Weekly Chat Thread Jan. 23rd - 29th

[staytuned]

Good morning, everyone! We got probably 4" of snow and everything other than main drive and walkway are covered in snow. Actually looks pretty to see the otherwise nekkid trees with snow with what looks like a couple inches of snow frozen all over.  Today is MIL's 95th birthday. Will probably go over when DH gets home from work. Hope everyone has a day to make you smile.

[chapeaunoir]

 The last photo looks like it was taken at one of the mountain passes here.  

[labbypaws]

Tax refund DOD Jan 27. Glad I was able to file early. Hopefully the refund is going for a pup from our breeder. He usually breeds around now.

[val2525]

Interesting morning here. I looked out the window to see a fire truck, an EMS truck and an EMS Incident Commander SUV. I figured it was nothing to worry about though, since it was a regular fire truck (not ladder truck), the hoses were still rolled up and on the truck, there was no smoke, they'd all arrived with no sirens, and the two EMS vehicles left pretty quickly after they arrived. Plus they were at the building next door. That always reduces the panic and worry LOL

It was raining earlier but now the sun has come out. Guess I better get back to work. *sigh*

[staytuned]

We got around 4" of snow on Sunday that a lot melted today with the bright sunshine and high around 36. I had various places to go and parked far from the buildings to bask in the sun a bit longer. Actually felt warm for winter. Sun and blue skies are the exception than the rule this time of the year.

MIL, as expected, wasn't thrilled turning 95. She always says, "How did I get to be this old?" and I shake my head and say, "I think the same thing turning 65".

DH's birthday is Friday, he got promo for free room at our favorite casino so staying overnight.  I'm not much of a gambler, but it is fun just to be there. We discovered a small locals bar a few miles away that has the most awesome food (they have a real chef) at decent prices and the 4-5 times we've been there get treated like a local and always wind up making a friend or few by the time we leave. 

[labbypaws]

Jan 24, 2023 19:14:46 GMT val2525 said:

Interesting morning here. I looked out the window to see a fire truck, an EMS truck and an EMS Incident Commander SUV. I figured it was nothing to worry about though, since it was a regular fire truck (not ladder truck), the hoses were still rolled up and on the truck, there was no smoke, they'd all arrived with no sirens, and the two EMS vehicles left pretty quickly after they arrived. Plus they were at the building next door. That always reduces the panic and worry LOL

It was raining earlier but now the sun has come out. Guess I better get back to work. *sigh*

Could have been a lifting assist.

[chapeaunoir]

staytuned - we love pubs like that.

My running friend and I had a run in the light mist/drizzle and dark - it was actually extremely pleasant, not too cold, not too wet.  Strangely, somehow I 'arm dialed' the DH - I was wearing my mobile in an armband to track our mileage, speed, etc., with Runkeeper, and I must have hit something, I have no idea what, to keep the screen activated.  The DH picked up and heard Duane and myself talking politics and started yelling HELLO!  HELLO! But I never heard him - listening to my friend, our feet drumming along the pavement/dirt, street noise, etc. I have no idea what happened?!

My cousin and I are planning to ride bikes near her house in West Seattle - West Seattle is accessible from the main city best by bridge, which has had a fraught history.  For a long time the bridge was this little green two-lane thing that became a choke point. Then a notorious ship's captain named Rolf Nesland rammed his ship into the bridge and broke it. He was one of our local characters and it's thought that in his extreme old age, where he was still running around causing trouble, his wife murdered him and threw him into the grinder for their meat patty business. In those days Seattle had a definite identity and this identity had a real gallows humour so I'll leave you to imagine the kind of awful jokes that were made about this (nothing was proved and I suspect she just buried him).

Seattle became horribly overcrowded and they built a much larger bridge and turned the little green bridge into mostly pedestrian/bicycle access with very local traffic to a couple of neighbourhoods. Then it broke (concrete cracking) and it has taken years to fix it. West Seattle used to have a foot ferry to get into town and they discontinued it to the fury of their citizens, then they wanted to secede (for about the millionth time). The bridge is fixed and after all of this I can go over to my cousin's house so we can ride.

[denise15601]

Boo Yay.

Our Staples is going to close. That is where I get all of my office stuff.

But, their building and the closed Altmeyer's beside Staples are going to be made into a HUGE Aldi. We do have an Aldi about 4 miles from me, but this new one will be 2 miles away. I haven't gone to Aldi for 3 years since it is always so crowded. But maybe a huge one will be safer.

[frakinfashion]

I'd vote for a grocery anytime. Particularly over Staples which is best bought online. Enjoy!

