judyg -- I have very little else to do with my time. Summer is slow with work, and well... no kids, no hubby. So I play golf. And drink wine afterwards. We have amazing food at the club too, more like fine-dining than golf course fare, so I get fed.

too funny!!

My mom's parents played golf....and my grandmother got a hole in one before my grandfather did....almost killed him! lol They were both really good golfers. My grandmother even did an abstract painting called "hole in one"....i think it was just to remind my papa that she had done it first....lol

My Maternal Grandparents came up to our small MN. hometown yearly for Grpa to golf in a tourny...good memories! He had plaid golf pants...

oh yea...gotta have the plaid pants! ;)

I love that look. Lol!

Total fluke. We weren't even really paying attention to where the balls went until we got to the green and couldn't see mine... Until we looked in the hole. Lol!

@kimdee...what do u do for work?

@Robin -- I think all holes-in-ones are flukes really. Nobody's THAT accurate!
@Jayme -- I'm a freelance graphic designer, self-employed.

Ok. Gonna get moving today. Taking daughter to library then gonna put my head down and paint paint paint. Wish me luck!!!

ollder & smarter houzz master bath....

i am not a fan of what they did with the tile work in the shower area... just my opinion of course..and i find it interesting they way they did the little jut out for the plumbing by the tub...

What don't you like about the tilework, mp? I'm not crazy about the mirror.

I don't really like the color of the insets of tile they used....and it almost looks like an afterthought to me. Like they were trying to cover something up. There is a lot of tile in that room....I think maybe they should have used a larger tile for at least 2 of the walls or something and then maybe some smaller or different ones on another.
And judyg I think this is a remodel job...not new like the original olld houzz. not sure though...let me look that up.
and yes the mirror is a little bit boring. not sure I like this decorator as much as the other one??? hhmmm

ok, wait a minute, they DID use larger tiles on 2 of the walls....my eyes are shot! maybe I would have liked it better if they used the larger tiles in the insets.

nope wrong again! it's a brand new spankin house, built from scratch!

I do LOVE the tub and the spaciousness of the shower area! :)
we can get a new mirror! ha!

I have to say that room looks so totally overdone that I can't easily identify what I dislike versus what I just feel neutral about. I'm not a big fan of a white vanity with those tile colors. I think of dark cherry or espresso cabinets with that tile or bright clear white tile with colored accents to go with a white vanity. OK, I guess that means I can identify one aspect I dislike!

Judy - I aim for 30% or so but that profits includes our labor. I won't get rich at that rate, as I could probably net just as much per hour by working full time but I'm just not interested in rejoining that grind. I'm too old and grumpy to put up with the same BS I did when I was younger. I like being able to set my own schedule, even if it means working on Saturday.

My best project got me about 25% return which was just doing my homework and being ready and able to buy (with cash) when I really good house came up for sale. Every house is a risk, but this one looked good from the outside and it turned out to be even nicer than we had hoped. We were able to do only some minor work and put it on the market. If we had held the house longer, we could have gotten more money but banks won't lend on a house that the seller just buys and flips - regardless of the source of the original sale or the actual market value of the house. So the guy that bought the house from me for cash got a significant discount (more than 10%) as I had two offers above listing price but couldn't accept them as they couldn't get a mortgage on that property. Unfortunately, I haven't managed to find another house needing so little work, but I"m still trying!

Part of the issue here is that foreclosure houses from the sheriff's sale all come with accumulating property taxes which the new owner must pay. So, if I buy something for $50,000 and I end up owing $5,000 in city water bills, and property taxes, I could sell for $55,000 and be even. But, the mortgage rules are based on sale price only so at break even point, I have already made 10% according to the banks. If I make more than 20%, I have to keep the house 6 months before a bank will lend on it.

What do you ladies think about doing a whiteboard/dry erase section as my temporary backsplash. I have the paint already from a previous project that I changed my mind on...

Re: the bathroom above... I'm not crazy about the tub being inside the shower area like that.

@Robin -- that might be neat. Can you do it without undoing all the hard work you've already done?

Hi guys! Linda, what do you mean when you say the banks won't lend on a house that the seller just buys and flips? Does the seller need to own the house for a certain period of time, like 6 months?

First coat of color up. What do you think?

