Breakfast on the Farm, Wayside Dairy, Greenleaf, WI 2013

For our Weekly Adventure we went to Breakfast on the Farm with Mimaw.  There was a lot of food, a lot of people, good music (I discovered I do like country music - but I have to be on a farm to enjoy it - LOL!), and a lot of fun.  The point of the event is to teach people about dairy farms and where we get our cheese and milk and yogurt, etc., and all the work that goes into running a dairy farm.  We all had a really good time.  If you'd like to see more pictures with captions hover over the image above and then click on the picture gallery icon in the upper right of the picture.

Pinterest Project

Here is the original Pinterest project:  A sort of - coaster tray - so when you have numerous kids in the house (well, parents, too) you can keep track of which glass or cup is yours and know that it is currently 'in use.'  Great idea.  Even though I'm not entirely sure it will work out with kids already trained to leave their glass where ever they please, I still wanted to give it a try.  Let's face it - it's just darn cute!

And, - here's my replica!  What a pain in my royal tush, too.  Glad it's done.  I'm happy with the way it turned out but I am learning that hardly anything on Pinterest is ever as easily accomplished!

Recurring problem:  I can never find the materials advertised in the project.  The ceramic tiles pictured above are regular coaster size, and apparently cost the maker .18 cents at her local hardware store.  I cheked 2 different hardware stores, Home Depot, Fleet Farm, and Wal-Mart.  No plain ceramic tiles - anywhere.  So, I rethink how I'm going to do the project and make it my own. 

I purchased a premade, laminated shelf.  It was just over $5.  Not too bad.  I searched Home Depot for tiles and the only normal size they had - were white and shiny.  I decided I'd opt for the 6x6 tiles that already had an element of design.  Handles, no problem.  Found little pegs for feet, no problem.

I did sand the laminate before painting.  And, I'll tell you I just purchased one of the sample containers of paint at Home Depot for just under $3.  I gave it about 3 coats.  It dries quick.  Attaching the handles - was nearly disastrous.  If I had any woodshop in me at all - it would've been a cinch.  I drilled holes, but my measurements were off - by a HAIR.  So, I had to redo them - well, I just attempted to 'push' the drill bit in the direction I needed the actual hole location to be.  I'm not a patient person and I know there will be others like me who want to complete a project from start to finish - there's none of this getting up and walking away with the intent to finish it later.  So, I had to touch up my paint after that was done.  I simply used a transfer for the names (thankfully I already had the letters).  I mod-podged just the name - not the whole tile.  I mod-podged the tray before placing the tiles.  I glued on the little legs, and then glued on the tiles - I did use wood glue - because I had it on hand and figured it was stronger than Elmer's. 

So, ta-da!  Here it is.  We'll see how useful it is. . .

 

LOL!  Just drink from the pot Justin. 

Pinterest Project

Here is an actual Pinterest project that I liked and wanted to duplicate.

And, here we have the duplicated project.   Some of the problems I encountered were 1.)  I couldn't find already cut, plain, cork coasters.  So, I had to buy a roll or cork (well, I actually bought a couple of square sheets of cork) and cut them myself. It is a royal pain to cut cork because you need really sharp scissors.   My hands ached for quite a while.  2.)  Since the edges were 'crumbly' I had to get creative.  I used some twine around the edges and it turned out alright. 

The downside is that it cost more to make than the original project pinned, and it took a lot more effort, time, and materials.

I don't like to 'exactly' duplicate projects because I want them to have some of my creativeness in them.

 

 

 

 

Click on the photo icon (bottom right) to see photo gallery - German Shorthaired Pointer pups. One will be ours in July!

Angie's List? Should I?

It was difficult to sleep last night.  I've been worrying about our pool getting done and the huge mess caused by all the rain these past 3 days and seething over an electric company who could give less than two shakes of a rat's tail over a job for which we consulted. 

