Well, I thought our plumbing troubles were over, but such is not the case. The plumber was actually back at the house again. This time he suggested a camera in the pipe. That showed quite a bit of tree root growth. So much so, that the water was backing up in the pipe as he shot the video.
So, hopefully, the rain and water usage in the house this weekend will not cause any more backups as we wait for the real fix. A new, outdoor access pipe will be installed and this will allow a larger cutting tool to fit into the pipe to really get a good hack at the roots.
At any rate, the laundry room side of the basement was de-cluttered (yes!!) and the floor bleached clean
again.
Here's hoping we'll soon be in the clear.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Déjà Poo
YUCK!
Didn't we do this last year at this time? Actually it was Good Friday. The rain had been coming down for days and, since there is always laundry running through the machines at our house, the pipes under the house and out to the street were full.
I went downstairs to find two inches of water (toilet and sewer) flooding the laundry room and soaking into the carpet and being sucked up into the drywall on the finished side of the basement.
My dear one spent two plus days ripping up carpeting, washing and disinfecting the floor and making the basement clean enough to at least enter, though not yet livable again.
By the end of August, we had new dry wall in areas, new molding, new carpeting and two rubber stoppers over the drain where the water entered the house.
Thanks to the rubber stoppers, this year's flood only went into the laundry room side of the basement. Twice. In two days!
Thankfully the plumber (yes, him again) was able to unclog the main sewer drain and get us up and running again. He even snaked the kitchen drain for me when he was here. So, now we can do laundry and dishes without water creeping in where it doesn't belong.
Didn't we do this last year at this time? Actually it was Good Friday. The rain had been coming down for days and, since there is always laundry running through the machines at our house, the pipes under the house and out to the street were full.
I went downstairs to find two inches of water (toilet and sewer) flooding the laundry room and soaking into the carpet and being sucked up into the drywall on the finished side of the basement.
My dear one spent two plus days ripping up carpeting, washing and disinfecting the floor and making the basement clean enough to at least enter, though not yet livable again.
By the end of August, we had new dry wall in areas, new molding, new carpeting and two rubber stoppers over the drain where the water entered the house.
Thanks to the rubber stoppers, this year's flood only went into the laundry room side of the basement. Twice. In two days!
Thankfully the plumber (yes, him again) was able to unclog the main sewer drain and get us up and running again. He even snaked the kitchen drain for me when he was here. So, now we can do laundry and dishes without water creeping in where it doesn't belong.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Lemonade: 25 Cents
Ever since it started to warm up, our 7 year old has been "dying" to have a lemonade stand.
She started this last year, one in our long line of entrepreneurs.
In the dollar section at Target, last summer, I came across a sign for exactly that purpose. It is nicely printed with LEMONADE in bold letters and then a line with a cents sign so she can add her own price.
She started asking to set up shop almost as soon as I set foot in the house after my dear one picked me up from the airport last week.
She assured me we had lemonade and cups and the weather of course was very cooperative.
Well, it took me a while to get back into the swing of things after 4 days of doing practically nothing :-) so we did not get to selling until yesterday.
This little girl is tenacious!! She cleaned the mini picnic table, had her brother get it down out of the club house and set it up in front of the house. Then she labeled her sign and made her lemonade.
Of course, we've been using the mix for a week so she only had enough left for one pitcher! Poor kid.
She did not even care. She went out and sold her lemonade! And she made a couple of bucks thanks to generous passers-by.
I'm sure we'll be doing this again (and again and again!). So, if you're in the area and you see her selling, come by and have a cold glass. She'll love it.
She started this last year, one in our long line of entrepreneurs.
In the dollar section at Target, last summer, I came across a sign for exactly that purpose. It is nicely printed with LEMONADE in bold letters and then a line with a cents sign so she can add her own price.
She started asking to set up shop almost as soon as I set foot in the house after my dear one picked me up from the airport last week.
She assured me we had lemonade and cups and the weather of course was very cooperative.
Well, it took me a while to get back into the swing of things after 4 days of doing practically nothing :-) so we did not get to selling until yesterday.
