Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Reno's verses Build New

I love to do Reno's....


Well actually I just come up with the ideas and Jime has to do them (and sometimes his trusty sidekick Bert, gets wrangled in to helpin).

This story actually started in 2003, when Jime had an accident and it scared the poop outta me.

We were living in the city limits, but just. In a beautiful 1460 sq. ft home, that Jime had built. (He's very good at this sort of thing) On 53 acres of land (not that we did anything with it). I got to thinkin that if something happened to him what the heck would I do with this huge house (all the kids are gone) and this property...... ...... I'm gonna be a "Townie"

So we sold the house and moved to town. (sing the Greeeen Acres song here....)

Well actually, we sold the house and moved in with Bert & Liana.


Sherry and Carter moved into the upstairs of the little house we bought and we started reno's on the basement.

Instead of then, moving them downstairs and doing reno's upstairs before we moved in. We moved in....

Now, the reno's happen, but veeeery slooooowly.


The very 1st one was while Jime was away....(something he was a little afraid of ......everytime he came home he never knew what he would find). I took all the carpet out one day. I just got tired of cleaning it and it never coming clean...so I cut it into 2ft squares and there was a nice pile at the back door when He came home.......Whaaaaat!!!!!


This beautiful scene of Hawaii or somewhere....just had to go...thanks for all the help Carter.





I also sanded and mudded the walls (thanks for the insturction Lorne) and then painted them.

For those of you who really know me, know I don't paint. Yaaa me.

It was a big job and took forever to get it off the wall.


The Kitchen was the 1st BIG and major reno....I think I had Jime move the cupboards 4 times. And I don't think he had the same helper twice. But I have promised never to move them again until.....


Notice, behind the cupboard in the corner!!!!! Where the door way USED to be.... hahaha

TA DA!!!!! Pantry


Nice Pantry taking shape

Stove is on the move......not just a simple act of "move it over there"-------wiring!!!!!!!

But notice the laminate flooring???? Used to be indoor-outdoor carpet---uuuggghhh


We had to replace the furnace last year-2008. Thanks Nolan and James

Out with the old .....

And in with the new...



This is the old Bathroom....I'm sorry Holly, but I can't beleive you liked it!!!!



Bathroom-upstairs, 2007
Right down to the bare bones.....had previously leaked...




When you take free labour...you never really know what you are getting!!!!!!





And this is the After......
Heated floor and everything....didn't he do an awesome job





Here is a picture of my contractor. Did I mention he is a "SHE"















He he he he , ha ha ha ha, ho ho ho ho he he he --ho stop my sides hurt!!!!





Just before Christmas, Jime ripped the carpet off the stairs, (I couldn't get it off) and put on the laminate we had left from the kitchen floor. We were 4 pieces short, so we asked Tim and Connie if they had any left from their project. They only had about 4 pieces or so......perfect.





But even as we speak (type). Jime and Jed are upstairs rippin off the trim in the hall way and taking out the hall closet doors in order to make way for the new ones.







Our house seems to always be in an upheavel. (I think it bothers Jime more than me) One day it will all be done. I'm not goin anywhere.



If we could just get the Reno's done before we start redoin the reno's.........Did I mention Jime was thinkin we should knock the wall down between the..........





Lookin' for a Job



Since I had surgery (July /08) I haven't been working.

I have rather enjoyed this, but I am not to be a kept woman any longer.....so I must find employment. Employment where I will be happy and enjoy my job.(I am to get up, get dressed and out of the house every morning---and this is supposed to make me happy????) Like when does this happen.

Not such an easy thing to do because.......I want to be working in a place that I know the Lord has put me. For a season or a reason. But I want it clear..... (Really, I want it LOUD and clear.)

Well it would appear I'm not so special that I get everything I want. (I know that may come as a surprise to some of you). I have to beg, plead, cry and even scream on occasion to get direction.

