There will be 20 of us at my friend's house for dinner. Her home is gorgeously decorated as that has been her job for 25 years or so. Her biggest client is the Inn at Wequassett that I sent to you a while ago. A wonderful cook and hostess, we all will have a fine time. God knows who we will kiss as we are all so old we can't see each other…. :>).

Astraea, how is your weather? It is so beautiful here today, mid forties, sunny, snow almost gone. Then it gets cold again and we have another storm tonight.

Any fun threads going on today?

Roo, just sent the pinot joke to my friend, who drinks nothing but.

I chose the fireplace tile, the fabrics and the rug !!!!
http://www.wequassett.com/rooms#/room/1746977

Scroll through the pictures if you have time. Very beachy, as that is what the owner wants, but you may see something you like.

Good morning ladies........I have definitely decided after dealing with my mom's latest events and then my MIL's situation, that when I reach that age of reverting back to my toddler years, they can just take me out in the woods with my tent, a camp chair and a big cooler filled with beer and leave me there with a smile on my face.........let nature takes its course.

Valentines Day plans: House will be cleaned, candles will be lit, table will be set, some Sade tunes on the sound system, dinner will consist of Filet Mignons with my famous scalloped potatoes and steamed asparagus, small salad and a nice bottle of Frog's Leap wine (our favorite), and coffee and chocolate mousse for dessert.... ....later, the wife will get a full body hot oil massage from head to toe...........there are benefits to having a full time house husband.

Pino More....... good one Roo.....can I get a case of that ?

Cold, wet and grey here today ladies............can't stand winters in Memphis.

Got a new project to plan out..... MIL had a baker's rack that we have acquired that she has used for years on her porch,. Needs to be repainted and the wood top refinished, but will make a good potted plant stand for the backyard patio area...........of course that will lead to potting many plants, but that's the wife's job...

Need to get moving.......have a couple of invoices to send out and a couple of paintings to work on........hope you all have a great day..........

Design question !!! I have one sink in the front bathroom, and one ENORMOUS mirror. A real pain to clean. So I'd like to replace it with one framed mirror centered over the sink, what do I do with the now bare wall? Don't want sconces or art. Maybe candle sconces would be ok. Anyway, if I do remove this mega-mirror, how do I remove the track that sits on the vanity ledge that holds the mirror? Thanks!

Bobbi, if you're lucky it was just nailed through the nailing flange into the studs........if it was installed with adhesive, chance are you will damage the dry wall prying it off......I would try using a 5 in 1 painter's tool to try and work my way down behind it and incrementally work my way down the length of the track.........you'll have to do some heavy sanding to get all the adhesive off where the track was installed and most likely where the spot adhesive was used on the mirror itself...........stay away from any solvents as this will contaminate the dry wall just adding to your prep work for repainting.............

Unfortunately, it's one of those labor and time intensive projects. Good luck.

S. Thomas, what time is dinner????

Gheee..... bobbi, wouldn't you know it.......someone broke in and stole all of our dining table chairs except 2.............odd, I think I may have interrupted their thievery before they could finish.........yeah... that's my story and I'm sticking to it....

S. Thomas, you're so bad!!! Shameless!!!

S. Thomas, actually I think it was construction adhesived to the top of the little backsplash. Idiot flipper strikes again!

GIRLS AND BOYS,

Explain to me the "feed". What is the difference between that and the "discussions" in Judyg's houzz?

Thanks ez. We already removed the mirror in R's bathroom and it was just held on with clips, no adhesive, so taking it down was a breeze. If I decide to go ahead with this I'm hoping it's the same!

judyg, I'm not sure what you mean? Unless one is a discussion you started, and the other are discussions you commented on?

happy almost valentine's day ladies and germs!! i'm throwing kisses your way! :)
been busy again at work and am just now checking and reading.

bob, do you have a light fixture over the old mirror? or just a ceiling light? i will not comment until i know these things! ha! AND have you picked out a replacement mirror yet?

MP, happy v-day to ya! Yes, and no. Yes there's a new light fixture over the mirror and no, I haven't picked a replacement yet. I was cleaning the mirror this morning and thinking how annoyingly big that mirror is, so I thought, hmmmm, why not?

STK, Hopefully your dear wife is not following you on Houzz or your excellent Valentine's Day plans will be revealed.

well if you have a new light fixture over where the mirror lives, i wouldn't do sconces on the sides i don't think?? in our small bathroom i got J to rewire the single fixture that was above into 2 sconced fixtures on either side of the mirror and it looks great, but i don't think it looks right to have both personally. Know what I mean? How much wall space do you think you will have on each side of the new mirror? a foot? more than that??

depending on how much room you have etc. i would think about getting 2 vases to sit on counter on either side of the mirror with something in them for height or maybe get 2 wall-mounted vases with something in them???

