Make hole in floor go away. Check.
I’m trying to get some real work done today (like the type of work I make money from) and I have writer’s block, so to feed 2 birds with one scone, I’m just printing my renovation to do list for all the world to see. My mom booked her summer visit for July and our goal is to have our Bed Stuy apartment finished before then. And have Beacon somewhat under control by Memorial Day weekend.
Bed Stuy
1. Desmond the Floor Guy coming to save the day.
2. Glue missing wainscoting in place (Hubby)
3. Sand all wainscotting (me)
4. Finish plaster repair (me)
5. Replace rotten window trim, molding (Hubby)
6. Hook up radiators (Hubby)
7. Radiator covers and salvaged marble window sill (Both)
8. Paint entire room (me)
9. Paint shutters (me)
10. Install said shutters (Hubby)
11. Strip and finish front doors. (me)
12. Hang doors (Hubby)
13. Resin counter top for kitchenette sink (me or Emilia)
14. Paint sink cabinet (me)
15. Hang light fixture (Hubby)
16. Get some furniture in there! (Both)
That’s just the apartment. Massive work needs to be done on the front and back exterior. Stoop needs total repair and the pitch of the ground needs to be changed in the back to keep water away from house. Fun stuff!
Beacon
1. Finish nightmare porch project (Both)
2. Rip up pet den floor and install sanded plywood (Both)
3. Decorative paint on plywood floor (me)
4. Seal floor with gymnasium quality poly (me)
That’s just to make it safe and unsmelly for weekend guests. The bigger picture means skim coating the dining room, painting the entire exterior, rebuilding the garage, updating and maybe extending the kitchen, redo 2 bathrooms and dealing with a damp basement.
Oh, and I better remind Hubby before winter to finish that zoned heating project he started.
Yesterday I found myself in a garden supply shop and I passed the bat house collection. I figured, hey, why not give it a shot? After my mosquito control post last year, I thought I should practice what I preach.
There were only three to choose from at the shop, but since it was an impulse buy, that was good enough for me. Upon doing some research when I got home, I didn’t make the wrong decision, but I kind of bought the single family of bat shelters as opposed to the luxury condo development.
I ended up with the Audobon single chamber cedar house. It has a wooden landing platform already built in and it does look well made.
A few tips I picked up when researching where to install this thing.
1. Ok, makes no sense if you don’t live near a water source. This is for the Beacon house. We live within 10 blocks of the Hudson. We really wanted one for Brookyn, but Bed Stuy may be too far from water.
2. The home should be placed at least 15-25 feet above the ground to keep the bats safe from predators.
3. Mounting the box in a tree may not be the best idea as the home should be in direct sunlight.
4. No shade means not under eves or in the shadow of your home.
5. Here’s the paradox. Ok, so you want it in direct sun, but you should not put it near any lights or reflective surfaces. I get that the sun is for heat, but if lights bother them, why is the sun ok?
6. Keep it away from air conditioning or any vents that may blow air or smoke.
7. Likewise, keep it away from noise. Not close to the road or loud, barking dogs.
8. Bats and hornets do not get along. The shelter should be inspected at least once a year for hornet nests. Um, protect yourself when doing this. I’ll do so by sending my husband in.
9. It may take up to 3 years to attract bats! They do sell bat guano, which may or may not be a gimmick.
10. Bats are cool as shit, even though they scare the bejesus out of me. You can adopt a bat from the Batworld rescue site.
There’s always something. If it’s not one thing it’s another. Either your toilet has sprung a leak or it won’t flush.
All I wanted to do was chase some cracks yesterday. Did I want to take the all the plaster down to the scratch coat? No! But the plaster had something else in mind. What really sucks is that I’m terrible at plastering. Not my forte. So this is going to be a project. Nah, it’s not. Because I’m just gonna get it done and not worry how it looks or how long it will last. Sorry, but I’m tired of living in the bed room already.
So, it got me thinking. “Phyllis”, I said, “Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.” Here’s a list of things that we should be thankful for.
1. All the plaster came down?
Hey, at least it didn’t come off down to the lath.
2. Your roof leaks?
At least you have a roof over your head.
3. Noisy heating pipes?
You’re warm, aren’t you?
4. Your bathtub is clogged?
People bathe in the Ganges. Deal with it.
5. Front door hanging of the hinges?
Ok, you should really fix that sh*t before you get broken into. But the good news is, it’s an easy 1 day job.
6. Paint peeling?
Oh, come on. It’s just paint. Please see plaster photos.
7. Frozen pipe burst?
Well, you’ve learned a valuable lesson here. Turn off water to hose in winter and insulate your pipes.
