Demo Days Are Here Again

After the frozen and busted pipe fiasco, the wet carpet, the dripping ceiling, and all the fun that was associated with unexpected winter weather in Rio Rico, I have finally been home long enough to deal with the aftermath.  On Sunday, Kip came over with his miniature truck and we tore out all kinds of things at the house.  For starters, goodbye bedroom carpet.  So long.  See ya.  Wouldn't want to be ya. 

I also ripped out a stupid half wall, another stupid fake pocket door wall thingy, a cheesy arch in my bedroom doorway, and the crap floor in my master closet.  Demo is cathartic.  If you have something to tear apart, I highly recommend you do it.  Today.  It feels awesome. 

So what that I am now sleeping on my bed in the living room. At least the fix-it process has started.  Now if I could just get the insurance adjuster to show up to my house so I can start buying things to cover the concrete slab in the bedroom. 

Plumber? We don't need to stinking plumber!

After my extended journey to house-camping-land, I have finally fixed the broken pipes at my house. I am glad the pipes were fixed before I really did get used to flushing toilets with a bucket and buying gallons of water to keep myself and the dogs hydrated. 

At first I called the plumber.  After he no-showed and refused to return phone calls, I took matters into my own hands....or rather, a friend of mine took pity on me and offered to help me fix the pipes. Yay for friend of mine!  For those of you that are curious, yes...the plumber that flaked out on me is the same plumber who received rave reviews in previous posts here. 

So, because my dreamy, pipe-fixing friend has know-how and power tools, we were able to change the pipes and return Octopus Street to the 21st Century. 

to sleep perchance to dream

I have been on a mattress quest.  I currently have a queen bed, and with the alert that my grandmother and my aunt may be coming to visit in the next few months, I have decided to buy a king bed to move the current bed into the guest room. 

Truth number 1 about shopping for a mattress:  It is insanely fraught with too many options.  Memory foam, latex foam, pillow top, double-sided pillow top, individually wrapped coils, quilting, regular or low profile box spring, firm, medium, soft, plush, double plush, double dutch plush. 

Geez.  I just want a bed that makes me feel all warm and squishy and sleepy.  Which bed is that? 

The search has been doubly complicated by reading online reviews, listening to the advice of friends, and stumbling on this whole world of luxury mattresses that I never knew existed.  I thought the Westin Heavenly Bed was irrationally expensive with its $2,400 price tag, including frame, a mattress cover, and delivery.  Then I read about the Shifman, the Hydro, and all the mattresses that are hand sewn, cashmere covered, gold dipped, and stuffed with hand spun wool from the most beautiful and delicate of wool-bearing animals in the whole world.  Crap. 

I have discovered that some people pay $5,000, $15,000, even $30,000 for a mattress set.  Do they give you that much better of a sleep experience than a regular mattress?  Do they last forever?  Do they appreciate in value?  It is best not to even attempt to try one of these mattresses.  If they are better, a million times better than a regular mattress, then I will just be depressed that I will never own one.  Even if I won the lottery, I don't think I could bring myself to pay that much for a mattress. 

In my current economic downturn, I cannot imagine affording a mattress on the low end of the high-end mattress universe.  If I did buy one, I would expect it comes with my own personal on-call masseuse.  FOREVER.  And the masseuse would have to also do dishes, change my 8,900 thread count sheets, and shave my legs for me.  Seriously. 

So, maybe I will go on a mattress-trying excursion this weekend.  I am sure that actually trying a mattress is a better strategy than shopping online and reading mountains of mixed reviews. 

I am sleepy just thinking about it.

The First Christmas

This year Bhodi, Myrtle, Sombra, and I celebrated our first Christmas in the new house.  Technically, Sombra has had Christmas here before since he was the former owners' cat, but I imagine this was a little more dog-centric than he is used to. 

Thanks to Deirdre, I had a miniature tree with all the trimmings. 

Thanks to Sarah, I have more ornaments for future miniature trees, and I have a festive table cloth for my borrowed dining room table. 

