transitions

photo by Elaine A. Russell

well. The biggest part of the remodel is done. This weekend I am re-stocking stuff back to where they were... cleaning, sorting, organizing, and giving stuff away. The hubby and I have spent the last couple of years downsizing and re-organizing our lifestyle.. and it's not stopping now. Our house is about 1350 square feet. And, in reality... when the kids move out... it will be way to big for just us. In anticipation of that... we have been getting rid of extraneous stuff. The kids are saving some of it for their future homes.... and that is cool.

As an example, all of our Christmas holiday decorations (ornaments and everything) all fit into one rubbermaid container... and this year we decided to get rid of about half of that. We just don't need it. Now.. books are a whole 'nuther country... we have tons. And craft stuff (eeks).... and apparently ( whilst unloading boxes from the kitchen) .. dishes. So. I am filling a HUGE box with household stuff to list on Craigslist. I am also filling another HUGE box with re-model stuff.... piping, caulk, screws, plaster mix, whatever... to give away.

I have always been an avid recycle type person. We have recycle bins for plastics, glass, metals, and papers... which we take to the centers weekly. When we approached doing this remodel... we wondered if we could potentially recycle everything. The contractors probably thought we were nuts. BUT... we have managed to recycle about 90% of it. The cupboards, mirrors, lighting, doors, etc.. went to a guy who takes things to Mexico for rehabbing homes. All the cardboard and packing stuff was recyclable. Same with the wood and glass. In fact, the only things so far that we haven't been able to recycle was some plaster and some grout that was leftover... but already mixed up. It's pretty amazing. So... we have one more pile of stuff to go through for recycling... and then everything will be hauled off on Monday.

It's been a huge learning experience... and very rewarding. Recycle, re-use, re-purpose...awesome...

♥♥♥...time for a song from one of my most FAV singers .... ♥♥♥

pipe dreams

photo by Elaine A. Russell


So when we started the "remodel project" .. it was back in September. We had a new front door installed and new french doors to replace the sliding doors to the back yard and patio. Then we had a new sink, mirror, tub/shower unit installed in the hallway bathroom. Then a shower stall in the master bathroom. As of today we now have a new cabinet and sink in the master bathroom.
We also got new lights in the hallway and entryway.

Then the kitchen was basically gutted, a door moved, cabinets removed and new ones installed with a new configuration. New counter tops, new dishwasher, new garbage disposal, and an over the stove microwave. As of today we now also have a new kitchen sink and running water.

We now have to wait until after the holidays to get our reverse osmosis system hooked back up. However, today was the major PLUMBING day.. with most everything water related getting done.

After weeks of not really being able to use the kitchen, I am not sure how to behave... but I'm sure I will figure it out.

There are still alot of projects that need done around the house...but this was the BIG one.

Painting everywhere, yardwork, some little odds and ends... it will all get done.

Time for some celebrations :)

crystal windows

photo by Elaine A. Russell

so very, very tired today.

Have the final class tonight with Cynthia Cook at the Harwood Art Center... which will no doubt be awesome. Am really looking forward to it.

Construction is still going.... slowly....ever so slowly.....

but we finally have kitchen cabinets and hope to have a sink, a dishwasher and lighting soon.

Still waiting on the cabinet and sink in the bathroom... and then... saving up for massive painting everywhere inside.

..and I hear a wonderful rumor that the weekend is coming :)

perseverance

photo by Elaine A. Russell

When I was little ... growing up in the backwoods of PA...I had a neighbor up the street who had the most beautiful gardens. He and his wife were already "old" by my childhood standards .. and spent their days working in their gardens, drinking cocktails in the evenings and throwing garden parties for their friends at night. The man was a descendant of one of the first settlers in our area, and the house was a veritable museum of taxidermy animals, old books, and great china. I remember they had a taxidermy Great Horned owl that sat in one of the big windows.. and even though I knew it was there.. it always startled me. One of the first jobs I ever was "babysitting" their geese flock for a couple weeks when they went on vacation. But I digress.

I think my love of plants started then. They owned the whole back hillside as well as the property across from the dirt road by their house. This property consisted of a sizable hill full of forest, a creek, a couple ponds, an underground spring, lots of bear/ deer/ wild critters... and tons of wildflowers.

On the flat area across from their house, they had planted extensive flower gardens. One of the most brilliant flowers there was a very tall variety of tiger lily. I remember that the lady called them "turkish nightcaps".. and I imagined that little Turkish elves would come at night, dressed in all their woodland finery.. and wear the flowers as caps. I imagined that the lady elves would be wearing skirts of day lily petals in yellow and orange and red... and they would dance by the ponds under the stars when no one else was about.

Just this summer I went again to visit these woods. The properties are all "suburban" now... it was sold and divided years ago, and now there are 4 houses where gardens once stood. It is very sad to me... and yet.... I was surprised to see this one lone stalk of tiger lily pushing itself out of the ground and raising its petals to the sky...

*I just found out that one of my photos is now published in the Schmap Guide to ABQ ( see link on the right ) WOOT !