Walking the Floor

Well, here it is, at last. The new floor I've been putting down on my vacation. What do you think? I have to say we've had several service people in and when they see it the all say it is beautiful. I, of course, think the same thing but I am predjudiced, I guess.
Here you can see Sarah is really impressed!
The following shots are similar to the previous floor post but now the floor covering is down.

This is a simple peal and stick tile. Previously, I've put down a roll of vinal floor covering in two bathrooms with glue but not this. I can't say it is easier folks. This is a bit labor intensive.

Every tile had to be positioned and we actually had to reposition two because we got off the required "pryamid" method. You don't lay this in a straight line from the corner. You start from the center point and work outward in pyramids. Believe me, if you deviate, it messes things up.

I figure if the adhesive comes loose we can always use a different adhesive. I've told Becca to just use a slightly damp mop to clean it and avoid a having liquids in her bedroom.

We also painted the ceiling in the kitchen and living room and the walls in the living room had to be touched up.

Sarah apparently likes the apartment but I hope they aren't going to be too cramped. It is a small one bedroom with a full basement.

I've posted some new photos of Sarah in the albums for those interested. We took her to the mall to the play area where a little boy seemed to just fall in love with her. He played big brother the whole time we were there. They were so cute together. He had a 9 month old baby sister of his own but she has Down Syndrome. He was just wonderful with Sarah so I know he will be a wonderful big brother.

Monday is back to work day and frankly, every vacation I have to go back to work to get any rest. This will be no different! I kept Sarah overnight on Thursday night and she was so sweet. Had one bout of crying at bedtime for her Mama but she crawled onto my chest and lay down and cried about twice and was then sound asleep. Becca says she does that every night. She fights her sleep and wants her mother when it is bed time. But over all she was an angel both days. They said last night she went right to bed in the new place and never fussed.

Hump Day - All Down Hill

Finally, the floor is DONE! I am soooo tired, you have no idea. I am going to try and get photos tomorrow to post. It is beautiful, folks! Really. I am ready now to do it in my house.

My poor hands are so sore and I cut my thumb. I think it is slightly infected because it hurts like the dickens. I've doctored it and perhaps by morning it will be better. I am going to take tomorrow off. Ha, ha! No work on anyone's house but mine. And I'd like to site somewhere nice and relax.

I hope everyone else is havin a great week. I think Jilly may not be since the rains have set in in England. . . again! But she is about to be grandma again so perhaps she won't notice so much. Congratulations, Jilly and hope all goes well with your daughter and the little one.

Nearly There

Needless to say, I didn't nothing to day except go to church and take a loooooog nap. I will be going back to church soon for the evening service in about an hour but wanted to upload some new photos of Sarah for everyone to see. She is such a pixie and I have to share.

Also, here are some photos of the work on the floor nearing completion. Of course, we forgot to take before photos but you can see what I've been doing for the last week. Tomorrow, I hope to finish it for good.

Here you can see the built in chest and shelves where we had to piece the plywood for the small areas. If you squint at the left side of the photo, you may be able to see where the air vent is set into the wood.

There will be a window seat on top of the chest that is padded. I see Sarah up there on rainy days.
The lines are where we sealed the seams. That is what we have to sand tomorrow. I am hoping my daughter-in-law will do this. It is terrible on my knees. If not, I will have to get a pad to kneel on.

You can see from looking at the wood grain why we hated to cover up the plywood. It is really some lovely wood. I am not sure but I think you could build cabinets out of this stuff!
This is taken from inside that built-closet and toward the hallway. You can see where the plywood sheet ended and we had to cut another strip to fill in to the wall.
Finally, the final corner. You can see my little helper here surveying the work. Size is difficult to gage in photos. That is a 4x8 sheet of plywood. The room took three and a half sheets total.

Vacations and Building Projects

Vacation has begun! I am so glad! Friday afternoon was a breeze because I knew I was going to be off for 10 days! The director allowed the agency to close at 4 p.m. so that was an added bonus. I am waiting for my ride to go over and finish the apartment. We have one or two things left to do and then we are finito!

As I have worked on this floor I am feeling better now about my impending kitchen remodel. I have to replace the whole floor and I want new cabinets. Now that I know what I am doing, the counter tops are going to be the biggest expense I fear. Anyone with ideas on quick, easy and lovely countertops, feel free to advise!

I am really sore in my hands and back but it is just one of those things, I think that happens from exertion rather than the unending mess I deal with regularly. Actually, that has been better as the weather has cleared somewhat. The neck and shoulder are still a problem and Thursday my calves, particularly that left one, was bad.

Oddly, I've learned the difference in the fibro pain and other kinds. I wonder if the pain from overworked muscles is not connected to the same part of the brain as frbro pain. Over work does make the pain worse but this week, the pain has been different because the fibro pain appears to have eased up. So recovery seems faster and the pain less severe! Crazy.

I'm leaving for now. Back soon and hopefully, I'll have some photos of the work near completion. Should have taken some before and after but we forgot. The litter box discovery was shocking and all we wanted to do was get rid of it and get the thing fixed. Toodles!

Floored

I spent my evening flooring the bedroom of my sister's rental unit. As I mentioned in a previous post, the previous tenant ruined the carpet by allowing her animals to urinate on it... repeatedly. the floor underneath was hardwood but in terrible condition and stained by the animals. We ripped the carpet out last weekend and tonight and tomorrow night we are installing a underlayment in preparation for a new floor covering. It will probably be a vinal of some sort if she can afford it. Right now we just need to get a floor down so the new tenants can move in!

And no, I don't get paid for this. Tomorrow I will probably pay the piper. Hauling around 4x8 ft. sheets of half inch luane plywood is not an easy task. I am a perfectionist so ever piece is fitted in carefully. We even cut out the hole for the air conditioning vent. It was a perfect fit with no excess space. After the floor is done, we have to seal the cracks with wood filler to give a smooth surface so the floor covering won't crack in those areas. I've done this twice before on bathroom floors but this is the largest floor project I've had to this point. I must say, I am quite pleased with the results but I am not anxious to do it again, thank you very much.

So, I am going to bed now and hope I am able to crawl out tomorrow. Vacation is two days away! I have to have this done by Saturday. I have NO intention of spending my vacation doing work for someone else.

Night yall.