Monday, November 25, 2013

Plumbing, some decorating & flowers

Good afternoon Folks ~ Thank you all for your comments about Todd doing the plumbing for me and for your prayers as we worked together Saturday.  It was such a relief when there were no more leaks.

This is the crawl hole in the kitchen porch to under the house. SMALL. We opened up a hatch in the floor in the bedroom that Mark had made for getting under house, and it’s easier to go through.

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Todd had a neat light that he wore on his forehead.

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Here he is on his stomach in the sand. Not a comfortable job at all.  He was down there almost 2 hours.

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Here he is after we had eaten lunch, feeling much better.

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Here’s where the shower plumbing is right now. We were just too tired to even think straight, much less do anymore work at the end of the day, so called it quits.

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Here is part of the west wall of bedroom, partial old wall boards, and empty spaces.  I love the dresser, it’s probably from the late 1800’s and goes well with our ‘found’ head and foot boards. I think we paid $150 for the dresser many years ago.  The wall clock we bought in Spain, we had more of them all different, but sold them a long time ago to survive. This clock was my favorite. The alabaster urn lamp we bought for Mark’s mother when we were in Spain and we got it when the estate was settled after his dad passed away.

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Now you all can see the curbside shopped oak veneered pressed wood and oak wood piece I loaded into the van myself. Todd and I carried it into the house and it is really heavy as all pressed wood pieces are.  I love it.

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I’m not sure when Todd will be able to come back down here to finish the work, so I camouflaged the back of the large piece of furniture that I had moved out away from the wall so that he could work on the shower plumbing.  When we’re all done with that, I’m going to buy some of the ‘cheap’ beadboard and finish off that wall, the north wall and the beam, then also do the west wall which is showing in pictures above.  The south and east wall I’ll do on down the road when I can.

The crocheted bedspread has a piece missing but you can’t see it here as it’s up on the top so you can’t see it. I don’t even remember where we got it.  The wreath was free from a friend who got rid of Christmas things when she was moving to a smaller home.  I also camouflaged the beam with some old curtains and garland also from the lady.  Set more of Papa’s baskets up on the piece of furniture too.  I could just here Mark saying ‘You’re funny’. He knows how I love to decorate for Christmas, and this might all have to come down if Todd is able to come before Christmas, and that’s why he’d say I’m funny. It did make me feel good though and all of this changed the look of the bedroom.

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Here we have Garlic vine blooms. Have quite a few of these in bloom all over the area right now.

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Pink muhly grass.

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I read some discouraging news about Etsy last night right before going to bed.  I prayed about it and had to just let it go.  They are letting fake vintage items being sold and they are also letting resellers by things from China, etc. and sell them.  When I first joined Etsy, it was a place strictly for handmade items. This is depressing to me.  It makes me not even want to put anything in my little shop anymore.  Why bother? I love to create, but between losing Mark and now this news, what’s the use?   It would be nice if someone liked what I make and would buy wholesale for their shops, but I’m sure lots of us crafters feel that way.  Selling is a real agony.

I have sold some pieces on Etsy and it was always exciting. It will be harder now to be found. Sigh!

Sorry for the mini rant. At least I can still create, and I enjoy it and hopefully I’ll still make sales. Smile It’s not the end of the world.  I’ll use what materials I have and just go with the flow and see what happens.

I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving.

We all have much to be thankful for even when we don’t think so.

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

22 comments:

Deb J. in Utah said...

Hi - I totally understand your frustration with Etsy...the same thing happened with Ebay. So nice that you are getting some needed work done in your lovely little cottage. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

GRACE PETERSON said...

Hi Lorraine. Hats off to your handyman friend. And I love your found piece. Sorry about Etsy. Frustrating!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Rebecca said...

That sure WAS a close space for Todd!

I like every little thing about your cottage. It is SO interesting. And I can imagine your frustration with Etsy. That is a shame.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

I think out of all jobs, I dislike plumbing most. It's a generally wet, cramped, cold and miserable job but glad your plumbing was successfully accomplished.
Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

You are so creative in making any space look nice. Good cover job on the wall. That was quite a tight spot under the house. Yikes!
Not good to hear about Etsy. There are already places for that other stuff. Hang in there. You'll figure it out.

denimflyz said...

