Part 2 Life of a Renovator...

In order to survive a major renovation when you are living in the home, you must be prepared for some craziness...such as...

~dead batteries~

~breakfast on a new deck~

~ eating your free box of sugar junk cereal on said new deck~

~eating on make shift tables, whenever, wherever~

Sharing perogies with friends while having an indoor picnic

~then being prepared to wrangle the child that ate the aforementioned sugar junk!

Be prepared for children to use your paint drop clothes for other purposes!

Be prepared to offer food and take food from others while eating on the floor

~ to take your tea on the piano bench ~

~ to enjoy spur-of-the-moment family gatherings

~to share a snack at 1 AM with your sweetie who is starting to look like Grizzly Adams~

Grabbing the internet connection whenever you can.  Here I am advertising our house for sale.

Watch your children find new uses for your disposable latex gloves.  This is a cow milking station!

Kids get a little bored of raking leaves, but burning them is more fun.

Be prepared to swallow your pride when friends show up to help on your final day and you offer them water in a measuring cup ~ and they just giggle and drink!

Hard working yard clean up crew!  Makes good byes hard, but the moment sweet!

Spontaneous picnics are fun

Be prepared for your girls to find new uses for your ropes.  Here Mei is in her swinging chair.

Be happy to sleep wherever, whenever you can.  Even if it means in the middle of a living room, with no curtains and with an edge sander screaming away.  Daily we just shook out our blankets and fell asleep!

Be prepared to break your own personal record for longest and most painful sliver.  1.5 inches long!

~ to trust your 12 year old to clear coat the floor with you.  Not once, but 3 times on each floor.

Then also trust same child to prepare meals safely while her father is still in the house!  ha ha!

~ relax and goof around when you can...which is not often! Be thankful for the friends that show up and let you be the recepient of their many decorative talents!  Thanks Ronalyn Art!

 

Be prepared to shed some tears as you look at your baby bed and remember all your sweet memories  

The crazy life....the life of a renovator!

This post has been delayed due to getting pictures uploaded, so here it is.

If you know me, I do like to plan or at least have some sort of idea of what my life requires of me...I did NOT think this one out so clearly.  Maybe that was my blessing in disguise.  I just knew that I wanted to be with my honey as we renovated our home to sell and our family to be together.  We were definately together and if a happy that works together stays together, then we will!  ha ha

We arrived the beginning of March in Manitoba to a few feet of snow blocking our path to the entrance of the house.  So I got shovelling.  The heaters had all been cranked up in the house so it was steamy warm (poor hydro bill).  We unloaded tools, etc and paints that were temperature sensitive and then headed to friends for the next few nights. 

Looking at what needed to be done and where to start...

some before photos, or at least when we had just started out.

Bathroom after old "barker board" removed.             Ruth and Mei's pink & purple room, floor scrapped.

Kate's green room, painted subflooring.              Middle area upstairs with wallpaper on drywall...stuck!

So I started some priming, etc and then went for my "girls weekend" AKA Stepf's Wedding Fun and came home to this...my toilet and sink were outside.  A little miscommunication, but we made do....poor Mei will dislike me for these next posts!  Roll with the punches they say?!

Father and son work in the tiny bathroom ~ J. the drywall king

When you renovate, there is no such thing as "personal space"...

Now this was exciting...for me!  This huge cord went across our bedroom ceiling like a giant umbilical cord.  It was hideous.  It took the better part of a day to do the wiring properly, but oh so nice to not stare at it!

I would catch Gregg doing this constantly...the fir flooring has soooo many slivers.

Found Gregg's teenage cool dude shirt in the rag bag...

Do I ever learn?  This time I returned from town with supplies and had to stradle what was left of the deck.

The nice weather also brought out the bees...1000's of them!  They love MDF sawdust.

Getting the borrowed paint sprayer ready and working around the SNOW

This is what a real working kitchen looks like.  Fuctional, not pretty.

Renovators replace kitchen windows after dessert and even if your company is watching!

