July 23, 2008 - Kitchen Fire UPdate: Oven here!

We got our oven yesterday.  We are all so happy.  I can't imagine not having one.  I know people who wouldn't have hurt without an oven, but for us it was torture.  LOL!  Even my little  3yo understood we couldn't make bread, cake, muffins, etc. 

Last night to break in the stove we made a half batch of sugar cookies.  After I got to starting on them I was freaking out with each ingredient... sugar?  (I threw out the open sugar, do I have any other sugar?),   Cream of tartar (we threw out most every spice in the cupboard, but I had a spare new one in the bulk cupboard), almond extract?  (I knew I threw it out, but I had recently bought some new that I hadn't opened and it was ok).  I didn't have any regular white flour, but I did have bread flour... the cookies ended up a bit heavy, I imagine from the higher gluten content.  I imagine we won't eat the entire batch anyways... Steve and I are trying to eat healthier and the girls are just not woofing down the sweets.  It was more of an effort to give Paige some Mommy time.  She saw the oven and said... Mommy, I want to make cookies.  She wanted some "normal" back into her life... so we made cookies. 

As we were placing the cookie dough onto the sheets Paige looks up to me and says so sweetly... Mother, I am glad our oven is back... with a soft sigh. 

The oven does look almost identical to our other one... which we were told to replace as close as possible.  Even thought we had just bought the oven this January, the model is not a current one, even thought it was new.  So, we had to find something as close as possible with the current models.  We lost our warming burner.. .to get it was another $100, but we didn't use it and it was in the way.  But now all the burners are able to cook with two different sizes... so it was a trade off.  I am happy with the exchange.  I would have liked to have gone back to a gas top /bottom electric oven, but that was more yet and not comparible in price... I just find I am not crazy about the flat top stove.  It is not flexible in my mind and the pans swim on the top surface... driving me crazy!  But DH loves it and I will eventually get used to it.  Dh says if I can't manage after a year he'll buy me an LP stovetop... But that seems silly to me altogether! 

Anyways, we all just sighed when the oven came... life is feeling more normal. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 21, 2008 - Cleaners came today...again

The cleaners came again today.  This was the confrontation with the boss and the employee.  Very uncomfortable for all involved, I believe.  Dh did all the talking... until he left to get corn when they started to reclean what they had missed.  When they were done, Dh was still gone, so I had to go over it with the boss and what does one say?  Can't you put elbow grease into your cleaning?  The spots we cleaned were still cleaner than what they cleaned.  Apparently professional cleaners don't use elbow grease.  Instead, he saw a couple streaks and fixed them, but admitted it wasn't wonderful and still would need cleaning.  Each spot that was touched up still wasn't good enough to be clean on its own.  When they take you on a quick tour of your own house, it looks better overall, but up close... which I didn't do when they were here, tells a different story.  The hallways steps where the smoke travelled upstairs... has a shelf ceiling where the smoke just rolled over it.  The cleaner said, they got what they could see, but it likely will show more soot in a week as it bleeds out of the paint and I may repeat cleaning once a week for several weeks and hopefully I won't have to paint.  This is the boss talking and how do you fight something they do professionally and we've experienced only once???  I took it as good enough.  Dh saw it and says... pretty pathetic effort, huh?  Of course he has a heavy arm for cleaning, so his cleaning is apparently more than necessary.  We can still see each clean spot in the living room that he did to show them that it wasn't clean enough.  I just sighed and said... well if you say it's as clean as it gets... and I'd walk over to a spot dh cleaned and look and they'd look and say... ya, it's not perfect, but it's better.  ???    They'd take a rag and wipe it to show me it doesn't come off... and it doesn't unless you rub with a little pressure.  I looked at the crew... 2 elderly men (meaning past 50 years old each) and a woman that is just bones and likely 50 yo herself.  They all are sweating and panting from climbing up and down and I just realized it wasn't worth it... they did what they could with an honest effort.  After they left, I cleaned some of the worse spots for about a half hour... and yes, they came off with several strokes over the same spots. 

I guess what bothers me after they left was that the owner and this guy would say... you can see better in different lighting (at night).  But that wasn't the point.  I began to see they were spot cleaning and not doing a systematic cleaning.  Meaning they would have had better luck had they started in one corner and did 1 foot deep and worked across the ceiling and then back again another foot out until it was all touched... not this ... squirt, squirt... got that spot, squirt, squirt... got another spot.  No wonder they leave streaks and spots totally missed. 

As for the confrontation, the owner took me aside when the other two were cleaning and said... this new gal, (they blamed it on her when they first came in and I didn't like it one bit because she cleaned the best!) works for him part time and she was new to the ceiling and floor cleaning... saying she works at his laundromat and she loves to clean houses in general, but this was her first fire to clean up after.   Anyways he says she is wonderful and likely did what she was told to do... wipe it down with sponges.  He said that the crew leader was in error by choosing the dry sponge, vs the wet rag cleaning.  He was basically told that he erred by not checking and that was his job.  He also erred in not telling her to clean with a wet rag...  Anyways, I'm not sure if I failed the test or what... was I supposed to complain about why can DH get the ceilings clean, but you can't?  I don't get why they get paid $5000 to do something poorly and if we do the job right, we don't get paid... because they already paid the cleaners to do it.  Perhaps we were supposed to get ugly and irritable, but as I said earlier, it seemed that physically it was too much for this crew.  (As a nurse, I noticed that and didn't want to push them anymore). 

