Libby's 2012 Goal - To turn her home, into a *real* home

[Libby]

Update: last weekend (May 19-21) Victoria Day Weekend

DH & I planted all the seedlings in the garden beds, power washed the Adirondack chairs & table then tackled 2 of the 4 gutters. That took us all day on Sunday and we both got burnt to a crisp. (I just started to turn brown this past Friday and today I'm starting to peel ) We had only planned to be outside for a short while and well...the house stuff took over. Also, DH & dad had a talk and apparently we're getting a new BBQ grill. There's something not quite right with the one we have but it still works 'alright'. I predict within the next few weeks, the new one will be chosen and hooked up raring to go!

Throughout this past week DH & I managed to install the two new screen doors and adjust them as needed however we now need the centre piece aka the U-channel where the two doors joined/close.

DH also drilled holes in a few walls so he could stick his camera in there to see what lurks behind the walls. He hasn't patched the holes back up either and probably won't I honestly feel like we have TOO MANY projects on the go and quite a few of them at the 90% mark. Its totally liveable and in all honesty its only a few finishing touches needed for each but its like 'C'mon already! Finish one THEN move onto the next!' but fair is fair. Its like my wishlist from page one...I've made significant progress on all the goals listed...but none are done. I'm one to speak huh?

[oheoh's momma]

aww Libby u have done so much.... very proud of u..

here it is a different story... I looked back at the last time my storage room was CLEAN was April 6 looks like I never touched it.....and I work in there every couple days....it is my neminsis....

patio is very junky...hubby stuff TOOLS and Yard tools! ugh

downstairs hallway is work in progress. 2 boxes of Paige's stuff to go was approximately 15. so made progress it is all put away.....

hubby shampooed the downstairs carpet with oxi clean looks brand new...

cannot keep coffee table cleaned off with 2 young ladies here both daughters are home now...Very messy....

grandmas LR is getting cluttered again... always a project here

[Libby]

I feel like any progress I've made has been undone! DH has decided to remove the old wood stove that we've never ever used since moving to this house. That itself was a horrific episode, thank goodness I had a friend to call on for muscle! Then the destruction of the base that the stove was sitting on as well as the stone wall behind it. Let me just say this so we're all clear:

I HATE CONCRETE DUST!!

It gets everywhere and grabs hold tight. No matter how much you dust with a swiffer, dust with microfibre cloth, dust with microfibre cloth and a cleaning spray and just play Clorox wipes, it remains and with a residue. I can't even get it sucked outta the carpets :'( Its going to be the death of me.

I swear, DH totally has a hidden agenda - as soon as I feel confident that reno's are over and we've recovered physically, emotionally and financially he starts another project and it involves concrete dust!!

What happened to our 'one big project a year' rule? Out the window I tell yas.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I'm sure its for the best...this is the ideal weather for reno's and when he feels best suited for it and we do have the money saved up for it AND the projects do need to get done but I really could use a break. A true break. *le sigh* This is how my life is right now - may as well roll with it right?

The screen doors are finally in and work wonderfully! There was quite a fiasco but thats been resolved.

Laundry room still needs the built in to be 'built' and trim to be put up but thats more of a rainy day stuck inside type of job.

Decluttering - its still going on, just not as fast as I'd like. Still chugging away at it though!

So you decide, am I ahead or behind?

[oheoh's momma]

ahead and hate concrete dust can not get rid of it so help here either..all over huibs clothes can't wash it out either ugh

[oheoh's momma]

working on storage room throwing stuff away..first thing to go is curtains that belong to grandma that are 40 years old. wish me luck again lol

[oheoh's momma]

hubs decluttered the kitchen of all his tools it looks so much better... also I decluttered the down hallway and down LR...progress...

LOVE MY SHARK MOP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oheoh's momma]

working on storage room again re oreganized drawers picked garbage that was laying underneath stuff. reorganized a box of pictures got 2 boxes down to 1. still much to do.kitchen is still unclutterd and hallway is uncluttered..

Paige's room is a mess we have to build her a closet in her room landlord will purchase all materials. This is an old 4 bedroom house but only 2 had bedrooms so we built 1 and now will build 2nd...

[oheoh's momma]

there is a path and all the records, yes records.. The blankets, rugs, curtains and shower curtains are back wre they belong..still more to do. big start

[Libby]

OM - you have made great leaps & bounds in progress!! I'm so happy for you How much more progress have you made?

Been hard to find this thread since the village has changed around a bit but now I'm able to find my old threads Plus now I'm able to spend a bit more time at the computer which helps too.

July Update

Hmm...since early June where DH was digging holes in the walls to 'peek' we have since ripped out the old wood stove along with the raised concrete base it rested upon and the stone/concrete wall behind it. Plus the entire rest of the wall that was covered in the 1970's/1980's wood paneling. We have since properly filled the hole in the foundation from where the exhaust vent was for the stove - working with hydraulic cement is beyond being a pain in the rear!! *shakes fist* We've also properly insulated and vapor barriered the exterior wall and then drywalled it. We've added a small coat closet which also encompasses the under stair access storage area. We never really had an official spot to put jackets in the fall/winter so this is totally a bonus!

