MAR-A-5
It is hard to believe that Mark is 29 today, but harder
to believe that Donald is 38 tomorrow.
I can identify with Jim getting paint samples out for
re-doing bedrooms. I have just been
through that having to re-do both the kitchen and Breakfast Room from
their "finished" status of
bright paint called "Nacho Cheese" to a "Sweet Butter"
lemony kind of color for the Breakfast Room and an off-red (Like Red Oxide) for
the kitchen. We got quarts of paint from
Benjamin Moore Regal paints to paint on plywood scraps from the dumpster, and
used that product to compare with the tiles, cabinetry wood, and granite of the
kitchen. This part was a fun expedition
since it could involve amateurs second guessing the original (and correct)
recommendations of the interior designer who originally recommend a red for the
kitchen.
Now for the other news.
All the appliances were to have been delivered Thursday, and Friday I
was scheduled for an appointment with the lawyers to "settle" on a
mortgage for the house to cover part of the renovation expenses. The appraiser needed a completed kitchen and
a functioning bathroom to certify it as a "livable house" with an
occupancy permit, and I was gong to sleep in it on Thursday night to make the
case, But, the Jiffy John outside is
still the plumbing, despite four new bathrooms, since they are gong to now
replace the water pressure tank and plumbing from the well (the last residual
piece of the "old house") There is no hot water since the hot water
heater is turned off. Despite that I have had FOUR oil tank fills in the past
five unoccupied and balmy Spring weeks.
I had never previously had the tank filled twice in a winter!
As for the kitchen--they did not deliver the
dishwasher. They DID deliver the cook
stove top--but the wrong one that would be four inches oversize for the granite
they had cut for its insertion to hook it to a gas line not yet in.
They delivered the double oven Viking Professional set,
but it is larger than the magnificent cabinetry already in place, and they
cannot insert it, but must replace the cabinetry. The huge professional Viking refrigerator
freezer is standing in the middle of the room, since it is now too tall for the
alcove in which it is designed since they did not take into account that the
Mexican tile raised the floor an inch and a half so that the cabinetry in place
will have to be raised before it can be set in.
A couple of electrical outlets were misplaced, and I
found out that I have to go out and buy several ceiling .light fixtures, pull
knobs, shower stalls, etc, all of which I spent the day Friday doing after our
"non-walk-through" which will now have to await a later "punch
out."
The furniture delivery scheduled for this week is now
moved back to March 18 with the window treatments, and that is all now
scheduled for one hour before I depart for Tahoe and
So, other than these little glitches, and a dozen other
items that I have just discovered are extra "not-in-contract" add-ons
that will require an additional large investment, the house itself is going to
be quite beautiful!
The additional items suggested for discussion tomorrow
are plans for a completion of a total finishing of the basement (which now
looks like a corridor of "old house" in transit through to the garage
under the Great Room), and it is suggested that it remains as the last reminder
of it prior state if the part of the attic not already cleaned out and
renovated with a large walk-in cedar closet is omitted) and it would be a
big-ticket addition. Also, a stripping
of all the ivy vines and a power washing of the house, a lattice closure of the
under deck, a chimney cap, and a landscape architect and stone mason
husband-wife team are recommended for the grounds around the front and
sides. So, the "big-ticket"
single shot of the house renovation contract is just the start on what is a
much larger and longer project (as, of course, anyone could have predicted)
especially with an expensive Hurricane thrown in to the middle of the process!
So, I will keep on trying--now with a run around to get
the Audi inspected and taxes paid to get it licensed in
Cheers!
GWG
>>>
"Mildred Holtvluwer" <holtvlum@gvsu.edu> 03/08/04 10:57AM
>>>
It is
nice that you are keeping in touch with this Jo --It is also
nice
that they acknowledge you!
Have
not heard anything from path. report of Mary H.
Life is moving
forward
for Jim - He is cleaning out the house and getting some rooms
painted
so he is keeping busy that way.
We had
a blizzard yesterday - typical March day.
Today
is Mark's 29th bday. It was Judy's on
Friday - at least that is
what my
calendar said so I sent her an e card.
Milly
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