Upstairs Update

Everyone is asking how that house is going so I figured an update was in order.

Around the beginning of March we hired a guy (with another guy that was like 80 years old) to remove the back roof and to frame out the addition. We were planning on doing it ourselves but when it came down to it, it was going to take to long and was not something that I was entirely comfortable doing. It was still winter out, I have never removed a roof, and it just seemed like it was better to just have someone that does it all the time do it. And oh am I glade we did. These guys were awesome and a little nuts. We had a start date for a Tuesday, but on Monday morning, the mr gets a phone call from the head guy asking if he was going to go to the house and let him in. "Of course, I'll be there at 8 tomorrow" said the mr.  "No, we are here right now" said the roof ripper off man. "Ok, be right over" and the mr rushes over to the house. When he gets there, the guys were already in the house. The had claimed onto the roof and started ripping it off from the outside.

And then two days later , the roof was gone and the skeleton of the addition was up.  It was fantastic and amazing and we were so excited. SO worth hiring it out!!!!

Our next move was the roof,(to keep out the snow ans rain) which those guys ended up came back and throwing on for us. That was another job we were planning on doing, but when the mr crawled onto the roof to measure for materials, he came back down and said to me"hell no. not doing it" (He is terribly afraid of heights)

After the roof went up, we still had a lot of demo to do. It took us a few days to finish removing the rest of the walls and all the layers of flooring. Then it got really freaking cold out so we boarded off the upstairs with insulation and did some stuff downstairs.

We were on a good roll, getting shit done, about to start framing, then the shittest shit ever happened and Sean died. We didn't go back over to the house for like 2 weeks. (shit head, you were suppose to help us) We lost all motivation and I was in no state to be doing any work that required power tools or crow bars.( I probably would have cut a hand off or accidentally set the house on fire) So yeah, no house work. But over these past 2 weeks we have slowly gotten back into the swing of things. We have cleaned up the upstairs, framed out all the wall and are moving right along. Next is windows, (which is now more just a matter of picking some we like and ordering them) running all the electrical, plumping the bathroom, insulation the ceiling and walls, then getting an inspection! But that will be a breeze.... haha.

So that's what's been going on in the house. Fun fun fun!

Hopefully I will have another update on other parts of the house for you guys soon!

-C

Sunday Happy

 Happy Spring people! Aren't you so excited? I know I am. The daffodils are starting to pop up, the birds are out like crazy with their churp churping and there is a hint of buds grazing all the tree. We are in for warmer weather, fresh green spring veggies, and lots of mud... I mean, what's not to be happy about. (there are things but we don't need to talk about them right now)

Yesterday the mr and I finished ripping up all the floor stuff (I managed not to hurt myself until the very last piece and stuck a nail into my hand) and then traveled the city looking at all the windows in all the stores. Window shopping is such a pain in the ass. If you never have to do it, don't. But we have to and we need to make some decisions like now because this week a bunch of men are making their way over to the new house with their saws and hammers and a big dumpster and are going to cut the back roof off. I am so excited! The addition is going up and the best part is we decided it was just to much for the two of us to do so we hired out the hardest part. We don't have to tear it down or frame it up anymore and oh does this make me happy. I was not to into the idea of me and the mr ripping of the roof ourselves. The mr, sure he knows what he is doing, but me, I would have probably taken the whole house down.

Anyway, going to be doing house stuff until we can't which I am ok with because I am really starting to feel crazy and am ready to move.  I know it's still a few months away but I have this weird feeling that I can't really stop and chill until we are in the new house and I am relaxing there.. so we better get on it. 

And I can't forget the cake. I need to make us a bunny with lots and lots of jelly beans.

Internet browsing from me to you.

-I think I might just spend my day making these. DIY GIANT ORIGAMI BUNNIES!

-My new house crush.

Pasta Hair packages are so cool. Creative Packaging Design Turns Pasta Into Hair

It works. Smart Tip: Peel an Entire Head of Garlic in 10 Seconds

-These 27 Solutions Could Help The U.S. Slash Food Waste

-Not Happy With the Candidates? Try Out a New Country. I know I have threatened to move if things go south around here.