We've recently just started ripping off the wood paneling from the entrance wall, the adjoining wall to the entrance wall and the area under the stairs that is part of our entry area/living room. Everything's been re-framed properly and redrywalled.

The entire ceiling has been opened up. Buh-bye cardboard soundproofing tiles and insulation! DH wanted to see how the home was wired and man, did we ever find a plethora of wires running amuck and wiring that just doesn't make sense. Oh and we found a few hidden junction boxes - that's a huge no no. BTW: all the insulation was not rated high enough for today's standards but that was expected b/c it was installed back in 1970/1980 but it was all paper backed!! Hello fire hazard!! DH has also wired and placed light boxes for our future ceiling lights.



I do believe that we are waiting on a call from an electrician to change out/update our electrical panel so we can continue to re-wire things. We also need to tear down the ceiling in the hallway as well but thats not happening yet.

I think we're taking a break mentally, physically and financially and as stated, are waiting for an electrician. So with that said, we had the weekend off!! *does happy dance* I think that when we work, we work hard and when we rest, we rest hard! I'm enjoying the 'downtime' right now but we're currently living in a demo/construction zone. I'm alright with it so long that its 'safe'.

The best part of it for me was getting the Bagster (tarp dumpster) hauled away full of the old living room - well 1/3 of it. We still have a butt load of concrete and bricks to dispose of which is another Bagster in itself. I think the idea is to fill a second Bagster of more demo debris to be picked up at the same time so the cost is less.

On the decluttering/purging front - not going very fast at all but I have been tossing little items left, right, front and centre. I guess everything does add up but it doesn't seem like it right now.

[VanVivCam]

I just wanted to drop a quick note to say ..... Way to GO!!!! Sounds like you deserve a nice little break.

[oheoh's momma]

Libby I was wondering if u and hubs had hit the wall. U have done so much...mine is just clutter....The kitchen,down stairs hall way are still decluttered.

the down stairs hallway got claimed in to a new productive space. a large metal shelf is in the hallway full of extra kitchen appliances. crockpots ects..the shark mop, vaccum, and shampooer also sit there.. and 3 large clothes hampers...

it works for me...... and grandma can get over it....

the storage room which made leaps and bounds is back to being cluttered...I need to put storage boxes in there for my mountain of quilts... my nemisies
hugs Libby

[Libby]

OM - do you mean 'hit the wall' as in tired with reno? I'm exhausted from it but DH has the drive to keep going. I know this house is old and severely not up to today's building code standards. By law, once you uncover something not up to date, its your job to update it which we're doing. But there's something to be said when you plug in something at the front of the house and it blows a fuse out for the back room right? So we know there's headaches in this house but we'd rather be safe then sorry. So we plod along slowly. I know for each wall that DH opens and guesstimates the cost to fix it, I triple it b/c thats how bad things really are around here. Its just how our life is going right now.

The folks at Home Depot are very kind to us they know us by name and even say HI to us when we see them elsewhere - grocery store, WM etc How sad is that? Plus they always want to see pics of our progress or ask for updates. We're one big happy family!

My saving grace right now is the forced hiatus until the electrician comes to visit and upgrades our panel. So I'll take the mental, physical & financial reprieve while I can!

And as for grams - you're doing great. Set up things as needed regardless if she likes it or not. It has to function & flow.

[oheoh's momma]

yes I mean exhausted rest I am..hugs love penny

[Libby]

Updating this thread as its Dec 1st! I need to get on the ball with finishing up the decluttering. It kinda took a backseat to the construction/reno's but thats stopped now too - a very much needed break. We aren't on a timeline for the reno's but living in limbo is um very 'rustic'?

I seriously need to tackle:
* boxes in the bedroom
* boxes in the hallway on the shelves
* re-sort/purge the pantry shelving unit
* clear off some of the stuff on the lv rm bookshelves - stuff seems to be just sitting there
* my desk, the war zone

After visiting my in-laws home, I always feel like we have so much clutter. Granted from the beginning of the year, a lot has left the house and not much has come in BUT I still feel there are definitely areas that could be improved.

Progress since my last update:
* dropped off a couple bags of clothes I'm never gonna wear again, shoes too!
* cleaned, purged and re-organized both the small & large kitchen cupboards/panty & shelving unit (with a few fights with dad on a few items)
* organized part of the garage (attic) and purged more gadgets/trinkets - we can now walk around more up there

Seems so insignificant now that I read about my progress but it really has made a difference.

[oheoh's momma]

Libby today Hubs and I tore into Paige's up stairs bedroom.... it is spotless.... on corner is filled with totes stacked neatly of her clothes. 4 -5 large ones... the carpet is clean and it is ready for a king size bed which is given to me by my friend..so it is clean ...

all I need is a set of sheets and new curtains.. it will be nice..it is a guest room for my brother...when he comes to visit...

yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee