Drawing February to a close...

I have never been so happy to see a month end, as I have this one. I am really over Winter this year! I'm tired of the cold and the snow. I need to be able to get outdoors, and get these kiddos of mine outdoors, before we all go stir crazy! We have spent so much time indoors this Winter and that means we've all been under each others feet all Winter. Since we are in for another Arctic Blast the next 7 days, and another significant snowfall is expected for this weekend...I'm not seeing much for outdoor time, yet again! To say that Winter is annoying me this year, is an understatement!

We have begun our massive remodeling project. Of course, the room we started with...has become a very involved project. We planned to basically gut the room, but not a complete gut, and not have to buy a bunch of new fixtures. Well, that flew by the wayside very quickly! The floor around the toilet was rotting out and basically gone, the shower had been leaking and caused some damage. The vanities that had to be moved for drywall, basically fell apart, and when we took up the carpet(yes, carpet in a bathroom!)...the floor,and tub box were junk. So, we gutted it all(except my tub!). We ended up having to spend a little more to buy a new toilet, new shower, new vanities, more underlayment, and new faucets. We put in insulation, and covered with plastic to try to help that room maintain any heat it gets, since it always ran about 10-15 degrees colder than the rest of the house. We put up new walls for our closet, a new wall for the shower, and that is just the beginning. We are hanging drywall, laying new underlayment throughout, putting in tile for the floors, and redesigning the closet to actually serve a purpose now. New paint, and some tile on the walls, new plumbing, and electrical will finish out that room. We still have a handful of things to do, but most of what is left has all got to be done about the same time. The next 4 days look to finish that room off! Then it's on to the next room! Not sure yet if that will be the bedroom or the living room...either way the rest of the rooms will go smoother with less that can be wrong in them!

The past several months have been hard on me. I haven't felt like myself, and I haven't been truly happy either. I am always someone who tries to find the little ray of light in every dark moment, but the last 4 months or so, it's hard for me to see any light most days. I have a good life, 2 amazing kids, a husband who does whatever he can for me, a home/land I am proud to work hard for and with, and overall, we are all healthy. I have a ton of blessing, and I am grateful for each of them daily. However, I am finding that there is a piece missing in my life, and I can't put my finger on what it could be. As I have gotten older, I have been determined to give my kids a solid/stable home life that I didn't have. To plant roots and be proud of who they are and where they live. I want to give my kids a solid foundation onto which they can build their own lives. In all I do everyday, there never seems to be time or anything for just me. I can't even go to the bathroom without an interruption or 3! I believe that what I do is important, and worthwhile, but sometimes I can't help wondering what could have been. About 10 years ago, I gave up a career to be a Mom 100% of the time. I quit doing things for myself, and instead focused on what was best for my family. Over the years, I have been losing more and more of my independence. In perspective, I have been losing more and more of myself. Although I am happy with the overall person I am today, I really believe part of what's missing, is me. I took a night out with a girlfriend to go dancing. That ended up a disaster and opened my eyes to a side of her that I had never seen. She had been the one person who had stayed in my life, and had always made time to visit or talk with me...yet didn't demand that I talk to her every day. Since then, I spend more time to myself, and really monitor everything I say. Although, I do this with every one, she was the one person I didn't have to do that with. Now, I am more withdrawn, and really miss not having a girlfriend that I can confide in. Having someone that you aren't constantly on guard with is refreshing. I guess I will pull myself out of this funk I'm in...I usually do. It is getting harder though, when there is constantly a missing piece.

My Winter photography has gotten thrown by the wayside this year. Between the cold, the snow and the constant demands around here...the only pictures I have taken, have been from the deck, on the passing glimpse. I am hoping to get some photos taken early Spring, as the weather starts to make it's transition. I would really love to get my photography off the ground, but it doesn't work when you always have kids with you, demands at home, and are already so overwhelmed with everything that adding anything new threatens to topple the delicate schedule you already have.