-Of course this make all the sense. Greenery (or Even Photos of Trees) Can Make Us Happier

-LUSHNA VILLA: TINY SHELTERS FOR GLAMPING Yes! The mr and I will be making something like this for sure.

-My someday CARIBBEAN Home.

-I am really into (at the moment)  using light colored wood in fun ways at the house..Even thinking about plywood floors......we will see.

-More then just a great actor with an amazing voice. -Morgan Freeman Changed His 124 Acre Ranch Into A Bee Sanctuary To Help Save The Bees

And a few pics from the week.

Have a great weekend and again, Happy Spring!

-C

Kitchen Progress....

Yup. this is the current kitchen. Everything is ripped out (besides the floors... doing that on Monday)

And now the big question...What are we doing? Honest, I have no freaking idea. No that's not true, I have way to many freaking ideas. The internet is driving me crazy with all of it's pretty pictures and cool ideas, it's so overwhelming. And then there is the budget. Did you know that everything is not free? I know, sucky, but we are on not in a position to spend away... Plus I like my things used or recycled with character and charm. (and free of cheap(but well made))

And it's not like this isn't like my 100th kitchen remodel, but this one is personal. Like has potential to me the kitchen of my (our, but mostly my) dreams. And that's a lot of pressure. Here is the list of the big things we need to figure out. Soon.

• Do I eat grass and dirt for a few months and save enough money to get a wolf gas range or do I get a way less expensivedecent stove that I will probably burn out within 5 years (I burn out ovens... I like to cook hot!)
• Where does the fridge go ? Currently the old fridge is on the opposite wall, and it almost kinda works there, but I wanted that wall to be bare. so?
• Dish washer? I could live without, but the mr wants one. He is probably right but we have been hand washing for so long now that I might miss it. (ok, probably not)
• And the sink. Old farm sink or a newer 2 bay?
• Do we do a tile back splash? And if yes, white subway or what ?(no color or anything trendy...)
• The floor. We know that if the there is hard wood or any nice soft wood under the layers of shit on top, we will sand and keep. I am hoping for that, but it's not looking good from what we see so far. So then what? I don't think I want tile but should we really lay hardwood down?
• Lighting. Actually not a big deal here cause I feel like lighting is so easily changed out for us that if we don't like it,we'll just change it.
• And the biggy big big.. Cabinets and counter tops.  I know no laminate and no wood countersbut I don't want fancy or expensive or ugly. And the cabinets could possibly come from ikea and we face them ourselves or I find some cool old dressers!?

What we do know is that we are going to stick some type of french door situation here. The doors have to be cool, old, and be half, if not entirely made of glass. I have my heart set on a pair of antique garden doors that came from FranceI saw last year at a reclaim store which have sense been sold.. SO whoever bought them give them back. That's not a lot to ask right?

Yeah. Just looking for the right set. We might even find cool doors we like and DIY something. We want the doors soon, but are not going to settle on anything mah... we will wait for the right ones.

Thinking that the stove is going to go on the far wall where the black is. Have a little counter and a long counter against the opposing wall.... Still not 100% The sink is (was) in a good spot so it's staying under the window.

Definitely our favorite spot in the house. The heater is getting removed, but other then that, again, not sure. Just know that it has to stay a fantastic nook for coffee consumption.

So that's where we are right now with the kitchen. We have a little more time, but soon all ofthese decisions have to be made and we will start putting it all back together (SO EXCITED!) Until then, I will continue to scour the internet for ideas , the salvage yards and craigslist for all the cool stuff, and all the vending machines for any left change.

-C

Sunday Happy

 Whenever we bring the pup over to the new house, he immediately grabs his ball and runs to the back door. Usually I let him out for a minute but have to drag him back in and have him lay down while we work. But at the end of each day, I bring him out back again and throw the ball with him.  He is so happy and cute and goofy which makes me so happy. He really has taken to the house and having him there, being so comfortable and happy really makes the house feel like home. It's a great feeling.