Aha! Very nice, much better!

Looking good!

Bobbi - yes, for houses where the new sale price is 20% or more above previous price, banks won't lend money unless the current owner has held the property for 3 months minimum, but usually 6 months. Anything under 90 days is an automatic denial; 90-180 days is likely not as it requires two separate appraisals with appropriate documentation justifying the increased price. It doesn't seem to matter how much labor an owner puts in, just how much cash. I've heard of banks requiring receipts to prove amounts spent. So, shop carefully, work hard and create a house you can't sell easily.

Robin - that color looks nice. I've been using a lot of paint in that color family...from blues with a grayish tint to grays with a hint of lavender. Those colors look really good against fresh white trim.

Thanks all. Was hoping it was more grey than purple, but it really does look quite purple in the light. But it sure does make the white cabinets stand out.

Hey gals! I've been out working for the last few days and boy howdy is my body telling me so! A few things to comment on here...bobbi...sorry it is so hot in the Valley...it hit 75 here. Sunny and beautiful, great day for weather! kimdee and Jayme...so sorry, really. We had no precipitation for the entire month of January and should be done entirely with rain by May. Sucked for the ski resorts but the beach was incredible!

Re:golf...so I get the attraction of hanging out with friends yakking for 6 hours and then going drinking after...just don't get the attraction of whacking this little ball and then walking around trying to find it and then whacking it again... I have seen the guys that run the course carrying maybe four clubs...at least they are getting some aerobic exercise in!

My comments lately have been nose diving! I don't comment on picking colors or curb appeal stuff...seems like the really good questions are all turning into "what color do I want to paint my ___?" Or worse yet..."what is the perfect color for my _____?" What is up with this stuff?

Well, if you whack it right, you know where it is and you don't have to look very hard! I used to walk and carry before my knee surgery(s), and on my course that was a work out (it's hilly, and about seven miles with 15 pounds on your back)! And the incentive is that wine and food afterwards. :) The attraction is.... hitting it longer, straighter and better than the last time you hit it your best. It's really quite addictive.

The weather will get better... eventually. But no matter what, I will always be lacking a beach. :( Is that photo from today? Beautiful! Sometime I'll post a picture of Alberta blue summer skies. They happen, and they're worth the long winter's wait.

If you're looking for a dilemma to solve (aside from my powder room) I have a noisy vent dilemma that's driving me bonkers. Someone suggested a "fern". I don't know what that means...

I responded to the crazy making post kimdee...and the picture is from January in Half Moon Bay, CA (I stayed there with my sis and BIL to be close to Stanford). So yes, a 5:00 pm sunset through the rushes on the beach...it was a chilly 45 F. I played golf once...it's good to be humble and know that there are things in life you just totally suck at!

David, what does "5-foot deep footing" and "lowest disturbance" mean? These terms are in this ideabook: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/my-houzz-artistry-and-craftsmanship-create-a-heartfelt-home-stsetivw-vs~9689688

Thanks, I didn't want to look stupid by asking the ideabook author! You all already know I'm dumb :))

Yeah...no...far from dumb...blonde maybe..but not dumb. Typical California footings are 16" to 24" below grade to top of footing, A footing is a part of the foundation, a big fat, thick continuous piece of concrete that supports the stem wall. We call a simple footing and stem wall a "tee" foundation, because the section cut (cut through the foundation like cutting a loaf of bread) looks like an upside down tee. The footing is the bottom bit of the upside down tee. Native soil, undisturbed soil, is preferable to some engineers and jurisdictions than previously excavated soil for putting new buildings on...so a 'disturbance" is an excavation, in this case the 5' deep footing, that needs to be excavated below for the building department to be happy.

Oh! and why are we awake?

Go to bed you two!

Thanks, Dave! It's taking me a few minutes to digest this. I never heard of it before :)) But I love to learn so I'll figure it out eventually!

And, good question, why ARE we awake? I have NO idea!

Creeser, been there, done that!

I don't know about you on the west coast, but I had to get hubby up at 4:30 this morning to go to a paving job with BiL.
Oh! ... a little fridge 'repair' tip. We had bad storms come through Friday evening and the electricity flickered. Noticed yesterday the ice maker was leaking water. Figured it was just an ice maker issue and I'd call Monday for service. Noticed this morning, nothing was cooling. Light was on, but no cooling. Realized the compressor wasn't running. I decided to see if I could 'reboot' it, but unplugging and plugging it back in and it worked! It's running like a champ now.

