I guess it's a good thing that a lot of people don't depend on my blog to keep updated on me. Snort, choke......rephrase.....it's a good thing a lot of people don't keep updated on me...........period!!!
May 31, huh? Well, let's see...it's mid October now.....4-1/2 months between posts.....ugh! Good thing I don't have to account for all that time - my memory's so bad I have trouble remembering what I ate for supper last night - usually, anyway....though I do remember this time that it was English muffin pizzas (and I'll never use that store brand of pizza sauce again).
So.....the summer.....um....we had 6 or 8 weeks of "dead time" with the business and had a lot of stuff that had to be done around here, so we got to a lot of little jobs. Took down some spruce trees and had them milled out.
We also started a project to cut down on weedwacking time and weeding time, since Ed no longer has time to weedwack and I can no longer keep up with the weeding. By the time we're done, we'll have planted perennials all along the edge of the lawn where it meets the woods. Because we have this small viney s*it that encroaches onto the lawn if it's just grass.....strong, so tangles in the mower, Ed has always had to weedwack the whole perimeter of the yard. For some reason, that same stuff doesn't seem to encroach past most perennials, especially stuff like hosta, daylilies and groundcover (like bishop's weed, creeping phlox). With Ed's help, I broke down and put down mulch in my flower border....I HATE MULCH. I particularly hate red or cedar color mulch, so I chose black. We divided one of my cranesbill plants and had enough to plant around one of the apple trees (again, with mulch), so that tree doesn't have to be weedwacked around, either! It's a large project and an expense, but it's either that or let the weeds take over...and when you're running a business out of your home, that's just not a smart option.
Then, it's so much for the rest of the money in our savings account....most of it's having to go toward things we need done in order to keep the business running smoothly. Ahh, such is life. Here we go:
When the town decided to dig a canyon in front of our place (most of my crochet friends heard all about this ditch...I ranted!!), they took away access to where we were going to build a garage. So......we HAD to have access back because we HAVE to add some sort of storage - we've run out of room to put stock, etc for the business. Plus, one of the sheds that we now must use a lot for stock is set about 75 feet past the end of the driveway and you can't drive to it in all seasons with a vehicle (can we say "keep the plow truck at the ready to haul the van out of the mud" ??). It was either move the shed up to the driveway, making less parking space (and making the shed the view out my livingroom window!!) or make the driveway go all the way to the shed. Since we couldn't afford to build a garage after putting in culverts anyway, we decided to go the "add to the driveway and buy a big shed" route. That took the rest of the garage money....but the shed will be 12 x 32 and we can always add to it later, if we've money. We bought another Amish one - the waiting time is really long (4 months), but they're very well built and less expensive than having someone come build one on sight. Now, for the first time EVER, we're hope we don't have snow before Christmas, as the shed won't be here until December 8!!
Our livingroom window came apart on us this summer! So, we had to have it replaced...and we figured that, since the previous owner had put 3 other identical windows in when he put that one in, we probably should replace all 4 at the same time while we could afford it. So, we had 4 new windows installed and the trim put on them - boy is it nice to have trim in some areas of this house......it hasn't had much in all the years we've owned it, and what it did have we took down because it was......yucky! (old, reused painted-a-million-times clamshell molding). So.....of the 10 windows and 3 exterior doors in this house, we now have 5 windows trimmed out (one was already done - the one in the shower had to be done when we did that area a couple of years ago). The really nice thing about this trim is that it's all from our trees - we have a planer, so planed out what the carpenter needed for trim boards. They looked so nice in their natural state that we decided to just urethane them.....and Ed is doing that as he has time - a few coats of water base satin urethane, then a top coat of water base gloss, so I can just run the swiffer duster over it (hee hee).
We've been buying new window shades, too - Lowe's had a clearance on their Levelour brand cellular room darkening shades, so I took advantage....was able to get shades for all but two windows at the clearance price before they ran out of the size I needed. As we get trim up, I'll take them back and have Lowe's cut them to size for me - I've already had the ones cut for the 4 windows with trim. The kitchen window is all done, so that shade is up. The livingroom has one more coat of urethane to go, then that shade can go up. The other two windows each have 2 coats to go before the shades can go up. Can't wait!! (but have to....busy time now, Ed's not got time to do it and I can't...boo hoo!)
