What next?

I am almost afraid to ask that...

So our renters are moving out becuase they have bought a house. I am happy for them. But now will be the first time to rent to strangers. They introduced some friends that want to rent, which is nice of them. And yesterday we went down to meet them.

Now, the couple we rented to are nice kids. But in the 7 years (could not believe it was 7 years!!) we rented to them - they could jsut not get it thru their heads that they were renting and needed to run it past us before they did anything to/for the house. No matter how many times we went over that with them.

Yesterday we found lots of plants - some of which they will have to leave. And they have put down bark over the dirt in the backyard. HAve not kept the bamboo cut back (which the previous renters planted without our permission) as we asked - and a couple of trees overgrown and the front yard a mess. But I knew that from driving by it about a month ago and we planned to take care of those things soon.

What we didnt know what that they redid the kitchen floor.....they pulled up and discarded all the carpeting in the house (ok, the carpeting was pretty old so no big deal - but they didnt quite know as much about taking care of the hardwood floors as they seem to think). And the bathroom floor that was fixed about a year ago (that is a story in itself how we got boonswoggled on that one) needs look into cause it was a very crappy job - especially for how much we ended up paying.

Now, as we were talking with our new renters (yes, we signed a lease yesterday) they asked what we were going to do about the bathroom sink and tub. Now you WOULD THINK the renters would have told us about those issues wouldnt you????????????????????? Nope....the bathroom sink leaks from several places (and it looks like they tried re-painting the sink at some point and doing a horrible job) and the tub is in horrible shape with a broken drain in the bottom.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now we need to re-do the bathroom. No real big problem except for - when???????
It would take at least a week to do it and we dont have a week. Cause of our vacation and all.
To replace the sink we will have to pull out the old vanity cause the sink is set into tile - and that means pulling tile off the wall and re-doing the wall. There is some wall repair to do around the shower tiles too. We are trying to find out about refinishing the tub and tile like we have done here in our house.

Need to pull up the shoddy floor and check to see what repairs need to be done to the repairs that were done. I guess we could jsut then lay down more linoleum in a quick repair...would be nice to tile it for long term, but time wise probably not.

So - between our trip and the new grandbaby and work and school - and them moving in, and what not - where do we fit in the time??? Especially since it is an hour and a half away????
I dont want contractors down there without us, so that isnt a solution either!

Went to the little county fair....and I am sooooo disappointed. The one thing I was looking forward to eating - was not there! Oh well....

Anyone know of a fairy godmother who could wave her wand and fix the bathroom for us???

Summer is birthday time!

The first birthday in June was Owen's and he turned 2.

And then there was mine, and I turned....hmmm, so old I cant remember!

And at the end of July was son John's (See below).

Now, in August was Jack's 2d birthday.

In Sept daughter Katie will have a birthday - and her daughter will be born. First she was Lola, now she might be Kaya....we will see who she actually is when she gets here!

Next, in November, Connor will turn 5 and he will hopefully have a big surprise that involves a little bit of travel to southern Ca (but dont tell him!).

After that in quick succesion - all in December is son in law Earl, daughter Jessyca, and hubby Tom. Then we have a break again until next summer...

My SCRAWL is almost done - I am getting very impatient to try it on!

Have jury duty tomorrow - possibly. Called tonight and I have to call again tomorrow between 1100 and 1300....I really dont want to go to Oakland especially since they wont let you knit in the jury room any more!!!

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday to you, dear son.....wow....how many years ago? 28 years ago at the Reading Hospital Medical Center in Reading PA I gave birth to a 10 lb 1/2 oz bruiser....and now he is taller and leaner but still a bruiser (just ask his nephews!). Altho in the photo above, it looks like he has taught his nephews well to follow in his footsteps...

If you havent done so already, take a trip over to his website and you can see one of the things that makes us proud...his artwork....www.midnightmurals.com (link down below).

And a clatter arose...

Ended up being on call yesterday - at least the first 4 hours. So decided to go to market with Tom. But before we left - the birdies out in the backyard were all in an uproar! Loud and continuous - what is that racket?

So went outside -without my camera darn it - and on the fences were 2 hawks. Just sitting there over the rose bush mess that the birdies hide in. Heck, they werent even drooling Just sitting there. With their attitude.

When I walked out there, one of them took off. But the other one let me walk up to about 3 feet in front of him, when he decided to very nonchalantly take off...sure wish I had my camera with me!

Got to 3 garage sales. My only brag is about 8 or so plant pots all for $5. And a pretty necklace. But then, garage sale-ing was cut short by the phone call that said "C'mon in".

Came home tho to a bathroom with doors up!!! Now, I need to start moving stuff back in there cause it is useable again!

We Have Sink!

Yesterday the plumber came and moved the pipes.....and installed the vanity and the sink!!!

Yay!! We have sink!!!!

This weekend Tom will get the baseboards in - and hopefully very soon we will have the electrician over to put in the light ...

Today I looked at replacement drawer pulls for the vanity - brought home 3 sets and already ruled out one. Got some items, like toilet paper holder and toothbrush holder.

So next step we will have to do the ceiling - well figure out what to do with it!

Turn up the sound and take a trip down memory lane...

http://moreoldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheSixties.htm

Sad news

This is sad news for a nurse - and for the daughter of an Army nurse in WWII

"Army Nurse Killed in Combat
A popular Army nurse who volunteered for duty in the combat zone in Iraq has died from injuries suffered in a mortar attack on July 10,2007. The attack took place in Bagdad's "Green Zone." Army Captain Maria I Ortiz was 40 years old. She was born in Pennsauken, NJ and raised in Puerto Rico. She will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Capt. Ortiz is the first Army nurse to be killed in combat since Vietnam. Prior to serving in Iraq, Capt. Ortiz served at an Army health clinic in Maryland. She has also served at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC. It is rumored that a part of the new Walter Reed Medical Center will be named for Ortiz and other nurses who have participated in combat zones and given of their lives."