Mid-size project: repairing and painting the hall attic opening

 Long ago - maybe 20 years or so - Mark bought a new water heater for the house, but didn't realize it wouldn't fit in the opening to the attic.  On delivery and set-up day, he made a rushed decision to split the frame opening to allow installation. (I don't know why he didn't alter the attic opening in the garage instead - it didn't matter to me if that one was pretty or not) To say I was dismayed over seeing my attic frame split open, then not even reassembled neatly is putting it mildly. He said he would fix it.  And the rest is history.

The whole thing has looked terrible all this time.  Also of note: random rusted nail spots, a bit of insulation trim stuff bulging out, and a filthy pull string.  And from this perspective you can see how the white walls and trim make the ceiling look dirty, but that's a separate issue.

Looks like he gave up trying to get it nailed into the framed section of ceiling and just screwed it in.  Please note how the ends of the trim do not abut.  I have been horrified about this for YEARS.  I nagged, I asked nicely, then I just gave up and tried not to look up when I was in the hall.  I knew it needed to be fixed, and I figure I could probably just even out the jagged edges and paint it, so I added it to my list of home fix-its.

I'm not going to wash the filthy pull string, though.  So I rooted around in my trims box and found some cord (I only had green cord, oh. well.)  and a pretty ceramic knob that can function as a pull.  A knot and a little dab of E6000 glue at either end will help it stay together snugly.

I trimmed the bulging foam insulation, patched and sanded as much as I dared, and used a magic eraser to clean it up.  Then I paused for the weekend, as I had started this project late in the week.  But already, it looks like the ends of trim match up a little better, right?  We're gonna say yes.

I taped off the lights and detectors.  Caulked around the frame, then painted it, then tackled a fresh coat of paint on the ceiling - by far the hardest part.

But before I tackled the ceiling, I replaced the grimy pull cord.  I used a metal ruler to help hold the insulation up off the hole, then melted the string a bit, and pushed it through, knotting the end a few times.

You know I had to test it out!  Side note: I am not a fan of the attic with its creepy stale hot air and psycho-hiding-waiting-to-kill-you vibes.  I'm working on it, though. 

From my desk, I look over to a clean and neat attic opening.

I even replaced the switchplate cover with something pretty that coordinates with the ceramic pull knob.  I ordered a matching one for right across from the laundry nook.  Might as well have little touches here and there that make me smile.

You cannot tell it was repaired, and if you do, you get a cookie.  (:

The light fixtures were cleaned and replaced, too.  It was a bigger job overall than I assumed it would be, which often happens.  But now, I am crossing this off the list.  Oooh - imagine how it will look with new carpet!

Happy Good Friday!

Gina

What the week holds and fish tacos

 I am on a serious soft taco kick that has lasted for months.  HEB has really delicious bakery tortillas in plain, butter, southwestern, and whole wheat.  I eat them with whatever filling items I happen to have. Its not particularly healthy, but it is so easy to cook.  And bonus: this week I made my own refried beans from a pound of dry pintos, some bacon fat, and chopped onion.  

So. freaking. good. I eat these once a week.

I'm not going to learn how to make my own tortillas and why would I?

This week I am:

*working 12 hours on Monday

*spiffing the attic opening and hall ceiling

*having a check-in with my therapist

*maybe doing some yard work

*seeing Firstborn for dinner one night

*walking each day

*and planning a nice Easter lunch to take to work

Its going to be a pretty springy last week of March, full of pollen and possibility.  What does your week look like?

Gina

5 thing Friday - trim repairs, cobblers, reading, spiffing, cooking

Back when the dishwasher flooded the kitchen, I thought that there was no lasting damage done to the floors or baseboards, but I was sadly mistaken.

The corners of the bookcase in the den were a casualty.

I know nothing of woodworking or building and I was not about to pry off the trim on the bookcase and rebuild it. (will I learn this some day? time will tell)  Instead I went with a quick fix of patching it up and painting over it.

This is the trusty trim paint I use in many places in the house.  Its not cheap, but it works so well.  I also bought a little flexible paintbrush with a shorter handle to make it an easier job.

I patched, then sanded, then taped it off.

Afterwards, it is less noticeable that there was a boo-boo here.

Its not perfect - but my eye is not drawn to it every time I walk into the kitchen from the den.

I have been on a cobbler kick.  This is peach cobbler with pralines and cream ice cream from Southside Market BBQ.  Their BBQ is merely "ok", in my opinion, and I am not a BBQ snob. But the warm cobbler and friendly lady scooping it up was wonderful.

