Tuesday, October 9, 2012

On of those projects I seem to constantly be involved in.

Let me take care of this up front: A) Yes, there's already a sump pump. And B) Unless you are offering to pay for it, please don't recommend costly fixes like French drains that I cannot afford. I have two children to send to college. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
During the last flood a few weeks ago, I discovered that repeat episodes of water under the rubber matting on the garage had left a disgusting-smelling mess. I mean the sort of smell that had my usually hardy son recoiling when we pulled the matting up and dragged it out to the curb. Under it was the only part of the basement I'd not already painted. In this photo, I've cleaned up the tool bench area, patched the big holes in the floor with cement, and put down a layer of clear cement primer.
The home store no longer carried the rust-colored cement paint I'd used on the rest of the basement, so I bought "battleship gray." It seemed fitting since I've felt a little embattled lately. I haven't had a chance to wear these lovely painting pants in quite some time.
I also vacuumed up roughly seventeen thousand spiders webs and egg sacks. An arachnophobe would NOT do well in my basement. As I was painting, I looked up to see this stinkbug making his way painstakingly across the floor, pausing periodically to try to wipe the paint from his legs. I vacuumed him up, too.
The finished garage floor, ready to park on. This old house has a bizarre basement that runs the length of it, with a narrow garage, a larger basement area, and two separate rooms beyond it, including a bomb shelter. When I was first looking at buying it, I called it the Cold War House.
I felt pretty good when I'd finished the second coat of paint. Until I turned around.
This past weekend my younger son and I spent a few hours cleaning up the remainder of the basement. More spider eggs to vacuum. They are absolutely everywhere. I'd pick up something, like this bird feeder, to put it away, and be confronted with several. But finally we had everything picked up and reasonably organized.
I'm glad I've become fairly handy. But on occasion, I dream of living in a small apartment with minimal possessions.

27 comments:

  1. It truly is amazing how many spider eggs one can find in a home. It's actually kinda terrifying!

    I'm glad you're handy too, but I'm also glad that you had a little help with this stinky mess!

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    1. I try to remind myself that spiders eat the other insects.

      I was glad to have my son helping with part of the clean up, but I always prefer to do painting on my own.

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  2. Maybe when you retire, you can keep apartments in different parts of the world!

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    Replies
    1. Do you know something I don't about an inheritance coming to me?

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  3. Okay, first I have say...you an AWESOME job on the floor!

    *three loud cheers*

    Way to go!

    I'll tell ya, it looks professionally done.

    " And arachnophobe would NOT do well in my basement."

    Yeah, that's me...an arachnophobe. I would have freaked, so I applaud you! And it's ironic you mentioned stinkbugs because another blogger friend of mine just posted something about them.

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    1. Well, thanks! And thanks you also for making me notice a typo, which I just fixed.

      I am not a fan of stinkbugs, but unfortunately they seem to put a lot of energy into getting into my home.

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  4. Well, we moved to escape our basement flooding situation, but you didn't hear that from me.

    I helped my husband paint our new garage floor before we moved in. We used something called shield Crete. He rolled and I shook the sprinkles all over. Good times.

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    Replies
    1. I will move, in part, for that reason, as soon as I can. And painting before you move in is really the way to go.

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  5. Looks much better, and sounds like exactly the kind of thing I get dragged into.

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  6. ha. there are def times i dream of the simple life like that...but you did well with this....ugh have smelled under some rubber mats before that would turn your stomach for good...

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  7. What an amazing job! Looks great, Secret. I am living your occasional dream, only in part because I am not at all handy.

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    1. I would never have guessed this about myself, but I think the main thing is that I will attempt most projects.

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  8. Google Osage Orange....
    If you can obtain these at your Farmer's Mkt.
    Buy some, put them in an onion sack.
    Hang them in your basement windows
    No Spiders ever again.

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    Replies
    1. I called those hedge apples growing up. But I've never seen them at the farmer's markets here.

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  9. Projects....the list of projects for our place is long and ambitious. I, however, am not at all ambitious, although very good at making lists.
    Congratulations for tackling and completing a big project.What is next on your list??

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    Replies
    1. I need to get the yard into shape for winter. I am working on that already.

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  10. Replies
    1. The clean-up was, but I actually liked the painting.

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  11. It's lucky you are so handy really isn't it? Great job.

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    1. I'm not sure luck has a lot to do with it. It's not that I'm handy by nature, it's more that I've become handy by necessity.

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  12. Glad I never had a basement, they do seem prone to all sorts of expensive and time-consuming problems. And zillions of spiders in your case. I wonder what attracts so many of them?

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    Replies
    1. They are attracted by the zillions of other bugs in this area. We're in the foothills of a temperate rainforest - bug heaven!

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  13. Looks like you did an amazing job. Way to go girl!!!

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  14. Your elbows are a hot spot! I'm always impressed with what you achieve. The floor looks ready for ice skating :-)

    I could give up house repairs and maintenance in a second, but the yard.....I'll bet you agree :-)

    Love
    kj

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    Replies
    1. Mostly, but I wouldn't mind a year off from gardening.

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