Well, it's been a busy few weeks and this week is not going to be much different. However, some stuff has happened that is going to sort of force me to take a vacation from cakes for a while.
On the evening of July 29, our house alarm went off. We were both inside and all of the doors were shut and everything looked normal. Dale checked the alarm and it said "low temperature". Weird. He went into the basement though, and found a nice puddle of water around our sewer drain. Nice. The carpet, the wall, everything was pretty wet. Luckily we have a wet/dry vacuum and Dale sucked out a bunch of the water that night.
Dale happened to be off last week, so first thing in the morning, he called in a plumber. The plumber snaked out the clog, but didn't know what it was. But everything was all fixed up. Next Dale called in an insurance adjuster to take a look. We figured we would have to at least clean the carpet, OR they would possibly get us new carpet. We were unprepared for what the adjuster said.
He did his inspection and then told Dale that yes, they would replace the UGLY carpet. And since the carpet runs all through the basement and up the stairs, they will replace all of it (except for the two bedrooms down there) including the stairway. Next he told Dale that since there was water damage on our UGLY wood paneling on the one wall, and that they would never be able to match that paneling because it is so old, they will replace all of the walls where that paneling is. Which is pretty much the ENTIRE basement (excluding the bedrooms again). Then the adjuster said they would re-do the entire laundry closet where the drain is. Then he said that because they will need to be moving the suspended ceiling while re-doing the walls, it is actually easier to put an entirely new ceiling up there then put the old tiles back in.
We are actually pretty excited about this disaster. We have been thinking of re-doing the basement since we moved into this house 4 1/2 years ago, but weren't prepared to spend the money to do it yet. Even if all we get is cheap carpet and unpainted drywall, it will be better than the depressing ugliness that currently exists down there. I know dealing with insurance and contractors and the MESS that will be in the house will be exhausting, but it is exciting that something will be done down there! I think the sewer backup was a blessing in disguise.
So this week will be demolition time and figuring out what the heck is going on and getting quotes from contractors and all of that fun stuff. We are also allowed to have the contractor do some extra work (out of our own pocket of course) if we want it done. We have a few fairly minor other jobs that we would like taken care of if the price is right.
So, to make a long story short, it is with sadness, but also happiness, that I will not be taking on any additional cake orders until this whole mess is sorted out and the construction is winding down. I just can't be baking cakes when the house is a disaster area. I will of course still be doing cakes that are already on order, but will not be taking any new orders until....well, I'm not sure when! I will definitely keep everyone posted. I HOPE it won't be too much longer than a month, but there's no way to tell for sure yet.
Goodbye ugly grey/brown/almost purple cheap paneling! May you rest in peace...at the dump!
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