You know, when people are about to make a big announcement, they usually get quiet just before - so they don't 'leak' the information too soon.
So we are entering the 'quiet' period at All Decked Out. We are SO close to being able to show you some new pictures. The carpet installers finished about noon today. The new ****** arrives tomorrow afternoon. We have something new hung over the fireplace, replacing the Robert Tino print. That print is moving to ......
You'll just have to wait. We're working extremely hard to get everything ready for our big announcement of all the new things at All Decked Out. It's going to take just another couple of days. So please check back Monday - maybe Tuesday. We'll put a few pictures here, and will post lots more on our Web site.
By the way, once we start telling everyone about the "new" All Decked Out, we expect that reservations will increase fairly substantially. Dates are already going fast -- wow! Just got a reservation while I'm typing this. So we encourage you to make your plans quickly and get your reservations booked, before it's too late.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The flowers are out
Yes, it's only early March - but the flowers are coming out in the Smokies. Just up the street from All Decked Out is this beautiful forsythia bush.
And just about 30 feet on past our front door, the daffodils are blooming (sorry, no picture - didn't have time!).
What's happening inside at All Decked Out? More carpet installation. That means it's still a little chaotic. This was the main floor bathroom on Friday morning - dressers, end tables (including one that fell apart when they moved it, lamps, etc.
But by late morning, the main floor bedroom was finished and they were moving furniture back in.
We slept in this bedroom last night, so that's progress! The final installation (hopefully today - Saturday) is the upstairs bedroom and both sets of steps. We plan to spend the day putting everything back together, cleaning up, and getting ready for some serious redecorating. THEN we can show you the NEW 'All Decked Out!'
And just about 30 feet on past our front door, the daffodils are blooming (sorry, no picture - didn't have time!).
What's happening inside at All Decked Out? More carpet installation. That means it's still a little chaotic. This was the main floor bathroom on Friday morning - dressers, end tables (including one that fell apart when they moved it, lamps, etc.
But by late morning, the main floor bedroom was finished and they were moving furniture back in.
We slept in this bedroom last night, so that's progress! The final installation (hopefully today - Saturday) is the upstairs bedroom and both sets of steps. We plan to spend the day putting everything back together, cleaning up, and getting ready for some serious redecorating. THEN we can show you the NEW 'All Decked Out!'
Thursday, March 3, 2011
All Decked Out - making progress
I know - I promised regular updates. But the last two days have just been wildly busy. Even though this is an 'All Decked Out' update, I'm glad to report we've made some progress at Smoky Mountain Tower, too. We did a lot of deep cleaning, we changed all the batteries in the smoke detectors and TV remotes, and changed all the furnace filters - just like we did at All Decked Out. Can you believe that we have more than 50 batteries to change every year? The old ones are tested and, if they're good, we put some in drawers to use as spares.
But, of course, the real action is at All Decked Out. Mark has finished all the floors. Here's the lower level bathroom:
So now there is new 'Allure' flooring in the kitchen, upper and lower bathrooms, furnace room - and one other place that will be a secret for now.
Best of all, the crew from Ogle's Carpets started installing the new carpet.
The first job was to get rid of the old carpet:
Then, after some clean up, down went the new pad - and finally the new carpet!
As of this moment (10:15 pm on Thursday), the lower level bedroom and family/game room are finished. Tomorrow, they'll start on the main floor bedroom. Everything is out of that bedroom ... and in the living room. How's this for chaos!
We're really just reporting on the highlights. There is so much more we're getting done. A lot of it is behind the scenes - like the leak we discovered in one of the water heaters under the lower level of All Decked Out. See, you never knew we have TWO 40-gallon water heaters in the crawl space under the lower level - to make sure you never run out of hot water!
Tomorrow, we'll see how close they get to finishing the carpet installation. We hope Joyce will paint the upstairs bathroom. And we'll head for Lowes, Home Depot and Walmart to support the local economy by purchasing everything from faucet inserts to night-lights to laundry soap to a new charcoal grill!
We've got more to tell you - about flowers and trees and ... yes, bears. So please keep watching for the latest news from Gatlinburg.
