Honey Do Lists, Home Projects, Job Jars

[Jaxspra]

My honey-do list is so f'in long I don't even look at it anymore...my entire house feels like it has become a "honey-do" list.....oh wait, I forgot, I don't have a "honey" its my own f'in list.....no wonder it keeps getting longer and longer
I have been painting my damn bedroom for 4 months now...three walls and the bathroom are done....ONE MORE WALL and I still cannot manage to find the time (or WANT to find the time) to finish the last wall!!!! The EX is staying at my house with the boys this weekend, wonder if I could talk him into painting a wall????? Probably not, wouldn't do it when it was his house, what makes me think he'll do it now that its mine

[zman]

Well the SO and I live in a house for 2 days which was built in 2005. I have already got a couple projects which I shall probably tackle next weekend. Namely, painting the living areas (construction white doesn't cut it for this planner), installing two ceiling fans, and some track lighting in the kitchen.
The whole yard needs to be landscaped, and there's weeds to kill before I lay sod down.
Looks to be a busy summer. Maybe I will hold off on the home brewing project for a bit.

From last summer, I actually got all of that done. Except one ceiling fan is installed, but has worked yet.

New projects:
-Got a new, larger TV for nothing... but I would like to enclose it, so it isn't the focus of the room (as I do not watch much TV anymore). So I have begun a bottom frame that will become a TV Cabinet. Furniture building excites me. (nerd)
-Getting the garden ready. I am half tempted on beginning some seedlings in the house, but also moving the garden so that the neighbor's dogs (who cannot seem to SHUT UP) will not bother me (or the plants...)
-Gotta get the birdfeeder out and filled. The goose migration has begun again and I am beginning to see some House Finches as well as Red-Winged Blackbirds. Time to catch a glimpse of songbirds stopping by the house on their way to Canada. (nerd)
-Brick patio for the walkout basement door and finish gravelling the side yard.
-If the TV Cabinet/Armoire goes well, then some book shelves to house my growing collection of "good reads" will be in the mix.

All I have to say is "Good thing I have "power tool hungry" neighbors who do not use what they bought and are willing to loan things to me!

[the north omaha star]

My honey helps me with the honey-do lists. Last week, we took advantage of the warm temps. in Maryland and re-finished the back steps. (It seems that rock salt used for snow and ice removes the stain from the deck. Who knew??) We've also painted over all of the scuff marks on the stairwells from when we moved in. We also sanded and stained our park bench on the front porch. I used the same anti-oxidation coating for our stair-rails for the bench's ironwork. I cut the grass again this weekend. This would be twice since Christmas that I will have to cut the grass. I have no idea of what kind of fertilizer and seed that I put down.

[Bear Up North]

This Bear is taking a few vacation days. Good way to stretch that Memorial Day weekend out. The only day this week I will be in the office is Friday. (Big important meetings.....whoopie wow wow..... )

My vacation includes JOB JAR WORK.

Today I tore apart part of an exposed wall on my 2-story garage (barn). The outside stairway abuts that exterior wall and the stairs butting against the wall have created a rotting wood scenario. I had to unbolt the lower part of the outside stairway and use a crowbar to inch it away from the wall.

Using skinny blocks of wood, a long screwdriver, the crow bar (again), a long pipe, a long file with a pointy end, and a big hammer, I was able to remove all of the bad wood, including the bad wood between the stairs and the wall. Took forever. (It was 92F today. Nice choice of days to do this.....idiot.....)

I also cut a sabre saw blade down to a much-shorter length and used that tool to cut out some large pieces of the T-111 siding that is on the barn. Tonight I painted some areas in and around the cutting. Tomorrow morning I will cut new large pieces of T-111 siding, mount it in place, and attach the trim back where it belongs. The exterior stairway will get wiggled back into position and I will re-bolt it to the wall.

Over the course of the next week I will finish painting the wall, the stairs, the deck that is at the top of the stairs, and the support posts for the stairway and deck.

Vacations sure are fun, huh?



Bear

[Michele Zone]

Vacations sure are fun, huh?



Bear

I think you actually do enjoy that stuff. You strike me as a workaholic. And workaholics usually are happiest when they are being productive.

[Big Owl]

I have taken the day off to do some much needed items on the honey do list. Thus far today I have replaced the fan in the power vent in the attic. I have also built some shelves in the pantry to make use of some space that is currently not utilized. After I am recovered from the heat in the attic I will go to the store to obtain some chicken and beer for the cookout tonight.

