MY FIRST POST OF THE NEW YEAR...

Brought the new year in by cleaning my house Jan. 1 [as Blue put it on her blog] "I swept it with a glance"! Normally I bust my butt trying to have the house clean by the end of the 1st because of an old saying my step-mother followed. Don't know why it always stuck in my head but I had always figured it was worth the effort? She believed in the Scottish tradition of "Hogmanay" which part of it consisted of "sweeping out the old" preferably with a new broom and your home will stay clean the year through! Every year I tried this and every year it never worked so this year I refused to let "old customs" get me down and rested instead. I must admit I preferred the resting way better! Hopefully it won't get any messier!

I've been slowly removing the Xmas decor from my home and at work. Normally I leave it up until Jan. 7 [for Ukrainian Xmas...to honor my sister-in-law and friends] but not this year. Seeing as it's been up at work for two months I've already grown tired of it and seeing as I'm not Ukrainian myself...why bother they will celebrate it whether I do or not. So the red part stays and I'll be the first one to put up my Valentines!

I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I've changed my blog picture to include both my fur kids. Suki stands out whereas Thumber would rather not be noticed. I should have made my figure wider but I guess this is how I see myself. I'm allowed to dream!

Things a work here, has been fairly slow, but I've been busy designing signs and working on the stage set design. Now PoD and I have 2 weddings that we've been asked to decorate for, which also means coming up with fantastic ideas...so right now the brain is full! Blogging will be done sporadically!

Over the Xmas holidays Trebor [PoD worked a bit...her job was mostly kid watching] and I have been working on the renovations upstairs. We've managed to lay the wiring for the new plug-ins and moved some switches in preparation for the electrian to come in and hook them all up. I would show you pictures of the progress only PoD borrowed my down-loading cord for her camera at home and I haven't seen it since. Hopefully she or I will remember to remind each other to get it here so I can?

So now you know what I know and now I should get to work...times awasting.....

RENOVATIONS UPDATE...

On Saturday, Trebor and I spent about 3 hrs cleaning up the last mess that we made the last time he was here. Who would of thought that it would take so long! Granted, while I was cleaning, he was busy tearing more down!

In Dodge, we are only able to take stuff to the dump on Thursdays [3-8:00pm] and on Saturdays [2-6:00pm] so we have to plan our days accordingly.

This weekend, Trebor's brother [Sined] and sister-in-law [Kcinna] and her kids were coming to have Thanksgiving with him, PoD and my grandkids. They were supposed to have arrived Friday but vehicle problems delayed them until Saturday around 5:00 pm or so.

Renovations started in earnest on Sunday after lunch. This time Trebor and I had help from BillyRoo and Sined. Our first mission was to fix the roof damage [inside], so that when the snow flies, the weight of it won't make it bulge inwardly! We also re-supported the roof where there was no support!

Seems I was right about the place being a "rooming house" in the olden days! They built the walls for the tiny rooms [I figure there was 8 rooms] and then installed the roof. So when the "Idiot who owned the place before" renovated, he removed bearing walls and that's what helped the roof to slowly collapse! Thankfully, Sined had done renovations before and was able to give us some great ideas on how we should go about fixing and shoring! We we got quite a bit done and we still have some more to do, but this is what it looks like now...

Here's all of the rotten rafters that held up the ceiling in the bedroom, dining room and kitchen...

On the ground where they belong! To the dump is next!

THANKSGIVING SUPPER...

Meanwhile PoD and Kcinna were busy making our Thanksgiving feast! I had put my contribution to the meal [ham] in the oven at noon to slow cook while I helped the guys. In my case I would rather build than cook! We stopped for supper around 6:00pm and ate a wonderful meal! The girls did a fantastic job...my ham was so well cooked that it fell off the bone!

Trebor and his brother decided that they wanted to keep working on the place so they went back and tore out more stuff! They also added a couple more support posts...so we now have added 4 metal posts that will now hold the roof like it should have before!

While the guys were busy fixing, PoD, Kcinna and I did what we like to do when it gets dark! We decided to visit Dodge's Cemetery!

THE PARANORMAL PART...

We are all into the Paranormal! Kcinna happens to be very in tune with the spirit world and we like to do scary things when she's here! She attended our last "Paranormal Group's Tour" in the Courthouse and we've always talked about doing the cemetery after dark!

We had some problems happen to us before we managed to finally get investigating done!

We started out in Kcinna's vehicle, got to the cemetery before we realized that it was too dark [we forgot our flashlights] and too cold [freezing wind] to continue! On our way back home we had vehicle problems [fan belt broke] and had to switch to PoD's car! Arming ourselves with heavier coats, two flashlights and hot coffee we started out once more!

