Updating some stuff

The week just seems to fly by.  On Monday I think the week is going to take forever - then the next thing you know it's Friday (or Sunday)!

Last Saturday we went down to Ft. Myers.  We went to Hobby Lobby to pick 

up some picture frames then went to Home Goods and found some items for the house.  Sunday was spent cleaning and laundry.

This week didn't have too much going on during the week - 

we went out to eat Friday night and then

went up to Lowe's to pick up some things that we needed to

complete some of the projects we are working on.

Saturday we went down to the farmer's market in Okeechobee.

I guess I really didn't realize that it is as close to go to

Okeechobee as it is to go to Avon Park.

Anyway, the farmer's market there is a nice market and we were

able to pick up a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit.

Today, I went over and visited with my mom for a little while.  Then I came home and cleaned house and did the laundry.

Dan hadn't been feeling well this week - a bad cough - but 

he did go fishing twice during the week, and he is 

out fishing now.

He is really enjoying being able to just walk out the back door,

walk across the yard, lower the boat, get in, and away he goes.

I listed a couple of things on Craigslist, but haven't gotten any "hits"

on them - so, we will probably just donate them and take the

tax write off.  That's okay - it will all work out.

The main thing is getting the stuff out of the garage.

To give you a little update on our projects:

There are some things that we want to do - most of these are outside - so, we have been getting some estimates on the work.
So far, we have not decided which project we are going to do first.  That will be decided after tomorrow, as we are getting an estimate on adding A/C vents in the family room.

The family room was, at one time, a screen porch.  It is under the roof of the house - not an add-on - and the former owner had windows installed to make the family room; however, since they were only winter residents they did not have a/c vents put in.  Well, there is a marked difference in the air temperature between the living room and the family room.  So, an a/c man is coming tomorrow to see if we can add the vents without having to get a larger a/c unit.  Depending on what they say (cause we have GOT to have air out there) will determine what else we will be able to do - as we are paying CASH for what ever we do!  (If we can add the vents WITHOUT having to

upgrade the A/C unit we will be able to do at least one of the 

following projects)

Some of the other projects that we want to do are:

1) the vents in the family room (first priority)

2) add a porch all the way across the back of the house - 

not all of it will be screened - but it all will be under roof.

This project will have to be done in stages - 

with the concrete slab going in first - 

then the roof over - 

and finally closing in the screen room part.

3) fence the back yard

(I think that is more important than the porch since Little Miss

will be playing in the yard this summer and I don't want to have 

to worry about her and the canal)

Those are the big projects that we want to do - of course, we will be

painting and doing updating in the house, but that doesn't count as these won't be MAJOR expenses.

Here are some before and afters of the house so far.

(The before pictures were taken that first Saturday we 

took possession.)

 Living Room Before:

 Looking from family room to front door

From front door to family room

Now:

From family room to front door

Front door to family room

Looking toward the Dining Room before.

Dining room now

Master Bedroom Before

Master Bedroom now

Guest Bathroom Before

Guest Bathroom now

This is the room we have been working on this week. 

Changes so far include:

New shower curtain, towels, rug

(from our Home Goods trip)

New hardware on vanity

New light fixture over vanity

 The pictures, lamp, and decorations in here

we already had.

I've ordered the wallpaper we are going to use in this room

 (It is a paintable bead board wallpaper)

and we have settled on the paint color 

we are going to use above the wallpaper

 and on the wallpaper itself.

So, this room is a "room in progress". 

(and it will probably be the first room "finished")

Guest Bedroom/Nursery Before

Guest Bedroom/Nursery Now

and

finally

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Now

So far, we have made the most changes to the Kitchen -

New Stainless Steel Appliances

(the only large expense inside the house)

New handles on cabinets

New curtain

New rugs

(still need to change out the dishwasher but that will have to wait)

So, as you can see, we have been making steady progress but there are still projects that we want to accomplish. 

(Can anyone say PAINTING!)

We are going to get estimates on this too, since Dan has 

decided that he doesn't want to paint the whole house. 

However, I don't think we have done too bad 

since we have only been in the house a month.

Now, of course, I have to leave you with some pictures of Little Miss.

These were taken this week - hope you enjoy.

She is getting "SO BIG!"

Gosh, her Nana loves her "SO MUCH!"

Hugs -

Carol/Nana

P.S.  I am still thinking about the other blog.  I'll let you know IF I decide 

to tackle another one.