I had put about 35 - 40 resumes out there since September /08, and I began a new but part time positon at Lakewood Dental.
Girl friday with reception training so I can relieve for holidays and what ever.

I am that very friendly voice that calls and leaves a message reminding you of your appointment. ( or just letting you know that you haven't been in for 3 years and your mouth must be rotting by now, to say nothing of your breath. So get your butt in here and let us clean your teeth)

Before I got to know any of the last names of my co-workers I had left most of them a message reminding them they needed to make appointments. (They all assured me I had done a very nice job.)

My first practice call was to Jime ( who better to try it out on??) So very professionally I called, reminding him to come in for a checkup, (co-worker gave me a thumbs up and big smile (doing great))
And when he said he didn't know if he would have time (as he was busy playing his guitar). I just said , "Don't mess with me boy and get your butt in here". This of course caused my co-worker's eyes to almost pop out of her head, and then she just bust a gut laughin'.

I made the appointment for the very next day.



Jime wants to buy a 2nd vehicle---nuh uhh

It takes me 4 1/2 minutes to walk from my driveway to work..... How Perfect!!!

I am working at my very own dentist, (to funny) and I work with Brenda Carson (Gould) Steward's sister, who I grew up with. It is a funny world we live in.


The hours I work are abit ---- okay more that a little bit not that great. 1:00-7:00 but that usually is a couple days of 1 week and into a couple of days of the next and then off for 1 week.

Still I would like 1:00-5:00

Once we get everything caught up there I'm sure my hours will be cut back a bit (but always to 7:00) and that's okay as the Lord has opened another door for part time work at another facility.

I did try to shut that door (3 times in fact) and the Lord just kept knockin'. Louder and LOUDER each time. Silly me. WHAT WAS I THINKING.

So that door is now open........Monday-Friday, 8:00-12:00 at Rainbow Lodge and, 1:00-7:00 at Lakewood Dental......(Mental you say...I may agree)


Again it is only a 10:00 minute walk in the other direction to get to Rainbow. And I have so many friends that work there.

The 1st day on the job, I walk in and there is Shirley....you know wife of Denis and they come every friday night to worship.....she is remarried and I don't know her new name.....shame on me.
Anyway, back to my story......she gave me such a big hug and went on and on how glad she was that I was there working...how could I not want to be there. And Linda J. comes over from Parkside every other day and Aires is there and a couple of friends from Quilting even...........Oh happy days.

Okay the one down side is that I only got, 2-4hour days of training. Yeees, you heard me correctly. (or rather read correctly) But I just love the job. It is so "ME"

All the littles ducks need to be in a row and they need to be kept being put into rows...what better for a person that likes her ducks in a row...hehehe



Speaking of Ducks....I bought a pair of gum boots!!!!! Never thought I would need to since we moved from "the farm". Remember when we would all leave our gum boots at the bottom of the driveway so we had them to wear because we couldn't navigate the muddy driveways with our vehicles? Ha ha ha.....Soooo very glad we moved to town.



Okay, so I digress.(?) But I'm back bloggin.........

Friday, January 16, 2009

UFO's

Look -- What's that? ---- Did you see that? -- 3 circles of light -- Was it a bright light?


NO!!! Your in my sewing room and UFO means Unfinished Object, in this case many unfinished.


My neice Kathy was by Christmas Eve and came into my sewing room and exclaimed, "Wow, look how organized everything is". I of course thought she was being sarcastic (she can be you know) but she was serious. "Man you have alot of fabric, it's like Fabricland in here. (doesn't she know that--she who dies with the most fabric WINS!!!!)
Anyway you don't look up. You look down, on the floor in this corner, or in that box over there. You need what???? I think I have some of that, but I'm not sure which tub to look in.......



Anyone that was at our other house, knows that I had the whole basement for a sewing room as I taught Kids to sew and had quilting classes as well. And Kath was impressed that I got it all down to 1 small bedroom in a 920 square foot house....So am I now that I think about it. (Jime thinks I still have to much stuff---get over it!!!!!!)