I am so happy that you are getting plumbing work completed. I am not a plumbing fan at all. Not one of my favorite things to do. But it has to be done.
I was flipping over the crochet spread. It is gorgeous.
That is one of the reason mom and I got out of the shop, too much China, and everyone wanted your work at a China price. Very sad, and very tacky of Etsy.
Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and I should be posting soon and emailing you.
Hugs and Love

It's Just Dottie said...

I am so thankful Todd was there for you. I so wish that piece had been on a curb by my house!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friend. Hugs, Dottie

Nancy J said...

wonderful plumbing, not so good on Etsy, and your Pink Muhly Grass, that is stunning. Down here I have lots of Gossamer Grass, or Wind Grass, long graceful stems that have feathery seeds, and turn golden/browny red.
Fond greetings, Jean. p.s. roadside/op shop or bargain finds are real treasures.

sharon said...

Lorraine,happy thanksgiving!..yes it so easy to be discouraged..when we miss how things used to be..i know you are thankful for widows club and getting your leak fixed and finding your new bookcase..be thanksful for etsy and that you can still do your work..there will always be competition...and the widows in china gotta eat too...;-)

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Lorraine that is saddening news about Etsy. Very discouraging.
Wonderful pics of the 'big job'.
You use great ingenuity inside your sweet home with lovely results.
Hope your week is going well.
Hugs
Rose

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Love
visiting you
and your home
take care
and thank you for your
online friendship
wish you were near...
Enjoy
Thanksgiving
so much we have to be
thankful for...

Sunray Gardens said...

I could not have endured that enclosed space for even a few minutes.

You have some really lovely old pieces in your home.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Ruth Hiebert said...

I just want to stop by and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you get to spend some of your time with friends or family.

Susan said...

Glad to hear that you got your plumbing issue resolved. I'm sure that must be a load off your mind. Hopefully, Etsy will go back to their original ways. I do hope so because that makes them a very unique site, and growing into a larger more diverse site is not always the best way to go. You have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day weekend, and take care!

Marti said...

I hadn't heard that about Etsy. I hate that. And you're right, it will be harder for buyers to find your stuff, and it will be hard for buyers to get what they think they are buying. Shame on Etsy.

That is a tiny crawl hole! How did he get the tarp in there ahead of him? Do you have fire ants like we do? That's what scares me about being close to the ground. Hope you get it all done soon. Leaks are no fun at all, especially when you don't catch them in time.

Annie said...

That is bad news about Etsy. I always have a struggle selling things...

Darcie said...

Wanted to come over here and wish you a VERY Happy Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for your friendship. (((hugs)))

Gary said...

Hi Lorraine,
I take it by the fan that the temperature gets a little warm under there. I must say that your pipes aren't something I would enjoy tackling. Glad we have stone foundations over here. If that were here, the whole void would be full of cobwebs and spiders. That cupboard was quite a find. If anything like that was left on the side of the road here, the pikeys would grab it first unfortunately. Have a good weekend.

Kit said...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! So glad you have someone to help with the plumbing. Yay for family! Take care my dear friend, Love, Kit

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi There, Sorry about the Etsy problem. That grieves me too… But--I'm glad you are getting your plumbing problem fixed…

Just stopped by TODAY to say: Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

We are in FL with George's son and family enjoying Thanksgiving. They are cooking a FEAST for us… YUM.

Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

I love Etsy - in fact I'm waiting for a delivery today. I have found though that you have to be careful with the shops . . . if it's not clear that it is a handmade item (usually by the shop owner) I move on.

Here I Am Carrie said...

Glad I got your news on Etsy I was kinda interested in looking into it for selling my cards. But in the end the time just isn't right, I find myself so busy with other things I have little time left to put into it all what I should. So one step forward and 2 steps back for now. The cabinet is so perfect for storage. I would love something like that. Your place just looks so comfy. Burr it's 1am and I am starting to get way to cold sitting here so better get off to bed. Have to catch up at a later time. Goodnight.