MP, The vanity is huge, could have handled two sinks easily! I like the wall mounted vase idea as I don't like stuff on the counters, makes it more work to clean. I probably have a 5 or 6 foot mirror across, then vanity to light fixture, maybe 4 ft. Thanks for the idea! You don't think 2 candle sconces would work? It would be great for when we have company, a little bit of fragrance in there (there's no fan!).

STK, that dinner sounds wonderful and now I'm getting hungry, tonights left overs most likely wont cut it!!!

bobbi, have you considered wall paper. There not all like our mothers use to have. There's some really beautiful ones out there now. I saw a newsprint pattern and it's kinda hip :)

The gates have been delivered :) now I just need winter to be over. The gold on them is kinda a funky gold, so it will either have to change tones or another colour be chosen. From the bottom to the top of the pointy things measure 99", holy crap!!! I new they were tall but I had no idea they were that tall.

How cute! Boy, that is special, something you'll remember for a long time. Good for you!

bobbi, what about wallpaper?

olldcan, I actually have wallpaper on the bottom third of the wall, but it's a great idea! Thanks! I do love wallpaper :)

Bobbi - do what you tell everyone else to do - post a photo!!!!!

Quite frankly I am not averse to a large mirror in the bathroom I clean mine with window cleaner and a paper towel - 2 second job. However, if you have a large vanity you have to think balance you don't want your mirror looking like a pimple on a pumpkin. If you really do want to break it up though, what about putting one mirror over the sink, which I'm assuming is centred and then two skinny mirrors each side. Maybe you could put some glass shelving on the side mirrors too.

Kutchie - how does one find a husband like you???

Olldcan, that is soooo sweet! Bless her heart! And S.Thomas, all I can say is I'm jealous! My Valentines started today with my sons class party. Tomorrow my dad is my Valentine. I will be taking him and my daughter to see the new Die Hard while mom watches little one.

Bobbi, I saw the logo this morning and commented somewhere about how cute it Is. Darling! And Roo, you constantly make me laugh out loud. These are hilarious!!

Ok, so Houzz is a bit behind sending emails......Roo, a pimple on a pumpkin? Where do you get this stuff??? hehehe Actually, the top of the vanity is big enough that I could put a cabinet off to the left, which is appealing because then I wouldn't have to bend down to get all the stuff out from under it. hmmm.

TK, have fun at the movies, sounds like a blast, dad and DD!!!

Ok, so I just heard from the Manager of the GE Authorized Service Center about my washer that doesn't wash. He told me he was surprised to hear the GE was giving me problems, usually it's the Bosch washer that fails. Interesting! I do believe Bosch costs a bit more, no?

Well bobbi, tell him my front load he GE is a piece of crap too!!!! When it's not dancing around the basement floor ( can't open the door to level the load) it's dispensing fabric softener prematurely, I figure they owe me a million litres of Snuggle. When I called about this, fabric softener dispensing problem, they said it was the first they had heard of it, funny, it's mentioned all over the internet and there the last to know.... Yup, Bosch costs more but falls short quite often however they do make a superior dishwasher.

I am of the mind that name brands mean nothing anymore. Remember the guy who serviced Maytag and he never had any business?

I have Bosch, gas, washer and dryer. Never had a problem. Everybody else seems to have lots. I am beginning to think it is the luck of the draw.

Who makes what? I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Revlon make Sub Zero.

Just popping in to say hello. Posted a few comments randomly th epast 2 days. Tried to play catch-up on some of the OLLD posts, but it is impossible when you have missed so many. Then there are those that did exist, but seemed to have disappeared.

Let me tell you - when there's 26" of snow on the ground you don't want to own a dog walking business! And it sounds like we will have 2 more systems coming in just about the time this mess melts. Ugh!

olldcan, I bet you could have hugged the snot out of that little one! That is special indeed.

I will have to go check out the logo - I come straight on here via email. Bobbi, I have no idea where pimple on a pumpkin came from, I guess I was raised on it. If you need storage in your bathroom, then why not put cabinets each side with mirror built in between. I've drooled over many a bathroom photo like that.

I thought your washing machine problem had been resolved with a gift card to get a new machine or had word just trickled back to GE and they are actually looking into it. Being surprised about it doesn't sound very constructive - hope you told him you were too and even more so that no one could fix it.

Judy, definitely brands mean nothing anymore, especially the older established ones, they are just sitting back on their heels or farming production out to China and not maintaining any quality control. I also find price is becoming meaningless too.

I didn't get your post above either about the feed? Am I still not properly awake???