After the boss left, the crew leader went into a room they said they couldn't clean any further cuz he touched it up already and was touching it up again (and still removing soot from those streaks that I was seeing).   When he came out, he walked out and I believe he would have continued to walk out without saying a word, but I said... Thank you (his name)... and meaning it... I know it was hard to come out and clean a second time with your boss over you.  I didn't say that last part, but that's what I was thinking.  Then he turns to me and says... I apologize for offending you in any way, it wasn't what I meant to do.  You wanted a clean house and your satisfaction is what we desire... now you are satisfied so things turned out alright for everyone.  He turns and walks out.  I just stood there, unsure of how to take the apology.  I am sure that he went and touched up the laundry room just to have time to hang back and give the apology if I gave him opportunity to do so and I did.  

After they left, I had a mixture of feelings.  I felt bad for them all.  I felt upset the house still isn't any cleaner.  I felt angry when I found they had spilled cleaner on our couch and didn't say a word... It is a bit greasy and I hope it comes out of it... right now I have a spot on it.  I feel frustrated that we went through this without any improvement... I was hoping at least one ceiling or one wall would be saved, but no.  It is all still as it was ... in need of something to cover the streaks... or in need of some elbow grease.  The insurance adjuster said to wait on the dining room ceiling to see what the boss could do... and he dabbed at the spot, but it really isn't much cleaner... and I fear the insurance adjuster will say to paint the ceiling cuz they won't pay to replace that room.  That will just look sick, in my opinion... the fancier dining room with flat painted tile and the only tile we can find to replace in the kitchen is designed tile... the tile won't match... the rooms won't blend like they did... I was thinking if they could save the tile, it has a gold fleck in it and I could paint the new ceiling tiles gold to blend the two rooms.  I hate to sound picky, but I really liked the tile that was in there and to see it just carelessly cleaned one day to make it have to be paintable... due to a stubborn employee who felt I should thank him for leaving streaks so I could repaint the house.  UGH. 

So, now we wait for the insurance adjuster to come again so we know where to go from here.  I just wanted to cry after they left today.  Not because of any loss... I can deal with that... in fact it seems it would have been easier if the entire house had burned down... I could live in the camper and life would be stable... I would know what is expected and what is going down, but this shaking up of my life is just hard.  Crying seemed senseless... so instead I did laundry then played in the pool with my girls.  When Dh got home from his offshift (yes he got called after they left) then we unloaded corn for the chickens and got that into the barn.  A full day.  Just keep plugging along.   Perhaps that is part of the point... we can't control everything... but, we have to keep going.  I will be emailing the adjuster our estimates for kitchen repairs tomorrow.  The weather is to be warm this week, but not overly hot.  A good week for cleaning.  *grin* 

FYI:  I've logged 90 hours in cleaning our house as of yet.  My estimate to finish cleaning logs in around 150 hours to go.  That is getting in places that the insurance guy is not wanting to pay... the storage area upstairs and the small tv room, both of which were lightly affected.  He will pay for me to clean the walls, but not ceiling or floors or contents.  That area alone estimates around 50 hours.  There is a LOT of stuff up there that needs to go.  My down time has consisted of these updates and reading.  I'm trying to read down my pile of "to read" books... so that they can leave the house.  My current book I am reading is How to Clean Anything.  Some good ideas, but some eye rolls as well.  I think it was written by a professional cleaner because he says using elbow grease is not a good plan... I laughed... I understand the cleaning when it is lightly dirty... it just seemed to be funny... like using elbow grease is not for "good cleaners".  Seems to be this cleaning company's motto...(no elbow grease) 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 19, 2008 - Being Used by God...

Our pastor had an interesting sermon today. And considering his past week, I imagine he has been dwelling on the good and bad parts of life and how do we take all of that and live. While we often say we trust God, are we willing to be uncomfortable if in the end we understand the plan? He talked about betrayal and how Judas betrayed Jesus, yet the plan wasn't to take Jesus and murder Him, it was God's plan that Jesus GIVE it up and save us. He also talked about how we have the choice to make each day... each hour, each minute to live for God. Are those always easy decisions? Are we willing to give up self daily... hourly, each moment to live for God?

Much to ponder on when in the midst of cleaning up a house fire I see ultimately many things happening... of one big thing is my tiredness of the situation. Yesterday we heard back from the owner of the cleaning company and he wishes to come out on Monday with the crew leader who led out on the job to see what was done and what improvements can be done. The insurance adjuster will not be there... he told Dh he had made it perfectly clear what he expects done and he will not pay until the work is done. The owner does not want this on his reputation, considering he has an insurance company that recommends him and this adjuster works for 3 companies and he would lose a lot of business.

The owner told Dh that he will see what needs to be done and they will clean as long as it takes to get the house clean, even if that means starting over. My heart just sank... another week of cleaners??? I just want to get on with my life! The peas will be ready to can or freeze just about the time we get our replacement stove...maybe some sooner, but we can eat those. Tuesday is the day the stove arrives.

Dh and I have talked over our hopes and expectations for the summer and GONE... they are all gone. My garden is a mess, even though it is producing items, it is far less than expected due to rain, flooding and lack of time to keep on top of weeds. I can replant another crop for fall if I get it done in the next two weeks... I could replant beans, peas, lettuce, summer squash, etc. But will that happen?... likely not. Mulberries went by with no canning (no stove/oven). Raspberries are almost gone. Strawberries... no stove. My jelly canning is way behind and my only hope is... using juice from the store, which is a mite bit cheaper than regular jelly, but still... not a huge savings and not fresh fruit.

My time to get caught up on school is gone! The girls were to finish up one month's work of school over the 3 months of summer. That didn't and won't happen. In some ways, I can see here where that is OK. I just had to give up on my plan for the summer. My one daughter got a volunteer job in the kitchen at camp and is doing ok, but the work is hard and she is not used to the long hours, she got sick for a couple days, but has seemed to bounce back. Work is good, it builds character and I've never been upset to lay aside studies for good honest work. Perhaps God allowed this opportunity to come at just a time so that it might ease my own discomfort with giving up my plan for school for the summer.

