"What's a Girl to Do"

What's a girl to do,

When Pop Pops calls yoo-hoo,

At 6:30 in the am, 

Wanting to say good-bye,

For the final time?

Four hours away,

With no one to see,

An elderly man,

Afraid of what he can't remember,

Afraid this is the end.

What's a girl to do,

Four hours away,

With no one to see.

Now to go four hours away,

And bring the man,

The Pop,

Home to stay.

© J. Foulston

"Progress"

The boys came by today to show me my finalized plans. A little tweek here and there and applying for permits this week. Finally real movement ahead!!!

Right after the boys left, my fridge and washer were delivered! This fridge is awesome. This was the first time I saw the inside and that freezer makes my current fridge jealous.

And that washer is so cute. Saturday the dryer is being delivered from Leon's with the stacking kit. The washer was cheaper at Sears and the dryer was cheaper at Leon's with kit included. Yes, frugal! Necessary. I'm running out of room to put stuff. My IKEA range will be delivered on Saturday too! Purchased back with the gift card, and free delivery sort of as I already paid for it. Now to call about the out of stock items and see if they are in....

"Exterior Please..."

Today I was fooling around with websites and looking at exterior siding, having an idea of what I want, but not sure if it would look the way I think it. Low and behold, the James Hardie website and its design tool. Simply pick a template that resembles your very own home (I aimed for the closest to my garage) and choose siding types and colours.

I want to try to have my garage relate to my house, but I also don't want another large yellowy-orange building in my backyard. So break it up I say. Gotta have the stucco, gotta have the red doors, gotta have the navy blue trim for soffits and facia, but I need texture. Ha Za, cedar shake siding! But not real cedar, too much maintenance. 


Thank you James Hardie Plank: a siding manufactured with fibre cement and comes in both a smooth or wood grain finish. It can resist hail impacts and extreme heat and has a Class A fire rating. Available in a variety of colours, it has a manufacturer’s warranty of 15 years on the finish and 30 years on the core.

My house currently:

Colour scheme and exterior products I'm thinking for my garage apartment:

Of course, my garage is more of a tall box, but you get the idea. I'm excited! Applying for permits this week. Fingers crossed!

IKEA Delivery Today

Had my kitchen delivered today. A kitchen in pieces. Most of the pieces.

The IKEA kitchen event was quite popular. They were out of a lot of things. Good thing I don't need things installed for months. I was expecting a stove, but I guess they were oversold. So I'm now expecting a gift card sent my way for $999 + GST. 

$2700 delivered and paid for (if paid for means on my IKEA credit card with payments deferred for a year). Another $2251 to be ordered when in. They better honour the Kitchen Event for the remainder.

As the process goes on, my living room has become a storage facility.

Before delivery:

Boxes as left by delivery:

Boxes after I moved them (Thank you Tetris for developing these skills):

They were in a rush. But paying $125 for delivery and still having to move boxes, not my idea of value for cash spent.  Nor what my lower back had in mind either. Ow.

Hmmmm, delivery is $119 + GST for a purchase over $3001. Since they didn't sent my stove, that puts it between $2001 and $3000. Shipping for that is $99 + GST. They owe me $21 more. So they owe me $1069.95. Odd that they don't charge delivery by weight, as their system tells you what the weight will be and the number of packages to be delivered when you set it up.

I was impressed that I got a call, though automated, to evaluate my delivery service. I was still checking if I received all the right packages. I couldn't find all the codes on the boxes the way they laid them out. Though the connection to a customer service rep for the delivery company that delivers for this IKEA was a just the opportunity to leave a voicemail in the end.

I'd better remember to follow up with this. Money owed back is good to have. 

Now for my fridge, and washer and dryer to be dropped off next week.

 

Garage Apartment Update...

So here we are, the end of March. I'm glad to say my insurance claim has finally been settled. Cheque received, most of line of credit paid down. To my joy, after emailing my adjuster a month or so ago, I received another cheque for my loss of rental income for the time that the insurance claim and tear out had taken. That headache is now done. 

I had my post retro evaluation a few weeks ago, so I had insulation replaced prior to Amerispec coming by. I just waiting on my report to be mailed so I can apply to CMHC for possibly $5000 back from my mortgage interest. That would be awesome. Not to mention, my rebates from the federal government and the city.

Progress has been made on the Garage Apartment front. After much needed guidance going awry, thanks to my Great Canadian contact, I was connected with Engelman Construction, who has been great to work with and who are working on my official plans to be submitted for permits. Thanks Dan and Alex.

As part of applying for permits, I had dropped off letters and basic plans to all my neighbours within 60m a week and a half ago, for their comments. Yesterday I returned to their mailboxes, hoping they had left comments on  my letter. Some there, some not. Knocked on doors. Some home, some not. Some changes to be made, minimal, but the top floor will need to be flipped i.e. a mirror image from what I have now.

We plan to apply for permits in a week. Then wait for 2 - 3 months for that process and then hopefully off to construction for another 3 months. 

Hopes were that the Cornerstones program would still have funds, but sadly they are out. Darn timing. However, it appears there may be a similar program come spring. I hope timing doesn't mess with that too.

In the meantime, I am so committed to this happening, I have purchased my IKEA kitchen, with my IKEA credit card during the kitchen event so I will not have to pay for a year. Cabinet colour changed to an off-white to keep the small space bright. Also new plans mean that this will be a mirror image of what is shown.

My kitchen (in needs to be assembled boxes) is being delivered on Tuesday. Delivered to my living room for the next 6 months. Including microwave with vent, range, sink and faucet. I will be ordering my countertops through my contractor once cabinets are in. Makes more sense that way. 

 

 

I have also ordered my apartment sized fridge (on sale for $799) and apartment sized washer and dryer, to be delivered in about two weeks, to hang out in my current kitchen for 6 months. 

I already have my bathroom cabinets and most fixtures already purchased, and they are waiting to meet their purpose.

I'm excited for the next 6 months and getting to choose the finishes for inside and outside. And finally being able to rent a space I am proud of and would want to live in myself.

Stay tuned. Much more to come....

Can't wait.