Valentine's Day 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

I was in the Cities this weekend for Valentine's Day. But, first an update on the wet basement.

It took two days to dry underneath the rug and the cement. On Thursday they moved the blowers above the carpet to dry out the walls. The plan was to have the walls dry by Saturday morning so they could come and replace the padding, lay and stretch the carpet.



Ed stopped on Friday afternoon to check the walls. The walls were almost dry, so they would go ahead and replace the padding, lay and stretch the carpet on Saturday morning.


I left for the Cities at 7am Saturday morning. When I got home, around noon, on Sunday the padding and carpet were in place. Everything was set for Ed and his crew to move the furniture on Monday evening.

Well, I got ambitious and moved everything back into the living room so all Ed and his crew will do on Monday is get my treadmill placed on the plastic mat and move the TV and stand from upstairs to the downstairs. Those are the two heavy items that I can not move.

Valentine's Day!

I arrived in the Cities around 9:00am. I had sent cards earlier this week...but...couldn't go empty handed.

When we came back from Texas we stopped at a Travel Center on I-35 near the Austin, Minnesota exit. It is such a nice place to stretch legs, potty, gas the car, shop and grab something to eat. We had stopped two years ago and purchased the children mugs. I had planned to stop last September when we came back from New Mexico...the reason we didn't stop was because it was so foggy I couldn't see the exit. We made sure to stop this time...the children got new mugs.



I made Meggie a hearts pillow case...


and Matthew a "Transformer" pillow case.


Such good friends...


The children must have gotten some new tattoo stickers because they both had tattoos on their arms and hands. Meggie had a whale tattoo...


Matthew had a bat tattoo.


We went shopping at the Tanger Mall in North Branch. While Megan was trying on clothes Matthew and I spent our time taking pictures.


Megan had four teeth pulled in January because her permanent bottom front teeth were coming in and the baby teeth were not loose.


Chris purchased this three piece corner computer table(s), chair and floor mat from someone on Craig's List. It was a great find.


Chris and Jennifer before they left for their dinner and movie.


I stopped over at Julie's this morning for about an hour then got into Eau Claire around noon. I began to move the furniture back into the basement living room...that is done.

An update on my weight loss...I have now lost 22 lbs. I started my diet in December before Christmas and have been losing each week. Three more pounds and I will reach my goal!

I am hoping for an uneventful week...it is warming up...Spring is right around the corner! Maybe if we keep saying that it will really happen. Have a great week!

Wet Basement

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
(click on photo to enlarge)

Well, today did NOT start out well at all. This morning, at 6am, I went downstairs to use my treadmill. I walked into the living room of our downstairs and was walking in water. When I stood still the water was up around my tennis shoes. I used my treadmill last night around 7pm and all was well, so this happened over night.


So my mother got on the phone and called On Star to help with our situation. On Star cleans carpets, dry vent cleaning and WATER RESTORATION.


They promptly came out this morning and began vacuuming the water out of the rug.


The hose was connected to a drum in the van.


While his daughter vacuumed (sucked up the water) the rug, Ed used this tool that shows where the water is. If it beeps that is not good news...that means there is water in that area. It was doing a lot of beeping.



After his daughter vacuumed the rug they used this flat piece to further suck up the water.




While she was "sucking" up the water, we decided to go outside and find out where the leak was coming from...found it. If you enlarge the photo...look at the elbow seam...you will see where it is, and has been, dripping down to the ground which was near the concrete.


Here is the puddle of water that was caused by the dripping.


So, off to the store and caulk was purchased. They caulked around the elbow seam. That stopped the dripping.


Got that fixed and now to move the furniture out. All except the sofa sleeper and my treadmill were removed from the room. There is an area, small area, that was not wet, so since the treadmill won't fit threw the doorway it was gently placed in the dry area along with the sofa sleeper.




Of course, an on- looker....



After all furniture was removed Ed started to pull the carpet from the wall.



The padding was cut away and rolled up and put in plastic sacks to be disposed. Note the wet floor.






After the padding was removed they pulled the carpet back in place.



When the padding was removed they put a blower in each corner.



The carpet was put above the blowers so the air would blow under the carpet. This would dry the carpet and the cement floor. Tonight I am checking to make sure the water still isn't seeping up, which it is so I then will towel the water until I can get it somewhat dry.

I am attaching a movie of the what the carpet movement looks like. To begin the movie...on the menu bar at the bottom of the clip...left side arrow click.

Ed will be at the house tomorrow to see how we are progressing. If the floor is dry, the next step is to have someone lay new padding and then lay and stretch the carpet. We then will move everything back into the room. Well, not everything...now is the time to plan for our thrift sale! I will try and take more photos when they are working with the padding and carpeting. What a day!

Trip to Richardson, Texas

Sunday, February 1. 2009
(click to enlarge photo)

We arrived in Liberty, Missouri, late yesterday afternoon...4:15pm. We went to dinner and were in bed by 7:30pm! I was tired from the drive. Going around Dallas was not a problem because on Sunday morning around 6:45am there isn't much traffic. Started around Kansas City at 3:15pm...not a problem.

So, since I did not blog yesterday I will combine Sunday and Monday.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

The last time when we went through Oklahoma I wanted to take this picture of the Oklahoma Horseshoeing School...I found it interesting they have to go to school to learn how to shoe a horse...makes sense to me.



Saw this truck when we stopped for gas...nice advertising.


I had mentioned in my previous blog that I would include the program of Bill's funeral...see below.


Monday, February 2, 2009

Oh great! That !!###!! ground hog saw his shadow...six more weeks of winter. Did I mention that temperatures in Texas were in the upper 60's? It was so nice to go outside without a heavy jacket on!

Left Liberty, Missouri at 6:30am. Roads were excellent and traffic was scarce. I took this picture for Sherrie V. She had asked me if we were going to stop at Terrible's. Nope, no casinos on this trip.


Saw this black (ahead of the white) Porsche and white Porsche. Not a speck of dirt on them. I assumed they were together.


Saw these energy mills around Austin, Minnesota. You will need to enlarge the photos to really enjoy them.


We arrived home today around 3:00pm to cold weather. Did I mention that temperatures in Texas were in the upper 60's? I do have a video that was shown at the funeral of Bill's life. I will load, hopefully, on Tuesday evening.