Earl has been waiting for the pictures to appear. So, while I couldn't sleep last night, I put this together. I'm not sure it really does the room justice, but I think you can see the transformation. Too bad we can't create smell-o-vision; you could really feel the changes then, no more cat smells!
Thursday, December 24
Wednesday, December 23
Feels like we're slowing down
We're still shopping for counter tops. Earl and I finally agree on granite we like, but the piece we like is a single and not big enough for our kitchen. The supplier is out and may be getting more sometime in January. This means we are waiting.........
I pulled the shelves out of some of the lower cabinets and put them on top of the cabinets so I at least have some workable space. Callie came over a few weeks ago and helped me unpack the majority of the kitchen. It was almost like Christmas. Having the majority of stuff in storage for the last year and a half makes everything feel new again.
Nine men from the Elder's quorum came last Saturday and helped us clean out our storage unit and put it all in the garage. It took them less than two hours! Wow, what a great help they were. Now we can say we have officially moved in, not that we know where anything is.
Dad and Earl are working on the laundry room and storage area. We're rearranging the water heater and using what was previously dead space. In the end, it will VERY nice! Dad has a pretty bad cold, so he has slowed way down. Hopefully with Earl off of work for the holiday break, he can step in and get the laundry in.
Now that we have officially started our Christmas break, I have spent time cleaning the livable spaces in the house, making them feel bigger and more finished. We'd like to get living room ceilings scrapped maybe even get that room painted by the end of the break and If I get really energetic, maybe I'll be able to park my car in the garage at the end of the holiday break.
I pulled the shelves out of some of the lower cabinets and put them on top of the cabinets so I at least have some workable space. Callie came over a few weeks ago and helped me unpack the majority of the kitchen. It was almost like Christmas. Having the majority of stuff in storage for the last year and a half makes everything feel new again.
Nine men from the Elder's quorum came last Saturday and helped us clean out our storage unit and put it all in the garage. It took them less than two hours! Wow, what a great help they were. Now we can say we have officially moved in, not that we know where anything is.
Dad and Earl are working on the laundry room and storage area. We're rearranging the water heater and using what was previously dead space. In the end, it will VERY nice! Dad has a pretty bad cold, so he has slowed way down. Hopefully with Earl off of work for the holiday break, he can step in and get the laundry in.
Now that we have officially started our Christmas break, I have spent time cleaning the livable spaces in the house, making them feel bigger and more finished. We'd like to get living room ceilings scrapped maybe even get that room painted by the end of the break and If I get really energetic, maybe I'll be able to park my car in the garage at the end of the holiday break.
Sunday, December 13
A Kitchen to die for?
After Rylee finished the floors we could have the kitchen cabinets installed.
Shopping for cabinets was a little depressing--they are so expensive. Our Midvale home has such a beautiful kitchen, we knew we couldn't afford to do that again. we were lucky to have Lane and Joe help us out there. This time around they were too busy, so we looked at Home Depot, Lowes, some other cabinet companies, then while I was looking at Restore I saw something that I quite liked. Restore is like a DI, but run by Habitat for Humanity. People and companies donate their old household items that is still in decent shape and you can pick up some basic stuff pretty cheap.
They also sell new cabinets made by a local cabinet shop at a discount. The knotty alder cabinets were nice. They looked like they would work, plus it did my giving heart good to know the profits of the sale go to a good cause. Earl decided he liked them too, so we decided to order our cabinets through them.
The man who sells them told us he also installs, and for a very reasonable cost, so we asked him to install them too. And that is were our woes began. He represented himself as a professional, working for a reputable organizations. He actually is not authorized to represent H4H. In fact, we learned later on, that when Restore decided to sell cabinets, he was told they were not to offer installation. Would have been nice to know!
This guy and his sidekick showed up in the evenings and made mistake after mistake, starting with measuring, and not verifying the original plans. From the corner cabinet being the wrong size to installing the sink base in the wrong place, it was like watching a couple of boys with their first erector set.
The first night wasn't so bad. They even brought a girlfriend who was willing to help me finish painting some trim work. By the second night, it was apparent theses clowns didn't know what they were doing. cabinets were crooked, the wrong size, and they continued to put things in the wrong places. Earl and my father started inspecting every little detail, and they were getting frustrated having someone watch over them.