Here, I come back to the current situation. I consider why are we going through this uncomfortable situation. Why the fire? Why the clean up? Why the problems with the cleaners. Am I willing to trust God’s plans? Oh how I do not want to see the cleaners come again on Monday. It seems my life has been on hold the last two weeks and another day is ultimately gone for any sort of plans of our own. Is that selfishness? Perhaps. I wonder why as does Steve as to why we have to be the ones to point out the problems to the boss? The insurance adjuster says he doesn’t want it to happen again, as does the cleaner company boss. Why did it have to happen to us? Why not someone else? The insurance adjuster says we are such honest people, and yet I hardly feel worthy of being called that. What makes us more honest than others? I guess I don’t completely understand.

I know that I hate confrontation. It just makes me physically ill. Headaches, back aches, etc. My ailment this time…. Bad breath! UGH! Nothing is helping to get it to go away. Is that so I don’t talk??? LOL. Let my husband do the talking, eh? Fine with me!!! After hearing the sermon, I was confronted with the fact that often times our lives are simply a seed planted to others. God is asking at this moment for our lives to be an open book to others. Are we willing? Yes, Lord, we are willing to be used by you. I found when confronted by the sermon that thoughts of wanting to duck out of the meeting on Monday are quite high. They don’t really need me there. I could just go shopping at … 8 AM in the morning! Ha! Not likely to happen, either. I realized I was dragging my feet. This is uncomfortable! Dh also realized he likely will miss overtime on Monday because of the meeting, but he didn’t want me to be alone. So sweet. I’ve got a husband willing to hold my hand through all of this and he is not enjoying it either. He says we have nothing to be ashamed of, we did not lie. The house is not soot free as it should have been left. The insurance adjuster verified that the job was done poorly as we did not know what to expect and the fact that he refused to pay for paint because cleaning was not done well… surely testifies to the poor job.

Anyways, I am seeing things and learning things in this situation. I am learning so much about myself, about our family and about how Satan wants so much to make our lives miserable often convincing our thoughts in selfish and vain ways. I also am increasing in awareness of God’s mercy, his wisdom and unending resources to pull from upsetting situations and circumstances and being able to create so much opportunity for growth out of them. Amazing!

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 18, 2008 - Fire Cleaning update...Cleaners day 3, evaluation by adjuster

Sorry, I have not been on as of lately.  Just so busy cleaning! 

Day 3 of the cleaners went OK.  Just two of them came to clean carpets.  And they did it quite quickly.   We volunteered to move items, requested that we be asked to move the piano so they could wash the rug under it... but they didn't, they just cleaned around it.  *sigh*  How many times can you say... we want the piano moved!!!  When they left, I was relieved.  I just wasn't very happy with their service.

Today, the insurance adjuster came to see what they did and to give us the plan for the next step in getting back to normal after the fire.  We were basically approved to replace the kitchen ceiling (but not the dining room, yet... they currently both match... one was more damaged than the other and we are waiting to see if the cleaners will remove what was left on the ceiling).  We can replace the countertop (it was burnt in one corner and if Dh does the work, the adjuster will ok the replacement.  We will fix the cupboards... ourselves, and by doing that, I think the adjuster was happier to pay me for cleaning above the hours the cleaners had bid.  We turned in our receipt for the new stove.  My job is to email an estimate of cleaning left to be done in hours and itemized, email an estimate of kitchen repairs if we do the work with materials and time listed, and email a listing of items lost in fire (burnt items and food that was ruined from soot).  He said we would be reimbursed shortly for those items so we can begin repairs. 

We currently have about 10 areas that are pending needing a paint job.  But the majority of these areas aren't clean.  We took the insurance adjuster around and wiped with a chemical sponge in the kitchen and easily removed soot from the ceiling.  We also washed the living room ceiling with the cleaning solution and it wiped a nice white circle in the middle of a currently gray sooted ceiling (which they cleaned with a chemical sponge, but not with the solution).  The adjuster said... I've seen enough... I am calling this company and letting them know... because he had suggested them as well as our insurance company (different guy).  So, now, they will set up a date they can both be there and discuss the work done and what to do to remedy it.  The insurance adjuster does not want to pay out to this company if the house isn't "clean".  So, that is one more day to set aside for inspections.  Once inspected another plan will come about to decide who will finish the cleaning.  When he left today, I had a headache... I just want this to go away!  My mind wants things settled and it is getting to be a long process. 

Having no oven or stove adds a bit to the frustration... we are all a bit tired of sandwiches.  I thought having more raw items in our diet would be better for us, but apparently we are needing a bit of a change of heart... we are grumbling like the Israelites over eating the same style of food over and over and over.  I need a head break... just alot of stress going on!  

The stress isn't only the fire... We have VBS this week at church and my daughter was helping... that put me as a side helper... one that was used as needed.  I cleaned the church tonight as well since my older daughters are not here to do their jobs... they are working at summer camp.  I am being asked to lead out the children's program for a 2+ week evangelism program... with no breaks... it is every night (in September).  That is overwhelming for me to fathom at current, especially with all the driving.  VBS is hard enough on our family, especially with a 3yo!  Meals are never on time, bedtime isn't on time... I just don't know if I should commit to that big of a commitment.  The gal in charge of asking me (she's asked me 3 times now and the committee keeps coming back with new offers, LOL).  Anyways, they now know about the fire and asked if they could help "clean" the fire... I'm guessing so that I might help do the children's program!  I know their sneaky ways!  LOL.  With everything in limbo, though, I've had to decline their offer for this weekend, since I have to wait for another inspection of what was cleaned, so the BOSS can see what was and wasn't done.  

Other misc. items are popping up as well, though, I am not at liberty to say what they are.  These are more stresses that are happening to others, yet you feel you need to help, reach out in some way to help ease their pain.  I've been doing alot of praying. 

