I wish today’s post could be filled with pretty pics and inspirational things for you to ohhhhh and ahhhh about. If that’s what you’re in the mood for, I’ll understand if you check out now. If on the other hand you feel like listening to someone piss and moan, you’ve come to the right place.
It seems like since we returned from Florida it’s been one thing after another. (I do have some good news so just hang in there).
In my last post I mentioned that our refrigerator had broken down and that we had some leaks due to all the snow and ice on our roof. I know. Join the club.
We noticed some water stains in the ceiling panelling in Fisherman’s man cave downstairs so we were up till nearly 2 a.m. last week taking down part of it. Then we went upstairs to the kitchen where it seemed to be originating from and came up with a contraption of a plastic cutting board shaped into a cone and funneled into a plastic tube, which in turn went into a bucket. It was harder than it sounds because we had to get the tube to lay just right (in order for it to flow properly) behind the kitchen wall, which has logs behind it so of course isn’t even.
Here’s an old picture (yes, I was too lazy to take a new one) of the kitchen where you can see the cabinet on top of the refrigerator on the left (you’ll learn why in a bit) and the wall behind the sink on the right is where we needed to get to.
We had our roof shoveled the other day to mitigate some of the leaking and you can see in this next picture where some of the snow ended up. I think we’ll be looking at snow for a very, very long time.
Now about that refrigerator. We went shopping for one on the 27th and ended up spending nearly 2 hours at Home Depot and walked out having gotten nothing accomplished. It’s not that we’re fussy. We’re not. It’s just that we needed a certain size and most of them are too tall. Notice the cabinet I mentioned is on the floor now. (We took it down in anticipation of the delivery of the new fridge.) As you saw, it usually lines up pretty well with the existing cabinets. The previous owners didn’t attach the cabinet to the wall or anything else for that matter. It just basically sat on top of the refrigerator.
Now you might think that would give us lots of flexibility with the height of the refrigerator but if we got one too high then the top of the cabinets won’t line up. Oh the horror!
(I said we weren’t fussy, but we do have some standards.)
So then went to a smaller dealer and found something that would fit and they said it would be delivered last Tuesday the 3rd. They said we could expect a call Monday night to confirm the time, and another one Tuesday about an hour before arrival.
We didn’t receive any calls so Tuesday we got in touch with the sales associate we dealt with and he said that we were on the delivery schedule but he didn’t know what time and he would get back to us. An hour or so later he called to say the refrigerator was on back order!
Now keep in mind we do not have, like many people do, two refrigerators.
Since we came home last Wednesday we have been using our mini bar fridge for some perishables (which I kept to a minimum) and a small chest freezer we purchased in November for some meats. We also put some items in a cooler on the porch but it’s been so cold they’ve frozen up.
I told him our dilemma and to make a long story short (I know, too late for that) they delivered a temporary one Tuesday afternoon, which is the white one you see on the left.
I had been out getting poofed and pampered while poor Fisherman was dealing with all this and when I came home I saw him pulling out of the parking lot of the community clubhouse and I noticed someone in the car with him. (I know what you’re thinking and no, he’s not having an illicit affair).
Turns out the person who delivered the refrigerator pulled into our sloped driveway front first and wasn’t able to get out. The driveway was slippery and he didn’t have four wheel drive. After about an hour of trying to give him more traction with whatever sand we hand and depleting it, they decided to look for some gravel at the clubhouse area and then managed to get some extra help and he was able to finally get out. (He wasn’t a delivery person, just a sales person from the store who used his personal vehicle to deliver the fridge.)
When I walked in I expected to see the temporary fridge in place of the old one, but as you can see that didn’t happen. So for AT LEAST a week this is what we have to look at, but at least we have a fridge!
Enough about that.
Shifting gears for a moment. If you’re like me, you love lists. Sometimes I even put something on a list I’ve already done just so I can cross it off.
Don’t laugh, I know you’ve done that too.
They also are great reminders for things that need to get done that are all too easy to forget about or get lost amidst all the other stuff that crams up our day to day lives. Here’s a list I came up with for Fisherman.
It’s not all inclusive (are they ever?) and you can bet some things won’t get done (I’m guessing the GoPro will be a hard sell, not to mention the stairs and the retaining wall. Oh, and the bulletin board might be rough going. Come to think of it, I think the only ‘sure thing’ are the taxes) but it makes me feel good to make the list nonetheless. 😉
So you won’t think I’m a complete slave driver, the stuff with asterisks are the ones I fully expect will get farmed out to a professional.
