Saturday, June 7, 2008

A Scorcher of a Day

Michelle over at "What Was I Thinking" has asked for a new post from me and some others, too. So this is going to be a mish-mash of a little bit of everything, since I haven't really done anything too interesting to write about!

The week started off with more strawberries! I did up another 2 gallons for the freezer. I plan to do a few more yet before the season is over, too. Then it will be peaches next! After that comes apple season! Nothing like strawberry shortcake, peach pie, or apple pie in the wintertime!



Yesterday was extremely hot here! High 90's, but my car thermometer actually read the outside temp as 103 in the afternoon! I was out running errands and shopping at Costco. By the way, those turkey salad sandwiches I mentioned in a post one day are made from the canned turkey meat, brand name of Snow's. I thought it came already made up, but it doesn't. You have to make your own turkey salad. Ann made it for lunch last Friday, and it was just so-ooooo good! I should have known it was too good to be store bought. She said she used mayo, celery, a little onion, and a teaspoon of lemon juice with the turkey. Let me tell you, it was delicious!!!


It's too hot to go anywhere or do anything outside, so I've been thinking that I really need to get busy and finish a big project I started last June! I used to work for a builder, and he came one Saturday and helped me tear out the hardwood floor in my foyer (I have never been a fan of hardwood floors) and also an area of carpeting in front of the foyer closet. I've always wanted ceramic tile in that entire area. I hate having workers in my home with their dirty shoes on, so I decided that I would tackle it myself. I went out and bought a tile cutter, a pair of nippers, a mitre box and saw, etc. and went to work! Richard, the builder loaned me his laser level, and it was a breeze to keep the tile joints straight and square using it. I laid my son's foyer when he built his new home quite a few years ago (when I was much younger!), but I forgot what a job it was! His dad did the cutting, and I did the laying. Sounds easy, right? Wrong!!! It's a lot of back-breaking work! Stosh helped me with some of the trim, but he is having trouble at the present time with one of his knees, and Richard said he would help me, too, but I can do it....all I have to do is set my mind to it and just do it!

My foyer is 12 feet long and 7 feet wide at the widest point. One day I laid 14 tiles, and then other days I would just lay 2 or 3 tiles, and some days, I didn't lay any! I went 3 weeks one time without laying any at all! It got to be quite a chore, especially when you have a bad back. I finally got the tile all laid, but I am still working on replacing the baseboard and shoe moulding that I damaged tearing the hardwood out.

These townhomes are relatively new. Mine was only 8 months old when I bought it and was like new. Just a young mother and her son lived here, and then she was transferred with her job. I replaced the carpeting and pad throughout, as I wanted continuous filament carpeting, which doesn't show wear or a traffic pattern. I made the big mistake of choosing off-white! I love it, but it's really not practical. There is just me, so I don't wear shoes in the house, so it stays clean, but it's always a worry when a cat decides to give me a hairball surprise! At that time, I only had 3 cats...no problem, but that has changed since I added more to the household since then.

Anyhow, I still want to lay a 3' x 3' area of ceramic tile by the back door yet, and when I get that done, then I can get the carpet guy to come in and tack down the carpet where it meets the tile. It will be a year on June 10th that I started this project! The tile is all laid in the foyer, but I just need to put down a few small pieces of the primed baseboard and then paint it. I think it's about time I got busy and finished it! That's easier said than done! Someday I would like to tackle my kitchen, but geez, that will take me 2 years to get that done! I think I've been watching too much HGTV, as they make everything look so simple! LOL

This is a pic of the first day when I laid 14 tiles. What a mess I was in! I can't stand for my house to be torn or messed up like this!



Making progress...slow but sure!


I had lots of help in the background....notice the cat eyes a-shining!


Below is how I got my corners cut perfectly...I made paper patterns, allowing for joint allowance and baseboard thickness, and then traced them onto the tiles.


In this one, the inspector, Miss Bootsie, is checking out my progress. ("What's this? My hiding place is not done yet, Mom?") The cats about drove me crazy when I was doing all this!


When I get it all done, I will post a pic of it. It looks really nice, now that I have the grouting all done! I could finish it in a day if I would just set my mind to it. Seems the older I get, the less ambition I have, yet the more ideas I get! Please tell me I'm not alone.....

13 comments:

Carole Burant said...

