Thanks for the responses everyone, even the smartars ones.

The biggest reason I was trying to avoid any real drwall work is that this is a dining room with openings on 3 sides and part of the major passageway through the house, really wanted to avoid the the mess associated the drywall work.
I think I will do it the right way, but wait until spring when I can open the doors onto the deck to vent some of the mess outside. Not to mention right now she is in FL and the room is full of stuff. I don't feel like being responsible for breaking any of her fine china moving things around.
I'm 32, she is 64, get your mind outta the gutter. But ther grand daughter that lives with her is pretty cute. Damn it, now I have to get my mind outta the gutter...
Cheers,
Barry