This is the time of year when I take a look around and decide what needs to be done either to keep up or to improve the property.  There’s always some simple maintenance, like patching plaster and touching up paint, tightening faucets, re-caulking showers (one of my least favorite jobs), etc.  That kind of stuff is sort of a no-brainer.   Then there are things that should be replaced because they’re showing signs of wear & tear.  Some of those things I replace often, like towels.  Other things, like area rugs, need to be replaced because after ten years they’re showing signs of wear.  The house also needs new shutters, the existing ones are probably original and they’re falling apart.  These are the projects I do myself.

Then there are some larger projects with which I need help.  To that end I’ve been having what I call “The Running of the Contractors”.  It’s kind of like The Running of the Bulls, but different.  So far this year that has included a roofing contractor to replace a leaky skylight in the apartment, a masonry contractor to install a cobblestone apron at the front of the driveway (an attempt to keep the stones in the driveway) and a concrete countertop guy to look at replacing the sink counter in my kitchen.  The first two of those three projects should be done by the end of this week; I’m still waiting on the countertop estimate to make my decision on that.  I’d like to do it, but it’s not critical and I may need to spend the money elsewhere.

I still need to talk to my house painter, there’s exterior painting and power washing that need to be done and I want to see if his crew can install new shutters for me.  There’s also some landscaping work that I need to have done, parts of the brick foundation that need to be repointed and a couple of exterior carpentry jobs that can’t wait.  Oh, and it’s really all got to be done by the middle of May if not sooner.  It’s a small window of time, but with the exception of the kitchen countertop, this is all exterior work that needs to be done in reasonably good weather.

Looking at the above list, I’m well aware of how short time is.  No doubt about it, summer is coming.

Related posts:

1. Change of Season, Season of Change
2. May Already?
3. Middle of the Busy Season

Yes, I fell off, apologies to my regular readers (if I have any).  I’m going to try to get back on and stay there, though.

It’s been an interesting season, mostly in a good way.  It was my first as a solo innkeeper, so there was a lot to figure out as far as how to do what I normally do plus the things my ex-husband did, like grocery shopping.  That may seem like a small thing, but let me tell you in July and August it is definitely not!  In those months it has to be done about every 4 – 5 days and the traffic can be a challenge.  Not to mention the additional crowds at the supermarket.  Figure it out I did, however.

I’m not going to try to summarize the entire summer in one post, I’ll relate stories as I think of them and have time.  I did have a good season, despite the grim economy and the less-than-stellar weather, so I can’t complain on that front.  And I’m still here.  And I will try to stay on the wagon.

Related posts:

1. Aaaaahhh
2. August
3. So you’re planning a wedding…