Mailbox

As the house got painted I went ahead and had the mailbox repainted and also took off the metal numbers, that were actually to big for the post and had my neighbor write the numbers on top to make it look better. I had my female neighbor because I have guy writing so I knew it would be real ugly if I wrote it.

Before they didn't have numbers on this side, and as my job has me drive around to people's houses, I hate it when the numbers aren't real clear.


Here are the oversized numbers on the other side. I say over sized because they were taller then the wood they were nailed to.


Now fresh new paint and numbers on top where they should be.


No more slight rush looking mailbox


Added wood frame around the mailbox and added some dirt to fill it the area.




Added some mulch and now the mail box planter is done. I have a couple of flowers growing inside (from seeds) that I will put in it in the spring.

New Fridge and Getting It In

I looked around at some fridges with my 1st home buyer tax credit and even with picking the smallest fridge that still had the water and ice dispenser on the outside it still took a little to get it in. I had to take one of the doors half way off o get in through the front door. Then it was a very tight squeeze to get the fridge in place and I should have had 1 inch clearance, but I didn't. Then I noticed it was a tight squeeze and I lost that 1 inch because of the base board at the bottom on the wall. So I pulled the fridge out, which wasn't a easy task, and removed the base board and cut a little of the counter top off, just a little, and now it can go in and out easily. Then after pushing it back in I noticed that the fridge covered up the outlet on the side of the wall. So I had my Aunt's handyman come over and instead one plug for the fridge and also add a plug for the microwave and toaster oven. As he looked at the plugs he could tell how the kitchen layout use to before the previous owners redid the kitchen, but now it is all good.

Got my tools out to do some cutting to fix the tight area. I was more worry about someone dropping something behind the fridge and then having to try and pull it out to get the object or if the fridge needed repairs it would be easier


Since the old plugged was covered up I had to use my extension cord to power the fridge until I could get the new outlet in.


Fridge back in place and with new outlet.


I was able to actually have enough room for the toaster oven to be over the microwave which has really helped to clear up room. This picture is before I got the new outlet behind them, so you don't see any cords now.

Plumbing Issues Fixed

Every thing with plumbing had a leak, all minor, but things that needed to be fixed or upgraded. Luckily I am handy enough that I was able to repair all of the things myself.

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First to be fixed was the toilet leak. It kept running, or had a slow constant flow, which over time will run th water bill up. All it needed was a new flapper because the seal on the old one was the reason. After installing flapper it sealed it prefectly and fixed that small leak.

Old Flapper


New Flapper


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Next the hot water handle for the shower/tub leaked. Since the hot water leaked I figured it might be just a matter of time until the cold did too. I took the handles off and pulled the valves out and replaced both valves.

Took Handle Off


Pulled The Valves Out


New Valve on left and Old Valve On Right


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Next the bathroom sink leaked out the bottom, which you really only saw when you pulled the drain and filled up the sink. I didn't want any type of leak so I replaced the entire drain filler and stop valve.

Old Drain Plug (left) and New Drain Plug (right). Big difference.


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Then the kitchen sink had a small leak right at the bottom where the faucet came into the base. It was minor but still a leak and also I wanted to upgrade it anyways.

Old Faucet


New Faucet with pull out handle and soap dispenser.

Taking Tree Out

The first thing I did was to remove the pine tree in the front yard. It kind of covered the house and took away from the front yard. It also was wide enough that the second car behind my truck would open their door into the pine tree and that is just annoying. After removing the tree it really has opened up the front yard.


Just Bought The House


Cut Down Tree and Added Gravel


Going Through and Cutting All The Small Limbs


After Cutting Most Of The Small Things


Tree Gone

Breezeway

The first couple of times I saw the breeze way I wasn't sure if I would use that area or how. Then as I thought about it, I started to get some ideas after looking around the internet and going around to Lowes and Home Depot. Now I think I might just add more gravel in the area and put a small bench across the living room window, you can watch tv outside idea. Then in the right corner maybe build a small worm bed, worms for fishing and compost for plants. Then I could also add a couple of planters and plats out in that area to make it look better. I have also thought about a hammock instead of a bench.

Patio

Right now the patio area is more of a carport and slab behind the garage and back of house. I am going to screen in the carport area so that way during warmer weather you can do sit outside and not have to worry about rain or bugs. I will most likely keep the patio side and yard side just screen and more open, but I'm not sure about the street side. I am going to build privacy fence for the backyard so I might just continue it along the carport area so you get privacy from the street and people can't see your patio furniture.

Front of House

There is a couple of hanging on the columns, for plants or lights, so I'm not sure if I want to put plants out there or put a couple of solar powered light on the hangers. I might put the solar powered lights so at nights the front is light up enough and not have to use electricity or worry about watering.




I'm not sure if I want to keep the pine tree there or take it out. Also their is a little bit of a wooden fence that is kind of falling apart that I might just put it together enough to give that fence look. I will definitely add a lot more gravel to help make the driveway part better.