The New (Old) House

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posted by Scout @ 1:18 AM 1 comments

Just Checking Zee System

Have I found the magic mantra to return to 'home' after being locked out for so long? Let's see shall we.

posted by Scout @ 1:15 AM 2 comments

Post Holiday Clean-Up

Yes, those are my 2 dogs at the window. Sorry the quality is poor.
News is the same: getting colder, we had a tornado touch down in the local elementary school parking lot 2 minutes before kids released for afternoon dismissal (never seen anything like it except on 'Weapons Demonstrations" at Military Bases, now hauling stuff back up into the attic (ha), and all is well enough. Happiest of new years....Jane in SC 

posted by Scout @ 7:56 PM 2 comments

Good times ahead, I just feel it.

Just got back from a great holiday trip to visit my bro and his family. The men (my dad, brother, my son, my nephew) went to the Meinike (sp) Bowl this afternoon - and saw CuU get whooped on TV yesterday. Such moaners. And brother's wife and I shopped, lazed around this morning in pj's and sipping latte, and enjoying the down time. My brother made this CD Cover of a bunch of his favorite bango Christmas music - very uniqiue - and I loved the pic of their cat (named "Whiskey") in the starring role.

Tunes include:
Mike Auldridge - Greensleeves
Dill Keith - Old Lang Syne
Johnston Mountain Boys - The Friendly Beasts
David Grismon _ Winter Wonderland
Charles Wood- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,
Frosty the Snowman, O'Holy Night, Carol of the
Bells, Silent Night,The First Noel

and a host of many other great talents.

Survived the Thanksgiving and Christmas rush and chaos with a TON of help from friends. All turned out lovely. Stress-less, more time to dwell on the goodness of friends and neighbors and blessings. Did I mention the roof is new over the back sunroom now? And my energy is kicking up, and perhaps the antibiotics cured (or intimidated) the perhaps pneumonia, etc. Still have all sorts of oncology tests and MD visits this month, and going to a Convent in south Georgia for a retreat in the middle of the month (also got the 3 rolls of Buddhist Prayer Flags from ebay at the same time I was signing up for the retreat of St. Helena Convent. It all comes together. If strength and desire continue to blossom, I imagine spending time SOON painting and sprucing up the place, hauling clothes to hospice thrist store after pals have rummaged through to get what they want for their various children. Got a new / old chair to recover, and am going to haul the other old chair I TRIED to recover to upholstry place to see if they can salvage my 'no pattern' mess. And if so, will cover the new / old chair professionally too (shabby chic - heavy white denim for good washing) but let the professionals attend to the details. Learning to pick my battles - and not sweat the lack of sewing stills anymore. I tried, anyway. But the painting seems doable if my strength maintains - found a yellow called "Sisel" and will do a little test strip before I take on the whole room and then find I am not satisfied with it once it's all painted. Next up is a serious "to do list' and then learning how to use my blog more effectively. Here's cheers to an extrodinary year for all us house bloggers. I believe we all possess an extra spark for asking NOT what our houses can do for us, but what we can do for our houses (paraphrase Kennedy). Plus it takes a remarkable amount of dreaming, hard work, a testament to hope and the goodwill for the future to remake a house into a real home. Peace to all and happy days ahead, from Jane 

posted by Scout @ 10:48 PM 0 comments

December Already!

Well, the roofers put a new roof on the back sunroom. Said the pitch was all wrong (thanks PO) and that adding gutters would not solve the problem (leaks). So they put a new room over the tin roof, changed the pitch, and we've not had a leak since. Wish I'd taken pictures, but did not want to risk climbing the ladder. We are still waiting on the beadboard to repair in ceiling in the living room. Christmas decorating is very slow, and I'm opting for 'less is more' this year. I am hosting Christmas Dinner for family and friends, so this is my major stressor right now. We don't have enough chairs (even hauling in piano stool, vanity stool, computer chairs, etc.). But we shall get through it. My aim is to have the house clean, the food plentiful, and a bunch of twinkling lights to alter the atmosphere. A few candles, gifts wrapped pretty in toile and satin ribbons, and HOPE for the best. Got most of my Christmas Shopping done early, though won't know till the wrapping is complete on who I left out - and then a fast shopping trip to round out the festivities.

