7/1/09 Day 3- Yard, Floors, and Locks

I woke up this morning and hurt everywhere. I decided to start raking the yard yesterday and headed over early. Within a few minutes I had to stop and get bug spray because I was being eaten alive by the biggest mosquitoes I've seen in my life. When I got back, there was someone sanding the doorway of my house. As I walked in and started talking to Jimmy, the floor refinishing foreman, I noticed it was Donald!! He offered to help me put on the rest of the locks.

I don't thing he realized how much he was getting himself into. For starters, all of the screws used to install the locks were one way. See the pictures. One way screws can be installed normally however they may not be removed with a screwdriver due to their shape. Also, all new holes needed to be drilled and several old holes needed to be filled. I had no idea there was so much involved in changing locks!

While Donald worked on that I raked. I raked some more. Then I continued raking. I know the couple living there before me did not rake and their grandmother was unable to. Who knows the last time it was done. I raked for about 10 hours and probably filled between 15 and 20 bags. I found a buried brick walkway, several rose bushes, wisteria, a water key, and the cover for a vent along with all sorts of trash. The next door neighbor made the comment that she had never actually seen dirt in the yard before- she had only seen leaves. The difference was pretty amazing if I do say so myself.

Look! Dirt!

The patio actually exists underneath all of the leaves.

You would never believe how deep the leaves were behind this tree.

Check it out, I have an apple (or something) growing.

Donald, being the trouble maker that he is, said that there was a chance there might be wood floors under the layers of old linoleum. We peeked under and he was right! We then began pulling out the disgusting old stove to find pine floors under several layers of other flooring. Thanks to him, I might spend my weekend pulling up the old flooring. :)

I ended the evening with a trip to Home Depot to buy some more supplies. Next on the list is to clean the garage up a bit, clean old cobwebs, and replace some glass panes. After that, reglazing the tub, painting the closets and possibly repainting a few walls. Lots and lots to do.