They started getting testy, then combative, then they started complaining--even while I was in the room they would complain about my father and Earl. It took everything I had to not snap at them, but I wanted to get the cabinets in more than I wanted to tell them off.
By the third day, we realized they were not going to complete the job the way it should be done, and they started copping out--and didn't show up two days in a row. Earl and Dad had to go into Restore (that's when we found out about the moonlighting) and have the director come out and look at the poor job they were doing. That set off more complaining and whining about how difficult "the job" was and how they weren't getting paid enough. It was frustrating to listen to them as they worked. We eventually got to a point where we had to tell them we would finish the job and just got rid of them.
In the end what should have been a two day job, turned into almost two weeks! Two cabinets had to be remade, two had to be altered by my dad, and the over the refrigerator cabinet had to be removed and reinstalled-- because I just can't reach over the refrigerator six inches~!
In the midst of all this turmoil, we moved our bed in on Thanksgiving night and spent our first night in the house.
Shopping for cabinets was a little depressing--they are so expensive. Our Midvale home has such a beautiful kitchen, we knew we couldn't afford to do that again. we were lucky to have Lane and Joe help us out there. This time around they were too busy, so we looked at Home Depot, Lowes, some other cabinet companies, then while I was looking at Restore I saw something that I quite liked. Restore is like a DI, but run by Habitat for Humanity. People and companies donate their old household items that is still in decent shape and you can pick up some basic stuff pretty cheap.
They also sell new cabinets made by a local cabinet shop at a discount. The knotty alder cabinets were nice. They looked like they would work, plus it did my giving heart good to know the profits of the sale go to a good cause. Earl decided he liked them too, so we decided to order our cabinets through them.
The man who sells them told us he also installs, and for a very reasonable cost, so we asked him to install them too. And that is were our woes began. He represented himself as a professional, working for a reputable organizations. He actually is not authorized to represent H4H. In fact, we learned later on, that when Restore decided to sell cabinets, he was told they were not to offer installation. Would have been nice to know!
This guy and his sidekick showed up in the evenings and made mistake after mistake, starting with measuring, and not verifying the original plans. From the corner cabinet being the wrong size to installing the sink base in the wrong place, it was like watching a couple of boys with their first erector set.
The first night wasn't so bad. They even brought a girlfriend who was willing to help me finish painting some trim work. By the second night, it was apparent theses clowns didn't know what they were doing. cabinets were crooked, the wrong size, and they continued to put things in the wrong places. Earl and my father started inspecting every little detail, and they were getting frustrated having someone watch over them.
They started getting testy, then combative, then they started complaining--even while I was in the room they would complain about my father and Earl. It took everything I had to not snap at them, but I wanted to get the cabinets in more than I wanted to tell them off.
By the third day, we realized they were not going to complete the job the way it should be done, and they started copping out--and didn't show up two days in a row. Earl and Dad had to go into Restore (that's when we found out about the moonlighting) and have the director come out and look at the poor job they were doing. That set off more complaining and whining about how difficult "the job" was and how they weren't getting paid enough. It was frustrating to listen to them as they worked. We eventually got to a point where we had to tell them we would finish the job and just got rid of them.
In the end what should have been a two day job, turned into almost two weeks! Two cabinets had to be remade, two had to be altered by my dad, and the over the refrigerator cabinet had to be removed and reinstalled-- because I just can't reach over the refrigerator six inches~!
In the midst of all this turmoil, we moved our bed in on Thanksgiving night and spent our first night in the house.
Too busy
Every few days Earl says to me, "gee, it sure would be nice to see more pictures on your blog." My answer to this is--I'm too busy working on the house, moving in, and just trying to keep myself sane to upload pictures, let alone write.
But this cold Sunday morning, I thought it was time to write. Curled up in a blanket, on the couch, watching it snow. Notice I said "on the couch!" That means we've come far enough to have some furniture in the house......yipee!
