The nightmare goes on…

The Katrina nightmare will never end for so many of us here on the Gulf Coast. I consider my ongoing Katrina problems a piece of cake compared to so many others here. At least 6 of my neighbors have found out they have Chinese drywall installed in their Katrina flooded homes. When everyone was just starting to rebuild here, because the entire region was devastated and wiped out, supplies were far and few to be found. So guess where most everyone’s sheetrock or drywall came from….yep, China. Good friend’s of ours have to file bankruptcy, walk away from their Chinese dry walled home, and start over with nothing but their lives. They put their life savings into rebuilding their home after Katrina. This past year after all their appliances started exploding, they investigated. Chinese drywall was the culprit, it erodes all the electrical wiring and appliances in the house. Everything in one’s home begins to smell like to rotten eggs (sulfur) and is no longer able to be salvaged. Not to mention the serious health effects that can be incurred if you live in a home with Chinese drywall. There are many law suits pending but for now there is little hope available for people that have to move out of their homes because of this issue. 4 of my neighbors have moved out, left their homes, who knows what will happen to these homes and my neighbors.

I pray every day that we don’t have Chinese drywall. I consider us lucky that we don’t, so far. We do have a myriad of other Katrina related problems due to faulty workmanship, rip-off artists, and unscrupulous subcontractors as we were so desperate to rebuild and get back home. This is our biggest issue and project #1. We have hired the PREMIER custom home builder on the Coast and are willing to pay more so that HE deals with the subcontractors, not me. And, yes, he started today, a week before Christmas. But I’m feeling lucky and blessed and promise to roll with it. My husband has been after me for 4 years now to get all this fixed. I just couldn’t deal with having workers in and out of my house. Until now. The week before Christmas. UGHH!

WARNING: These are NOT pretty pictures, so turn away now if you have a weak tummy!

I’ll be showing the progress of big issue #1: Our Master Bath shower:

All this was brand new, installed after Katrina. Almost lovely until you look closely at the details. The grout or lack of, was not applied correctly. The step-up that the glass frame and door sits on should have been beveled. It also was incorrectly grouted.

The shower seat as well, should have had some type of beveled edge, the grout is nasty and falling apart. You can see mold everywhere as the grout issue allows water to seep in.

See the hole right in front of the glass below? One of the many OOPS! And the nasty, falling off grout? I want gross you out anymore, I sure ya’ll get my point.

8:00am this morning, the glass surround and door was up.

A few minutes later, the glass company arrived to take it down. Assuming it would be an hour project. HA! 6 hours later, blow torches, screws sawed off and broken glass I now have this:

This is what should remain, ready for the granite guy to come in and start ripping up tiles. And the granite guy is Brazilian and really cute. Supposed to be the best around. I feel blessed. I wonder if he’ll let me take his picture?

No, really, I do count my blessings. We don’t have Chinese drywall.

ooh, ooh that smell, can’t you smell that smell…

On occasion, depending on the winds, we can smell oil here in Diamondhead, MS. Keep in mind the weather here has been horrible for the last 4 days. No oil yet on our beaches, but we can smell it.

Please fly away, you sweet Least Terns, please fly away! This picture was taken yesterday, off the beachfront in Bay St Louis on a drive-out fishing pier. The innocent Least Terns are so used to sharing their nesting spots with humans that they don’t even fly away when cars or people come close to them. The Least Terns have protected nesting beds all along our 27 mile beach coastline here in Mississippi. Sadly, this is their nesting season. You can just imagine what might happen to them.

I want to introduce you you to these amazing blogs that here in this region. These girls share the same fears that we all do on the entire Gulf Coast.

Bumpkin on a Swing and her Captain John are Mississippi neighbors here that are trying to help in every way possible. This blog is amazing and a must read for up-date info in our local area. Bumpkin is Worried Sick right now.

NOLA GIRL wrote an amazing post so eloquently and factual. She says all the things I wish I could say, but I break down and cry in trying to do so. Please read her amazing post: Feeling Helpless but not hopeless.

As for me, I’m signing up for some of the classes being offered to assist in the clean-up. I am quite depressed but realize I need to do something to help and keep busy. This is pretty much the attitude of my all Mississippi neighbors that pulled through Katrina. We blame no one (our entire country is oil dependent, so the blame is on all of us)... do not blame or diss any one entity. Spend your thoughts on what you can do to help us here in the Gulf Coast Region.

Katrina was a natural disaster... this oil spill is a man made disaster. We residents know the first response is up to the locals and the citizens. NOT THE GOVERNMENT. We realize we have to rise up and help our community and ourselves. Does the rest of our great country understand this attitude?

