Live from Tormville!

NOT in the same ballpark, not even close.

To know us is to know that we practice debt-free living.  Still. Even if I haven't updated that particular subject tab in quite a few months.  

So knowing that, let's go back to the end of last week when we got a phone call from a company that resurfaces kitchen cabinets. Let's also flashback to the summer of 2010 when I thought it would be a good idea to take off all our cupboard doors in the hopes of repainting them.

Hope alone doesn't seem to be getting the job done. 

So when this phone call came last week just a day after I was putting my linen collection to work as faux cupboard doors - I entertained the possibility of getting them done. 

But I told the phone guy in a no nonsense tone that I don't have time in my schedule to let someone shoot the breeze at my kitchen table if we're not even in the same ballpark money wise. Having absolutely no clue how much a job like this would cost, I told him that 1.  We would not entertain any form of financing, and to bring it up would be a waste of time on both our parts and 2. Since we would not entertain any form of financing, and since we are capable of painting the cupboards ourselves - it is only time that seems to be the problem,  then for it to be even worth it, it has to be less than $1500.   

He put me on hold for a few minutes while he talked to his supervisor, then came back on the line and said that wouldn't be a problem at all.  I had already given him a count of our cupboard doors and pull-outs. 

Interested then in what they had to offer, especially since they said that $1500 would also include a new kitchen counter - we made an appointment. That appointment was today. 

Two hours of my very busy day in a very busy week. 

The salesman himself was enjoyable. He grew up just a street north of us, appreciated our humor,  and wasn't afraid to say what he thought about our choices.  I appreciated that. 

We selected a color, we selected countertops, we selected some groovy new knobs. 

He was also really good about taking a few bucks off our bill to reflect the fact that we'd already taken off the doors, that we'd take out the sink ourselves, and that we'd also reinstall the sink. 

I told him to keep telling me as he tallied what we could do ourselves to get the bill down. Because we are capable. 

With this in mind he then mentioned that we could also lower our bill a bit if we just resurfaced the front of the pullouts instead of replacing the boxes.  

Me: By how much?

Him:  By about $2,000

Me:  TWO THOUSAND????  HOLD THE PHONE!!!  If that alone is going to take the bill down $2,000, what in the world are we looking at as a whole, because the guy on the phone assured me that you could do our kitchen for $1500

Him:  FIFTEEN HUNDRED??????  No way! We're looking at an estimate of (looks down and checks his numbers) Sixteen thousand if we don't do the boxes. 

Me: SIXTEEN THOUSAND???!!!!  

Me:  That's Twelve Times the estimate the guy on the phone gave me! (if we did the boxes)

Me:  Our home would only list for about $95,000 in this economy, so how in the world does putting $16,000 into kitchen cupboards even make sense??!!

Me:  I could go to Habitat for Humanity and get cupboards for way less than that. 

Me: SIXTEEN THOUSAND?????!!!!

Husband: Chuckling and shaking his head through it all (I think he enjoys seeing someone else at the receiving end of my rants)

Salesman:  Would you be able to afford $300 a month payments? 

Me: I was very clear that we wouldn't entertain financing. 

Salesman: $250?

Me: If I could afford $250 a month I'd get myself a new van

Salesman: $200???

Me: I raised my left eyebrow and gave him a look. 

To his credit, the salesman understood that the phone person made a big error, and in the end he gave us tips on how to relaminate them and paint them ourselves.  Said we should be able to do it for under $500. 

That's more like it. 

Sixteen thousand dollars.  Seriously - who pays that?  We could head down to Amish country and get some nice custom builts for that, with money left over.  I can totally wait until next spring to do them ourselves if it'll save me $15,500.

It's laughable, really.  I mean, I'm pretty sure I've told you that we live in a small house. My kitchen ain't big. 

But even more laughable is that we have a new golf ball customer out of the deal - he agreed no hard feelings, and kept his order for six golf balls in tact, so our two hours was worth it.  (I think I'll let you just imagine how my husband's balls came up in the midst of his sales pitch)

In fact, we're tempted to invite more salesmen over just to see if we can sell them golf balls, for kicks. 