But, of course, the real action is at All Decked Out. Mark has finished all the floors. Here's the lower level bathroom:
So now there is new 'Allure' flooring in the kitchen, upper and lower bathrooms, furnace room - and one other place that will be a secret for now.
Best of all, the crew from Ogle's Carpets started installing the new carpet.
The first job was to get rid of the old carpet:
Then, after some clean up, down went the new pad - and finally the new carpet!
As of this moment (10:15 pm on Thursday), the lower level bedroom and family/game room are finished. Tomorrow, they'll start on the main floor bedroom. Everything is out of that bedroom ... and in the living room. How's this for chaos!
We're really just reporting on the highlights. There is so much more we're getting done. A lot of it is behind the scenes - like the leak we discovered in one of the water heaters under the lower level of All Decked Out. See, you never knew we have TWO 40-gallon water heaters in the crawl space under the lower level - to make sure you never run out of hot water!
Tomorrow, we'll see how close they get to finishing the carpet installation. We hope Joyce will paint the upstairs bathroom. And we'll head for Lowes, Home Depot and Walmart to support the local economy by purchasing everything from faucet inserts to night-lights to laundry soap to a new charcoal grill!
We've got more to tell you - about flowers and trees and ... yes, bears. So please keep watching for the latest news from Gatlinburg.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
All Decked Out - Tuesday update
It's been a busy day. In addition to the pool table (see previous post), we moved ahead on a bunch of things. Here are the highlights:
Jimmy from Rapid Fire came for his annual fire extinguisher inspection. He's been providing this service for us for almost 15 years. He said we're good for another year.
Mark is making good progress on the floors. The kitchen is done, the upstairs bathroom is done (see further news below), the downstairs bathroom is done, except for caulking, and Mark thinks he can finish the furnace/laundry room tomorrow.
Joyce (who has done all our painting) is stripping the wallpaper in the upstairs bath, and hopes to paint it tomorrow. Here's her progress:
I got all the batteries changed - TV remotes, clocks and, most importantly, smoke detectors.
I changed all the furnace filters and vacuumed out the filter enclosures.
I checked all the drains and cleaned out a LOT of hair. But they're all flowing fine now.
On a less-than-positive note, I did a major trash pickup of the area below the back deck. This is how much I picked up:
As you can see, that is a VERY full trash bag! Anybody have any ideas on how to 'encourage' our guests NOT to throw their trash off the decks? Fortunately, everybody is not doing it. But this is still a lot of trash. And it seems some of our guests like Dr. Pepper - there were more of those cans than anything else.
There is still LOT to be done. The latest word on carpet is that they MAY start tomorrow afternoon!
Any comments? Please let us know what you think.
Jimmy from Rapid Fire came for his annual fire extinguisher inspection. He's been providing this service for us for almost 15 years. He said we're good for another year.
Mark is making good progress on the floors. The kitchen is done, the upstairs bathroom is done (see further news below), the downstairs bathroom is done, except for caulking, and Mark thinks he can finish the furnace/laundry room tomorrow.
Joyce (who has done all our painting) is stripping the wallpaper in the upstairs bath, and hopes to paint it tomorrow. Here's her progress:
I got all the batteries changed - TV remotes, clocks and, most importantly, smoke detectors.
I changed all the furnace filters and vacuumed out the filter enclosures.
I checked all the drains and cleaned out a LOT of hair. But they're all flowing fine now.
On a less-than-positive note, I did a major trash pickup of the area below the back deck. This is how much I picked up:
As you can see, that is a VERY full trash bag! Anybody have any ideas on how to 'encourage' our guests NOT to throw their trash off the decks? Fortunately, everybody is not doing it. But this is still a lot of trash. And it seems some of our guests like Dr. Pepper - there were more of those cans than anything else.
There is still LOT to be done. The latest word on carpet is that they MAY start tomorrow afternoon!
Any comments? Please let us know what you think.
All Decked Out - pool table
In preparation for the new carpet, we had our favorite pool table guy come today to see if there would be a problem moving the pool table. You have to remember - this is the original table that was here when we bought All Decked Out almost 15 years ago. We've never even recovered it, because our guests have taken such good care of it.
