The three R's; Romance, Remodel, Reality

There are three R's that are a constant in my life.  They are in no particular order, ok well yes they are.  Romance, two people madly in love, with a dream.  Remodeling to create a culmination of ideas into an amazing dream house.  Reality as it all sinks in after starting the remodel!!!

We chose through happenstance and frustration to take a much needed break from remodeling our far from finished house.  Do not even lightly underestimate my wording, far-from-finished! We needed the break physically, and most importantly mentally.  This is definitely not our first house to remodel but is absolutely our most extensive.  We have agreed that new construction would have been easier, and quicker.  However... hindsight is always 20/20.  If we had it to do again would we?  Yes, I know we would because this is what we do!  I have always dreamed of walking into a new home, everything finished, sparkly and clean nothing to remodel, no painting, scraping, mudding or building.  Then I start to think about what I would see that needs improved upon and realized I'm a re-modeler,  I can't help it.  I could never buy a new house.  I walk into a home and immediately see a vision of the full potential and eagerly anticipate the transformation.  It culminates when I compare my sketches to the finished house and the full realization of a vision.  It is amazing and so rewarding to live in a space you have designed and crafted.  Once it gets in your blood you are hooked!  New construction is out as you search for the home that may not look like your vision at first glance but as with this home, has the bones about it to be our dream home. 

The moment I saw our property I didn't care what the house looked like inside!  Yes, those are the thoughts from people that remodel, crazy and seemingly irrational but real.  Baring structural foundation issues, once you realize that everything you see inside will change anyway, it no longer matters what the inside looks like as long as the structure will allow for the changes you want to make, or you know how to make structural changes.  If the foundation is solid, anything goes.  I am usually the one that looks at a house and my vision spills into many sketches of ideas while my husband take a very deep breath.  I am a visual person, my space affects me,  I have to have balance, structure, organization, and most importantly a space that inspires! I even dream in color!  That is my artistic side effecting my daily life.

This house was unlike any other before.  This time, completely unaware to me, my husband was looking at this house with a vision.  The property was right.  I was tired, and just needed  breathing room to garden, grow, and regain my health mentally, physically and emotionally. I wanted to change a few things, paint and make it move in ready for us, move, then sell our house and start our adventures in the country.  The scenario was seemingly perfect. My husband had another plan.  A romantic plan.  You see all these years I have had this list of ideas for a "dream" house.   This amazing man with an incredible memory had been filing them away for "the" house.  When we closed on our house and walked around he started telling me about all the changes that were going to happen and the more things he told me the more I was amazed.  "Oh, I've always loved that", "That is perfect how did you know?" "Oh my gosh you remembered!" kept tumbling out as he laid out his vision, my dream home.  He had remembered everything I loved from different homes and design ideas so he could create the perfect house for me!!!  His plan sounded so much better!  I had always dreamed of that move in ready house, this was our chance!!! It was all falling into place.  The long term vision thanks to my amazingly loving, thoughtful, and romantic husband.

So the improvement idea of paint and move in turned into a full fledged remodel as we started taking sheet rock off the walls, then taking out the walls, wiring, and plumbing and before I knew it we were up to our necks and bringing in the roll off carts.  When all the dust settled we were literally standing in a shell, which had the siding off too!  This is the point where we started questioning remodeling verses new construction which admittedly would have been easier and possibly cheaper but we love the property and like I said were neck in.  Like most who are on this scale of remodeling the day we completely removed the bathroom, there was no turning back we were all in.  Yes a functioning bathroom means that much!!!   We moved our camper to our property and dug in.  As the time went on, and the reality of the scale of the project we were taking on set in, so did the exhaustion and frustrations.  One day we realized we were not going to beat winter and our hopes of moving into a finished house dwindled as we set up inside and winterized our three seasons camper. 