Several weeks ago while we were still in the planning phases I contacted a few electrical companies inquiring about the service I would need in order to get our new pool up and running.  At least two companies told me that they deal with much larger projects.  At first I was slightly miffed, but I did understand, and I appreciated the honesty.

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to explain accurately what we needed so I wrote it down and repeated it to everyone I spoke with.  I said, and I quote:  "I need electrical hooked up at the house and run from the house to the box, and from the box to the motors."  The pool company was supplying the box.  So, two companies were able to come out and for both my husband was home, thankfully, because I don't know diddly squat about electrical hook-ups, how it's run, etc.  Both fellas took a look at our breaker box, walked around the house, inspected stuff outside, etc.  They did the same things, they were given the same 'tour', and were told the same explanation of the work that was needed.

First quote, (from the guy who came last) was for $795.00.  His quote was written out itemizing the work required.  The first fellow who came - well, I had to call him and ask if he was going to send us a quote.  He replied he'd get it to me that very evening.  He did.  It was a two-liner: 

"$500.00 to wire pool in customer supplied trench and customer supplied grounding.
Add $500.00 for Current Electrical Services to trench wiring."

 

Okay.  I should've called him or emailed him back and verified this is the cost for doing this, this, and this, right?  Right??  But, I didn't. 

 

So, I called a week in advance to set up the appointment for the less expensive company to come out and do the job agreed to.  It has been nerve wracking coordinating pool installation with electrical, natural gas hook-up, and the inspector. 

 

It had been pouring on the pool guys since day one.  Mud has been filling back in the trench we dug for the electrical, and the pool guys wanted to go home and come back when dry - but, I had the electrical guy and inspector scheduled as progress on the pool dictated.  When you have someone 'scheduled' you can't just re-schedule at your convenience. 

 

So, the pool guys continued working and the electrical company sent their very friendly minion, their employee, to do the job.  It was evident he didn't expect the amount of work he needed to do.  At one point when looking at my breaker he said he didn't have the materials on hand to do what he needed to do with the breaker.  And - I knew.  I knew this wasn't going to end well.  He later came to the door and explained that this wasn't the job the business owner sent the quote for.  I was told I'd get another quote - which I hadn't, and that even if they could come back out - it wouldn't be this week at all. 

 

So, just how are the pool guys going to finish their job?  I know they have other jobs lined up.  It's still raining.  Concrete companies are backed up, too.   But, even if we get one lined up for next week - they can't do what they need to do until the electrical and gas is done.  Gas comes after the electrical as well. 

 

Sky had me call the electrical company that screwed us yesterday before 5pm to ask if they had another quote for me.  I couldn't leave a message on the man's cell because it was full, apparently.  So, I called the office and had to leave a message - it was 4:26 pm because I stated the time in the message I left.  Sky told me to be friendly but I wanted to be furious! 

 

I wish I could have trusted them to do the job they said they were going to do, when they said they'd do it, and for the price they quoted me.  Now, I'm all screwed up!

 

We are supposed to go camping this weekend with a large group of friends.  I'm excited about it but how can I leave this mess?  How can I leave this pool unfinished?  But, then I ask myself, why can't I just go - and forget it for the weekend?  I must look for the silver lining - that it's still too cold to be in the pool.  Then, again, it's supposed to be in the mid-70's next week.  Not too cool at all. 

 

Is there no silver lining?

 

I decided to leave a comment about this electrical company that has screwed me on Angie's List.  I didn't realize you have to pay for Angie's List.  So, I'm wondering, is it worth it?  $17 for 1-year - just to leave negative feed back.  I'm thinking it would be worth it.  I've given the company until 9am to call me back.  If they don't I'll contact the other electrical company and hope they can get to me in a relatively timely manner. 

 

Maybe I'll get in my pool in June???  I don't know.  What I do know is that this sucks, and I'm on end.  It's the first day of summer vacation for my kids and I'm already on edge.