Larry took one look and said, "If your carpet guys move this, they'll break it!" Whoa! Now what!
"Easy," said Larry. "We'll take it apart now and put it back together when the carpet is in." So take a look at what happened just about 30 minutes ago.
First, Larry and his helper, Shane, took off the side rails and the felt.
Underneath were 3 pieces of real slate. Larry said they don't even make slate like this any more. He remarked several times on what a good table wehave.
Larry and Shane carried all the slate out to the deck, so the carpet guys won't have to move it.
That left the frame, which had to be removed from the legs. How's this for multitasking: unscrewing a bolt with one hand and loosening another with the drill!
Then, out went the frame...
...where it was all protected, in case of rain.
So the Family Room is all ready for new carpet. As soon as it's installed, Larry and Shane will come back to reassemble the table. And just to tease you a little, the table will be in the same room, but not in the same location. And it will be recovered with new felt - which will not be "pool table green!" Larry also will make some minor repairs, level the table and make sure it's as good as new! All that remains is for YOU to come and enjoy it!
More tonight, I hope.
Larry took one look and said, "If your carpet guys move this, they'll break it!" Whoa! Now what!
"Easy," said Larry. "We'll take it apart now and put it back together when the carpet is in." So take a look at what happened just about 30 minutes ago.
First, Larry and his helper, Shane, took off the side rails and the felt.
Underneath were 3 pieces of real slate. Larry said they don't even make slate like this any more. He remarked several times on what a good table wehave.
Larry and Shane carried all the slate out to the deck, so the carpet guys won't have to move it.
That left the frame, which had to be removed from the legs. How's this for multitasking: unscrewing a bolt with one hand and loosening another with the drill!
Then, out went the frame...
...where it was all protected, in case of rain.
So the Family Room is all ready for new carpet. As soon as it's installed, Larry and Shane will come back to reassemble the table. And just to tease you a little, the table will be in the same room, but not in the same location. And it will be recovered with new felt - which will not be "pool table green!" Larry also will make some minor repairs, level the table and make sure it's as good as new! All that remains is for YOU to come and enjoy it!
More tonight, I hope.
Monday, February 28, 2011
All Decked Out - kitchen floor
We're underway - working hard to make All Decked Out REALLY "all decked out." We just took a break to watch the weather (we've been under tornado warnings, but it looks like it's going north of us).
It was beautiful early this morning. Here's a picture of All Decked Out to prove it:
Mark is working hard, putting in the new kitchen floor.
As you can see, he's working behind the stove & refrigerator area. By the way, he found a dinosaur toy stuck under the stove - did anybody lose one?
Here's a look at the old and new floor, side by side (the new floor is on the right):
Mark says he'll have the kitchen area done today, and hopefully can start on the bathrooms. He's putting new floors in both upper and lower bathrooms, plus the laundry room (he did the main floor bathroom a couple of years ago).
Who''s Mark? We'll tell you more about him in a future post. Meanwhile, in a few minutes we're heading down to Ogle's Carpet to confirm their schedule for carpet installation.
Tomorrow, our fire extinguisher guy will come to inspect all the units in both cabins. And on it goes. Keep watching!
It was beautiful early this morning. Here's a picture of All Decked Out to prove it:
Mark is working hard, putting in the new kitchen floor.
As you can see, he's working behind the stove & refrigerator area. By the way, he found a dinosaur toy stuck under the stove - did anybody lose one?
Here's a look at the old and new floor, side by side (the new floor is on the right):
Mark says he'll have the kitchen area done today, and hopefully can start on the bathrooms. He's putting new floors in both upper and lower bathrooms, plus the laundry room (he did the main floor bathroom a couple of years ago).
Who''s Mark? We'll tell you more about him in a future post. Meanwhile, in a few minutes we're heading down to Ogle's Carpet to confirm their schedule for carpet installation.
Tomorrow, our fire extinguisher guy will come to inspect all the units in both cabins. And on it goes. Keep watching!
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