Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Where Has Frank Baxter Been?

Some people have wondered where I've been lately.

Well, Kathy and I moved to Parsonsfield Maine in February (from Florida).
The house needed/needs a lot of work, but it's really well built and we love the location.

We've been working hard on it for months now.
You can see some of the progress here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...25.769929635&type=1&l=4674a2898e

We still have more to do (as shown below). Once it's done we hope/plan to hold some Piano Forums Piano Parties!

But first...
The house is now officially driving us nuts.
We are running out of time and still have lots to do before the rugs come on June 3 and the appraiser comes on June 4 (that's only a week from Monday and Tuesday respectively).

A Partial List of Remaining Projects:

Paint our bedroom (Kathy's working on that today)
Paint the walls and trim in the front bedroom (front garage room) (I'm starting on that today)
Clean and paint the floor in the front bedroom (so we can put an area rug down)
Paint the walls, trim, and ceiling in the library
Paint the kitchen, living room, and bedroom in the downstairs "guest suite".
Install the floor in the downstairs kitchen
Install the floor in the foyer
Paint the ceiling in the upstairs hall
Paint the ceiling in the foyer
Put up blinds in the downstairs rooms
Install the cabinets in the downstairs kitchen
Mow the 3 acres of lawn, again
Finish planting the garden

And the Contractors Still Have To:
Install trim around doors they installed
Cut giant hole in concrete wall of downstairs bedroom
Install code approved egress window in downstairs bedroom
Set up generator
Wire generator to house power supply
Install lights, south side of house (where there are just bare wires now)
Install additional hard-wired smoke/fire alarms
Dig trench from back left corner of house across driveway for gas line (for big tank going in for generator)

Then...
MONDAY JUNE 3, the carpets go down in the office, downstairs living room, and downstairs bedroom (and possibly in the library)

TUESDAY JUNE 4, the bank appraiser comes back to see if everything is done properly, and to determine if his initial appraisal (based on the finished work) holds up

END OF MAY, START OF JUNE? The code enforcer/inspector has to come out for a final inspection.

JUNE 5, KATHY, KIRBY, AND I ALL COLLAPSE AND SLEEP FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT!

Wow, you and Kathy have been busy!

Sounds like you (and the contractors) are on a tight schedule, but you may just pull it off yet!

Hang in there Frank… your work and effort will pay off, and better days are ahead!

Best regards,

Rick

Welcome to Maine, Frank! Good luck with the house and here's to June 5!

Hurry, winter is a few short weeks away... lol ... Looks like a wonderful place with a huge music room. Hope your enjoy it.

Thanks, we're loving it here.

Arrived February 5th, it was 5 degrees, a few days later the blizzard hit. Took a little getting used to having moved up from Florida, but we're very glad to be back in New England.

Funny you say that Dave.

Last week it was sunny and in the low 70's.
The start of this week it was cloudy and in the 40's.

I said to Kathy "short summa around here" :-)

Looking forward to pictures... AFTER June 5th!

Congratulations on your move to the greatest state in the nation!

Not to be partisan or anything. . . .

As the state itself says, "it's the way life should be!"

Geesh. Bank appraisers and building code inspectors. You've deserted us piano people for a higher class of artist, Frank. I just can't say what sort of artists they are.

Looks wonderful, Frank. You'll get there. Bravo!

Very impressive - you're much more of a handy-man than self!!

Having been in same situation before and owning similar "green" place, I can tell you right now that your lawn mower will remain "most valuable tool" as time goes by...

Norbert

Ouch, Frank, I got tired just reading your To-Do list!

I don't know if this is feasible, but are there any teenagers hanging around the area who might be eager to pitch in and help for ten or fifteen bucks an hour?