Something NOT so fun and something really FUN!

I’m up first… another day of prep work and “some” priming got started… We’re feeling the crunch time with only 2 days left to get this completed. We worked till 7:45 tonight and when you see my pictures, you’ll think, “what’s with them… why haven’t they gotten it painted yet?” My hubby would blame it on the windows and all the work with them… screens, spackle spots, caulking, taking out the crank handles that used to open up the windows, filling the holes with this round stuff called Backer Rod. Just Google it if interested. It fills in big cracks and holes. Then all those things had to have wait and dry time… He made the screens so they could be taken down with 2 thumb latches instead of having them swing out… We just got new windows put in the building, but the screens were on the inside, so we didn’t get “outside” screens. Since new blinds will be put up, he made them so you pull up the blinds, unlatch 2 latches, slide the screen down, open the window if you want, then put the screens back up. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s what we had to work with.

Joy, those big bulges around the window weren’t mold, they were from the plaster getting moisture under it and expanding. There hasn’t been any mold in the rooms we’ve been working on… dirt, grime, yes, but no mold.

The floors were hardwood, but “someone,” we don’t know who, spattered paint all over them, :o( mostly in the hallway, and so it was decided that carpet would be best and the fastest to get done. My hubby picked up 2 new lights for the ceiling and they look nice in there…

Well, I’ve got to get to bed earlier tonight, so here are my few pictures and then some FUN ones to scrutinize after that…

The wall that looked like it has foam sprayed all over it, has now been spackled and sanded and I’ve gotten some of the primer on it… I think it’s going to be OK!!!

I had my primer tinted to my paint color and it’s not as dark as it appears in my pictures.. It’s Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige if you missed when I told the color.

My hubby worked long and hard on those window areas…

I cut in my paint all around the ceiling and around the places where a roller wouldn’t work and then around the baseboard… now to fill in the middles of the walls.. and then start priming in the big bedroom! Yikes!

Okay, enough on my stuff…

How about a fun look at Donna’s pictures. She sent them sort of like a collage, so I wasn’t able to separate them. I clicked on her big picture, then I used the Control Key at the bottom left of your keyboard and hit the + key on the top row of your keyboard. It made it nice and large and could zoom in as much as I wanted to look at each picture. I hope you can click on the picture and zoom in on each one and see all the little details… This is what Donna shared with me in her email…

“Your sewing skills are helping so many people! It is a true gift. This is what happened in my house over the last couple of days. My granddaughter came over and put our Fall Village up for us. I love Fall and decided, “Why not start early?”

Thanks SO much Donna! Perfect timing!

See everyone tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

15 thoughts on “Something NOT so fun and something really FUN!”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    What a lot of work you and George got done on those rooms! Still lots more, but it looks the worst might be behind you!

    Thanks Donna for sharing your pictures. Sure looks festive, and so nicely arranged! I see you have a Baby Face doll, too! I remember when they came out–the different expressions were such fun to see, and the bodies are nicely jointed, too.

    Someone asked when I would get Gigi. I hadn’t even looked!! But I did, and it’s mid-September. Now the other question: Do I want to order Minnie?! I think she is just the cutest of the “regular” Siblies! Stay tuned!

    1. Sally from Colorado

      Hi, Charlotte.
      As I didn’t see today’s blog in time, I just wrote comments to you on yesterday’s blog. I hope you look.
      I agree. Minnie is the cutest ever, but there’s also Evangeline who is limited and Minnie is core line. Evangeline goes on sale on the 20th.

    2. Joy in northern CA

      Charlotte, we went to our local County Fair on Friday. Senior Day, of course. 🙂 I always love looking at the craft entries, quilts, etc., but this year is the first time in several years that they have had the craft show, and it was a disappointment. Very few items to view and only minimal quilts. Mostly just empty space in the craft hall. Sad. I did find out that they no longer publish a book/guide with the theme and entry categories, but instead it is all online. Maybe this is why the entries were so sparse. Don’t know. Hope your fair has more participation. 🙂

  2. Linda in St. Louis

    What a difference in the room now, even though it isn’t finished, Jeanne! It almost looks like a brand new addition, and I’m sure the girls will be thrilled! We too, have a few “inside screens” on some of our windows, and I much prefer them over outside ones, that are harder to take off and clean.

    Donna, what a cute setup you have for fall! I don’t know if what you have are Dept. 56 buildings, but yours are darling! While I do collect Dept. 56, mine are the winter ones, and I did buy a few trees with colored leaves, but haven’t gotten that far yet! You certainly did “jump the gun” on fall, which I am more than ready forl! Your dolls are adorable, and so prettily dressed! Thank you for sending the pictures to Jeanne, so we can all admire them!

  3. Dorothy in PA and the World

    Dear Jeanne, you and your husband are earning gold stars for all of this hard work!

    Donna’s pictures are lovely.

    1. Sally from Colorado

      Dear Dorothy,
      Your comments the other day about setting up a Go Fund Me account for buying dolls until May had me rolling on the floor. You’re a hoot! ☺️🥰

      1. Dorothy in PA and the World

        Dear Sally, I am a BIG dreamer. I figure if you are going to dream make it as big as possible (laugh). Now, if I could only get the attention of the Dream Fairy then I would be doing alright (smile).

