An unwanted guest at the Tucker's house

Never a dull moment in our house.....or attic.  While growing up on the farm, one of my favorite hobbies was killing squirrels with my 410 gauge that my Grandaddy AB Walden gave me for my birthday.  I filled a box with squirrel tails over the years.  Mamma was not impressed with my collection when she discovered this special box in my bedroom years after I'd moved from home.  Those skills would come in valuable once again with the exception that Tony would not allow me to use the gun in the attic where a family of squirrels decided to reside.  So, we called in a professional trapper.  His business card said "bats, rodents, squirrels, snakes, bees, racoons and armadillos."  Late yesterday, he sat the trap in the eave of the house, and this morning we had success.  The trapper said, "this is much harder than it looks."  Looks like chicken wire to me.  He is very thorough with his job as he called to let me know the squirrel was a female, but was not nursing.

Just when you think all the demo is completed, we begin tearing out again.  The brick-laying cousin of Tony's came again this week to build new back steps, front steps and lay flat pavers on the stoop.  We decided to ask him to remove the asphalt walkway and replace it with brick.   

 As customary, a Tucker prefers to supervise.

We are officially "Pelham-nites"

It's official.  We are finally "Pelham-nites" and in the big city.  Here is the great-looking view from the front steps this morning:

Much was accomplished this week to prepare for moving day.  Brian was joined by his lovely wife, Amber, to help finish up the interior painting.

Brooks even joined in to help this week and quickly decided that he could find something better to do with his time.

Another check off on my to-do list this week was installing gas logs in the fireplace.  Propane scares me so we called in a professional for this job.   Note that I got carried away with the power tool when installing the shoe mould in the family room around the fireplace.  I'm pulling it up and staining a piece to match the hardwood floor.  So before someone tells me how ugly the white is around the brick, I know.

Milestones of the Week

Today begins WEEK 16 of this 10 week project, so we are right on schedule.  We pulled a late night last night (Tuesday) to finish up the flooring in my office.  Brooks only hit my fingers with the mallet two or three times.  The entire family now enjoys laying floor even if Tony doesn't look like he does.

Here is a photo of some of our helpers last week during the Christmas break.  Rebecca Drive was once a quiet neighborhood with no children until the Tuckers moved in.

Brooks Tucker, Josh & Ethan Daugherty - Demolition Experts

This may seem like a rather insignificant photo, but Tony did the sweetest thing for me.....installed the washing machine and dryer.  It's been sitting in the garage since September 21st so I've taken dirty clothes to the Pelham Laundrymat, next door to Nancy's and even all the way back to Ocilla.  I promise never to complain about laundry again!  It is a joy to wash and dry clothes in your own laundry room. 

Now my neighbors will not have to be embarrassed that such riff-raff has moved on Rebecca Drive.  Looks like a "redneck joke" for certain.

My clothes line in Pelham.  Sad, but true.

Just for fun, I thought I would add this picture of the Hand Building in downtown Pelham.  I just find this view of in the second floor window so funny.  I live with a house full of boys and know they have no modesty.  Look really close at the urinal that you can see in the window on the far right that you can easily see from the street level.



My grandmother always said whatever you do on January 1^st, you will be doing all year long.  Thus, I’m destined to be laying floor all of 2011.  But on Day 5 for Tucker and Sons Floor Company, we have completed another room….Matthew’s bedroom.  His bedroom was the former carport that Mrs. Singletary closed in to make her master bedroom.  We pulled up the carpet to find cement below the padding.  Cement makes a great base for floating floors, so we placed a new pad and begin snapping together the flooring. 

 Our tag team approach completed 400 sq feet in 7.5 hours!

Chad and I completed the dining room flooring on Friday and added shoe moulding to finish off the family room, foyer and dining room.  The Picasso of Pelham, a/k/a Brian Humphries, will follow behind with his steady hand to paint baseboards and moulding. 

 Power tool fun!

Matthew acquired a new skill this week while on his Christmas break from school.  He assembled the new dining room furniture.  We selected a pub-style table that seats 8 for this small dining room.  Of course, the directions for assembly were in the last box he opened.  He assured me that he didn’t need them.  Tony should be proud.

We are continuing to live in the cozy, pond house of Charles and Barbara Kelly until our move-in day.  This little house has been our biggest blessing since arriving in Camilla.  Not only are we being loved on by the Kelly’s, we have had so much family time with the boys.  I especially love clean-up time, which only takes a matter of minutes when you have two rooms to clean.  Here is a photo of the pond house and the Kelly's house and pond:

 "Pond house"

 Mr & Mrs Kelly's house and pond