Floor Plan

Just playing around with my architecture program ... decided to do an "Empty Nest" floor plan, complete with where I want my furniture to be placed ...

 Living Levels. Bottom Left: Living room. Right: Kitchen. These two rooms are on the "ground level".

Top Left: Family Room. Right: Storage and utility room. These two rooms are the basement level.

Living room will be converted to a "library", with plant stand in front of window. Family room will house entertainment center, and place for grandsons toy box. 

Private Level: Bottom Left: Office. Right: Bathroom. Top Left: Craft Room. Right: Master Bedroom. Upper level of house. Lots of shelves, storage and work areas in both office and craft room.


The house is a tri-level. It's about 1200 square feet of living space. Perfect size for an empty nest, wouldn't you say?

Just a few more pics

I forgot to add the pics of the dinette area, there is no formal dining room in this house. It's been such a catch-all for years that there hasn't been a sit-down meal here in a long time. Just another surface that was a catch-all. What is it with every flat surface being converted to another collection of crap that should have a home elsewhere? What you don't see is the stack of boxes for the trash ... how hard would it have been to open the doorwall and put it in the cans just feet away? You also don't see the shopping bags worth of crap hidden behind the table. I love that kitchen table, Brother Deere and Alien made it!!

This pic was taken the day they moved out. It's looking better, but the after shots wait until it's the way I really want it.

Next up we have The Wrecking Crew's bedroom. These pictures are NOT for the weak of heart!! BossMan wanted me to snap photos the day DIL moved out. Not sure why, but here they are ...

Granted, some of it is just mess from DIL packing and moving out, but just get a look at those walls!! Carpet is ruined, too ...

Thankfully this is the worst room ... the others just really need a good sort and toss, detailed cleaning and reorganization.

Toss, toss, toss ...

Just for a happy pic ... this is one of the dollhouses I built and decorated. I'll be happy when it can be properly displayed!!

Day One

Off to a slower start than I had hoped, but that's okay. Alien was supposed to come over to help, and to take some of the excess crap that I don't want (who needs six spatulas anyway?) ... but the Knight in Rusty Armor had other plans for their only running vehicle. So, tomorrow we'll sort through the stuff she can take home with her!

I took a bunch of pictures of the kitchen BEFORE ... I won't take "after" photos until it's completely reclaimed. I don't think I'll post all 18 photos.

I have to admit ... I'm so embarrassed by the photos you are about to see. Notice the windows are covered, until this mess is gone, I don't open the shades ... you'll understand why shortly.

Taking the photos I did notice some of my stuff has vanished. Half a tote worth of food storage plastics. Of course they were the ones with the lids ... the "good stuff" so to speak.

And there's four days worth of food missing from the freezer. Along with a bunch of condiments from the fridge. Things I bought!!

And she's still got the nerve to say I STEAL?

I would write it off as the cost of having her in the house, had it not been for the fact that I only can budget $40 a week for groceries.

I'll just be glad when all this is over. Once and for all. Don't invite me over. Not that it would matter, I wouldn't come, even IF I knew where they moved to!! That's right ... I don't know where they moved. Gadget doesn't want me knowing. And she's telling everyone that we mutually know to NOT tell me. No skin off my back. Really.

It's not like I was going to surprise them with a house-warming gift anyway. Not after she's helped herself to whatever she sees fit anyway. 

*****

So ... here we go ... picture time.

 Look at all that counter space being wasted!

 Let's just toss things wherever ...

 More stuff. The blue bowl was someones solution for storing container lids. 

Won't see this stuff in Martha Stewart, people!!

 This is supposed to be my kitchen desk, it's been a catch all for way too long

Look at all those leftover she left me!! 

See the crispers? For years that was the only storage I had for my groceries!!

 Used to be this was so full you could barely fit it in the cupboard. Looks full doesn't it? NOT!

But doesn't that empty shelf above it look heavenly?

 Let's just shove Mom's stuff everywhere.

 This was the only pantry space I had for almost eight years.

So much for stacking the pots neatly.

What the pictures don't show clearly are the ice cream stains on the floor, and counter ... or the cruddy spills on the front right burner (I forgot to take pics). I'm so not going to miss having to come in and clean up after a bunch of PIGS, yes, pigs!! 

And it'll be heavenly to have a place for everything and know that everything is in it's place!! 

Mark This Date ...

The date that I, LCM, have long lived for.

THE EMPTY NEST!!

