Wednesday’s We Got it Done

We babysat a very smiley and cooing 3 month old while our son had a physical therapy session and pup behaved quite well by hanging out near her and not jumping or trying to lick her constantly. The rest of the week he wasn’t so well behaved though.

Tried a new recipe for blueberry muffins but then went for coffee with son & grandbaby since he called right as they came out of the oven and I do enjoy a nice visit with a son.

Hubby and I both dug things up doing some yard work using muscles that could be stronger! Counts as decluttering the yard perhaps?

Posted 4 more items on Buy Nothing that were all claimed plus some other things posted a week ago were too. I took 3 odd things no one wanted to the city recycling center near us that accepts so very many different types of things. More time in the garage produced more things to let go of next week but slowly it is getting down to just what we will use.

Wednesday’s we got it done list

Still working on move and home purchase things even though it has almost been 2 months in this house.

- Made an ophthalmologist appointment using the referral from my previous doctor. I have dry macular degeneration and need a retinal specialist who can do micro pulse laser therapy. Have to go to Oakland but that is ok.

- Fixed my Medicare log in problem (they have the best customer service!) and selected electronic delivery of statements and the annual handbook. Trying to reduce our recycling.

- Booked the pup with a different groomer recommended by a neighbor. They are so booked that he is going to be one hairy dog by the appointment though. We will be asking to be put on the wait list for an earlier appointment.

- Over the holiday weekend I posted 27 items/groups of items on Buy Nothing as an attempt to finish clearing out the garage (now that we know what we won’t use here) so we can organize what we are keeping in it! “Gifted” 19 by Tuesday evening. One more will go in the recycling bin and two to the community sharing shed at the recycling center so just 6 remaining from this batch. I’ll list more for this weekend.

Things that were taken ranged from a CD player, lots of CDs, speakers and a stereo receiver to used Kong dog balls, a craft kit, empty boxes and sheet protectors! Through the process I met a nice woman who invited me and the pup over for a dog play date. I will shamelessly use him to make friends lol.

The converted garage storage/laundry room is looking much better though there is more left to remove. Right after we moved it was full of boxes and other items so lots of progress! And yes, that is our mail slot in the former garage front and the dog’s little toy lamb on the drying rack after getting a bath lol.

Wednesday’s we got it done list

 Sometimes it is the little things getting done -

1. A painting my Mom did was hung over my dresser by Hubby.

2. I decided to let the CD player, receiver, speakers and most of the CDs go (after noticing that the radio we have had for years and keep in the kitchen will play one CD at a time LOL). That means 3 boxes of stuff can be removed from the garage eventually through the Buy Nothing group. Also giving away some hangers.

3. Earthquake latches were installed on kitchen cupboards by Hubby to reduce broken glass and dishes when we have the inevitable earthquake. They latch the cupboard door shut when there is a good shaker. He also hung another of my drawings in the kitchen.

4. Speaking of earthquakes, we had Quake Busters, an earthquake retrofit company, come by to discuss what we need to do to strengthen this old house. Good news is that there are some positives in how the house was strengthened when the 2nd story was added to half the house.

5. The upstairs shower stall is now usable as a back up. Hubby finished all the caulking of the shower and floor. We have extra towels and a bath mat. The shower opening is not standard but we found a shower curtain that will work. We also decided to hang one of the items from our picture & mirror collection as decor. Now to find a bathroom bench with storage underneath, towel hooks for the back of the door, and some kind of in shower toiletries holder that fits.

6. Took one of the dog gates stored in our garage to our son’s for use to block the entrance to their front porch. Our pup ran out their front door last week to race up and down the street before Hubby caught him. Since he doesn’t listen as well as he could yet (still?) our son suggested a second line of defense on the porch which will also help when the baby gets mobile. The other gate will stay here to block the bottom of our stairs for baby protection in the future.

Wednesday’s we got it done list

Decisions, decisions, decisions - a big one was made when we realized we basically have to start over in our backyard although we may be able to use some of the plants by moving them. Have identified two possible landscape designers and on Mother’s Day my DIL gave me some ideas for kid fun friendly features.

Dog got his needed vaccines and we established a vet that I feel good about. I sent in the form for his new license. His only reaction to the vaccines was taking more naps that day thank goodness. I’m so conditioned to my prior chronically ill dog that each more normal reaction to things is lovely.

We were shocked to learn that the provider group here after Kaiser does not accept Medicare patients. We will probably change to Kaiser at the next open enrollment but after spending about 3 hours at it I was able to find a doctor in the Stanford Health network and get an appointment so I can continue my prescriptions. We haven’t yet found an urgent care facility or emergency care though. Scary.

It was easy for me to walk to the library and back which was a goal for this month and since it is a pleasant walk I’ll keep doing it to build up my endurance.

Our first full month gas and electric bill was quite reasonable despite running the heat often. Turns out Hubby also expected it to be much higher. The water and sewer bill was about what we expected.

And I met a very nice and friendly women of similar age who lives about two blocks away.

Wednesday’s we got it done list

Another week of progress in tiny steps - 

Best news was that we got our $4,500 required deposit back from the utility company after we provided proof that we had the sewer lateral replaced. I quickly did a mobile deposit of the check. They were efficient about sending our money back.

Hubby added grout to a big gap in the shower tile in the 1960’s upstairs bathroom. He’s got more repairs to make before it is our backup shower. The downstairs bathroom was completely redone but still needs a few tweaks by a plumber and that is on the list.