My most recent biggest stress was finding a louse crawling on my chest this morning.  Having helped with VBS and bending over so many kids' heads helping in crafts... just made me crawl... because the louse was not found right after VBS, but rather the next morning... that means enough time for nits to be in my hair... needless to say, I am now pulling at each thread of hair on it's own trying to find nits... It's more of a compulsive act.  I had lice with my daycare on two different occasions and it is so hard to get rid of when you have girls with long hair.  I told Dh this would be one occasion where I would consider cutting my hair as it took me nearly a month to rid it from our home... with the daycare.  Dh didn't say much.  He had actually asked me to cut it several months ago and it was his hope as well as his parents that it would remove the frizz from my curly hair...NOPE.  So he knows if I cut it, I'll just have a short frizz hairdo.  He'll let me do whatever... he knows how I hated the lice before... I just cried and cried over it.  I likely would cut more off this time, but I said I had to find another louse before I did.  I haven't and I haven't found any nits yet, either.   Creepies... just NOT what I needed at the moment!

On the lighter side, the adjuster said he found us some of the most honest folk he has found in a long time.  I found that odd.  Here we were complaining about the cleaners, but I guess he felt the complaints were justified.  We tried to think about what he meant exactly and we think it likely was that we said we were going to do the work ourselves and how we planned to do it... they will pay for that, but they WOULD have paid for a contractor to place a bid and pay us that and then we could have still done the work ourselves... meaning a contractor may have asked for $2500 to match our cupboards and replace them and we are asking for about $100 in materials and our time (at $10 / hour).   I guess you could call that honest... perhaps it was that we said upfront we plan to make other repairs/changes since we have to take everything down anyways...

We are still trying to figure out the total plan, but we've already figured out with what was approved, we will get our kitchen fixed... cupboards repaired, ceiling replaced, panelling replaced, wallpaper replaced, countertop replaced.  New oven and hood.  With all the cleaning we had done and will do, we will be able to pay our deductible ($1000) and have enough to upgrade our countertop to one that is formed rather than just a laminate on wood (which they are willing to pay for what we have, but nothing more)... but the cleaning affords us a couple hundred extra for a formed countertop, which means no more leaky water by the sink/window which seems to have found it's way to the cupboard underneath.  It also will afford us a new fridge.  Our current one is a used one and has been clunking and groaning for a few months, now.  So these are true blessings.  However, it is overwhelming my husband a bit.  He had summer plans to work on outbuildings and now he is being pulled inside.   I found it interesting, he asked me not to drag out the cleaning over the next couple months, but rather to get it done in the next couple weeks... I just looked at him in disbelief... one because I have 145 hours to clean and I wondered what expectation was to be met to have it cleaned in a couple weeks.  Then he sighed and said... I don't want to do the kitchen within a month, I'm sorry for asking you to turn the house inside out in two weeks as well.  Again I looked at him in disbelief... he doesn't say sorry very often.  *grin* 

Megan is home from camp and we are redoing her room as we put it back together.  Walmart had some cheap sales to add some different color to her room.  Her room is a mustard yellow color (it was our old bedroom and I love that color).  She however doesn't love the color alone, so we added jewel toned purple and jade to her room with the yellow it looks quite nice.  I spent about $100 on her room to update it, but Dh had overtime and wanted me to spend some money on her since BOTH her sisters left her for the summer.  Her older two sisters are working at summer camp... one is a counselor/horse barn help and the other one is volunteering as kitchen help and CIT (counselor in training).  Little Paige saw the curtains and said... Oooooo, Megan your room is beautiful!  It made Megan smile. 

Well, I need to get to bed... my sleep schedule is messed up again.  Back to working on it tomorrow! 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 10, 2008 - Fire Cleaning Day 2

Yesterday was day two of having the cleaners come.  Only 4 came today.  The crew leader and the 3  ladies.  When the crew leader came in, he asked me if we saw anything and I asked about the cleaning of the screens upstairs and he looks at me absurdly and says... we dont do screens.  I mean, I'm not even mechanically minded enough to take apart a window... we just don't do that.  I should have called him on it and said... (one of the ladies did it yesterday in the living room), but I didn't.  He said he really didn't know what to do about it... I mean they never clean screens.  I said, well, I checked my daughter's bedroom because she kept getting soot on her face and I just wiped my hand on the screen and it comes back black.  He replied that if it would make me feel better, he would wipe it with a cloth but that is all he knew how to do.  I am not good at confronting people, but I didn't get angry... I am easily pushed down by others, so I just said OK, that would help so she didn't get black soot on her again.  So he returned to her room and did ONLY her room.  He says... I wonder why your daughter does that, that just isn't normal to put your face so close to a window that you hit the screen... I could tell he wasn't happy about it.

Secondly, then he comes downstairs and asks anything else?  And I showed him the ceiling in the laundry room, he says... yes it is streaked.  I said, well there is still loose soot up there, I took a sponge last night and it comes off... they just used a poor technique... willy nilly swipes (I didn't say that, though... I'd never be so bold to say something like that).  I said the reason I am pointing it out is that you say I should paint over it and he says yes.  And I said that we were told all loose soot has to come off the ceiling before painting.  Streaks will cover if they've been treated, but if it is loose, it will cause problems with the paint job.  He says... I will see what I can do.  You know you see all this stuff at night, that is why we couldn't get it.  I didn't reply to that, but in actuality at night it looked better than during the day with sunlight. 

