Dog Fight

Mosby and Molly have developed this bad habit of barking at each other while they're eating. If left alone they've been known to attack each other as they are both curious to see what scraps might have been left in each other's bowl. As if. They both practically take the finish off the porcelain before they're done. Anyway, last night, hours after they'd eaten, Molly pranced past Mosby and I think Mosby didn't like it and snapped at her. She, of course, had to come back at him. They had quite a tussle before I could get them apart. Mosby has so little maneuvering ability anymore-- he can't reallly back up without just going all the way down. Once he's up he's fine though, and he still walks well and enjoys our morning and evening forays.

Anyway, a few minutes after the scuffle, Troy calls downstairs that Molly is bleeding-- Mosby had taken a chunk out of her left ear. I managed to confine her to the bathroom to clean her up, sat with her for a while to calm her down, and then left her there on a dog bed for an hour or so to be sure she'd stopped bleeding before we went to bed. Got Troy calmed down (blood all over his comforter had kinda freaked him out) and there were a few splatters on the freshly painted dormers. She seems fine this morning, and it might be my imagination, but they even seemed a bit chastened this morning when they ate. No barking.

If he's going to be a danger to live with, even just for Molly, we've got a problem. I just want him to be o.k. until Christmas for Zack to get home. After that, if/when he goes downhill, Zack will have had his chance to say goodbye.

Bathroom Thoughts

I'm really starting to think about the upstairs bathroom. Found this website that was very interesting. The "after" layout design could be our bathroom (roughly 5'x8') if you swap the doorway and the sinks. What do you think? I'm not a 100% sure about swapping the tub for just a shower, but I like the look of this.

Morning Misstep

I was walking the spots up 13th St. this morning. I crossed between driveways from north to south and I stepped up onto the curb with my left foot. I stepped into the grass of the median with my right foot, heading for the sidewalk, and my right foot stepped into nothingness. I didn't see it at first, but I'd stepped onto the round, iron water-meter cover. Those things are supposed to be bolted down, right? This one must have been half off and I stepped onto the half that was over the open hole. I went down hard on my left hip and left hand, leashes and poop bag flying. I'm lucky I didn't break my ankle or my leg. I would have had to drag my broken self to the door of the house I was in front of. You know the one-- it's front door used to face the Blvd.? White painted brick? They've just added an overhang to the 13th St. "front" door. (It's also where Jackson-the-cat's accusers used to live.) I would have had to wake them to get help. I could have been set for life with the punitive damages I would have laid on the County for their negligence! Just as well. A cast is a big hassle. Been there done that. I should probably put a note on their door though. I also think this would have been a whole lot worse 150 pounds ago.

More on Light Switches

In a previous post I mentioned having to buy light switches for the hall upstairs and down. I mentioned that I was heading to Home Depot the other day to get them and Russ asked if I knew what I was going to get. I looked at him and said, "white?" Apparently I didn't know that I need to get something called "three-way" because that's what we have that let's us turn the same lights on and off from upstairs and down. Who knew? Anyway, he also thinks we should get brown switches because they'll look better with the lacquered brass switch plates. Why do we have to disagree about EVERYTHING? Whatever. He said he'd take care of the switches, which is nice.

And Now, the Bathroom

See-- just a 5x8 bathroom. Russ and I always thought that putting the bathtup up against the far wall (where the toilet is now) would open the room up a lot, but I think moving the toilet plumbing would be problematic (and expensive). I like the open-on-two-sides tub, though I might consider putting a shoulder- or waist-height wall on the short side. Maybe glass block. There's a window with a towel rack to the right just outside the frame of this photo, which you can see below.

We have to keep the trash can on top of the radiator behind the door to keep Molly out of the trash.

Here's the New Paint

When I first typed in the title for this post I forgot the "t" in paint. Ha!

Anyhoo, here's the new yellow in the hallway. Big difference compared to this, isn't it?

And here's the new blue in what is now officially Troy's room. Molly likes it too. Not as big a difference, but it does look so much better than this.

Pretty Kitchens

I found this link in the April Food and Wine magazine. I think the blue one is pretty, but this sunny room really spoke to me. Love it! Looks very functional too.

The Next Project

I do need to get some after photos posted. Other than the bookcase and a few items in the closet, the room is now officially Troy's. He loves it. Lots of room for Bionicles, and he has more room at that desk to do his homework. Loves the social studies, hates the math. I'm telling him to embrace the math, as he can't avoid it. We'll see. He's having a good year so far. Big man on campus as a 5th grader, no more braces, no more big brother, at least for a while. New big room, too. He also seems quite content (so far) to have his mom and dad to himself.

So, The Next Project. Russ, orderly thinker that he is, says it's to be the bathroom upstairs. This would complete our upstairs renovation, other than repainting now and again. Our bedroom is due now, but maybe I'll get that done when the bathroom is being done. I'm thinking the bathroom is a $10,000 project. Worst case scenario. Can't do $10,000 right now, but maybe $5,000. I still can't believe the estimate we got from ServiceMaster-- $27,000. Can you believe it? It was so outrageous I just laughed the guy right out of the house. As if! About 5 or so years ago another painter offered to "do" the bathroom for $4,500. Good price, but I didn't trust that he had the proper plumbing skills.

Thought for the day: Why is it that one gets the motivation and momentum to do what must be done on one's home just at the point when one has the least amount of money?

Other Painting News

This is Zack's room, soon to be Troy's. It hasn't been painted in a long time either. Troy picked out a blue that is slightly darker than this, Mediterranean Breeze is the color I believe (I probably misspelled Mediterranean but I'm too lazy to go check it).

Zack left the room such a mess. I don't know where to say I failed; as a housekeeper or as a mother since I clearly didn't teach him how to clean up after himself.

Anyway, it's been a good object lesson for Troy. After the room is painted it will officially be Troy's room. He can't wait.

Too Yellow

I think this photo really shows the yellow we're going to be painting over. A bit too, well, yellow. I still think the Creme Brulee will be too bright, but it will be better.