The reality; learning our limitations.  Can we finish this house?  Absolutely with complete confidence I know it will get finished in our lifetime! :) That being said, gutting an entire house is far different from remodeling a room at a time.  Loosing my precious dad changed our crew from a three person to a two person crew and that was a huge blow all the way around.  I wasn't prepared for the emotional and mental exhaustion that construction without him would bring.  There were days when I would reach for a tool, one of his, and burst into uncontrollable sobs.  My husband and my dad made a great team as well and not having dads years of experience, encouragement, and insight and company was extremely difficult for my husband.  We have had family emergencies, schedule conflicts and several delays.  There were a lot we weren't prepared for, so many things, but isn't that life?  It is, we learn along the way, we grow, we change, and we take those experiences and build on them.  So looking back over this past year on the month this journey began, we are now living in reality, our new temporary normal though ironically remodeling is our normal!  We are emotionally and mentally, putting the pieces back together.  Physically rested, and with reality check in hand let the remodeling begin... again!  I couldn't be happier or more excited.  I know this year has so many good things in store for us and I look forward to all that we will experience on our little homestead.

Remember reality is often much harder than our dreams, but keep going and working for those dreams and goals because the true reality is, it is worth it!!!!  Blessings

Growing Tree

After we repainted the sewing room I put up this tree stencil with the intention of  marking our daughters height and dates.  This past week I  have been able to measure and mark their information on the wall and we all love it.  It feels so good to be working on projects that mean so much like this that I had intended to do but held off due to remodeling and in my case uncertainty over moving.  These are the special touches that make this a family home for us.  It makes me feel happy when I walk past this growing tree.

Tree's to me are so symbolic of life.  They grow and change with the seasons and become stronger but must remain flexible.  We are not very different ourselves.  We grow and change with age and with maturity we gain wisdom and need to remember to remain flexible so we do not snap and break when things become difficult.  I remember this as I walk by and see these marks that symbolize the young people in our house and how as a mother I need to remember to be wise and flexible with them as they are growing and learning and changing. 

Fine Tuning

I hope today was a great Monday for all.  The beginning of the week some dread  because they will be heading back to work after a weekend home relaxing and spending time with family and having fun.  I very much understand that sentiment.  I view my  Monday's a little differently.  Monday is my day to get the house back in order after everyone else in the house goes back to school and work.  I start on my chores and get my menu squared away for the week and double check my ingredients for recipes I have planned.  I go to town on Monday afternoon's and use that chance to get any groceries I may need. Living in a rural area it feels and often we do drive all the time so if I can cut down on any unnecessary trips I do.  It feels good to have everything lined out from the beginning for the week.

Now that we are not doing any "heavy" remodeling which has been our normal for so many years I am appreciating the small projects or what I call fine tuning around our home.  This weekend after we installed the counter tops I realized that the cats needed a place of their very own.  I do not appreciate them laying on my sewing nearly as much as they do :)  They are very well loved but I wanted them to have their own space by a window that they wouldn't get shooed out of.  Soooo  my dh got a shelf and brackets out of the garage and we made them their very own window seat!  I realize having this stuff laying about in the garage is not realistic for everyone but please remember we have been remodeling for oh lets see about 10-11 yrs. off and on between two houses so we have a lot of things in the garage.  Another "normal" for us until we clean out the garage...

Back to the cats.  Here is the before:

And the after:

They really love it as they are able to look out of both windows.  Most of the time one of them will also lay on the Hoosier and look out the window as well.  The orange cat on the "window seat" is Nigel and the stretching kitty is Tinee.  Of course they rule the roost!   It feels so good to get little projects done and fine tune our lives here.  I feel like we are just moving in eight years later.  These are little things we would have done as we thought of them a long time ago had we not been doing a complete and total overhaul.  What a joy to be at this point in our home.

My wonderful mom was visiting this weekend and I am so glad that she looked at yarn with me.  I wanted to make her some dishcloths for her kitchen and she picked this buttery yellow.  The picture makes is look crayon yellow.  I was going for a Burgundy so I was very happy that she picked the color, I was way off lol.  I sent three home with her and will finish up this and two more to bring when I visit her.  What a wonderful weekend we had with her visiting and of course we went to our local quilt shop as well! ahhhhh so much fun fabric therapy!!! :)

The New Improved Creative Space

There are still a few loose ends, but....I am calling this room finished for now. We really worked super hard this past week and sorted through an amazing amount.  The counter tops are down but not anchored yet.  We have books resting on the corner mitered seams weighing down an area that seems a bit bowed.  Our structure is level thanks to my husbands attention to detail.  Despite the counter not being anchored and the window trim not yet replaced....I moved in! lol  I am still in the process of sorting and putting things away so the counter tops are more cluttered than they would normally be.  I am a clean surface girl, however this is not a museum and I plan on having works in progress going on most of the time.