After Dad and Earl moved the walls in the hallway and we painted the two bedrooms upstairs, we had someone come in and finish off the wood flooring. We wanted to have wood in the dining room as well as the kitchen, so on a recommendation from a guy at work we had a young kid come in and dove tail wood into the existing and finish off the dining room and hall.
He did this the weekend we went to Callie's wedding...congratulations Cal. We came home from Idaho on Sunday, Nov. 21st, to find the floors done--and they are beautiful. It was the first time we felt like we were making real progress and could move in soon.
But this cold Sunday morning, I thought it was time to write. Curled up in a blanket, on the couch, watching it snow. Notice I said "on the couch!" That means we've come far enough to have some furniture in the house......yipee!
After Dad and Earl moved the walls in the hallway and we painted the two bedrooms upstairs, we had someone come in and finish off the wood flooring. We wanted to have wood in the dining room as well as the kitchen, so on a recommendation from a guy at work we had a young kid come in and dove tail wood into the existing and finish off the dining room and hall.
He did this the weekend we went to Callie's wedding...congratulations Cal. We came home from Idaho on Sunday, Nov. 21st, to find the floors done--and they are beautiful. It was the first time we felt like we were making real progress and could move in soon.
Monday, November 9
Remodel: Week Two plus
It has been just over two weeks since we started this project, but it feels like a lot longer. Dad and Earl have found ways to open up areas of the house. The hallway that was closed off, in now open. The family room that was once a bedroom with a wall knocked out, now is all one room, with no more random closet in it.
The odd book case like structure was actually an attempt to hide wires that were inside the bedroom wall that was torn out. We originally thought it was housing a vent pipe from the laundry downstairs, only to find the previous owners had simply cut it off, up top at the ceiling and down at the floor level. We found a solution from that and removed the unused and unnecessary pipes after that.
I'm finding the pictures cannot do it justice, and I am exhausted from painting and cleaning almost every night. Here is a picture of what the family room looked like when we bought the house. Notice the closet on the right wall. That is now part of a larger closet in the bedroom behind the wall-- and the random doorway that led to no where???? Dad and Earl closed it off, so now the hallway entrance is wide and open. It's gonna be great!
Thursday, October 29
Remodel: Week One
A week ago we received the keys to our new house. First thing Saturday morning, we started ripping out carpets and scrubbing down walls. What would we have done with out The Schow men? They came in and kept us going, hauling out carpet and scraping floors.
While we like the house, it is a thing of potential, not a polished stone. As we pulled the carpet out the stench of cat urine permeated our noses. We knew she had cats, but we had no idea how neglected they were--eeewwuu! I've been doing my research--vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, rinse, lather and repeat. I'll be scrubbing sub flooring for the next few weeks.
One thing I finally got right--It's funny, since we got married over three years ago we have disagreed on many things, especially paint. I've picked out paint I thought Earl would like, put it on the walls, and then get an either lukewarm reaction or a negative response. In fact, paint led to our first, and really, only marital fight. But this week--against all odds--I painted something Earl liked. I was waiting for the "eh, I guess it's okay," or "uh-uh." But instead I got, "I really like it." I feel like for the first time I got Earl's taste, a little.
So next week, I start painting another room, and Earl and Dad continue to demo the dining room, den and kitchen. The hallway I thought would be nicer if it was opened up more, got opened up. The closet that was in the den, is now connected to the bedroom. It's going to be usable space all the way around.
I've taking pictures, so I'll post when I get them.
While we like the house, it is a thing of potential, not a polished stone. As we pulled the carpet out the stench of cat urine permeated our noses. We knew she had cats, but we had no idea how neglected they were--eeewwuu! I've been doing my research--vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, rinse, lather and repeat. I'll be scrubbing sub flooring for the next few weeks.
One thing I finally got right--It's funny, since we got married over three years ago we have disagreed on many things, especially paint. I've picked out paint I thought Earl would like, put it on the walls, and then get an either lukewarm reaction or a negative response. In fact, paint led to our first, and really, only marital fight. But this week--against all odds--I painted something Earl liked. I was waiting for the "eh, I guess it's okay," or "uh-uh." But instead I got, "I really like it." I feel like for the first time I got Earl's taste, a little.
