We had a great showing for our move today! YEAY! We do have things left to move, but that's partially choice and circumstance. In addition to moving the bulk of our STUFF today, we finished removing the kitchen... ALL of it! Isn't that fabulous!?? We are pretty pleased.
Now... for the fun of cleaning it all up in preparation to rehang it. :) I'll keep you posted.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Who Knew
We DID buy the house "As Is," but who knew it would mean SO much work?! Well, we kinda knew it would be some, but it's becoming a bit more than "some" now.
A part of the driveway was a sort of parking area and it was basically right over the septic tank. VERY bad, in case you're not 'in the know' about septic tanks (as I wasn't very recently). So, we changed the form of the driveway to one that is safer AND, as an added bonus, more pleasing to look at... YEAY! We finished that job yesterday.
Today we started on the kitchen. We are removing all of the cabinets to clean (walls and cabinets), paint (walls), potentially re-organize the flow of the kitchen, as well as install new counters. Who knew it would take SO long to get less than half of the cabinets out!? Well, I'm sure my brother Josh would've known since he's, like, a Master builder and all. And I mean that sincerely! You should SEE his house... and know what it was... you'd be just as impressed as me. I'm sure! :)
I've found myself thinking about my brother Josh and my Dad a lot during all this. I'm finding myself REALLY enjoying this work... well, not so much all the shoveling of gravel yesterday, but basically everything else. I feel to understand my Dad's and brother's enjoyment of this sort of work. I loved pressure washing the house. I really did enjoy digging and pulling out dead bushes (which I spent basically ALL day last Monday doing). And today, I actually removed one small cabinet myself! Seriously. It felt REALLY good, too. ^_^
The work I'm MOST looking forward to doing is the tile backsplash we're planning... that's going to be my job and I'm excited about it! I'm also going to be touching up some repairs the contractors made... the walls are "orange peel" texture, but the contractors totally just made repairs without retexturing and that really bugs me. Some of the repairs they made are cruddy... so I'm going to learn how to do drywall (my sister Evelyn has inspired me in that area) and fix those spots that the contractors did a cruddy job with... then I'm going to do the re-texturing and painting. That way those dumb spots (ALL over) won't bug me anymore! ^_^
I know, amazing, right? Tori... tools... repairs... it's all so... well, it IS me now! ^_^
So, why the kitchen remodel? Well, I don't know if I've mentioned it... the residents of the house we bought were filthy.... No, I mean it. They had to have been to have had the roach infestation that was present in this house. Before we cleaned (before the painting) you could literally see the outline of picture frames. Okay, so that may not be such a big deal cause the outline coulda been in dust or sun-bleaching or something... but, no... it was outlined in roach poop! And the way I know so is because the guy who inspected for our termite-free-proof-thingy told me so. Seriously gross. Obviously, we cleaned before the paint went on (the paint being one of the many conditions of the appraisal, so it had to and did happen before closing).
Well, it's bothered me for some time that I could actually see built up roach pooh between at least one cabinet and the wall. I figured if I saw it there, it was likely elsewhere as well. And, BOY, is THAT an understatement!!!
Jessie is a guy's guy. He's a MAN. He's totally tough and poker-facey... He was visibly disgusted. And if you know my man, you know anything "visible" on him is an extreme reaction! ^_^
The more stuff we take out of the kitchen, the more full of gratitude I am that my man is willing to invest this kind of time into making our home feel safe and clean to me/us! It's sort of like we're "baptising" our home before we move in! I hope the kitchen will be done before we're there full-time and only there, but even if it's not... we'll be happy with the result when we ARE finished! It's such an exciting feeling to know that the work we're doing will profit our family in years to come... that we will have a CLEAN home in which to thrive. What a pleasure to be able to make that happen with my sweet Jessie!
Who knew I would fall in love ever more with my guy as we work together on making a sorta yucky house into Our Home! Well, I can think of at least One who knew... Can you guess about Whom I'm thinking? ;)
A part of the driveway was a sort of parking area and it was basically right over the septic tank. VERY bad, in case you're not 'in the know' about septic tanks (as I wasn't very recently). So, we changed the form of the driveway to one that is safer AND, as an added bonus, more pleasing to look at... YEAY! We finished that job yesterday.