[RetroMonde]

Dark cloudy gray weather today but it's dry and not snowing/freezing so that's a plus. Day 3 of babysitting one of the twins. It's so QUIET here! At home we have 3 dogs, 6 cats and 4 adults so it's rarely this quiet. Ramona's surgery went well Monday and they've moved from the baby ICU to pediatrics. If all continues to go well I think they'll release her this weekend. DS doesn't have cable and his computer is out so no streaming unless I get his logins and watch on my laptop. But his tv DOES have it's own channels. I found one that only plays Midsommer episodes so I'm binge watching cozy murder mysteries. Happy to have it, commercials or not :-) And to think I actually believed I'd get any work done, lol.

[val2525]

Jan 25, 2023 18:39:32 GMT RetroMonde said:

I found one that only plays Midsommer episodes so I'm binge watching cozy murder mysteries. Happy to have it, commercials or not :-) And to think I actually believed I'd get any work done, lol.

Since you like Midsomer, check out Death in Paradise, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Shakespear & Hathaway (Sebastian usually steals the episode if he's going undercover), Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Miss Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries (Phrynie's neice), Murder in Provence, Father Brown, Sister Boniface, Pie in the Sky, and Republic of Doyle (this one gets pretty funny at times).

I just discovered Jonathan Creek but haven't watched it yet. Agatha Raisin is good too, but it helps if you've read the first book in the series (or listened to the audio version), to really appreciate how much better the TV show is than the book. MC Beaton has a habit IMO of creating unlikeable lead characters, and the TV show made Agatha a lot more likeable than she is in the books, while keeping the quirks that make her unique.

[labbypaws]

Yucky out. Snowy sleet and now rain. Luckily I am inside today.

Yard will be a total swamp by midnight.

Put in for another Lab thru the rescue. I am sure others are interested so we shall see.

[Emerald_Door]

Retro,
So glad to hear that Ramona is recovering well.

[denise15601]

Retro-I am so glad that Ramona is doing so well!!!! When she is all better, we need more pictures!

[denise15601]

Jan 25, 2023 21:13:21 GMT labbypaws said:

Yucky out. Snowy sleet and now rain. Luckily I am inside today.

Yard will be a total swamp by midnight.

Put in for another Lab thru the rescue. I am sure others are interested so we shall see.

Us too, on the other side of PA.  About 4 inches of heavy snow this morning, followed by rain and really high winds.

[val2525]

Sunny and 60 here, although we are getting kinda cold tonight. Works for me though - I won't have to turn on the AC. 

I'm basically goofing off today, although I will go listen to a couple of short webinars in a bit. I've put in so many hours these past 3 weeeks that I needed a mental health day Of course that means I'll have to make up the time over the next week or so, but it's still worth it. That's the good part of being a contractor. You want a mental health day, you take a mental health day

Trying to make my mind up as to what rug I want for the kitchen. I need to replace the one I have. It's still available, but I think I want something different. 

I watched two episodes last night of "Flip This House". I was not impressed. The first team I watched did a really poor job on a house here in San Antonio. They took a really large, functional kitchen (if you actually cook) that needed updating but not redesign and ruined it. They moved one end of the counter out about 6' to "make the kitchen larger" and totally destroyed the functionality. Plus, they didn't even make the countertop on the moved cabinet larger so you could at least use bar stools. It just sat there, totally useless. It's one of the dumbest "redesigns" I've ever seen. Second team did better with an old, really small house in CT but missed the opportunity to add usable square footage to the back, and add an outside entertainment area that would further expand the "living" area (it was a small house but had a really deep back yard). For what they sold the house for (insane profit), they could have afforded the extra addition and patio, and would have still made about the same profit they did because it would have increased the sale value. Oh well.

[staytuned]

RetroMonde, I'm glad Ramona's doing well and continued prayers she'll be reunited with her sister soon.

Ever since I've been frequenting Old House Dreams website, I've come to a deep appreciation of many styles of older homes that would cost a small fortune to replicate the craftsmanship today. I hate hate hate the shows that suck the character out of an old home and "Home Depot" it.

Snow showers this morning turned to rain and all but a few patches of snow here and there are left before changing back to snow tomorrow. I like this snow, then clears up before next snow and repeat. I know that won't last. 62 days til spring is always optimistic around here as more often than not, spring hasn't actually sprung until maybe late April/early May.

[denise15601]

One of my chemo nurses bought a 6 bedroom Victorian home that was built in the late 1800's, and wants to convert it into a bed & breakfast.

She showed me a ton of pictures and it is amazing with all of the intricate woodwork. Stained and leaded glass windows. A doctor used to have it with his office downstairs.

An elderly lady had it last and her grandson put it up for sale. All of the original furniture is still there. Red carpeting in every room will definitely be replaced, though.

Edited to add..... If you  want to see the  house, Google... 433 Main St. Latrobe PA 15650.  Redfin still has 20 pictures available.

I had to LOL at the kitchen floor since that was the one that I almost chose for my harvest gold kitchen in 1977.