We are building a new office!! We're so cramped in the existing one, which was our little den (9-1/2 x 12). That room has nearly no wall space - it's all windows and doors. Once you have 3 desks, a bunch of file cabinets, chairs, shelving and dry erase work boards in that room, there's no room to move to work in it....especially with 2 people on occasion! Add to that the fact that, in order to get to the office, customers have to come in, go thru the front entry into my laundry area, down the hall (stepping over my dirty clothes if I was doing laundry that day) and then to the office...and then they have to stand in the doorway, as there is no room in the office for another person. It really stresses me out having them walk thru my laundry, I'll tell ya!
So, short version....our guest room (9-1/2 by 11) is next to our front entry area (9-1/2 b 9-1/2), so we decided to take the wall out from between them, making a combined entry/office area of 9-1/2 x 20-1/2 (remove a closet, rework a closet to make a storage closet). Once it is done and we've moved into it, the old office will be turned into a guest room (build a closet).
Mistake number 1 - didn't hire the carpenter at job rate.....he's also the burner man that works with Ed when needed so we trusted that when he concurred with our guesstimate on time needed, it would be within the ball park........when in actual fact he's so.....methodical (needs to think things over before doing them, which I didn't realize) doing carpentry......that at the end of the projected 80 hours of labor, we've used most of our money and have a new office area that is bare bones. I had a few 'set-to's' with the carpenter.....both of which ended up costing more money, of course. Now, before you blame the carpenter entirely, a lot of it is our fault. So....live and learn...if we get enough money together to hire it out to be finished, we WILL hire job rate!
I guess that's it for what we've done this summer and fall. Next spring, we'll need our kitchen/dining/livingroom area repainted......both of the colors I'd chosen several years ago were "off" compared to what we really wanted and I really hate them (I wanted sage and ended up with mint and some other light green).
I've discovered that I just can't choose paint - I'm always off on the color (too many choices combined with the inability to visualize the color on a wall compared to the itty bitty paint chip). However.....I also discovered that if I describe the color idea to my niece she can choose the correct color....in about 3 seconds flat, the brat! So, I have a new interior decorator. She's helped me choose the color scheme for the new guest room, if we ever get it.......since our futon cover is taupe-y tan and B had a piece of material in chocolate and aqua that would make a great pillow, we chose a paint color called "wading pool"....sort of aqua-y...and the curtains are chocolate brown. B's already made my valances for my livingroom and kitchen...she will be making the valance for the office window.....boy, do I ever appreciate all her efforts! I did, however, pick out the office wall paint color, which was chosen just for Ed. Every time paint color comes up, Ed says "how about yellow?" - always picking a pale shade. I've always responded "ick, I don't like pale yellow". Ed's response usually was "well, you're the one that has to look at it - I'm gone all day, so whatever you choose is fine." This time, when he said yellow, picking a shade that looked nearly off white, I grabbed a chip of quite bright yellow called "sunbeam" and said "if it's going to be yellow, it's going to be YELLOW!"...he looked at the chip and said "ya, that's ok". So...the office will be Sunbeam yellow....put your sunglasses on, folks!! The valance on the window will be medium blue....and if B gets fancy on me, it possibly will have a dark blue border of some sort.
Ok, so I've rambled so much that your eyes are bleeding. I'll try to do better about keeping up, but 'tis the busy season, so don't count on it - it's taken me two days to write this!!
Done ramblin!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
In A Blue Funk
Yep, I've been in one.....that's why I've not posted, I think. I've been really "down" and haven't felt like doing much of anything. My last posting is right on target for this one too.....more bad news than good, still...yay.