Finally we were able to start!

When we got there the first time we heard what sounded like someone playing a flute? Sound carries pretty far on the prairies and we figured it must be coming from one of the homes nearest to the cemetery [about a mile away]? Anyways, it was gone when we started out the second time?

It was horribly cold out! The wind was so bad that it froze our hands [no one thought of gloves] and our hot coffee quickly turned cold!

We started with my friend Liz's grave and I took photos of all of the grave sites around hers! We wanted to do more but it was just too cold, my hands were freezing and my camera started acting up, so we cut it short and went back to my shop to down load to see what we did get. We were quite amazed at what came out of our little venture...

Remember...it was very windy out there, so if there was any dust/dirt problems with the shots there should have been lots on all of the pics!

This is us leaving!

All in all we had an exciting day...kind of different for a Thanksgiving! I must give thanks that I have family to help me out!

Bet you never had a day like mine!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Weather, Health Issues, Renovations and Play Practise...

This morning the walk to work was full of gorgeous color and nippy winds! Seems fall is finally here! I could even see frost on top of BillyRoo's car!

I, for one, just love the fall...with the trees changing colors...no bugs...the air is fresher, cooler...no bugs...the sun gets up later [so I can finally sleep in]...no bugs...and the harvest should be finally over [allergies]...NO BUGS!

The down side is that I have developed a runny nose, sore throat and a dry cough that hurts my chest! I'm not sure if it's a seasonal thing or something developing from the renovations that we did on Saturday?

I spent the whole day yesterday trying to get off of the couch...it didn't help that I had the six disc [2nd season] dvd set of "Bones" to watch...which by the way I finished! I managed to eat everything in the house [not good for the diabetes thing] so I must have that "feed" a cold thing going on! So today I feel like I'm a "beached whale" or the "Good Year Blimp"...whichever!

STRESS....

Today at work...PoD and I have to mark aluminum for BillyRoo and Trebor to take & get cut and get a start on this HUGE order that has to be done ASAP!

Not sure if we will get back to the renovations...inside of roof has to be done before the snow flies and the boys won't be back until Thanksgiving to do it? PoD has company coming for Thanksgiving so they might not even work on the roof until who knows when?

This evening at "Play Practice" we have to have our lines memorized [no scripts] and I'm not ready or even feeling well enough to do this without coughing my lungs out every time I talk?

Right now all I feel like doing is going back to the couch! The thing is...every time I lay down, all I wants to do is cough!

Well enough crabbing...got to get some work done before PoD gets here!

Today will be..........VERY LONG!!!

RENOVATIONS 2007

Here's an update on how well our renovations are doing... they are going very s-l-o-w-l-y!

There hasn't been anything done since last Monday, when all four of us [BillyRoo, Trebor, Pod and myself] started ripping the walls and ceiling down in the kitchen, dining room and in my old bedroom. The place now looks something like this...

These next 2 photos have "Orbs" in them!

For all of you "dust mote" fans out there...these photos should have been loaded with signs of dust because that's all you can smell right now! With the amount of photos that I have been taking of our project, there really hasn't been too many signs of "orbs"!

The first photo the you see, PoD's first reaction to the large "orb" in the center, was of a man dressed in olden-day style clothing wearing a bowler type hat and she saw that he was leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets? This all came to her in a flash!

My feelings of the next photos, was that I was being watched as I was taking these shots! The feelings have all been good ones for us and I feel that they approve of what's being done to the place.

In these next photos, the "orbs" seem to have a strange yellow/orange glow around them? This is the first time I have seen this type of orb? With these photos I've noticed that the orbs have been caught mostly in the kitchen and dining room areas? In the last shot below there is one near the doorknob and a faint one close to the dryer, they also have this strange glow around them?

These next ones show no orbs at all!

All of these photos have been taken one after another so if there was to be spots...there should be spots in all of them?

The last pic is of the partial-mess that we left when we were done that day. The trailer that we are using to remove this crap is right below the open space on the deck...which by the way took two trips to the dump to get rid of!

I have started a new pile with the crap from the above photos and now have to wait for my ex to return my trailer back to me before I can do more....

I'd like to say that I'm having fun demolishing but I'm NOT! The more we clear away the more we have to fix!

I can't wait for it to be over!

RENOVATIONS 2007

Are now fully underway!

Saturday Trebor dropped by and resumed the interior demolition that PoD and I started the other day.

We had both given up what we had been doing, as the removal of the rotten interior started to effect both of our sinuses and the grossness of it falling on our heads was too much to bear! Trebor doesn't seem to mind the gross stuff and when I showed up to help him, he looked like he was having lots of fun tearing it away!