While my nurse, Susan is busy trying to clean everything, her daughter is more interested in digging for treasures (I would be too!). Daughter did find a pair of real diamond earrings in a corner of a closet.

[val2525]

Jan 26, 2023 3:16:50 GMT denise15601 said:

One of my chemo nurses bought a 6 bedroom Victorian home that was built in the late 1800's, and wants to convert it into a bed & breakfast.

She showed me a ton of pictures and it is amazing with all of the intricate woodwork. Stained and leaded glass windows. A doctor used to have it with his office downstairs.

An elderly lady had it last and her grandson put it up for sale. All of the original furniture is still there. Red carpeting in every room will definitely be replaced, though.

Edited to add..... If you  want to see the  house, Google... 433 Main St. Latrobe PA 15650.  Redfin still has 20 pictures available.

I had to LOL at the kitchen floor since that was the one that I almost chose for my harvest gold kitchen in 1977.

This one?

www.zillow.com/homedetails/433-Main-St-Latrobe-PA-15650/10630980_zpid/?

It looks like it's had some renovations since it was originally built. What looks like a downstairs (basement?) kitchen looks like it's a recent renovation and quite nice. The other brown kitchen though - ugg! The dining room has nice natural sunlight. If the dining room wallpaper is in good shape, leaving it up and using lighter, less heavy looking dining room furniture (think wrought iron) and lots of plants would give the room an updated but also oldtime conservatory look. It would be a bright and cheery room for breakfast and coffee during the day. IMO anyway. I wonder if there are hardwood floors under that red carpet?

[val2525]

My cats are so spoiled. I wanted a throw rug in the bedroom, for decoration (room is already carpeted). All 3 of the cats love laying on the shag rug in the living room and the dining room. So I'm looking at shag rugs for the bedroom. Gotta keep the cats happy, right?

[denise15601]

Jan 26, 2023 18:52:31 GMT val2525 said:

Jan 26, 2023 3:16:50 GMT denise15601 said:

One of my chemo nurses bought a 6 bedroom Victorian home that was built in the late 1800's, and wants to convert it into a bed & breakfast.

She showed me a ton of pictures and it is amazing with all of the intricate woodwork. Stained and leaded glass windows. A doctor used to have it with his office downstairs.

An elderly lady had it last and her grandson put it up for sale. All of the original furniture is still there. Red carpeting in every room will definitely be replaced, though.

Edited to add..... If you  want to see the  house, Google... 433 Main St. Latrobe PA 15650.  Redfin still has 20 pictures available.

I had to LOL at the kitchen floor since that was the one that I almost chose for my harvest gold kitchen in 1977.

This one?

www.zillow.com/homedetails/433-Main-St-Latrobe-PA-15650/10630980_zpid/?

It looks like it's had some renovations since it was originally built. What looks like a downstairs (basement?) kitchen looks like it's a recent renovation and quite nice. The other brown kitchen though - ugg! The dining room has nice natural sunlight. If the dining room wallpaper is in good shape, leaving it up and using lighter, less heavy looking dining room furniture (think wrought iron) and lots of plants would give the room an updated but also oldtime conservatory look. It would be a bright and cheery room for breakfast and coffee during the day. IMO anyway. I wonder if there are hardwood floors under that red carpet?

Yes-that one.  The white kitchen and the pictures with the sloping ceiling are the top third floor and Susan's daughter's friend is renting that already. 

Under the red carpeting, there are hardwood floors that are pretty nice.

Not sure if she will replace some of the furniture immediately since there is a lot of other work that needs to be done. 

[staytuned]

This is still the most jaw dropping example of a Victorian Second Empire mansion (it would be an insult to call it a mere home) that I can't fathom how much to replicate. I only hope whoever buys it keeps it in its current condition:

www.oldhousedreams.com/2021/12/16/c-1880-second-empire-in-pittsburgh-pa/

[chapeaunoir]

$215,000? I can't believe the house prices on that site, either. That 6-bedroom Victorian would be about 2 million here. Heck, crappy crackerbox condos are $600,000 and that's in MY neighbourhood (not exactly tony).

That 1880s Pittsburgh house is gorgeous - look at that woodwork!

[kritter]

Even here in south Texas, $215,000 would buy you a crackerbox in a fixer up neighborhood on the wrong side of town. That house would have hit the open market at a starting price of a million and bid up from there if it was here.

The tear down house across the street from me sold earlier this year for $250,000 basically for the land value. A vacant lot on the next street over from my street sold for $284,000 last year. No house, just dirt.

[denise15601]

That's a typical price of homes here. It's in a good neighborhood in a great town. My father's family lived very close by.
And it is only about 2 miles from the college where the Steelers have their summer training camp.
She will definitely have renters then.