So next week, I start painting another room, and Earl and Dad continue to demo the dining room, den and kitchen. The hallway I thought would be nicer if it was opened up more, got opened up. The closet that was in the den, is now connected to the bedroom. It's going to be usable space all the way around.
I've taking pictures, so I'll post when I get them.
Friday, October 9
My Boy....and girls
Today at school we had a kickball tournament. I have about sixteen boys in my class and only four girls. Can I just say, I love teaching boys! There is something about them that is just so much easier to work with. I think it's the lack of estrogen. (I love my girls too, I'm just glad there are not as many of them)
Anyway, I told them that I didn't care if they won the tournament, but that I wanted to them to play as a team and have great sportsmanship--and they did! They were not great, they went 2 and 2, but they held their heads high and congratulated every team they played, even when that team was bad mouthing them as they left the field. In short, they ROCKED!
I love days like this. I get more and more attached to my students when we have fun days like this.
I believe a nice reward breakfast is in store next week.
Anyway, I told them that I didn't care if they won the tournament, but that I wanted to them to play as a team and have great sportsmanship--and they did! They were not great, they went 2 and 2, but they held their heads high and congratulated every team they played, even when that team was bad mouthing them as they left the field. In short, they ROCKED!
I love days like this. I get more and more attached to my students when we have fun days like this.
I believe a nice reward breakfast is in store next week.
Wednesday, October 7
Too tired to move???
I've been thinking about the hassles I have created in Earl's life over the past few years.
- I talked him into returning to school.
- He quit his job to go to school full-time thus become less self-reliant.
- He rented out our home to strangers and moved into my Mothers.
- He took "a thankless job working for minor duckets" in hopes of getting a better job.
- We moved from my Mother's back home, then remodled, AGAIN.
- We sold a house he has put his sweat and tears into for the past eight years.
- We moved, temporarily, back to my Mothers.
- And we will move once again into our new home next week, where we will again begin to REMODEL!
Friday, September 18
14 days
It has taken fourteen days of late nights driving around neighborhoods, walking through houses, and hours and hours at the computer to finally find a house worth making an offer on. Ironically, we saw the house up for sale months ago. It was a little pricey for us so we moved on. We saw the price go down last week so thought we would take a look at it and the Realtor wouldn't let us see it because it was going to auction that day.
Yesterday we saw the same house re-post at $20,000 less that the last price, it was foreclosed on. Earl tried to see it, but we found out the lady who had previously owned it was still occupying the house and wouldn't allow anyone to see it.
Today, the new owner allowed us to see the house. The owner was there, so Earl peeped around quickly, then later in the day I took my father to see it. We spent a little more time walking through.
The woman living in the house has so much stuff in it, it was hard to look beyond the six sewing machines (which by the way I could envy), the full size cutting table, the shelves and shelves of fabric, and canned food. But, in looking around we realized that it was a nice home with lots of room and potential. It just needs new carpet and paint. (and a new kitchen in about five years)
We decided to make an offer--the price of the house, minus the cost of paint and carpet. Now we have to wait to see if the owner accepts our offer. To be continued.....
Yesterday we saw the same house re-post at $20,000 less that the last price, it was foreclosed on. Earl tried to see it, but we found out the lady who had previously owned it was still occupying the house and wouldn't allow anyone to see it.
Today, the new owner allowed us to see the house. The owner was there, so Earl peeped around quickly, then later in the day I took my father to see it. We spent a little more time walking through.
The woman living in the house has so much stuff in it, it was hard to look beyond the six sewing machines (which by the way I could envy), the full size cutting table, the shelves and shelves of fabric, and canned food. But, in looking around we realized that it was a nice home with lots of room and potential. It just needs new carpet and paint. (and a new kitchen in about five years)
We decided to make an offer--the price of the house, minus the cost of paint and carpet. Now we have to wait to see if the owner accepts our offer. To be continued.....
Friday, September 4
An offer we couldn't refuse
We got an offer on the house yesterday--it was for the full asking price, but they wanted us to pay all of the closing price. We asked them to split the closing costs, but they didn't want to, so they are kicking in an extra $2000 on the sell price. I guess it evens out in the end. Lets hope their financing goes through and we are on our way. Wow--when it comes, it comes fast!
