You know that you are in the middle of a reno when:
- You reach for a wooden spoon to stir the soup, and don’t even notice it’s a crowbar.
- You get out of bed with a hop skip and a jump. That’s hop, over the laundry basket full of tools, skip, around the pile of flooring, jump, through the drywall leaned up against the door.
- The cat comes in with white paws, his were black, but now they are coated in dust from the wet saw, in fact everything outside is white, and it’s not snow.
- You no longer jump, or even notice when a loud bang is followed by “oh ******”.
- You are getting rather used to writing the words “One thousand, and ...” on a cheque, you’re getting great practice.
- Your heart no longer drops at the workman's call of “ah you had better come see this.” you know from experience it isn’t something good, nor is it a million dollars hidden in the walls.
- You find that tools make great clothes hangers, after all they aren’t being used, due to the latest “you had better come see this.”
- Your plumber is spending the month in Hawaii, all expenses paid.....by you.
- You wash every dish, and piece of cutlery before using it, sawdust is everywhere, including in your underwear.
- The greeter at your local big box hardware store calls you by your first name, and thanks you for the raise he received.
- You know the names of the tools, and what they are used for. In fact, you can now reinstall a dishwasher in 30 seconds flat, but it still remains broken.
- You ask for tools for Valentines day, and you know which ones you want.
- You thought it would all be over in a week, now you know better.
- You just smile and nod politely when friends tell you it will all be worth it in the end.
- End? There will be no end.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
*♥ * ♥ *
Oh my Jen! Keep your humor, it's gotta help..oh and shake out those undies before you put them on, lol.
ReplyDeleteoh Jen, it'll end soon enough. But then of course you'll likely sell your condo and buy a house in Armstrong that will require some renos and.... right then, it won't end.
ReplyDeleteChuckling! My husband is a contractor and the tools are always everywhere, even if he isn't doing anything to our own old house at the moment. I think, after 20 years of marraige, that he has finally (mostly) learned to leave MY hammer, and MY tape measure alone.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos!
Jen girl we have "been there, done that, and Oh My God .. please let's not do any more for at least one year ??""!!! .. we had the "shower from HELL" in our bottom floor reno .. I swear our very first contractor put a REAL LIFE CURSE on it .. it only took 4 times over 7 years to get one that didn't leak ..I think you get the picture ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo I empathize with you and can say from experience , hang on .. it will finish at some point, even if it is only for a year or so .. and then someone gets a "bright" idea about fixing something else ?? EEEEKKKKKKK !
Good luck girl : )
Joy
P.S.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say how beautiful your blog is looking : ) I have to wait until Valentine's Day is done before I can change mine over for Spring .. but love looking at yours, puts me in the mood !!
Joy
I feel for you. That said, this is a great post. I love the humour you're seeing in it all.
ReplyDeleteBTW, are we going to see any before & after shots...?
ReplyDeleteGirl, I am sorry you are singing the blues, it won't be long before you are dancing the happy dance again! Can't wait to see the pics.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
LOL - for all these reasons I would never renovate!
ReplyDeleteIt DOES end Jen-it will all be so worth it. We've done lots of renos and I think that it helps mellow you out. (and clean out your pockets).
ReplyDeleteWe did our house in Maine,(our entire house), and we gutted our kitchen in California and nearly went broke and broke our backs, but it turned out so well.
Chins up,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
Funny stuff !!!
ReplyDeleteYou seem to handling it well. I won't be so amused...most likly curses a lot.
Good thing you have a great sense of humour, Jen...I hope it's all done soon, before your contractor spends the entire winter in Hawaii, or Florida, or somewhere that has no winter.
ReplyDeleteJen - that is a list that is so near & dear to my heart!
ReplyDeleteWe lived in 500 sf (the back bedrooms) while the rest of the house was gutted & added on to (3 yrs ago). The sounds of screw guns blazing at 7am on December 23rd ('07) are still vivid in my memory ... and not to be a broken record, but it "really is worth it". I swear! --Shyrlene
Argghhh....I totally understand! We are "between" renos right now and I am trying to gather the fortitude for the next one and it will be a biggie. As each one ends - and they do - you will love your home more. But, aren't you moving?? My advice for the next home would be to get as much done before you move in as possible, if possible. In the meantime, yes, keep your excellent humour. :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work with the renovations. Perhaps we'll see the finished project???
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I remember it well... I'm happy (mostly) with the end result, and love the circular saw that we bought to finish the flooring, but much prefer reading about other people's experiences to going through it myself. Hope the end is in sight - and it is a light not a train!
ReplyDeleteAah, this sounds SO familiar!......and our decorator arrives in the morning to start the hall, stairs and landing! It's only taken 9 years so far! :)
ReplyDeleteThe dust used to drive me nuts I was constantly cleaning..this too shall pass..and you might even like the result! :)
ReplyDelete(((hugs))) for you, Jen! Have you had anyone fall through the ceiling? Or have a second story deck fall on their head? Or cut the oil line from the tank to the furnace when using a jack hammer to break io the cellar floor?
ReplyDeleteBecause all that has happened to us over the years... So I totally sympathize!