8. You’ve discovered wood rot when taken up a floor?
Good thing you uncovered it so it can be dealt with!
9. Boiler died, huh?
Well, that sucks. But you’ll get much better energy efficiency with your replacement boiler.
10.Your cats pee everywhere but the litterbox and your house stinks?
I do love them. I do love them. I do love them.
Got any of your own? Come on, share!
The Retro Arcade Museum opened up about a month ago on the west end of Beacon, NY’s Main Street. OMG, OMG, OMG, you have to go!! We’re talking completely cool arcade games from the 50′s-80′s.
Here’s how it works. It’s $10 per hour and then all the games are free. No quarters involved. Pinball machines from the 60′s and 70′s, back when they were good. Speed racing. Shooting games. Awesome.
But that’s not all folks! The digital juke box has every imaginable forgotten band of the 70′s. Oh yeah, other decades too, but I’m focusing on my own childhood. David Soul’s “Don’t Give Up On Us”! John Travolta’s “Let Her In”! Cher’s “Bang Bang”!
And there’s video too. You can put on old Lucy or Honeymooners episodes while playing. Or Chips or Starsky and Hutch. It’s pretty much like taking a step back in time.
We spoke to Fred, the owner while we were there. He’s originally from Canarsie, then Manhattan, and is now living in Hopewell Junction up here. He started collecting 6 years ago and already has a warehouse full of stuff, plus all the games in the shop. He restores them himself. I’m, like, totally jealous.
Retro Arcade can be rented out for parties. There’s a 50′s era kitchen in the back. It’s just too much fun! Forget DIA. Just go to the arcade!
Hudson River Market is currently looking for artists, photographers, crafters and all those creative types for a new market set to officially open in May, with a soft opening on April 25th. It will run every Saturday and it’s $100 for 4 weeks.
Check out Beacon Citizen for updates.
The Brooklyn Flea Dumbo pop up lives on, but the outdoor Ft. Greene market is bouncing back for it’s second season starting this Saturday. Yes, it was Sundays last year. No, supposedly, it has nothing to do with THE MAN.
I’ll fill you in on new vendors later this week, but the girl’s gotta sell her own stuff first.
“Dirty Barbie” is a filthy crack ho. The first in my series of Barbie alterations. I have many Barbies and zero time. It may be my last in the series. She’s even got a hook on her back so you can hang her like a mezuzah. 25 Bucks and she’s yours for keeps.
You’ve seen this coffee table as a work in progress before. If you’re a regular blog reader, that is. Well, four months later, I finally finished! It was a light weight piece of crap, but I spent a lot of time making it fabulous. $265
I started the little orange table back in January also. Then it sat in my living room with the coffee table. Gold detail and poly protection and call it a day! 60 bucks.
I’m kind of torn about selling this table. It’s just too perfect for a small Brooklyn apartment and we’ll be needing something like this IF we ever finish our renovation. Measures 35″ wide x 19.5″ depth but opens up to 61″ with the leaves. Yeah, I know, right? I’ll stick $435 on it and if it doesn’t sell, I’ll be happy to keep it. It is missing the 2 leaves though. I see that you can buy blanks for as low as $30 or get custom ones made for $500. Which do you think I’ll do?
Skanska is the company behind the new green renovation of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, making it the first green museum in NYC. It’s also the company my husband happens to work for. They’re big on team building and safety and they do cool things like sponsor events at kid’s museums.
April 18th is Skanska Day at the museum. Kids (and adults) can try on construction gear, check out recycling and energy exhibits and build a marshmallow and toothpick bridge.
To back up my point about Skanska being all unicorns and rainbows, check out the “morning stretch” photo below.
Hey kids, when I was paying my bill online this morning, I noticed that Con Ed is sponsoring a bunch of Earth Day events throughout the city this month.
Events take place in just about every borough, plus Westchester. There are activities in parks, zoos and museums for youngsters and adults.
Check it out! Should be oodles of fun. And who doesn’t want to save the planet?
How was your holiday weekend? Us? We went to a lovely sedar on Long Island Thursday. I did the Brooklyn Museum with 4 kids and 2 moms on Friday. Then it was work, work, work.
Some more demo on the Beacon porch.
Friggin dump is closed on Monday! Grrr.
High security kitty prison.
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OMG…could you possibly have more to do..oh and don’t forget tomorrow at Marias to PU stuff:)
Comment by Emilia — April 21, 2009 @ 8:38 am
Maria’s is work related. This list is just renovation.
Comment by RH — April 21, 2009 @ 11:10 am