Weekend (?): Burnout and Back

I was talking to Mom and Dad the other week, they asked me how it was going.  All I could really say was that I was tired.  Well, exhausted really to be more accurate.

I took a few weekends to get away from Maine in late July/early August (the Fair, Atlanta), and the thought of cranking back up at full speed the next weekend was too much.  So I took another weekend off.

So you haven't missed anything, I just haven't done anything.

In order to try to manage my expectations, I'm going to try to not give myself any deadline whatsoever for Maine.  It may take 3 more months, it may take 3 more years.  But hopefully either of those scenarios the work will still be enjoyable.

Even with a totally different set of expectations, I was still having a very difficult time amping myself up to go to work on Maine this past weekend after a full week of real life work.

Enter Corey.

Corey called me and said he had a free weekend to come help on the house.  Whatever I needed.  I thought to myself, "no way I'm turning this offer down, no matter how tired I am."  So Corey said he'd drive over from Fairhope.  I told him I wasn't exactly sure what we'd do, we'll just do whatever we feel like doing on the house and then whatever we feel like around town.

Enter Reid.

Reid called me Friday evening and said "Got a surprise".  Reid was doing an install for some wealthy guy in the CBD last week, and the guy had a 6 ft tall lemon tree and an 8 ft tall key lime tree that he wanted torn out.  So Reid carefully saved them and asked me if I wanted them in my backyard (of course I wanted them).

So the plan was set for Friday.  Project #orchardbeginnings unfolded on Saturday.  This meant going ahead and ripping out most of the old weeds and trees along the fence lines to make way for the trees, and because...well why not--it looked like crap and I'm not on a schedule anymore.

Reid still hasn't revealed a sketch or a master plan for the backyard, but part of it took shape this weekend with the two anchor fruit bearing trees.  And I MAY have heard him discussing with Corey putting MAINE blueberry bushes in between the two trees.......believe that was Corey's idea.  Brilliant.

Corey, Reid:  really appreciate the support.  Thanks for bringing the excitement back.

Key Lime tree going in:

Lemon tree going in:

Backyard brush cleanout going full bore:

Cochon de lait po-boy at Bevi Seafood.  Eat at this place.  You won't regret it:

 Cleanout complete.  Maine #orchard coming into sight:

Lagniappe:

Corey and I got seated late in Shaya without a reservation Saturday night.  Shaya is one of John Besh' new restaurants with a Mediterranean offering.  I've been wanting to try it out.  'Twas excellent and I shall go back.  It's just down the street from Milan, so it's not so bad I guess after all that I'll be Uptown longer than I'd hoped.  Get the falafel, and that wood-fired okra.  mmmm

Weekend #8, #9, #10

Well it's been a minute since I gave an update.  3 main root causes:

1. I was battling back and forth with my electrician (who has since been fired)

2. 4th of July

3. Been spending a lot of time with my NEW electrician (who is awesome) undoing some of the other guy's work.

Over the past 3 weeks, there's been some decent progress:

1. All windows are IN.

2. Plumbing rough-in is ALMOST complete (thanks to my neighbor and master plumber Rusty)

3. Electrical rough-in is FINALLY there...thanks to my new electrician.  Very happy to have divorced my first one, even though it was expensive and cost me time.  

To the PICS:

Me and my neighbor/plumber RUSTY (thanks Madeline for suggesting to take this pic):

This is my life now (insert sad face):

More #valvelyfe (embracing it):

COUSINS VISIT MAINE:

Me, Madeline, and DJ unpacking the most ADORABLE little master bath vanity that came in the mail (more to come on this later):

A FULLY TRIMMED OUT NEW WINDOW:

LAGNIAPPE: Mississippi Family Reunion 

Everybody's #1 Cousin Kate:

Weekend #7: Battle of the Cast Iron Tub (we won)

The bathroom at MAINE had a great run, but it was time.  Time to go.

It was not easy, but this wrecking crew made it a WHOLE lot easier.  Fun times, and we kept the blood loss to under a pint combined (Rachel are you OK??)!  Big BIG thank you to Steve, Katie, Rachel, Amy, Clint, and Collin.  Very impressed by your collective demolition skills.

And then Clint made an officially unofficial sign for the Ochsner Project Management Office new venture:

Thanks again, y'all.  Incredible.

Weekend #6

wiring and closets....... 

TO THE GAME FILM:

Weekend #5

Weekend #5 consisted of:

1. Picked up 5 new windows for MAINE on Friday.  Big upgrade:  Simonton Double Hung Windows
2. Dropped off my vanity work-in-process at Inez' place.  She's gonna start a laboratory to test finishes.  THANK YOU INEZ!  I'm so glad it's out of the house because I would have broken that marble top eventually had it stayed.
3. Bought my first tree ever.  Confession:  I like buying trees (live ones).  I mean I've bought plenty of square dead ones before but buying trees with roots on them while they're still living is cool.  More on the tree later..
4. Planted the tree.
5. Installed the kitchen window.

TO THE TREE:

MOAR tree:

I love the tree.  A lot.  It's an East Palatka Holly.  Great call, Reid.  Thanks again Turner and Sam.

Now that I planted my first tree that I purchased, might as well install my first window that I've ever purchased.  Turner and I studied up (thank God for youtube instructional videos) and we're well prepared with the supplies we needed.  A few prep phone calls with our window consultant @VanHobbs and we were all set.  We used a lot of silicone.   Like a lot.  I mean the more the better amirite?

"Oh Hey Mr. Stockfleth! (Mr. Stockfleth isn't there this is a staged victory photograph)."

Excellent.  Until next time

Weekend #4 LAGNIAPPE

Rant: Lagniappe is such a great word.  People down here in Bangor, ME use it all the time.

Here it is for weekend #4:

"Some Assembly Required".  Gross.  Turner and I battled and finally won.

My barber came back in town.  I don't know why more people don't use this guy:

The day Reid brought a tree back to life:

Amazing people (Inez, Reid, Turner, Van Hobbs (photographer)) + Tank:

Maine Project: Weekend #4

We really snuck up on those GATAHS in Maine Friday evening and got a kickstart to the weekend when one of my favorite landscape architects Reid Stribling took charge of the landscape demolition.  That guy just knows his way around a chainsaw and a plant:

On Saturday we had much going on around the project site and a lot of awesome help.  Reid came back, Turner came back, Dad came back, and my boss Inez joined the fun.  Inez jumpstarted the bathroom vanity project, which was really exciting.  Y'all are awesome: thank you.
LOTS going on:

Who knew that Palm tree could look this good?  I'm telling you that Reid knows his stuff.   It's hard to really even realize what was under there before.  Can't wait to see a similar transformation on the bathroom vanity.  Change is exciting.

 Before/After:

The oak flooring piecing-in FINALLY came to a conclusion this weekend.  That was not easy.  Turner gets the patience and master craftsman award.  Oh and we literally had zero material left after we finished.  Swish.

The rain hit us off and on all weekend which was annoying, but we were able to rough-out the new kitchen window and semi-rain proof it for the time being.  So a little progress on the windows:

On one of our rain delays we decided to go to Lowe's to make a lifelong dream come true.  My first table saw:

And yes we DID get a lot of looks in the Lowe's parking lot as this went down.  Literally a dream come true though.  This joins my other dream come true (the miter saw) that I got on Friday.  Both are as blissful to operate as expected.  Turner/Dad can confirm.

Until next time!