Tag Archives: projects

Oh no, not again.

October 11, 2020 Rivergirl 26 Comments

I walked into the barn this morning to find my husband working on a template.

And yes, I cringed.

Having finished one side of the strapping on the ceiling and running out of that particular wood, he decided it was time to trim the windows.

And while I applauded the fact he was actually going to corner them properly, I knew it wouldn’t be smooth sailing.

One day.

One entire day to frame two windows … because he added quarter round.

Why did he add quarter round you ask?

Because when he first built this barn to be a… you know, barn? …there were giant gaps around the windows and nothing was air tight. Who was going to complain…. the lawn mowers?

But now that’s it morphed into a palatial man cave, gaps must be sealed.

And live ordinance moved.

Framing on the outside, quarter round on the inside, and extra quarter round on the top corners…. all because he didn’t install the windows correctly the first time.

Jesus wept.

But two windows were framed…

And the giant bullet is back home.

To be continued…. unfortunately.

Uncategorized

I’m ready to cry Uncle.

October 9, 2020 Rivergirl 28 Comments

First it was not at all temporary temporary doors. Then insulation and a ceiling and new light fixtures and floor moulding and quarter round.

Now?

The husband is installing strapping to cover the plywood ceiling seams.

Technically this is finish work. And we all know that is not where his talents lie.

Was the strapping straight?

Not so much.

Of course when I helpfully pointed that out, I got booted from the barn/man cave/Maine Taj Mahal.

When I went back 2 hours later? He informed me the strapping wasn’t right and needed to be redone.

Hmm. Why didn’t I think of that?

Cutting and more cutting.

Cutting around the light fixtures I tried to tell him to center 2 weeks ago.

But all the cutting resulted in straighter lines.

Aggravating? No doubt.

But…

We did have gorgeous fall foliage in the background so I’ll call it a win.

Uncategorized

Real time at Casa River.

October 8, 2020 Rivergirl 21 Comments

So this is my life.

I elevate, ice, read, and groan every time I have to move. Not how I envisioned spending my favorite time of year.

The foliage is peak, the temperatures are blissfully cool and I’m stranded on the couch like a beached Beluga.

There are very few good things to report when you’ve torn your meniscus and damaged your MCL, but one must take solace where one can.

My husband feeling guilty for his mobility and finally installing the new blinds in the office? The ones that have been sitting next to his desk for the last 3 months?

My husband breaking the special order extra wide curtain rod for my Waverly valance after I told him to be careful because they’re tricky to take down? Because he has no patience for anything the least bit domestic and never thinks I know what I’m talking about? Because he was cursing a blue streak as he tried to tape it back together?

Solace for a couch bound ~~whale~~ wife.

Please excuse the 2 six packs, 5 bottles of wine and the jug of premixed cherry limeade margaritas in the corner.

My liquor cabinet is full… and Jeff Bezos can only do so much.

Uncategorized

Lady in red?

September 29, 2020 Rivergirl 19 Comments

Not quite.

But the first coat of red stain is on the big barn and it looks beautiful to me.

I’m not sure the husband’s thrill factor is quite as high as mine… but he keeps saying “It looks different.” so I’ll take that as a win.

Different.

Well, yes.

That was the point!

And I think baby barn approves….

Uncategorized

I’m seeing red.

September 27, 2020 Rivergirl 18 Comments

No, the husband hasn’t bought the contents of that abandoned Victorian up the road….

I mean this kind of red.

Weeee!

Our first glimpse of what poppa barn will look like when finished.

The trim will be added after.

And there’s a lot of it to add.

But I’m excited to see him finally sporting some color.

I think baby barn agrees.

Uncategorized

The search for perfection.

September 23, 2020 Rivergirl 28 Comments

So now the husband wants to add floor moulding in his big barn… and you know what that means.

An entire afternoon picking through more wood than I thought humanly possible.

Granted, even I would reject that baby.

But come on…..

If he would take half as much time installing it as he does picking it out I might not mind. But nothing is going to be perfectly cornered or angled or mitered so why bother!

Our afternoon trip ended here.

With the moon rising and me refusing to cook the pork roast dinner I had planned.

You want perfect wood? You have to pay the piper.

Or in this case, the pizza place.

Uncategorized

When you have way too much time on your hands…

September 15, 2020 Rivergirl 34 Comments

I saw an article the other day about all the amazing things people are doing with the spare time the pandemic shutdowns are providing them.

Some were worth while.

Others?

You decide.

Did Rufus McToofus need his very own adirondack chair to celebrate accordingly?

Probably not.

That’s so special it hurts.

Just…. wow.

What do you suppose those ducks are posting on social media? Can someone please investigate and report back. I’d hate for those ducks to have a more interesting blog than mine.

Finally….

A worthy use of time.

Uncategorized

Let there be light….

September 14, 2020 Rivergirl 28 Comments

Bright and early Sunday morning the husband and his friend were hard at it.

Removing the stuffing they’d previously stuffed and drilling holes for the continuous feed wires to slip through.

This, as you can imagine…. was a royal pain in the *ss.

But finally, it was ready for a light fixture.

And my husband used the pool table as an auxiliary ladder.

Viola.

A light fixture.

Which receives the husband’s very technical and OSHA approved tug test.

Just kidding, OSHA reps run screaming in horror from any project my husband oversees.

More stuffing, more plywood.

Light fixture number two was not at all cooperative, and adjustments I don’t even want to contemplate were made.

This might be a good time to mention the time my husband installed a ceiling fan in our living room in North Carolina.

It took an electrician 2 hours to undo that mess.

But after an hour of tinkering, and some oh so colorful language…

Fixture two was up.

Were the proper amount of decorative screws used? They were not.

Was it in perfect alignment with the first light fixture? It was not.

But since this simple job took them over 5 hours?

I doubt they cared.

For informational purposes only – the husband can not decide whether he wants to put ceiling fans in between the lights or just another light, hence the open middle space.

Uncategorized

Cue the Pointer Sisters

September 8, 2020 Rivergirl 18 Comments

I’m so excited!

We had multiple contractors come over and give us estimates on our exterior barn project… (Staining, trimming, soffiting) and after I picked my jaw up off the ground and cursed the fact we didn’t have any children to sell… we chose a locally owned and operated company.

We’re on their schedule, but I don’t know when they’ll start.

1th9gg

I’m sorry, that was a cruel tease…. and a shameless attempt to lure aged disco fans to my blog. Please feel free to play Neutron Dance and curse me at your leisure.

Not trusting anyone else to pick out the trim boards, the husband dragged me to a lumber yard…

Where he closely examined and rejected dozens of 16 footers in the premium grade.

* Note to lumberyard workers – if you see my husband coming? Run. *

He refused so many, I swear the kid who was helping us starting sprouting grey hair.

After the first hour he delicately suggested we upgrade to the finish grade.

Which we did.

But…. silly boy, did he really think that would make a difference?

It shouldn’t surprise you to learn we were there the entire afternoon. And just when we were ready to leave?

The husband met a fellow Marine.

Another hour later… we left.

It’s amazing how exhausting it is standing around doing nothing. So much so, after we unloaded the truck…

Does that look like $450 worth of wood to you?

We fired up the grill….

And poured the adult beverages.

Dinner that night?

Lamb chops.

Life is good!

Uncategorized

Because I was tired of waiting.

August 26, 2020 Rivergirl 30 Comments

Ever since we installed the new deck railings we’ve needed to re-stain the deck. And by we, I mean me… because while he’ll constantly remark it needs to be done? The husband never does it. Not once in 18 years.