This little girl is tenacious!! She cleaned the mini picnic table, had her brother get it down out of the club house and set it up in front of the house. Then she labeled her sign and made her lemonade.
Of course, we've been using the mix for a week so she only had enough left for one pitcher! Poor kid.
She did not even care. She went out and sold her lemonade! And she made a couple of bucks thanks to generous passers-by.
I'm sure we'll be doing this again (and again and again!). So, if you're in the area and you see her selling, come by and have a cold glass. She'll love it.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Fair Warning!
This week is tryouts for golf at number 2 son's high school. The weather is so conducive to spring wear that he has asked me to pull out his shorts.
In years past when I have made the foray into 'The Closet' it has had a negative effect on the weather. In fact, every time I go to switch out the wardrobes the weather makes a drastic change back to what it should be.
As you know, I bought a snow blower this year; thus, our very little snow and the onset of early spring.
So now, as I go to get some golf shorts out of storage, I am giving you fair warning that snow may be in our future.
Gosh, I may even get to use the snow blower again. Sorry in advance.
In years past when I have made the foray into 'The Closet' it has had a negative effect on the weather. In fact, every time I go to switch out the wardrobes the weather makes a drastic change back to what it should be.
As you know, I bought a snow blower this year; thus, our very little snow and the onset of early spring.
So now, as I go to get some golf shorts out of storage, I am giving you fair warning that snow may be in our future.
Gosh, I may even get to use the snow blower again. Sorry in advance.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A Getaway
I am posting from sunny, warm, wonderful Orlando, Florida.
The trees are green, the air is fresh, the sun is not only shining, it is warm.
My first night here I fell asleep to crickets chirping and awoke to birds singing.
I've seen shorts being worn, boats being launched into a small lake, tennis games being played and even softball practice.
It is like a whole different world.
I've been wearing flip flops and capris and short sleeves.
What I forgot to wear was sunscreen so I'm a little pink on the cheeks and arms and it feels wonderful.
My cousins are wonderful hosts and have kept me well fed and rested. We put our feet up and watched a movie last night and we are looking forward to a game night tonight.
I go home in a couple of days and I'm sure I can make it til spring now. It will be hard coming back to bare trees and brown lawns but now I am filled with gratefulness and a longing for spring showers and May flowers.
Don't forget to "spring forward!"
The trees are green, the air is fresh, the sun is not only shining, it is warm.
My first night here I fell asleep to crickets chirping and awoke to birds singing.
I've seen shorts being worn, boats being launched into a small lake, tennis games being played and even softball practice.
It is like a whole different world.
I've been wearing flip flops and capris and short sleeves.
What I forgot to wear was sunscreen so I'm a little pink on the cheeks and arms and it feels wonderful.
My cousins are wonderful hosts and have kept me well fed and rested. We put our feet up and watched a movie last night and we are looking forward to a game night tonight.
I go home in a couple of days and I'm sure I can make it til spring now. It will be hard coming back to bare trees and brown lawns but now I am filled with gratefulness and a longing for spring showers and May flowers.
Don't forget to "spring forward!"
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Vroom, Vroom
About that car . . .
We not only have the distinction of taking up the most square feet on the street when we are all home and our cars are parked half way down the block (we have seven vehicles) we also now have the loudest car on the block.
Number one son got a new car. Actually it's pretty old. It is a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. He loves it! I know, heck the whole neighborhood knows, when he comes home or is leaving to go somewhere. Because it is coldish outside, he has to warm it up so the oil flows well. So it sits in the driveway humming. And it makes quite an announcement when he gets home.
I see dollar signs every time he talks about what parts he wants to replace and how he wants to tune it.
He has already replaced the tires and wheels (there is a difference). And it needs to be much lower. Apparently he wants only a playing card's width between the tire and the wheel well. I don't understand it but I drive a huge van that has stock everything and I'm content.
Ahhh, a male and his turbo. A match made in heaven.
We not only have the distinction of taking up the most square feet on the street when we are all home and our cars are parked half way down the block (we have seven vehicles) we also now have the loudest car on the block.