Anyway, since I've been out of work. I decided it was long past time to get some of these things finished and Jime's cousin in Kamloops is a quilter and so she does my quilting for me. I figure as long as I have to pay someone to do it, it might as well be her (and she agrees with me)

So from time to time you will see a post called "UFO'S" and it will be another one done.



I got this one finished just as the first snow fell in 2008. Typical timing for me always so far behind I think I'm first. "Leaves are falling"






This wall hanging is called an "Attic Window" and has a matching runner, long enough to fit my side board.






This is "The Nut Cracker" so I thought it only appropriate to start a collection of "Nut Crackers" BECAUSE,(Beth) as you all know, one can never have to many "Collections"



This is my first ever "Christmas Quilt" and in my quilting group(called "The Loose Threads") 13 out of the twenty ladies went in on this "Block Exchange" so what you had to do was make 13 blocks all the same and by a certain date (and anyone that quilts --knows that even 2 the same of anything is pushing it---13????) Then we all exchange blocks and you end up with 12 different blocks and 1 of your own. That is until 3 ladies back out and you end up with 4 of your own (and you would have made the darn quilt smaller by this point instead of making so many blocks.) But in the end doesn't the finished project look awesome!!!! I think so and I just love it....





So all in all, I can say I have had a very productive winter, 2008.




Unfortunately it hasn't even made the slightest dent into the pile of UFO'S (at this point make that noise like a shark is sneakin up on you in the water...da na na na )









This is one that I have had done for years, and put up as part of my decorations every year.

So, until next time.......

Thursday, January 1, 2009

2009--wow -- unbefrigginlievable

Another saying of "old people", Boy doesn't time fly.

I'm truly old, because I cannot believe that another year is gone and what a year it was!!!!

Amos & Stephanie, got married Dec 31, 2008. So that was what most of the family did for New Year Celebrations last year.

January 9th, brought the 1st year anniversary of our sisters Muriel's passing. Something we all dealt with in different ways.

January 15th, was the big fire at the Pulp mill, and we were all wondering how badly this would affect our jobs.

February 22, Albert and Liana bought a 2nd house and became "Landlords", so began another "Reno" project. Although this one was done with a lot of love as Ken & Jade were moving into it.

In December they purchased it from Bert & Liana, so now Ken & Jade are 1st time homeowners and the Landlords are no more.

In March my GP, bullied me into having a colonoscopy done, so sent a report to my surgeon. Mostly because I have no medical history (adopted, didn't ya know) and because I'm over 50,

yes sad but true.

Spent a lot of time training, my bosses daughter-in-law for help in the office.

May, I went to the surgeon and was sent for x-rays and scheduled for the "colonoscopy" If you haven't had one done and you have any concerns you should talk with your DR as you have know idea what is lurking in there.

June, the surgeon confirmed that they found a large lump that was almost completely blocking the large intestine, and if this happened then I would literally be full of sh... and that is not a good thing.

July 1st, I got my legs waxed for the very first time!!!! Well.......... I was going in for surgery and would not be able to shower for weeks soooo.....

Surgery happened on July 3rd and went well, they found the lump to be a lypoma (which in our language means fatty mass) although this was a good thing it appears I'm not only fat and lumpy on the outside--but inside too. I was in hospital for a week and when I went home Jody & Jayme came up (thanks Eric) to take care of me, and they did a great job. Friends and family were very gracious to us as they always are in time of need.

The couple of weeks before Jody & Jayme came up, were rather trying for them as they had a black bear rip apart the chicken coup and have a feast, Reo Rafting Resort (up the way from them-hillbilly talk)had a fire and lost all the Resort stuff (spa, sauna,buildings, that kind of stuff) and then a tornado went through the valley??? I know....... there are pictures to prove it. And then....... just the night before Jody was to come up they were helping a young woman leave a "situation" when Eric (who is strapped into his vehicle by his seat belt) gets attacked. Well enough said, needless to say Jody actually needed the break more than coming to take care of me but I'm so glad to have had her. (it gave Sherry a break also) They stayed for a week and then took a side trip on the way home to go the Drummheller so Jayme could go to the Dinosaur Museum.

