What a Crazy Day

Crap.  

I just realized that it's been a week since I posted. Sorry!  I have not been ignoring everyone - I've just been crazy busy and it's been an up-and-down roller coaster for me.  I was supposed to close on the new project Victorian on Friday but it's been delayed due to some title issues that are being worked through on the vacant lot.  We're now supposed to close next Friday.  *crossing fingers*

Plus it's stinkin' hot here again and I haven't felt like doing much.  I was really hoping that Mother Nature would forget that it's August and let us keep the nice, cooler temps in the 80's.  Drat!  Foiled again!

So J. and I spent yesterday morning at another auction where he was stalking one of those walk-behind skidsteers.  I went along because they had a 4 foot John Deere tractor tiller that was practically brand new.  I didn't win it, as it went for more than the 8 foot Land Pride one!  I guess you do pay more for labels (or, in this case, a certain shade of green paint.)  Heh.

Anyways....you have to got to see what else they had at this auction.  

He's a magnificent, sexy beast, isn't he?

My friends, that's Leghorn, the 5 foot metal rooster.  And he was glorious, let me tell ya!  Had he not sold for close to $600, I might have brought him home with us and declared him neighborhood art.   If we're all going to be urban farmers with chickens here in the Lykins neighborhood, then we need a mascot, right?

J. ended up winning the Dingo, which came with several attachments and it's very own custom trailer, at a really good price.  The guy bidding against us came up later and introduced himself as a union carpenter that does desk and landscaping work on the side.  Hmmmm....I told him that we would probably give him a call on this next project.  He even asked if we would call him if we decided to sell the equipment in the future.  Cool....if we decide to sell, we have a buyer already lined up.

After the auction, we headed to Menards in St. Joseph, which is about 45 minutes north of KC. It was the first time we'd ever been to what should actually be called Mecca for DIYers.  As we drove up, I commented to Jim that we should have brought our roller skates along, as that place is HUGE!

I have a VERY strict budget on this new house reno, so I'm looking to cut money anywhere I can.  Menards may be the best friend I need:  I picked up new entry door locks\handles for 1/2 price, house wrap at about 35% of regular cost, and vinyl siding for the addition for 20% of regular cost.  Yippee!

By the time we were done there, J. and I were exhausted and parched.  Lemonade chillers from DQ perked us up for the long drive home and then we collapsed on the sofa to watch a movie.  And then we hear sirens.  And they get closer.  And closer.  And then they seem to stop outside our house.

I open the front door and step out on the front porch to see this.

Fire!  

The crappy blue house 5 doors down from us that's been abandoned for at least 6 or 7  years was on fire.  And I mean serious fire....the flames were shooting up over the roof of the house next door, which is perilously close.  We've all been trying to get Kansas City to tear that thing down for years so I can't say I'm not happy that this happened, as long as no one gets hurt.  My plan is to head down and get some "after" pictures for you later today.

Hope everyone has been well!  I am staying out of the heat today and sewing some new seat covers for our RV couch, so I should have time to make the blog rounds today.  Talk to ya soon!