Today we started on the kitchen. We are removing all of the cabinets to clean (walls and cabinets), paint (walls), potentially re-organize the flow of the kitchen, as well as install new counters. Who knew it would take SO long to get less than half of the cabinets out!? Well, I'm sure my brother Josh would've known since he's, like, a Master builder and all. And I mean that sincerely! You should SEE his house... and know what it was... you'd be just as impressed as me. I'm sure! :)
I've found myself thinking about my brother Josh and my Dad a lot during all this. I'm finding myself REALLY enjoying this work... well, not so much all the shoveling of gravel yesterday, but basically everything else. I feel to understand my Dad's and brother's enjoyment of this sort of work. I loved pressure washing the house. I really did enjoy digging and pulling out dead bushes (which I spent basically ALL day last Monday doing). And today, I actually removed one small cabinet myself! Seriously. It felt REALLY good, too. ^_^
The work I'm MOST looking forward to doing is the tile backsplash we're planning... that's going to be my job and I'm excited about it! I'm also going to be touching up some repairs the contractors made... the walls are "orange peel" texture, but the contractors totally just made repairs without retexturing and that really bugs me. Some of the repairs they made are cruddy... so I'm going to learn how to do drywall (my sister Evelyn has inspired me in that area) and fix those spots that the contractors did a cruddy job with... then I'm going to do the re-texturing and painting. That way those dumb spots (ALL over) won't bug me anymore! ^_^
I know, amazing, right? Tori... tools... repairs... it's all so... well, it IS me now! ^_^
So, why the kitchen remodel? Well, I don't know if I've mentioned it... the residents of the house we bought were filthy.... No, I mean it. They had to have been to have had the roach infestation that was present in this house. Before we cleaned (before the painting) you could literally see the outline of picture frames. Okay, so that may not be such a big deal cause the outline coulda been in dust or sun-bleaching or something... but, no... it was outlined in roach poop! And the way I know so is because the guy who inspected for our termite-free-proof-thingy told me so. Seriously gross. Obviously, we cleaned before the paint went on (the paint being one of the many conditions of the appraisal, so it had to and did happen before closing).
Well, it's bothered me for some time that I could actually see built up roach pooh between at least one cabinet and the wall. I figured if I saw it there, it was likely elsewhere as well. And, BOY, is THAT an understatement!!!
Jessie is a guy's guy. He's a MAN. He's totally tough and poker-facey... He was visibly disgusted. And if you know my man, you know anything "visible" on him is an extreme reaction! ^_^
The more stuff we take out of the kitchen, the more full of gratitude I am that my man is willing to invest this kind of time into making our home feel safe and clean to me/us! It's sort of like we're "baptising" our home before we move in! I hope the kitchen will be done before we're there full-time and only there, but even if it's not... we'll be happy with the result when we ARE finished! It's such an exciting feeling to know that the work we're doing will profit our family in years to come... that we will have a CLEAN home in which to thrive. What a pleasure to be able to make that happen with my sweet Jessie!
Who knew I would fall in love ever more with my guy as we work together on making a sorta yucky house into Our Home! Well, I can think of at least One who knew... Can you guess about Whom I'm thinking? ;)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother, MINE
I know how my Mother came to be.
She fell from real high, higher than a tree.
The height from which she fell
is not one I can easily tell.
You see, she is flawed.
But it is not this, I do laud.
It's the way she has risen
even within her clay prison.
Initially her fall
was from a height, oh so tall.
Heaven was her first home.
But she was always free to roam.
Her work was to be someone's angel, right from scripture.
Her turn to become the clay came and she replied, "Sure!"
And so she fell.
And I must continue to tell.
She fell to the earth.
In an age of dirth.
Though she didn't live through famine,
around her in life she faced sin.
The darkness fought to block the light.
From her mortal line of sight.
But she was not fooled.
For in her before work, she had been schooled.
And she recognized and sought the light
not one to refuse the right or fight!
Somehow, so much, she overcame.
And did not repeat all the same.
She raised up her hands
and upon them, there her progeny stands.
She still does not weaken, but grows stronger,
Even though she has more as her days grow longer.
And so; this angel, fallen, is raised!
And I feel her name to be praised!
Thank you, my angel, Mother, dear.
For being an example of dashing the fear.
Of showing the way to the Lord!
Of pushing on when you were bored.
Showing me how
to be the right kind of cow.
Nourishing from body and self,
preparing it all right off the shelf.
Homemade bread.
is what she fed.
Ground the wheat herself.
Again, not off the shelf!
No paper diapers, had she!
No ready made meals, how could it be?
She worked and she slaved
and some souls she's saved!
And throughout the ages,
even eternity, her work will marvel the sages!
Her name will be praised: her glory be sung.
Round her neck a first prize will be hung!
For a fallen angel rises.
Day by day evil despises.
Her example endures.
Her life ensures.
I'm so glad she's MINE.
Mother, so fine!
I love you, Mom... and just do you know, this one wasn't as quick as the one for Grampa that day. ;) I LOVE YOU!!!! And you ARE, truly, SO FINE!!! I know you. I see you. I love you!
She fell from real high, higher than a tree.
The height from which she fell
is not one I can easily tell.
You see, she is flawed.
But it is not this, I do laud.
It's the way she has risen
even within her clay prison.
Initially her fall
was from a height, oh so tall.
Heaven was her first home.
But she was always free to roam.
Her work was to be someone's angel, right from scripture.
Her turn to become the clay came and she replied, "Sure!"
And so she fell.
And I must continue to tell.
She fell to the earth.
In an age of dirth.
Though she didn't live through famine,
around her in life she faced sin.
The darkness fought to block the light.
From her mortal line of sight.
But she was not fooled.
For in her before work, she had been schooled.
And she recognized and sought the light
not one to refuse the right or fight!
Somehow, so much, she overcame.
And did not repeat all the same.
She raised up her hands
and upon them, there her progeny stands.