Today I'm just going to update on the office furniture situation - that alone will be loooonnnnnng! UPS took 2 of the 4 damaged pieces as returns, touch up kit arrived, seller couldn't find repair person to come to northern ME, so offered us a discount on the 6 pieces with minor damages. Oh, and he authorized us to get rid of the two pieces that UPS did not pick up - they were damaged beyond repair, so we salvaged the hardware off them and hauled them to the dump. While thinking about the refund offer, the replacement order of those 4 pieces arrives.....BY UPS AGAIN???? Sheesh. I KNOW the rep I'm dealing with agreed with me that the delivery should be by freight truck, not UPS...so what the heck happened??? Driver won't allow me to inspect before signing, so I refuse to take delivery. UPS driver says he'll take them back to his facility and have their company inspector check them. I get a call that night from UPS inspector, who says she saw just one tiny (1/4") scratch on one piece, didn't see any other damage. I was surprised, so started asking questions....hmmmmmmmm......
During the conversation, it comes out that she did NOT open all 4 boxes and look the pieces over, she only opened the very top of one box (kinda figured, when she couldn't tell me what piece of furniture she had inspected). Well, of COURSE you didn't see the damage! So, I talk to seller's rep.....he doesn't know why it was sent UPS again, but recommends I accept anyway and they'll just reorder (for the third time) if these are damaged. Grrrr. So, UPS comes a week later with the packages....ALL ARE BROKEN!!! Snarl, growl. I call the seller's rep.....he's VERY accommodating....orders the 4 items a THIRD time (plus orders a replacement for one of the other 6 pieces that I'd discovered was more damaged than we realized) and assures me they'll be delivered truck freight.
The 5 pieces arrive truck freight....now....this time, all boxes are clearly marked "furniture" "this side up" "fragile" and one of the boxes is visibly damaged. AND.....two of the boxes are sitting on their ENDS, not "this side up"!!!!! WHAT???? After opening the one with the visible damage (which was broken), I insisted that the other 4 be opened before we unloaded them. The driver said he wasn't supposed to open and inspect any that did not have visible damage and I INSISTED.....it was that or he was to take the whole order back and I would personally note by my signature that I was refusing it because I felt it MUST be damaged due to the position of the boxes and the non-cooperation of the driver. So, he allowed them all to be opened, and the other one on it's end was broken too. He insisted it was not his fault, it looked like factory damage to him. I said I wasn't assigning fault, I was simply refusing to accept a broken piece of furniture.
So...back to the seller's rep. I GIVE UP!!!! Of all the furniture we ordered, we ended up without one long reception hutch, which we've decided we can just deal without having at all. I told them if they'd refund the money on that long hutch, refund the money for the short reception hutch (that is damaged) and give us the discount that they offered on all the other pieces, I would settle for this all to be done. Otherwise, they are going to have to order ALL TEN pieces all over again, because I am DONE with damaged furniture. The rep agreed to my terms, so I'm waiting to see how much of a credit gets put on my Visa.
Oh, and once again, UPS came and got just 2 of the 4 damaged pieces!! AARRGGHH! Geez.....!
Done Ramblin
Today I'm just going to update on the office furniture situation - that alone will be loooonnnnnng! UPS took 2 of the 4 damaged pieces as returns, touch up kit arrived, seller couldn't find repair person to come to northern ME, so offered us a discount on the 6 pieces with minor damages. Oh, and he authorized us to get rid of the two pieces that UPS did not pick up - they were damaged beyond repair, so we salvaged the hardware off them and hauled them to the dump. While thinking about the refund offer, the replacement order of those 4 pieces arrives.....BY UPS AGAIN???? Sheesh. I KNOW the rep I'm dealing with agreed with me that the delivery should be by freight truck, not UPS...so what the heck happened??? Driver won't allow me to inspect before signing, so I refuse to take delivery. UPS driver says he'll take them back to his facility and have their company inspector check them. I get a call that night from UPS inspector, who says she saw just one tiny (1/4") scratch on one piece, didn't see any other damage. I was surprised, so started asking questions....hmmmmmmmm......