Since I was asked to be out of the way, I finished the morning dishes and dried and put them away and went upstairs to write my girls a letter since they are away at camp.  Our house has wonderful sound carrying capabilities, which I normally hate because you can't get away from the noise anywhere.  But the cleaners apparently did not figure that out yet.  The crew leader started getting um... testy I would say.  He asked the girls cleaning the living room if they would follow up with polish today and they said sure.  Not unhappy in the least and he says... are you sure that's ok... and they give a questioning yes back to him... and he says... OK, I just didn't want it to be an imposition.  Very snooty almost like he was trying to make a point that they were going to go all out for me today.  The way he talked, I realized he did not follow with polish on any of the wood upstairs... probably the reason it looked very dull to me... even worse than normal... because the cleaner solution sucks the moisture out of the wood. 

Later, he was asked to pick up the tv so one of the gals could wipe under it.  And he just grumbled that there was not enough room... she says laughingly, there is plenty of room.  He disputed a while longer but finally does pick up the tv and she wipes under it.  Lots of dust bunnies under there... as I would expect cuz I NEVER pick up the tv... it is too large and bulky, so I dust around it.  She says thank you and doesn't make a comment... but he looks at it and says... OH my... that was so dirty under there.  I can't believe how dirty it is here.  (the tone inferred the entire house, not just under the tv).   He made a few other comments and the girls never added to his fussing... just tended to ignore him.  The one gal kept coming upstairs to ask me questions... as she was beginning to see she wasn't going to get the answer from her crew leader.  (she was one of the new gals). Another gal she kept asking questions about what is to be done... cuz he has the sheet and he yesterday kept saying... don't do that, don't do that... when they were supposed to do it.  But today he finally snapped at her and says... S****, you just don't give up... you nag on us all... we're not fast enough for you, we're not doing enough... she replied, no that isn't it... I just see another job to be done and since we have two newbies, I thought I'd keep them going if they were done.  And he says... NO, you do this all the time.  She got a little upset, but showed it by being quiet.  Poor gal and she's the one that WASHED our screens... loved her!  The other gals got quiet and they all tended to avoid the guy... I mean they were polite, but kept their distance.  They had 4 rooms to work on, so they had space to put between each other. 

One gal going into the bedroom, he says... do a real good job, because they don't want to repaint the ceiling.  So don't leave any streaking.  (UM... OK.... now if they can do it without leaving any streaking???  WHy not do it right the first time???  )  He said it like we were too lazy to paint the house.  And kept saying my dad should come paint it all... and I'm like... my dad is 64yo and he lives 3 hours away and is too busy... I don't care if you found out he is a professional painter... we're not going to do that to him. He asks me later if the guy outside is my Dad and I finally was able to let him know that my Dad doesn't live near us at all.  He quit the fussing over the painting.  OK, so now I am feeling this guy is a little crooked.  Doesn't do a good job just cuz he figures most people want to repaint their house.  He redid the ceiling in the laundry room and I can only find a couple streaks from when you'd roll cobwebs under the sponge (and that doesn't come out... only solution is to remove cobwebs first then sponge... which he doesn't do... I saw cobwebs in every corner, some still with soot on them.) 

I was very disappointed that the dining room ceiling wasn't saved.  I really like the ceiling tile... love it... very old fashioned with gold fleck in it.  So pretty.  I could handle redoing the kitchen, but wanted to keep the living room.  HUGE cobweb streak in one corner... ruined about 3 tiles... irreplacable!  The rest of the room came clean.  I was really disappointed, because they say to paint, which ruins the softening of the sound... which our house needs all the help it can get!   They missed a few other spots on purpose... to which I grabbed their chemical sponge and it came right off... I suppose once they streaked it... they realized it didn't really matter from that point on.  But if I PAINT it... it will really matter.  But I'm going to push for replacing the tile for sound reasons. 

I decided to leave at around 11 am... the tension was a bit too high for me.  I knew that they didn't know I could hear what was going on... but still, I felt they were unhappy with me there... so I left with Paige and got some shopping done.  We were out of dog food... so it gave me an excuse to leave.  I needed to go to the post office as well. 

I came home and other than the ceilings, it looks really nice in most of the rooms.  The kitchen area... the panelling is ruined.  The paint on the walls is ruined, and some wood boards didn't come exactly clean.  The burn areas still show on the cupboards... so now we will have to wait to see what has to be replaced.  We figure if we redo the ceiling and have to redo the paneling, it might be time for an overhaul.  The countertop is questionable... the cleaner they used left a sticky residue that I haven't been able to remove.  And it discolored the top... so I have two shades of green now.  Dh is going to ask the guy if we can settle up... meaning so much needs to be replaced, if we get quotes, can we just get the money and then redo the kitchen completely... if we saved on labor, we should be able to purchase the wood for Dh to make the cupboards... afterall he made these in the first place.  Not that we wanted to do this... but the kitchen doesn't look nice and trying to fix the pain and the wood, is going to cause alot of mess and it still won't look nice because of how the wood work is around the cupboards and such... and by removing it all (to do a good job), we likely will cause more damage to it yet. 

So that is our update.  I will post more, but I need to get dressed and move some furniture out of the way so they can wash carpets!

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 8, 2008 - Fire Cleaning has begun...

Today the cleaners arrived.  And Oh, my!  They set out their plan and we either agreed or didn't agree. And for the most part, I think we got on the same page. 

We did agree to wash the kitchen items inside the cupboards, which we had originally asked them... they said they figured 12 hours to clean the contents and today Dh and I spent nearly 15 hours (our hours together) cleaning and only got the upper cupboards done inside.  I have twice as many lower cupboards, so I am like... 12 HOURS??? what were they thinking??? 

Today they got the upstairs walls and ceilings done and they cleaned a few things that was nice to see... they cleaned off the girls' bathroom sink and the toilet and really the entire bathroom... it just sparkles.  The girls' rooms don't really look all that different... they basically cleaned walls and worked around the mess that the girls had left... I don't think they did the upstairs screens however... and I will maybe ask them to do that... as I got soot on the back of my hand checking...(Will I be brave enough to ask???  LOL).  They did wash the downstairs screens which was SOOO nice!  The big deal about the  screens is that for several days, my daughter Chelsea, 16yo, would come up with soot smeared on her face and we couldn't figure out where she got it... well she loves to look out windows and see as much as she can see and often she hits her nose on the screen... and so the nose smudge began and continued until just the day before she left for camp.  We figured it out that she was too "nosey" about what was going on outside.

