The "Rooms of Doom" Part 2

The "Rooms of Doom" are coming together pretty good.  We've had a few problems with the plumbing, but overall, it's getting done.  To my surprise....

Considering the fact I can not stand a dirty home, the remodeling process is driving me NUTS!  There is saw dust, sheet rock dust and trash all over the inside and outside of my home.  It's going to take me 3 months to de-dust everything.  At least I know what I'm doing for the next 3 months, right? 

Overall, the process has been good.  We have had our stressful moments, we've yelled, and screamed at each other, even threatened divorce at one point.  But, my bathroom and laundry room are coming together.  We may not get all the trim up, we may not get all the shelving up before the end of the week, but we will have a somewhat functioning bathroom and laundry room.

With that said, we're broke!  The plumbing cost us more than even I thought it would.  So, I have been on my second favorite website, 'Pinterest'.  I found a cute way to reuse old dresser drawers as shelves.  The old vanity has three pretty good sized drawers, so we will be sanding and painting them and those will go in the laundry room to hold our laundry soap, softener, cleaning supplies, etc.  We also have some plywood left we will cut to make a shelf to go above the washer and dryer.  These will all be painted the same color as the trim.

I have a few small pieces of ply wood left, as well, and will be creating some wall art for the bathroom and laundry room. Lots of great DIY projects coming up on the blog, so keep coming back to see what is new.

Laundry Room Remodel and A Few Suggestions

Here is a quick up date on the laundry room remodel.

It's almost done!  The floor took 2 days to repair.  That held us up a lot.  But, it's done.  And it's solid.  We have 2 small pieces of sheet rock that MUST be replaced...we mud that and then the room will be ready for paint!!! 

We got the hardwood out of the bathroom, the bath surround out of the bath and most of the tile on the vanity removed.  The plumbing has to be redone in the tub area, so James is off to the hardware store to get some pipes. 

My suggestion: HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TO DO THE REMODEL!!!  Seriously!  IF I had had the money, I would have.  But, we didn't, so.....
The main problem was just plain ole water damage. Over time, it just rotted everything out and turned to mush!  We will from now on, be doing monthly checks on the hot water tank (even though it's new, it still needs to be checked for leaks), checking chalking along the tub area and fixing/replacing if needed. 
Owning a home is one of America's greatest ideas.  However, there is a LOT of work involved in maintaining the home.  Doing a few easy monthly checks on certain things inside and outside your home can and will prevent a lot of headache in the future.  It doesn't take up a lot of time to do these checks, but it will save you time and money if you do them.

After doing a quick search for a monthly checklist, I found this one and it's a really good one.  And, in all honesty, you do not have to own your own home to do these....if you RENT, I would suggest you do these yourself and IF you find anything wrong, contact your landlord/manager for repairs.

I will bring you another update just as soon as possible.  Hopefully, it will be before and after photos. :)



Happy Monday, everyone!

The Simple Things in Life

Sometimes, a person has to stop and just rest. 
My dad worked his entire life.  He worked hard, long hours. His first job was working on a Ranch. He spent 20 years in the Army, then, worked and put himself through nursing school.  He worked over 35 years as a RN, and a very good one at that.  When he wasn't working at the hospital, he was working at home; in the garden, in the yard, repairing our home, remodeling (mom loved to do that).  If you ever saw my dad sitting down, it was usually because he was really sick...which wasn't often.

Today is my dad's 83rd birthday.  When I asked my dad if he wanted a huge party or a little party for his birthday, he replied, "I want banana pudding."  No cake, no ice cream, no presents...just a bowl of banana pudding.  I smiled at my dad, knowing that something as simple as a banana pudding would make his birthday more special than if we had a huge party with all the family in attendance and all the bells and whistles. 

So, as we prepare to begin another day of remodeling (which I will try to post some photos later), I will stop to take my dad his "Birthday Banana Pudding" and wish my dad another year of love, happiness, and family.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

And So, It Begins

 I have been posting about how we will get down and dirty beginning tomorrow morning, bright and early.  Maybe not TOO bright and early, but earlier than I want.

