Mom With Power Tools Returns

Unwilling to let one failure stop her, Mom With Power Tools embarks on a new project.

Well, not really new. Just something she has never attempted before. The project has been waiting to be done for two years or more (something JJ never got around to).

In typical manner, there is no overhead lighting in my living room. My dining room is at one end of the living room, and also has no overhead lighting. A couple of weeks ago, I bumped into my only lamp and broke it.

It has been very dark lately.

JJs sister was redecorating a couple of years ago, and JJ brought me a light fixture that she no longer needed. He intended to put a cord on it and hang it over the dining room table.

It never got done.

Today, Mom With Power Tools decided it was about time it was done.

Off to the hardware store, looking for suitable electrical wire for the job. Found "portable swag lighting kit". Nearly perfect. It has a pull-chain on the bulb socket. Locate a rocker switch. Now, it is perfect.

Back home, Mom disassembles the old light fixture. It now has no electrical parts. That makes it easy to wash... put it in the dishwasher! Now, it sparkles.

Thread wire through chain. Install two ceiling hooks. Splice rocker switch into electrical cord. Make sure fixture is dry, and wire it with the new light socket. Add one light bulb, hang the light, and plug it in.

I have light!

And to think I have always avoided electrical work. It is the only course I ever failed in school (34% - not even close to passing). Aptitude tests have revealed that I would be bored as an electrician. That does not mean I cannot do it. It just means I had no motivation to pass the course.

Mom With Power Tools has regained her confidence.

I can do anything!

I am Mom.

What's next?

Mom With Power Tools Strikes Again!

I visited Canadian Tire on the weekend to buy a circular saw. They had them locked in a cabinet, so I had to track down a salesman. I told him what I wanted, and he said "do you want a skill saw or a circular saw?".

I guess he's hard of hearing.

Or thinks that Moms don't know what they want when it comes to tools.

Then I went to the building supply store and asked for two sheets of standard 3/8" plywood.

They didn't question my decision.

I took it all home, and started fixing the one-eyed-monkey-designed kitchen.

I needed to finish the partitions between the bank of drawers and the cupboards on either side of it. The rats are getting under the sink, and then into everything else.

Measure, saw, glue, nail.

Done.

Next, the cupboards above the sink. The vent pipe for the water drains goes up one end of those cupboards. The rats have been climbing it and getting into that cupboard, and the ceiling.

Two boards cut and nailed in diagonally to block access from the pipe to the cupboard. Line the seams with steel wool, and another job is done.

Lots of wood left, so I construct partitions for the cupboards above the stove... if the rats do happen to chew through again, they will have an additional obstacle to get through. Plus, items can be stacked now without falling into the next cupboard. More convenient for storage purposes.

After lining the cupboards with mac tac to hide the raw plywood, Mom With Power Tools retires for the night, satisfied that the rats can no longer invade her kitchen.

Mom With Power Tools suffers from a false sense of security. In the night, the rats chewed a fresh hole in the ceiling and got into a cupboard previously unknown to them.

Mom Wisth Power Tools becomes Mom With Rat Poison.


I am Mom.

These Rats Are Driving Me Crazy!

After the incident with the Rat in the cutlery drawer, I went shopping and purchased everything on the list I posted... except the mint. I forgot the mint.

I spent the better part of the day on Friday trying to Rat-proof my kitchen. I stuffed all the holes with steel wool. I cut plywood and made partitions to keep the rats out of the cupboards. I set up my Ratzapper with fresh bait and turned it on.

By the time I went to bed Friday night, I was satisfied that the Rats could not get into my kitchen.

Saturday morning, I got up and checked on the Ratzapper. The red light on top was flashing... I caught a Rat! I switched the power off, then picked it up. It was empty! The Rat went inside, ate the bait, and left! He was supposed to be electrocuted.

I was not happy.

I made myself a cup of tea. I opened the cupboard door and got myself some sugar. As I was sipping my tea, I saw it... Rat Poop in the cupboard. I was sure they could not get into that cupboard. I went looking for a way they could have gotten into that cupboard... they chewed a new hole in the ceiling!

That was it! I had had enough! I went to the local nursery and bought Rat Poison. I have been trying to avoid poison... I don't want any poisoning accidents. Alot of animals live in my neighbourhood... and in my home.

I cleaned the cupboard above the hot water heater (in the bathroom). They are getting into the house there, so I knew they would be back. I put a package of Rat Poison there, then washed my hands thoroughly.

Within an hour, I could hear Rats eating in that cupboard. I resisted my curiosity impulse, and did not open the door. Instead, I just smiled.

Today, the cat has made regular trips into the cupboard under the kitchen sink. He hasn't brought anything out though.

I will probably peek into the bathroom cupboard before going to bed, just to see how much of the Poison the Rats have eaten. If they finished off that batch, I will set out a fresh package for them. The box has 8 packages in it.

