Our summer started off with a bang. We remodeled the kitchen, replaced the front and back exterior doors. We planted a garden, went way over budget, canceled plans, started painting. And just generally been busy. Oh and because I thought why not we are home most of the summer, let's be cat foster parents.
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| messy before pictures |
During and after our whirlwind four day remodeling. I was drained and overwhelmed. I couldn't find it to write here about the experience.
The kitchen we replaced the base cupboards with new shaker style white, and got a fantastic deal on display pieces of laminate counter tops. We installed new vinyl flooring and rearrange the stove and fridge. Opening up the space. I painted the walls a light grey like the laundry room. I primed the upper cabinets and celling. I have yet to finish painting.
The original exterior doors were super narrow. 25 and 28 inches. A standard door is minimal 32 inches. This door situation was the cause of most of the stress and extra money. The back door in the kitchen went fairly smoothly. Just had to remove the outdoor light. Which we handliy converted to a outdoor outlet for lighting and a pond pump.
The front door was a whole lot of whole crap. After removing the existings door we found the sill threshol wasn't supported by anything. Part of the floor in front of the door was rotten. It was my nightmare. I have little to no remodeling experience. Thankfully my father in law figured out how to extend the joist to incled the door frame. I can to Menards three or four times that day. It's a 20 minute drive each direction. I had lots of time to panic.
Hmm what else? Oh we converted the plumbing for the washing machine that had been in the kitchen for a dishwasher. Yet because of cash we don't actually have a dishwasher. And while we tried to keep the dishwasher space standard it is slightly smaller then standard 24 inches, like 23 3/4 or something technical like that. So it isn't something I am in a hurry to get.
Just recently we built a platform for the plastic garden shed. Unfortunately it sat on the uneven group d long enough to get warpwd. And we may have to completely disassemble to get everything to line up and the doors to close proper.
I've wanted a fire pit since we moved in. It took a while to decide. Then I decided we didn't have the money. This spring I decided I was tired of waiting. Dreaming I wanted a brick patio style fire ring with bricks and eventually enough bricks to set chairs around. This spring I couldnt afford any bricks, I scavenged 4 from around the yard and bought the cheapest fire pit Menards sold. A few weeks ago I was able to buy 12 more bricks to increase my patio. You might recall the wood patio next to the house, it is rapidly deteriorating. And I find myself sitting near the fire rather than risk stepping through the plywood. 12 square patio bricks coats approximately $30. I should be able to get another set soon.
The garden is a wild jungle. We don't care for the woody green bean variety I planted. And I planted a lot like 1/4 of a pound of seed. Glad the seed is gone, we can get aomesomet new next year. I should dig the potatoes. The tomatoes are doing okay, I haven't supported them enough. But the few that have ripe are delicious. It's the carrots I'm waiting for. I've been careful to keep the weeds down.
Finally cats. Our cat passed away shortly before we moved into the house. I was sad but busy. We decided quickly that it would be best not to get another animal. I've been content with my aquariums. After our kitchen remodel going over budget, we cancelled all our plans. Mostly two reenactment camping trips and any extra trips involving car travel. One of the local cat rescue put out a plea for foster homes, they had an excessively large bunch of kittens. I said yes! They supply everything, I jutj peovpro space, shelter and love. Then the cat goes on it's way to it's forever home. Richard and I shook hands agreiagr NOT to keep a cat. We like to travel spontaneous.
Little did I know 6 weeks later(now) we would still have the three cats in our care. The shelter is full and doesn't have space to even care for these cats while we go on vacation. Needless to say I am a bit frustrationed. I guess I just didn't look long term enough. Anyway they will getting out of my house while we go on our Northern Minnesota, northshore, family camping trip.
There. Thank you for reading this far. I suspect I don't have many readers. But it feels good to write.
Leave a comment about your summer? Please and thanks ❤️