  4. Joy in northern CA

    Okay, I think I get it now. Because the plaster was bulging from moisture, I presumed that there would be mold. Was the moisture coming from the old windows somehow leaking under the plaster and not a roof leak? I really am surprised that there wasn’t mold of some kind. But, glad there was not. Looks like George has the window edges and screens all cleaned up and working so the safety issue is all fixed.
    Glad to see that smoke detector as well. Funny thing. One of ours went off the other evening. It had been a warm day, so we had the windows open to let in the cool air, and I heard this buzzing. I looked out the bedroom window as I thought the noise was coming from outside, and saw someone walking with a flashlight. Figured it was something to do with their light. But, the noise continued. Other person came in and said, did you hear that? It’s coming from the doll/guest room. Here I thought it was outside. So, of course, it was insanely loud and getting a ladder in there was not an easy task, but I managed to move some boxes and dollies out of the way and adjust the ladder for other person. I was barefoot so thought he had better get up there. 🙂 There had been no beep warning at all that a battery was low, just the loud blast and no way to shut it off. Other person finally managed to twist the unit off of the wall and take out the battery to stop the screeching noise. Great, noise stopped, however, should it ever be needed in an emergency we would certainly hear it, that is if the ringing in my ears ever goes away. We had replaced our old smoke detectors when we were getting ready to sell another house a few years back, because code says they have to be inside the bedrooms on the wall, not the ceiling, so we redid ours here as well. Does your code require them on the wall above the door? Anyway, we replaced the battery and checked the test button on the same model/year in the office which was still good. Next time there is a set on sale at Costco, we’ll pick up the new ones that don’t require batteries and are good for ten years. 🙂 We have one of those in our bedroom. Safety first as they say. 🙂
    Sorry to hear that the floors had a paint spill. If money was in the budget, having them refinished would be a great idea, but agree with you that carpeting is a save on a rental.
    Jeanne’s Renovation Service looks like it is doing a fantastic job repainting the walls. It will look so clean and fresh. Take care of yourself and please don’t fall off the ladder. 🙂
    I think you mentioned the kitchen and bathroom. Will you be doing anything in those rooms or just cleaning them? Love your projects.
    Loved seeing Donna’s fall decorating. Not too early at all. Fall is coming early here as we already have trees losing their leaves. Love the sunflower dolly outfits. Cute. Thanks for sharing.
    RRFF Sunny, is due here today. Can’t wait to see her. 🙂

    1. Barbara in SE Texas

      Those smoke detectors can drive you nuts if they go off for no apparent reason. Even the “battery low” chirping can drive me nuts if there is no one around to take it down and replace the battery. We had to move one of ours a few years ago because every time I cooked it set off the smoke detector in the dining room. My sofa sisters would not be smirking at that statement would they? No I was not burning food – those times LOL. It was just that sensitive. We don’t seem to have the codes you do but we have two smoke detectors one at each end of the house. We got new ones a couple years ago and they talk to each other so if there is a fire in the kitchen and I’m in the bedroom the detector at that end of the house will tell me there’s a fire. And they cover all possibilities. Whenever we need to change batteries we get Sean to do it. Too many steps to reset them for me and I’d have to read the instructions every time. It’s a no-brainer for Sean and he does better on a ladder than I do.

  5. Barbara Owen Haring

    Boy I really feel out of the loop. I had to go back a few days to try to catch up. Yesterday I thought I could because the picture project has been completed but I didn’t have any internet all day. Very frustrating.

    What a project you and George have going on there Jeanne. I keep reminding myself that you are ten years younger than me because I’m not sure I would have the energy for all that. But then I’m seeing David outside with the boys putting on the new addition in the heat and I really feel old. David and I are only 11 days apart in age but since he got his knees replaced he’s a force to be reckoned with and while he doesn’t like the heat, he can take it better than I can.

    I have not been able to play dollies or sew for several days now so I’m glad to get finished with the pictures. I have ordered several things and bought a couple mini Paola Reinas and I haven’t been able to open their boxes or put the other dolly things I bought away in the proper clothes boxes. This week I have to do some serious housecleaning since I haven’t gotten to that much lately either, so maybe next week. My doll buying is on hold for awhile. My LD Amelia Dawn should be arriving some time next month and I just found out the new L’il Dreamer Ashlynn will make her debut at the doll convention in Oklahoma next month so I’m saving for them. But I still have a desire to buy a Sylvia Natterer Minouche doll. Maybe soon.

    1. Barbara in SE Texas

      I was going to reply to Donna directly but see she hasn’t commented yet so I’ll compliment her here. Donna your scenes are absolutely fabulous! I’m going to have to look at them again and again to see everything. Wonderful!

    2. Joy in northern CA

      Have you seen the new L’il Dreamer? Wonder if they will show her before the convention? Love my Natterer kids. Hope you can get one too. 🙂

      1. Barbara in SE Texas

        No I haven’t seen the new L’il Dreamer and I’m on pins and needles waiting to do that. With Evianna I wasn’t expecting her so there was no anticipation, but I can’t wait to see Ashlynn’s hair color, etc. Have you seen the ones Magalie does? Totally amazing but I don’t want to have to wait that long and I’m fine with the factory version of the L’il Dreamers.

  6. The house will look great when you are finished. That is too bad about the hardwood floors.

    Thank you for sharing your pictures, Donna. All your scenes are so nice. i really like the sunflower dress and tam. That is super cute!

  7. Sally from Colorado

    Jeanne, I think we all really enjoy your wonderful renovation work. This place is going to be light years more pleasant for anyone to stay in. Looks like a George is doing pretty good. How does he feel about this last round?
    Thanks for sharing these pictures, and Donna, thanks for sharing your fall decor through Jeanne. It’s a cool 86 here today, so thinking of fall is an excellent activity. It is all so pretty and so much detail. Good for you!

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