As a side note, over the last few years of being the owner of an early 1900’s bungalow, I have noticed that all my “simple projects” require 2 auxiliary projects prior to the completion of the “simple project”. For example, the replacement of the vent fan in the attic should have consisted of simply replacing the fan, but no I had to re-caulk the vent, upsize the wiring going to the vent, and fix the access going to the attic. I blame the previous owner and his spotty workmanship or lack of. However this makes a simple project take a lot longer.

[Bear Up North]

As Summer wanes and the days get shorter, that ole' Job Jar is still staring me down. You know what that means.....

Football !!!

Seriously.....

At the beginning of the Summer our plans were grand.....let's kick some Job Jar butt!
But the reality of a very busy Summer and the scorching sun.....oh well.

As mentioned in another thread, Katie and this Bear have been attacking Job Bar projects out in the yard. But, the big 2-story garage remains half-painted. (A Labor Day Painting Party in the planning stage. I just have to figure out how to motivate my youngest grand-daughter away from the paint brushes. )

When the for-real football season begins (in early September) this Bear will not be doing Job Jar chores during games.....Go Blue and Go Steelers. (I do have priorities, ya know. )

The busy Summer events continue for the next month or so.....a couple weddings, a neighborhood party, Swanton Corn Fest. Can I hold the paint brush in one hand and the Rolling Rock in the other? (Been there.....done it.)

Isn't life grand, in a Job Jar sort of way?



Bear

[kjel]

As Summer wanes and the days get shorter, that ole' Job Jar is still staring me down. You know what that means.....

Football !!!

Seriously.....

At the beginning of the Summer our plans were grand.....let's kick some Job Jar butt!
But the reality of a very busy Summer and the scorching sun.....oh well.

As mentioned in another thread, Katie and this Bear have been attacking Job Bar projects out in the yard. But, the big 2-story garage remains half-painted. (A Labor Day Painting Party in the planning stage. I just have to figure out how to motivate my youngest grand-daughter away from the paint brushes. )

Bear

I hear you. I am moving in 3 weeks to NJ. I will be on a short 5 day trip to take a lot of stuff up this week. I told my husband that I needed his help cleaning the carpet with the machine today. Where's he? He just left and said he would be back later I wonder it that was American time or Arab time.....sigh.

[biscuit]

Since moving into a house of indeterminate age my every waking moment at home has become an exercise in checking things off the honey do list. The place is very sound structurally, but the “rehab” that was done through the years was sloppy and half-a$$ed at best. That means that just prepping to paint the dinning room was eight hours of scrapping, taping and caulking. The kitchen floor tile was put down directly on the old hardwood, without any backer-board. And while replacing a few loose tiles in the upstairs shower I found that the old wall behind it is severely water damaged, meaning that I’ll be gutting the bathroom instead of simply repainting. Well, at least this way we get exactly the house we want.

[nerudite]

Since moving into a house of indeterminate age my every waking moment at home has become an exercise in checking things off the honey do list. The place is very sound structurally, but the “rehab” that was done through the years was sloppy and half-a$$ed at best. That means that just prepping to paint the dinning room was eight hours of scrapping, taping and caulking. The kitchen floor tile was put down directly on the old hardwood, without any backer-board. And while replacing a few loose tiles in the upstairs shower I found that the old wall behind it is severely water damaged, meaning that I’ll be gutting the bathroom instead of simply repainting. Well, at least this way we get exactly the house we want.

Wow, I have the same life, I assure you. It's taken me the better part of four months to paint the house, what with all the plaster touch ups I've had to do. I have one coat left on a bathroom that I've been working on for a month. The walls were in such bad shape, not just because of bad plaster repair in the past, but also because of the huge drips from when they painted previously without removing or properly taping cabinets and mirrors. It looks like the bathroom was painted three times, but all three colors are on the ceiling, so obviously they never painted the ceiling . I had to TSP the ceiling twice, and then it took three coats of ceiling paint. bleh. The painting was the easiest part! It will probably be finished next weekend. And my house was only built in 1960!

At least I can say that it is structurally sound. It has steel I-beams and these huge wood beams (looks like the kind of thing you'd see in a log house) supporting the floors. And the plaster has been really sturdy given what it's been through. So I keep thinking of it as sweat equity.

[JNA]

Every time I visit Mom down at the Jersey Shore on vacation she always has a list of projects to be done.

This trip my 2 brothers and I accomplished the following:
-- Replaced the screen portion of a screen door.
-- Replaced the the kitchen faucet.
-- Installed 2 exterior lights on the side of the garage so we could eat dinner outside at the picnic table.
-- Removed several window flower boxes and their supports. Mom was tired of trying to keep them planted and watered, I don't blame her. Had to break them up for the garbage, they were not worth recycling.
-- The Big Job - replaced all the trim and molding around the the garage overhead door with pre-primed pieces. Even had to replace the plywood sheeting underneath and 2 of the 2x4 that make up the framing for it. While we were at it, also replaced the cable that provides tension to the door.