Anyways, upstairs I wasn't super impressed... There are two rooms done real nice and two rooms done OK.  The one gal was very particular about her cleaning and she did the two nice rooms.  One was just learning and was working with the man who was the boss of the project, I guess you call him??  He says he likes cleaning walls and ceilings, but isn't interested in the details... and it kinda showed.  Not that it was horrible, it just didn't sparkle like the other two rooms.  And the one room my girls bunk bed in... that room just didn't shine... I offered to move stuff, but they just cleaned around it... so as soon as I pick up the stuff off the dresser, I'll have to clean it again... that kinda clean.  Why clean???   Oh well.  At least the ceiling is done... I hate doing ceilings!  

Downstairs they had a guy working solo in our front room... absolutely love that guy!  And he's not coming back!!!  He has other work to do the rest of the week... but he was so thorough and that room really shines as well.  I still have to clean inside the cupboards and clean the stuff ON the cupboards, but the doors and walls and everything shines!  He knows his stuff!  One thing we learned is this cleaner just sucks the life out of the wood and he says you have to follow it with murphy's soap to add some oil back into the wood to give it shine.  I would have to say that wasn't done upstairs on our railing as it is rather dull... but downstairs, our pantry doors just glow... love it!  

Here's the plan for the rest of the week as far as the cleaners go... Wednesday, they will finish the kitchen (walls, ceilings), dining room (walls, ceilings) and the master bedroom (walls and ceilings).  Thursday they will clean the carpets and the floors... which he said they'd clean the wood floors, but I'm guessing they are going to leave that to me, because we have so many items that need to be inside because of the outside dog... that he suggested moving those items to our dining room and kitchen area... well, we are moving the stuff and moving it back... so they aren't going to be able to clean under them... so that's another thing added to my to-do list.  

Thursday when they clean the carpet, they do not want us in the house at all... especially with Paige... as she will run on the wet carpet, get it dirty and it would just be best if we weren't in the house... he even suggested we sleep in the camper on Thursday night... too bad that is plum packed FULL of blankets and laundry that I have been doing for the last week!   Maybe I can find one of the beds... what an ordeal!  So after 3 days they will be gone!  GONE.  

That will leave me with alot of work!  I figured the kitchen will take me two more days, even with some help!  The entry room is like the kitchen as far as cupboard cleaning... so say 2-3 days in there.  The dining room... not so bad, maybe a day, the bathroom... likely a day, the living room... a day (want to polish that wood so it isn't dried out... and I think the piano is my job... they won't touch it... not sure how you clean soot out of a piano!).  My bedroom... likely two days.  Upstairs... 1-2 days in bedroom 1, 1 day in bedroom 2, 1day in bedroom 3.  Bathroom2 - 1/2 day.  And the storage areas they are not touching at all... and that will take me at least a week.  That's nearly 3 weeks of straight cleaning YET to be done!  I think we will make the deductible!  I will not be able to do much cleaning the next two days the cleaners are here... being banned from the house one day... and banned from downstairs tomorrow.   My girls also thought they might miss out on cleaning being at camp... well they didn't miss out on much!  LOL.  Perhaps with their help it can go a bit faster... I hope so!   

I am beginning to wonder about how the fire is helping me to get my house cleaned in one big swoop... because it isn't going to be one big swoop!  I will be cleaning the house until we are ready to start back up with school... no summer break for this MOM!  I am still plodding on... the house is getting decluttered.  I have one van full of items ready to go to the church garage sale.   I'm sure I will have more as I enter more rooms;  I've only gone through just the laundry room and part of the kitchen!   And the big storage area upstairs... which is the area I NEED to declutter... they aren't going to even try to clean... they even suggested I move everything into that area... now wouldn't that just make the area worse again???  CRAZY! 

Well, I better go work for another hour or so.  I hope to clean off the kitchen counters and the dining room furniture so that they can move items around and clean.  Tomorrow morning I will be emptying bookshelves to my bed so they can clean our bedroom.  I then will head upstairs to likely Paige's room to "finish the cleaning", doing the detail work.  I'm so tired and so very sore! 

Now... you know your house is big when the cleaners joke about hating to break into our house because it is so big and there are so many rooms... even a burglar would get lost!  One said that after a lady got lost trying to figure out where to go and she says... there's too many rooms in here!   Dh liked the comment... he loves his big house.

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 7, 2008 - Busy...

I likely won't be on here much for the next week as cleaning officially begins tomorrow.  I have been busy however filling boxes and taking clean wash out to the camper.  Boxes are going into the outside mudroom.  I am exhausted just for yesterday's filling of boxes.  I have no idea where they are going to start, so that is a bit frustrating as well.  I may be packing up boxes that I don't need to mess with for a few days.  OH well! 

I quick checked my measurements from my increased activity...although I wouldn't say I am getting an aerobic workout... climbing the steps and lifting boxes and moving boxes has given me quite a bit of undeliberate strength training.  And what happened was just as I suspected... many of my sizes went UP... but I know I had little muscle underneath, so this is beefing up the muscle and for that I am glad.  It is noticable.  My lower thigh... those muscles above your knee... I can see them now... Woo Hoo and that size went up nearly 1.5 inches.  I laughed.  My calves went up, my upper chest and my hips went up... which I have big butt muscles when they are toned!  I did have two losers... the more important ones... slight loss on my upper arm, which is flabby!  And a loss of over a 1/2 inch on my waist.   This wasn't an official check, I just wanted to see what was going on... 