Thanks to Grandmama, I had egg on toast with homemade salt risen bread for breakfast.  It was so good, I had it for lunch too!  I also have fun Christmas decorations that G send me years ago. 

Thanks to all my friends and family, I had lots of calls, cards, and Christmas wishes. 

Thanks to Bhodi and Myrtle, I had a great Christmas walk and Christmas nap snuggled up on the bed. 

All in all, the first Christmas was a nice one, even if I was far from home. 

So, goodnight all.  So ends another Merry Christmas. 

I have accomplished something....finally. I have procrastinated other things...as usual.

This weekend I decided to take a trip to the Ace Hardware, purveyor of all things needed for home repair.  Seriously, if you haven't been to an Ace lately, GO THERE NOW.  They have stuff you didn't even know you could buy, including the best shower head ever invented.  I mean it...the best shower head ever!   

I also visited the Allison Moore Garage Extravaganza Blowout Sale.  The previous owners left all kinds of things in that garage:  paint, nails, tacks, screws, latches for screen doors, hinges, and so many other things. 

My first amazing find was at Ace: beaded chain and a connector so I could fix my pull-switch light in the kitchen. That's right...that little chain you see on lamps, ceiling fans, etc...  They sell it by the foot for almost nothing. 

Another Ace find: Bathroom sink drain cover.  Now there is no more threat of toothbrush falling into the pipes. 

My last Ace purchase: Handsaw that cuts circles, angles, etc...:  Everyone needs one of these. It's like the saws all without a motor. 

Garage finds:  a straight cutting hand saw for bigger jobs,
plywood that will serve as the door to my hot water heater closet. 
trim pieces that will serve as the frame for the door.
A screw-in hole for my screen door hook. 

So, for about $8, I fixed a screen door latch, the light in the kitchen, and I am all geared up to replace the door/frame for the hot water heater as soon as I stop procrastinating and get that thing up.  I have a mental block about putting in that door.  As soon as I see my first horrible rat monster living in there, I am sure I will get right on that project.  I will even be able to paint it a color similar to my house color and will decorate it with the words "There is a hot water heater in here!!!" 

Name Suggestions So Far

I am still thinking of the grand prize in addition to having the name painted eternally on the entrance to the house.  I will try to dream on a prize tonight and see what my mind comes up with. 

I have consolidated the suggestions so far.  Keep your suggestions coming.  You can submit as many as you like.  Having a deadline for this sort of thing seems the norm, so let's say the last day for submissions is Saturday, December 11.  It's my dad's birthday and also gives anyone time to have a few good weekend benders to get the creative juices flowing. 

Name so far:

The 1800 House
The Bhodi Adobe
Moore-rantia
The Manor
Allisonia
Eureka
GX47
Rattlesnake Ranch
Casa Colmena (beehive house)
A&B Ranch
Moore Estates
Waiting Dog Ranch
Walking Dog Ranch
Herbie
Xanadu
Character Commons
Lazy Dog Ranch
Sleeping Dog Ranch
Bhodi's Sigh
Bhodi Village

2 New Additions:
Rancho de Bhodi
Hacienda de Bhodi

Photos

Okay.  I finally took a few photos of the house.  Maybe this will help with the naming contest. 

I am still not sure what the grand prize will be, but it will include painting the name of the house on the left entry way shown below. 

The next picture is a dark view of the dining room.  Imagine it fully furnished with my random boxes put away.  Thanks to Sarah and Alex for the dining room table on loan from the Noon estate!

Another outside area complete with sink.  There is also a fountain that I will eventually restore to proper working order. 

Living room fireplace.  The sliding glass door takes you to the outside area above.  On the right is the sunken bar area because these people had a mini fridge everywhere you go in this house.  They liked their beer cold and they liked it NOW damnit! 

Below is the view from the kitchen into the living room.  You can see the beehive fireplace on the left and again the living room fireplace on the right. 



Here is the entrance to the backyard between the house and the detached garage. 

The master closet.  I still don't have a dresser, so EVERYTHING is in here.  

A little wooden bridge from one porch leading to a screened in porch that also has an access door from the master bedroom. Of course, I need to replace the screen, but that will happen someday.