Weekend Happenings at the Provision

The Not So Ugly And

The Really, Really Ugly

That would be a great way of describing this weekend's

work at our new house..we've named The Provision.

Can you tell what we did on Saturday?

In all honesty this is the second set of 15 yard waste

bags that have made it's way to the

curb in the past three weeks!

Removing leaves from beside the garage retaining wall,

taken a few weekends ago.

Look what we have found under many layers of leaves!

Exciting "greens" are popping up all over the yard!

I can't wait till spring and the flowers are in full bloom!

All our hard work is starting to pay off in the yard!

Leaves have been raked out of flower beds,

hedges have been trimmed back,

and flowering buds have been discovered!

Unfortunately we still have at least another 15 bags to go

on the still untouched right side of the house!

Zac, my son, was put to good use hauling dead and

downed tree limbs to the front curb

for our city's once-a-month limb pick up service!

Madison, our daughter, kept busy bagging leaves for us!

Now for the really scary...

The Basement

Going down.....

The laundry area

(this hopefully won't be my laundry area,

we are planning on putting the laundry on the first floor!)

The basement shower....

(really... not sure I'd even bathe my dogs here!)

This area is against the front of the house and up till today

housed a dilapidated, mildewed dresser

and storage cabinet.

The dresser found its way to the curb after my

curb side photo was taken, and the cabinet was torn

down and will be on the curb for next week!

The happening bar in the rec room....

(this will also be finding its way to the curb soon too!)

The rec room photos are fuzzy, ....

fuzzy = dust and dirt.

Notice our professional masks!

The inspector stated that the stuff on the walls was not harmful mold,

however... they will be getting cleaned, sealed and painted!

The basement is concrete block, which is not

as waterproof as the modern day cinder block.

No worries, this will not be our rec room,

even when it is sparkling clean!

The ceiling in the rec room... is coming down.

We hauled out two large garbage cans full today.

I was teasing with Wayne that we might need to start

"tipping" our garbage men at this rate!

So to cap it off,

Saturday we took advantage of a rare mid-60's day

and worked outside....

Sunday afternoon we tackled sweeping the basement floor,

shop vacing the walls and ceilings

and removing part of the rec room ceiling.

This week we hope to power wash and seal the

basement walls!

A little something fun....

Since our current home is on the market,

I been buying lemons to display

in a bowl on the counter.

Twice we have used the old lemons to make

homemade, fresh squeezed lemonade!

Today we added blended strawberries and ice

to make strawberry lemonade!

To make:

1 cup of fresh lemon juice

3 cups of water (i use more)

1/2 cup of sugar (to taste)

mix and stir and

enjoy!

Have a great week!

I am posting to Metamorphosis Monday

at Between Naps on the Porch!

The Provision- First Floor Tour - Before

I am joining Susan today for Metamorphosis Monday

at Between Naps on the Porch.

This is our new house! 

We've named it the Provision at West Bay.

For more info on how we found this house click here!

Here is how it looked  about three weeks ago.

Here is how it looks today!

You will probably see a trend to my postings,

Metamorphosis Mondays will most likely equal

what's out at the curb for Monday morning trash pick up!

Today's Before and After= Carpet removal!

Since carpet was only installed on the first floor,

I'm using this post as an opportunity to

give you a quick tour.

The Living Room

Before carpet removal!

Entering the front door, to the right

is the living room!

I know that it is hard to tell in this photo, but the carpet

was in terrible condition and be thankful that

smell-a-vision has not yet been invented!

So out it came!

Living Room Before- Fireplace Wall

Looking back from the other side of the room you can see the

original front door.  We have many plans for this room,

including, new trim, doors, floor refinishing, fireplace surround and hearth!

For now we are happy to start with carpet removal!

Living Room Bay Window -Before

After! 

Can't wait to paint the windows and add new trim!

Hall Way

Hallway- Before

Walking into the hallway off the Living Room,

turning right will get you to the front bedroom.

Front Bedroom- Before

This room was already without carpet and needed

only to be cleaned up!

Front Room - After

This room will eventually become part master closet

and master bathroom!

If you look down the hallway to the left

you would see both the first floor bathroom

and the back bedroom!