The old shop upstairs walls had been built out of lath boards, cement and gyproc! We are removing only the rotten stuff which seems to have started way before I bought the place because some of it looks quite old! The most disconcerting part of it is the rot in the roof. I wished there had been some way we could have fixed it on the outside before roofing it but with the rain threatening it had to be covered! I am still running that construction through my brain to come up with an easy way to fix it?

I have never taken any architectural training in building anything but even I can see poor designing! We have exposed quite a bit of the inner roof supports and I am having a hard time finding any main support beams that should be holding up the roof?

Way back when, the history on this place has always been a little vague! What I have figured through living there and some old photos, this upper part must have been sectioned off and used as a rooming house! Trebor and I unearthed an old chimney pipe system and the floor boards show old doorways! It has been quite an experience! We still have the ceiling in the kitchen/dining room to pull down before I can assess the total damage of the roof and where I have to replace/shore up any main beams! But what I have seen so far this problem was caused by whom ever restored the upper floors and their lack of understand main support systems!

The more we remove the more I shake my head!

One thing I do know is....by the time I am finished with this place...nothing will knock it down!

The above photos are of the "Indoor Dodge Falls" and my old bedroom...this is what it looks like now. All I had to do was tell Trebor what I wanted done and he made quick work of the whole area. We had decided to open up the dining room and make a quicker access to the washroom/ laundry area. It sure looks bigger now that the walls are gone and who knew that the chimney would be in such great shape...one might think of keeping it exposed?

MISERIES UPDATE...

Happy to say I've got none today!

It's pouring outside and the "Dodge Indoor Falls" have gone dry!!!

ROOF LEAKS ARE FIXED!!!!

I'm busy dancing my "Victory Jig"... :).... :)..... :) right now!!!

I actually stood out on my deck, in the rain, watching the rain run off my roof and into the eaves trough...like it's supposed to!

YIPEE....I'm so happy that I could hug a dog right now!

MY MISERIES...UPDATE

MY ROOF ON MY SHOP/HOME IS FINALLY FIXED?

Yesterday PoD, Trebor, BillyRoo managed to get my roof leaks fixed...I hope! It's going to take some rain to see if it really worked or not.

PoD, Trebor and BillyRoo were the ones that did all of the work...I was the "gofor person" and "chief babysitter"!

We were promised that the roofing material would arrive early...but it ended up not getting here until noon time! When it did finally arrive the kids got to find out how heavy the rolls were!

The forecast was for rain later in the day so the kids had to work fast in order to get it done in time. No one in our group had ever "roofed" before so it was a learning experience for all.

Being of limited financial resources, I went the cheapest way possible and we used "Rolled Roofing" with LOTS of tar. Rolled roofing is an experience in it's self! It is pretty windy in our part of the world and rolling out 35" x 33' x 1/4" thick material [to lay it down straight] turns it into "sails in the wind"! The kids learned quickly to roll it out, tar it then nail it down as they went. On a bumpy surface the strips had a tendency to go askew! I didn't care how it looked in the end because it was up too high for anyone to see what it looked like and my main focus was on stopping the leaks...not cosmetic values! They were able to get it completely re-roofed and partly flashed [metal strips that helps the keep the edges from lifting] before it got dark out [8:30 pm]!

Today they have to finish off the flashing, trim the excess roofing material away and cover the other roof addition that attaches to my other building. The other building won't get done until later down the road...it's not in as bad a shape as the main building.

The rain that was fore casted never came! Until it does rain I won't know if our "cure" worked or not! With the amount of tar that they used I really can't see it leaking...but not to be too negative...with the way my luck has been going lately...it will probably leak!

As it is all of my kids, including Trebor, can add a new shingle to their list of job abilities..."Roofing Experts"! These guys/girl worked real hard and suffered greatly from aching backs, sore arms and "roof rash" knees by the time they were done!

THANKS KIDS...FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!

RENOVATIONS UPDATE...

Not much renovating going on seeing as I am STILL removing junk from my place.

I am ashamed to admit how much has gone to the dump and I am STILL NOT FINISHED!

THREE loads in a 6' x 8' utility trailer filled to the brim [3'high] has been removed from this place and probably a fourth after the town-wide garage sale being held next weekend! That doesn't even include the removal of renovation materials!

This has only helped me to strengthen my resolve "NEVER TO COLLECT JUNK EVER AGAIN"! Granted I can blame most of it on needing it for my work [which obviously I didn't or it wouldn't have had to be junked] or to use it in theatre set building/decorating. I used to make the table centerpieces for the dinner theatre so that meant keeping 24 of whatever...this added up after awhile and it didn't help having a whole building that I could store it in either!

