Robin was good at keeping me updated on everything. Actually, he lectured me on keeping my cell phone on -- something I usually didn't do when I wasn't traveling. He said in his heavy southern drawl was, "That we have here is a lack of communication." That was after he tried to reach me to get my input about the master bedroom closets. He ended up having to make his own best decision. I took his words to heart and tried to keep the phone on whenever possible. He sent me photos several times per week.
But my presence was needed. I had to order appliances for the kitchen as well as make other on-the-scene decisions, plus I wanted to be there. And I had to see the kitchen designer at Lowe's and order cabinets.This time I would stay in the house. So, on Valentine's weekend, I flew down again.
When I walked into the house, I was thrilled by the changes. Pictures don't tell the whole story. Robin and Ira had worked feverishly to prepare a clean space for me to stay, and it was in the small bedroom. I found a sign on the door saying, "JEAN'S NEST". Everything was clean and ready for my visit.
I had already stopped at the Dunlap Rd. house and picked up the inflatable single bed. Unfortunately, it was still inflated as I had used it the previous fall when I stayed there. I didn't have the electricity on for the pump, and had no wish to stand in the snow while trying to remember how to open the panel and turn it on. I decided it would fit in the back seat of the car once I manually expelled some of the air. Try as I might, I could only get it down a certain amount. At that point, my neighbor, Chris appeared with his little nephew and between us, we managed to jam it into the back of the compact car I had rented.
Once back at Allen St. it was an easy matter to inflate it back up. I had already installed a coffee maker, a toaster oven and microwave thinking the crew might like to use them for their lunches. I called on my neighbors, the Coles, and then headed for Lowe's to begin my marathon of shopping. I had to get bathroom fixtures (towel racks, mirrors, etc.) and other items that would be needed. I already had the kitchen sink and the light fixtures -- although I had to get some additional lights as some had arrived broken.
That night I had a rude awakening. The furnace went on, but then shut down. I froze all night, then went for an early breakfast in the morning. Robin was already at the house when I returned. I told him about the furnace. He chastized me that I hadn't called Rocky, our wonderful furnace guy who lived just around the corner, or even himself although he lived an hour away. Anyway, Rocky was summoned and appeared almost as if by magic he was so quick. He gave the furnace a through examination and figured out not only what was wrong but what could be done. Meanwhile, we considered getting a new system, pulling in the natural gas from the road, but ended up dismissing that as it would mean a new furnace and some other considerations for the pipes that were not practical if the budget were to be maintained. As the furnace was only 8 years old, we decided on Rocky's reconfiguration.
I went off to Lowe's to order the cabinets and hardware with instructions from Robin. At the store, I was fortunate enough to find Bradley available. I had been instructed to just buy stock cabinets. However, Bradley informed me about the special offer of some very nice upgrade cabinets that were not only being offered at below the stock price, but included free hardware of your choice (from their offering). Bradley would also take the dimensions and make a kitchen plan that would be ready the next day.
When I told Robin about my good deal he was skeptical. However, he went with me the next day to meet with Bradley and see the plan and the total estimate. He was impressed and I was vindicated. I had just opened a special Lowe's project account so that took care of payment for the kitchen items. I would then have to order the appliances but that was another day. While we had been waiting for Bradley to finish a phone call when we arrived, Robin found a laminate countertop material that had the same colors as the existing floor. He filed that away for when he had to order it.
There were more errands the next day -- an appointment with the floor guy for one. There were several gouges in the living room hardwood floor and a weak area along the quadruple window wall. (All new cottage-style windows had been put into the house). The man from Hardin's thought they could repair the floor and match it with the existing after refinishing. Also, it had turned out that the weak spot along the window wall was due to some massive rot and a 3' wide strip the length of the living room had to be torn out, and Robin completely rebuilt the support under that area. New flooring was installed on top and matched with the existing. It blended in very well. All the hardwood floors would be refinished including the staircase to the 2nd floor room, and carpeting would be installed in the master bedroom. Robin had already tiled the renovated hall bathroom and the new master bath and back entrance hall. The floor in the kitchen and the mudroom was fairly new and left as it was -- just cleaned up.
When it was time to return the rental car and go to the airport, Robin followed me. We had a farewell lunch near the airport and then I was off, sad to leave. I would be back in another six weeks to do my landscaping and staging for market.
Jean, Still in Maine