First Floor Bathroom- Before

We left the bathmats down...half the floor tile is gone!

This room will eventually be gutted and expanded

into the Front Bedroom to create the Master Bath!

At the end of the hallway is the Back Bedroom.

This room held the record for the oldest carpet in the house.

We are guessing it to be pushing 40 (at least!)!

This photo does not due it justice.... one word

Gross!

Back Bedroom- After

This room will be expanded and will become the

master bedroom.  We are hoping for a new wall

of windows against this back wall!

Back Bedroom Closet View- After

Looking back towards the Hallway from the Back Bedroom,

we are planning to create a small powder bath in some of this space!

Back in the Living Room looking thru the archway

you came to the Family Room/ Kitchen combo.

Family Room/ Kitchen

Knowing that this was a later addition to the home,

we decided to brave taking up the very dirty, faded, smelly, and stained pink

carpeting, and found this "beautiful" flooring underneath.

See my new toy!

The remaining carpet will find its way to the curb this week!

Oh..... the plans we have for this room!

New windows, french doors, gourmet kitchen, and new hardwood floors

just to name a few!

This room gives you a great view out to the property!

Kitchen- before!

Dining Room

Dining room- Before

This room was once the dining room.

It has also served as a bedroom.

And we have plans for it to become

our mudroom and laundry room.

You can enter it from both the front door

and kitchen side door.

Dining Room - After

Sans carpet!

Thanks for joining me for my first floor tour!

This week we hope to be cleaning and weather proofing

the basement!

After that, we move upstairs to demolish a small bathroom

and gut some walls!

(Wayne finally removed the dead mouse

the former owners left for us on

one of the basement shelves!)

Speaking of dead...

Wayne earned his "man points" today not only cleaning

up the mouse, but a dead raccoon we found today up in the attic!

No joke!

He has assured me that all things dead out now

in the trash pile by the curb!

(Aren't you glad that I don't photograph everything!)

Have a great week!

Where I've Been

I never know the paths that God

has for my family and me,

but lately...

 we are learning

how to walk by

FAITH!

It all started back in November, when God

answered some heart felt prayers

and led us to this beautiful cottage.

The month of December was spent

applying for financing and we closed

on this place on December 15th.

We spent the next month

knee deep in paint

changing the interior from

this....

to...

this!

And from this...

to...

this!

(for more before and afters see

The Cottage- Part 1

The Cottage- Part 2

The Cottage- Part 3)

All this in time, to move the in-laws

into the cottage mid January!

About a year ago,

I sensed God opening my heart to downsizing

from our 5000sq ft home...

to something smaller,

allowing us to be or almost be debt free.

Wayne and I started praying for unity

and started to explore our options.

Our ideal wish list included:

a home with character

walking distance from school

walking distance from town

walking distance to parks

an inviting yard

... to name a few!

We toured several different places

but either the places we saw

weren't set up for our lifestyle,

were one room too small,

or we did not feel

God's open door.

This home came closest to our wish list,

but for reason's, we could not understand

at the time...,

God did not open this door either.

One evening, I was driving down a back

street in our little "downtown"

and saw a sign in front of a home

announcing an Interiors Auction.

Thru God's prompting...

I drove Wayne by the house later that week.

By this time, the auction had already taken

place and the auction sign was already removed.

Once again, God prompted me to

investigate if the home was for sale.

Now, I must confess.... I tried to pass this

phone call off to Wayne.

All I kept saying to myself...

these owners are going to think I'm crazy

"Excuse me but is this home for sale?"

As it turned out, later that week I passed by the home

on Sunday and there

was a car parked in front of the home.

I continued on, until that "Prompting Voice" in my head

screamed "go back and ask".

I steeled my nerve and approached

the front door and knocked.

A sweet older lady answered the door,

and I asked...

"Excuse me but is this house for sale?"

Yes....

Yes, the lady who answered the door

was the neighbor and relative.

By that evening both the neighbor

and the auctioneer/ listing agent

had called our house

and an appointment had been set

to tour the home on Tuesday.

Not even two weeks later,

we had put an offer in on the home

and were stunned to hear it was accepted!

We spent January and up till

last week dealing with the financing.
Once again, God has opened more doors.