I don't want them to run out.

Rats!

And I mean rats!

In the last week, the cat has brought me 2 young rats. He doesn't eat them, so I have to dispose of them.

Tonight, I decided to clean my wine bottles in preparation for bottling my wine. I had cleaned about half of them, when I needed something out of the drawer. I opened the cutlery drawer, and a young rat was sleeping in it! He scurried around a bit, then jumped out of the drawer, into the cupboards.

That startled me! I was not expecting to see a rat. I haven't seen one in the house for a few weeks now. The two the cat brought me came from outside.

I yelled, and jumped back. Now I have to wash everything in that drawer... and everything in the other drawers, and everything in the lower cupboards....

It never ends!

The cat knew something was under the sink, so I opened the cupboard and he went right in. I closed the door behind him... it doesn't latch, so he can push it open when he wants out. After a few minutes, I heard some scuffling. When it stopped, I opened the cupboard door, and out came the cat with a rat in his mouth.

He took the dead rat into the living room, and played with it a bit on the carpet. The dog approached cautiously, and sniffed at it. The cat picked it up and tossed it in the air a couple of times.

I let them play with it for a couple of minutes, then I got out a garbage bag and disposed of the body, followed by disinfectant spray on the carpet where they were playing with it. Then I told them that if they wanted to play some more, they would have to get another one.

I have really had enough of this. I made a shopping list for tomorow:

• circular saw
• rubber gloves (lots)
• disposible painting suit (2)
• 1/2" plywood (2)
• nails
• carpenters' glue
• safety goggles
• mint
• bleach

I read that a mixture of peppermint and spearmint acts as a rat / mouse repellent. So, I have been applying mint extract after I clean each area of the house. I don't know if it really works, but it is worth trying.

Tomorow is devoted to plugging up the rat holes they use to get to my food and dishes.

I don't ever want to see them in my kitchen again!

I Got Off My Butt And Did Something About It

After not hearing from FdM for 24 hours, I drove to his place. I was worried about him. I buzzed up to his apartment, and shortly after, I heard his voice on the intercom. I was so relieved!

I've been stressed about not hearing from him all day. It built up to the point where I had no appetite, and even felt sick to my stomach. The only other time I have ever felt stress to that point was when JJ left me.

FdM came out and we went to a nearby coffee shop. We sat and had tea together and talked for a couple hours. He kept trying to get me to order some food. I told him I was too stressed to eat. He said he would feel better if I ate something. I said "too bad... I can't eat right now."

I'm hungry now... I think I will eat soon.

FdM said "I'm sorry I upset you. You can yell at me tomorow." I told him I didn't need to yell at him. I was worried, not angry.

I need to talk to him about a few things. I didn't bring any of them up today, though. He was pretty tired when I saw him. I'll talk to him when he's more alert. I need to talk to him about itineraries, events and work.

To keep busy today, I did some of the dirty little jobs I've been putting off. I went after the mice.
I bought a can of expanding foam and filled in some of the holes the mice are using. The cupboards above the stove needed to be completely cleaned out... looks like the mice have been there for a while. I threw out all of the food in those cupboards. I just don't feel like consuming the sealed packages when so many opened packages have been decimated by the rodents. It ALL got thrown out.

Now I need to make a trip to the dump.

When I opened the cupboard, I saw a great big mouse climb up the pipe in the corner, and into the ceiling.

That hole has been filled now.

I filled the holes where the water pipes run through IJs bedroom from the bathroom to the kitchen. Now the mice can't use his room as a highway.

I opened up the wall to look at the hot water heater again... the hole in the floor next to it is huge! It extends under the bathtub so far that I can't see how far it goes. That is where they are getting into the house.

I don't know how I'm going to repair that.

I was thinking about the mice running around in the ceiling... and decided to check the furnace chimney. Good thing I did... there is a large space the mice can use to get in and out of the ceiling there. The furnace has no pilot light, so I can safely use the spray-foam to fill that hole. I'll have to do that tomorow. I used up all my foam today.

Hmm... the water heater also has a chimney. I better check that out tomorow, too.

Once I was done cleaning and foaming, I took off my rubber gloves and my disposable overalls and threw them in the trash. I washed up, then mopped all the floors with a bleach solution. I'm doing that frequently right now.

Then I went to FdMs place.

So, that was my day.

Now I'm ready for something to eat. Then maybe I'll do some sewing or painting for a little while.

I'm doing the outside of my bedroom door in an early-Mondrian style.

It's going to look so cool.

Painting

I've been thinking of painting my room for about a year now. I finally started! Here is how it went:

Day 1: Removed nearly everything from my room that wasn't furniture and stacked it all in the living room, deliberately blocking access to the computer. Washed walls with Mr Clean Magic Eraser. Filled in wood panelling with mud. Slept in my own room.