My brother came a couple times that summer and my Dad & Dorothy came up also. Kyle got up for the wedding of the Century so I had all my family this summer. It was great.

Ken & Jade had a "Medieval Themed Wedding" out at Vivian Lake, and thanks to Liana (& Bert) it truly was the wedding of the Century.(well Carmen & Jeremiah's had done this also --what year?)

This was only one of 3 weddings (3 weekends in a row)

I was scheduled to go back to work by the middle of September and because work was so slow, I was cut back to 3 hours a day. Well I wasn't getting up every morning for that so I told my boss that I would have to be looking for another job. EI even said I didn't need to go back for that, so I've been unemployed since then. So ended my career as receptionist/assistant at that company. I wonder what I will do next????

Laura won a trip for 4, to Disneyland so they left for a week in the beautiful and oh so warm California. A trip of a lifetime, but they want to save up to go again.

October,being cancer awareness month brought us very aware as our Liana had found a lump with her very 1st mammogram and had a biopsy which they found to be cancer and she is now going through some treatment. The day after her biopsy, found her attending my Uncle Steve's funeral as he had passed away the week before. A very sad time for us all round.

November, brought a very scary situation to Jody Eric, and Jayme as they were awakened about 4:00 am with noises outside. To make a very long story short........after an hour or so they managed to shoot one of the 4 grizzles trying to get into their trailer and got into the truck and got .... outta there. Boy do I have a headache.

Eric & Jody, have started to build their cabin but as of yet it isn't ready to move into. Around the 22nd of November, Jime and Kyle both went to help Eric do some work on the cabin to try and get it move in able. Got a bit closer.

December and L & L are going away for the weekend.... see blog-Hockey Mom.

Still have headache, for 3 weeks now, finally go to the Dr and she asks me if I'm under any stress. I tell her I don't think so and then promptly break out in tears... she said that she disagrees with me (go figure)and tells me to go and buy "Robaxacet"(not meant as an ad) And just what the heck is that gonna do, I'm thinkin.... Do I need to find a new Dr??? Has this one "quacked" I buy the robaxacet and whaalaa. Headache is gone. Don't need a new Dr. Just take the muscle relaxant and tension leaves and uuhhhhh! the relief.

Dec 13th, I'm in pain. Nothing like I've felt before. Just under the rib cage on the right. For 5 days I stubbornly suffer. (I really should try to go and see a Dr quicker....what up with that) Go to the Dr and she runs a trillion tests and books me for an ultrasound for the following Monday. Well by now you know the rest of the story----Gallstones!!!! Previous blog.

Dec 20th weekend had Jime & Kyle making another trip (Jody got finished insulating)and this time they got Jayme's loft space all the gyproc up. Closer still.

Dec 30th, and my Dr phones me....... can I come into her office anytime today before noon. What the heck.... It appears that one of the tests she ran came back positive for, H.pylori infection and duodenal ulcer. To you and me that is an infection in the stomach that can, but not always, cause ulcers. So medicine that came to $105.00 should take care of it. Same surgeon will take care of this problem.

Have I said "growing old sucks" ....I did? Oh ya, Well it still does.

I can hardly wait for the "Golden years" and if there is anything left of me I may enjoy them.

Last night, New Year's Eve, had Sherry and some friends over and I became very exhausted watching them play on the Wii Fit and doing the Dance, Dance Revolution (again not meant as an advertisement).

So what will this next year bring???
Well it appears mine will start with more trips to Drs and surgery.

We will have to take it one day at a time just like every other year.

So my prayer is for you all to be Healthy, Happy, and most of all, spend time with family and friends, as they are the most precious gift we have been given.

God Bless us everyone!!!