A peek under the hood

Following the big push of the weekend, we're still shooting for a listing in time for the holiday weekend.  However, since we've accepted our fate that we won't be "done done", we're trying to just put some lipstick on this sucker so that we can take pictures for the listing.  Don't roll your eyes at me though, just because it's listed doesn't mean it's done.  We do intend to actually finish stuff up.  Of course, if someone shows up with a big check on Saturday morning before I've finished laying quarter round, well, by all means, the game changes a bit.  ...but I'm not expecting that.

It's with that idea in hand that the "vacation day" work list was formed.  To take advantage of a well lit day, the objective was to try to get some decent shots of the outside.  So, lawn tools in hand, we set off.  If I remember correctly, there was some lamentation made about six weeks ago about how I shouldn't be mowing this lawn anymore.  But, here we are, very nearly September and I'm still mowing at Garvin.  Is this the last time?  Perhaps.  Also, we tried to clean up the azaleas out front and blow a bunch of leaves around.  I mean, who doesn't like using a backpack blower?  It's like pretending you have a cool superpower pushing swaths of leaves around like they're, well, leaves.  Ok, so it's not that cool, but still, it beats digging ditches.

Figures 1-3:  Here's the outside: "Finished".  Look, the realtor wanted "Options" and for the garage to be included from the street view.  Well, there's a tree there, I'm not digging it up or cutting it down.

 Figures 4-5.  A layer of schmutz was knocked off the garage for this.  Portrait?  ...or Landscape?

Figures 6-8. The out-of-doors!

 

After that, but while still schweaty, nasty, and covered in day-bree, I met with the realtor who was beyond grateful that we'd replaced the mailbox.  She was also impressed with the way the floors turned out.  Not sure if she was skeptical given the state previously or if she was just blowing smoke, but she mentioned the floors more than once.  We discussed our options, lock box procedures and she made a few more recommendations (like installing more kitchen shelves) before bidding adieu.  With her gone, activities moved toward eliminating the hobo-encampment on the back patio.  I guess we've just been lazy with putting tools back and just cleaning up in general, but that took way longer than expected.  Post hosing out and sweeping and this is what the patio's supposed to look like.

Figure 9.  Ok, I guess it needs a table or chairs or something, but it's as done as we're going to done it

  

Next on the list of projects was to tackle the cutting of a mirror for the guest bathroom.  After taking one of the old mirrors downtown to be cut (and breaking one in transit, oopsie!), a newly cut, appropriately sized mirror was ready for installation.  Since hoisting and mounting (teehee) is a two-person job, that needed to wait for the Boss (Hi Wife!).

 

With that, the work transitioned to "framing" the hearth with trimwork.  But, since I suck at adhering to the old adage of "measure twice cut once" (I only measured once and cut my only piece of trim a 1/2" short - Nope, not bitter!), a trip to the depot (remember, it's Deh-poh, not DEE-poh) to replenish.  Then, with the help of the trusty (but not yet rusty!) chop/miter saw, it got done did.  By that time, the Boss (Hi Wife) had returned.  She wandered around being productive doing things like painting doors and installing hardware, I was relegated to the bathroom.  ...cleaning, thankyouverymuch.  Hardware polished, fixtures cleaned, touch-ups painted, shower head installed, yadda yadda, we moved to mirror installation. [Ed. note: No, no pictures, quitcherbitchin'].

 

Long[er] story short[er] after a little cussing, we got the newly cut old mirror installed, making another room that much closer to completion.  But, passing by a few minutes later I noticed a nice little crack in the corner of the mirror at the mounting point.  "Hey Kelly, looks like the mirror's cracked", I said rubbing my finger along the spidering.  She hadn't finished replying sarcastically, "Great" when the crack became a full blown break and our mirror was being removed.  Hard to believe my delicate touch could've over-torqued the screws, but I guess that's what happened.  ....OR, since the mirror was hot from being out in the sun, it expanded and then began to shrink as it cooled off to indoor temperatures putting unacceptable stresses on the fixtures.  Yeah, that sounds better.  Either way, we're still out a mirror.  POO!

 

By this time it was getting dark which meant it was the perfect time to make precision cuts (outside) on our tiles so that the hearth could be tiled.  After much cussing and measuring, measuring and cussing (by me, not the boss), we arrived at the following:

 

Figure 10.  Yup, that tile looks familiar.

 

The next two days's's after work activities will still be focused on putting lipstick on this piggy.  Hopefully Friday's post will include a link to the listing.  We shall see!