Thursday, July 31, 2025

Orchid respite and men at work

The orchid is a nice change from the kitchen,  under siege from early Wednesday.


The crew arrived on the dot of eight and from then on, it was mad skillz, sawing and hammering and drilling and shouting instructions and the kitchen wall wide open likewise the front door and it was "feels like 102°f."









These are the choices of flooring. He assured me they're fine for kitchens,  waterproof and resilient. At this point I like the palest color. I like pale colors in the kitchen, preferably white, like the last kitchen floors I've installed.  As in myself, not a contractor. 

So maybe there's a bright part to this disastrous episode after all. 

Too bad my Spanish is too bad to follow the discussions between the workers.  Or maybe it's just as well.

By 1:30pm the wall was closed outside, sheetrocked inside. These guys work. Literally nonstop, in the heat. The good part is that they were in shade, that being the west facing wall, for most of the day.

This is a roundabout way of getting a new kitchen floor and paint job.

Happy day everyone, the car will probably be home Thursday. Being paid for by Gary on his travels today, taking my card with him. He'll make sure he's happy with it, too.

It is already feeling better to have an unbroken wall. And an unbroken car.






41 comments:

  1. That is fast (and skilled) work! Glad the outside was walled off before the afternoon heat settled in.

    A decade ago Mike and I re-roofed our house. It took us five weeks in mid-summer, working in the early morning and late evening when the roof was shaded. A crew of seven Latinos re-roofed a neighboring house in ONE DAY, in 100F weather. Our hats were off to them.

    Those orchid blossoms - wow!

    Chris from Boise

    PS I just requested a copy of Vanishing Fleece from our library.

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    1. They absolutely do not mess around. And they're skilled. Great team workers, too.
      I think you'll get a lot out of Vanishing Fleece. I certainly understood this week's t and t better because of it.

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  2. Incredibly fast repair once it happened. Sounds like these guys don't mess around. I wish we had builders like that.

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    1. They're excellent. At this rate it will be less than the five days the boss estimated. He may have been allowing for ordering the floor. The kitchen already feels better.

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  3. That's a nice colour choice for your kitchen floor. One of my friends has polished black granite tiles for her floor and I like that too.

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    1. I like a clean light color around food.

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  4. Great! So glad things are moving along nicely.

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    1. I am, too. I'd expected slower work, was I wrong.

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  5. Insurance claims are always slow to get started, but the technicians seem to all be making fast work of it. Exciting to have a fresh kitchen. I like light kitchens, too. Our current kitchen is not that, but at least it’s fun. All that noise and activity gets old fast!

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    1. The relief when they all went home! They're a nice crew, but I felt invaded. Couldn't walk, too hot, couldn't escape, no car! Poor me.

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  6. It's so satisfying and relieving to have the work done quickly and efficiently. Those workmen really earn their money.

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  7. Oh wow its all happening - and what a silver lining, kitchen and car.

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  8. Everything will soon be back to normal again soon!

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    Replies
    1. I'm beginning to believe this. The last month has made it hard to credit.

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  9. I am reminded of how expertly and smoothly the work went when we put in a new driveway a few summers ago. The labour was Mexican, which is not all that usual in Canada.

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    1. One of the older workers is Brazilian, the others probably Guatemalan or Ecuadorian, most likely around here.

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  10. Life is good and a new and improved normality will awaken.

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    Replies
    1. Let's hope so. A return to organized surroundings will be great.

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  11. I'm glad the home reno is finally in gear -- rugged when it's so hot and humid but boy, I'd be glad to see those fellows arrive. A big job and it looks like they're doing it well. I'm sure you'll be thrilled when all is finished.

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    1. To them not such a big job, it seems. The painter is at work in the kitchen now, filling holes at warp speed.

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  12. It will be so nice when it is done and you can put all of the worry and stress behind you. Glad you got a good team of workers getting it done quickly. Stay cool if you you - hang out at a neighbors?

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  13. It sounds like this will be done fast!

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  14. I remember being completely amazed at the work habits and ethic of the men who redid our roof last year. They just did not stop except for lunch and then a very short opportunity for a tiny siesta, perhaps under a tree. Otherwise- seven a.m. to six p.m., constantly busy. I have deep respect for anyone who works like that.
    And it would appear that your team knows exactly what they're doing. I like the palest sample of the flooring too.

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    1. It's probably the way a lot of people used to work, but it's rare enough to comment on. And in such heat, too. They're a seamless team, never bumping one another even though there's not much room.

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  15. So good to hear/see the repairs are being done professionally. Skilled construction workers are not always easy to find...and are booked far in advance! I'm glad that many Latino people are skilled in those methods. It sure beats farm work! Landscaping is another area in which they seem to have cornered the market.

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    1. Yes to all that. Here Guatemalan workers have outshone everyone in gardening and landscaping. It's an education to watch them planting at the entrances of local developments.

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  16. It will feel much better to have the kitchen intact and life back to normal!

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  17. I shall have to keep this method of kitchen renovation in mind:) Sadly though, my kitchen is in the back of the house, so probably wouldn't work.
    I have a very unhappy orchid right now that I'm trying to save. I hope I'm doing the right thing. From Dr. Google, it needs more sphagnum moss to hold the moisture in. The new potting mix I bought was mostly bark, so we'll see if that helps. Fingers crossed.

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    1. I think I used to use osmunda fiber. But as long as water rushes through as in nature, that's okay. They're weird plants, quite self willed. This one has had very little attention and is doing well. They do go for months looking all dried up then come back when they feel like it.

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  18. Sounds like it all go in your life at the moment, kitchen and car.. hope it all turns out well.

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  19. Yay for good workers. And good friends.

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    1. Such a relief that the contractor is good. I knew nothing about him except the company works with the insurers.

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  20. Sounds like a really good crew that works hard! So glad to hear that and nice to see the pictures. Yes, it has to feel good to have an unbroken wall and an unbroken car!!! :) :)

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    1. Even before painting, it's nice to see a solid wall, not one falling into the room. I think the car will be back tomorrow.

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