Yesterday, my son and I actually began the demo on the laundry room and it ended in a really bad cut on the face of my son, and another hole in the floor in my laundry room.

Above the washer and dryer WAS a set of kitchen cabinets.  Can not find the 'before' photo...sorry.  However, it was there and it was a consistent reminder every time I did the laundry.  A reminder to my HEAD!  So it had to go.  And, go it did. My son and I did everything the way DIY Network says to do it, but it wasn't working.  So, my DS just took the cabinet and pulled it off.  He's my hero!!!

This space just opened up!!  Already my laundry room looks and feels bigger. My son-in-law came over last night and helped get the trim down.  He's lighter than anyone in our family, but I still worried he would fall through the floor.  He did not and the trim is down and half of it is now sanded and waiting for paint.

What we did find was MOLD!  People mold is nothing to mess with.  This stuff can cause you all kinds of health problems..not joking, here.  IF you are doing any kind of remodeling, have plenty of ventilation and wear proper gear, masks, goggles, and protective clothing.  Vacuum with a device that has a HEPA filter and if needed, just get rid of whatever has the mold on it.  Once mold has been exposed, the spores are all over so you also need to block off the area you are working in, so it doesn't spread to other rooms/areas.   NONE of which we did....because we didn't know.  Now we do.

I will try to keep you updated each night as we progress through this mess called Remodeling.

Slow Down

   
We have been super busy getting the leg work done for next week.  Well, my wonderful son and I have been.  The last 4-5 days, we have been going full blast trying to get things together.  I have been going over the budget and so far, we're good...barley, but good.


Growing up, whenever my mother wanted to add-on, or remodel, I never remember the leg work, just the finished product.  That's what is in my mind, the finished product.  James is frantic over this project. :)  He is reading online, how-to books and anything else he can get his hands on to make sure he is 'up on what to do'.  I have repeatedly told him, "Honey, it's not a big deal.  Floor joist are easy."  I've done my fair share of replacing them (thank you to my Uncle Sam for teaching me).


However, with all the excitement of next week, with all the anticipation inside of us and the adrenaline rushing through our bodies, sometimes, okay, MOST TIMES, after a heart attack, we have a dose of reality.  Meaning, we have to realize we can not (and SHOULD NOT) over-do it.  If it gets done in the time we have allotted, great!!  If not, IT. WILL. GET. DONE!  Eventually.  Especially if you are re-doing the ONLY bathroom and laundry room in your home!!  Hey, you have to have a place to do your business, right?


One of the things (if you can call this a 'thing') that helps me to slow down is being in my kitchen, cooking and baking.  I LOVE to cook and bake.  I was planning on making a HUGE batch of chocolate chip cookies (and James was planning on eating the cookies).  But, the other day, my son, in all his wisdom, decided to mix AP flour and SR flour in the same container!!!  HEY! He is 17 years old...he tried!  So, instead, I got out a box of Orangesicle Cookie Mix, by Pillsbury.  No, this is not a plug, but if you remember the orange sorbet pop-ups and loved them, you will LOVE these. 

Mine didn't turn out this big, but they will get the matching frosting once they cool down.  I did add some zest of an orange for added flavor.  Amazing!!

Also, sometimes we just have to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.  So, this morning, James and I went out to the North Garden and planted our 'Hens and Chickens', gave them a nice drink and the sun is shinning on them as I type!  There is something about digging in the dirt, planting flowers and watching them grow that makes me giddy! 


I also finished the headboard for our bedroom!!  Now we just have to figure out how to hang it on the wall.  James said this morning, "Baby, I know you tired, but it's too low.  I fought all night with it."  Maybe he'll get it on the wall fast. :)


Get a cup of tea or coffee, sit back with a good movie or book, or in the quiet of nature and slow down.  Reflect on life, family, friends.  Regroup.  And, slow down.