And don’t think I don’t have a list of my own because I do!
Remember that good news I told you about? Remember my Birth Certificate (scroll to bottom of post if you click over) debacle? Well, you are NOT going to believe it, but I finally got my corrected Birth Certificate! Yes, you read that correctly. I’m finally a real, authentic person who actually exists!! After more than 6 months of endless phone calls, countless emails, written correspondence and plain old aggravation, I have it in my hot little, albeit somewhat wrinkled, hands.
*Cue Angels Singing*
Look closely. Can you believe after ALL that all they did was cross out my name and put my correct one in??
Oh, and I also got the refund of the $300 it cost to send the cloche for the bouquet to my daughter in Singapore! That was great news, but tempered by the $375 speeding ticket Fisherman got for going about 15 miles over the limit in NY. Hello?! Can we get a break here?? And…he went to report for jury duty today and I just this moment found out he got picked. Hummmmm…maybe I should slim down that list a bit?
I did a bit of damage at HomeGoods the other day shopping for some items for a Spring tablescape, so I promise my next post WILL have pretty pics you can ooohhhh and ahhhh over ;).
In other news…
This isn’t really news, but sometimes life isn’t that exciting, ya’ know. I forgot to tell you about a great tip for keeping mice out of your home, or at least away from specific areas. Seriously, if you have never tried it it really, really works. As you know, we’re in the woods and log cabins are notorious for any number of ways critters can get in, especially mice, so I’m not ashamed to say we’ve had our fair share. I can always tell because I see their poops in my spice drawer. I know. Gross. But I heard about putting Peppermint Oil on a cotton ball and placing it wherever mice typically hang out and it worked like a charm. After not being here for two months there’s not one poop dropping in the spice drawer! Not one! Usually we can’t go for even one day without seeing something, so I’m sold. I bought some more yesterday and said to the woman who owns the store all smug and know-it-allish ‘you know what I use this for?’ She replied ‘mice’. So I guess I’m not so clever after all…
I almost forgot. I seriously nearly had a heart attack yesterday. I’m still recovering. Our daughter, in her infinite wisdom, thought it would be a good idea to send me a picture of herself all tatted up. You see, she knows I am not a fan of tattoos, especially on women and in mass quantities. I happened to open her email as I was just about to enter a camera shop, and became so upset I burst into tears. I could NOT believe she would do this to her body!!!! After I stopped crying, I went into the shop and was talking to the owner and she called to say they were fake, that she couldn’t believe I thought they were real and that she had told me she was getting fake tattoos for her 50’s birthday party this weekend. I was still so shaken up I couldn’t even think straight and even though I wanted to shop a little more in town, I went straight home. THAT’S how upset I was! Fisherman also couldn’t believe I thought they were real. I think I aged 10 years, and at 61 I need that like a hole in the head.
I need a vacation…
Sharing At
Dewena says
Doreen, I know you must feel like you’ll never get back to normal there and be able to have your kitchen just the way you like it. All the while dealing with the cold and snow piled up. Maybe you won’t have any more snowstorms this winter? I love both your lists. R.H. always tells me, “Make a list for Gurn” (our son and neighbor!) He likes to make his own lists and asks me how I’d like him to make my lists. Umm, not so much!
At least you have one thing crossed off a list now, your correct birth certificate!
You two really needed the rests and break from normal routine that you got on your travels away recently, didn’t you? Because it sounds as if you’re not getting all that much now.
When we built our kitchen we built a nook for the fridge. When that refrigerator broke down I went shopping for a big one, one that I wouldn’t have to stoop down to reach all shelves of the fridge space. Ended up with one I love where the freezer is a pullout one under the fridge. Only problem was that it would not fit in the nook. I sacrificed look for function, put an antique cabinet in the nook and the big refrigerator sits beside the nook, sticking out 6″ from the wall behind it. I ignore that and act like I meant it to all be a big bulletin board for family photos.
And then there’s the second refrigerator, a black one that sits in another nook near the pantry but our little mini-dining room is right near it. I try to think of it as a form of art sculpture. I’m really good at ignoring something that’s not right when it comes to having plenty of refrigerator space!