...and use cheap labor...

Part 2 later

Puppies, puppies, puppies!

Oh the sheer thrill of new life and little wiggly puppies to enjoy!  The only "pup" I remember having was Buster, a black lab, that we received after someone had thrown him and his litter in the garbage.  Mom and Dad were checking cows when our neighbour popped by with 5 little puppies.  We 3 kids decided that Mom and Dad wouldn't want them to die and we needed a dog right?  So we picked out the strongest looking male (umbilical cord still on) and proceeded to try to feed him milk with an eyedropper.  Well, how could Mom or Dad say "no" then?  Buster lived to be 14 years old and was a great friend and protector of us children.  He grew up rolly polly fat and cute and practical too!  He looked much like this...

We often said he was "buster brown, cutest dog around!"

Well, now our children get to experience little pups again this spring.  My Mom's dog, Duchess (yellow lab) was bred to Hunter (black lab) and after a miraclous delivery, she has 9 big rolly polly pups to love up!  So far we think 6 are spoken for, but each girl has 2 puppies that they focus their attention on.  There are 5 black and 4 yellow...6 females, 3 males.

Looking in...

Kate adds some humor to the waiting stage..

Oh she so loves her babies!

looking like little piggies at first

noses are starting to turn black.  This is a little male.

Making an Oreo sandwich

...and don't we love her babies too!

a few different colors

May 11th, 2 weeks old

In Mei's care "Chance"

So bored, he's sticking out his tongue at us!  We marked some of them with nail polish to tell them apart.

Our little shih-tzu/poodle "Cocoa" has his nose out-of-joint as Duchess has little time for him anymore.  He does like the puppies though, but not when they start getting hungry...he's out of there pretty fast!  ha ha

May 14th, all dressed up and no where to go! Their eyes are open now and they are getting out of their box and moving about a little.  Soon the real fun starts!

Safety first...carseat safety...for when they ride in a car?  hummm

Chance is yawning

Joy is getting undressed.  If you didn't know the story ~ Kate was alone with Duchess when Joy was born and not breathing.  She removed the sac, rubbed her and then did mouth-mouth.  So she is pretty attached.

At the moment they have the puppies in a basket in a stroller...ahhh the life on a ranch!  Priceless!

Going in a new direction

When we moved to BC we had no real idea of what our life would look like in 2 years, 5 years...whatever.  We just knew God wanted us moved.  So we did.  We thought living on the Canyon Ranch yard site near my folks would be temporary.  So I have not really put down any so called "roots", as tearing up roots is extremely difficult and not what I call a good time.  Now may be the time to start putting down some roots, maybe just even for my sanity's sake, so I will try.

Gregg had been travelling to Calgary and back for work with his Dad doing renovations and gaining experience in that field while he took a break from nursing.  He loved it, but the travelling and being apart was getting dumb and boring.  So we were looking at perhaps moving closer to Calgary and partnering up with his Dad on some more projects and flipping some houses, etc.  WELL, we we introduced to something else very intriguing.  There was to be a public meeting at 70 Mile House, so we went.  It was for http://www.trinitypostandpanel.com/  They are a local company that has a new concept on building log homes.  100 Mile House is the log house capital, so why not?  This new idea intrigrates post and panels  (patented and TM pending) together to give a great log frame look on the inside and outside of the house, but then options for siding, drywall, wood etc.  The cost is very comparible to a regular stick frame house, so very affordable and the house up to lock-up stage only takes about 4-7 days.  It is very exciting and we can see a very real demand for this type of product around here.  It makes the log home affordable for the regular middle class and for people like my Mom, you can have drywall walls inside!  WIN WIN WIN!  SO, Gregg is accepted on with the company in sales/marketing and is now trying to wrap his head around what exactly that means.
The 1st show home is drawn up and waiting for the engineer's stamp of approval and they will start construction on it soon.  This 1st house will be done a little more hands on, as all the equipment for the whole factory has not been purchased yet.  There are a lot of developers waiting and excited about the product and what it can offer.  The options are endless for design concepts, unlike traditional log homes.
The company "Trinity" has been approved for RRSP and TFSA investments and also a BC gov't investment kick back.  The BC gov't has been encouraging people to invest in BC business, so they offer a 30% "rebate" type thing.  It was lots of paperwork to get this approval, but very exciting...afterall, buying equipment costs money! 
So, that is our new direction.  Gregg is at a home show today with Trinity and showing off a sample of the concept.

