Sigh.....got up yesterday, washed face. Hmmmmm not very hot water. As water progressively cooled, decided we must need a new hot water heater. So I researched the tank less electric water heaters. Wow, can start at 288 all the way up to 888 at Home Despot. So called the family plumber to get his opinion. He had replaced our old one about ten years ago. He said he could do it but would require two 40 amp lines, which would require an electrician for the electric and cost about 500 bucks in labor. I have had enough trades in the house this year so I asked him to squeeze us in. He said maybe Friday, probably Saturday. Going retro. Hah!
Ah me which brings us to a financial decision. Do we go ahead with the refi or not? The refi was only for an extra 20k 30 year fixed at 3.5%. AND including the points, taxes and insurance only drops the house payment to a hair under 700 a month.
Have spent over 20K not including sewer project AND hot water heater. Casual chit chat between husband, appraiser and contractor are throwing around figures for between 5k to 30 k for replacement windows etc. Also need to have termite treatment which we have not yet scheduled. I am praying that the bill for fixed sewer problem will be under 5K or we will be living on a very skinny string. The bank is going to offer to put X amount of dollars in escrow to pay the contractor when the job is finished.
I can only see that the loan balance will balloon well beyond what we agreed to in the first place. So at this point we are thinking that we will decline the refi and fix what we can. After all we still need the loan interest for a tax deduction. Wish the repairs were deductible but I am thinking that Turbo Tax doesn't offer this amount the choices. And we can always buy a yurt and put it in the backyard.
Brand new state of the art plastic sewer pipes installed today. The plumber hauled off the old cast iron which had a lovely green patina. He sent a camera out through the outside pipe, it dips, it sways, has been visited by roots of some sort of hardy vegetation, would not surprise me to find out the roots are closely related to blackberries. Ah well, that is for another day. Now expecting heart palpitations over the bill. Yikes.
I ordered three of these storage units, each shelf holds one hundred pounds. While digging out a small part of the dining room vertical storage I located several extra jars of ...... green. tomato. pickles.
I made them last year. I think. Note to self, start inventory system.
Okay I can hold a little longer now. These shelves will do nicely.
Dang one side looks a little wonky. Why I oughta POUND you...
Done! Today got off work about 3 pm. Put pickles in two batches (wouldn't fit one pot) heated slowly and cooked them for 35 minutes. I got 13 pints of pickles, 2 pints of pickle juice and a spare bottle filled right up. Got everything cleaned and am now relaxing to the gentle ping of sealing lids. Plan to make burgers Tuesday and yummy! I can now relax, I have my fix of pickles for a couple of years.
Back of the house now patched and painted. Jerry will be back Tuesday, he has 4 hours or so of finish the project stuff. Yay!
After warning the neighbors and tarping one pickup, the guys sprayed the front of the house. If you will notice the ugly red door has been painted to match the house. They will attempt to get the back done today but if the wind comes up they will have to stop spraying. They will go home this evening and come back this coming Thursday to finish off the bits and pieces. Thanks Jerry, John and Donald of Honey Do Contracting.
Sandwiches today are Italian Meatball subs and tuna salad croissant.
Today the guys are finishing patching bits of rot here and there and power washing. Tomorrow they will start very very early when the wind is calmest to paint.
Today's noon sandwich: BLT, bacon, sliced apple, sliced fresh mushroom, sliced avocado, chopped Spanish onion, flour tortilla wrap.
Today's 4 pm sandwich: Kosher dogs with sweet pickled sauerkraut, used some left over pickling vinegar, snappy and for
sugar boost, rice crispy treats.
A kind friend dropped off a plastic bag full of green tomatoes. Yayyy!
RECIPE: (originally from my Grandmother Horn)
DAY 1: Slice 7 lbs of green tomatoes, cover with 2 gallons of cold water, mixed with 2 cups of lime. (Calcium carbonate, I got mine at Freddy's sold as pickling lime). Let stand 24 hours.
DAY 2: Rinse and cover with cold water, let stand 3 hours. WARNING: Do NOT dump lime down the sink unless you want it cemented shut, take it outside and dispose of it away from dainage system.
DAY 3: Drain and cover with 2 quarts of vinegar, 1 tsp of celery seed, 9 cups of sugar, 1 tsp ground cloves, 1 tbsp whole pickling spice, 1 tsp salt and enough water to cover.
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DAY 4: Heat slowly and bring to boil for 35 minutes, can while hot.
DAY 5: Grill some burgers, grill the bun, mayo, slice green tomato pickle and burger salt pepper. My FAV!! ENJOY.
