September chaos and happiness

Old habits die hard. Even though it has been a long time since my sons have been in school, a much longer time since I've been a student, and despite Colton looking like a 4 year old ready for preschool while not even being 2.5 until next month, September still feels back to school hectic in this house. Lest you think I'm beginning to develop excuses for my chaos, I have a perfectly valid reason this time. Drywall dust and an anniversary.

If you have done home improvement projects while working around holidays, birthdays and other commitments, you know that the seemingly smallest project can take much longer than expected. It is almost sad that the time and dollars spent in reworking plumbing for the washer (putting the shut offs in a better place) and prepping for a new laundry tub isn't something that will be showcased once it is done. Its like a crown on a back molar. You're glad when it is done and paid for, but only you and your dentist appreciate it.

Dry wall has been replaced, taped and mudded. Bill would be the first to say he isn't good at this and despite trying, he just doesn't have the finesse. We tried calling the drywall guy we used for repairs a number of years ago but we can't reach him. It is a small project for a professional, so even if we did locate someone, he would likely squeeze us in and the duration of our mess would continue between his original mudding and subsequent sandings.  Bill has just gone to Home Depot to buy something that hopefully dries better and will make more mess this afternoon.

Our laundry area is at the back end of my kitchen. Our house is built on a concrete slab. It isn't perfect, but it is home. Actually, it is Home with a capital H. I love it, warts and all. The hole in the wall that started out low and rather small grew to 47 inches from the floor and much wider.

 

For inquiring minds, the bucket in these shots is collecting water from the air conditioner. You are seeing the side of the washer, pulled away from the wall. The dryer is to its left and the laundry tub is setting in front of the dryer. Everything will be hooked up again, temporarily, when laundry needs to be done, then moved out again when the new laundry tub and water tank are installed. Oh yeah, and moved again when the new flooring is installed.

 

I think moving into a new home might have been easier!

 

Hubby was unsuccessfully sanding this area for a good part of yesterday afternoon. I had unloaded the dishwasher and left one glass baking dish on the kitchen counter that couldn't be put away as the laundry tub was in the way. Most of my baking dishes are in cabinets over the dryer. The baking dish is blue. Or should I say, it was blue. I came downstairs after changing to go out to dinner and saw that the dish now had a grayish cast to it. Ahhh, yes....plaster dust.

 

I should have taken Bill's picture before he showered and changed for dinner, but he wouldn't have wanted me to post it. The reason for our dinner out? Yesterday was our 37th anniversary. Where did the time go?

 

If you recall my stories of our Hawaiian vacation taken in January, that was a delayed trip from our 25th anniversary. If we go anywhere big in another 12 years, it won't be commemorating our 37th, the repairs, new flooring, new carpet and new furniture will cover this anniversary and a few others.

 

Once upon a time I would have thought this was unromantic. Now I find it romantic in a very quiet, comfortable way that we undertake these projects together and still speak nicely to each other. There isn't anyone I'd rather have at my side. I am truly blessed.

Yours truly, age 22, showing the world all is ok now that I have a marriage license!