Hit it Again!

We had our big purchase for home renovations on Thursday.

We are so thankful for discount gift cards

and the veterans discount

and a good holiday sale 

which allowed us to save 15-20% on the whole purchase.

And so it is time to hit it again. 

The high humidity and a funeral slowed the painting projects,

but hopefully this week will be better.

Hubby has finished trimming some closets and doors for me.

One faucet has been changed.

The materials to "transform" the counter tops have arrived.

There are two walls that are slowly being repaired.

Exciting Days!

Freedom and Rain

On the fourth of July,

one cannot help but be thankful for the freedoms that we enjoy.

Freedom to speak,

freedom to worship ... 

I am thankful for those throughout America's 237 years

who have given of life, time, and personal freedom

to maintain the freedoms that I enjoy.

I am also thankful for this particularly wet summer.

It has been busy around here,

and the regular rains have saved time and resources

by keeping the gardens and potted plants watered.

Saves me nearly an hour every day.

What a blessing!

I am also thankful for a profitable trip to Lowe's today.

We nearly finished off the purchases

and are still within budget!

What's in Your House?

Proverbs 15:6 

In the house of the righteous is much treasure: 

but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

My mind is much on houses,

decorations,

furniture,

...

I enjoyed shopping for valance fabric yesterday

and am enjoying the way paint changes a room.

Fitting that God should remind me this week of what is most important.

The treasure in the house of the righteous is the fear of the Lord.

Creating a home,

molding an environment,

making a place to meet the needs of others

are all a key part of a woman's makeup,

but it should not be at the expense of my relationship with God.

It is a godly home and environment

that outshines any physical building or possessions.

Unique to Me

It probably does not happen too often,

but it does happen ...

when you know the former owners of the house that you purchase or inherit.

The home may be beautiful,

but it is hard to lose the title "__ and __'s" house.

You have to make it your own.

Since we bought a trailer in our neighborhood,

we are in that situation.

Thus the total makeover.

The process is time consuming,

but will be worth it.

Only one bathroom, 3 closets, and the laundry room left to paint.

I ordered the materials to refinish the counter and cabinets today.

We are most excited about that upcoming change.

Unfortunately, it will probably be one of the last changes that you get to see.

We have a big trip to Lowes planned for Thursday - 

10% off for Veterans on the 4th.

I am headed to JoAnns today - 

20% off this week for veterans and dependents.

Are you itching to see some progress?

One of the first changes I made was to remove the tinting from the front windows.

While it is great for helping to cool the house,

it was old, distorted my view,

and a little too dark for my taste.

Hubby repaired 5 screens last night.

Must keep out the NC critters!

The shed was missing some trim and the stairs were falling apart.

Now it is all trimmed with strong stairs!

Looks like some trick photography to make the "after" picture look brighter :)

See the hole in the siding?

Caused by a constant drip from a leaking gutter.

Hubby fixed the gutter and we patched the hole with a trim strip the length of the porch.

I want to find the right color to paint the patch strip blue,

but at least the hole will not continue to grow.

With the lighting, it is hard to see the colors - 

but the change is from blue to horseradish (clay-like).

This will be the "grandpa" room - 

When the final pictures are posted,

you will see why.

Here is the living room.

It was a pretty Sesame Tahini ...

now it is Celery Root.

I am loving the Pergo flooring. 

 

 

This is the catch-all right now.

Covered with paints, cleaners, and tools!

Plugging Away

Hubby and I spent Saturday working outside.

He repaired some gutters,

retrimmed the shed,

built new shed steps,

and patched a hole in the exterior.

I worked on weed control - 

on the driveway,

walkways,

and flower beds.

Today,

hubby will be doing some electrical troubleshooting

and I am back to the painting ...

the guest bathroom today.

Convenient

Today I am thankful for the convenience of our move.

It has been a real blessing to just cross the lawn to work on our new nest.

The cordless phone reaches across, so I am connected in both places.

I can stick dinner in the oven and then return to my work.

I am thankful for Horseradish, Celery Root, and Pine Bark.

Paint colors in the new place.

3 rooms and a hall are painted and I hope to finish 2 more today.

I am even thankful for the sore legs, knees, and back  --

aches and pains from crawling, climbing, and stretching.

There are many folks who cannot do their own painting, repairs, and cleaning.

Words

Proverbs 15:1-2

A soft answer turneth away wrath: 

but grievous words stir up anger.

 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: 

but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

The verses that jump out most to me in the book of Proverbs

are those about the mouth and the tongue.

The book of James reminds us that the tongue is untameable.

As a wife and/or mother, the tongue is part of what sets the tone of the home.

Am I stirring up trouble?

Am I a gossip?

Do I have wise counsel gleaned from the Word each day?

Am I calm?

Do I respond sweetly?

When stresses and pressures come,

it is easy to lash out,

to feed the fire,

but a wise woman uses her words properly.

A word to the wise is sufficient.

Demolition

It always looks worse before it looks better ...

Right?

Sporadic

I would assume that you would understand if I am a little sporadic for the next month.

My new house is beckoning.

This week - wall repair, trim, and painting throughout.

Next week - window treatments.

Next week - cabinets and countertops.

Next week - the big move!

Hubby will help me with some of the trim work

 and be working on repairs and preventive action outside.

I will be sharing before and after pictures,

as well as pictures of our former nests

so you can watch the changes, but they will be awhile in coming.

Super exciting days - TTFN!

20 Years

It is hard to believe that 20 years ago yesterday,

I was graduating from High School. 

It was a Sunday and Father's Day.

I was one of a class of 6 girls.

Fortunately, no pictures are readily available ...

... and I am not sure that I would share them if they were.  :)

June 20, 2013

Tabernacle Christian Academy 

Poughkeepsie, New York