I have also removed all of my "creature building" materials and forms that I needed for the haunted courthouse...guaranteeing that I will not be doing the haunted courthouse ever again! I will be going through my Halloween decor and cutting it down also keeping only my collectibles!

I've been so busy throwing out junk that the urge to go Garage Sailing hasn't bothered me this weekend and this purging episode will stay strong in my mind for A LONG TIME so any hording of stuff doesn't interest me like it used to!

My next test of will power will come next weekend when the Garage Sale is on! Hopefully I will be stuck for a long time at my own sale and that I am not tempted too much! But if I do check the sales out, hopefully I can resist collecting anything else that can't be used right away!

I still have that little devil sitting on my shoulder whispering...."You never know when you might need that...."!

RENOVATION UPDATE

The renovations got as far as trying to remove the front platform! Instead the reno turned into major Garage Sale!

This was the “first ever” garage sale for me!

All I can say is…what a nightmare!

Gathering all of the junk together was horrendous!

My son got to do all of the heavy lifting and PoD got to do most of the stickers for pricing! All I had to do was decide what was to go, what price and where to put it! I kept putting off the advertising so I missed the ad time for the newspaper and had to rely on flyers throughout the town. PoD had a brilliant idea…use balloons! So I placed a sign on the boulevard in front of my shop and added the helium filled balloons. I think I got more response from the balloons!

It started out as a nice day but as Sask days goes…it rained! Customers came anyways!

NOTE: Helium balloons do not stay floating if it gets too cold…which it did!

I was able to get rid of half of my stuff and the rest will go to the “Town Wide” sale in June. PoD, Hairgirl & I will split the cost of the advertising. Thankfully my stuff is already priced…all I have to do is get it to her place…along with tables to put it on!

This adventure took up a week of my time!

April is a slow time for business so I really wasn’t affected by the down time that might have been caused by the sale preparation.

One good thing came of the sale…my urge to gather more crap is gone! I haven’t attended any other sales…auctions or likewise events! If I do…I definitely will be very frugal about the need for it!

The only other sale I can see in my future is when I sell the shop and that won’t be happening any too soon!

WTF

I wonder if anyone else had problem with logging on here yesterday? When I was able.......I couldn't send info!

Did your computer act as screwy as mine did?

Yesterday might as well of been a hoiday...got no work done designing wise!

Spent 2 hours removing the rest of Halloween from the basement of the courthouse & it will not bother me one bit, never to do Halloween in that place ever again!

Renovations have turned into setting up and pricing of all of my crap....I am ashamed to admit to such a mass of collectibles!

DEFINITELY A FRIDAY THE 13TH !...FOR ME !

RENOVATIONS

Shop renovations didn't quite go the way that we wanted it to!

I had forgotten that the previous owner had converted the indented front entrance-way of old...to a platformed bay window. We wanted to remove the platform and have more room for our 6' x 17' application table. Didn't happen!

We found that the cement pad/curb [of old entrance way] had split the space diagonally...so the platform had to stay! Did manage to get rid of the nasty rug covering it, which happened to collect every cat hair around...making it a cat fur rug? Out it went to the trailer that's headed for the dump!

PoD & Son had extreme fun with the demolition...until it turned into a salvage job...back to doing the best that they could with what they had just destroyed! All turned out well and they were able to move the monster application table to a better position. Fill the holes & a coat of paint on the uncovered platform...it will be just like new...and thankfully something easier to clean!

We have decided to have the garage sale earlier than planned! Can't wait for the "Town Wide" sale. I have mostly curio collectibles and craft/hobby stuffs.

All of my accumulated weird stuff is going on the chopping block as soon as we can manage! PoD's afraid that I will change my mind and keep it all!

Next job will be...covering walls left from the first reno...when we moved in here 2002. Tired of seeing half finished stuff!

Hopefully all goes better tomorrow!

MY PACK RATTING DAYS ARE OVER!!

I was so excited to get the renovations of my shop started that I couldn't sleep last night...errr..this morn!

Up at 2:15 am!

It probably didn't help that I had a few naps in between junk removals & cooking yesterday!

Easter Dinner was good...could have done without one guest there...but as usual over ate...felt like crap...why does a person do that to themselves?? Must be all of the good cooking!

We went home early because PoD had a migraine caused by the stress of being a single-parent! Hope she feels better today. Won't call cause nothings worse than ringing phones when you have a headache!

Today I had to do some computer work, removed Easter Decor, Display Items and figure out what's garage sale or not. It all sounds so short...so why did it take so long?

Man I'm tired!

And I am not even finished yet???

Yup....DEFINITELY NOT COLLECTING ANY MORE STUFF!!!