Ahh, Janis, only talking about you yesterday and wondering how you were. You left us with a migrane so was of concern all was well. My goodness 26" of snow, hope you are walking huskies and not corgis. Who carries the brandy???

No, it is confusing, roo. There are: discussions, feed, activity and suggestions on our personal houzz page. I can't figure out what I should be looking at. Then, the suggestions…what is that? It says "based on your discussions, you should be following…." I click on that and I do not recognize any of the names I should be following. I feel like Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole.

Roo, they won't replace the washer til I've had three service calls for the same problem. So I scheduled the next service call and the tech refused to come out unless I paid him. That's why the GE Service Center called today, they're going to send one of their own authorized techs.

Judy, you're right. In the 60's my father and a neighbor both owned the same model Ford. My father had no problems, the neighbor's was in the shop constantly. Made on a Monday, I guess!!!

OK .. it’s 7:20 PM, and I’m STARTING to catch up on your 2/13 posts! (LOL) In catching up on everything else, it seems that the discussions about posting costs, were just the tip of the iceberg on what might be a “backlash” on Houzz. Another article was about inexpensive ways to freshen up a bathroom, but 80% of the posters were complaining that the bathrooms shown looked too new & expensive, to need an “inexpensive freshening”.

I almost forgot tomorrow is Valentine’s Day; we have freezing rain now, and snow predicted, which doesn’t bode well for a pleasant day. I’ve reached a stage/age, where even relatives don’t send me an obligatory Valentine card.

Roo – About your painters/alternatives – Are these individual guys who work alone, or have a painting crew? When I bought my house & had the whole interior painted, one was an individual, one a married couple, and the 3rd a man with a crew of painters. I went with the 3rd option, because I knew it would take less time, if 1 person was sick it probably wouldn’t slow the job down. I also liked the (working) boss’s can-do attitude; I think the couple would have charged for the little fixes that they found as they went along. And when it took 3 coats in the rooms with that dark blue paint, he didn’t charge me any more for it.

Judy – I’m woefully behind with my online chatting today .. unexpected errands outside the house. The weather was grayish .. I actually didn’t pay much attention. I had major problems with my Bosch washer .. only a year after installation!

Bobbi – So funny that the GE service guy said Bosch washers were a problem .. I’ll certainly agree with that! I got very simple washer & dryer, so I think it was $1,600 for the pair (2009) .. and I saw lots more expensive! The Bosch repair guy said that they never just replace one; but give you credit towards another of their washers.

Janis – We’ve missed you on AARP .. how’ve you been?

Ah ha, Bobbi, sounds like you might really get some action. Fingers crossed.

Astraea, my head is reeling at the moment, just had painter No. 3 here - Asian guy who gabbled at the top of his voice and absolutely raced through the house. He has a team of 10 painters but of course they are all on different sites. He was very thorough though - pushy, like I find a lot of his race are, but he quite wore me out with his speed. At one point I even told him to slow down.

As far as I know the other two guys are loners, didn't really ask as their price will be on how long it takes all up irrespective of how many people. Time means money to them all so I don't expect them to slouch around, I'm expecting a week and that is fine. I have pointed out all the problems and ensured that everything is included in the quote, but they all really picked the problems anyway. They seem pretty thorough and want to do a good job.

Roo
It gets difficult to pick the painter when they all seem competent and comparable in price. I'm a low key kind of person and find it difficult to work when there's too many people around. I think a crew of 3 is the largest paint crew I want to see, unless it is exterior work. I prefer to work with someone who doesn't have a lot of different projects going on and is a working leader, not a supervisor.

It's so good to think about a project just getting done and being over!

I'm off to the local foreclosure auction tomorrow to see if I find a good deal on a new project house. It's always a tossup to see which houses actually make it to the foreclosure auction. The opening bids on most properties are close to the amount owed but some are more realistic. Every week it seems there are a couple of houses with a lively auction, but most go back to the bank and then get sold as REO properties.

Linda, already things are falling into place a bit with the painters, you know how you just get a gut feeling about people and also you sort of click with them and know they will blend in in the house and not feel like strangers. The funny thing is the first guy was referred by our bathroom builder, the one I had here today by a local real estate agent I know well, but the second guy we both really like I only got his name from the paint sales guy at the local hardware shop. I think he will work on his own too so it will be very quiet having him here and he won't be in our way at all - all our junk is more in the way than he ever will be. BH wants to see what the Asian guy comes in at and he could well be the cheapest, but I am so over the money thing all the time, peace of mind and comfort is far more important and seems to take precedence more and more as I get older. I do try to be impartial and fair minded at all times, and I have some absolutely lovely Asian neighbours and friends but I find doing business with them is a completely different ball game. This guy put me off when he first walked in and asked was I painting to sell or lease and I really had to push hard to get through to him that we live here and will continue to do so and then he also starting drawing lines as to exactly what work he would do and what he wouldn't, where the other two were open to repairs that were within their ability, and he was also quite disparaging about things we have done in the house, nothing seemed to be good enough, things that were none of his business.

