House #1 - Days 14, 15, and 16

Day 14
Well, just as I thought, calling the carpet cleaning people went too easy. Both my MIL and FIL went to the property around 11am to do some clean-up work. I left work about 2:30pm, and headed home to get changed. I managed to get to the property about 3:30pm. Soon after I got there, I got a call from my wife saying the carpet cleaning people called and they wouldn't be out here until 5:00pm or 5:30pm. No problem. I expected them around 4:00 pm at the latest, but the guy at their company misinterpreted me when I said 'the later the better'. What I meant was later than 3:00pm, but not TOO much later. My MIL and FIL left around 4:30pm, and I stayed to do some landscape prep work and wait for the carpet people. 5:00pm turned into 5:30pm, which turned into 6:00pm, and still no sign of the carpet people. I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and wait until 6:30pm. Well, 6:30pm came and still nothing, so I left. On the way oyut of the neighborhood, I passed my wife coming in. She said the carpet cleaning people called at 6:15pm and said they would be over in about 30-40 mins. My wife told them not to come at all. So, I'm back at square one with cleaning the carpet. My MIL and FIL managed to also get the MW/vent installed, which was a big surprise. From the sounds of things, it was no easy task, and took them the better part of the day to install. They also did a lot of clean-up inside. Before I left, I managed to paint the exterior window trims and prep the front landscaping. I still have to get the bushes and tree, but I put that off for tomorrow.

Day 15
I stop by Home Depot and pick up some more mulch and marble rocks. I get to the property, drop the stuff off, and head back to Home Depot to get the bushes and tree. I got five Japanese Boxwoods for the front and a small Bradford Pear tree. I get back to the property and start the laborous work. By 4:30pm, I'm physically exhausted. But I do managed to get all the landscaping done. I'll post before & after pictures later. It looks 100% better, though. It's amazing how much a difference darkwood mulch makes. My only conern is the soil is mostly made up of red clay, so I'm not sure how well the plants and tree will grow. I wanted to mow and weed eat also, but I was just too tired. I wish now I had.

Day 16
Did absoutely nothing as it rain heavily all day long - not to mention it was Mother's Day. Hindsight being 20/20, I wish I had just waited it out Friday night with the carpet cleaning people and mowed on Saturday. If I had done both, I would be completely done now.