Another yucky week despite the wonderful weather — I bought a new computer but it’s still at the store getting the data from my dead hard drive transferred. They said it would take 24 hours. It took four days. That’s not good. This has the makings of a great blog post.
Kitchen update — The long awaited kitchen window has not come in nor has there been a scheduled date so we had the contractor install the old window at a lower height. The original appeared to be hanging off the ceiling and I couldn’t see out. Either there should be a window I can see out or no window at all. The irony is that reinstalling the existing window could have been done seven months ago and all would be done. Maybe I’m a slow learner or maybe people don’t speak the truth about delivery times. Remember my post on the useless term “end of the month.”
An invasion? — On Friday at 7:10 a.m. a tree service came with a convoy of eight super huge trucks. Some were dump trucks and some were sporting military grade implements to attack the dead trees in the wooded area that borders our yard. The noise was mind numbing. I couldn’t think (which is hard enough that early on a normal day). The good news is that with all that equipment and the army of men that came along they were in and out in a few hours.
More bad luck — The recently installed fireplace surround will have to be removed. The company that put the granite around the firebox did not allow enough clearance to remove the front for servicing. (It’s a gas fireplace.) The beloved husband removed the first one he put in to adjust for building codes so this will be the third installation after the granite is recut. One step forward and two steps back.
Ending with an upbeat note — This weekend marks the one year anniversary of moving into our current home. We had a very snowy February last year. We had 26 inches the week prior to the move and then it kept snowing every week. This year the snow storms have been south of us. So far we’ve missed most of them. This week we were blessed with spring like weather. It’s starting the ping pong of warm days followed by cold days, then back to warm. We usually go through that before spring settles in. At least there are no single digits in the forecast. New update! Although we were expected to get a covering overnight, we got five inches. Sigh!
So how was your week?
Oh my goodness – you have been having some real ups and downs!! I’m glad at least you have a window now, and that your kitchen is closer to there. Also glad the tree removal was pretty quick. Hopefully you will have your computer back and functional sooner rather than later. Hope the fireplace issues get resolved quickly too!
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Computer is coming along. There is that nasty learning curve.
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OH, drat – and that fireplace surround sounded so wonderful…well, it’s just more wonderful now.
What a week you’ve had – good to have a new computer, but as you say, it’s the dating stage. You’ll be up to speed ( or it will re-train you) and soon it will be all smooth keyboarding.
How could a year have passed so quickly? No doubt both you and the cats are ready for that snow to leave…it does thin out the offerings of what is featured on cat TV?
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Crazy weather. We were in the 50s last week. Today we woke up to single digits. Seriously Mother Nature? What are you up to?
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It must be very frustrating to have to “undo” work that was previously done, and in other areas be stalled because of supply and installation problems, but it is remarkable to me how much you have done in just one year. It must be a very lovely home, Kate. π
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It will be perfect when we get done. The layout was good. Just needed updating.
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It’s so annoying when they get the forecast THAT wrong – from a dusting to 5 inches! We’re also getting warm-ups and then huge dips, back and forth. We’ve been getting about an inch or two of snow when it dips. The problem with that is it snows during the dips. The snow melts during the warm-ups and then turns to ice during the dips. Then the ice is under a new inch of snow. It’s happening again with a warm-up and then a dip at the end of the week.
This is a difficult time to be needing supplies for home or car repairs. And it’s going to get worse. I’d suggest keeping lots of groceries (non-perishables) on hand, cause it’ll probably get worse before it gets better.
Did you get your computer back now?
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Old computer is dead. I had to buy a new one. We are in the dating stage, trying to figure out if we like each other. It’s very quirky.
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Oh, man! All these reversals in your renovation plans must be frustrating. I hope things get straightened out soon. And then to complicate things, you’ve had the computer problem. I’m so sorry.
I agree with several other people. I was surprised to hear that you’ve been in your new house for a year already. I remember our one-year anniversary in Manila when I noticed with surprise that now I feel at home here. It took us a while to find a house and to meet all new people. The thing, though, that had made me feel lost in a strange land was my unfamiliarity with the city. But on our one-year anniversary, it struck me that I was starting to know my way around town without feeling I’d get lost. Sometimes it takes only a thing or two to make you feel settled in a new place. I hope all these annoyances will soon be over for you and you can relax and have fun.
