The McClure's

We begin on Tuesday June 3rd. After running errands we worked on updating last month's blog. On Wednesday the 4th we started on our next project. First of all -- we like DARK chocolate but ---- not in a bathroom (2 walls). It doesn't go with the beautiful stone!!!! We got the Gripper (primer) on today. We're going to look at a color chart, picking a color that goes with the stone. We had our yearly eye appointment on Thursday the 5th. I don't know why I let them set us up for an 8:00 appointment!! Both of us had a hard time getting up. Very little was accomplished once we got home. Having our eyes dilated and going through all the testing wore us out. I checked out fine and dandy. Lee's cataracts are ready to come out, so surgery has been scheduled -- one in July and the other one in August. Late afternoon the neighbor across the street came over with a doe in her arms. Her dad found her all alone --- no mom. I got to hold her!!!! So tiny -- and precious. She cuddled up to me so I named her Miss Cuddles. (FYI - they contacted the wild life folks and were instructed as to what they need to do. Can't keep them as pets.)

Miss Cuddles came calling
We headed out early on Friday the 6th for Home Depot. We needed a larger gate so we can get the kayak trailer in the yard beside the house. It's still at Debi's. Will be going up there next week to bring it home. We also got the paint for the dark chocolate walls in the master bathroom. We also decided to paint the little bathroom, so we got that paint also (light peach color). Once we got home Lee got started installing the gate while I made a peach cobbler. I used fresh peaches off one of our trees. YUMMY!!!

It was great
NO painting today (Saturday the 7th). I helped Lee out in the yard -- which is something else I really enjoy. Called it a day fairly early so we could get cleaned up for a HOA meeting and pot luck dinner. On Sunday the 8th Lee worked on an area beside the house where the kayak trailer will go. I got busy painting in the master bathroom where the dark chocolate was. As I painted I listened to the race. YEAH DALE!!! We had a couple good rain showers in the afternoon . Good timing -- our plants and yard are happy happy happy. Great teamwork on Monday the 9th. We got the master bathroom painted!!! We'll do touch ups tomorrow and take a break for a few days. Lee has become a great helper with all this painting --- and I do think he enjoys it ---- just a little bit!!! I have an appointment with my surgeon on Thursday. We plan on staying with Debi for a couple days and get the kayak trailer out of her yard.

Before

After
On Tuesday the 10th we did the finishing touches on the master bathroom. Got it all cleaned up and headed outside. We wanted to get a couple areas cleaned out. There was an abundance of mulch and straw that had molded. If the ground could talk -- it would have thanked us. It can now breath a bit. Took Wednesday the 11th off and went to Wimberley. If you're ever in the area -- that's a great little town to check out. Lee got a haircut while we were there. Headed back home to pack up for our trip to Cedar Park tomorrow (Debi's and surgeon).

Thursday the 12th we headed north to see my surgeon. I GOT RELEASED!!!! The breaks have healed completely. I still have some healing issues around my ankle and knee (muscles, etc). Walking will help with those (I HOPE SOON). The top of the brace on the left side of my leg sticks out a bit, which he can fix. But that would require more surgery -- and I'm NOT ready for that right now. We agreed that if it starts to cause a problem then give him a call. So far I'm ok with it --- as long as I don't hit that area on anything!!! Like I did against an aluminum ladder. Saw stars that day!!! Left there and headed to Debi's. Todd, Chelsea and Ryder came over for a visit.

Spent a lot of time in her pool on Friday the 13th. Good therapy/exercise. Got back in the pool on Saturday the 14th. More therapy for my leg!! Lee got the kayak trailer ready to tow back home tomorrow. We had several other miscellaneous items at her house also. He got all that packed up in the back of truck.

All loaded up and ready to head home on Sunday morning the 15th. BIG accomplishment at her house. I conquered her steps to the second floor (this is where I broke my leg). My heart was beating so fast the first time up and down, but I had Lee close by. I had such bad memories of those stairs, but I think all is a-ok now!!! Seemed strange leaving her house and arriving at ours about an hour later. Cool!!!! Monday the 16th was laundry day for me. Lee worked on getting the kayak trailer cleaned off. We need it empty when we go to Home Depot for the wood paneling we're putting up in our bedroom. It will only go on one wall which will cover up an accent wall of MORE hot pink. Off to Home Depot on Tuesday the 17th. Got the paneling and a grill. YYIIPPEE!! It was grocery shopping day on Wednesday the 18th. Lee mowed the yard while I got everything put up. Put a pot roast on for dinner with homemade cornbread.

