Fixer Upper: Bribes, Beans, and Bonbons

      Today was frigidly cold, the wind biting with conviction. I braved Walmart...again. Even with a list, I don't get everything. Went early to get back for the "big move into our Master Bedroom." That was quite a feat, but success was ours!
      Trying to locate the TV receiver for the MBR became a challenge. I'd moved it away from construction, paint, and other potential disasters lurking in the remodel of the MBR. I drew a blank as to where I'd put it for safe keeping. I searched high, low, and in the "storage dungeon." Finally found it camouflaged beside the big TV in the living area, blending with the other black boxes, wires, and stuff on that flat surface. Drives me nuts.
      In the meantime, the plumber and helper spent all day with us, roughing in all the plumbing for the new bathroom: shower, potty, tub, sinks, etc. The carpet man got everything put back very nicely. As I was driving home from Kennett, I thought about bringing the men a treat from Causbies: caramel-nut cinnamon rolls. Always good to keep hard working guys happy.
      As the guys worked on the rough-in, I worked on green beans and bonbons.
     
      Somebody's got to do the cooking, you know, and Marvin is my official taster. He declared the green beans and the oreo bonbons "killer." Causbie's treat came in a close second.

Fixer Upper: Step by Step

                                         Step by Step.

STEPS!

The plan takes on form.

The designer is watching, learning, and enjoying the process. He can see his vision take on "life."

His HVAC and sheet metal buddy is here to install the duct work.

I'm baking Christmas cookies and listening to weather predictions.

Gordon "Rocks"

And taking pictures to document the process.
          Step by Step.

Fixer Upper: Swapping out the Bed for the Dryer

The floor is being built up, the framing is being taken care of. A door opens into the future bathroom and closet suite from the MBR.

The MBR is painted. The construction is moving right along. We anticipate the carpet to be reinstalled in the MBR on Thursday. Then we can bring our bed and furniture into the actual MBR. Whoo-Hoo!

That will free up the dining room to store the furnishings of the utility room...like the dryer.

Fixer Upper and a Bride Doll

To complete the rewiring for the remodel, we had to tackle cleaning out the attic. Remains of life in deteriorating boxes is sad. Until the things falling from the attic have meaning to those of us graduating from high school in the mid-1960's.

Gail Brewer McDonald's parents built this house. She is close to my age so when I found her "bride doll," (I'd always wanted a bride doll - the one that could walk down the aisle, the one that had a satin dress, veil, and over skirt) I saved it out and decided to make a stack for Gail. Then, I saw letters, diaries, an autograph book, a newspaper, and Gail's two cheerleader letters for Rector Black Cats.
I knew she'd want these special items, so I called her. Indeed, she does want them.
I'll take them down to her sister-in-law's house and she'll get them after Christmas. I invited her to visit and she said, "I will. I'll walk up and knock on your door! We're so glad you and Marvin bought the house."

Fixer Upper: Getting the Bed out of the Dining Room

Adding two feet to enlarge the MBR required the removal of two closets and the wall portion at the top of the closets.
A woman who agrees to removing two closets has some 'splaining to do, for sure.
The plan for the Master Bath contains a major bam-boozle of a closet.
The doorway has been cut from the MBR to the future Master Bath which is to contain a tub, shower, 2 vanities, and one humongous closet.
The painter will be working on Monday-Tuesday, the carpet will be refitted on Wednesday and we can get the bed out of the dining room on Thursday!
                                David, Richard, Amber, and Maureen will be here Friday!

Fixer-Upper in Bright Blue

Today, the remodel project's beginning sped into reality: the contractor arrived before breakfast to get the first part of the project nailed (hmmmm) down.

Soon, the dumpster slammed into place and the porta-potty (!) was set. (I doubt any women will be using it.) The HVAC guy made pertinent observations and all these events took place before noon. My goal: stay out of the way and concentrate on paint colors.

Later, "construction paper" was applied to carpet and flooring. (Not in a rainbow of colors, which I first thought when M. talked about construction paper. I wondered 'why would Marvin need to buy construction paper...I think I have some in my craft basket!')  "Vis-queen" (queen being the word that caught my attention) is hanging in the entry hall. 

Tomorrow, the contractor arrives with his crew at 7 AM(!). Amazingly enough, I have an appointment to get my nails done and start some Christmas shopping. 

Staying out of the way is one of my best skills.

Fixer-Upper:Project One

Marvin with crowbar.

Sheet one removed.

My journey through a remodel begins this week. You can follow along and avoid living in the mess.
All I care about at the moment is "can we get this part of the project completed by December 16," when David, Rich, Amber, and Maureen will be here.
Marvin designed the remodel using the HGTV design studio for his computer.
He can see the starting line and the finished product. It's called "vision."
I can see pictures in the Home Beautiful magazines, envision beautiful cabinets, tile showers, soothing paint colors,and where the furniture will be placed.

         "Chip" Gatewood declared December 5, 2016, "Demo Day."

"Joanna" was thumbing through paint charts and hanging pictures in the other part of the house.

Project one: Enlarge the MBR 2' by removing a wall of closets; Create Master Bath and large Closet from an existing "mystery room."


Hey, don't break any dishes. (wallpaper border in mystery room)