In my life, it has become a lot easier to not voice too many opinions, ruffle any feathers, and to just stay at home. The disagreements aren't what they once were, but there are still plenty. Typically, they are kept at a minimum if I don't disagree and just go along with whatever happens. When I disagree or voice an opinion or a different perspective...then there are plenty of arguments. Most of the time we settle them pretty quickly, usually because I just back down, but sometimes they are just settled when one of us breaks out in laughter.

As we finally get ready to close out this month, I am looking forward to green grass, flowers, trees in bloom, finishing this massive remodeling project, and getting in my gardens. I know that March is looking to come in like a lion, so it should go out like a lamb. It's the in between that concerns me! ;) Hope you all have a great few days here as we bring February to a close, and welcome March and Spring!
Salli

What's happening ?!

When you purchase a used home, no matter what type of home, you are going to find; someone else's idea of pretty - isn't yours! You will find issues that were either known or unknown, that you will then be responsible for, and more to the point...you will find things that do not work for you and your needs. I have always said that when you buy anything used....you are buying someone else's headache!

That brings us to our dilemma that began our year. We had a Winter storm blow through here in January with 60 mph winds. Those winds sent several shingles blowing into the next county, and showed us pieces of siding that weren't in good shape. Let's not forget the bitter cold temps most of the country has experienced this year. Our home that has been toasty the last 2 Winters that we have lived here....was NOT this year. Then you throw in the outstanding cost of propane late last year and so far this year. I feel like we have been living in a barn, and one that isn't very well insulated. Our master bath and bedroom have stay about 20 degrees colder than the rest of the house and let me tell you....you don't linger in either of them any longer than absolutely necessary!

So, my dear husband and I began putting numbers together for a complete remodel. Needless to say, aside from being intimidated by the vast amount that needs done...the numbers are just as intimidating(if not more so) than the projects themselves. After MONTHS of figuring, having the roof and siding issues come up unexpectedly, and going from a room-at-time project list to an entire house remodel...we are somewhat ready. I have searched web sites, gone to building supply stores, called other stores, priced entire project list supply sheets, planned for SOME unexpected issues, figured a budget, and still managed to keep some order to our household.

We have done 2 other big projects since we bought our house. In May of 2013, we build a 14 x 16 covered deck in about 5 days. In September of 2013, we gutted my kitchen and rebuild it with custom cabinets in about 5days. So, we are now gearing up for a complete house remodel over the course of about 3 months. The project list, although intimidating right now, looks like this: Gutted master bath and master closet - rebuild new master closet, build new linen closet, re do master bath to be functional and brought into this decade(new shower, new flooring and scraping popcorn ceiling included). Gut master bedroom-add new insulation, drywall, windows, scrape popcorn ceiling, new carpet, new paint and trim. Gut living room - new insulation, new windows, scrape popcorn ceilings, new drywall, new carpet, new paint. frame center beam(we have a manufactured home). Gut dining room - new insulation, new windows, new drywall, scrape popcorn ceilings, new floor tile, new paint & trim. Gut the princesses bedroom - new insulation, new windows, scrape popcorn ceiling, new drywall, new carpet, new closet, new paint and trim. Gut J's rooms - new window, new insulation, new drywall, new carpet, new closet, new paint & trim, scrape popcorn ceilings. Gut Laundry room and Bath 2 - New insulation, new windows, new drywall, new tile floors, new paint & trim. These projects basically have about 6 weeks to get finished. Then we start with a new addition to our home, then move on to a new roof, new siding and a new outdoor wood stove with boiler. When we are finished, we will have basically a new house, better insulation, a roof that doesn't leak, siding that isn't falling off, and heat that isn't costing us an arm & leg, and an interior of our home that is functional and will finally allow me to get stuff organized.

In case you didn't follow the repetition from above...there are popcorn ceilings throughout our home, there is paneling throughout our home, and the previous owners lived here for 22 years and did NOTHING to upgrade it. We have owned this home for 2 1/2 years and it's now time to upgrade. Our 24 year old home needs serious and immediate attention. So, instead of having it paid off in 5 years...it will now take us 12 years. Still not too bad, considering most home loans are 30 years or longer.

So, until we are finished, these blog posts may be really sporadic. Wish me luck....this could be interesting!

~Sal