 

 

Front entrance: Before and After

I think I mentioned a few posts ago how I've been moving furniture around here - shaking things up. One of my kids is less than pleased. That would be the child that hates change.  "Too much at once!!!" declared that child.  It was long overdue, says I. 

I've been shopping for a dresser to replace this bench for well over a year. What that means is that I've kept my eye open at garage sales and spring cleaning, but didn't have any luck. 

Reasons I wanted to replace the bench with a dresser:  1) As you can see in this undoctored photo - I used the bench as a holding spot.  Six days out of seven it held folded laundry.  On this day - and the whole week prior, it held a box of shirts for our Girls on the Run girls.  2) We need more storage and I keep trying to go *up* A dresser goes up.  3) The bench stored either blankets or hats/mittens, but it was always so hard to get to with all that laundry on it. 

Turns out it was a good thing I didn't find a dresser, because I had it all along. This dresser came from the boys room, and I love this piece. I bought it at a garage sale over fifteen years ago and put a lot of elbow grease into it. It was originally green.  My kids don't know how to use dressers though, so it will work better here. I'm still not sure what I'm putting in all the drawers, but I can tell you that the bottom one is currently holding coloring books and the next one up is holding all the things I need to ship my husbands balls.  (grin) (If you're new to reading my blog - I'm sorry. Click the link over there on the left to my husband's Etsy shop, and you'll get it) 

And while I moved most of the boy's toys upstairs to their room, I just don't have the nerve to move their dump trucks.  1) Because they haul my laundry with their trucks and 2) Call me crazy, but I visualize those trucks flying down my stairs if I let them go upstairs. It's safer, I think, if they stay on the lower level. 

I dug that heavy metal basket (the one on the floor) out of the garage this morning, and it now holds our hats and mittens. I try something different every year with hats and mittens. 

The silver rack above that (from IKEA) I use for drying hats and mittens, and occasionally small laundry items as seen in the first photo. It's right over the vent, so those things dry fast. 

We don't have many flat surfaces for stuff in this house, so I'm a little giddy about having a surface to play with. The lamp was a Christmas gift from my dad years ago before we started exchanging names, two of my husband's carvings, and a basket full of mini scrapbooks, Brian's Cub Scout book, and the kid's Bibles and Catechisms for Sunday School. 

The two framed pieces were purchased individually here and there over the years and have been in the storage hole for too long. I put the other piece in storage now instead. I'm looking for one more something to put in the empty spot to the right of the red frame. It'll come to me. 

I'm not quite done with the other entryway - still some shelves to go up, and I ordered a rug this morning that better darn well live up to its reviews for what I paid for it. 

When those are all up - I'll share that too. 

Feels good to freshen things up. 

hooks to the sky

Per my mom's request. I was on the phone with her this morning and she couldn't visualize my hooks up the wall, wall.  I tried describing it to her - Mom, we're just like a real church house now but she still needs the visual. She's retired, you know. 

Four hooks just wasn't cutting it anymore - not with six of us, and us being in Michigan where we need at least three jackets each per season.

So this makes me happy. I just sat with my tea and stared at it last night when it was done. And there are five across the top now - I just jumped the gun on the photo. 

Notes:

• It was cheaper to buy the hooks from IKEA already on their board (5 hooks on a board for $9.99 rather than 2 of the same exact hooks for $4.99) we just took the hooks off their board and put them on ours
• I don't give a hoot that the hooks don't match because they are going to be covered up anyway. 
• Next show and tell will be the shoe rack - nearly completed.

This morning we're running to the dentist - the appointment that I canceled for Wendy last month because she 'supposedly' had MEAPS.  Turns out - it was just the third grade that had them that day - schedule didn't specify that - cuz that would have just made my life much too easy. 

Yeah - I'm cranky that I have to go out on a rainy gross day when I have too much to do around here - especially when it could have been avoided. 

Do I sound cranky? 

*wink* 

Clearing a path to the sky

I've got a couple blog posts to share today, but because I like to keep things 'in order' - I'll start with this one before the weekend gets away from me. 