Oil of peppermint, have to remember that. We used to get them when we moved in this old house but we’ve managed to close off all their old entrances. And our cat seems to catch them running around outside. I do have to look at her mouth before letting her in the house. Once when R.H. was out of town she brought one in her mouth and I chased that poor mouse around for an hour till I finally cornered it and slapped a red plastic cup on top. I was a nervous wreck by the time I managed to throw him outside.
Always something, as dear Gilda used to say,
Dewena
Manuela@A Cultivated Nest says
That’s too funny that she sent you that tatted up photo!!! We tried peppermint for spiders but it doesn’t work. Glad to know it works for something else. Can’t believe that salesperson didn’t know the fridge was back ordered when you placed your order?
Hopefully the snow will melt soon. The daffodils are blooming here so spring is right around the corner for us!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
I think you need a vacation, Doreen! : ) Hopefully, all this “bad” stuff is out of the way now and things will be calmer for you. I can only imagine how you must have felt seeing that picture of your daughter. She looks so pretty – tattoos and all!
Al says
Maybe a vacation would’t be a bad idea, but didn’t you just get back? Love the to do lists!
Mimi says
Hello Doreen and thankyou for stopping by my blog today. I so appreciate your lovely comments, they meant so much to me on a day when I was low. I responded there, but had to follow up with a visit. I am pleased and touched that I provided inspiration for you today. I adore your blog and cannot believe that we haven’t crossed paths in BlogLand before now. That has now been remedied. I look forward to a further sharing of gentle ideas….Mimi xxx
Cyn says
Welcome home! I was slowly sipping my coffee having just gotten up, so I enjoyed the updates (but not your troubles). Glad everything is working out!
Danni@SiloHillFarm says
Wow! Who knew finding the right fridge would be such a pain! I’m not loving mine right now, but think I’ll keep it until it dies anyway. Sorry, but I had to laugh about the tattoos and your “to do” list!
Lavender Dreams says
Oh my! I would say you need a vacation….but you just got back! What a lot to deal with. It’s nice that you’re honey is there to help with his list. My hubby spent yesterday putting new tires on my bike. Enjoy your day sweet friend! Hope you can relax some! Hugs, Diane
Nana Diana says
OMGOSH, Doreen!!!! You have certainly had your share of “worries” in the last few weeks. I hate trying to find an appliance to fit into a place that is already exact and can’t be resized.
Great lists—good luck with those and yes, I add things and cross them off after I do them. It’s a sickness.
I bet you could have killed your daughter- xo Diana
Brenda Kula says
First, I agree that Mad Mimi is awesome, since I remember the last thing written first. I have never understood why people get tattoos in the first place. But then I don’t even get pierced ears or coloring of hair. I’m a simple woman. I don’t like things that aren’t natural I suppose. Sounds like you’ve had your fair share of trouble, so you’re due for some good karma.
Brenda
Carol Cook says
Well, you win!
I thought having our taxes filed fraudulently, both federal and state, was an ordeal. Fortunately, they actually caught the problem before we did. Our tax man went to file electronically and it was bounced back saying they had already been filed. And, when we did research, if the refund goes out to the fake filer, the real people don’t get their refund!
But, our tax issue is nothing to what you are going through. I hope spring comes soon.
And, I would have cried too if my daughter showed me a pic like that!
Lisa Ehrman says
“When it rains it pours”, or I guess you should insert the word ‘snow’? You’ve had quite the time……Hope your next week is much more boring!
SharonFromMichigan says
Oh Doreen! When it rains, it pours. At least you know that you’re due to have some good things coming your way. The fridge debacle will work out – those kinds of things always do, but I feel your pain! I love the list your made for your husband. I made a huge list for mine and put it on the fridge. Only 1 or 2 items ended up getting crossed off the list before many more were added. Needless to say the list is gone and now we look at each other and ask, “What do we need to do this weekend?”. I’ve decided that I can never win. But Spring is really close and I’m using that as my good thing to focus on!