Yes, that's right folks, the moving van (a FedEx delivery van) just pulled out of my driveway!! It's packed to practically busting with their personal belongings. They have one more trip for the last of the stuff, and to get the van ...

The van ... it died. I figured it would, they both are rough on vehicles, very rough (but we already knew Gizmo was, lol). I nicely told him he's got until the end of the weekend to get it and his other possessions out of the house. That once everything is gone, I can start on that long list I need to tackle - at least in the rooms where his crap still is.

We did have a private talk, just Gizmo and I, before he left. I asked how I was going to handle the overdue bills. He said "I'm working on that" ... in other words, I may possibly get them paid before the shut off notices appear next month.

It'd be nice to have those things current, you know?

*****

So, tonight I just chill. Enjoy the freedom of the empty nest. Goodness knows I deserve a night to chill after all I've been through.

Tomorrow I reclaim MY kitchen. That'll take me a good two days. And yes, there's going to be plenty of before and after pics. I just warn you, some of these before pics may not be for the weak of heart!!

*****

LOL, just got off the phone with Alien. She wanted to come right over to help me with the kitchen (she's got first choice if she wants to keep something or if I toss it). I explained TOMORROW, but for some reason she wasn't hearing that. She wanted to zip right over and start NOW!!

No, tonight I need to myself. Just to enjoy the much deserved quiet ... the freedom to go to the bathroom without having to take my roll of t.p. with me (I can leave it in the bathroom knowing it'll be there when I need it) ... the freedom to take a shower without interruption!

Just the freedom to finally move about my own home without worry about confrontation. Or disrespect ...

No more locking doors behind me!!

SOMEONE PINCH ME!!! I fear I'm dreaming again ...

*****

Noisy here today ...

 ... thanks to the heat vents carrying every little sound in the house (although, the bathroom is the worst for the amplification) ... someone is working in high gear to get everything packed. I'm assuming they have a key on a place by the way the boxes are being stacked up all over the living and family rooms today. 

Not to mention the washer and dryer have been running non-stop since 8 am! 

I'm thinking someone wants every piece of clothing they own to be clean ... surely the use of my washer and dryer ends the minute the moving van pulls out of here. 

Gizmo's car is here, which means he had Gadget take him to work. I'm hoping it's because he's bringing his work van home to pack!! 

If that happens tonight, you know there'll be a second blog from me. I don't think I need to tell you what that topic will be! 

*****

I'm still worried how the bills are going to get paid, he still owes me for the last two months of living here. 

My mom says that she and Gizmo have talked a few times, that he is saying he will pay what he owes. Supposedly he's also saying that he won't leave me high and dry and will help me out meeting the bills in the future (until I find that second job anyway). She also says that Gizmo claims he has every intention of replacing the car that he killed.

We'll see. Gadget will be the biggest resistance in him catching up with his share of the costs around here. After all according to her, I'm a free-loader. I expect my son to pay my every expense. I use people ... anyone and everyone I've ever met.

I cannot say I'll miss the drama or the lies. 

*****

And the job-hunting continues. I never did hear back for a second interview from the building supply store (the seasonal one). I've still got hope there could be a second one ... they're still about a month away from spring like weather ... the time they open the garden center, the whole reason for needing seasonal employees. 

And I've still got a list of about 100 local companies that I'm slowly plugging away at. Slowly. 

*****

So ... let's see ... the good for the day? 

• My over-crowded-with-packed-boxes living spaces? 
• The fun I'm having making to-do lists for M-day?
• Getting back into all that FlyLady stuff? Making my "control journal" (lists that I'll use to keep the house clean and organized)?
• "Hanging out" with my new (online) friends on the Keeping Up Appearances group I joined a few days back?

How about all of the above?

Reclaiming My Territory ...

Alrighty then, I need to make this list. The ideas are in my head, they need to be written down in a place that I know I can find them later.

Let's start with the most obvious starting point, and the one needing the most attention ... the kitchen!

Kitchen:
Gut cupboards, toss everything not used in a year's time. Bring in outside cans for this job!!
Rearrange contents of cupboards and pantry.  Scrub!
Empty fridge and freezer. Scrub down.
Clean Microwave
Clean oven and range top.
Need two large burners and drip pans for range top.
Scrub kitchen waste can (replace when possible)
Wash walls!
Scrub floors (on hands and knees. this isn't a job for a mop)
Move dining table. Scrub dinette floors (hands and knees)
New window treatments for kitchen and dinette. Including doorwall. 