 Please pray for us.  Pray our house in Manitoba sells so we no longer have a mortgage payment.  One of our old cars also broke down yesterday, so we need to get rid of it and perhaps find Gregg another commuter car.  Right now finances are tight as we wait for everything to come together.  I know God's timing is obviously not my timing, but we really want to be debt free fast.

Thanks!
http://www.trinitypostandpanel.com/

Reliving a childhood memory....

Peanut Butter Pie

Once when I was a little girl, I was served popcorn and peanut butter pie at my friends house in Ear Falls, Ontario.  I promised myself I would make that pie again when I was old enough...well, I am old enough and I did!  It was just as sweet as I remembered and especially good with popcorn on the side.

My middle daughter, the age I was when I experienced my 1st bite of peanut butter pie!

I find it very interesting the little promises I made to myself  and how while some have proven to be not all that benefical, others have sure been fun!

The most dangerous animal right now is your Mommy!

Yes I said those words! 

Situation:  After supper I told the girls I would make the icing and if they would get the table cleaned off, we could decorate cookies before bed.  I was busy concentrating on making my colors and putting the icing into little bags to squeeze out.  Gregg phones.  Just then I realize WHAT??? the girls are ALL on the computer looking up "world's most dangerous animal"...so I told them "the most dangerous animal right now is your Mommy!  You did not obey....look at the table..."  OOPS!  Then Daddy had a little chat with each one of them.  So much for icing the cookies...and I had wanted to.  Instead I've spent most of my evening quilting, watching an old movie and crying.  It's so easy to be an angry Momma Hippo...so hard to have the balance between order/obedience and fun.

Oh by the by, according to some researchers, the MOSQUITO is the deadilest animal...2 - 3 million die every year from disease carried by one.  Venomous snakes were #2 , my poor hippo was #7

USA spends more $$$ on DOG food than on Missions....

How sad is that?  When the Bible talks about feeding the poor, and taking care of those who are needy and how those who shut their eyes to them will have many curses ~ how can we spend more on our pets then on people?!?!

I woke up with something HEAVY on my heart.  You could say my heart was breaking and feeling compassion for someone.  That someone is anyone who has been hurt by my hyprocrital ways or the ways of "the church".  I sit here in tears just thinking of it ~ how "the church" or "christians" can do so much damage by NOT LOVING THEIR NEIGHBOUR.  Really, isn't that what it comes down to?  If we truly loved our neighbour, would we not have their best interest in mind, would we TRY to not cause them to stumble?  So much of what "we" (i'm talking myself included here) do is based on our own selfish gain or COMFORT.  It is inconvenient.  I don't have time.  They are weird and may be clingy if I smile at them.  I'll be uncomfortable doing this or doing that.  I don't like hospitals, so I won't go visit someone.  I can't commit to something like that...  Oh the excuses we make.

 BUT people are watching us!  We are to be a light on the hill top for everyone to see!  How can we be a light when we sit at home and do nothing?  Did God not give us talents and gifts?  Why?  So we'd hide them under a bush OH NO!  I'm gonna let it shine!  Maybe you think your gift is "no big deal"...but maybe your music brings joy to others...go play in a retirement home and see the smiles, then tell me if it is NO BIG DEAL!  Maybe you make cards and send them to others...the encouragement they receive knows no dollar value.  Maybe you are a teacher of something and your "good job" can make a difference.  Maybe it's staying after class to make sure that kid gets it or share your lunch with a kid that may not have one. Maybe you have vocational skills that can be donated to a worthy cause? Maybe you are at home with children (who are a great blessing and 1st priority) but you make a mean chocolate chip cookie...can you share them with neighbours?  Maybe you could take a neighbour's kid to the park for 1 hour while the other parent gets a much needed break.  Maybe that is the light others need to see because other "christians' didn't show them that sort of light.  What kind of high horse am I on anyhow?  I'm so scared to reach out for fear of what?  Unless they have rabies (the foaming at the mouth would give it away) they probably don't bite!  Maybe I/you are the answer they have been waiting for.