During the conversation, it comes out that she did NOT open all 4 boxes and look the pieces over, she only opened the very top of one box (kinda figured, when she couldn't tell me what piece of furniture she had inspected). Well, of COURSE you didn't see the damage! So, I talk to seller's rep.....he doesn't know why it was sent UPS again, but recommends I accept anyway and they'll just reorder (for the third time) if these are damaged. Grrrr. So, UPS comes a week later with the packages....ALL ARE BROKEN!!! Snarl, growl. I call the seller's rep.....he's VERY accommodating....orders the 4 items a THIRD time (plus orders a replacement for one of the other 6 pieces that I'd discovered was more damaged than we realized) and assures me they'll be delivered truck freight.
The 5 pieces arrive truck freight....now....this time, all boxes are clearly marked "furniture" "this side up" "fragile" and one of the boxes is visibly damaged. AND.....two of the boxes are sitting on their ENDS, not "this side up"!!!!! WHAT???? After opening the one with the visible damage (which was broken), I insisted that the other 4 be opened before we unloaded them. The driver said he wasn't supposed to open and inspect any that did not have visible damage and I INSISTED.....it was that or he was to take the whole order back and I would personally note by my signature that I was refusing it because I felt it MUST be damaged due to the position of the boxes and the non-cooperation of the driver. So, he allowed them all to be opened, and the other one on it's end was broken too. He insisted it was not his fault, it looked like factory damage to him. I said I wasn't assigning fault, I was simply refusing to accept a broken piece of furniture.
So...back to the seller's rep. I GIVE UP!!!! Of all the furniture we ordered, we ended up without one long reception hutch, which we've decided we can just deal without having at all. I told them if they'd refund the money on that long hutch, refund the money for the short reception hutch (that is damaged) and give us the discount that they offered on all the other pieces, I would settle for this all to be done. Otherwise, they are going to have to order ALL TEN pieces all over again, because I am DONE with damaged furniture. The rep agreed to my terms, so I'm waiting to see how much of a credit gets put on my Visa.
Oh, and once again, UPS came and got just 2 of the 4 damaged pieces!! AARRGGHH! Geez.....!
Done Ramblin
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Another Sunday
Unfortunately, there's more bad news than good this week. The office furniture arrived. Good news? Um, not exactly. Due to the weight and size of it, it was supposed to be shipped by freight (such as Land Air Express, etc, NOT UPS, FedEx, etc), and we'd opted for the free shipping, which was curbside delivery. Not a problem, we've a good commercial style dolly and had arranged for an extra pair of hands.....the furniture is real wood, prebuilt stuff (not the put together yourself chipboard, pressed board stuff), so the only "assembly" needing to be done is putting the legs on the desks. HOWEVER....it was shipped UPS! AND....it came a day early! My DH was able to get home to help the UPS guy (who expected to unload it into our house all by himself - UPS doesn't do curbside delivery, they do in house). It's a good thing DH was there.....I don't know how this guy would have been able to unload these boxes alone....some of them weighed 140 pounds!! He said he loaded them alone.....which may explain the next part of the story!
The furniture was in boxes clearly marked FURNITURE, FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP on all sides. BUT....it had been crated up with luan style thin plywood.....all sides...the plywood was glued to the boxes and then they'd glued fiberboard corner pieces to that......the lettering was ALL covered...the UPS guy didn't even know it was furniture.....he sure didn't know it was fragile!! The crates looked fine - not a bit of damage to them....but when we got it all uncrated we discovered DAMAGE, DAMAGE, DAMAGE! Of the 10 pieces, not a one escaped damage, though 6 of them only have minor damage. Four pieces are broken beyond use.
We've notified the place we ordered it from....they're sending "touch up kits" to my house....when they arrive, I'm to call them and they'll send a professional furniture repair man here to fix the 6 pieces (and then I'll decide if I'm happy with the work). They've ordered replacements for the other 4 pieces - I so hope it's not going to take another 10 weeks for delivery!! They're filing a claim with UPS and are notifying the furniture manufacturer...they agree that it should NOT have been shipped UPS......and that it was crated improperly...the outside crates should have been marked and were not. I am sooooooo sad....this furniture is sooooo beautiful and we've waited sooooooooo long for it.