I suppose you are quite used to foreclosure auctions by now but I always feel a little sad when I hear of things like that. Good luck.

Roo, if you had to push hard to get him to listen now, what will it be like if he starts to paint? And if he doesn't like what you've already done, tell him to move on. You're right; we do sort of click with different people, and don't click with others. Go with your gut.

That is one problem I have with these people Bobbi, they DON'T listen and if you don't like what they have done, suddenly they don't understand English. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't do any actual work either, just his team and I bet their English would be worse. At times I feel I should be asking for their work permits. I just wouldn't feel comfortable not knowing who was coming to the house each day either or have them jabbering in their own language all day - height of rudeness as far as I am concerned.

Hey did anyone see this in an ideas book of what to buy your man for Valentine's Day?? Love it.

[houzz=]

Roo a pimple on a pumpkin is a pea on a mountain here!
Happy St. Valentine's day ladies and gentlemen.
Olldcan, I was just telling my husband about the little boxes of Valentines that we used to handout in school in the US. Over here it's different, it's purely to the object of your heart's desire and always anonymous (unless you are already an item.)

Roo, I find the same problem at the flea market. And def ask for license and insurance! If they fall and break something they could sue and take your house. Not worth the risk!

Happy V-day to all!

Linda – Do you or someone else inspect the houses, before the auction?

Roo – I don’t think I’d like your Asian painter either. The question about painting to sell sounds like that would be “looks good enough for buyers viewing the house quickly”, vs a quality paint job. I wouldn’t like a painter commenting on anything else in the house, unless it was somehow related to painting.

Astraea, he was walking around having a good look at rooms he had no need to and asking questions about future work and why I didn't want the living areas painted. I refused to be drawn into any discussion with him or telling him anything by giving vague answers and changing the subject back to the painting. When he saw the pile of carpet behind the lounge he started on about not having any underlay - how he picked that so quickly I don't know as you can hardly see it - and how I couldn't possibly lay it without underlay and then started trying to push carpet layers he knew. Basically told him I wasn't an idiot and everything was taken care of. He tried to push for more information but again I took the conversation back to the painting.

The other painter we like asked "may I" to see work we have already done and made nice genuine comments, he was interested to know who had done it which I was happy to tell him the bathroom guy particularly as it could lead to more business for him. They are all very local and you get one good tradie and they generally have good leads. Everything is so word of mouth.

Definitely, the selling or leasing question related to a quick cheap job, which I guess a lot of people would want and he probably though that more because I had got his name through the Estate Agent. I just felt though, no matter what I said, he didn't believe me. The more I think about him he is a definite no. Pity BH wasn't home at the time, although his deafness limits what he hears anyway.

Roo, I bought that for my husband! Love it!!

Lol, just kidding! I didn't get it for him, but I do love it! I made him a pillow this year. Got the idea from that ideabook on Houzz. Was thinking about the beer of the month club, but doesn't really make sense with him not here. Can't get flowers delivered on base...too much hassle and he would shoot me if I sent candy so I opted for a craft. Figured he could throw it on his bed and get a good giggle.

I'm so excited for you that you are getting a painter! I suggest you do what my dad does and sit back, drink a beer, and watch them work. You sooooo deserve it after all your hard work. After all the years of doing work yourself, it's nice to have someone else do it for you. Enjoy!

Tras, I don't think I could do that - Aussie blokes love their beer so much it would almost be cruelty. I will thoroughly enjoy just be able to wrestle with my curtains with nothing else on my mind and hope to have them all ready to hang once the carpet is laid.

What is the beer of the month club? Do they just do US beers or go international?

I'm not sure, I got the idea from the Houzz ideabook for Valentines. Thought it would be great for hubby till I realized it wouldn't really work until he's home for good so I didn't research it further. We used to belong to a wine club where we got a couple of bottles a month to try. That was fun.

Just got home from Die Hard. Great time with Dad and DD. Perfect movie to share with Pops!

Tras, I only wondered because I thought it would be a great experience for him to try Aussie beer. For Americans, it does come with a warning.

He loves dark beer. Especially warm German beer. Is Aussie beer dark or light and do you drink it cold or warm?? I don't know much about beer at all.

Aussies only drink their beer very, very cold, it is an insult to even talk warm beer here. Great on a really hot day. Haven't really thought about dark or light - light usually refers to low alcohol. I don't think they are identified that way here. All I know are the brands I like. One of my favourites is a dry beer which is weird in a way when I can't drink dry wine.