Things I Have Learned From My Cat

I have a confession.  I LOVE cats.  Yep, I'm the 'crazy cat lady'.  Right now, I have four and a half cats.  Half a cat???  Yes.  I found a little black kitty outside the other day.  He was so hungry.  I HAD to feed him.  James almost had a cow!!  "WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE CATS!!!!"  No, he is NOT a cat person.  So, he stays outside all the time...half a cat. 

Piper, my only female, is the 'Queen" of my cats.  She loves to be petted, but on her time.  Then, I have Gizmo, who so bravely fought off a bob cat and had to have surgery to repair his hip.  Next, is Midnight, the oldest male.  He has decided that under my bed is where he will stay....forever.  Then there is Boomer...one of Midnights boys, a little gray and white kitty, that is afraid of his own shadow.

I love watching my cats play outside, chasing the birds, and sometimes catching them, or the mice, or the lizards, or the snakes.....you get the picture.  Every time I go out to my flower garden, Gizmo must smell EVERY FLOWER!!

If you stop the crap that life throws at you every so often and think, cats can teach you a lot about life.  Today, I am going to share with you a few things my cats have taught me.

 1. Take personal hygiene seriously!  You do not want to go around smelling all the time.

2. Naps are a necessary thing to do!  No matter what else is going on, naps come first.

 3. Take time to play.  Working hard is important, but taking time for a little playing is just as important.

 4. Love each other.  No matter how mad you get, no matter what is said, no matter what is going on in your life, love is the most important thing...period.  Show the people around you that you love them, give them a hug, smile, hold hands (or tails), tell them. 

5. Be loyal to those who care the most about you and you, them.  You will disagree.  You will have little spats.  You will get into trouble.  Let those around you help you when you need it.  And then, return the loyalty. 

You can learn a LOT from a cat....IF you just allow yourself to be open to the possibility.

Spring Projects

 Spring has sprung!!  And with Spring comes spring projects.  Actually, I'm finding things to do to pass the time waiting for our remodel to begin.  When Home Depot delivered our goodies for the remodel, they left these pallets!!  SCORE!  This one is the PERFECT size for a new headboard for our bedroom!!  So, I set out sanding, and cleaning.

 After I sanded and sanded and sanded, I got out the heat gun and burned a few places, got the hammer, some screws, and a paint can opener and banged it, hit it, tore it up to get a beat up look.

You can see here how the heat gun darkened the knot in this wood.  Be very careful when using a heat gun.  You can burn yourself or set something on fire quite easily.  I filled in the screw holes and when I get the time, I will stain it.  Hopefully, this weekend!

The other project that has been keeping me busy until the remodel is my North Garden.  It is horrible, y'all!  Last summer's heat pretty much killed everything we had planted the last 4 years. I was heart broken after I raked and raked all the fall leaves and found very few plants had survived.

However, looking at the photo below, you can see a few plants did survive; Tulips, Day Lilies, and of course, the Easter Lilies.  The Mum, I thought had completely died is attempting a come back this year.  We'll see what happens as the season progresses.

 In our waterfall garden, we took up the rock border.  We are going to dig it out and add some potting soil to it and put in new plants.

 This used to be a pond/fountain.  We felt that it took away from the waterfall feature, so we have filled it in with dirt and potting soil.  We put this tarp on it because our cats thought it was a HUGE litter box!!!  This area will have mini rose bushes, ornamental lilies, and azaleas. 

 A shot of the Easter Lilies blooming like crazy!

 And our Tulips poking up through the ground!  They multiplied and we have double what we planted last year.  Not complaining.

This is the trellis we built for the climbing rose bush.  Life got crazy and we never got around to moving the rose bush back closer to the trellis.  This Fall that will happen.  The next idea I got was we have a french door in our barn.  IF it fits and it's not too heavy, I am going to attach the door to the trellis and us it as a gate/door.  It is going to look great...if I ever get around to it. :)

What are y'all doing in the yard and around your house this Spring? 

Gershelda

One Week to Go

WOW!  We have been super busy shopping for everything we need for the remodel.  I have recruited my nephew to help out so we can get it done.  We had Home Depot deliver almost all our 'goodies' we couldn't haul home ourselves.