So, our office is all at 6's and 7's right now.....we have to work with half our office furniture for now....boy what a mess!! Of course, with the extra stuff here, just sitting still in crates awaiting a decision, space is at a premium as well!
Ed dropped his cordless work drill the other day......standing 8 feet off the ground on a ladder, it slipped out of his hand and went all the way to the cement covered ground below - SMASH!
So....having the opportunity to go "to the city" yesterday, we made it a multi purpose trip (as usual). I found the coffeemaker I wanted and had a $10 off coupon for it, too!! It's a Cuisinart On Demand.....I LOVE IT!! Ed bought a new drill (actually got a deal.....got a cordless drill, sawzall, light, 2 batteries and charger package for less than what just the drill would have cost him). We priced the other stuff we're going to need (when we get a truck...sigh). We got out to see my nephew in law and grand niece....my niece was working so didn't get to see her (missed you, B!!). Saw her mom and dad and another grand niece at her house...plus got over to my nephew's house and visited with him and his two boys (missed his DD......sorry, K).
We also went to the Sportsman's Show.....I'm not crazy about it, but Ed likes to go....we used to do it yearly, but hadn't been in about 4 years. I think there are lots less vendors there now.....more boats (canoes, kayaks) than there used to be and more turkey hunting stuff than other types of hunting.
By the time we got home around 9:30 pm, I was beat, but it was a good day.
Done Ramblin.
The furniture was in boxes clearly marked FURNITURE, FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP on all sides. BUT....it had been crated up with luan style thin plywood.....all sides...the plywood was glued to the boxes and then they'd glued fiberboard corner pieces to that......the lettering was ALL covered...the UPS guy didn't even know it was furniture.....he sure didn't know it was fragile!! The crates looked fine - not a bit of damage to them....but when we got it all uncrated we discovered DAMAGE, DAMAGE, DAMAGE! Of the 10 pieces, not a one escaped damage, though 6 of them only have minor damage. Four pieces are broken beyond use.
We've notified the place we ordered it from....they're sending "touch up kits" to my house....when they arrive, I'm to call them and they'll send a professional furniture repair man here to fix the 6 pieces (and then I'll decide if I'm happy with the work). They've ordered replacements for the other 4 pieces - I so hope it's not going to take another 10 weeks for delivery!! They're filing a claim with UPS and are notifying the furniture manufacturer...they agree that it should NOT have been shipped UPS......and that it was crated improperly...the outside crates should have been marked and were not. I am sooooooo sad....this furniture is sooooo beautiful and we've waited sooooooooo long for it.
So, our office is all at 6's and 7's right now.....we have to work with half our office furniture for now....boy what a mess!! Of course, with the extra stuff here, just sitting still in crates awaiting a decision, space is at a premium as well!
Ed dropped his cordless work drill the other day......standing 8 feet off the ground on a ladder, it slipped out of his hand and went all the way to the cement covered ground below - SMASH!
So....having the opportunity to go "to the city" yesterday, we made it a multi purpose trip (as usual). I found the coffeemaker I wanted and had a $10 off coupon for it, too!! It's a Cuisinart On Demand.....I LOVE IT!! Ed bought a new drill (actually got a deal.....got a cordless drill, sawzall, light, 2 batteries and charger package for less than what just the drill would have cost him). We priced the other stuff we're going to need (when we get a truck...sigh). We got out to see my nephew in law and grand niece....my niece was working so didn't get to see her (missed you, B!!). Saw her mom and dad and another grand niece at her house...plus got over to my nephew's house and visited with him and his two boys (missed his DD......sorry, K).
We also went to the Sportsman's Show.....I'm not crazy about it, but Ed likes to go....we used to do it yearly, but hadn't been in about 4 years. I think there are lots less vendors there now.....more boats (canoes, kayaks) than there used to be and more turkey hunting stuff than other types of hunting.
By the time we got home around 9:30 pm, I was beat, but it was a good day.
Done Ramblin.
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