The House - a cautionary tale

This will probably take more than one entry, but I've been getting questions about the house project, so I thought I'd just wade in and begin at the beginning.

The dream started many years ago, when we discovered that the rodents had free access and were outnumbering us at least 40 to one, but the reality began just over three years ago. Interest rates were (relatively) low, and one day my husband said "Now's the time to do it if we're ever going to do it."

So we began to look at house plans in earnest. Now, my husband has some very definite ideas about what he wants in a house, and so do I, for that matter. By husbandly decree, there would be only one roof line - no gables, no strangely elevated roof sections, no bump outs. This one level decree also is made for the interior - no split level, no sunken living room, no extraneous stairs of any kind. This creates a minor problem... there are no such house plans in existence.

So, we literally go back to the drawing board. Smith buys a CAD program for his computer and commences to draw a plan. Of course, it's a strange program where the scale doesn't seem to fit, and you can't get the walls to stay in place, but he comes up with a plan. The problem is, I hate it. So one evening, he's called away, and I take the basic outline of the house, and cut up all the rooms from the plan he's made, and I play paper dolls, moving things around until I come up with a plan I like.

Miracle of miracles, the plan makes a certain amount of logical sense, and the plumbing's doable and we both really like the way it turned out! We have a plan.

Coming soon... making the plan a reality.

Persevere.

Things are looking up!

Literally, things are looking up at our house! We had a guy come in last week and finish sanding the kitchen and dining room ceilings, so progress can continue. And we actually finished one room! I've got some minor spackling to do, then I think we can texture the ceiling and then paint. Seems like it's been for ever.

When we first started this project, it seems like the progress was so easy to see, but now that we're getting close to the end, the progress isn't quite as visible. In some ways, it makes us less enthusiastic about doing anything. Of course, that could also be a byproduct of how long we have been at it.

Seems like I get that way with all kinds of projects. I'm all gung-ho to get started, but then I lose enthusiasm halfway through. I have more stitching projects and furniture refinishing projects in various stages of completion than you can imagine.

One project I have managed to finish, finally is my scrapbook from my trip last summer. Scrapbooking is something I had never tried, and frankly my effort isn't nearly as nice as some of the ones I've seen other people do, but it works for me, and I guess that's what counts. I gave myself a deadline of Christmas to get it finished, and while I didn't quite meet the deadline, I kept plugging away at it and managed to finish on January 6th, a mere 5 months after the end of the trip.

So. How do I keep going on these other projects I haven't managed to finish yet? I guess it will really help, as I keep saying, if we can get this house into a more livable state. One thing at a time.

Persevere.

Rambling thoughts and some best wishes

When I first started writing this, I did it because I enjoy reading so many other people's blogs, and I thought that I might have something to say. While this is still true, the fact is, my life is really boring to everyone but me. Plus, I can't seem to remember to write something every month, let alone every week or every day. I really think it would help if we ever got the construction finished on the house, and I had a place to work from. But then, what would I write about? (OK, so I realize that I don't write about anything now, but work with me people!)

The hubs has finally agreed to hire someone to finish the kitchen ceiling, which is what has been holding us back lo these many months. If we could get that done, we might actually be able to really move into the house. Our stuff has been packed up for so long, I don't even remember what all I'm missing. I'm hoping to be able to get rid of some of it one way or another. Maybe even make a buck or two when I do.

Some friends of ours are getting married tomorrow. I think they're a great couple, and wish them all the best. And I'm really looking forward to celebrating their marriage with them.

Sometimes I worry that all of the stress and strain of planning and going through a wedding these days doesn't do the relationship too much good. These things have just gotten out of hand. It seems like some people go so far into debt just to get through the ceremony, they could have paid for a house and two cars instead. Of course, building a house from scratch with your spouse, and doing the construction yourselves isn't the smartest idea I've ever had either!