This cOld House 19

This morning as I was making Cocoa for the girls, I saw our mouse. Rather, I saw a streaking blur out of the corner of my eye darting from under the fridge to under the stove - I couldn't really see it as it was going about 240 miles per hour. I called to Tommie-Cat, disturbing his breakfast. He looked at me like "whatever..." and went back to his 'cat beans' (as Naomi calls his food.)

We have contracted for storm windows for the dining room and living room. It'll be six weeks, just in time for spring!

I'm headed to Lexington this weekend with the girls, Dan is staying put to work on the bathroom. (We're responsible for painting it.) If he doesn't get it done, I'll release Rob to get on it next week. I am eager to push it along since the tub in the master bath (which we are NOT re-doing any time soon,) kind of blew out this week. Korrect Plumbing (my heroes) were able to get it back together, even 'though Dan, who harbors a secret desire to be a plumber, got to it first and essentially trashed it. Thank goodness we saved the tub valve out of the girls' bathroom - the plumber stripped the seats and stems off of it to make our tub work. But that valve won't last for long so we need to get the other tub up and running for the girls. Dan and I can survive without a tub since we have the separate shower, but the kids really need one.

I finally got a plan out of one of the landscape contractors. It wasn't at all what I wanted, so it's back to the drawing board. (Not that I can even fathom doing yard work in this cold.) Looking ahead... looking ahead....

Dan and I came across an article about retro fitting insulation in older homes. After the weather this week, we are intrigued by it. I'll point it out to Rob for his opinion when I next see him.

I've only had one taker on the gas bill pool. (See my last post.) Let me know if you are interested!

This cOld House 11

We will see what this week brings. As of last Thursday, we've had a big muddy hole in the ground and not a body around. The concrete cutter showed up for a few hours on Friday, lopped off the two slabs which the backhoe couldn't remove and disappeared. Chance of rain today is 90% so I can assume that no one involved with concrete company will show up. Likewise on Rob and Co. since there's not much for his crew to do.

Dan has had a nice long weekend off and we've gotten a little more organized - even taking care of some stuff he's been wanting to get put away since we moved in. We've moved the bed out of the art room, (where my Mom slept when she visited,) and have re-arranged the furniture to avoid the leak in the ceiling. The roof guy will take a look Wednesday. Our bathroom is a little better organized, the laundry room is mostly cleaned up and put back together after being decimated by the plumbers and electricians. Dan even cleaned up a bit in the garage.

Last night as Mim played in the kitchen, she claimed to have seen an animal scurry across the floor and go under the fridge. She was sure it was a raccoon, although just hours earlier I had found mouse droppings on my bottle of 409 in the back hall closet. We investigated but did not see anything and assume it's a mouse. We still haven't gotten a cat yet but are feeling more of a sense of urgency to do so.

We also have what I am sure are Indian Meal Moths - and I haven't had the heart to clean out the food cupboards yet. It's a near impossible job the way the drawers in the kitchen are built, and we'll probably have to use traps. Dan thinks I'm nuts but I do have a little experience with these pantry pests.

The weather forecast indicates we may have a break in the rain Wednesday/Thursday. If so, we can expect some forms to be built and if it doesn't get to cold we should be poured early next week. Keep your fingers crossed.