Doreen says
You’re a girl after my own heart Sharon!
xxx
Cecilia says
Well, where to start? I HAD to smile about the whole list thing – I also will make list with things I’ve finished so I can cross them off. Glad I’m not the only one! Glad to know about the mice repellent tip…wonder if it works to keep gophers away. I might try it in one of their tunnels that show up in my flower bed next time. Yay! For getting your birth certificate…at least they could of retyped one instead of just crossing out and handwriting the correct in. Makes you wonder why it took so long! I feel for you in the whole refrigerator/leak debacle…no wonder you freaked over your daughter’s supposed tattoos. Praying for a better week for you, Doreen! Hugs,
Cecilia
Jemma says
Doreen,
I feel your pain with the recent events in your life-seriously when it rains it pours. I just know that from this point forward life is going to feel much better. I was sitting here at my computer gasping, smiling, cringing and twisting.
Two of my three daughters and my son have a tattoo or two and I did gasp. So thankful your darling daughter has fake ones.
Is she really in Singapore???
Take care cute Lady,
Jemma
Doreen says
Yup, she’s been there since Spring of 2011.
One or two discreet tats are ok (sorta). Everyone who sees the pic thinks I’m a dingy for thinking they were real lol. Guilty as charged.
xxx
Poppy says
You know that saying that goes, ‘The more stress a person tackles, the more they can take on’? Well, if there were a poster for this prognosis, you know, like the ones hanging on the walls of your GP’s office, you could easily have been the model. You got the looks, you got the experience and you got the guts to get it all done!! Doreen, I know it’s a lot to handle right now, but at least you a) got a roof over your head, albeit a bit of a leaky one, but that’s fixed!, b) you got a fridge… with food in it, c) you got rid of those mice, and can now safely say that their poop is not a spice!, d) your daughter is tattoo free (and I agree: should be!) – yipee!
Now, all that other stuff? Well, I’m sure you’ll be on it asap, JUST so you can cross off each one, even before the ink dries!
XOXO
Poppy
tammy j says
well.
i cannot tell a lie.
i didn’t want to laugh.
but i did laugh most of the way through this. your sense of humor is your strength.
i do hate to laugh at someone else’s problems. and if it had all happened to me… well. i’d be either YELLING or on my way to ER with stroke level hypertension!!!
so. i think i’m sorry. so i apologize! but still. i laughed.
and tattoos… oh my. nothing like a beautiful evening dress and black ink up and down lovely bare arms. so feminine! so that part… YES! i was SO relieved when they were fake! 🙂 xoxo♥
Jane says
All this time you’ve been consoling me. Sigh. I’m useless. I wish you luck with the leaks and the fridge. We always get our appliance from Home Depot or Sears. I look online for what I like and the correct dimensions. You are no dummy so this isn’t anything new for you. Do you have an odd sized space?
Ugh…we have the mice here because of the trash cans kept in the alleys, and at the lake because we are in the country. Just in the winter. We see them, plain as day scurrying around…that’s a sign you are infested. For the past 15 years or so I get the little cardboard boxes from HD and plant them everywhere they like to hang…by the birdcage and in my closet in the same room as the bird. The also like the kitchen because I think they gain entry in the wall behind my sink. They like my drawers with towels and potholders, they use it for there nests. What’s odd, after about a month, they die, the babies die and then I never see them again. I guess they just don’t survive during the cold winter. I will definitely try the peppermint oil…I keep the poison hidden from the dogs but you never know.
Tattoos…yuk. Emily got her nose pierced when she was 20. And it was an emerald stud that looked like a bugger (sp?) She finally took it out after she graduated and the person who interviewed her for the job she has now told her to get rid of it. Funny…I see a lot of ethnic people at her store with hair up to the sky and boho outfits that hurt your eyes…they are just lauded as the true “creative types”. Still, I was happy to see my pretty girl without that stud!
Good luck with everything and thank you for your comments…I’m getting much more better in the crying department!
Jane xxx
Feral Turtle says
You have had your share of woes my friend! I am impressed with the salesman delivering you a temporary fridge. WOW That is amazing. Great mouse tips. I heard bounce keeps the little critters out too. My Dad uses them in his holiday trailer through the winter months. Such lovely tats….lol I am just too afraid of needles so I am always amazed at what people will do to their bodies.
Doreen says
We were impressed too, but under the circumstances it was the right thing to do. They really should have known it was on backorder when we were in the store ordering it. As it turns out, the guy got stuck up the road and had to call a tow truck! What a day he had! And…the fridge we ordered won’t fit in our door, so we have to find another one. Oy.
Hope you’re doing well!
