Too much Fertilizer...

What I'm really saying, is some people talk some S***. Ok, let's get to it. I hate working with contractors and the like. We FINALLY meet up for a final estimate (kept getting pushed back from his end) and it's $2500 MORE than he first "guestimated" for my budget and WITHOUT the materials we were considering on. We still have to figure in materials. He started backpeddling and saying we wanted things we didn't and didn't want things we did, so...I'm thinking he should have taken better notes. Scratch him for now. Now that we will have the keys on Friday, I'm getting a few more people in there for ideas. If he'd have given me a higher estimate at the beginning, I'd have been fine. We could have adjusted from there. THIS little decision responsibility I am handing over to Jess. She has more experience with such things (has done a lot of home remodeling the past two years) and also has a much stronger idea of the materials she wants used. She also has the Home Depot and Lowes Cards to back her "wants". I am more of a "we'll make it work" kind of person, where she is a "THIS is what I want to work with" person. It all balances out. We just won't be in remodel mode as early as I thought.

Ok. So back to square one with a contractor.

The second meeting was much cooler. The Counselor liked the business plan, and with a few questions to clear up concept, he seems to like the whole idea! He has a LOT of artists asking for advice, and is going to send them our info. He wanted me to create a survey for him to pass along. I did it through SurveyMonkey. It was fun. Sort of. I'm not a "structured" type of person. I like free-form. Therefore, the survey isn't the smoothest thing in the world. I can never do "yes or no" "on a scale of" or even multiple choice, unless you can "explain" what and why you chose said answer.

Anyhow, the survey is now in the "about me" section of this blog. It wouldn't work in "gadgets" and I couldn't get it to make space. I'm sure one of you sweet things will drop me a line with an easy solution. That's why I love you all!

OK. I'm taking a break from this here machine and going outside to paint on some scrap wood. Yup. Time to get the creative juices flowing until I get a sewing machine and who knows what else!! Speaking of which...what the heck is the difference between a sewing machine and a serger? Rosie?? This one's for you!

Big ol' squeeze...
~~~Dawn