Tomorrow we start earnestly looking for a new home.
Tomorrow we start earnestly looking for a new home.
Wednesday, September 2
If you price it right, they will come
The house has been on the market for just over a week now and we have had seven people walk through. Two of them came back for a second look and another is coming tomorrow for her second look.
While I am thrilled and flattered by their interest in our home, I am anxious. I know that these things happen in the Lord's time and in his way--we all say this, yet we all want what we want. I really am grateful for the attention.
Earl is not loving having to get out of the house early in the morning and he is patiently making the bed daily. (this is a dreaded task for him) His new job keeps him out until 11:30 at night and with his strange sleeping habits having the house on the market is driving him crazy. He is being patient though--I really married the most patient man, no matter what he thinks. He lets me get away with far too much, just to keep the peace.
So, we wait for an offer to come in. In the mean time, I've set up an appointment to see some houses that we may be interested in on Saturday. It seems to be the only day Earl and I have t0 do things like this together. Lets hope we can actually agree on at least one home, otherwise this is going to be a difficult experience.
While I am thrilled and flattered by their interest in our home, I am anxious. I know that these things happen in the Lord's time and in his way--we all say this, yet we all want what we want. I really am grateful for the attention.
Earl is not loving having to get out of the house early in the morning and he is patiently making the bed daily. (this is a dreaded task for him) His new job keeps him out until 11:30 at night and with his strange sleeping habits having the house on the market is driving him crazy. He is being patient though--I really married the most patient man, no matter what he thinks. He lets me get away with far too much, just to keep the peace.
So, we wait for an offer to come in. In the mean time, I've set up an appointment to see some houses that we may be interested in on Saturday. It seems to be the only day Earl and I have t0 do things like this together. Lets hope we can actually agree on at least one home, otherwise this is going to be a difficult experience.
Saturday, August 29
Getting the House Ready to Sell
At the end of July when our renters moved out of our home, we started to remodel. Earl stripped and sanded hardwood floors, I sanded the walls in the bedroom with the awful texturing job from the previous owners and we recruited Dad and Rick to help us put a ceiling in the storage room and mud and tape the bathroom downstairs.
That left painting! And so we painted, and painted, and painted. I believe I had paint in my hair for about three weeks. Earl had paint on almost every pair of jeans I would allow him to wear. (I had to reserve a few for work) We painted cement walls, ceilings, stairways, bedrooms and both bathrooms. The guys at Kwall know me well.
Now that it is all done, and we got the house on the market, I am sitting in a home that looks wonderful, but I have to be
careful with how I live in it.We also decided not to move all of our furniture back, since we would just have to move it again, so we have a bedroom, office and half a kitchen. It feels pretty spartan.
It needs to be ready to show at any time, so I hesitate to pull anything out or work on a project for fear that I will make a mess and then someone will want to see the home. It leaves me with few options at night while I am home alone and Earl is at work.
We have had five people look at it the first week alone. Yipee-- I believe I need to go house shopping now. If I live as if I am moving, and begin looking in that direction, life should go that way and we will move. (At least that is what I am praying for.)
Saturday, August 22
I've finally figure it out
So many of my friends blog and as I read these cute titles and read about their lives, I felt like I didn't have anything worth saying. Then I realized, my life is a great adventure and with Earl by my side, it gets better all the time. So, here is my life with Earl.
We have just moved back into our home in Midvale and spent the last three weeks remodeling---again! But, now we have a beautiful finished home, that we are going to sell. It just doesn't make sense! But, with both of us commuting at least a half hour, it will be worth it in the long run. Plus, we are looking at buying a newer home that will hopefully require a little less remodeling and attention. We shall see.
We have just moved back into our home in Midvale and spent the last three weeks remodeling---again! But, now we have a beautiful finished home, that we are going to sell. It just doesn't make sense! But, with both of us commuting at least a half hour, it will be worth it in the long run. Plus, we are looking at buying a newer home that will hopefully require a little less remodeling and attention. We shall see.
Tuesday, July 7
Here we are!
We're finally hitting the blog-world. I'm not sure why, there isn't a whole lot to say, but I felt the need to begin. So, more later.....
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