I gave away the microwave that came with the house. I have a lot of other small things to offer but need to sort out the garage storage first plus a few other things in the house.

I figured out how to alter a nice short sleeve top so it will be more flattering. Haven’t done it yet though.

Got my second multi-variant Covid booster and a couple of hours later took a long nap. The next day I took several naps but feeling tired and having a sore arm were the only side effects. We still haven’t had Covid but if we do I hope it is less serious due to all of our vaccines. Protecting that little grand baby too. 

I just found a website where you can see Covid wastewater tracking trends for your county if they track and report it. The trend is slightly upward here but lots a people wear masks still and I do too.

Wednesday’s we got it done list

Our fun, sculptural coat “tree” arrived and is in place as you enter the front door along with one of our favorite decorative mirrors. Another storage problem solved. This area was originally a coat closet it seems. Whomever decided to remove the coat and the linen closets from this house wasn’t very practical!

The living room and entry are done for now with one of my paintings hung as the last piece plus the two pieces we already had up. My older son made the dolphin sculpture back in wood shop - middle school perhaps.

I finished weeding the entire yard which made me even more determined to get it landscaped differently!

We filed the forms for property tax reductions (homeowners exemption and Proposition 19 tax basis transfer) and Hubby drove to Martinez to hand deliver them to the assessor's office to ensure they were completed correctly and received. They said it is taking about 6 months to process things, but we will get a refund eventually if we have to pay taxes before it is all applied.

I picked a hair salon to try. Fingers crossed. Appointment is Friday.

Also made an appointment for another Covid booster. Made sure I gave myself time to deal with the side effects.

We met with an electrician yesterday to go over the issues listed in the seller’s inspection report and additional things we have identified as concerns. He had some good solutions to a couple of odd things that have been done to the house. Now we wait for the estimate and a date for the work to be done. Onward to plumbing and addressing the termite inspection. Hubby is not getting his calls for earthquake retrofit bids returned so far.

Our son gave us another business name to contact for the earthquake retrofit bid. We want to at least have two firms meet with us but also want to get on with it.

I followed the directions for cleaning our pretty new engineered wood floors although I just did the kitchen and dining room to start. Figured out how to get dark sticky stuff off in the dining room(from shoes tracking something or remodeling material?) and now just have to do the rest.

Wednesday’s we got it done list

More progress!

Had hole in carpet caused by dog's chew bone snagging the loops repaired (chew bone is now banished!)

Removed tree too near to house and neighbors line of trees were cut back from our roof to meet insurer requirement

Block styrofoam from flat pack furniture purchase taken to HHW day at recycling center

Important address changes done

More moving supplies given away through Buy Nothing Group

All cardboard not wanted by Buy Nothing Group members was cut up and taken to recycling center

Rearranged garage so that we can finish unpacking and decide what to do with what is left

Made a big pot of green lentil and veggie soup and froze some for later

Checked out the fancier of the two nearby weekly farmer’s markets and got loose carrots, Brussel sprouts, empanadas, fancy Brie, and some really good looking tomatoes and enjoyed the live music for a while.

Compared grocery and household supplies prices across stores. It works out best to buy as much as possible at Trader Joe’s, fill in mostly household stuff at Target and get a few things at Grocery Outlet. Lowest price gas is near Trader Joe’s which is convenient.

Booked an electrician to come evaluate what needs doing - sub panels, outlets and who knows what the rest does!

Filled out the California Prop 19 property tax basis transfer form to reduce the taxable value of our new home a bit

Photographed and identified plants in yard that we are considering keeping. Part of prep for reworking front and back yards. Found a source of landscape designers focused on native plants/low water use landscape design. Did a lot of weeding which increased my resolve to re-landscape!

Did laundry and tried out an indoor drying rack I got from Buy Nothing. It really simplified the task to fit this house so I’m happy and I didn’t spend $ buying one.

Hubby pulled all the nails left in the walls by the seller, filled the holes and then painted in prep for hanging our artwork. He hung two large pieces in the living room so far. All our artwork is unpacked and laid out so we can “shop” for decorating each room. 

Wednesday’s we got it done list

 Still lots to do but we have checked these things off the to do list:

- Found a vet and scheduled pup’s soon needed vaccinations. Identified vet urgent care and emergency facilities nearby. Now to find the same for us lol.

- Dressers purchased and put together. Helped our storage needs a lot but still more solutions need to be figured out.

- Lowest cost nearby gas station found plus best lower cost grocery stores.

- Hired company to deal with branches touching roof/structure to meet insurance inspector requirements. Hired handyman to put chimney cap back in place. Not sure if it was high winds or an animal that took it off but it is on the roof not the chimney.

- emailed 3 electricians including referral by neighbor, one from son and one from realtor. Hopefully one will respond although everyone seems really booked up.

- Hubby went to the DMV office and got our car tags although now if the main office processes our mailed renewal we will have paid twice

- Got a library card!

- Got a folding drying rack and an East Bay plant guide from Buy Nothing group.

- Got maps for nearby hillside natural area trails and UC Berkeley botanical garden. Hubby walked a short way on one trail. 🐶 gets to go soon.

- Gave away all moving supplies that were ready to go plus some items found in the house that we don’t want. Recycled other things or took to household hazardous waste site. Keeping up as we have things to get out of the house and I am rather desperate to organize storage for the garage so it becomes a more useable laundry and workshop space. Feeling frustrated about storage space right now.