The other day I took some 'before' photos.  And, honestly, I am so ashamed that we have let our home get THIS bad.  When you are around it everyday, you really do not notice just how horrible it really is.  And, in the back of my mind, I know those who visit us think the same thing.  BUT, to the rescue Home Depot, a husband and nephew that knows how to make it better.  Here are the before photos and I am so sorry for how my home looks.  However, by April, it will look totally different and be a bathroom and laundry room I will be proud of.

Laundry room floor cracking

Laundry room floor with a HUGE hole in it.

Walls in the laundry room, will be painted and trim striped and stained.

New hot water heater will go in here.

This horrible vanity will be out and the new one in.

New bath surround will be going in.

We are keeping this window.  It will have new trim around it.

This stuff (whatever it is) will be coming down, new sheet rock will go up and paint will go on.

I hope everyone will follow us as we embark on this new world of bathroom/laundry room remodeling.

Ahhh, Setbacks

Setbacks.  We all have them.  In everything we do, we have setbacks.  Road blocks.  Something that stops us from achieving our goals.

This post will explore the world of 'setbacks'.  I've been battling them since my heart attack.  Not the eating healthy. I LOVE that, and yesterday, James said to me, "We really need to get back to eating healthy.  It seems we had more energy, and were more focused when we weren't bogged down with all the high fatty foods."  A husband that WANTS to eat healthy.  Can it get any better?

Many people, when they have a setback, will just give up.  Go back to the old habits of eating unhealthy, not exercising, etc.  Some people will say, "Okay, I messed up, Time to start over."  We must remember that we are not perfect.  God did not create us to be perfect, however, we can strive to be perfect in many thing.  When we seek His will, His forgiveness, God will turn our setbacks into something worth having.

I was doing really good with the NOT smoking, until recently.  And, I've gone back to smoking again.  Not as much, but more than I would like.  I felt better when I was not smoking, and was eating healthier.  Non-smokers can tell a smoker to, "just throw them out."  Yep, easier said than done.  Trust me.  The withdraw  from nicotine is a killer.  I wished I could just "throw them out."  And, I have tried to do that.  But, it's not that easy.  I've heard it's easier to stop doing heroin than it is to stop smoking.  I truly believe that.   People that tell me to 'just throw them out' really piss me off, too.  I understand their intentions are meant to be helpful, but, if you don't know first hand, then, don't offer advice.  IF you have never smoked and quit, how do you know?  The encouragement is nice, but if you haven't ever experienced the process, you REALLY do not know.

"Setbacks will only make me stronger".  I believe this to be true.  When you have a setback, make a mistake, it is only a learning experience.  I tell my children, "you do not make mistakes. You LEARN. IF you do it again, THEN it is a mistake."  And, if you learn, then you are stronger. How many times have you set a goal, only to realize that you messed up?  When you realize this, start over.  Yes, it is harder to start over.  Yes, it is easier to just say "forget it" and continue on down the destructive road you are on.  Yes, why bother.  WHY?  Because in the end YOU WILL BE STRONGER!!!  And, when you achieve that goal, you can look back and say, "WOW!  That wasn't as hard as I thought.  Yes, I had to start over a few time, but, I MADE IT!" 

The worse part about setbacks are the people who are watching you with eagle eyes.  You know the ones.  The people who, every time you turn around, are telling you HOW you should do this, or that.  The ones that point out all your mistakes.  Telling you how you SHOULD be doing it.  Those people who call you out when you mess up.  I always think in my mind, when people do this to me, "He who is without sin, throw the first stone."  Their intentions are good.  But, examine your own life, before criticizing someone else's life.  Encouraging someone is different than putting that person down and making them feel like a failure. 

Setbacks.  We all have them.  No matter what we do, what we plan, how we go about doing it.  We all have setbacks.  It's part of life.  We are not perfect.  We make mistakes, we have learning experiences.  We know this, we regroup, and we start over.  It may take us many tries, but hopefully, we reach our goal in the end.  And, if not, we keep trying.  It's part of life.  It's what we do.  We try.  And, that is the all that matters, we try.