The basic deal is the ongoing fatigue from radiation and chemo. I see my oncologist monday, and it was a year ago I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, so the memories of last Christmas are bittersweet. I have NOT been able to do much around the house yet - and in my head I see all the possibilities and needs yet to be done. But I think we've come a long way considering. We are all sort of holding our breath that the oncologist has good news, for I underwent all the pre-appointments tests last week.

I'm aiming to go to Denver for a Meningioma conference (got involved with them when I had the 2 brain tumors) and then a friend invited me to a weekend conference at a Convent called "Illuminating Darkness, Befriending your Shadow" Ironically I just found out today I won the bid on ebay for 3 sets of 25 Buddhist Prayer Flags - so I am rather all over the place in my current priorities. It seems one's goals are often times take many, unexpected turns. But the house is ready for winter - though not decorated or painted as I'd have hoped at this point. Am grateful enough for all the blessings thus far, and as energy increases I like to think I'll be more invested in tackling the BIG goals in the near future. From Jane

posted by Scout @ 12:08 AM 0 comments

Doorbells, Chimes, etc.

I was reading a blog - and saw the beautiful new
doorbell she bought. I've had the angel bell up
since we moved in - but alas people seem to
want to push the doorbell to the left of it. The
worst part of it is it plays "Old Kentucky Home"
and not just one verse. It goes on for about 1
and 1/2 long minutes. This is from previous
owner, and I do not like it at all

And I hung the chimes under my carport and they make a nice welcome if there is a slight breeze when I get home. By the way, the fence is my neighbors - they erected these privacy
fences on both sides of their property. I had hung
my Buddhist Prayer Flags where my chimes now
hang. And lastly, but not least, the ROOFER is
coming wednesday to PUT IT ON. We'll see!

posted by Scout @ 3:59 PM 1 comments

The Painted Screen Photo

Here's a fast picture of the screen I bought. Really kind of weird now that I have it home.

posted by Scout @ 2:17 PM 0 comments

The roof, the dogs - enough for today

OK - Had a 'gutter guy' come check about the gutter. It's not the gutter, it's the pitch of the roof (we knew this - from the inspection report when we bought the house - but (duh) it had slipped our minds with all the other stuff going on. So a 'roofing guy' is coming tomorrow to give a "look-see" about a new roof for the back side of the house. Sad news, woefully sad. I am giving 2 of my dogs away. The 2 little ones keep digging out from under the fence - NO MATTER WHAT WE DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. Found a "no kill" shelter ("ARF" they can by found by googling "ARF" and your state). I had to beg, plead (there is a waiting list as their kennel space is limited) but they will take 1 tomorrow. The other will be on a waiting list. I have put this decision off for so long, but I cannot deal with them escaping daily and fearing they will get hurt or hurt someone (they don't bite, but do bark, and scare people). I am really upset about this - I feel like I'm giving part of my heart away. We'll still have 1 big dog - but....the 2 small ones must find new homes - and I am thankful to have found "ARF."

Also spent time at tax / deed accessors office today. There is a chance to get lower rate for taxes and have appointment with attorney tomorrow. In the throwing money hither and yon news - I found a painted screen (4 panel screen) at new 'Shabby and Chic" consignment shop that just opened - and am picking it up tomorrow or saturday. I will show picture of this when it's 'home' as I thought it was kinda cool. I feel so guilty about the dogs - they are both inside tonight, and fed them the leftover chicken as a guilt-induced treat (boiled the meat off the bones). I do not like this part of playing the adult and making so called "rational" decisions.

posted by Scout @ 5:58 PM 1 comments