Julie says
Wow Doreen, sorry to hear that you had trouble with the refrigerator and leaks. This seems to be the time of year for things to happen like that. I do hope you had everything resolved by now! I guess you should turn around and go back on vacation.
Take care and hope you have a better week.
Julie
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Oh good gravy – my dear Doreen! Is it bad that I laughed my head off at this post?? I’m sorry, but it’s almost comical all the issues one after the other. I laugh with you of course, not at you.
I feel your pain so much with all the snow and issues, as that was us last winter. It was so awful and felt like we had one nightmare after another. This winter has been so mild in comparison and hopefully that will be the case for you “out East” folks next winter too.
I’m SO happy you finally had your BC issues resolved!! Could that have been more of a headache?? I mean really, after all that they just cross off the name and change it? Oy vay – ridiculous, but at least it’s done!!
I’m sorry, but I loved the joke your daughter played. I found that so hilarious (other than the heart attack part for you). I know I’d like that girl. ;0) I know I’ve said it before – but have to say again – she’s so pretty too!!
Have a wonderful (& very uneventful) week ahead!!! xoxo
cathy@my1929 Charmer says
You shouldn’t feel bad, its stressful to go through things like this! And let’s face it you had a lot of stressful stuff going on! Home is where we look for our calm, not stress. It’s seem when something goes wrong it just keep trinkling wrong. How long is on “back order” at least they gave you a temp fridge. I would of though your daughters tatoo was real too, what do I know, haven’t’ really seem to many in person. I’ll have to try the peppermint oil, as I was telling hubs the first question our of is mouth was “where do they go”. It is always something, isn’t it.
Pinky at Designs by Pinky says
First of all thank you for your SWEET comments on my blog. Now, even though there was alot of horrible stuff in this post you still cracked me up several times:):) I am sorry you thought thetats were real. Having a son who has a WHOLE SLEEVE done, I can realate to your reaction though.However, my son is a grown man, 46 years old so it is his life….and he is a man. I REALLY hate them on women. Hope your week gets ALOT better!!!!
Sue says
We are behind this year. Normally have our taxes done long ago, so it’s on our list too. You’re a fighter and happy to hear your certificate is finally legal. I need a trip to Home Goods soon too.
Karen says
Lol, what a week! Hope al. Works out with your fridge! And your daughter is beautiful, even with the tattoos 🙂
Have a great week and please feel free to stop by my blog and join our link party Something to Talk About!
Karen
Kelly says
What a way to come back home after a nice long relaxing vacation! Sounds like you could’ve used a Xanax! LOL! Glad to know that your daughters tattoos weren’t real. She is a beautiful girl, but I’m not a fan of tattoos either.
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
Yikes, Doreen, you’ve had quite a run of crummy stuff! We had a similar think with a stove top we had to replace. It had to be a certain size, and there weren’t that many options. Finally found one; came damaged. Fought to get a new one – damaged, too. Third times’ a charm, as they say. Your to-do list cracked me up! And, of course, I’ve written things on a list I’ve already done. Very satisfying, crossing them off. I would have fainted over those tatoos!
Emily says
Sounds like you’ve had a “when it rains it pours” time of it! I think refrigerators are not friendly appliances, Always problems with them. Glad your lovely daughter was only teasing you with her tattoos, that would sure scare any mom. Fake is fun and fine 🙂
Love the kitchen………
rue says
I swear you should write a book, Doreen. It could be about just going to the grocery and I’d be enthralled. You’re one of the most entertaining bloggers I’ve ever read.
I’m so sorry about your fridge and leaks. I feel your pain as you know.
I didn’t know about the mice prevention, so you can be all smug with me 😉
As far as your daughter, I think I would have done the same thing lol Don’t feel bad.
xo
Doreen says
Your sweet comment made me blush Rue, and then I uncontrollably broke out into an out-of-tune rendition of ‘Let Me Entertain You’ while tap dancing.
xxx
Doreen says
testing plug in again
andi says
I would have had a heart attack at those tats too! I’m not a fan either and I hope my daughter always remains tat-free. It’s too late for my son, alas. At least his is on his back where no one can see it. But I beat the crap out of him anyway. But your daughter is lovely, and your to-do list is genius!
-andi
Doreen says
It’s my favorite kind of to-do list ;).
(Great to hear from you! Hope all is well and thanks for stopping by)