Best Of

We just authorized an expensive repair to our home to be done while we're up here in MN. Our ranch style house was built in the 1970's. The gas pipe from the meter out near the street to the house is deteriorating. So we're having a new pipeline installed and it's over 150 feet. We have used the plumbing company and dh thinks they're reliable. If we waited until we were home, there would be a couple of days without gas service while the work was being done.

Our roof is also getting old….

The joys of being a homeowner come at a price.

Cindy - thanks for taking us to Ireland with you! We didn't have nearly as good weather when we were there. So true about the English's treatment of the Irish - but then I don't think they treated any of their "minions" very well.

By the way Chris, thanks for the referral about New Amsterdam. Certainly true in Virginia too.

Sandy, don't beat yourself up about the "wish you had known." I think you have to go through it to know what to do. We were very fortunate that we have USAA insurance and if anything, we got upgrades with some of the replacement items. But still we had to leave the rental before everything was done and had clothes spread out everywhere because our closet wasn't finished.

Petite - love what you showed us of your cabin. How big is it? How isolated? Looks like lots of forest.

Betrayal - I know Jackie's shoes were big, but thanks for trying to fill them. Sounds like we all appreciate it.

It's been hot here but not nearly as many "over 110 degree days" as last summer. We also are having sporadic rain like the Chicago area is.. The east valley always gets more than we do but the next town over where I play golf got over 1/2 inch this week and we only got enough of a drizzle to make the dogs not want to walk. Almost like the weather was respecting the town boundaries. I've continued to play golf regularly but always early, only 9 and with an ice towel. Ken and the dogs walk over a mile in the morning but other walks are obviously not much.

Belle is still here. No discussion about her return home so who knows…. She's generally a good little girl although is more of a barker than Mutz ever was.

Happy belated birthday, Betrayal. Our 59th anniversary was the 14th. Talk about romance - we bought each other new lamps for our respective offices.

Haave a good week, everyone.

Marge

@petite1 i love your cabin. I’d love to find an affordable one here for me and the kitties.

Sandy, after dealing with restoration contractors from November of 2019 to January of 2023, I hear your pain. Fortunately, we were able to stay in the house and I was able to be an inside superintendent. I had a big argument with the owner of the restoration company when we learned that the delay in getting an onsite structural engineer inspection meant we were unaware that a major snow storm could have caused the temporary roof they erected could have collapsed and done catastrophic damage to the house. I threw him out and told him I would only deal with the project manager, not him.

We'd already had the attic and primary bedroom destroyed by the tree strike and the rain had damaged the living room and a small area of the basement. There was damage to other rooms but they were minimal.

Their decision to remove the gutters, which lead to an underground water mitigation system, before Isaias hit meant the basement, which had minimal damage to a small section of wall and flooring, flooded destroying the floor and several walls. We had enough flooring to repair the initial damage, but not after the flood. The water pouring off our roof looked like Niagara Falls and the tarps just flattened to the house causing the water to gain access to the basement. DH was no help with the contractors and it was more of a challenge to get him to participate than it was to handle it myself.

When I told them there were insufficient funds to return my house to its former state, they talked to SF and got an increase in funding. I also looked at their punch list, highlighted what they had not done and made sure those charges were applied to other costs that they were chintzy on. They never ordered the replacement basement flooring when I gave them the info and 5 months later I was told it was unavailable. So what I chose next cost them a fortune and they were unhappy, but you snooze, you lose.

Glad you have access to litigators. If you can open your bathroom windows during showers, you won't have to wait 30 days. We installed in floor heating, exhaust fans and a vent system when we redid the bathrooms.

canarycat, glad you gave the Pendray a thumbs up. We love high teas so we are looking forward to it.

cindyny, love the photos and the travelogue. We will head there next spring so I am really looking forward to the return. We always used B & B's and loved the experience. Our last trip there was a tour of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, so we stayed in hotels which were nice.

No gardening due to heat and humidity so focused on bathroom pantry closet and my DD's former room organization. Closet is done and bedroom still needs some attention. It has a tendency to become the dump room. I need to donate some of the stuff and give away some to DGD and DD (mostly jewelry I no longer wear).

Tomorrow is family birthday party at Bonefish Grill. Looking forward to it.

Hope everyone had a great day.