Day 2: Covered bed and dryer (yes, the dryer is in my bedroom) with heavy plastic. Primed three walls and ceiling, moving bed as needed to get at all three walls. Did some minor repairs -- hammered my finger. Black bruise marks under the nail. Primed second coat. Slept on living room couch. Heard what I thought was a rat in the pantry.

Day 3: Painted walls red (about this colour). More primer on ceiling. Second coat of red. Slept on couch. Still hearing noises in the pantry.

Day 4: Searched pantry. Good news! It's a mouse! Buy mouse traps, bait one with dry dog food, one with peanut butter. Rag paint golden yellow (about this colour) over red. Slept on couch. Heard mousetrap go off. Smile, go back to sleep.

Day 5: Inspect mouse trap. No mouse present. Remove contents of closet and pile on my bed. Cover bed and dresser with heavy plastic. Decide not to mud the remaining wall -- go straight to priming. Prime second coat. Sleep on couch. Hear no rodents. Trap scared him off.

Day 6: Locate hole under hot water heater where mice are getting into the house. They are living under the bathtub. Order Ratzapper online. Paint two coats of red. Sleep on couch. Dog barking periodically through the night... he has better hearing than I do.

Day 7: Rag paint final wall. Sleep on couch. More dog barking through the night. Kids are so freaked out that JMJ sleeps with his light on, and IJ uses his pillows and blankets to build walls around himself. I have to get those mice under control!

Day 8: Adopt a cat from the SPCA. Start putting stuff away in my room. Screw new bookshelf to wall and fill with books. Try to cover windows so I don't wake up with the sun. Need to make curtains now. Sleep in my own bed.

I still have quite a few projects to do to complete the room:

• Sew curtains for two windows and closet.
• Sew runners for top of headboard and bedside table.
• Paint outside of bedroom door golden yellow.
• Cover inside of bedroom door with gold brocade fabric.
• Scrub floor to remove paint drips.
• Mount brass butterfly wall sconce.
• Install storage shelf.
• Set up drafting table.
• Sew curtains to hide storage / art studio area.

I love the way the walls turned out. I picked up the bookshelf and bedside table for $2. I washed, primed and painted them red. The headboard I already had. I painted it red, too. It looks great with the gold brocade roses on it.

As I was removing things from my room, I found alot of JJs stuff. I have a separate pile in the living room for his stuff. I also found quite a few clothes that I don't wear anymore, and made a separate pile for them, too. I'll be making a trip to the thrift shop soon. I didn't throw away much stuff, but that's ok. I now have more ways to organise my stuff, and less stuff that needs organising. I should paint every year!

Mom With Power Tools

I am Mom.

IJ needed a new bed. I can't afford to buy one right now, so I built one!

I took the sheet of half inch plywood that has been sitting on my front deck all summer, and cut it to fit IJ's bedframe. Slightly wider than the frame, to match the size of the new mattress. Notched all four corners for a tight fit to prevent slippage.

There you have it: A new bed for IJ.

Mom With Power Tools is his new hero.

Next project: improve the kitchen cabinets. Not a difficult task... looks like they were designed by a one-eyed monkey. There is no divider wall between the lower cabinets and the bank of drawers. Things are always falling and jamming the drawers. Solution: Put in a divider.

Why couldn't the monkey figure that out?

The tallest item I keep in that cupboard is 11 inches high. The cupboard ceiling is 19 inches high. That makes room for a shallow shelf to hold muffin tins and cookie sheets.

Mom With Power Tools is on a roll!

Equipment used:

• jig saw
• hammer
• T-square
• mechanical pencil
• measuring tape
• white glue
• nails
• sandpaper

Measure, cut and nail in divider wall. Measure and cut shelf. Notch back corners to fit existing support structure. Cut four 12 inch shelf supports. Put shelf into cupboard. Glue supports to underside of shelf. Tack together with small nails for glue to set. Nail divider wall to edge of shelf.

Done!

Stupid monkey.

Mom With Power Tools has prevailed once again! The muffin tins, cookie sheets, cutting board, bread pans and rolling pin all fit comfortably on the new shelf. There is even enough room for the dish towels! Now there is plenty of room for the mixing bowls and plastic containers on the original shelf. There is even room for the blender!

Feeling good about the victory, Mom With Power Tools tackles one more space-saving project -- Cup Hooks. Eight rubber-coated cup hooks under the upper cupboards holding eight lovely ceramic cups. Six rubber-coated cup hooks above the dinner plates holding six unique cups.

All of a sudden, there is room for drinking glasses in the cupboard!

Mom With Power Tools wonders what idiot hired the monkey in the first place.

The next task is to purchase more nails, and another sheet of half inch plywood. There are alot more monkey-designed cupboards to improve.

I am Mom.