Since I closed on my new home—it’s been an adventure! To say the least. I’ve been working my butt off during this HOTMO summer. It’s been in the 90s for weeks on end. I’d get up between 5:30 AM & 6:00 AM; feed the cats, make coffee, and try to tackle jobs in the yard before 11:00 AM when the temp started to climb. Whether it was just cutting the lawn, digging, planting, decorating, feeding the birds, & so on …
It’s a lot to take on for this 65 year old body. But I do as much as I humanly can in the cooler parts of the day, shower, rest, hydrate, and post about my accomplishments—in & around my new home.
Seems the only way I’ve had time to document the go go goings on here were via Instagram & Facebook posts. This is my attempt to put them chronologically in one place; rather than write a new blog post. Not being lazy. It takes a lot of HTML coding to copy, paste, and format the Facebook posts in my WordPress blog. Anywho … here we go go go.
July 4, 2022 @ 2:39 PM
INMO: July 4, 2021
🧨💥🧨💥🧨💥🧨
Happy 4th of July!!!
🧨💥🧨💥🧨💥🧨
What in the world is Joe doing on this 4th of July?
Um … waiting on a locksmith to get my jammed key out of my front door deadbolt & get me back into my house on this 95° 4th. And then paying said locksmith $500 for his July 4th visit & installation of a new deadbolt. Yippee!!!!
So you said you wanted to be a homeowner?
🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
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July 9, 2022 @ 7:04 PM
Before & After
July 10, 2022 @ 10:03 AM
Hydrangeas & Memories
Did a little hydrangea pruning this morning while it was cool out. I ❤️ this antique vase which I think belonged to my great Aunt Josie: the woman that raised my mom in Linden, NJ, on Curtis St … where I was raised.
It’s the first time I’ve actually USED this vase for flowers. 👍
Funny how something as innocent as a vase full of flowers can be imbued with so many wonderful memories. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
noplacelikehome #home #MO #missouri #independence #harvardave #englewood #flowers #pruning #garden #gardening #hydrangea #joPhoto
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July 11, 2022 @ 11:07 AM
It’s Official
It’s official! I’m a Missouri resident. Got my MO license (ugly photo and all!), registration & new plates. They’re good for 2 years & I don’t need to deal with the MO DMV until next renewal. 👍
#noplacelikehome #home #MO #missouri #independence #harvardave #englewood #dmv #driverlicense #carregistration #joPhoto
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July 15, 2022 @ 3:42 PM
It’s Too Hot!!!
OMFG!!! A 100° kind of day! 
Got the central air crankin’ and the kitties and I are some cool cool cats. 
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July 16, 2022 @ 5:29 PM
It’s Curtains For Me
Today’s project: trimming curtains getting ready to hem on my sewing machine. Cotton curtains are a breeze. The poly black out bedroom curtains are a little trickier, but getting done. Trying to iron a crisp seam in 100% recycled poly is a challenge! To say the least. But I’m up for it & getting it done. 👍
I’m a man of many talents. 😝
The boys were daddy’s little helpers today. Rocco was so tired he had to take a break. Poor guy. ❤️❤️❤️
July 17, 2022 @ 8:23 PM
This Place Is For The Birds
This place is for the birds (& the🐝🐝🐝)!
Hung 2 bird houses today and planted a white hydrangea on “the hill”. Will be nice to see the hydrangea from the dining room windows. 👍
Started digging the hole this morning when it was a tad cooler. Used my eGo string trimmer to scalp the grass & weeds. Dug a huge deep hole & planted the hydrangea. It should fill that entire cleared area in the coming years. Tomorrow I’ll try to till the soil around the plant and mix in peat moss & top soil to help with drainage. Then cover with weed barrier cloth & lots of mulch.
The orange & black (Linden HS colors) bird house I found at my Mom’s place when I was emptying the house. It was stuffed in a box in the eves. I LOVED it right away! Clean. Simple. Bright. It came with me. The other striped one I bought at the nursery I got the hydrangea at. I have 3 more bird houses I loved on Etsy on their way too. Why not!
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July 18, 2022 @ 9:12 AM
Hydrangea Hill
Over the past 3 cooler early mornings I cleared an 8 ft swath of my “hill” which runs the depth of my property with my lovely eGo string trimmer. I dug a super deep & wide hole in the clay soil & removed it. Then I filled the hole with a top soil & peat moss combo for better drainage & planted the white hydrangea.
This morning (7:00 AM-ish) I started tilling the soil around the hydrangea to about 10″ deep then folded in a lot more peat moss to try to help with surrounding drainage. The ground on my property is just clay, clay, and more clay … and let’s not forget lots-o-rocks. 😆
Once done, covered the area with weed cloth, staked it properly, then added 4 bags of mulch, spread, & watered.
