We Could've Payed Mini-Husband Less, I'm Sure

We got the bill from Godot Roofing the other day and much to our surprise and joy, the final bill is exactly what they had estimated ever so long ago. This is a minor miracle in my book and both Hubster and I were relieved that we only needed to cut off one arm and leg each rather than the two we feared might be the case.

I have to admit, I kind of miss having the guys from Godot around. They arrived each morning with a smile, played with the dogs, chatted with The Princess, explained their work to Mini-Husband, and didn't laugh at my French.

They also inspired Mini-Husband to start renovating his cabane in the garden. He's created a wish list of things to buy at Gedimat which include paint, nails, an electric screwdriver, a mirror, and a hammer. I'm not sure what Santa will make of this list, but it just goes to prove, he is definitely like his father.

Yesterday, Mini-Husband decided it was time to re-do the roof of the cabane. And so he did.

I was impressed with his work ethic and as he pointed out, it is nice to have the roof of the cabane match the roof of the house.

The Princess took a different view on things:

But in the end, the cabane has a new roof and all involved, including the four legged assistant, seemed pleased with a good day's work.

Of course, we still need to work on that 'cleaning-up-the-site-after-the-work-is-finished' thing, but we'll get there.

If It's Friday, It Must be France

Nothing like waking up in your bed after a vacation and wondering if you ever really went on vacation.

The only noticeable change at the Birth Control Bed & Breakfast is that Godot Roofing is HERE! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there's work being done up there! I'm so excited I could almost cry.
And cry I might since it's raining today. Please tell me that the plastic under liner they've stapled to the beams will hold. A small leak I can handle, the entire roof leaking, I'm not so sure.

I've got just enough time today to do some laundry, buy Mini-Husband's new school supplies and get the dogs to "camp" before we head off to England. Should be an interesting trip since Hubster threw his back out while I was gone. (Why he didn't recycle it, I'll never know!) I'm not sure running the gauntlet to Calais is going to do him any favours, but the doctor has given him some strong medication so here's hoping. Let's just hope it doesn't make him car sick. Kid puke is one thing, Hubster puke is another.

It is nice to being home this morning. A good cup of coffee, kids fighting over cartoons while being dive bombed by flies: all's as it should be.

I'll try and post a couple of highlights from my stateside adventures when I get a moment. That should be sometime in September...

Revenge of the Cows

Yes, those would be Mini-Husband's sunflowers under threat from the cows who before this morning, used to be in the neighbouring field.

I think someone must have given them my blog address and they weren't too happy about their musical talents being criticised so they decided to retaliate by eating my carrots.

In all honesty, it's not too big a deal. It's been fun having something to watch while I wait yet again for Godot Roofing.

Looking on the bright side, it's a beautiful morning, the grass is freshly cut, and I've got loads of new fertilizer for what's left of the veggies.

When It Rains, It Pours. Especially if Your Roof Isn't Fixed

I love the smell of wet wood in the morning. It smells like....well, wet wood.

Yesterday afternoon we got 35mm (1.5 inches) of rain in just under two hours. Now, I know it's nothing in comparison to what may hit New Orleans later today (quick prayer for my family there, please) but it's enough to have made the entire attic moist. Wet. Sopping.

Lovely.

How did I discover this you may wonder? Let's just say a small pond sitting in my bedroom led me to the source. Good thing I had a huge pile of dirty laundry at hand to mop that right on up.

Godot Roofing had put up some sort of plastic thing to protect the roof until the tiles go on, but there is no way something like that can keep out such an intense 2 hours of rain.

Hence, why at 10:30 last night Hubster and I were ripping out the insulation that had become like giant sponges in the attic ceiling. Our hope is that by doing so the beams and wooden planks might actually dry out.

By the way, Madame Home Depot, you did one hell of a job putting all that insulation up. I'm ever so sorry we had to rip it down. But, the good news is, we've decided we need to hire you to do that again. Bet that just makes your day, eh?

We've watched the weather forecast and we're thinking we need to head out and buy all kinds of tarps and plastic sheeting. Can one buy enough buckets? It's a good thing we want to redo every room already because I'm getting the distinct impression that may have to happen after this week.

And that just stinks because I am so not good at do-it-yourself. I'm much better at have-someone-else-do-it. Aka, Hubster. Poor guy. Not only will he have to finish the fencing project in the garden, treat the front door, and fix the shelf that fell down in the kitchen, he'll now have to single handily redecorate the house to my taste. Bless him.

What that saying about when life throws you tomatoes, make ketchup? Or is something about lemons and lemonade? Regardless, I'm breaking out my cook book. There has got to be a positive side to this somewhere...

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

It rained again last night. Really, really rained.

In my hopes to salvage any bit of dryness upstairs, I stood in the attic, feeling for drops in the dark. Tuning my ears to hear even the slightest "drip." It was though I was doing mime in a cave, for an audience that didn't exist.

As soon as I felt or heard that "plop" noise, I maneuvered buckets and tarps. Then I stood still and listened again to see if the noise had now become, "plunk."

The good news is that Godot Roofing has started to put the titles on and if it doesn't rain today perhaps they'll be able to get the side that has given us the most grief covered. The forecast for the weekend isn't promising.

Sing it with me, everyone:

Rain rain go away,

Come again another day.

Little Johnny wants to play;

Rain, rain, go to Spain,

Never show your face again!

Rain, rain, go to Germany,
And remain there permanently.

Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day,
If you don't, I will say,
Rain, rain go away.

My apologies to anyone in Spain or Germany who may suffer from said singing of said song, but I'm getting desperate here.

And with that being sung, I see a spot of blue sky out there. Quick! I'm off to lasso it and tie it to the house before the roofers arrive.

Monday Morning

I'm sitting here playing tag with what feels like a gazillion flies. They keep swarming me, buzzing my head in tandem as I furiously try and tag them with a rolled up copy of The Economist. I have a feeling I look a little bit like Jerry Lewis as I fling my arms in every direction.

The flies are particularly bad this week since the cows are back in the field next to ours. This means that Typhon's morning chanting has been replaced by the subtile lowing of about 2-3 Limousine. Makes a nice change, although I do think Typhon is slightly more in time with the Evangelis, but at 7am, before my mandatory 13 cups of coffee, I'm not going to pick a fight with a rhythmically challenged cow.

Today should be interesting in that I'm waiting yet again for the roofers to show up. It's the third monday in a row that they have said they will show up and start working. At this point, I'm not sure that they really exist, but I'm going to have to have faith, I guess. That or a lot of buckets.

So there you have it, I'll be spending the morning killing flies with my own aggressive version of Thai Chi as I get progressively more juiced up on coffee waiting for a roofing company named Godot.

Embrace your inner surrealist, everyone. This could be a good week.