 The fabrics in several piles to the left I am working on folding around cards and making mini fabric bolts that will go up on the top shelf  of material yardage.  The drawer system on the bottom right holds fabric scraps that are sorted by color and stored in gallon size zip lock bags in the drawers.  The sewing machines stow away perfectly in their cases and I have a tote of  quilt tops waiting to be sandwiched and quilted.  The fabric bag on the white lid tote is the recycled jean quilt that I posted about at the beginning of my blog that needs to be finished.  One day soon :)

 I make a lot of small projects with hand applique and this shelf was by special request.  My husband put this in to fit fat quarters perfectly right above my work space.  I am not a very tall person and I am able to put all of my f.q. right at arms reach.  I love standing in front of all of the fabrics, and scrap book supplies.  I feel so inspired.

I am so thankful to my husband for all of his hard work.  It is my dream space to work in and I am so thankful to have such an expanse of space to create and work on our family albums, sewing projects and quilts.  Ok....I have creating to do :)  Have a wonderful weekend!

Sneak Peek

The base for the counter tops being built.   It's amazing how much stuff you have when you are trying to empty a room!!!  We brought in the smaller pieces to check for fit in the corner.  My husband is amazing and does such wonderful work.  He is very precise and meticulous and I love that about him!  I never worry about a project that we are doing together because he is willing to take the time to do such a nice job and make it all work out perfectly.  I am really blessed with such a wonderful husband who cares so much and is willing to do all of this work so I can have a beautiful place to sew and create!!!  Lot's more to do so back to work :)

The Countertops are Here!

First of all my DH is amazing and wonderful and so thoughtful...no not because of the counter tops, well that too lol but because he is just his wonderful self.  He brought home an article in the paper about a Greek Festival.  He planned on the two of us going for lunch as a surprise today while we were purchasing the counter tops.  As a backup he also brought an article about a cozy family owned restaurant with delicious Greek food.  We chose the later and had a wonderful lunch together.  I'm a very hard person to surprise and this was one of those quiet knowing surprises of his, enjoying a new found restaurant together and spending time.  I could spend every waking moment with him so this was the best surprise ever!!!

And the counter tops???? They are in the truck bed sitting in the driveway as we speak!  How exciting is that?!?!?!?!  I have to remain calm though because we need to build the frame for them to sit on.  I will post pictures soon, until then I need to get back to work!  :)

...update; once we unloaded the counter tops we decided we liked them so well instead of matching them up with our current desks we are going to purchase what we need to go all the way around the room so it's one continuous desk.  That will look so very nice.  I am really excited to be fully making this house what we want and enjoying living here in our home.  It is very important to enjoy the environment that you live in and this project will greatly improve my quality of life for sure.  I am looking forward to many hours of sewing and scrap booking our family pictures while DH is reading on his computer in the same room.  The kiddo's will have space to sew and read the computers as well and we will all enjoy this wonderful use of our space.  Living in a small space it is very important to utilize every inch!  Time for bed we have a very long day ahead tomorrow.  So excited!!!

Garden Shed Redo

This is the garden shed that we are working on.  My DD1 helped me remove the siding except the front side.  There is a fascia trim that is over the top of the siding that we had to remove to be able to remove the siding.  Then we discovered that the drip edge of the roof was over the fascia trim.  Fortunately we were given permission at the city dump to dispose of shingles so you guessed it.... we came home and ripped off the roof.  We are going to be able to recycle the drip edge.