Looks a little lonely … may have to get a few more strategically placed along the hill. 👍😎👍
Another job DONE! Neeeeeeeext!
#gardening #garden #gardeninglife #hydrangea
July 19, 2022 @ 11:14 AM
It Has Begun
It has begun! The rising. The house raising. The replacement of the termite eaten main floor beam & some joists in my 112 year old home.
The photos show the joist supports in place in my basement. They have already raised the floor a tiny bit from the get go. They will raise the floor 3 inches total. That may not seem like a lot, but with walls and floors all attached and stationary, walls & floors may start to crack, buckle, & tiles in the bathroom may pop off walls. All kinds of fun stuff!
But it needs doing. The previous owner & their realtor tried to hide the issue. But for my own safety this is major & needed to be repaired to help feel safe in my new home.
The cats said it needed to be done too! 😼😼😼
Who am I to argue. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
#homerepair #homerepairs #supportbeam #floorsupport #floor #floors #floorwork @roccoandrudie
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July 20, 2022 @ 10:11 AM
The Boys Are Back In Town
July 21, 2022 @ 9:46 AM
Pile-o-Junk
Another day. Another early morning task ☑️ finished before it gets to be 98° today. 🥵
Paid a local couple to haul away the massive mound of tree branches/limbs I cut down weeks ago. Was going to have it chipped and use it for mulch …. but not enough energy. Was easier to have someone bring it to be mulched/recycled elsewhere.
Got up this morning weed-whacked all the tall grass, cleared and raked the remaining debris, then added it to MY mulch pile out back.
I tossed out red clover seed on the bare ground, covered it with peat moss & watered. Soon enough I’ll have a patch of red clover for the pollinators to feast on. 🐝 🐝 🐝
Also while pruning the rose bush I found three things: spider mites, a Japanese Beetle 🪲 , and a groovy praying mantis. Awesome… on the last one. I trimmed off the mites, and “disposed” of the beetle. Bug-bye! 👋
And now I’m composing this, resting, & drinking coffee on my front porch.
Oh … my 2 new groovy bird houses from Etsy showed up yesterday. Me likey! 😍😍😍
#gardening #garden #redclover #prayingmantis #birdhouse #birdhouses #joPhoto @roccoandrudie
July 21, 2022 @ 6:13 PM
Beam me up Scottie!
Beam me up Scottie! The beam replacement is moving along. They are half way through & the job will probably stretch to Saturday … which is fine by me! I’d rather they take their time & do it right.
I can already feel how much more firm the floor feels in the half of the house the new beam has been installed. It will probably be more so when the joists get tied into the new beam. 👍
Looking at what remains of the beams the owner covered over, it’s a miracle the floor & house stood at all! Wow!
There’s one photo of a termite eaten beam where it looks like the fat bristles of a broom. That’s just nuts! So much destruction!
The new triple width beam(s) look so good & so different! Can’t wait for the whole thing to be done.
There has already been some minor plaster cracking here and there. Nothing earthshaking, until you get to the kitchen at the back of the house. The kitchen floor is more “wavy” than it was. Some of that may straighten out once the new beam(s) go in & the floor is raised or lowered to its final “resting place”.
Guess we’ll see.
Poor Rocco … he hides under the kitchen sink from all the tool & banging noises. I’ve removed the garbage can to give him space & put a folded bath towel in there so he can stretch out & be a little less stressed. He stays in there with the door closed & he’s fine.
July 22, 2022 @ 12:23 PM
New LG Washer/Dryer Stack
Ooooooooooow how purdy!
My new LG washer/dryer stack finally got delivered! No more #laundromat! Woot!
Was waiting for the floor beam to get done. But close enough. lol
Called the plumber this morning to get a date to run gas, water, vent & electric into the closet where this baby will reside. No way would I deal with having to go outside to get into my basement to do laundry. With Midwest weather … not a chance!
I lose a closet but gain a washer/dryer upstairs. A no-brainer for me. 
wash #washer #dryer #laundry #laundryroom #cleanclothes #happydance
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July 23, 2022 @ 3:55 PM
Main Beam: $6,500 later …. it’s done.
$6,500 later …. it’s done. It all looks so pretty, new, and SOLID!New beams all glued, screwed, lag bolted & supported with new steel adjustable supports. And the joist hangers are a sturdy sight to behold. 😍😍😍The only thing remaining is for them to come back Monday & tack down all the loose electrical wiring that use to go through the main beam. If I later decide to have an electrician come in drill & and re-pull the wire I’ll do that. For now the important piece is complete and my floors feel stable. And there was a minimum of cracking upstairs. Even better!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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