Its Rough Without A Bathroom!!

  At about 7am, Mark and I were discussing the plans for the day while we leisurely sipped a cup of coffee.  "Well, we really need to check that toilet. It is starting to have a tilt." I mentioned.  Mark agreed and said he would run to the nearby home store to get parts.  He and Son started in on the project within the hour.  Thinking it was just the wax ring that seals the toilet, they carefully removed the thing.  Well, that was the beginning.  Here it is 9pm and I still do not have a bathroom.  There is a huge gaping hole where it once was.  One thing led to another and the small task turned into a major ordeal.  This would not be so bad except...we only have the ONE bathroom!

  Once the toilet was removed, the menfolk noticed that the floor boards were a rotten.  "Lets pull it up and fix it right." Mark said as he started out the door to the store.  Son started removing boards.   I made the comment that "It could be worse!  We could find termites!"....Yep.  Big mistake.  While we did not find any active termites, the damage had already been done.  Son kept pulling boards.  I kept hauling boards out the back door.  That led to us pulling out the vanity.  Uh, oh!  The pipes had corroded and were crumbling!  So, now I had no commode nor lavatory.  I did however have an "open air" look to the bathroom.  Without the floor boards, the ground was now clearly visible. Mark ripped out the pipes and headed BACK to the store for lavatory parts. He came back with a new vanity and toilet!

  So...one thing led to another and the bathroom is now receiving an entire makeover..not that I wanted one.  We are all exhausted.  The menfolk are working diligently to get the room at least critter-proofed for the night and to get us a working toilet.  The rest can be done tomorrow.

How Did You Get In Here?

  Earlier today, it was time for me to start a new project.  The redoing of the living room was dragging on and eventually came to a screeching halt.  There are a few things left to do before the makeover is complete but those things cannot be completed just yet so there is nothing for me to do except start something new.  I figure since I am redoing one room, the others should follow.  So, the entryway is the next place to receive a bit of much needed attention.  Of course, the first thing to do would be empty out the space.  It seems that this small room is the catchall for whatever is in our hands as we enter the house.  Stuff is dropped there with the good intentions of putting it up properly "in a few minutes".  The trouble is...those few minutes drag on until we plumb forget about our misplaced items....so they stay until the room is quite cluttered.  Time to purge!

  As soon as the chore was begun, I had a visitor.  Thankfully, this was not a human visitor as that would mean that my tasks would be put on hold but rather this was a critter guest and an unwelcome one at that.  A large Eastern Lubber Grasshopper had somehow found his way into the Little Bayou House and had taken up residence in the entryway.  When I discovered him, he was perched proudly upon the window frame overlooking the few potted plants on the ledge.  He even had the nerve to poop on that window frame!!!  Ok, rascal!  You are out of here!  My purge of stuff from the room included the critter!

  These grasshoppers are the bane of the garden.  They can munch an entire garden to the bare ground in a few days.  Spring sees thousands upon thousands of the eggs hatching and fall ushers in the mating season of any adults that escape my attempts to eradicate the bunch.  I try my best to clear the yard of the critters only to find them now moving into the Little Bayou House!  Help!  Go away, grasshopper!

The Makeover!

  Living on the Bayou, I have little opportunity to dress to the nines.  I have always said that I am more a jeans and flannel shirt type girl and can see no use in "putting on airs" just to please anyone.  Don't get me wrong, if the need arises, I clean up pretty good.  Otherwise, I feel that the alligators and otters don't give a flying flip if I am wearing moccasins or high heels and, just so you will know, moccasins are a whole lot more comfortable!  But, even though some would probably argue that it is highly needed, this makeover was not for me.

  Last month, I was running short on time and inspiration for the Fourth Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou.  I needed a treasure chest and I needed it fast!  The brain was clicking furiously but no idea was developing.  What could I use?  I sat in my rocking chair pondering this fact.  My feet were propped up on an old crate that once held cast iron skillets.  Since the box was sturdy and a good size, I kept it to use just as I was now...as a foot rest.  I looked at the box.  Size...good.  Condition...good.  Aesthetics...terrible!  I did not need "Wentzell's Cast Iron Ware" on the side of my treasure chest and that logo was burned into the wood, albeit, crookedly done.  That had to go!

  Sanding the box was easy.  This got rid of most of the logo.  A good coat of paint and antiquing did a fine job of covering the mess.  Now for those decorations.  I did not want to put too much time and effort into the box since I was running behind schedule as it was.  So....a few metal "trinkets" that had been salvaged from hurricane debris so came into play.  Those, a hasp and some rhinestones was all it took to give me the look I wanted.  My treasure box was complete and ready to be filled.  Of course, a padlock was needed to guard the treasures and make the chest a part of the hunt!

  This whole makeover just goes to show that sometimes what we think is just an ugly old rock can be a jewel in disguise.  My shabby crate turned into something a bit more elaborate and a lot more interesting with just a little "polish".  It sort of pays to not to overlook something...or someone...just because of a few flaws.  Those dents and dings tell a story but given a chance that rock can shine and sparkle.