We got several bids and hired a contractor. Part of what we liked about his bid was that he could start right away. The project should have taken ten days to two weeks.
These sorts of jobs always take longer than you think. It's a rare job that doesn't run into any snags.
How do you plan for a job in a city in which an entire neighborhood was recently burned to the ground by an unruly mob? Yeah, we found a contractor who has a crew but the inspectors who have to sign off on the plumbing, etc. are city employees who are currently up to their eyebrows in rebuilding jobs.
Long, really boring story short, we spent three weeks with an empty hold in our house waiting to get the OK on the plumbing. Then another three weeks went by because the contractors tile guys were busy on other jobs. Finally, Jay found another crew of tilers who could do our job. The contractor suggested we get the painting done before any tile work or trim went up, which was a great idea. I had originally planned to do the painting myself but that was back when I thought it would be done in August or September. I was unavailable this week. Ironically, I was up at Katie's house, painting every wall in sight to get the place ready to go on the market. So Jay hired an unemployed philosophy professor to paint the bathroom. We went with white and it looks great. The tile we're using is called Everest gray and I can hardly wait to see it all done! I have no idea how long I'll leave it white but it'll look beautiful with any color I choose to go with. Right now, I'm thinking I'll leave the white alone...on the walls. The tiling crew has been at it for three days now and it's very exciting. It's starting to look like a bathroom! We haven't gotten a sink yet. The original vanity we picked out turned out to be too wide. We're gonna go with a pedestal and we've chosen a couple that we like. We're waiting for the contractor to tell us exactly how wide the basin can be.
For six weeks, it looked like this. Now, we're seeing progress! With luck, the tile will be finished today or tomorrow and next week will finish it up! but it's 2020, so I'm not betting on the project being finished before Christmas. All I know for sure is it will be fantastic when it's done!
In other news, Katie and Adam's quest for their new house proceeded at warp speed. Having been involved in the buying and selling of three houses in the last 38 years, I know how long it can take so it makes me laugh to see them buy a whole new house in a fraction of the time it's taken us to remodel a dinky little bathroom. I'm glad it's gone so quickly because moving is a pain. Oh, it's still a pain but at least they get to live in a beautiful new house while enduring it.
So I spend about five days painting walls in Katie's house while she worked. She hired a stager, who told her how to get her house maximized for sale and fresh coats of paint are very important. Most of the furniture is over at the new place; just a few, lovely pieces remain behind, as staging for when the place goes on the market next week. I like painting walls; it's easy, fast and I enjoy the instant gratification of transforming a room. But current staging requires that you paint everything gray. Bleh. I mean, yeah, it looks nice and soothing blah blah blah but it's so blah. I literally painted Katie's office over her head while she worked away at a desk in the middle of the room. It was especially tricky when she was on a call or had a zoom meeting.
"Oh, please ignore the old lady on the ladder behind me; I'm having my office redecorated." she said, smiling at her colleagues. Then, I fall off the ladder behind her. She whips her head around and barks "I TOLD YOU I'M IN A MEETING SO BE QUIET, MOM! GAWD!"
That didn't happen. She picked up her phone or laptop and relocated to the living room.
I did enjoy painting the whole place but I'd forgotten what sweaty work painting is. I've slept really well the last two weeks.
I've also had a ton of orders to fill and I've been working steadily. I'd get home from painting Katie's house around 4 and work until Jay had dinner ready. It's funny; I've never considered my job to be anything but frivolous but according to the metric of the times, I'm an essential worker. I mean, every stitcher in America is stuck at home with nothing to do so my business has been booming since the pandemic hit. I just hope the shop itself is doing as well as I am: G. is using instagram like a Maestro but I don't know if that makes up for the lack of walk in business. The place is only open two days a week. Not only are my orders through the roof, I feel an obligation to get them out as quickly as possible, as I may be the only thing keeping the place afloat. I don't know this is true but I fear it may be the case.
I don't like the responsibility. But I do like the work.
All of this is why I haven't been taking any time to write or post anything the last few months. Every waking moment is taken up with other things that I can't put off.
I've been living in a construction zone for two months, yet I haven't taken the time to dust or vacuum till this week. I finally couldn't ignore it anymore; the dust was so thick on everything we felt like we were living in a haunted house. The furniture in my living room looked like the cobwebs were holding it all in place. I usually wash all my windows before winter but I seriously doubt that'll happen this year.
I never finished my outdoor studio. My knee went bad in the middle of the summer and I couldn't see myself hauling pavers. I love what I've gotten done so far and there isn't that much left. I'll get on it next spring. The nine bark in the giant planters I put back there is spectacular! the begonias didn't do well and now we've had a frost so they're mostly dead.
I'll try something else next year but it may be the rabbits' fault that the begonias didn't thrive. I don't know. I don't care all that much.
The ash tree in the back is done: it turned gorgeous while I was at Margy's cabin. Now the maples at the back of the yard are turning. We really do have a lovely back yard.
The colors around here are still beautiful but I think they peaked this week. A lot of trees are now bare. WE've had a lot of very windy days.
Painting class has been meeting every week. Last week was hot, sunny and gorgeous.
This week it was cold. Not only cold but a snow bomb detonated on us as we walked the half mile from the parking lot to the edge of the lake we painted. Honestly, Rick knows a dozen hidden little lakes that are all perfectly gorgeous and within a few miles of his house! We were sort of protected from the wind while we worked but after a few hours, my fingers were numb. Then, with about a half hour to go, the wind really kicked up so we packed up a bit early.
The tilers are working on the walls now, I have fresh baked ginger snaps and it's Katie's birthday!
that's a great way to start any weekend.