Is that enough for a vacation trip ?

[Zoning Goddess]

Every time I visit Mom down at the Jersey Shore on vacation she always has a list of projects to be done.

This trip my 2 brothers and I accomplished the following:
-- Replaced the screen portion of a screen door.
-- Replaced the the kitchen faucet.
-- Installed 2 exterior lights on the side of the garage so we could eat dinner outside at the picnic table.
-- Removed several window flower boxes and their supports. Mom was tired of trying to keep them planted and watered, I don't blame her. Had to break them up for the garbage, they were not worth recycling.
-- The Big Job - replaced all the trim and molding around the the garage overhead door with pre-primed pieces. Even had to replace the plywood sheeting underneath and 2 of the 2x4 that make up the framing for it. While we were at it, also replaced the cable that provides tension to the door.

Is that enough for a vacation trip ?

Ya' wanna come to FL and play handyman? I can't get anyone to come do "little" jobs here. Replacing ceiling fans, lights, etc.

I am getting real close to taking a utility knife and ripping up my carpet and restoring the terrazzo. Of course, that would involve handing a dremel tool to my kid to whack off the carpet nails. Sigh.

[Bear Up North]

Our refrigerator died yesterday. It has been repaired a couple times.....I am done investing in repairs.....last night (on the way to a party) we bought a new unit. It was delivered this afternoon.....yes, on a Sunday.

Guess what?

Doesn't fit. Kind of expected that, though. The 'fridge space in our old house is small and these puppies have been getting wider......kind of like us Americans.....wide 'fridge to hold the food for our wide 'bods.

Soooooooo.....the big puppy is sticking halfway out into the kitchen, looking like a giant chrome robot. There may be a good set here for some YouTube fanatic who would want to re-make some classic b-movie sci-fi flick. I have a busy work week, so Mr. Roboto ('fridge) will be in the way until next Saturday.

Out will come a corner of a wall. Some wiring may have to be moved.....won't know for sure until I get out the power tools. Heh heh heh.....

Add the project to the Honey Do List (Job Jar).

Bear The Tool Man

[Bear Up North]

Woe is me!

More Job Jar adventures on Saturday, early December, 2006. The kitchen faucet started to leak all over the place. Simple fix, right!

Not.

I could not get one of the large plastic wing-tip washers off of the underside of the sink.....the washers that hold the faucet tight to the top of the sink. The space to get the hands (or fingers) in is very small, because of the structural underside design of the sink. To get back in and under, this Bear had to lay on my back, with my feet sticking out of the sink base cabinet.

The other two wing-tip washers came loose.....but that one SOB #*^+^^$! would not budge. ( Should have called Budgie..... )

My step son tried.....no dice. Katie tried.....same result. So I trudged to the local hardware store, bought some long and skinny pliers, and tried that. Still a no go.

Finally I tried "old faithful".....a hammer. Used a hammer and a wide blade scewdriver and manipulated my not-exactly-small aging body in and under the infmous wing nut. In my awkward upside-down position I had room to slightly tap the screwdriver on the wing nut.....and it worked!

Had to make one more run to the local hardware store.....for new water lines, because the pipe dope on the old plastic lines had distorted the interior threads.

Everything is now fixed. Works fine.

However, I can't move my arm. I pulled something or just overused it. Oh well, that's life in the "Job Jar Lane".

BTW.....while all of this is taking place, Katie is grouting the tiles she recently placed in the bathroom. I had to cut the tiles but she did all of the installing and is doing the time-consuming grout job. Looks good!

Time to update my list.

Bear

[JNA]

Bear -
I too have experienced replacing kitchen faucet gymnastics.

[kjel]

Bear -
I too have experienced replacing kitchen faucet gymnastics.

Me too....makes you wonder sometimes why cabinet designers but in a fixed unmoveable shelf in the cabinet under the sink and that stupid skinny piece in the middle that the door rest on when they are closed.

[Jaxspra]

Well, I finally painted that last wall in the bedroom. I also have cleaned out every nook and cranny in the house, including the garage. Now maybe I can finally move on to some real projects!!

[the north omaha star]

Bear -
I too have experienced replacing kitchen faucet gymnastics.

That will be me in the next couple of weeks when the semester is over. I'm going to replace the kitchen sink faucet, the faucet in my bathroom and the faucet in the powder room.

[mendelman]

That will be me in the next couple of weeks when the semester is over. I'm going to replace the kitchen sink faucet, the faucet in my bathroom and the faucet in the powder room.