(Next up, after I get the kids off to school - I'll have a book review)

If you've ever been to our house, you'll know that we have a small city lot and some huge-mongo trees. These trees, they just keep growing. Occasionally we call in the guys that know what they're doing and are wired with a lot more sisu (the Finnish word for guts and determination) than we are to get up to those upper branches.  The last time we had it done was in June of 2007.  We were due to have it done again. 

Brian - our 6 yr old in the tree - declared it pretty much the best day ever, and John was very patient with all of his questions. 

Is that rope so you don't fall down?
You probably don't need that much rope.
I think you have enough rope.
Why do you have two different color ropes?
Are you maybe just a little bit nervous?
I have a yellow rope too - see my yellow rope?
I use my yellow rope to climb into this tree. 

The kids had strict rules to stay on the deck until we needed them to start hauling brush to the curb. (He'll run it through the chipper for extra, but we scheduled his services based around our city's brush pickup) 

When the first 15 foot branch came down, Mark (4) says - Whoa! That one is PERFECT for a fort!!

 

My husband and I both agreed - nope, no way would we ever go up there. Can you see him way up there? 

It took a few of us on the ground to make sure none of the branches hit the garage, or went over the fence, or into my garden....

And as soon as the branches started coming down, I put down the camera and picked up the saw. We worked until the sun went down and the brush pile at the curb is one of our largest. 

It was a good evening's work. 

The swing is gone.
My garden will have sun again.
I no longer have to take down my clotheslines to make room for the swingers.
And - fingers crossed - I'm hoping I'll have less bird poop on my clothes. Looks like I wished for that in '07 as well. 

Now to get the kids ready for school 

 

 

A new fence and my poor garden

On Saturday, the neighbor's put up a privacy fence. And yes, it was because we got Tippy just a few days ago. Their dog isn't at all happy with our new addition. They didn't give their dog time to even adapt, but I think there were enough other things going on in their lives right now that they just went ahead and decided to get it done.  Personally, I think they must have been looking for a reason to do it. 

They are really good neighbors and the whole fence thing was a very cooperative effort. The boys enjoyed watching and playing in a double size yard for a few hours with the neighbor girl. 

The new fence though? It feels odd. I realized I still read lips when I was trying to talk to the neighbor through the fence last night as we were both watering our gardens at the same time.  I gave up. 

And my poor little garden?  As it was, it wasn't getting sun until 2pm because of our big trees, and now it's not getting sun after 3:30 pm because of the fence.

*sigh* 

Meanwhile...while the fence was getting put up.....

Tippy was a few blocks away at the groomers. 

She did fabulously, and man - she feels great now. It never dawned on me that they'd put bows in her hair. I roared, but left them in long enough so that my husband could enjoy a good laugh too. He's been working wicked overtime this last week and a half and needed a good gut buster.

That did it.

As for Monday!

Things start getting busy around here this week. Finally we have some things written in red on the calendar. The red things keep me on track and I get more done when I have more to do.  

I'm excited.

And like Mark asked first thing this morning when he woke up....Is it Thursday yet? 

They're excited to be going to grandma's this week! 

Time to start packin'! 

be good!

 

before and after

It was pretty late afternoon already yesterday when the little boys and I decided to go garage saling. We had hit a few within walking distance in the morning - but then didn't drive around town until nearly 3:30. 

But we filled the Jeep up fast.  We've had a lot of luck lately thrifting and garage saling - I'll have to compile a longer post, but for this post - I'll show you our new computer desk.

We had sold our beast of a rolltop before Christmas last year and since then have been using my sewing machine cabinet to hold up the monitor and keyboard.  It did the job. The plan was to build a computer station when we build a new work area for me. But you know how that goes, weeks go to months go to years and the time and money for such a project just never seem to be in the same place at the same time.

And so it goes.

So

I bought a new desk.  She was asking $30, but she took $25.  I actually walked out of this garage sale with bags of books, clothes, a new lamp. glasses, toys, AND a new desk.  She shut the door after I left - just didn't make much sense to stay open any longer.  Although I am wondering which one of you bought her couch and chair - I'd have bought that too if I'd gotten there before the Sold sign was on it.  Nice!