[val2525]

I love all the windows in this one, and the Frank Lloyd Wright feel of the design:


www.oldhousedreams.com/2023/01/23/1905-in-clinton-il/

[staytuned]

Jan 27, 2023 0:46:34 GMT val2525 said:

I love all the windows in this one, and the Frank Lloyd Wright feel of the design:


www.oldhousedreams.com/2023/01/23/1905-in-clinton-il/

Scrolling through the comments, looks like it was designed by a student of FLW.  Most comments are from regulars and I've learned a ton about various styles. Very knowledgeable folks who can spot discrepancies in styles, provide additional history/photos and expand on the listing.

I have found homes in the midwest are overall considerably lower priced than other parts of the country, especially the west coast. A Craftsman that's say, $200,000 here is almost $500,000 in Oregon, and that one's a fixer upper.

One of my current favorites is this adorable Lustron:

www.oldhousedreams.com/2023/01/19/c-1950-in-lustron-in-hutchinson-ks/

[denise15601]

I posted before about my friend who has a FLW designed house. It has been featured for tours of historical homes. It's unique but I don't really care for it. The floors are all cement (heated underneath), huge windows with a lot of built-in cabinets. But a very cold feeling to it. It's very contemporary.

I am of the drapery and carpeting type for the warm feelings. Old-fashioned am I.

BTW-the victorian house isn't in Pittsburgh. I am 35 miles from Pgh and that house is 15 miles further away. You couldn't pay me to live in Pittsburgh.

[jesmelric]

Jan 26, 2023 3:16:50 GMT denise15601 said:

One of my chemo nurses bought a 6 bedroom Victorian home that was built in the late 1800's, and wants to convert it into a bed & breakfast.

She showed me a ton of pictures and it is amazing with all of the intricate woodwork. Stained and leaded glass windows. A doctor used to have it with his office downstairs.

An elderly lady had it last and her grandson put it up for sale. All of the original furniture is still there. Red carpeting in every room will definitely be replaced, though.

Edited to add..... If you  want to see the  house, Google... 433 Main St. Latrobe PA 15650.  Redfin still has 20 pictures available.

I had to LOL at the kitchen floor since that was the one that I almost chose for my harvest gold kitchen in 1977.

While my nurse, Susan is busy trying to clean everything, her daughter is more interested in digging for treasures (I would be too!). Daughter did find a pair of real diamond earrings in a corner of a closet.

Very cool! A lot of work, but a lot of potential. Maybe you can post when she finishes it

Hope everyone is doing well. We had quite severe weather here on Tuesday, south of Houston in Pasadena they had a bad tornado. Thankfully no one was injured, but there was a lot of damage. I think people are still without power. We just had a lot of rain and thunder here in the city proper. It was cool, then a warm front came through, then a cold front!

DH and I went to the Goodwill Sunday and they really screwed it up. They rearranged it and moved the women's and men's clothes to the opposite sides from how they had it set up. They used to have all the women's dresses and coats on one long wall. Now it's on two short walls and two regular racks. And they don't have as much and what they have was jammed as DH would say "Jelly jam tight". I literally could not look through everything because they were jammed so tight. Thinking I'll only go occasionally and go to the new VV more often as they seemed to have mitigated their prices somewhat. I do have a 1/2 off coupon I earned in Dec that I will be using at the regular VV on Sunday. They're just a lot bigger and have more merchandise. I hate it when thrift stores change up

We went to see mom Monday and she was doing well. The boyfriend has decided he wants to move to assisted living. He told mom he'd take her with him but she realizes she needs more help than assisted living. And I really think it's wishful thinking on his part. He's had a stroke too and mom says he uses a walker but every time we've seen him he's in a wheel chair. And there's no financial assistance for assisted living. I told mom if he qualified for that financially and mentally and physically I'm sure his family would have put him there first, rather than skilled nursing.

Mom and sister are coming here Monday for lunch and a visit, probably a movie. Something fun like The Day The Earth Stood Still (original). It's always good to watch something mom's seen many times before.

[val2525]

Assisted living facilities are designed for older people who are no longer able to manage living independently and need help with daily activities such as bathing or dressing, but don't require the round-the-clock health care that a nursing home would provide.

Is your mom that bad, jes, that she needs full time care? Also, even if the BF had a stroke and is using a wheelchair, he may still be eligible for assisted living (rather than a full nursing home).


Medicare won't cover it (which makes no sense to me). However,

Many states also allow their residents to use Medicaid waivers to pay for assisted living or in-home care if the services can be obtained at a lower cost.

If your loved one doesn’t have much in terms of savings or other financial assets and their income is low, they may qualify for Medicaid, which can help pay for assisted living. A quick, free and non-binding Medicaid eligibility test is available.


www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-test/?afid=Caring