This is later in the afternoon with all the siding and roofing removed.  As you can see in the background our neighbor decided he would work on his shed as well.  He and his wife made a bit of progress today as well.  It was a very hot day for working!  I was also able to introduce myself to our backyard neighbors so I am thankful for this workday as it gave me an opportunity to meet them!  I am so thankful to be getting this eye sore tidied up and looking proper.  I am very thankful that the wood underneath is in very good condition and just the outside layers need replaced.  Tomorrow I will be going to the home improvement center and buying the supplies to put it back together.  This evening I will be putting tar paper or felt paper on the wood sheeting on the roof to protect it against any rain.  We are expecting some rain this week so I will be working on this project through the week as I am able.  I am very thankful to my DD for all of her hard work!  When this is finished I will be painting it and the playhouse to match our home.

I finally figured out where this lovely volunteer sunflower came from!  I believe it is a bird seed swept off the porch from carrying seeds to the backyard feeders.  It is the only one at at the back door and so cheerful too!  And yes.... those are bowling balls :)  I am going to be doing a yard project with them later on and will post when about  it later.  Have a wonderful day :)

The Journey Home

As the heat of summer is upon us.  We are remodeling the last room in our house.  For six long years we have been working on this house.  It is the third house we have remodeled and has both worn me down and kept me guessing at every turn.  I had a mental picture when we first started, and that quickly faded as a new picture emerged and another and another.  Until finally the house has taken shape to be what it is today.

When we crossed over the threshold after purchasing this house and immediately started ripping out green shag carpeting, my husband had a vision of a fairly straight forward remodel.  Not too extensive, a little updating and we would be done.  We would live here until we found our dream house in the country.  Little did we know that we would spend six years on this simple remodel.  Each project evolved into a little bit more than we originally intended as we put our personal spin on the house.  We completed each project to the best of our ability and worked hard.  In the end we have decided to stay in this little house. It is both economical, meets our needs and in the end the house is reflective of us and what we like.  We quickly realized we were not going to find a house like ours unless we started over from scratch, no way!   Neither my husband or I have the energy or desire to do this again. Third times a charm :)

As we work on this final leg, I feel as though I am returning home from a journey.  Things start looking familiar as you get closer to home and recognition triggers feelings of joy and excitement as you get closer and anticipate what will be around the next bend in the road.  Two times before I have been in this stage of working on a house.  So eager to turn the last corner and see the final project in it's entirety, feel the satisfaction and joy at completing such a long project.  Enjoying each room like a neatly wrapped package, painted and trimmed and all tools removed.  Those who are not familiar with remodeling do not understand the joy in not seeing tools in your home as a daily ornament to your decor.  I will not miss them in mine!

After being gone so long I am looking forward to settling in and returning to my writing.  I am eagerly anticipating returning to my normal routines as well.  While I was away I attended school last semester, again wearing the hat of student along with mom, wife and many other various hats on the hook.  In more ways than one I am looking forward to re-establishing a normal daily routine after such a chaotic semester and I am excited to share with you so many things, but until then...Wishing you all the best!

"Egg"spired!

I am so excited!  Trust me it's the little things that excite me, and that is what truly matters.  While visiting friends I was delighted when they offered two dozen farm eggs.  Our previous farm egg source is temporarily unavailable because the hens are not laying as well right now in the winter cold.  I was dreading purchasing eggs from the supermarket, but elated when our friend offered eggs out of the blue!  As exciting as this is, that is not there is to tell.  Those that have followed my blog know that I am in the midst of transforming our house to our home and transforming our walls from off white to color's that inspire me.  Here is a glimpse of a wall in our kitchen transformed from off white to this beautiful deep red.  I love coming  into the kitchen every morning and seeing this wall as I walk through the doorway.

 So...yes, you guessed it...  When I opened the carton of eggs I saw the most beautiful eggs I have ever seen.  I was "egg"spired!!!  I immediately knew that I had found the perfect color to paint the dinning room.
 

 

The egg closest in the picture is my inspiration for the wall color!  The picture doesn't do the rich deep earthen color justice.  In reality it's more like a deep terracotta color.  I will blow the egg out and take it in to have it color matched.  I hope you are also "egg"spired by the little things around you as you go about your daily life.