The desk is perfect for this spot.  I spent all last evening sorting wires, blowing the dust out of the tower, replugging everything back in and hauling the old sewing machine cabinet out to the garage so we can determine its fate.  

This set up makes me happy.

The only worry is the printer being on the bottom - I worry about the kids feet, but I turned it around so that the tray faces the corner. I also plan to make or find a new covering for the lamp/telephone table.  It is one of those little serving cart tables that I bought for a few bucks at a garage sale years ago, and it moves from room to room to room as needed.  Now it is needed here. Underneath the tablecloth are the router, the surge protector, and all that wiry stuff and nonsense. I hate wires. 

I was then geeked to have Finally found a spot for my clipboards.  I bought these a couple years ago at a store closing for 10 cents each. The picture of Brian holding the frog is a 5 x 7, so they are a nice small size.  I knew this is what I've been wanting to do with them,  but I lack wall space here.  This is perfect.  They will be a perpetual changing of images,  birthday cards, announcements, kids computer stuff, and photos.  They will become stacked with smile worthy notes and memories and I can't wait.

To hang them I taped a piece of thread to the wall in a straight line to use as my hanging guide, and then nailed them to the wall 3-1/2 inches apart from each other. 

We're debating going treasure hunting again today.....

I think we should. 
Now I need a nice sewing basket for all the stuff I pulled out of the drawers of my sewing machine cabinet 

eta:  the filling cabinet is back in the other corner again.  It's holding my new lamp.  *wink*

 

decisions, decisions

I need your help.
You see, I've always loved the daily documentations - I've tried the past three years now to do the daily photo and I manage until May.  Every year.  I just can't seem to make it through and beyond the busy May.  

Now this year I thought I'd try something different.  I've also enjoyed different photo essays of the same scene each day.  I was reminded that I like these at about 11:30 pm on the first day of the year, so I went about the house in a panic trying to decide which scene I would do.  I've done each of them now for the past two days and one even today.  I just can't decide.  They are all humbling.

Above - Option number 1. The entry way.  Humbling, yes?   And yes, our Thanksgiving turkey is still up. Don't judge me.

 

Option 2: The fridge. Also humbling.  And for the keen lookers - Sudz is the name brand of Aldi's soda.  Honest.  I thought it was odd too.  It was for our big New Years bash.

I have no pride at all.  Days one and two of our kitchen sink/window.  In my defense, the first picture was taken close to midnight and the second picture was taken before the kid with the dish drainer empty chore got out of bed. This is option three.

Option four: the small couch.  I already did today on this one. And my intention isn't to get Mark on the couch each day - he just happens to hang out there.  A lot.  eta:  oops - kid in photo two is Brian, not Mark. Shows what I know. 

With any of these, I'm not going to lock myself into a time of day - that would be too hard/stressful.  It would be taken at some random point during the day.

The downside - is that I'm simply not home every day.  We do get out now and then, so there will be week spans here and there when I can't take these shots.

On that note, the fifth option was a self portrait. 
But after taking a picture of myself in the same pullover hoodie three days in a row (albeit with great hair on day 2) - those are a bit TOO humbling to share. 

So what's your vote?  Help a gal out! 
 

 

 

A nice guy from Lappeenranta bought our desk

It took my a long long time to work up the ambition to put our big desk up for sale on Craigslist.  Part of it was because I've never actually used Craigslist before, and the other part was because I knew that selling our desk would be the beginning of a big big change - and big big changes are daunting to me.  

But I did it.  I put it up a few weeks ago and I was hopeful. 

Then after hearing from a few yo-yo's who just wanted all my personal information and asked me to contact their lawyer so I could arrange shipping to Georgia, I admit I grew a little discouraged.

But then this week we got an email from a guy who was very unmistakably Finnish.  His first name was a giveaway, I told him when he came over yesterday at just after 10am.  He shared that he and his family moved here from Finland and that they were from Lappeenranta.  I've been to Lappenranta, so that was fun to share.  For those that remember Jorma K, he was from Lappeenranta - it's a beautiful city in southeast Finland, just 19 miles from the Russian Border, which I also enjoyed the chance to see. I should dig out those pictures....

But anyway, back to yesterday, our desk was purchased.  If you look closely you can see the rolltop walking out the front door.