And we wait…

For the second day in a row, the skies are heavy and oppressive, as if the oil slick has been dumped overhead. It is windy, warm, and humid…almost difficult to breathe out of doors. I had prayed that 2010 would not present any misfortunes but it looks like we all on the Gulf Coast will be expecting the worst man made national disaster. After going through the worst natural national disaster. The Coast Guard planes have been flying low over my house all this week. Our local shopping spots are full of Coast Guard and the National Guard are now starting to show up. Gives me Katrina flashbacks.

The waiting is just like waiting for a hurricane. You know it’s coming, it will hit somewhere. You secretly “wish cast” it to another area, feeling a little guilty about doing so. This morning I heard a reporter from Louisiana wish cast the oil to us in Mississippi. His theory was the oil will be easier to clean up from the beach then it would be to clean from the estuaries. I suppose this is true.

I’m headed down to the beach to see what is going on. There’s this page on Face book that has great info about volunteering. Apparently we have to be trained as the oil is dangerous. I’m signing up to do whatever I can. The waiting is really getting to us all…

Old Chest is a survivor

Joining Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday and My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

I found this old chest 25 years ago at a flea market shop, back when my local area had great flea markets. Not sure how old she is but the way she is made indicates it could be 100 years old. She had a few imperfections when I bought her but I just fell in love with her.

This is how we found her the day after Katrina. The tidal wave of water swept right through the house, tipping things over, leaving whole leaves….see the one stuck on the wall, others on the floor. Very strange. Fortunately, this chest did not swell, I don’t think we had anything in the bottom drawers. She survived Katrina.

Here she is today, I did not have any repairs done to her.

Her drawers are a little off, the furniture repair man wants to fix her.

See the spilt down the side?

The locks on the inside of the drawers, the round button type thing is the knob attachment. This drawer holds winter hats and gloves.

I’m proud of this ole gal, she is a survivor.

I think I’ll leave her just like she is.

Her scars add to her charm and character, kind of like me!

MY DEAR MAMIE

My beloved friend and across the street neighbor died in the early hours of Sunday morning. It was expected as she battled terminal cancer for 21 years. I was was one of the 6 woman pall bearers, Mamie’s choice. Girlfriend pall bearers was definitely “ a spunky Mamie thing”. After the funeral and burial, I hosted all family and friends here at my home. My gift to Mamie, her sweet husband, and their family. This was one less worry for the family and it filled my heart with joy to do so. This is the arrangement I put together that sat on my dining table with my food this Tuesday as we remembered our dear Mamie.

Mamie’s life story is incredible. She was a championship golfer, a fierce and successful business woman, and a fighter. She never gave up, ever! She taught me so much.

Mamie refused to evacuate prior to Katrina, even though we begged them to come with us. Mamie wouldn’t leave her daughter and granddaughter that live around the corner. Mamie’s daughter is paralyzed from the waist down. This happened many years ago, in a large city in Louisiana. Mamie’s daughter,at the age of 16, was shot by an intruder breaking into their home. Years of surgeries and worries filled Mamie’s life over her daughter’s health.

The morning of Katrina, Mamie and her husband tried to swim down the street to get to daughter’s house. Mamie & hubby had to be rescued by other neighbors when the rushing tidal surge swept them away. Meanwhile daughter, granddaughter and a few other neighbors climbed into daughter's attic and prayed the water wouldn’t come any higher. How they managed to hoist Mamie’s daughter into the attic is a feat we all marvel at still today. They all survived.

In the 3 year aftermath of Katrina, Mamie and I sought and found comfort in each other’s arms. It was the comfort and understanding that bonds women friends together. Our husbands moved on much easier, they could never understand why we still had that vacant look in our eyes and lost our zest for life. But we did get our joie de vivre back. Mamie made sure of that!

Mamie outlived her terminal cancer diagnosis for 21 years, much to the surprise of the doctors at MD Anderson. Mamie always said this was God’s choice. God knew she needed to be here for her daughter. We know it was a “Mamie” thing also!

I love you and miss you Mamie! I know you are at peace in heaven and still taking care of us from above.

The travels and metamorphosis of a Trumeau mirror

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is hosting a thrifty party.