I was inspired to make a skillet cobbler with blackberries and blueberries.  Ice cream of choice was Dulce de Leche.  And now I have had enough cobbler for awhile!

I really like the book club I found at a local library.  It is 99% women, we read such good books, and the discussion is very thorough.  It has been a blessing to me to rediscover reading for pleasure, which is something I have loved since I was in elementary school.  I walked home from school with my head in a book, kid's magazine subscriptions were eagerly awaited each month, and I always had several books checked off the Scholastic flyer sent home from school. As a working mom of four, my reading time was severely curtailed over the years.  But adding it back in has given me such a peaceful way to spend downtime.

The next patch and paint job is the attic opening in the hallway.  One day I may replace the trim edging along the opening, but right now I just want it not to be an eyesore.  I will replace the pull string with the above pretty and give the entire ceiling a coat of fresh white paint.

fish tacos from another day

I've had 5 days off this week, and I am pretty over cooking and food prepping.  I have successfully emptied what I had in the freezer, and restocked it.  I made a corned beef brisket to portion for easy sandwiches, divided up a big package of chicken drums, and bought some freezer veggies for easy sides.  Tonight I will end on a fish taco note to use up the rest of the fish, tortillas, and cilantro ranch dressing.  Its one of my favorite meals, even when I am in "I Hate Cooking" mode.  And now its time to get ready for the work weekend!

Happy Friday!

Gina

Spring bucket list

I got this idea of making a spring bucket list form Joanne at Slices of Life.  I haven't come up with a bucket list in a while.  I'm going to create a hybrid list with tasks, plans, and new experiences.

the jury is still out on whether this crepe myrtle will thrive...

Starting with the official start of Spring - file my taxes, treat crepe myrtle,  paint hall ceiling and attic opening, look into swim lessons?, clean and reposition landscape lights, order a swimsuit, go admire some bluebonnets.

April - spiff up the front door area, clean the A/C coils, touch up outside paint,  clean the gutters, plan a summer trip, finish the photo album project, watch the bats emerge at sunset at the Congress St. bridge.

May - get the mower maintenance done, mulch landscape beds, powerwash the back patio and front steps, take a calligraphy class, go to the symphony, visit Barton Springs, go to the farmer's market.

Also:

*Big ticket items to begin researching: Carpeting for house, toaster oven, tub insert for guest bath, fridge.

*See a friend for coffee/beer at least twice

*Meet with a book club at least twice

*Try a new thing - Qigong meditation

*Cook a new dish for myself

*Take one Saturday off and visit a farmer's market or similar

*See each of my peeps for a lunch

*Start getting semi-regular pedicures

*Meet with therapist twice, minimum

*Catch some live music

This makes me excited for Spring!

Gina

Little project - repainting bathroom light fixtures

This morning-long project came about because I noticed rust along the edges of the light fixture in my bathroom.  Rather than replace the lighting, which is up against wallpaper, I elected to spray paint it.

I did this many years ago, when I noticed the same thing.  Back then I had picked a silver color that I did not love.

Who knew it would be so hard to find the color I was looking for, but I did, then when all was said and done it appeared darker than I expected, but no way am I doing this project over from scratch.

I turned off the breaker and hauled the ladder in.  I couldn't remember how I had removed this fixture before.  I knew when the little cans were popped off, the face plate would just slip off the bulb outlets.  I finally figured it out after Googling it!

Maybe Mark helped me with that the last time?

It was super dirty up here.  Along with the bulbs being caked with sticky dust, so was the wall and the fixture.  I also took this opportunity to clean the mirror allll the way up to the top.

I am very happy for the purchase of this ladder!  That yellow clip-on tray is handy.

Here is a close-up of the rust.  It must be almost 15 years ago that I spray painted these.  (Are they outdated?  Yes, they are original to my 1993 house. Do they work anyway? Also yes.)

I vented the garage by lifting the garage door a bit, then turned on a fan after each quick coat of spray paint, pointed towards the opening.  I let each coat dry a good 30 minutes.

Then after lunch I popped everything back on and screwed in the newly cleaned bulbs.  See what I mean about it looking dark?  But it actually coordinates with the wallpaper and when I came in here later to look at it, I thought "well, that's just right!".  Its got a brownish tint to it.  I kinda love it.  I think the lighter champagne color would not have been right after all.

