We made this past weekend a full one, touching all the bases I had wanted to. The cleaning got started, and we finished the transition piecing over the stairs and between the living room and hallway. All that is officially left is to nail in the quarter round and we are done! We also feasted on bagels and cream cheese and saw the latest Harry Potter movie. Now I have to keep the momentum going.
I really don't like that its dark before 4:30pm, and I know it will only get worse. My body hasn't adjusted yet to it. It starts getting dark, and I start shutting down. If I plant roots on the couch, I'm done for. After Thanksgiving, I will have to light up the Christmas lights and candles and find the night owl within me.
We watched the documentary film, Best Worse Movie, which I found to be very interesting. Its the cast of Troll 2, twenty some years later, recalling what it was like to make this so bad its good movie. None of the actors knew they were making a bad movie at the time and now, years later, it's become a cult classic because it is so ridiculously bad. Of course the director still stands behind his work, not quite understanding the only reason why some people love it is because its so badly made and acted. He doesn't understand that sometimes in life, its worth it to laugh at yourself and admit you're not perfect.
I think we all need to do this more often. We're all designed to fail, in some instances through several attempts. Being able to not take it so seriously and find your sense of humor can mean the difference between stressing out or having fun while trying. I want to be the kind of person that laughs through life rather than be brought down by frustration.
Well, I better get moving and grooving and take advantage of another warmer day for walking. In only a few short days, I may be forced to make peace with the dreaded treadmill.
We celebrated DS15's birthday this past weekend knowing on his actual birthday our family won't be able to share much together time. He wanted to go to Red Lobster for all you can eat shrimp. He enjoyed it very much as did the rest of us. We spoiled him with gifts and ended the weekend eating cake.
The living room floor is almost complete. We still need to attach quarter round trims, but for the most part it feels done because we've been able to move furniture back into the room. I almost didn't want to do this because it began to cover up all our work. :)
Before our first frosty nights arrived this weekend, we pulled up much of the garden and trimmed bushes. Our city is suppose to pick up brush collection this week, but I'm sure they will skip our neighborhood like usual. We'll end up having to bring it to our city's yard waste compost pile ourselves. Its actually just down the road so its not too much trouble.
We did not pick pumpkins or tag our Christmas tree yet. Maybe we'll do this next weekend? Its never long enough is it, the weekend?
Running away helped. 
Saturday we ditched the nest and took a mini-road trip. We drove to K-town to visit the always wonderful G-Ma. We enjoyed lunch together and afterward left the boys with G-Ma, while DH and I made a side trip to visit a high school chum for supper.
Driving down to the area near where I grew up, so much had changed, we got a little lost. Funny how landmarks can change leaving you feeling like you're traveling someplace new.
Our friend made us a wonderful supper and we enjoyed seeing her house and new car. I marveled at her garden, never having seen sweet pepper plants grow so big. She told me to pick all I wanted, and I kicked myself later after realizing I had forgotten my bag of picked peppers as we left. (Sorry Karen!) We won't allow so much time to pass again before our next visit.
The boys walked the lakefront with G-Ma and fed the seagulls and ducks. They also saw a loon which really surprised me. I've never seen a loon on Lake Michigan before. They returned to her house to watch their favorite cable channel which we are not privileged to get, the Chiller channel. They also watched Sharktopus on the SyFy channel. Gotta love those cheesy thrillers!
We drove home late rather than stay over because we wanted to get a jump on our flooring project the next morning. I'm very happy with how much progress we made! The first row took some time, but then we got moving much more quickly. Its a math thing. You have to stagger those seams, and we try our best to use as much square feet of each board, trying to eliminate waste. We only have 1.5 rows left to complete our living room area and all that will be left is the hallway and tricky angle transition between the living room and kitchen. Today I'll be picking up some mighty movers for our furniture to slide around on and ordering a Water Hog door mat. Its all starting to come together!
I'd predict we'd finish by this evening, but the dentist just called with a cancellation, and I scheduled DH in for his cleaning. Working on this floor, has taught me a new meaning of patience. It will be done, when it gets done. Life happens.
Yumi doesn't mind the furniture being turned over, but its starting to get to me.
I feel like I'm going through the motions, but not getting anywhere. I suppose its because our Sleepyhouse is still in disarray. The flooring project is taking longer than expected, due to the reality that living our lives has to continue throughout this process. We must work, learn, exercise, clean, eat, sleep. We can't be fixing the nest 24/7. I have to let go and go with the flow. I want this project finished though because I'm already planning others.
I am learning quite a bit working on this flooring project. Maybe I should focus on that rather than worrying about when the house will be back in order? Before we began, I admit I felt a bit overwhelmed. Once I began cutting and ripping up carpet, I could feel the fear leaving. With each carpet tack strip I destroyed, I knew there was no turning back. Seeing all the layers of dirt, pulling up each staple, I just knew this change was going to be for the better.
We're hitting speed bumps, but so far, we haven't come across any obstacles we haven't been able to overcome. I'm so thankful for the Internet!! Its come in so handy when we needed to research how to make two seams come together after that first row of planks went in. The manufacturer's DVD makes the installation process look so easy, but they don't show you how to lock two seams together at 90 degree angles after that first row. Hint, you can't knock those planks too hard with your mallet or you'll break off those tongues for your next row! You have to place some weight on the previous seam to prevent it from coming apart and gently wiggle and press until you find that sweet spot.
You may also not realize how much math goes into laying this floor. We are carefully trying to ensure the seams are properly staggered, at the same time trying not to waste too many boards. We have to calculate how long each board needs to be and exactly where the cut boards can be placed to best use them.
When its all finished, I know we're going to love it. Its going to be easier to keep clean and should help with our allergies.
Here's a few before and during photos. Its moving along slower than I expected but we are taking our time and getting it right. Having an engineer for a husband means every board is being measured and those seams have to be perfect. :) I don't mind. I know when its all done, it will hold up nicely. I just hope our knees hold out!! I'll be sure to post after photos when we are finished.