Wait...didn't you just do a full gut rehab like 2 years ago? You're changing stuff already? Whoa.

[the north omaha star]

Wait...didn't you just do a full gut rehab like 2 years ago? You're changing stuff already? Whoa.

Since I was working with theseller (developer) with a budget, the contractor installed the cheapest faucets known to man. Also my wife wants to knock the down the wall between kitchen and the dining room to make some breakfast counter thingy. One major problem, the wall is load bearing. I'm OK with it, as long as we get an architect and registered and licesned structrual engineer to OK it.

[Bear Up North]

Off to a decent start on Job Jar projects, circa 2007, 1st Quarter (thru mid-March).....

Katie has been working on the bathroom cabinets.....sanding, painting, new "pulls", etc. She has also worked this year on the floor, finishing up some bathroom ceramic tile grout work.

Katie has also spent considerable time upstairs, going through closets, removing clothing that is no longer worn.....it will all go to a donation center (Goodwill Industries).

Yesterday I spent a number of hours repairing a back staircase ceiling light fixture, with all the usual "old house" complications. Working good now!

Earlier this week the area temperatures were in the low 70F range.....about 25 degrees above normal. On Tuesday night I removed a huge (about 12' x 10') aluminum awning from the back porch, so I could access the ice-damaged eaves-troughs. That project will be ongoing for a couple weeks.....a lot of repair work to the facia boards that were behind the eave troughs. (Katie is going to paint the giant awning.....easier to access when it is a yard ornament. )

Later this spring the great garage painting adventure will resume (this time with no major repairs to the wooden siding), a dead tree that is hovering over the outside steps to the garage's 2nd-story has to be removed, some concrete or stones have to be placed where cars turning in the alley behind the house ruin the grass.

Plenty of other projects on the list.....and again I ramble on about how excited this Bear is to jump into the projects "full tilt boogie", yet the reality is that I will get to things when I get to things. (Next Saturday, fixing the celing fixture in the dining room.....it has been flickering.....heh heh heh.....)

Bear The Tool Dude

[JNA]

Need help -
How do I convince Mother to pay for somebody to rebuild the outdoor shower shed at her house down at Jersey Shore ?

Currently she thinks when my brother and I are there ON VACATION (for only onee week) could rebuild it -
NO JOY

The only thing holding up the shower shed is the paint, and it has not been replaced in 30 years.

[Bear Up North]

This Bear has been OFF since last Friday. What a fun Memorial Day weekend, working on.....

Building shelves in the garage (to hold paint, painting supplies, etc.).
Continuing to work on the bass boat, including changing tires, lube job for trailer, good clean-up, etc.
Still have more to do on the boat.....slight wiring problem with "live well" motor.
Stacking firewood, general yard clean-up.
Painting garage, including scraping and sanding.

This ole' body hurt so much on Tuesday morning that I did very little all day (vacation day).....took a ride to Henry County, cleaned a little bit in the house. I can barely move my right hand.....too much scraping and painting. Dang, I'm old.

Today (Wednesday) is the last day of my short vacation. Gonna do a few more things to the boat....that's all. (Hopefully, fishing in lower Michigan's Irish Hills, on Saturday. )

Sore Bear

[Bear Up North]

This morning I was up very early. I wandered out to the garage at about 6:00 AM. Because I want to work while it is cool AND work while the wasps and hornets are still snoozing, I grabbed the paint, the paint brush, the scrapers, the rolling ladder.

I began to paint the bear, while getting an occasional swab of paint on the garage.

About 10:30 AM the wasps started buzzing me, because I was "in their territory"......about 8 feet off the ground. That's enough of that, until tomorrow at 6:00 AM.
_____

During my scraping (preparing to paint) I found some rotten wood spots, underneath the deck that is at the top of the exterior stairway to the 2nd level of my garage. Add another project to the JOB JAR.
_____

Time to update the official Excel Project List. I can mark "complete" the new dog yard gate (finished it a couple weeks ago).....and add-in the rotten wood fix.

As always, I will pixx-off Katie (with a on my face) by showing her the official graphs.



Bear On Vacation For Two More Days

[Jaxspra]

Took about 40 landscaping blocks away from around a tree in the front yard...got the boys and some friends to try removing some of the dirt that is being held together by the root system of the ivy that has been there for years and years. We are making some progress. Now I need to set the blocks along the front of the house to create a very small wall to enclose the existing bushes...I canNOT lift thos things again...they are extremely heavy!!
I do have a man coming out Tues or Wed to help take a look at it and perhaps help me lay the first layer of the blocks...my luck it'll be crooked and fall over in a year!!