My Wall

Ben helped me screw all the screws (since the drill and I don't really get along) and I measured and cut all the boards - it was a team effort!  I enjoyed this small project that could be tackled in a day and had clear start and completion points!

Now we have a little coat & shoe nook!

Later...

This evening (May 9) Tracy Fire Department came out to Bob & Barb's (where we're living now) to burn the prairie.  SUPER interesting to watch!

 It was a very controlled fire and there was not much wind, but you can see how in Mary and Laura Ingalls day a prairie fire would have been so scary and monstrous with the wind blowing it in an uncontrolled path of destruction!  The firemen made sure to have lots of water on hand though! :)

The Dreaded Question

I encounter it at church.  At work.  Neighbors.  My friends.  EVERYONE!!!


"So, how is your house coming?"


It's not that I don't want people to ask (on the contrary, it shows they care!)... BUT it is hard in the stage where progress is less visible to know what to say!  Only the last 5% is really noticeable headway like painting, kitchen cabinets, floors, etc.  Somehow I always (mistakenly) think that behind these words what they're really saying is, "Is it done yet?"

"NO!  I'TS NOT DONE YET!!!  Don't you know A HOUSE TAKES A LONG TIME TO BUILD!!!  And with only ONE man doing it ALL...!!!"

Ok, I apologize.  Rant over.  That is what I feel like shouting!  But I don't.  Because you people really mean well!  (So don't stop asking!)  :)

And now I finally have a good answer!  (Cue Grandpa voice)  Courtesy of Grandpa Berge I pleasantly and calmly say, with a twinkle in my eye, "Rome wasn't built in a day, you know!"


So, that is how the house is coming!

Here is part of last week's project (for me) - mowing the yard!  The grass was growing like crazy!  It just looks so much better now!  And I realized I absolutely LOVE working outside when it's warm and the sun is shining!  One of the happiest things about living in the country is the outdoors - lots of it!  At this point, I even prefer working outside! :)
 

House Project 101

This is what our house currently looks like:

You're probably thinking, Kind of the same as the last picture I saw of it, have they done anything??? And I feel it is my great privilege and duty to tell you YES!!!  ("See, no stairs!")  The frustrating part of  building/remodeling a house is that for the first 95% of it, you can't see much progress!  And in the last 5%, you see 95% of the progress as walls get painted, decorated, and in general, moved in.

Ben is working so diligently and so hard over there every day, for now in the 'invisible stage' of reinforcing, straightening, leveling, exchanging, and bracing so that the floor will be even enough for flooring and the walls will stay standing! :)  And I just want to point out all his work even if you can't SEE it as easily, because he is doing an amazing job and he is only ONE man for this very big project! And for goodness' sakes, we are only 21 and designing and figuring out how you want to build your house seems very intimidating (to me especially) and something that people in their 30's or 40's, with lots of experience living in houses, might start to do about now!  Yikes!

We are pressing on and someday when it's done it will be great!

My Saturday mini-project was visiting other people's kitchens, taking measurements and getting ideas, and picking the wives' brains as to what they love about their kitchen and what they would improve and all the little things in-between!  Many thanks to the families who let me snoop in every one of their kitchen cupboards and drawers - it was fun!  Haha! ;)

This is my beautiful sister-in-law Charisma and her monstrous batch of monster cookies!  They have chocolate chips, m&ms, peanut m&ms, peanut butter... and OATMEAL!  <-- See?  They are healthy! And oh, so good! :)

And another picture of her... (I love this one!)

Oh yes, I am so blessed to have a sister who blesses us very often with her baking (pumpkin pie just the other day...)!  Of which I shall continue to be the very happy beneficiary! :D

Interior Design

The model kitchen that we fell in love with at IKEA:

...it is almost perfect just as it was for in our house (modified slightly to work with the windows):

We are debating between leaving it open under the south window (above) or putting built-in low cabinets/counter there (below).  That is my cute little wooden step-stool directly under the smiley face, if anyone was wondering!  I am vertically challenged. :)

Looking in from the dining room:

And... the floor plans.  Made with the cool, free design software at ikea.com

So, that is what it will look like (as of plans from Feb. 18, 2012)!

My favorite room in the house

See our new skylight?  We have two of them in so far... a special project we worked on when Grandpa Berge was here on a Saturday!  They let in so much light!

This is what the upstairs looks like right now:

The guys working hard!  This is the master bedroom:

And now, my favorite room in the house!  The ATTIC!  The other day I brought my books and studied  while Ben worked on putting in the floor... the attic is the best because of the 'porthole' windows, interesting roof lines, skylights, and the open overlooking railings (yet to come)!  I'm so happy that there's now a floor so it's easier to be up there! :)

I'll leave you with this parting shot of my hardworking hubby!