Anyways, I need to get back to packing.  I think I might head out and get our groceries while it is raining this morning and then come back and pack the rest of the day and evening.  I was going to stop at Menards and get a few laundry baskets... they are on sale for $2.48 and that would help with moving so many books back and forth.  I hope to find some more free boxes as well.  I see Menards has throw rugs for a buck... those rag woven rugs... we use them for camping and some are nice colored...browns and my daughter picked out a few pink ones... my other daughter some harvest colored ones... Fun!  I likely will use these in the bathrooms as my b-room rugs are disgusting and likely ruined.... My yellow rug is gray from the soot and everyone walking on it.  Also on sale are canning jars for $3.48 with a rebate... so I will pick up two of those cases as well.  

I need to get going as things won't get done if I am on the computer.

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 4, 2008 - Today... Happy 4th!

I took the girls to the parade.  They decided at the last minute to help with the church's float, so I took them.  It's about 30-35 miles from our house, so we got up early and got some chores done then left.  The Parade theme this year was REMEMBER WHEN... and our church's float was small (just a pick-up truck with several walkers walking by it).  They had signs that said "Wise Men still seek Him"  and 3 wise men in the back of the truck with a wooden camel.  They got lots of cheers, I guess, through out the parade, so they knew people appreciated the thought.  My kids handed out flyers with the rest of the walkers... they has small children's booklets and magazines to hand out and a few adult flyers as well.  I just watched from a friend's house which is the very corner the parade starts and while we saw all the floats, many weren't in sync until after the first block. 

After the parade, I quickly ran into town with a friend's keys to her store and picked up as many empty boxes as I could fill in our mini van for the BIG FIRE CLEAN UP!  I so appreciated the boxes, that means I can start right away (and we did this afternoon), just removing dirty items from the immediate house and have them out of the way for the cleaners.  I packed up my cookbooks and then boxed up all the food they told me to throw and I also inventoried it all.  My girls packed a few boxes of items they did not want to have messed with when they are away at camp.  

We are to record our time cleaning and boxing items and we can work off our deductible.  The insurance adjuster told us to keep track of times.  He does not have the exact rate we will be paid at, but it will be between $8-10.  I figured if we got the rate of $8, we need to work off 132.5 hours.  So far, we've logged 16.25 hours.  Not much, but it's hard to do much when they say you can't clean until the cleaners come.  But some things like laundry and boxing up items we can do (now that we have approval).  I have four pages of inventoried items from my spice cupboards.  The adjuster said I'd likely have to take a price shop and get some prices on the items and then figure the cost... by how much was left in the packages.  Full, half, 1/4, etc.  I am really hoping that turning in sheet with prices will be adequate.  Rebuying everything right now seems just over my head.  First, there is no where to put it, and second, I just want the house clean before I think about restocking the cupboards.   I will say however that fried potates with no seasonings aren't as grand as one might think... LOL.  I really should buy a little salt and some garlic or a couple seasonings... but then again... maybe I just shouldn't fry anything!!!  That's bad for my health anyways!  

I am feeling a bit better today.  I was thinking about how overwhelming this process is really turning out to be.  And yet... I recall that recently I was stunned by the doctor's diagnosis of depression.  As I was thinking of the garden... if you are gone 1 week, it takes nearly 3 weeks to catch up with weeding... things just don't stop growing!    As I looked at the house and noted my past couple years worth of keeping house (little was done when I was dealing with my daughters illnesses, our hard sheep year, and my depression)... I realized I kept the family areas clean... as clean as say... there wasn't food stuck to the furniture, but dusting was done every couple of months rather than once a week... I had lots to catch up on... and if it worked out like the garden... even though I am getting my energy back, trying to keep up and catch up at the same time was still going to be a lengthy process.   Now I am offered help.  I was at first mortified that they are cleaning EVERY little piece of my home, but I am beginning to be grateful for this opportunity... I mean how often does one get a full cleaning and professional cleaning help when one does spring cleaning?   I simply have to humble myself and just admit that I need help to get back on my feet... and Wow, God already provided that help!  Even before I asked.  How great is that?  God is sooooo good to me sometimes that I know I hardly deserve any of this (I don't deserve any of it!), but oh how grateful I am to be His child!    

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 3, 2008 - Small Fire Update: Adjuster news...

Yesterday morning the 2nd cleaning place was here and the adjuster stopped by as well.  The cleaning place said they would put their bid in, but we haven't heard what it is as of yet. 

The adjuster went on to say basically after looking things over, this is going to take some time.  It is going to be like we all are invading your entire life.  We however will help you through it and it will be over in a short time, but it will likely seem like an eternity going through it.  Having said that, he also says that we need patience.  NO CLEANING is to be done until the cleaners come... so much damage can be done by cleaning soot that is irrepairable.  I told him that DH had already started because he was embarrassed by the sight of all these cobwebs (which are soot webs, not cobwebs... we learned so much these past couple days!)  We notice a couple places where dh had the vacuum stick and hit the tile or something and it actually made skid marks that Dh then tried to get out and couldn't... he likely made it worse.  The insurance adjuster just raised his eyebrows, but understood since no one told us what to do... they try to get out the day of or the next morning, but our insurance companies fax wasn't working and once back online... they forgot to call over the weekend and they took a holiday off on Monday... so nothing was told to us until Tuesday.  We have been eating food in the cupboards they deemed unsafe and have basically told me to inventory and throw out.  We have been living in a house that they are making to sound unliveable until it is cleaned.  That has been changed to be you can live there, but you should really be careful what you touch, what you track back and forth and washing dishes before you eat.. .regardless of whether they look dirty or not.  I'm like Uh-huh... he knows we have a 3yo and that this goes beyond her comprehension. 