I rarely use these lights as it makes the bathroom too bright in the mornings.  But I am glad to have it spiffed up in general.  Next to do in this room is patch an area on the ceiling, then repaint the ceiling, and maybe stain the grout.  And none of that is urgent - just little things added onto a growing list of fix-its for my home.  Which is OK, I think, since I am learning how to do many things!

Gina

5 thing Friday - light bulbs, savings account, spray paint, yard tasks, relax

 This week feels like its been one misadventure after another.  Maybe the universe is telling me to sloooowwww down.

Thinking I was being efficient, I replaced the flood lamps out on the patio one day.  Then came out the next day to discover that one of them had exploded.  {I had ignored the little voice in my head that said the bulbs I used were not the right ones.}

these are in fact, the right ones

Usually I will take the broken/used thing I am replacing to the store with me to get the right one.  This time I had merely used what I had on hand.  Big mistake.  A trip to Lowe's to compare bulbs and buy the right ones was was what I should have done to begin with.

I did find the right ones - and the spray paint for the bathroom fixtures. Side note: Lowe's is where you should go for spray paint.  They have a huge selection, you can peruse the colors at will, and some old grumpy dude in the paint department won't have to come unlock the paint "cage" for you.

Once I was back home, I turned off the breaker to the patio, carefully carefully unscrewed the remains of the bulb, and replaced it with the right ones.  Crisis managed.

It was past time for me to deal with two old savings accounts that had minimum deposits in them, languishing and about to go into dormancy.  Closing one of them felt surreal.  Mark and I had used this account for 8 vehicle loans.  The closest branch to me was Round Rock, and was not worth the drive or the extra paperwork/memory to maintain it.  Turns out that closing an unused savings account does not impact your credit score.  The other savings account is tied to a refi we did on this house many years ago.  I could use that one as an emergency fund.  Or not.  I make the best financial decisions I can on my own, after all. 

Ok, this is the exact paint color I was searching for the re-do the lights in the master bathroom.  Its a beautiful shimmery cross between silver and gold, called Satin Nickel.

I think it will be perfect for spiffing this light fixture.  Again, I will cut off the power, pop off the light cover, spray it, then replace.  And now that I have my handy dandy ladder, I won't have to stand on the actual bathroom counter to reach it.  This might be on my short list of things to do today.

I have been doing a repertoire of spring tasks in the backyard: repotting plants, wiping down patio furniture, sweeping, replacing the garden hose, adding soil to the raised beds,

raking tons of leaves.  Yesterday during all of that I lost my one functional hearing aid, then spent a frantic 20 minutes on my knees in the lava rock section frantically going over every square inch.  Finally found it sitting atop a pile of leaves to be scooped up.

I accepted that as my nudge to stop for the day, built a firepit, then sat with my wine to decompress as dinner was cooking in the oven.  There are only so many tasks I am going to get done in one day.  Today I will clean and store the firepit and make me a spot to relax in my anti-gravity lounge chair.

My sweet potato experiment is going well.  She likes her pasta jar and spot in the window, apparently.  I will leave her here and just watch her grow.  Yesterday I potted an agave and whenever I am done with cleaning up the oak leaves and pollen out back, I will move all the plant babies back to their spring/summer homes.  But for today, the To Do list has been scaled back, and I am looking forward to some reading time in my lounge chair out on my swept patio.

Happy Friday!

Gina

Pros and cons: thinking about retirement

 I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about how retirement will play out.  I am starting the process, even though I know that I'm still a couple of years out from making big changes.

Having my own desk at work feels unusual for me but I kinda love it

Over 30 years, more or less, I have worked hard to get to get to where I am right now with a great shift (Saturday through Monday), a boss who values me, an easier workday, increased pay, and maximized benefits.  And work provides me with intangibles, too, like socialization and a sense of purpose.  My weekends bookend my days off, which are easier traffic-wise and in setting appointments. Those four days off provide me with lots of rest, free time to work on my hobbies or my home, and time to meet up with friends and family.  There are several reasons for me to keep working, and not one I can think of right now to stop.

This was an epiphany of sorts to me.

I can plan for retirement in the future, but I will continue working this job and this schedule until I am ready to pull back.  A lot of what feels unlikeable about my day-to-day living is like burnout, and I can take steps to improve that.  In every job, no matter how much you love or value it, there are going to be challenges.

Anyway, that's where my head is today.  The week ahead holds a book club meeting, starting a new book (The Frozen River), continuing the photo project, getting my desk organized, and doing a bit of yardwork.  Missing from the list will be worrying about the future!

Gina