renovations

Well well well!! Things are busy in the Zanduba household! All is well and I find myself stopping in my tracks quite frequently to say a prayer of thanks that I once again can MAKE tracks. I have made peace with my medications, and my twice a week chiropractor visits are now so routine that I’m trading girl talk and decorating advice with the nurses and receptionist. 🙂 My body takes care of me as long as I’m taking care of it and putting it first. Very grateful to find myself here compared to where I was one year ago I take NOTHING for granted, including the ability to lie comfortably still. Not sure I’ll ever be what I was, but that’s okay.

Anyway, back to the here and now…May is here, and things are moving. Notices about end of the year activities are coming home from school (OMG!!!) and spring band and orchestra concerts are happening. Mister is playing tee ball for the first time, so we have games to attend a couple nights a week. Here he is at his first game:

Doesn’t he look like he’s having fun?! Okay, you’re right, he wasn’t having ANY fun! But, each game has brought a few more smiles. I’m thinkin’ baseball might not be his thing though. Time will tell.
As you know we’ve been painting the kitchen. It’s *nearly* done. Still a few things left to do, but here’s a sneak peek at the progress:

I’ll dedicate a whole post to it when we’re officially done. I’m loving the brightness and freshness!
And this came today! Official blueprints!

It’s all very exciting! I don’t like writing out those big checks though. That part is scary.
So much more, but it will have to wait…
I’ll leave you with more dandelion fun from today. Wonder if he will ever grow tired of these?

So, you will recall that about a year ago, I mentioned a little roof problem? Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so “little.” Back then, we met with a builder who gave us some round about figures and professional opinions on what could be done. After some thought, we then had Tom Builder (as he will be known henceforth) come back in August, take measurements, and come up with a detailed price and contract. The cost to replace the slate with slate was prohibitive, so he priced the job with quality asphalt roof shingles, and also priced it with synthetic slate. A $20,000 difference between the two had our hearts in our throats, and we opted not to sign the contract, instead limping our roof through one more winter giving us the time to save more money, and to think a bit more about needs versus wants. We have been incredibly fortunate this winter….VERY little snow, warm temperatures, and not a single icicle. We have also had the ability to save a bit more toward the job, and are very excited to get started. Tom Builder will return next Friday, new contract in hand, and at that time we expect to be able to officially hire him on to start the job…exciting and scary all at once.

We will be adding on with a second floor extension, adding a new bathroom, a new bedroom, a closet, and renovating the existing bathroom…topping it all will be a brand new roof. Not synthetic slate, but I have made peace with the decision. I will share “before” photos of the interior rooms that will be changed ~~when they are cleaner~~ when I get a chance. In the meantime, here are photos of the present exterior. The back of the house is my kitchen…this is where we will be raising the roof to a full second story. It will also get spiffed up with repair of trim and a fresh coat of paint on the wood surfaces.

Wish us luck! We’re going to need it! 🙂 Words of advice are welcome as we enter into the world of hired out home renovations.

P.S. Forgot to mention THE best thing! My washer and dryer will move up from the basement, to the new second floor bathroom!!! Whoohoo! My back is very excited. 🙂