The adjuster also said this takes steps.  We can replace the stove and hood as soon as we want... that will totally be replaced so we can go ahead and go shopping and turn in the bill.   But otherwise, the cleaning needs to be done first.  After the cleaning is done, then they will assess the damage.  Then we will have to get bids, then approval for work to be done, then the last of the repair work should get completed.  The cleaning will take approximately one week... maybe a little longer.  They asked what we were willing to clean and we said the microcleaning, which he is happy for.  They will clean the big areas, the ceilings, walls, and floors... and the entire kitchen area (washing cupboards, dishes, etc.).  That leaves me to pack everything up in the house in boxes and get it out of the way so they can do that... I then will have to wash everything before putting it away again.  Steve will help, but he has a full day at work next week and I will likely be alone doing much of the cleaning and trying to entertain Paige in the process. 

I am beginning to see the reason of why this happened... and I smile and grimace all at the same time... In one big swoop my house will be cleaned and decluttered all at once.  Likely in two weeks... Everything will have been cleaned and sorted and replaced into it's home or taken away to the dump or given away as donations.  DONE!  For those who have been keeping up on my blog you know my decluttering journey is very slow.  I take it one box at a time... and slowly go through items.  I recall taking things to the basement last fall and this spring the prized items went upstairs to be sold online... which in all honesty... things are selling.  I am going to the post office 1-2 times a week to mail off items.  Anyways, I will no longer need to bore you on my decluttering process because... it will be done!  (if I stick to it and work with the process... which Dh says he will stick me to it!  LOL). 

You know... in my last fire post I was trying to figure this out and praying about it because it made no sense to me at all.  NONE... so I went to bed with a heavy heart.  But in the morning I awoke dreaming about something I only recall the meaning of now... and yet I know it was of giving things away... And I recall sleepily replying to this thought, but LORD, I thought you wanted us to sell it and then give to the poor... and to which I felt a deep need to read my proverbs chapter of the day.  I wake up more fully, opening my eyes and I sense the words... The Lord will supply all your needs... and then remembering my dream of giving things away... I then eagerly rushed for my Proverbs book (It is just the book of Proverbs in one little paperback that I use for my daily devotions)... and I read the following...

Proverbs 22:1  ¶A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Yes, I know that Lord.

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July 1, 2008 - Fire Update: Cleaners came today to look around...

The cleaners came today to look around and WOW is all I can say.  They told me that I need to throw out any food in the kitchen that was in a box or in a jar... that the soot gets into the food and it is junk... he said if you want a head start ... start making a list of all the spices and foods in your cupboards here by the stove and in the cupboards in the kitchen.  UGH! 

They also took their special cleaning sponges and wiped in every room and found soot around the entire house.  They said this is worse than moving.  You have to take everything out and clean it and replace it back again.  Electronics... especially in the kitchen are likely junk and hopefully the insurance will cover.  Apparently the soot gets into the workings of the machines and will ultimately burn them out in a short time... that's my stove, my microwave (which I don't use alot, but DH does), two bread machines, my grain mill, my kitchen aid mixer and my bosch mixer, my fryer (which we were going to give up anyways), my smoothie maker, all that kind of stuff...   I'm wondering if the fridge qualifies as well. 

I seriously was thinking this is nuts... this was a small fire.  And you're telling me that cleaning up my house alone (just wiping things down) is going to cost between $5,000 and $10,000!!!  And replacing all this other stuff...   Not to mention the cupboard damage, the counter top damage and the hood vent damage.  The ceilings in the kitchen and dining room can be cleaned, but not completely... both cleaning companies suggested cleaning, then sealing, then painting over.... OR replacing completely.  I absolutely LOVED that tile!  It was unique with gold flecks in it... nothing on the market like it now.  GONE!  We'd rather see it replaced than painted however.  But what a mess that will make. 

I asked the guy after hearing all that they wanted done... every thing cleaned out of every box, every cloth item washed... every hard item wiped down (down to every single book ... everything (does he realize how many books we have????  I own a small library in my house!) .  I'm like... is this really reasonable for a small fire???  And he said... small fire big fire... it's still a fire and still smoke damage to the home.  He said realistically the  damage is the same except our structural support is still there.  He said it is like being pregnant... either you are or you aren't... there are no little pregnancies.   That made total sense to me and helped it sink in.  Cuz when I am sickest with my pregnancy is in the beginning.  (when I'm a little pregnant... ain't no one going to tell me I'm just a little pregnant!  LOL)

So, now I am befuddled over this.  I am trying to figure out what this little fire has caused in our life... a total upheaval!  My girls are leaving for summer camp on Sunday.  The one cleaning company said they can likely start on Monday after they leave.  That leaves me alone to work with them with Paige by my side and keeping her out of their hair as well.  If I clean, I can make between $8-10 an hour to decrease what we owe on our deductible...  great.  Perhaps we can work off our deductible considering the expected expenses...  But why this trial?  Why if we can make this work without too much added expense... what is the sense of this trial happening.  That is what I am pondering.  I am considering if it is God giving me an honest look at how much stuff we have and how if we didn't have this much stuff (which most of it is other peoples giftings to us)... how much easier it would be to clean...  Is it building character... Is it me taking an honest look at myself and my own abilities.  I just took on SS teacher at church and it starts this Week... now I have this mounting over me?  Wow is all I can say.  I'm sure God will show me what the true reason is in time. 

I'm still not mad with my daughter.  Her room actually the guy cleaning was going to be the worst of them to clean... they said 2 days alone in her room.  UGH!   And she will be gone at camp when they come to clean... so she will have little say on what stays or goes.  She is a bit worried. 

Well, tomorrow the adjuster comes and We will find out (hopefully) what the situation is with the appliances and damage to the cupboards and such.  The cleaners just eluded by past experience with other fires of what to expect. 

Until then,  ~Melissa

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