The past week.. what a week. So much, so much. Lots of family, lots of work, lots of trying to clean and organize. We finished up what we needed to get done at the new house before the contractors come on Monday (we hired some people to remove some not so good stuff from the attic) so wehave this coming up week to get our shit together, makes sure all the other houses and stuff of life here is taken care of when were are gone and maybe even book a few places to sleep. (we have yet to book a single one.) But hey, we are young and adventurous,  and we'llfigure it out. (I hope)

And I am still deciding weather or not I should unplug the fridge while we are gone or stock the freezer with food to eat when we get back. Oh man, decisions decisions.

But enough about me, how did the first week of the year go for you? I know, we didn't win the power ball so that sucks, but are you feeling like the year started off good? Still keeping your resolutions and staying away from the cookies and making your bed everyday? Don't worry if it didn't stick and you, at this moment, are eating a box of cookies in a very messy bed. It's totally cool to do. Cookies in a messy bed might just be what you need right now. So I say go for it. (just maybe don't make a habit of it)

Stuff to look at while eating your cookies or doing whatever.

-I am a list maker of lists that include finding the list of the lists.that I lost -A Neuroscientist on the Calming Powers of the To-Do List

-I am for sure going to be making some of this Vegan Fish Sauce

-What Exactly is Malt? It's not what I thought.

-This home looks like a lovely place to live

-Some Bathroom inspiration for the new house

-Whoa now. How Real Is Reality?

- I want to live here and here.. part time of course

-I don't get excited for tv easily, but this show.... I laugh every time I see a commercial for it. I am excited!

-Some good information. Non-Dairy Milks: Which to Make, Which to Buy

-Would you buy a $100 donut? (your answer should be no)

-A butt a day. Genius.

And a few shoots from the week.

Have a fantastic weekend!

-C

Bits of Happy!

No matter what is going on in my day, seeing a blue sky like this puts a smile on my face….To bad that smile turned to ice and my face froze in place. Because for some reason, winter around here now means below zero all the time. I mean, I love winter, but I am not going to lie… I wouldn't mind if the wind would stop blowing and we had a couple of days of above zero weather.. and maybe a good foot of snow. I guess I'll just have to be patient, cause its bound to happen. I mean, we live in Vermont, and if nothing else, we get weather. 

Anyways.. another week full of stuff that fills. I am a little taken aback that its already February… when was it January? Time just keeps going by fast and faster, (especially when I get cabin fever) and I think, "What have I done in the past year?" Well, I have done a lot. I was just looking through pictures from a year ago and found some of our tiny home in working progress. Not to many people can remodel a five unit house and a meat locker to live in, within a year.. by ourselves. (ourselves being Nick and I)..So yeah, that made me feel pretty freaking awesome and accomplished. (I needed to remember that because I haven't been feeling it) But now I am feeling inspired and am looking forward to some new projects and fun things to come! (hopefully getting my pottery studio up and running, maybe another house remodel and lots of traveling!!…. take that winter blues!) 

Anyway.. here are a few little bits from my week that made me happy.

The mister called these snow mounds goosebumps… I think that is exactly what they are 

The only warm day this week. (20..woo whoo!) Took the little out for a sled ride. She spent the entire time dragging her hands in the fresh snow. 

And oh how I cannot  handle how freaking cute she is!! Plus, a shout out to my brother in law….MADLOVE!

Fresh snow..Even though it was -15, I had to stop and take this picture. The colors were amazing

Cabbage at the farm share pick up! Love ICF!!!

89 cents a pound for fresh organic cranberries. Score!! Made these Oatmeal fresh cranberry coconut chocolate chip cookies with them. Big hit.

This picture was taken exactly a year ago…..The mister and I were finally putting in the bathroom of our tiny little home…. And look at that awesome sink! (another amazing salvage yard find) If you ever need or want to remodel a bathroom, I suggest using a old cast iron utility sink. So practical, so functional, so pretty.….it makes me happy everyday!

Happy Sunday!

Happy February!

And if you are into it….

Happy Football Super bowl Game and or party! ( If you need any awesome fast party recipes, I have bunch, just check out the recipes page!)

-C