How do you do a paving job at 4:30 am? Isn't it still dark out? Is that why you're up so early? How's Boo doing?

You rebooted your fridge, I love it! That's very clever, Creese! I would have thought the leaking was melted ice, what do I know!!!

The leaking WAS melted ice. Thing was, there were still cubes in the tray, so I thought it was just a leak. We've never had good luck with ice makers and didn't explore further. We seldom use ice anyway, so it wasn't a big deal to be without one.

Re: Paving. The job is an hour away, plus they have to load up the equipment and wait for the crew to drag in. It's getting light now, so they should be getting there any time. They have lights, too. So many of these jobs have to be done around the business or work hours so they have plenty of lights. One of the plants they've done wanted them in there at night when they don't have as many employees working. Another, was a mall parking lot, so they had to start when the mall closed at 10pm on Saturday night, in order for it to be done and dry for them to reopen again at 1:30 on Sunday. Odd hours for the most part.

Boo is very frustrated. She can't walk on the cast and all she can do is pull herself along on her belly with her hands and one good leg on the hardwood floors. It breaks your heart. DD called the orthopedist Friday and they said if she still wasn't walking on it by Monday to call. Maybe there is something they can do to modify it for her. SiL had a smart idea though, that kind of helps. Those walking toys they have for the babies learning to walk! He pulled her old ones out and she can pull up and use those to go some. It's still hard for her, but it's a little help.

Daughter just sent me this link for a second birthday idea. Notice the farm animals? I have a feeling she's wanting to have it out here..*L*
http://www.karaspartyideas.com/2013/04/noahs-ark-themed-twins-birthday-party.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KarasPartyIdeas+%28Kara%27s+Party+Ideas%29

Oh, ok, so it's a commercial location. Because I was thinking I wouldn't want to the be homeowner or neighbors when they get started! It makes sense now.

What about one of those wide skateboards for Boo? Could she sit and scoot, or lay on her belly and sort of dolphin her way around? Poor baby!

The Noah's Ark theme is adorable, I can't imagine having that kind of talent! Have it at your place, huh? Do you have animals they can pet?

Ahhh... I see. Yes, most of what they do are commercial jobs. The residential ones, they schedule during the day at decent hours. *L*

Well, the walker toy we had given her back when, is a ride on car with a handle on the back. She can get on the car and push her way around with her good foot. Which reminds me to remind Mommy to bring that with her when she drops her off tomorrow. I've been carrying her around while she's here and sitting her on the floor with pots and pans while I'm in the kitchen. Or some blocks and coloring books in the living room. She just wants to be in whatever room I'm in, and the car would give her more options.

No, but you can actually 'rent' them. People that own them will come out with portable pens and set them up for parties like this. They don't have the room in their yard, plus their HOA might have issues with the animals, even being temporary.

The car sounds like a great idea, I think you all have a handle on it. Now it's just a matter of time. Kids bounce back fast, I promise she'll be fine :))

I know you're right and it's only 2 more weeks with the cast. I'm just old and tired. *L* Honestly, I think if she got around some of her little buddies her age, she'd find a way to get up and around more. Right now, it's just easy to hold up those little chubby arms to the closest adult and they pick her up.

What are you up to today bobbi?

Oh, sorry Creeser! I actually went back to bed, ran out of stuff to do and read. I don't know what we're up to today, R's still asleep. Rocky too! How about you? Big plans?

Linda, thanks for all the information. I totaled my purchase and renovation costs and added 30% to that number. I doubt I could get that price, but who knows. It is Spring, the house is close to the beach and it will deliver good income. I have owned it over 2 years and benefited from tax returns. It paid for itself with some left over.

Thanks, again, for taking the time to answer. Learn something everyday on OLLD.

Holy moly, what was everyone doing up so late! Hope you all finally got some sleepy time.

Judy - If you paid others to do the work on your house, you probably shouldn't expect to get 30%. When we do the figures, we don't value our time separately. So, instead of painting for $1000 in the costs, we would have paint for $250 in the materials costs and an extra $750 in income.