Home Happenings and Upheaval Mode

Over the past week-end, we worked at clearing out our storage unit.  HUSBAND is a work horse.  I cannot keep up.  I feel my age in my back.  We aren't completely done, but have HOPES of not having to pay one more month's storage rent.  We'll return to finish this task after Spring Break is over.

While looking at the stacks of neatly piled boxes, I stood and SHOOK.  Shook my head and said....i'm done.  i'm done.  I don't want to do this anymore.  I don't want to live this way.  We are nearly in our 60's and I don't want to be doing this in my old age.  
This is part of down sizing and lightening the load.  Necessary.  Not fun, but necessary.    

I'd go through the boxes to see what was inside of them, then decide where this good 'ole stuff would migrate to....the dump, another location, thrift shops, ministries, children, etc. 

With the Storage Unit at a stopping place, 

we're onto the Kitchen.

Thanking God for my determined Husband.  This is the week that he is making headway on our KITCHEN.  We've been waiting for 5 and a half years to create a NEW KITCHEN.  We're hoping to be finished by JULY 4th.  He has this week off from regular job, then will do what he can in the evenings and week-ends.  I'll be his side-kick go-fer.  What ever you need done Honey, I will help.

The Kitchen awaits us.

This is not MODERN ART.  What was on the walls behind Kitchen cabinets was green with gold swirls dated formica.  

This Spring Break Week, time and energy is going into prepping our Kitchen for rebuilding a brand new KITCHEN.  

The right side of the Kitchen already had her cabinets torn out and metal racks rolled in while we waited for this moment of clearing out the rest of the Kitchen to actually take place.  

This Kitchen PROJECT started 5 and a half years ago.  What?  Will explain later.  

He rolled the 4 metal racks into the Dining room.  GULP.  My Dining room transforms into a mess.  This week the left side of the Kitchen is being dismantled where the running water is.  The sink and dishwasher will go bye bye.  

This is not an easy season for me.  
I need this to be done.  
A memory.  

In the past behind me.  

A hideous mess.  Hideous.

 How do people live this way?  

One day at a time and it isn't easy.  

Staying sane in the mess is character building?

So between the Storage Unit and the Kitchen, 

we are in upheaval mode.

SNOWFLAKES gently fell the day before Spring.  Husband tore out the KITCHEN cabinets on the side of the room that had been left untouched where the sink rested.  He hopes by the end of the week to have built the framework that will hold the new sink.

I will help when I can and do my best to stay out of the road.  Wash clothing, file papers and clean on the parts of the house that still are civilized rooms.

I need the great and powerful OZ to help me out.

We did break away Monday afternoon and took in the 3-D Movie in Topeka.

I believe that this movie isn't for children under 13.  PG rated.  What do you think?  Have you seen it?

The old dishwasher, sink, garbage disposal and cabinets off the wall and around the sink are about to disappear.  A lot of work.

I think my Husband has earned a medal for doing all of this so we will have a beautiful Kitchen in our Home.

 ~MY OLD KITCHEN~

The area I had to prepare meals in was all of about 24 inches by 28 inches.

We'll still eat well while the renovating/remodeling is taking place.  My Formal Dining room is a temporary warehouse filled with the Kitchen items and the over flow has gone into the Family room.  I can still make my way into the utility room where laundry is happening.

We'll have crock pot meals along with skillet, small toaster oven and micro-wave dishes.  A two burner hot plate has been used.  This is pretty much how we have cooked/baked meals over the last 5 and a half years.  These appliances have just been relocated and I have to retrain my mind how to carry on.

Living amongst the MESS is what it is......a messy living condition.  

LORD HELP.  

Halp!

With full conviction I stated that the Formal Parlour is OFF LIMITS.  Nothing extra is to go in there.  Nothing.  It is my eye candy room that must be left untouched as the Kitchen is over hauled.  I can only handle so much destruction before crying.  Parlour OFF LIMITS.

Hours have been spent scouring over pictures of Kitchen images on the internet and in magazines.  Decisions made and personal drawings are completed.  Floor Tile and Backsplash Tile are purchased.  Countertop material bought.  Sink awaits in the garage.  Will need and want a new dishwasher.  The stove we have on hand may need replaced.  In that case, I will want and need a new electric stove.  Fridge is standing in my Dining room.  

When the day comes that the fridge is actually in the Kitchen, I will dance.

It's a long long long long  l o n g  story how the Kitchen morphed into a hodge-podge SHABBY CHIC ROOM in our old house.  LIFE got in the way of remodeling?  Yes.  Yes and many times over yes.

A daughter's divorce, becoming a Granny Nanny, a roof needing replaced due to 4 hail storms in one night, a collapsing front porch torn out then rebuilt, a new boiler installed, cancer, a son's mental breakdown, cash flow balled up, fatigue, another child's separation, bat bite....Am I complaining and/or making excuses?  Call it what ever you will.  It's been busy around here.

The Kitchen was placed on hiatus.  I stared at this ugly mess for over 5 years and day dreamed of a better place.  Cheering us on.  We must go on.  Hubby has courage and ambition to complete this.  

I have been tempted to shut down and call it quits many times.  I mustn't.  I deliberately choose to go on.  God gives me strength to go on and go on I will until the day I die.  I must.

I have to speak out loud....I will trust God.  I. Will. Trust. God.  I will trust God.  Think on the good things of life and trust God.

One of the reasons I BLOG is to provide a creative outlet and take my mind off of the messes.  Blog fodder galore.

Back to work.  I have laundry to do and a family room to tidy as best I can.

I hope your day is going well.
I am off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ.
I think my husband's nick-name otta be OZ.

He is amazing,
d