All covered up

Now we can Grill with the big boys
Had a fun day on Thursday the 19th. We got the paneling put up!!! Just like our other improvements we've made --- it's beautiful!!! Ran some errands on Friday the 20th and found some drapes (panels) for our bedroom and the living room. There were already blinds throughout, but we like drapes also. Lee wasted no time getting them put up. Looks GREAT!!! Good work day on Saturday the 21st. A couple walls in the living room needed a fresh coat of paint. One wall had about 50 pin holes which Lee had spackled. I worked on that while he pressured washed the front and back porch. Both are in need of a paint job also. We should be able to start on one of those tomorrow. The heat here is drying them out quickly.

Before

After
Had a sheet of paneling left over. Got in our "thinking mode". A bar separating the living room and kitchen was white. Not any more --- got the paneling installed in that area on Sunday afternoon the 22nd. Dang - we're good. On Monday the 23rd it was overcast with some breeze so we starting painting the back porch. We were also able to get about 1/3 of the front porch painted. Heat set in so we called it quits on that job. Good thing because about 3 hours later we had a thunder storm. Thank goodness the porches were dry. Lee worked on some lantern lights we have outside that needed a good cleaning and ---- yep ---- a paint job. While he did that I started painting in the small bathroom. Rain interfered with us painting outside on Wednesday the 25th. No complaint though since we had other unfinished projects. Lee installed a couple motion detector lights and I continued painting the other bathroom. No rest today Thursday the 26th. Back at it. I finished painting that bathroom. Lee worked on our lawn mower. Won't start. He put new parts on it -- but still won't start. Ordered another part today. Hopefully that will fix the problem. We spent the afternoon putting window film on the master bedroom windows. That will help with the afternoon sun. Hopefully we can get back to painting the front porch tomorrow. We had more rain today, which is fine with us. As of Friday the 27th, we had 3 projects going that are not completed. No rain in the forecast so we decided to work on the porch, steps and slats. We were moving right along - and here comes the rain. We head back inside. We decided to complete one of the projects -- putting window film on all the other windows in the house. YEAH -- COMPLETE -- DONE!! Cleaned up the mess, took a couple aleve.....we are also done for the day.

Before

After
Big work day on Saturday the 28th. I finished the small bathroom. I've got to clean it, but I took advantage of the cooler weather and headed outside to the porch. This project is turning out to be huge by large!!!!!!
I painted while Lee got the yard mowed, etc. etc. Again the heat of the day "got us" so inside to the cool
house. After cleaning up we made fresh peach freezer jam. This was the last of the peaches off one of our trees. Hope it turns out good. Lee scraped the bowl -- didn't want to waste a drop -- so the partial jar is all his. He now has ribs on the grill -- that's it for the day. On Sunday the 29th the heat arrived earlier so no painting on the porch, so off to one our favorite places -- Home Depot. We had faucet issues in the master bathroom sinks so we got new ones. Also had a light in the kitchen that wasn't much more than a night light. Got a new one. Lee has not only become a great painter.....he a great plumber and electrician also does yard work, Driver, and yes he also does windows. Thank goodness!!!

These are from the small tree in the backyard

7 1/2 jars

Big and Juicy
I really wanted to report that we were done with the porch, steps, slats, mailbox area on Monday the 30th....but it didn't happen. Very hot!!! This paint we're using (Deck Over) doesn't like for you to paint when the sun's beating down. If you have a deck and need to paint it this product is great, as it also has a non skid in it. From Home Depot. Another project is COMPLETE though --- the small bathroom. I got it and the floor all cleaned up. And yes -- it looks great!! Lee got an area by the "barn" cleaned out. He was able to put some of it in an area under the porch. Now we both are cooling off and getting ready for a much needed nap. A special note to end the day. We tried some of our freezer jam. OH MY GOSH - a complete success. SO GOOD!!!

Wonderful day -- Tuesday July 1st. The McClure paint team is FINISHED with the front porch, steps, slats, area at the mailbox and touch up on the back porch. My cohort said he didn't want to see a paint brush for at least a week. I'm inclined to agree with him. All the major issues have been accomplished. It's been a lot of work, but we did it as a team ---- and we're really proud of what we've done. On Wednesday the 2nd I do believe our workload (and the heat) got the best of us. After a run to the grocery store -- we both took the day off. This was a day to "kick back and relax"!!!! We had no problem doing that at all.