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The computer cost me a week between connecting with a repairman, then researching a new one and finally buying and transferring data (which is a nightmare when the computer is fried). Any plans for last week were lost.
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We rely so much on our computers. It’s a disaster when they go down.
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It is.
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Sorry you have had so many issues with contractors. We have had a lot of tree cutting near us too- I guess the electric company is sick of going out during storms.
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There was a huge push on tree clearing in electrical right of ways a few years back. People were up in arms yet they hated the outages with the trees downed the lines. No one is ever happy it seems.
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A year already β time goes so fast β¦ not for you of course dealing with the many house-related issues, not to mention the car accident, phone and computer biting the dust. Funny how you ended up with the original window β next week theyβll call out of the blue to say the window is here β Murphyβs Law. I hope the computer tech figures out the problem with the data transfer. Then you have to get acclimated to a new computer β maybe a new platform if youβre doing Windows 11. Things may be normal by Easter.
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Easter may be optimistic. It’s taking me all morning to get accustomed to the new keyboard. They moved stuff around.
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That’s what I’m dreading about Windows 10. It has more bells and whistles than I like and every time I hop on to do updates and virus protection, it takes me hours to do updates. I have to learn it when I have a block of time to take my time.
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A block of time *bangs head on table laughing*. I never have time for computer knowledge except when I have to do something and figure it out. We did get the printers all synced. They are wireless systems. What a “tadoo.”
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When I got my first laptop in 2009, I got a wireless printer. I could not get the wireless printer to work, but the scanner worked … same piece of equipment. I scanned in a lot of photos, then later got an Epson flatbed scanner – the printer has been downstairs for years as I don’t use it for work.
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Originally we had a separate scanner. My husband was scanning old pics of his kids onto CDs. That project is long over so we buy all in ones. Some are just easier than others.
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My albums were oversized, so I have some pics which came out well, but others I had to twist and turn the albums and still the pictures need to be enlarged or cropped a little. Had I known that, I would have put the portable hand-held scanner to just zip down the album page and scan in images that way. Much easier.
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Wow! It’s been a year in your new home. Time flies. Well, maybe not for you. Glad the old window has been reinstalled, and you like it. Another thing off the checklist. Sorry about the fireplace, but happy to hear you have your new computer up and running.
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Tile man this week and kitchen is done. Whatever will I do with all my free time?
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year already. You’ve made amazing progress. I know it doesn’t feel this way, but to move in and have just about all your fairly substantial renovations done – during Covid, no less – in a year… I’m impressed!
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The deck will be the last one in the spring. Gearing up for that but at least no on will be in the house!
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We are currently rebuilding our deck. It’s a lot of work (we are doing it ourselves) but the old one – which we also did ourselves – was looking a bit ratty. I thought doing it in January/February would be the best weather-wise. But, after multiple days of mid-80s temps, I’m a wet rag.
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We are in the mid 20s today. Wish I could send some your way. We’ll be in the 50s by the end of the week. Weird weather. We are not doing the deck ourselves. There is a walk out basement so it’s off the second floor. Way too high for old people like us.
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Boy! Putting computer, contractor, convoy, codes, and current home in one post is almost unnerving. I hope you can pull yourself together and have a fantastic week.
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I’m hoping I live through it. Picked up Dan’s computer this morning. I am the techie in the house so I’ve been setting up both. Missed a doc apt (I blame in on the fact that my calendar got fried in the computer.)
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That’s a shame the fried computer caused you to miss an appointment.
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It was really my fault. I thought it was tomorrow but while I was waiting for Dan I remembered that the person joked with me that it was on Valentine’s Day. Doesn’t everyone want a doc apt on VD? By that time it was too late.
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John got an allergy shot today, but it was routine.
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Iβm glad you decided to regroup on the window rather than waiting – now you can do the backsplash! I hear you about trace snowstorms that trick the forecasters. We had one of those this week!
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It’s crazy about the predicting. So far until this last one, they have all underperformed. This one was an overachiever! Glad the window is in too.
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I’m hoping my old laptop hangs in there a little longer, I will not be calling a tree company nor a contractor, and I hope all the snow is gone before I head north. π
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Stay south for a while yet.