Today I decided to take a break from sewing slipcovers and look at some other projects. It seems every room in my home is undergoing some degree of metamorphosis. So I joined the Metamorphosis Monday Party a Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

I actually found the disc of pictures that I managed to snap before we evacuated for Katrina. It is amazing to look back at these. Here is a picture, circa August 2005 of 2 of my favorite pieces. This is a Trumeau mirror over the Drexel Heritage chest that held all my undies. The chest flooded and swelled, the drawers could not be opened. Consequently I lost all my underwear and my favorite chest. The mirror was fine. I have no clue what happened to the swags and jabots. They were lovely, the front was a silk.... tiny peach and white check, lined with a soft grey damask the matched the grey on the walls. We likely threw them out in the trash pile. Yes, I have ALWAYS sewn for my home. I actually made my first all white sofa slipcover 26 years ago.

When daughter moved to Shreveport in 2007, I gave her the mirror. As many of you know, she and husband are now living at Walter Reed indefinitely. I packed up all their belongs in Shreveport, moved them back here to store. I decided to repurpose my old mirror to a guest bedroom that I’m in the process of metamorphasizing. Is this a word?

A little worn for all it’s travels and trauma….

But still lovely with lots of relief details…

the beginning of whitewashing…

I have a great project planned to make a table to go underneath it…hope to get working on it soon

Be sure to check out Susan’s party.

Pricing MY $pace

Make sure to check out the party here

I’m a little late to the party, but decided to try some pricing Nester style. This is is sure a lesson in reminiscing the years! Lots of things were brought many years ago,

survived Katrina, and are still well loved. The newer items cost a little more then the items they replaced. We felt fortunate just to be able to find furniture, had to go to Mobile for most of it.

A Bought the entertainment online, $1200 plus shipping. It was a hubby compromise, as he wanted that way too big TV. I figured if I had to have it in living room, it needed to sit in something pleasing to me.

That sweet little table was a $10 flea find many years ago. Had it refinished after Katrina. Leather Louis chair I got for $150 on sale at Bronstein’s in Mobile

C My favorite chair, Drexel Heritage, $600….when Bronstein’s had a tent sale

Letter D here if for the table, there’s a similar one on other side of sofa. These were steals at Hudson's salvage center about 24 years ago, both for $100. They are slightly Chippendale style, they need to be refinished as they have Katrina water damage on legs.

E Hubby’s leather sofa came from Bronstein’s also, $1500.

My favorite tufted chair. I paid $50 for it from a neighbor that was moving about 22 years ago. It is made by Drexel so it was a steal. I had it recovered before Katrina, then when all my 7 wing chairs were stolen, I pulled this back into house much to hubby’s dismay. It dried out fine, had it reupholstered, and looks great. Wished I had pulled all those other chairs in.

G Had this chair made custom at a North Carolina factory that has since shut down, Hunt Galleries. I bought the silk material on sale for 3 chairs for about $100, this chair and the other 2, letter I, below, ran around $700 with freight.

H little table was $50

My favorite chest, J, was $200 from a antique store many years ago. It wears the years well.

Sorry for these 2 fuzzy pictures, all items on mantel were gifts.

My Chinese rug was purchased 25 years ago, $1000, it too bears the scars of the years, coffee table was $200

I didn’t price the lamps, pictures, etc. No way can I remember what most of them cost. And I still need to do my Lampapalooza post!

My top before and after projects for 2008

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is hosting a great party today. Top 10 before and after projects for 2008. At first when I saw she was hosting this before and after show, I thought I really didn't have any eye candy to add. Rhoda and so many other creative bloggers come up with projects that knock my socks off. I went through my blog, and realized I actually accomplished quite a lot. My biggest project for 2008 was of course THE WEDDING, which took all my time for the first 6 months in 2008. So I am glad to say that, Rhoda, you made me realize what I did get done this year. Thank you for this great exercise in self reflection. You've inspired me to do so much more for 2009! * A LITTLE REORGANIZING*

In March, I realized how messy all my cabinets and closets were. I still had tons of things in boxes from moving back into house after Katrina. Hubby and I would suddenly remember something we hadn't seen in 2 years but couldn't find it. I started organizing, still have lots more to do.

Master bath closet before. I was brave enough to show my messiness for the first time for all the world to see.

during:

Bath closet after. Actually to this day, it still looks like this with the exception of a few items that I use constantly sitting on shelf in full view. Now, don't ask me what's in most of the boxes. Out of sight, out of mind and totally forgotten.

Bedroom armoire. I didn't take the messy before picture of this armoire below, believe me, it was a mess. Sweaters, some of daughter's things, hubby's junk that he brings home from work, and lots of junk stashed in a hurry to hide it when company came.

armoire after: I organized everything by person or type of thing. See the big box on the middle shelf? That's my UNDIES EVACUATION box!

