Virginia

Virginia, Mom, Gigi, Gini Mom, Tu, whatever you might call her is dying. I don't know when it will happen but each time I visit, I tear up with my heart aching and memories. She was a  beautiful, lovely, gentle, sweet mother. Alzheimer's is taking her. She can't speak anymore yet she looks at you. Her beautiful blue eyes say so much.

River Landing

Before Christmas my siblings and I decided to remove all medicines other than the ones that keep her comfortable. We knew there might be a decline but were unaware of how much the medicines helped. At times I question our decision. Now, she is completely dependent on people moving her from wheel chair to recliner to bed. She no longer eats and drinks but is fed soft foods; she refuses most of the time by clinching her teeth and lips shut. I think she is ready to die and I think we are ready to let her go. Yet, it's hard to imagine life without her and yet, she has been gone for along time.

I was saying goodbye to her and she was trying to blow me a kiss

The Mess

Marshall took a picture of me behind the plastic I hung to try and keep the "popcorn" from getting all over the house. Unfortunately, when I began to wet the ceiling the plastic began to fall from the walls. It also felt like I was in a big plastic bag so in someways I was glad when it began to fall.

                     Quite a messy job

These were the tools I used. The yellow plastic scraper was actually the best tool. The bigger tool was a $17 purchase designed  for the removal of popcorn ceilings, it was ineffective and a waste of money.

It was actually not a difficult process but on the messy side!

The ceilings definitely look better but still need painting. The other thing that happened was the drywall tape that connected the ceiling and wall came loose and had to be pulled off leaving a gap between the ceiling and wall. We have three choices:

1. reapply drywall tape, add more mud...etc
2. try to caulk and hope it corrects the gap
3. add crown molding which will cover the holes and any remaining tape and uneven areas.

We have decided to go with #3.

Tuesday the ceramic floor will be laid. We are making progress!

Popcorn Removal

I love weekends! As I sit on my sofa typing away, it's only 6am and I'm on my second cup of coffee; I've been up since 4:30am. I just woke up and thought let's go ahead and begin this day. My objective for this day is related to POPCORN. No, not the kind you eat but the ugly ceilings sprayed with this speckled stuff they call " popcorn". In the 80's this was a popular finishing technique for ceilings. I personally think it was a lazy man's process instead of creating a smooth surface. Every ceiling in our home, except for our sunroom, has popcorn ceilings. Today's objective is to remove it in our Jack and Jill. I searched a You Tube video and learned the technique; I hope it's as easy as it looks. Here is the before picture of  what I'm talking about.

Stay tuned!

Jack and Jill's Update

Tuesday the plumbers came to add the toilet lines and cap off where the original one had lived; the hole in the floor is still there.

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The electrician came on Tuesday to check out the changes we need to make: adding an exhaust fan, changing receptacles, and the placement of new light fixtures. I think most of these changes will occur closer to the end of the remodeling. Have you been shopping for light fixtures recently? It's quite overwhelming. I guess that's why people pay designers but when you are on a tight budget you become your own and search great resources like Pinterest to get ideas.

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Today, Dwayne, the subfloor guy will be here by 9 to take up the rest of the old rotten wood flooring and add subfloor so the ceramic tile can be laid on Tuesday of next week. It's coming together.
Friday is here and my weekend todo list is growing. Stay tuned.

Glances in Mardo

Three weeks ago I began "A Praying Life" ladies bible study. We have met twice and what a sweet time working through this book. We talked some last night about coming to him like little children; just as we are, messy, impulsive, and persistent. I shared with my friends how He met me this week.

Pinterest

A definite place of weakness and struggle are the ugly messages of my past that seem to haunt me at unexpected times.  On Tuesday as I was putting on the finishing touches of my outfit, hair and makeup, I took a final glance in the mirror, and out of the blue said, "Dorothy, you look beautiful". This isn't a typical conversation I have with myself.  As I drove to work I began reflecting on what I had said and how I needed to fill myself with messages of truth. The more I thought the more tears felt close to slipping out.

Each Tuesday and Thursday the Rhetoric staff meet for devotion and prayer. On this particular Tuesday I heard God speak to me through my principal. I don't really recall how he began but I heard the following words that God spoke to Jesus:

Mark 1: 11

And a voice came from Heaven: "You are my beloved Son: with you I am well pleased."

My heart felt pierced and the pent-up tears slipped down my cheeks; I knew these words were for me. My heavenly father loves and accepts me with His perfect love. 

Winter Break Review

Let's see how I did:

1. Clean out Jack and Jill bathroom cabinets
2. Tear out cabinets and floors in J&J
3. Select paint color for bathroom
4. Remove Popcorn ceiling
5. Mow leaves in compost area so they will decompose quicker
6. Take chemicals to recycling place
7. Pull unwanted vines from Rhododendron bush
8. Clean up sticks/branches in yard
9. Plant pansies (if I can find them)
10. Pull out paints to play

I completed over 60% of my objectives. I celebrate what I did get done..

Jack and Jill's update

So much is happening around here. I left you on Friday with the hole in the floor. Last night at our family gathering my sister mentioned that my brother-in-law had an idea about our bathrooms. I was definitely more open to hearing about it than Fri night. He shared the idea of changing the location of the toilet and to add another one so each vanity would also have a toilet beside it since we had space. It would leave the room with the tub by itself creating much more room and even room for a chair or ottoman. I was afraid of the price but knew it would help the value of the house. Making it a 2 1/2 bath house.

Jack:  toilet #1 where the paint line starts

Jill: toilet #2 begins where paint line begins

Having today off was a blessing. I was able to make phone calls and by this afternoon we have the plumber coming tomorrow morning to add the toilet lines and Friday the new subfloor will be in. I will keep you posted!