Good morning Nancy:-)

Thank you so much for coming by my blog and entering my Sweet Candle Giveaway...I love having giveaways as it lets me meet so many new wonderful people! I wanted to come visit you that same day you commented but I've been so busy the last few days, I didn't spend much time at the computer. Today is my day of doing absolutely nothing but blog visit! lol

Your strawberries look sooo yummy, I can't wait for them to be in season over here which is usually around mid July. Like you I freeze a lot of them and I also make jam.

Good for you for doing the work on your foyer tiles by yourself...I do know, though, what backbreaking work it can be! It's going to be just gorgeous when you're all done, can't wait to see pictures of the finished project:-)

I've added you to my Bloglines so I'll certainly be back to visit!! xoxo

Mrs. Mom said...

Hi Ya Nancy!
Thanks for stopping in at HorseFeathers!

Holy Hannah-- those berries look sooooo good. Made my mouth water... which causes drool on the keyboard, which is really a bad thing. hehe ;)

You are right- the lawn here is brown and getting mighty crunchy again. We are looking at record temps today and tomorrow, and I am not sure when we will get any rain to ease things off. Makes me worry....

Sorry I dont have time for a long visit here today, but I will surely be back for more as soon as this weekend is over! I will do my best to get that pic up on the Daily Journal blog too- my Dad reads that every day, and keeps up with the goings on down here! ;)

Looking forward to talking more with you!

Susie said...

Hi Nancy,
Your strawberries look delish. I wish I had some extra space in the freezer to store some. Guess we'll have to work on using things up.
Never in my wildest dreams would I think of trying to lay tile! My hats off to you.
hugs

Diane said...

The strawberries look SO good. I wish I had time to do that this year. Seems we're always on the go or doing something else.

Your tile work is incredible! Believe me everyone, I've seen it and Nancy has done a great job. I would have to have mine done by a professional...I'm too impatient to wait on myself to get it done! LOL

Michelle said...

The strawberries look absolutely yummy! Do you deliver?

And oh the glory of fresh peaches, I can almost smell them.

I am sure the tile will look gorgeous. Unlike you though, I wish for wood floors! Good luck with the project.

I will get on the stick and post the pictures, probably tomorrow. We are at Allen's for the weekend so I don't have my upload cable. We had such a blast at Billy Bowlegs. WE left the kids at home this time and went out with friends. Everyone would be drinking on the boat and it really wasn't a group to have the kids around, all work related friends. I am taking them to the Torchlight parade on the 9th.

Chat later!

Hugs,

Michelle

hippo chick said...

hi nancy,

the berries make my mouth water. yum! yum! i am very impressed with you tile job. gretch and brian laid their own in their house. way out of my league.

hippo hugs,
p.

Michelle said...

Viol;a! The new post awaits.

Still salivating over your strawberries!

Susie said...

Hi Nancy,
Me again!
Just wanted to let you know I've tagged you for a meme. No pressure, only do it when, (or if) you want!
hugs!

Midlife Mom said...

Wow! I wouldn't have a clue how to do a tile floor! You have my admiration for sure!!!
Those strawberries look sooooooooo good, I'll be glad when they are ready here. Poor hubby can't eat them any more due to the seeds so I won't be making any pies but I will have a few bowls of them myself.
It's been really hot here too but tonight it has cooled off and we are getting a good breeze. Hopefully won't have to run the air conditioning all night tonight. The humidity has dropped too which is such a relief, I just hate the humidity, makes me feel like I can't get out of my own way! lol!
Hope you are having a good week and look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sam said...

Hi Nancy!

Thank you so much for visiting my new blog and leaving me a comment!

I think people who rescue cats are incredible!! Good for you! I can't believe you have so many, but I think it's just wonderful! :-)

Those strawberries look delicious! The only thing I've been craving during this pregnancy is fruit. I eat a huge bowl of yogurt and strawberries every morning.

Have a great day! :-)

Sammy

Michelle said...

Yo Yo Yo, get on the stick girly! I need a new post!

I seen ENOUGH of your fat cats butt walking around the corner!

(smiles).

I hope you are well!

HUGE HUGS

kneadstoknow said...

Awww Nancy.. that photo of the kitty is just precious.

Very nice blog, by the way.

Thanks for visiting me too!

Jo

Jess said...

Hello Nancy...I am here from my mom's blog...Diane from Diane's Place and I also read your comment on Sammy's blog about having 30 cats! So I had to come over here....I LOVE cats and at one time I had 5 in the house...I only have 2 right now and 1 outside but there are 3 or 4 more out there that eat. Just wanted to stop in and say hello and nice to meet you. Anyone who can handle that many furry things in their home must be a wondeful person! Because I know that they take up the whole house and act just like humans!