Even two weeks ago,
due to an error on the banks part,
we were told our loan

was denied.

God is teaching me that He is in control, and

I have little to no control over anything.

But, only because He opens doors..

Wayne and I closed on our new home

on Thursday!

(I just love the new key Wayne made for me!)

Our New Home

The Provision at West Bay

The wish list was exceeded in so many ways!

Our new home is in town!

It is within walking distance from

school, the community center, parks,

great local restaurants, even our church!

Not only does it fit our desired size requirement,

but God has blessed us with a beautiful

property surrounding the home!

We have 1.65 acres with

a beautiful orchard.

At the rear of the property run a wonderful creek!

Another lesson that I'm learning...

God's blessings sometimes take work on our part!

Wait till you see the inside!

Major gut job!

Enough posts to keep me busy for the year!

Now we just need to get 

 this house sold!

We spent two weeks preparing our current home for market.

I hope to be sharing some photos with you soon!

So for those wondering were I've been...

knee deep in homes,

showings,

runny noses

renovations

and clinging to God!

I'm looking forward to sharing befores

and afters of our new place.

A Birthday Wish

My "baby" is now officially a teenager.

Madison turned 13 on Monday and celebrated

with 3 of her closest friends!

They went for pizza,

played "Monster Golf",

back home for cake,

movie and a sleepover.

(Madison on right)

God has blessed me with such a wonderful daughter.

I have seen her develop aspiring traits

including:

love for family,

care for friends,

passion for the written word,
responsibility,
a helping attitude,
and
artistic and creative aptitudes!

My heart is warmed when I see
her beautiful smile!

I continue to look forward
to watching her grow
and develop into
the wonderful and beautiful young woman
with a sweet heart for others and God!

I look forward to many more years
of creative writings and
pray that one day
 her dreams
will all come true.

I pray that she will continue
to walk with God,
and that He will lead her
to heights of joy!

Happy Birthday, my dear!
Love,
Mom



Following in My Footsteps

I'm so excited! 

Zac (my soon to be 16 year old)

 got a job for the summer!

No, not in Paris...

but at our local amusement park

Kings Island!

If you are old enough to remember

the Brady Bunch, they filmed

their amusement park show at Kings Island

 back in 1973!

(so I date myself)

My first job was also at Kings Island!

I worked a total of 3 summers

as a rides operator.

Funny enough,

 Zac will also be working rides.

He has already chosen his crew

and will be working on

The Crypt.

This ride was formerly known as

Tomb Raider, but the name was

changed a few years ago when the park

was sold from Paramount

back to Cedar Fair.

His reasoning for picking this ride...

it's inside

(air conditioning and

 staying dry in rain!)

Smart Boy!

As a side note (and because I've gone up the

Kings Island Eiffel Tower countless times)

this is a 1/3 sized replica of the

real Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

And for me, that's high enough!

All photos are from the Internet!

A Wish

Happy Valentines Day!

A Huge Thank You

One of the best treasures about blogging has been

YOU!

I have enjoyed getting the opportunity to meet

and get to know so many wonderful and talented people!

Each one of you are richly unique and lovely!

For the past year, my blog friends

names have been spoken around my house

on an almost daily basis! 

I have been blessed to lift so many up in prayer

and likewise have been blessed by many of your prayers.

I love following

 the lives of families,

the births of babies,

the pursuit of dreams,

the yummy recipes,

the creative projects,

and on

and on!

Each of you are a blessing to me!

One such blogger is my friend Christine

over at Vista Women.

Christine is such an example of God's

hands and feet here on earth.

She is always looking for creative ways to lift up others.

Her positive and sweet ways spill over

 to her family, friends, work associates

and the lives of all the high schoolers she

touches daily at work.

Right before Christmas I received a surprise

package in the mail.

It was from Christine!

I opened it and to my delight she had

made me a wonderful new apron!

I love aprons!

She creatively made this from a tea towel!

It even has a handy pocket sewn in around the top!

It not only matches my kitchen, but also Mom's!

(in photo above!)

Close up of the cupcake decal, isn't it adorable!

Thank you Christine for this gift!

I have been blessed!

Thank you to each of you for your gift of friendship!

Stay warm and have a great day!