Azalea Time

It's February in Northeast Florida.  That means it's AZALEA time!

When I was younger, I didn't like these flowering bushes.  The bright fuchsia color made me think they looked cheap.  Now I love them, especially since I don't have contribute any effort to take care of them.  

During most of the year, there are only green leaves on the azalea bushes' branches.  But in February and March, there's an explosion of color.  We're very fortunate to have several bushes in our yard.  I love them because they provide free flowers for the house.

In the future we want to create a wall to lessen the road noise and to increase privacy.  It may look something like this.  I hope the azalea bushes will still bloom despite not having the same amount of sunshine.

Pile of Rocks

BF,  "Go outside and look at my truck!"
TMF,  "Why is the back end sagging?"
TMF,  "What are we going to do with all of those rocks?  Where did they come from?"

BF recently volunteered at an adult home for men with mental disabilities.  In addition to spreading mulch, the volunteers cleared debris from a torn down fireplace.  When learning the fireplace debris was going to be taken to the local landfill, BF offered to take the rocks himself.

The group leader asked what BF planned to do with the rocks.  He answered, "I plan to use them for an outdoor fire pit."  The group leader was so pleased to hear the rocks going to good use.  Due to the threat of injury, the home's volunteers were forced to remove the fireplace.  

I'm sorry I didn't snap a picture of BF's truck before we unloaded the rocks.  I was so shocked to see how low the truck bed sagged.  It took us nearly 20 minutes to move the rocks from the truck to the backyard.  

I'm not sure how the outdoor fire pit will be designed.  Its vision is all in BF's mind.  It's current form is in a big pile of unorganized rocks.  

White Picket Fence Headboard

BF,  "Uhhh...what did you do?  "
TMF,  "I guess this was the wrong way to stick a vinyl decal on the wall?"
BF,  "It's WAAAY wrong."

After BF created the platform bed and air duct bench, I thought the guest bedroom's bed needed a nice headboard.  I didn't want to spend a lot of money or time on this project, so I outsourced it to Etsy.  

Vinyl stickers are really neat because they're fast, inexpensive and won't harm your walls.  There are so many creative options, but I chose to keep it simple with a traditional white picket fence.  

I ordered vinyl stickers in the past, but I forgot I delegated their installation to BF.  I tried installing the headboard myself, but was an epic fail.  I thought I'd be efficient and use a laser level, but that was pointless.  I couldn't figure out what side to stick on the wall!

When Brendan caught site of my horrible progress, he actually laughed out loud.  He took pity on me and together we stuck the sticker headboard on the wall.  

MUST Close Pantry Doors

I came home after a long day at work and volunteering.  I was greeted by BF with a hug and kiss.  I looked around to see the other "B" in my life.

TMF,  "Where's Bailey?"
BF,  "Hmmm...I don't know.  You should look for him."
TMF,  "What do you mean look for him?  He usually greets me as soon as I walk inside the house.  Where is he?"  
BF,  "Keep looking."
TMF very anxiously asks,  "Where is he?  Did something bad happen to Bailey?!?!"

BF rolls his eyes.  He always finds my extreme concern for Bailey to be simultaneously amusing and annoying.
BF,  "Keep looking for him."

I wander around the house, checking every closet and every corner. The last place I check is our shower.  

TMF,  "Oh dear.  What happened?  And why does he look wet?"
BF,  "He's not wet, he's STICKY."

BF left Bailey in charge of the house while he ran an errand.  BF was only gone for a few minutes.  His mistake?  He left the pantry doors slightly opened.  We now know Bailey enjoys protein shakes.

Short Doors

TF, "You have got to be kidding me!"

BF unapologetically, "Sorry Cupcake (BFʼs nickname for me). The doors are too short. "
TF, "But I measured and measured and measured!!!"

BF, "Theyʼre still too short."

When selecting the new doors for the kitchen pantry and laundry closet, I knew I didnʼt want bifold or accordion doors. I wanted the new doors to look sleek and modern while being practical. Traditional doors would take up too much space when opened in the oddly designed kitchen.

I would have loved to order sliding doors from Loweʼs or Home Depot, but IKEAʼs prices canʼt be beat. I measured the space over and over and over again. I consulted IKEAʼs website over and over and over again. I even forced BF to measure the space himself before making the final decision. I traveled to Orlando and brought home two pairs of Pax Lyndgal sliding doors.

BF had experience in assembling these doors. Theyʼre the same doors featured in our master bedroom Pax wardrobes. BF guided me on how to quickly assemble the first door. Before he knew it, I assembled all four doors. This is a BIG deal since Iʼm challenged with written and diagram instructions.

Then came the hour when BF hung the first door. NOOO!!! How was this possible? How could the doors be too short? I was already frustrated with our Christmas sewage problems and now the doors are too short?

I couldnʼt return the doors because IKEAʼs policy states returned items must be UNopened. My thoughts turned to selling the doors on Craigslist. My stomach turned at the thought of losing money, especially since I had to drive to Orlando to buy the doors.

BF quickly sensed my frustration and disappointment. He promised he could make it work.  In order to hang the doors at a lower level, he added a couple of boards.  I was almost in tears when he summoned me to look at his handiwork.

12:00

BF, "When you hear 12:00 a.m., what does that mean?"

TF, "What do you mean?"

BF, "12:00 a.m. Does that mean 12:00 a.m. in the morning or 12:00 p.m. in the afternoon?"

TF, "12:00 am in the morning, right?"

BF, "Thatʼs what I think too."

BF determined a bubble in the toilet water meant we had plumbing issues. At 9:30 p.m. he filed an online complaint on JEAʼs website. JEA quickly replied saying they would respond before “12:00 a.m.”

We both assumed the “a.m.” was a typo. We figured a JEA technician would arrive at our house before 12:00 p.m. the next day. We were wrong.
 

BF fell asleep before I did. I stayed awake to watch the New England Patriots try their best to beat the San Francisco 49ers. As I drifted to an uneasy sleep, I heard a loud “KNOCK - KNOCK - KNOCK” on the front door.

If thereʼs a positive comment I can write about JEA, itʼs that they respond quickly. It was nearly 11:00 p.m. when the JEA technician arrived. I quickly elbowed BF to wake up and loudly said, “Thereʼs someone at the door.”

Next thing we knew, there were three JEA trucks parked outside the house. Not only were there bright yellow flashing lights, the three technicians were forced to yell down the street to hear each other over the noisy equipment. Yikes, I hope they didnʼt wake the neighbors.

We now know there isnʼt a 12:00 am. Thereʼs 12:00 MIDNIGHT and 12:00 NOON. We also know JEA will respond within the time frame they issue.

Jig Brilliance

TF,  "Will you install the kitchen cabinet door handles this weekend?"

BF, "Yup.  Looks like I need to create a jig."

TF, "A jig? Why would you need to use a jig? I didnʼt think you need to worry about right angles."

BF, "Iʼll show you."

When installing multiple door handles, I figured using a level was the most important tool.  I was wrong.  BF nailed leftover wood pieces to create a new jig. After watching him clamp the jig onto the doors, I understood.

The jig creates a perfect template. The jig lines up in the same position on every cabinet. Now I donʼt have to worry about the door handles being crooked.

BF, "Now, do you see the brilliance of the jig?!?!?
TF, "Yeah, yeah. I see its brilliance."

BF, "Come on! Itʼs pretty cool."

TF, "Yeah, yeah."

BF, "Boom! Look at that! Itʼs EVEN sexy!"