Shower stall demolition and a trip to NC

I have had quite a few house days,  lately.  I started out Friday morning expecting the Tile man (Jefftile) to show up and demolish the master bathroom tile shower.  He said he'd be there by 10 but about 10 he called to say he couldn't make it.  Did I mind?  Now,  I would like to get this show on the road and over with....so,  I guess you could say I did mind.  I had plans to be away and not involved,  but he was making me nervous that I would have to be there and hear it all!  He promised to show up on Sunday at 10 and begin.  Fax was very disappointed.  He wanted to be the extra helper and carry all the rubble out for Jefftile and he promised he wouldn't ruin my floors. (Hand grainpainted about 6 years ago.)  (Everyone who comes in the front door...including Jefftile...exclaims:  These floors are beautiful!) So,  when I left on Friday I was afraid there would be more delays.  But, I went my merry way,  leaving Fax in charge to pay for the replacement Patio Door and exterior utility door that Lowes people are installing.  I also crossed my fingers that Jefftile would show up on Sunday.

I drove down...or across the state towards NC,  actually into NC to check on a friend's house for sale in a very charming town near the Va. border:  Warrenton, NC.  I have looked at her house more than a few times.  It has been for sale awhile.  It is charming,  the neighborhood is quiet, it has covenants on it from PreservationNC.  It has a drop dead gorgeous outbuilding with an early fireplace to absolutely die for.  It has a huge protected oak tree with enough acorns in the fall to feed a mountainload of squirrels and their mothers!!!  And...if having a historic house for sale isn't enough for you,  she also has a huge, fantastic historic shop for sale right on Main Street next to the Court House!!!  I just wish I could make a leap of faith and jump across that stateline!!!  I have wonderful Austro-Swiss 19th century oil paintings that would make a great backdrop in part of her shop if it were a little bistro with blue and white check tablecloths....ah well...I have eaten some very nice meals in Warrenton.  Last fall I treated my friend and the real estate agent to lunch and the entire bill was $17.00!!!  How does that restaurant make enough to pay its bills?  Whoo...I have really gotten off the subject of Jefftile!!! 

I had better make the rest of my weekend another post for another day...  Suffice to say that the weather was beautiful,  despite cold and rainy being called for.  I dug up 5 of the boxwood like hollies I had planted last year at my little house (a shame,  but they had already grown too large for their location,)  and loaded them in the van for the trip back to the 'burg,  where they will replace Fax's blueberry bushes along the patio in the "real" house's back yard.  Next trip I will remove the rest,  if they are needed,  and I think they will be.

So,  back at the 'burg I wondered if Jefftile made the scene...The floors looked OK...nothing looked amiss,  Fax didn't look anymore bedraggled than usual.  Yes,  he said that he was feeling extremely bedraggled.  Jefftile had arrived that morning and the shower was demolished!!!  Fax got to be his right hand man and the rubble was carried out from upstairs bucket by bucketful and deposited in Jefftile's special Trashed Van.  Jefftile's work was very tidy!  I was impressed.  There were only a few,  easy to repair gouges in the drywall on the ceiling and it looked as though he didn't really have to tear up the floor outside the shower at all,  except that I know he wants to.   The leakage area was not that large and there was no rotten or soft wood.  It is such a shame (and expense,) that so much had to be demolished to make it look and work OK once again.  Oh well!  One step down,  more to follow!