Bathroom:
Fix plumbing issues with shower and tub drain
Scrub everything down
Patch holes in wall - patch hole in hallway wall at same time
Empty plastic drawer system, move contents to vanity drawers (use in craft room for added storage)
Hang tp holder on side of vanity
Need small table (12"x12") for reading materials and candles (finally!! Candles in my bathroom!)
Paint
New shower curtain (save heavy denim shower curtain for sewing projects)

Living Room:
Just needs a good scrub down.
Wash walls.
Shampoo carpeting
Bring in two large bookcases (from family room) and ALL books!
Easy chair, "grandma's" end table stay (couch to family room eventually)
Get something to use as a plant stand for under front window (table, buffet, or bakers rack?)
Get rid of old entertainment center and tv. 
New Window treatments.

Entry closet:
Check into possibility of converting it to a bench with coat hooks (remove door and trim)

Family Room: future "play room"
Paint!
New window treatments.
Lay flooring.
Move toy box to area next to stairs.
Move couch from living room.
Need sturdy coffee table.
Entertainment center (dark brown one), tv, and all the related electronics.
Storage for videos
Lighthouse pictures (from master bedroom)

Utility and storage area:
Shelves for storage.
Clean cupboard by laundry area.
Replace washer and dryer! (washer first, hang line from rafters if need be to dry clothes!)

"Office":
Paint
Remove carpet, replace with laminate flooring.
Need area rug
Window treatments.
Move black shelves from master bedroom to office.
Move black desk from master bedroom to office.

"Craft Room" (back bedroom):
GUT room!! Start all over again! Brother Deere will be needed for this job!
Paint
Laminate flooring.
Window treatments.
Bring in (make?) craft tables, sewing machine.
Shelves!!Adjustable wall shelving units (bracket system?)
Convert closet to display area for dollhouses and doll collections.
Plastic Drawer system for storing stuff (presently in bathroom, SCRUB out!) 

Last, but not least ... Master bedroom:
Repaint!
Shampoo carpet
Paint bed white.
Move my "old" bedroom furniture to master bedroom.
Window Treatments.
Wall of pictures to family room (over couch)

ALL ROOMS:
New outlet covers
New switch plates
New register covers (including cold air return covers)

 *****

And that's just INSIDE the house!!

*****

OUTSIDE:

Shed:
Clean!! If it's not lawn or snow removal related, OUT IT GOES!!

Backyard:
Find permanent place for cast iron fire pit
Repaint bench, move to a more suitable location
Remove tree outside bedroom window before it falls over!

Side yards:
Get rid of current garbage cans (fill with crap that needs to go first!)
New garbage can - 30 gallon should suffice. 
Make a place for garbage can storage. Preferably critter proof.

Front yard:
Remove weeds from planter area.
Place a few (2 on each side) galvanized metal buckets from hardware store for gardens.
Re-seed grass!
Figure out what to do with gravel part of driveway.
Removed concrete slab that neighbor's tree roots have displaced.

Entry Stoop:
Fix loose bricks (patch the "snake hole")

Deck:
Finish trim work
Weather seal!!

*****

And yes, I will be taking plenty of BEFORE and AFTER photos. This is definitely a job for documentation! Besides, the before pics will always remind me why this nest will forever after remain EMPTY!!

*****

I think that pretty much covers it. Who needs to work, I have a full time job fixing the damages from both of the Wrecking Crews!!

Oh wait, I need to work!! I've gotta pay for this stuff!!

But at least I'll finally have that house I've dreamed of ... that house that I can bring people into and not be ashamed of what it looks like inside (or out) ...

OMG! I can have friends over again!!

Once the list is done, at least, LOL!

Been a few days ...

It's been a few GOOD days here, thanks to the ability to IGNORE those who otherwise cause me so much stress.

No news on moving day. But then, when no one is talking to the other person, news does not travel. Period.

I do hear lots of activity from downstairs, boxes being packed. Or, I'm assuming packed since I hear a lot of sounds I've never heard before, sounds like things being moved, sorted and occasionally dropped. ... not that I'm eavesdropping, but if you're in my bathroom, you can hear everything that goes on down there through the heater vent.

So ... what happened around here lately that's made the days good?

*****

Sunday The Knight in Rusty Armor called, "Mom, whatcha doing? We're going to bring dinner over to your house, cook it and spoil you like you deserve".