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People do not always speak the truth. That window has been a pesky thing. It has been my experience that at one year and 4 months the big stuff starts to resolve itself. Then you can do the fun stuff like purchase wall art and buy things that make the new house and you happy! Happy One Year Houseaversary! (I stole Pam’s cute word!)
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Yesterday I bought wicker baskets for the laundry room. Made me so happy I thought I needed therapy! BTW I’m typing on my new computer. Woohoo!
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Congrats on the computer! That was therapy… your wicker basket shopping.
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Well, fiddlesticks about the window and fireplace. As for the weather, I cannot think of a worse job to have these days considering how climate change adds to never getting forecasts remotely close to accurate.
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Honest, three hours prior to the storm, they were still predicting it would miss us.
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Incomprehensible, given the level of radar doppler equipment that’s used!
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A year already…..well, you certainly have packed a whole lot of “stuff” into that first year and that was in spite of the odds…bravo! What a shame on the fireplace surround AND the no-show-window. Glad you could re-use the old one and just make it so you could actually SEE out of it. Happy Houseaversary!!!
Hugs, Pam
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Thank you for the cute “Houseaversary!”… I borrowed it. π
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Thanks. Sometimes things work out but it takes time, patience and anxiety.
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I can’t believe you’ve been in the house for a year. That’s hard to believe. Happy Anniversary!
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In a way I feel like that too. In another way, it’s been a painful year of frustration but hopefully we are past that.
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Happy Anniversary & Happy Valentine’s Day!
Things will start looking up soon.
Right?
Hope you have a Super (Bowl) Day!
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Picked up my new computer so hopefully it won’t be too frustrating! Puppy bowl today!
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Arenβt some weeks just like that. Hopefully everything will sort itself out.
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Some weeks are like that. I try to be optimistic. How long can the bad stuff happen?
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I know all about the noise that comes with tree trimmers and removers. Good news, once it’s over you’re in the quiet for a long time. I’m sorry to read about your fireplace surround. That makes me sad for you. As for my week, not the best either.
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I’m picking up my computer today (hopefully) so I’m hoping for a good coming week. Tree trimmers — mind numbing. They have to go through our side yard (there is a right of way there) and ripped up the grass. Hopefully it will be repaired by the HOA who owns the wooded area.
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We just got an inch or two here, thankfully. Roads are clear, not icy. That’s my kind of snow.
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Our roads must have been too warm as they were pretty clear. I was able to get my coffee without issue. It was just a shock to get up to all that snow.
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Our roads were clear too. Thankfully!
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Happy house anniversary Kate! Itβs been a trying journey for you. Hope everything begins to fall into place soon.
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Me too. We are at the end of our indoor projects. We will rework the deck in the spring but that’s outside so no workers inside all day.
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You sound so patient. Kudos to you, I’d be throwing stuff.
The noise of chainsaws is a special kind of hell. The house across the street from us is being flipped and the it completely overgrown with trees and shrubs. Landscapers spent the entire day yesterday taking them out. I can see the front porch and front door for the first time now and it looks so much better. But what a cacophony! Not a nice quiet weekend for sure.
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It was a surprise too. We were supposed to be notified but the notification came when we saw the cavalcade rolling down the street. All good though. They were gone by noon and so are the dead trees.
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Meanwhile, the landscapers returned this morning at 7:30 AM. ON SUNDAY, WHY?!
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Cause they can!
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Wow, you’ve been in your new house a year already! Sorry about the window and fire surround though. Will you keep the old window now?
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Yes, the old window has been permanently installed with weather proofing. We are ready for the tile guy to do the back splash. The story of the window is weird. It was ordered in August but the contractor’s wife cancelled and took off with the refund money (on this and many items for other jobs). He didn’t realize it until December so he reordered. At this point the delivery is 4 months taking us to April. I just wanted to get it done. There was really nothing wrong with the old one and had I known I had the option of just lowering it, I would have done it at the time. The ordered window was taller to fill in the area at the top since the bottom was lower. He filled it with insulation and siding.
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Hopefully you’re not out of pocket.
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Hopefully not. We had prepaid a portion of the window but that would cover his work on installing the window. Hopefully.
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π
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