Similar Posts

53 Comments

  1. I feel for you Brenda..
    Sometimes we start out with a project thinking it will be a snap to do, only to find
    we're way over our head from all the hidden detours .
    That's happened many times when we lived in an old house.
    So I came to look at it as 'Labor Pains' that once it's over the pain is forgotten
    and you get to enjoy the end results!
    I think you'll be so relived and will enjoy what you accomplished!

  2. Brenda you are far more to your many readers than seeing these walls. Please take care prop tour legs up, rest and it will get done. There is no race and please preserve you. Standing and being able to take care of you and the fur babies takes precedence. The walls will get done when they get done and we’ll be here reading in the interim. Wanted to recommend the author Elizabeth Strout and her book “ Olive Kitteridge” and her newest one “ Anything Is Possible”. She’s an award winner no author of real merit. Might want to rest and read for now.

    1. I guess I think you readers will get sick of patio pics. I take lots and lots of photos out there. But after awhile, they must get old. Will check into the book.

  3. So sorry it's been so challenging. Is there anything more that can be done for your ankle to give you more mobility? Maybe a second opinion from another physician? You're doing great considering the pain you're in.

    1. They say no. I've actually had two surgeons for the surgeries. They say that the severity of the injury of a double ankle break combined with my age (I'm 60, was 55 when this happened) just did not bode well for me.

  4. Too bad some of your readers who live near you couldn't give you a hand! Just take your time, however frustrating it is to finish. You will get it done!! And it will look wonderful!!

  5. Brenda, just coming to the realization that slowing down and taking time on a big project is a win. I was used to going full blast on projects and not rest till I was finished. It's so hard to finally get to the place where we learn our limits. Someone may have asked, but do you think Abi's allergies and throat problems could be related to that wallpaper adhesive? Since dogs especially have such a major sense of smell, she could have been building up a allergy over a long period of time. Just something to consider. I hope she's doing better, which will in turn help you to feel better.

  6. As the other reader said, "This, too, will pass." It's hard with things that upset our normal functioning to not want to know when, for heaven's sake, it will pass! I hope you take care of your ankle so it doesn't get worse. That will slow you down even more getting everything back in order. I do know your frustration, though, I honestly do. Is there any type of brace that would protect your ankle and allow you a little more use of it? Does that make sense? I don't know exactly what your injury is to the ankle, so maybe there's not anything like that that would work.

    Sending you and your ankle healing tho'ts. Take care.

  7. Brenda, you just have to give in and let Teri, who offered to finish with that second coat of paint you were wishing for, come over and paint it for you. There comes a time in our lives when we just have to accept help. You can pay it forward to someone some day in another way besides painting for them.
    BTW, did the Zinsser Gardz make your l.r. wall section thicker where you put it on to cover the adhesive or is the color of paint too different than the d.r. area of that wall, the reason you want to put up a strip of trim to separate the two areas?

    1. If she'll email me and give me a way to contact her, I'd be happy to have her help. I took down the brown trim that was on either side of that wallpaper because now brown won't look right. So I got a piece of trim and painted it white. I have to put trim in that area because I didn't fix that small space and need something to cover it. Which is about two inches the height of the room.

  8. just think… by Christmas it will all be done and just a bad memory!
    by taking your time and not spending it in a cast I mean!
    the cold and the damp probably aren't helping your ankle any. but you're on the down hill side now!

  9. Sending hugs Brenda ((?))! I feel your frustration. This too shall pass at least slow and easy.

  10. Brenda, if you need some help I'd be more than happy to run over and finish that job for you. After I retired I worked for my husband as a painter and I'm quite good at it if I say so myself, haha. I still paint my own walls, so I know this is something I can do. I'm serious, so just let me know. Sounds like that ankle needs a rest!

    1. That would be great! I'm pretty much done in. All I have left is about an inch at the very top of three walls. And under the window and above the window. I've done the rest.

