Summer Notebook, Part 1

Since I forgot to blog this summer, I thought I would catch up on some of our homeowner setbacks and successes.

Gene and Marie (Mike's pa and ma) came for a visit at the end of July. They had not seen the house since we moved in and were very excited to check it out. While our kitchen's addition looks nice, it's hard to enjoy when standing in a puddle of water ... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Their first night here we all had a good laugh at Gene's expense because there was a puddle of water in the kitchen floor. We thought he had unknowingly made a mess and left it for Marie, Mike and me to find. So we giggled and wiped it up. The next morning, after washing some dishes, there was a puddle again. Perplexed, I looked under the sink. Of course, everything was wet.

We cleaned out under the sink and dried it up.

Mike and Marie got to work taking apart all of the pipes and fittings while I tried to rinse them all out in case they were blocked. Gene slumbered peacefully.

There was no blockage. But then Mike couldn't get all the pipes back together again. Marie: "Gene, dear, wake up."

The Shop Vac was brought out. Gene and Mike tried to suck whatever was blocking the drain out of the pipes. Didn't work. We go down in the basement and freak out because the pipe flows into the basement's concrete floor and beyond to only God knows where under that.

Church has to be attended and discussion of drain-o, plumber's crack and Morgantown sewage system ensues.

After church, it is decided that the pipe in the basement has to be cut in two. Gene and Mike get to to it and discover the blockage is most likely above the concrete (Whew!)

Enter the Shop Vac again. It sucked out this:

I admit, it looked like celery and onion pieces (my doing) stuck with some bread dough (Mike's strombolis). We're both guilty. Or, maybe, just me. Who knows. But we got a stern talking to from Mamma Marie on the ins and outs of using a garbage disposal.

Just a quick trip to Lowe's and Mike and Gene had the pipe in the basement back to working order. All were happy and dishes could once again be washed.

Get a Home Warranty!

Heading into the last hurrah of summer, Mike and I and our little bungalow received a new air conditioning unit today. I haven't been home yet, but I'm told it cools the house very quickly. We had a quick fix for the summer months in the form of a leak repair, but now we have a brand spanking new AC. Since ours would have been 20 years old in October, this is a good thing. Thank you, home warranty!! You've out done yourself.

I promise to write more on here more frequently. I've been a bad blogger this summer.

Freezer Defrosting made easy

Mike and I came up with a full proof method for defrosting your freezer. Just leave the door slightly ajar and leave for 3 days. Works great!

No pictures for this demo. Sadly, I was too busy cleaning up raw chicken juice to grab the camera.

In other news, the home warranty is helping out b/c the AC isn't working too well. We get that checked on Wednesday. The new kitchen cabinets are in, but no hardware up on them and the counter top was cut wrong. We are waiting on a new one and a piece of glass for our display cabinet. Pics will be posted when the scene is finished. :)

Everything's coming up roses ... and some Lilo highlights

The rose bush in front of the porch bloomed and it is pink! We also have a bunch of crazy wild roses growing on both sides of the house. And some peonies, too!

Lilo was also outside much of the weekend and enjoyed playing with Mike and me. She is just too cute:

Here she is laying on Grandpa Al's adirondack chair.

Lilo has a favorite spot in the yard when it is sunny and hot. She likes to lay under the Catawba tree on the hill and observe the neighborhood.

Here she is smiling with daddy.

Mike swears she uses this leaf as a disguise over her face while she is pursuing her prey.

A girl's gotta eat. And what's better than eating out of doggie Fiestaware?

Meet Lilo!

We are pleased to introduce Ms. Lilo Ruebea Casazza. (That's like "Ruby," only it stands for Rue McClanahan and Bea Arthur.)

Blanche Deveraux would definitely approve of her pink scarf. Not sure Mike does, though.

You may think she looks a little different from the puppy picture seen here before. That's because Lilo is that puppy's sister. The previous puppy made a run for it and was never seen again, so we decided to adopt her sister.

Lilo is a sweetie. So far she has been enjoying chewing her froggie toy and chasing scents in the backyard. She is not a big fan of her leash (even though it is a cute hibiscus Hawaiian print) and she is still getting used to the idea of her crate.

Here she is in the car ride home. She found the most comfort lying on top of me.

The Media Room

The flat panel TV has been on the wall for a few months. It is now accompanied by a nice shelf, courtesy of IKEA, Mike and Jay.

Mike and Jay cut a hole in the wall inside the closet to the left of the TV to gain access to the attic and the wall behind the TV. They installed the shelf (making sure it is attached to studs) and deftly concealed all electrical chords. A few decorative touches later, and voila!

Now, if only someone would paint that darn paneling we would have a nice looking room!

Short Street in Bloom

A nice Saturday on Short Street begged for the camera. Enjoy! We certainly are!

Red azaleas (and one bright pink one) line our front porch. A jubliant "Welcome" flag blows in the breeze.

What is the name of this flower growing in front of our porch? I have no clue, but it's cool.




Hostas, Lilies of the Valley and a yellow flower (no clue, I'm not a green thumb) are abundant on the left side of the house.





Hot pink azaeleas are on the right side of the house. They remind me of Grandma Annie.

This is the rose bush in front of the porch. I think they are going to be either pink or red. Can't wait to see!



Mike is proud of the garden he made along the garage wall (in the first picture of the gardener above). We both enjoy mowing the lawn ... we just hate cleaning up the trimmings.