My New Year's resolution will be to blog more often.  I started this mostly as a journal for caring for Mom, my hobbies, etc and will get back to that.  Best news is that Mom is now living in the house across the street.  I am so thankful that she is able to live independently again.  She is doing great.
I want to wish all a Blessed Christmas.

Our House

I

Our home as it looked on May 23, 2011.

                                 Our house about 6pm on May 24, 2011

                    Our house today, please excuse the frost on the roof.

It has been a while since I have written, no excuses, just have not written. I have missed keeping a log of what is going on in my world. I won't write much today as I have cookies and peanut brittle to make.
We moved back home on September 11.  I have been unpacking boxes since then.  Some days I work like crazy and other days are just "blah".  I have been in a "blah" state all this week, but will get back to unpacking soon.  I have started yet another hobby...crochet.  I have completed nine snowflakes and attached them to a crochet garland, but alas, I have not found a spot to hang them without poking holes in something.  With all the remodeling that has been done, I really do not want to make holes anywhere.  I will post pictures of my garland when I hang them.  Our Christmas trees and decorations are all in the shop with so much stuff stacked in there I am unable to get to them without hurting myself.  So, don't know what I will do.  I made some of the best and very easy yeast rolls for Thanksgiving dinner.  They are called Lion House Rolls.  Recipe is on Pinterest.  I will go for now, and will post more later.

The Mice

Well, we were finally able to move back into our home on 9/11.  It was very nice to get back home, but a little sad that I do not get to see my daughter every day.  Everything that was crammed into our bedroom and living room except for the furniture had to be packed and and stored in the garage so the carpet could be put in.  Once they completed the den we began moving all the furniture from the bedroom into the den so we could paint the bedroom before they put in the carpet.  Once all the carpet was down, we could begin moving furniture to its proper place and begin unpacking all the stuff.  Have I ever mentioned how much stuff we have.  We have my stuff, his stuff, our stuff, grandparents stuff, aunts stuff, parents stuff and some stuff left over from the kids.  Of course all the stuff had to be cleaned before it could be put away.  Which brings me to the mice.  When we got home on the 11th, I began to unpack my clothes and put them in the dresser.  There I found the tell-tell signs of mice (little tiny turds).  I do not like mice.  They can put me on a table faster than a New York minute.  Anyway, I had to take all the clothes and wash them.  On one of my shirts there were two spots that looked like mice had given birth.  Mind you, when I first moved here, I actually found baby mice in my drawer and that sent me screaming out the front door.  I have not seen any further signs of them, but DD and I spent a half a day cleaning out the pantry because they had helped themselves to anything that was packaged.  It is good to be home and sleep in my own bed.  I can not thank DD enough for her generosity and hospitality while we stayed in her home.  She has earned a few stars for her crown.

Light at end of tunnel

We have been in a frenzy since my last post.  Carpenters putting the final touches on things, our bedroom has been painted, carpet is complete, blinds for living room and mom's room are on order, the siding people working and the ENDLESS cleaning we are doing.  Everything had to be taken out of the kitchen cabinets, the cabinets washed out, all the dishes had to be washed and dried, then all had to be put back.  The outside of the cabinets had to be cleaned and polished.  On the last day of my cleaning, "Wonder Boy and Roy" (our carpenters) showed up to blow insulation in the attic over the kitchen and den.  Needless to say, the dust from the insulation floated in and covered my freshly cleaned kitchen.  Anyone want to take a guess at just how mad I was?  Anyone who knows me, knows that cleaning is not on my top ten list of favorite things to do.  The remaining furniture is back in place just waiting for the new replacements to be purchased.  Have I mentioned that shopping is another thing that does not show up on my top ten list?  Gotta have mattress and box springs, chairs and sofa for the living room, sofa and recliner for the den.  Those are the big items, we have a long list of other personal items that were lost, but those are not needed as much as the furniture.  The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter every day.  Yea!!!!!!

Renegade Retreat 8-11

Yes, our Guru does make mistakes.

                                     This is what the block should look like.

            Completed tops ready for the quilting.  These are for the Canyon Camp, our retreat facility.


Nine ladies arrived at the Canyon on Thursday and we began constructing two twin and one queen size quilt tops as a donation to the camp.  Everyone participated in the sewing of blocks, sashings and borders.  I had a very good time, as always, with good friends and much good food.  We had some differing of opinions and some mis-ques on time, but all is well.  I always look forward to the Renegade retreats, but it is always good to go home - to rest.  It is amazing to me just how tired I can get just sitting and sewing.  I am already counting the days til the next retreat.

repair update

I am so excited, I went to the house this morning and the a/c people are there installing my new heat and air units.  This makes me really happy.  The brickers are back to work and the kitchen has most of the crown molding up.  There is still a bunch left to do, I am still not sure if the carpet has been ordered yet.  My new stove and freezer are to be delivered on the 26th and I really hope that I do not have to re-schedule the delivery again.
I am off to a quilting retreat this weekend with my wonderful friends.   We always have a lot of fun and we always have way too much good food to eat.  I will have my camera with me and will post pictures.

The first picture is the new living room window, second picture is the new bedroom window, third picture is the new den window and the forth picture is my naked house being dressed with new brick.  A lot of work has been done since my last post, however, it is still not happening as fast as I would like.

                                         The skeleton for the new Barn.

 

                                         Almost finished!
The barn is now complete, but I have not yet made pictures of the finished product.  I must say that the workers made fast work on the barn.  They started it on a Thursday and all was done on Monday with the exception of the overhead door and the roof vents.
The sheet rock has been replaced on the ceiling in the kitchen and den, painting has been done (about 3 times because they did such a poor job), the brick work is going very well, they have not yet done the inside repairs in the garage, so as yet we can not have the garage door installed.  The paneling on the beam in the kitchen still needs to be replaced and I am not sure if the carpet has been ordered.  Everything in the house has dust and tornado do-do everywhere. The kitchen has to be cleaned inside and out of every cabinet and all the dishes, silverware, utensils, etc.  Once we get all the stuff out of the bedroom that belongs in the den, DH and I will work on our bedroom - new paint, carpet and such.  That part will be on us, I think, as it was not damaged in the storm, but just messy from all the dust, insulation and things from the storm and repairs to the other part of the house.
I know that someday we will be back in our house, I just do not know when that day will be.  I am going on a quilting retreat next week and can hardly wait.  It is always so much fun with really good ladies that I am proud to call my friends.