She still does not weaken, but grows stronger,
Even though she has more as her days grow longer.
And so; this angel, fallen, is raised!
And I feel her name to be praised!
Thank you, my angel, Mother, dear.
For being an example of dashing the fear.
Of showing the way to the Lord!
Of pushing on when you were bored.
Showing me how
to be the right kind of cow.
Nourishing from body and self,
preparing it all right off the shelf.
Homemade bread.
is what she fed.
Ground the wheat herself.
Again, not off the shelf!
No paper diapers, had she!
No ready made meals, how could it be?
She worked and she slaved
and some souls she's saved!
And throughout the ages,
even eternity, her work will marvel the sages!
Her name will be praised: her glory be sung.
Round her neck a first prize will be hung!
For a fallen angel rises.
Day by day evil despises.
Her example endures.
Her life ensures.
I'm so glad she's MINE.
Mother, so fine!
I love you, Mom... and just do you know, this one wasn't as quick as the one for Grampa that day. ;) I LOVE YOU!!!! And you ARE, truly, SO FINE!!! I know you. I see you. I love you!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
I Have Daughters
I have daughters, three.
They are glorious as can be.
My heart feels so full as to break;
with love, it does ache!
It started so fiercely
And I felt it to pierce me.
With each new day, I learn another way
to love: soft as a dove,
hard a nail, full as a pail,
a hald-empty glass, hoping I'll pass
this difficult test: home a nest.
I'm not a good nester, for my children do feel to pester.
I read as much as I can
to become better than I am.
But the task is so gigantic,
I begin to panic.
And I feel bogged down by the role
of Mother; to any soul.
My daily failures draw my mind.
And to myself, I am unkind.
But then there's a shrug,
and an unexpected hug,
from a little one - UNoffended.
And my heart is mended.
Her eyes look o mine
and it all must be fine.
For in the depths of her blue
I see all that is true.
She, they, are what matters.
Not any ol' tatters.
The clothes that one wears
whole or full of tears,
don't matter to THOSE eyes.
Like others above, in the skies.
The truth revealed
in those eys unsealed:
To love Motherhood is a choice.
Not only to be made once or twoice,
but every single day
and in more than one single way.
Together we step, into the future we go,
little hands holding fast, and I know
I love them and they love me,
No matter how undeserving we may be.
And so long as we are together
my heart will end, light as a feather.
Father created Motherhood as a trial.
We must walk much further than one mile.
But in every cloud, there goes a saying,
some silver may be found, but not for paying.
And, really, the silver can overwhelm the mind
of one who sees, as opposed to one who's blind.
So, let us all go
into the future and know
that our hearts will be light
when we see that which is bright
in our children's eyes
and in the sight of those in the skies.
because it's Mother's Day soon
They are glorious as can be.
My heart feels so full as to break;
with love, it does ache!
It started so fiercely
And I felt it to pierce me.
With each new day, I learn another way
to love: soft as a dove,
hard a nail, full as a pail,
a hald-empty glass, hoping I'll pass
this difficult test: home a nest.
I'm not a good nester, for my children do feel to pester.
I read as much as I can
to become better than I am.
But the task is so gigantic,
I begin to panic.
And I feel bogged down by the role
of Mother; to any soul.
My daily failures draw my mind.
And to myself, I am unkind.
But then there's a shrug,
and an unexpected hug,
from a little one - UNoffended.
And my heart is mended.
Her eyes look o mine
and it all must be fine.
For in the depths of her blue
I see all that is true.
She, they, are what matters.
Not any ol' tatters.
The clothes that one wears
whole or full of tears,
don't matter to THOSE eyes.
Like others above, in the skies.
The truth revealed
in those eys unsealed:
To love Motherhood is a choice.
Not only to be made once or twoice,
but every single day
and in more than one single way.
Together we step, into the future we go,
little hands holding fast, and I know
I love them and they love me,
No matter how undeserving we may be.
And so long as we are together
my heart will end, light as a feather.
Father created Motherhood as a trial.
We must walk much further than one mile.
But in every cloud, there goes a saying,
some silver may be found, but not for paying.
And, really, the silver can overwhelm the mind
of one who sees, as opposed to one who's blind.
So, let us all go
into the future and know
that our hearts will be light
when we see that which is bright
in our children's eyes
and in the sight of those in the skies.
because it's Mother's Day soon
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Just for My Mom
This picture was taken from a window in the loft.
You can see, of course, the screened patio area,
but you can also see the two car garage and carport,
which extends out in front of the garage.
Oh, and the HUGE backyard... that, too. ^_^
Sunday, May 2, 2010
A GREAT Blog!
I hope you will check out this blog. It's really cute. You can also find it on Facebook. If you do, push the LIKE button. He's going for publishing it as a book and the more "fans" make a "merrier" publisher. :)
We Are Officially Homeowners!
Okay, so this is a weird picture...and from the BACK...
but it's the best I have right now.
Pretty neat, right??
It has SUCH an interesting floor plan.
It's just a REALLY unique house.
But, of course, it would have to be...
to house THIS family! ;)
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