*A WHOLE LOT OF PAINTING*

Once the wedding was over and I had time to decompress, I got busy. All of July I painted rooms. I did this repainting for 2 reasons. First, I needed to go with slightly lighter shade in a lot of the rooms. Second, someone had to fix all the mistakes from the Bad Sheet rock floaters, Painting crew #1 and Painting crew #2 that did terrible things during our Katrina remodel. I couldn't stand to have Painting crew #3 come in here, make a huge mess and possibly rip us off yet again. Much to my husband's protests, I did the labor.

Dining room before:

Dining room after:

Not sold on this color hence I never proceeded with window treatments. I now have a new color in mind... one of many projects for 2009.

Foyer before:

Foyer after in the new Interactive Cream shade:

Daughter's room before in SW Dromedary Camel:

Daughter's room after in SW Interactive Cream:

Son's room before in SW Dromadary Camel:

After in SW Interactive Cream:

Bath # 2: remember this mess? I sanded for 2 weeks

Bath # 2 after. Yea, finally some pictures never seen before!

See the ugly metal 1990's shower fixtures, handles, shower head, etc? Got the oil rubbed bronze stuff to replace them, just waiting on Mr. Plumber # 1, then Mr. Plumber # 2 that hunts more then he works. I may need to find Mr. Plumber # 3....
No, husband can not do such things. The older he gets, the less he'll agree to do. You'll read why shortly.

Bath # 3 before:

Bath #3 after:

In all I sanded and repainted 2 baths, 2 bedrooms, the hall, the dining room, and a TV/Study. But before you think I'm a painting diva, alas I've yet to finish all the wood trim in some of these rooms. I put that paint away at the end of August when we had to evacuate for Gustav. Yet to bring it back out.

*OIL RUBBED BRONZE HARDWARE*

Slowly in the last 3 years I've replaced all ugly 1990's brass hardware and fixtures. I don't have a before picture of these. I, all by my Lamp Tramp self replaced all 19 door handles and and 6 deadbolts. It was easy to do but cost consuming. I spread the cost out over July, August, and September this year and prayed no one would notice that I hadn't finished buying all the handles. I have 2 shiny brass light fixtures left and the nasty, lime stained shower fixtures in bath # 2 and #3 left to do. By the time I finish, there will likely be something newer and better out there on the market that I will covet. This is a great picture below to see a few door knobs all at once.

*THE DREADED 17 FOOT LONG CURTAIN ROD* or my husband has a temper and hates to do projects

This is likely the biggest accomplishment of all since I had to rely on hubby's help. How to make or buy a 17 foot long curtain pole is a major undertaking, if one were to enlist my spouse. First we argued over what to use: copper piping, metal pipe, PVC, or wood. That took a week. We, actually, he settled on wood. Then he took 3 weeks to find the center point for each of the 2 dowels to drill the hole, to put the screw pin in. Another 2 weeks for him to put 17 ft pole together. Then 2 days of him cussing, yelling, bitching, and moaning just to put the 4 brackets up. He is too precise when doing these things, hence I rarely ask for his help.

The curtain panels were lined and stitched for 2 months (by me) waiting for a pole to hang on.

Now this whole project came about since I wanted to reuse these 2 puffy window treatments that I didn't know what to do with. I sold hubby on doing the 17 ft pole project cuz that would be the only cost! HA!

I love the way it turned out despite all the agony I endured to get there. I don't dare tell him that the silk material has sun fade spots from their previous life. Therefore, I'm not happy. My plan is to find new material, sew new drapes, and get them up there without him knowing. I am happy with his pole, however!

See the sun spots below? I pinned the fringe on so I can reuse it on my new drapes. At least hubby's part is done.

*METAMORPHOSIS OF A KITCHEN HUTCH*

This is how my hutch looked in early 2008. Then Nester had this P.O.O.P.I.E. party which shamed me into getting rid of some stuff.

So then I did this but soon decided I was not happy with it:

Then after Christmas I did this. It makes me smile every time I walk into my kitchen. We all need stuff that makes us smile!

So, thats my project accomplishments for 2008. Thanks for taking time to look at them and please critique me in any way. I often don't see my mistakes while I live with them. Sometimes when I post pictures, I'm aghast and wonder what was I thinking?

Looking forward to seeing all your great projects. Remember to check out Rhoda's party if you haven't yet.

Thanks, Rhoda, this was inspiring. Boy, do I have a list for 2009 projects. I need to write them down and post them so ya'll can keep me on task!

Lamp Tramp