It was a big job to tear it down, and 24 hours later I'm still picking up the pieces.

But it's a good thing.  My sewing machine is now out of the kitchen (which is going to save us all a lot of bruised thighs) and is holding our computer.  It's going to make it a little tricky to do the sewing I planned on this week - but it's temporary.

It's the beginning of the shift. I'm determined to make the most of our small footprint, simplify, and get the most bang for our space without having the walls feel like they are closing in on me. The walls were closing in on me last week, so this sale came in a nick of time. 

Sometime the week between Christmas and New Years I'll go shopping for a small pantry - that will be the next step.  I need a pantry to begin my work station - and once that is in, I can build up my counter top/work space, and we will build something for the kid's computer at the end of that.  This will get us some more seating and more room in our living room.

It's a good thing. 
It really is.  

And now it's going to be So much easier to paint that room.  I'm so sick of that green I could puke. 

 

A whole lot of blog posts were written here

We're at the point where we need to sell this desk.  My plan is to put it up on Craiglist - but I'll put it up here for a day first. 

We love this desk, but it's something that we purchased for the next house.  It's too big for our space - and with winter coming and the walls closing in on me again - something has to go, because the kids are getting bigger and the walls aren't.

So.

I found this link online - our desk is very similar but the measurements are off.  Our desk is 57 inches wide, 52 inches tall and 35 inches deep.  We're both remembering that we originally paid $1200 or so on it.

We're asking $550. Firm.  It's still in good shape, the price reflects the use and age.  We're thinking we've owned it since our second kid - so about ten years or so.  

It's a lug to move, but we're remembering that it was delivered in four pieces, plus the take out organizing pieces. The bottom right hand drawer holds pendaflexes.

Anyway - email or give a buzz if you're interested - and give me just a bit to completely clean it out. 

thnx.

oh - and all extras - scanner, computer, telephone, printer, cds. yadda yadda yadda - are not included.  There will be a few dust bunnies attached though I'm sure, but those are free

The rain made me do it.

10 A.M.

My original plan for Thursday involved a lot of laundry swinging on the clotheslines while catching up on paperwork and bills.

And then it rained.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know that we outgrew our home two kids ago, and that I dread the winters.  Winter is around the corner.  I also have great visions of what I can do to our kitchen and living room, but - darnit - visions cost time and money. 

The rain put me in an aw heck with it mood, and I started moving toward my vision even though I know the next steps might be a bit of a wait.  I've been tired of my nook in the kitchen for quite some time now. Simply put, there is not enough room for me to work - I end up having to use the kitchen table and it turns out, some people in this house like to use that same table for eating at, if that don't just beat all.

Time for a solution.
Before the snow flies.

Noon

 

At noon, I had hit the point of no return.  Coincidentally - this was at about the same time that the sun came out and my neighbor called asking if I'd like to run to Hobby Lobby with her.  I never did get clothes on the line, and I told my neighbor that maybe that might not be a good idea on this day.   I was kinda in the middle of something. 

And yes, because someone will ask, that is a train track running around the top of our living room.  It's not currently running - the entire track needs to be erased - but it's on the todo list and should be running again soon. It's probably a good thing it wasn't done before the dust was flying here.

AFTER DINNER

And pretty much done.  I've been wanting to put that china cabinet over in the living room for awhile. I've been telling the hubby that we need to go up with our stuff. Now he can put his carvings and things in the display part - until now, we've had very minimal display space.

I'm also anxious to paint in here, but that will wait until after we sell our big lunky rolltop.  The Lazyboy, by the way, got moved to where I'm standing to take this picture. This corner was not exactly photo ready.

Flat surface.  And yes, the fabric needs to be ironed - the Hobby Lobby neighbor said I could borrow here steamer.  I'm not going to bother sewing the cover because it's going to be temporary. I eventually hope to have something like this counter, something that I can sit and stand at to create that will double as a buffet for dining.  I've also been actively searching for a tall pantry to go in the corner there so all that will be in hiding. 

 

It takes a little bit of the edge of the cramped feeling, and it gives me more much needed surface space.

Goal met.
I slept well last night