Number one son got a new car. Actually it's pretty old. It is a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. He loves it! I know, heck the whole neighborhood knows, when he comes home or is leaving to go somewhere. Because it is coldish outside, he has to warm it up so the oil flows well. So it sits in the driveway humming. And it makes quite an announcement when he gets home.
I see dollar signs every time he talks about what parts he wants to replace and how he wants to tune it.
He has already replaced the tires and wheels (there is a difference). And it needs to be much lower. Apparently he wants only a playing card's width between the tire and the wheel well. I don't understand it but I drive a huge van that has stock everything and I'm content.
Ahhh, a male and his turbo. A match made in heaven.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Quarter Words
For years I have been passing out quarters to my children when they use a word that atypical for their age range.
It has been a gratifying experience for them and I have enjoyed it tremendously.
We are a family of avid readers and so the vocabulary building was easy because they read fabulous books. Our oldest daughter got so fast I could not keep up with her even when she was only bringing books home from the school library.
She was tested in 7th grade and found to have an 11th grade reading level. Our current 8th grader reads at an 11th grade level as well.
What I find enjoyable is listening to our youngest. Because we do not choose words that she would use at a 7 year old level to speak to her, she hears new words all the time, in context, and picks up the meaning quickly.
I have started a list of her quarter words just because I can't remember all of them.
The other day she said , "I saw a picture and the caption said..." I just stared at her. "The caption said"?? Who taught her that?
Other words she has come up with lately are visible, successful, dignified, apparently and orderly. She keeps talking and I just keep handing her quarters. The limit is one dollar a day and many times she makes that. The best part is, she does it without trying. She just talks and out they come.
A day older and a dollar poorer. I can live with that.
It has been a gratifying experience for them and I have enjoyed it tremendously.
We are a family of avid readers and so the vocabulary building was easy because they read fabulous books. Our oldest daughter got so fast I could not keep up with her even when she was only bringing books home from the school library.
She was tested in 7th grade and found to have an 11th grade reading level. Our current 8th grader reads at an 11th grade level as well.
What I find enjoyable is listening to our youngest. Because we do not choose words that she would use at a 7 year old level to speak to her, she hears new words all the time, in context, and picks up the meaning quickly.
I have started a list of her quarter words just because I can't remember all of them.
The other day she said , "I saw a picture and the caption said..." I just stared at her. "The caption said"?? Who taught her that?
Other words she has come up with lately are visible, successful, dignified, apparently and orderly. She keeps talking and I just keep handing her quarters. The limit is one dollar a day and many times she makes that. The best part is, she does it without trying. She just talks and out they come.
A day older and a dollar poorer. I can live with that.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Of Girls and Pipes
Having six daughters poses a great hazard to bathroom pipes; hair, hair and more hair.
This week is was the bathroom tub that was clogged. The plumber said he pulled out quite a bit of hair. He was nice enough to not show me.
A few hours later, the living room ceiling started dripping. I assure you, this is not a good thing!
So the plumber came back to assess the situation. Seems a new trap was in order. The next day, bright and early, he woke up number one son by pounding a hole in the ceiling that is under his bedroom and drilling out the old pipe. The new one works great.
Next, we'll get the ceiling fixed. We have the estimate and the insurance company has agree to pay for the new ceiling. Awesome. We should be ship shape in a week or so. So grateful for home owners insurance and those skilled handymen that made a bad situation better.
This week is was the bathroom tub that was clogged. The plumber said he pulled out quite a bit of hair. He was nice enough to not show me.
A few hours later, the living room ceiling started dripping. I assure you, this is not a good thing!
So the plumber came back to assess the situation. Seems a new trap was in order. The next day, bright and early, he woke up number one son by pounding a hole in the ceiling that is under his bedroom and drilling out the old pipe. The new one works great.
Next, we'll get the ceiling fixed. We have the estimate and the insurance company has agree to pay for the new ceiling. Awesome. We should be ship shape in a week or so. So grateful for home owners insurance and those skilled handymen that made a bad situation better.
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