What does your heart wreck for?  Does your heart wreck when you see advertisements for World Vision type things?  Or do you change channels and think it's all "fake advertising" and resist it?  I have done that.  BUT I know there are poor...for whatever reason, war, famine, ill management of resources, government, sickness, etc...they are poor and GOD says to feed them.  Whatever we have done to the least of those, we have done unto the Lord.  God doesn't say to only feed those that I think deserve a hand up!  Who are the widows, the fatherless, the poor and the needy and the sick?  Look around and you should be able to find some, I know I can and it makes my heart break all the more.

Today I had a revelation...BOTH the sheep and the goats in Matthew 23 called Him "Lord" and he said he didn't know the goats because they did not feed or clothe or help the poor and needy.  WOW!  That hit me so hard!  So we sponser a child and write to her and pray for her and have asked for another....but really, it feels like so incredibly little in the grand scheme of things.  God said he wanted our gifts to fill up HIS storehouses so there would be food enough for the poor and needy.  Proverbs 19:17 look it up. Anyone who is gracious/giving to the poor man, LENDS to God (Himself) and GOD WILL REPAY. I wonder what kind of interest rate God uses when His math is nothing like our world's math?! God is a multiplier into the 1000's!



IMAGINE for a moment IF everyone gave 10% of their income to the poor and needy.  Would we need welfare anymore?

Guess along the lines of hyprocrital actions...I was thinking about abortion.  Most will tell you that it is taking an innocent life  (those in church per say), but what do we do to help the Mothers.  We give them maternity cloths and carseats and food vouchers maybe.  BUT what do we do after the baby is born?  Do we help them with their shopping?  Do you take them out or arrange for a babysitter?  Or for the couples that adopt, oh what a lovely thing!  But then we forget all about them too?  Do we bring them meals or not because they didn't actually give birth so they are probably just fine...what about their adjustments?  Can we not support them and pray for them all the more?  How often I forget about people and what is happening in their lives because I have my own.

I have been challenged today to put my actions where my beliefs are MORE.  To the EXTENT we have done to the least of these, my children, you have done unto ME (Jesus).  WOW!  The extent.

This is what I am chewing on...I am a work in progress...sorry if you have come this far and hate me or what I am talking about.  I find I need to type it out and re read it in a few days to get my head around my thoughts.  I love you all and just wonder how much nicer our world could be if everyone just did a little more kindness...

Going to go kiss my sweeties goodnight, their Daddy is saying his goodnight over the phone.

Proverbs 19:17  look it up.  Anyone who is gracious/giving to the poor man, LENDS to God (Himself) and GOD WILL REPAY.  I wonder what kind of interest rate God uses when His math is nothing like our world's math?!  God is a multiplier into the 1000's!

An observation

My husband asked me something yesterday. 
"Do you have all your money files backed up?"

I replied something like
"What money files?"

He said "The book work you always do on the computer."

Me "oh, on the computer, I do bookwork.  Right.  I haven't done any bookwork...."

"Well, where is it?"

Me  "In envelopes I guess.  I just write it down and file it."

"Well that's not like you.  You like bookwork and always had it on the computer remember."

Me  "I think I was depressed.  I don't remember not doing the bookwork on the computer.  I just forgot or didn't do it.  That is sad.  "

I have observed my office in a new light.  I have not done what I normally do.  So I am changing that.  I will start again and do it on computer again.  My head was just not wrapping around the simpliest things I suppose and that has changed.