Happy New Year – Questionable Start For 2015

Well, as I am seeing New Years Day coming to an end, I am hoping that the rest of the year goes better than today.

It’s cold, about 20 degrees outside now and may have got to 25 and at one point.  The sun was shining and calm and actually pretty.  I can tolerate the cold if there is no wind.

Day started out with a bang.  Of course its a holiday, and we have a clogged sewer line.  Lynn thinks there may be tree roots in the line.  Tried to clear it with a snake, but will have to call out the big guns tomorrow.  In the meantime, no laundry gets done, can’t shower and we are using the new house’s facilities.  Not optimal, but workable.  Will be calling the plumber in the morning.  Ugh.  Must have been the mirror I broke a week ago when the shower door fell-out of the shower and hit the medicine cabinet.  It’s a pivot door and not easily fixable.  Put it back in and it fell out again two days ago and hit the vanity and broke the stone top.  Another ugh!!  On to more positive news.

I Spent the day putting stain on some of the step parts in the foyer of the dream house.  It came out a little darker than I planned, but will look good nonetheless.  I need to put some wax on it after the they have dried some.  Using Min Wax Stain and the color is Honey.  Looks like dark walnut to me.  What do you think?

Protecting my floor and walls. The staining begins

On my way up

Pieced that I have stained. Didn’t make it to the posts at this time.

Another view

Cleaned up some of the prep work.

Trying to visualize the finished results. There will be white balustrades.

After my humongous electric bill, the heating contractor is coming out tomorrow to put on the heat-pump thermostats and we should see a difference.  So we have been operating on an inefficient electric heat furnace.  This is going to take awhile to get back on my feet from that sticker shock.

Have to keep telling myself that this journey is going to be through shortly.  At least the main part.  I was looking at the fence that needs repairing and a stable that needs painting and a lawn to put in.  Where is chocolate when I need it….

With that all being said, I am a very happy and grateful person.  I grumble, but I am very fortunate to live in this beautiful area.  I am in good health, have a roof over my head and food in my belly, so I’m really not complaining.

Family and friends are all that really matters, everything else is just that, things.

Happy New Year from

Annie, the grubby stair stainer. 🙂