   Patience....patience.....

Another thing about shopping is, for some reason, prices at our Kroger are much higher for some items that are sold online with their sister store - vita-cost.

Literally.  I just ordered items, free shipping, and right to my door.  I needed almond flour and other items, and I also noticed that Monkfruit sweetener is much cheaper at our nearest Big Lots.  I have to do hurdles, but will be really watching where to buy things we need.

My husband had to stop at Home Depot for more flooring supplies and brought me home these.  I won't have to worry about my feet freezing this weekend. Cute too!

Once again, I forgot to take a photo, but I made a mac n' cheese using a quinoa pasta, no flour rue, and made with sour cream, cottage cheese and two types of cheddar.  Although I added onion and garlic powder, it was not that cheesy or flavorful.  The main question for us, is did the quinoa pasta affect my husband's sugar?  Nope.  In fact, it went down.

Update on the floor - we are a day behind due to a supply run day that went hilter skilter.  We were short on boards and needed other supplies.  Menard's said they had, but found out their computer was wrong.  Had long waits, and had to go to two stores for supplies.  You just can't find certain things right now.

I finally found a craft show in December, but soon did the math.  There is no way the living room will be done in time.  Another year without a show, but I guess that gives me winter to re-stock items I am out of.  At least when the subfloor goes down, I will be able to access my yarn and put some items up for sale possible.  I do ship.

Question:  Do you have to blanch butternut squash to freeze it?

I just realized I posted two blog posts today.  Whoops.  Happy Reading ha ha!

Kitchen Havoc

The Good:  The kitchen flooring is in.

The Bad:  We have to take several pieces back out and replace due them leaving debris under them and flooring with bumps.  They didn't sweep good enough and then put a fan on it.  We have a 2 year warranty with these guys, but my husband wants to do it himself and be done with it.

Oh, after they moved the fridge back, they made a mark in the new flooring all the way across.  They had to replace about 15 pieces due to something under the fridge wheel.  This was before we noticed the debris under several after they replaced those.  

They didn't put any of the trim back in, nor the supports under my counter top that is the desk. We'll be doing that after I paint today and my husband installs the kitchen heater. 

We had to remove the heater prior to all of this, due to the fact the first people we hired for the joist/seal plate/sub floor repair.  They didn't put any sub floor or under layment under the heater.  They left an open gap.  

It's been one big headache.

I allowed them to use my canopy to cut wood outside.  First people we hired cut the wood inside, so all my cupboards have to be cleaned on the inside and out.

They left the canopy bag outside in the rain, then snow, then rain again, and my husband discovered it.  It's covered with sawdust, so guess who is cleaning that today?

We sold one kitchen table to a family member, but she had some sort of excuse, so we decided to give it to another family member who just got an apartment, but it's still on our front porch.

We decided to downside the kitchen furniture, hence selling one of them.  We had 2 tables in there due to our large family.  We plan to put an island in it's place down the road.

I tell ya' locating stuff for the bathroom we are gutting, has been a bit rough.  We have been all over to locate a vanity, which was in stock, but sold out while the flooring was going in.  It's a half bath, so we needed a smaller vanity.  The shower is going in the trash/metal to a scrapper.  They put in the cheapest one they could find prior to us moving here.

I downsized that bathroom too, and will remove the wall cabinet and only have the vanity for extra toilet paper.  No kids, hence no extra storage.  I located the vanity/sink, and a new light fixture however.

We have lots to do.  Today my only goal is to paint where the heater goes, so it's dry prior to my husband getting off work.  He'll install it.  Then we can move my hutch and table back into the kitchen. 

I have all my kitchen curtains down to wash as well.  Thanks to the first people we hired, they are covered in sawdust.  My to-do list is long - clean windows, wash curtains, laundry, sweep and mop kitchen floor, wipe all counters, paint, pay bills now that I can get into my living room to the computer, and so much more.

On a good note, while the kitchen flooring went in, I have cleaned almost all of the master bath floor grout.  I have to move tile and grout bags to finish one last corner, and rugs go back down.  We have located a person to repair the shower tile floor, but it's on the back burner for now.  Next up is the living room, and half bath.  Both need done badly.  Just say a prayer, the joist issue under the living room is not as bad as the kitchen was.  I'm voting for new carpet, but he's wanting the glue down vinyl we used in the kitchen.  Not sure what we'll do until we know how bad the living room is.

Kitchen Repair Progress

 

Floor is cut out and was covered for the night, but it begins again today.  More cutting.  I lose the use of my stove today, but hopefully, the work is finished tonight or by Sunday.  

Notice the paint?  That is where the counter top was for use of a desk.  Daughter S painted primer over the ugly peachy color, and only painted the yellow over the rest of the kitchen.  Now is the time to paint the entire wall.  I just have to wait for the floor to be done.

The kitchen in that area is almost 14 feet wide.  It looks small in the photo.  Oh my you should see what the did when they either built this part of the house or the last homeowner (shame on the bank when the sold us this house).

They used a random stack of rocks in the center of the kitchen.  The floor appears to be the existing original floor with no cut lines, so we believe it was when they built the house.  Hence, we have much more work to do today.

On top of all this, Daughter K is here with her dogs, to go to an event in the "big city" today.  I have dog duty (one at a time due to construction in the kitchen) today.

Anyway, floor will be done right, and yes we found the first joist snapped in half. Second one rotted.  The joys of owning an older home.  At least we'll be getting it the way it should be done, and upgrading the flooring.