    2. I live in Coweta, so I'm not far at all. I don't know how to get in touch with you but my email is [email protected]. It would be my pleasure to finish up and get your living room back in order, so let's decide what day will work for both of us!

  11. Oh! I'm an organized person who likes everything in its place and I can feel your angst at having everything messed up. Wish I lived close by so I could give you a hand with the painting and get you all set to go for the winter. Hang in there … it will get done, just not in the time you might wish.

    1. I just put one coat of paint up and called it done except for some smaller areas I didn't get to that I'm trying to hide! Now I'm starting to get the furniture back.

  12. I feel your pain. I actually have always enjoyed painting, and often did so for myself as well as family. But now I am just old enough that it is no longer something I can do for more than a short while before I have to stop. We are so used to pushing though a project, that it is hard to slow down, but we just have to resign ourselves to the fact that we have issues like your foot, and my back, which no longer allow us to do the things we used to do. Be safe, take it slow. I am also one who can't stand things out of place so I know how difficult this must be for you.

  13. Hi Brenda,
    It is hard to take it easy and I like you do not like things torn up and everywhere so I get it. I think with your ankle issue you are doing the right thing by taking it slow. Have a good day.
    Kris

  14. How frustrating to have your main living space torn apart! Some projects definitely take on a life of their own, it's just one thing after another. I hate to paint, so I give you a lot of credit for all the painting you do. I need to paint the two entrance doors to the house…oops three, I forgot Shannon's room….and the garage entry door. I have been putting it off, and off, and off….I just don't have the time right now, sigh. I also still have to repair the gate the bear destroyed in the spring, and put the lattice around the base of the garden cottage. I'm just hoping the weather holds for a few more weeks so I can get through wedding season and take some well deserved time off!

  15. I completely understand your frustration. It took almost a year for me to completely finish my living room redecoration. First painting, wallpapering, finding the right fabric, then making the drapes, etc, etc. But now that it is done is was completely worth it. Good luck!

  16. I feel your frustration! I too have projects that take longer then I imagined because my body says rest way more often then before. Hang in there!

    1. I already went to Lowes. I couldn't stand up any longer so I just brought it home. I had the maintenance man cut it for me. Got it a little short, but at this point I don't much care! It's painted and that's enough!

  17. Glad your wall paper residue problem has been taken care of. When I get overwhelmed, I remind myself that this too shall pass and resign myself to a slower pace. Do what you can, when you can and remind yourself how lovely it will all be when it is done.

  18. Glad your wall paper residue problem has been taken care of. When I get overwhelmed, I remind myself that this too shall pass and resign myself to a slower pace. Do what you can, when you can and remind yourself how lovely it will all be when it is done.

  19. You have accomplished so much already; it's def. coming together. It is very frustrating to have the house torn apart, but it won't be too much longer! I'm amazed that you can even do all this yourself… I'm a chicken!

  20. I find that I have to pace myself sometimes, getting older is not easy is it? I am impatient though, especially when it comes to DIY and I can't stand a mess, so I get it…but your health is more important. Feel good!

  21. First off, regarding that piece of trim between living and dining rooms — do you have to have trim in that spot? Could you just remove the existing short piece of trim, and have no trim at all there? Or is the trim needed to cover up a separation in the drywall? If it's just for decoration, maybe it can go. Just a thought.

    Yes, work on our living spaces is more challenging as we age. I put one coat of paint on the walls of my very small kitchen yesterday, and this morning I have some aches. I've never had that happen before, but, I've never been 61 before! I did tell my husband yesterday evening that it seemed like I didn't make as many mistakes as usual when painting — getting drops on the floor and so on. Then I said, "But maybe they are there, and my old eyes just can't see them!" We laughed and decided that maybe there is an upside to getting older — you can't see the messes you make, so you don't have to worry about them!

    1. I have about two inches between the living and dining space that was messed up drywall that I didn't cover. I've already bought the trim today and got it painted. Just haven't put it up.

Comments are closed.