My first thought was "what does he want?" LOL ... I did decline the offer, only because not only is my living room a mess from all the Wrecking Crew 2's activity (and dangerous for two toddlers), but it's tense here, something those little ones don't need to be exposed to!!

They did come over, but after they ate dinner. And they brought a huge plate of yummy Chicken Noodles with them. It was huge, I'm still eating it!! LOL.

We hung out in my office ... it's got the toybox in it for now. So the boys got to play while we adults talked.

 Rusty Knight asked if they could move in when the Wrecking Crew 2 is gone! NO WAY!!! He said "I'll mow the lawn, shovel snow, help with repairs around the house, and once you have a car I'll do the repairs. You won't even know we're here!!"

NO NO NO NO NO ... I had a buttload of reasons why not, and I told him why it wouldn't work.
First of all, did you notice that he didn't say anything about splitting the bills? Second of all, Alien is a wonderful, caring, loving mommy, but her housekeeping skills sadly lack!!

I don't need another bunch of free-loading slobs under my roof. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

I love my daughter enough to say NO!

I had nightmares Sunday night ... I lived in a house with no walls, only floors and a roof. People I didn't know wandered in, used (and damaged) my possessions, without so much as an offer to contribute to the household in which they just invited themselves into.

*****

Monday went much better. Mom was supposed to pick me up at noon, but called to say she was running late, thanks to Daddy and not being able to sleep last night. Seems that Daddy fell again, they had to call 911 since she can't get him off the floor. He hit his head on the doorknob, leaving a nasty bump on the side of his forehead. Of course, Mom couldn't sleep, between keeping an eye on Daddy, and worrying about if that knot caused a concussion (the EMT said to just watch him, no need to take him to the ER).

I said we could wait a day or two (even though I didn't have food to make it through the next day or so - except for that massive dish of noodles with chicken from Alien). Mom said no, she'd be over to get me, that SHE needed a little break from Daddy and wasn't going to cancel because of a bump.

Our first stop was Red Lobster. She wanted to try that Cobb Salad I keep raving about. I ordered one, too ... she loved it. It's a huge salad, we both had to have it boxed for take home.

Next stop was the tile store. Mom's redoing their kitchen and had to return the samples she had purchased. We looked around, I think I found the backsplash I want for the kitchen.

Then off to the grocery store. There's a bench in the front of the store, Mom said she'd be sitting there waiting for me. I zipped through the store (doesn't take long to spend my $40 weekly food budget, LOL), but when I got there, no Mom. She'd decided that as long as we were there, she'd pick up a few items she needed.I know most of the people who work there (two decades of shopping the same store, lol), and I asked the cashier near the bench if she'd seen my mommy. We had a good laugh over that. Ten minutes or so later, I finally found Mom, with a full grocery cart!! A few items, eh? Geesh!! Passing the cashier again, she comes up to us, hugs Mom and says "Momma, we found you!" Poor Mom ... hadn't a clue who this stranger was!!

Mom did say that as soon as I find a job, she'll lease a new vehicle for her. As she stated, "I'm 83 years old, I'm too old to be buying another vehicle". I'll take over the van she drives now. I'll make the lease payments for the van, she'll pay insurance until I'm able to.

I can live with that. It's a nice Town and Country mini-van.

Mom and I also talked about what I want to do with the house once they've flown the coop ... that will follow in a separate blog so I can find it when I need it, LOL.

*****

I keep day-dreaming about how nice it'll be to have my house back. No having to lock up my valuables. No remembering where I hid the key for the cash lock-box. No locking doors behind me when I leave a room, or having to make sure I have the keys with me. No more having to have key-lock door knobs on the interior doors!! No having to take my roll of toilet paper into the bathroom and remembering to take it with me when I leave (or it'll disappear, never to be seen again, but remember, I'm the one that steals!!) ... or having to take my shampoo or conditioner with me when I shower. No more messes from others, only MY messes to worry about. No more disrespect.

Ahhhhhh, and it's sooo close I can see it. See it in the packed boxes they've moved to the middle of the living room (creating not only an eye-sore but a path that I must carefully navigate).

How do two people who live in Mom's basement accumulate so much crap? That's what I can't understand!!

I do know my house will be a lot emptier ...

SOON, very soon. Not soon enough, though.

*****

Em, I can't figure out blogger ... I'm trying to make it easier for you to access my blogs, and to leave comments ... I'll figure it out yet!!