Opps!

Mr.B wanted the tree, pictured below, by our front door removed because it was about 70 ft. tall and had a significant lean toward the house.  We hired a tree removal service that has been in business 20+ years to do the work.

 As you can see from the additional photos, someone didn't properly figure the math and physics on this tree removal.

 Even the interior wall and window casing was pushed into the boys' room.  We also have damage to the steel roof.

 We lost our central a/c unit too.  Fortunately, the "hot" summer weather up here in Montana feels like cool spring weather to us Texans.

We are thanking God for insurance, but finding ourselves praying for an available contractor.  So far, everyone we've been referred doesn't even have time to come out and to assess the scope of work.

Home Tour

You know, I got to thinking the other day (yes, I know, that is sometimes dangerous, but I did it anyway) that it's been over a year since we finished our remodeling. I had promised to post photos of the completed work, but forgot to do it (imagine that).

So, if you'll grab a cup of coffee, hot tea or cocoa, I'll happily give you a quick tour.

Front of house and yard last spring before the foilage filled in.

Our cozy living room. I've since hung a nice A.T.Cox print over the sofa.

The dining room. This is also where our home schooling takes place.

My kitchen where I've prepared thousands of meals.

(tour is continued in next post - Blogger doesn't let me post more than 5 photos per post)

Home Tour, Continued

Main Bathroom
OG's Room

Boy's Room


Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Well, there you have it ... a tour of our little home. I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into our lives.

No, I didn't disappear ...

I've just been SOOOO extremely busy. Dad and I have almost finished the interior remodeling of our home. We have done an extensive amount of work and I never imagined that our little house could be so nice. I must also send out a hearty thank you to Mrs. A and Mrs. P. These lovely ladies came out and pitched in with some of the painting. They are such a blessing in my life and I am so thankful to the Lord for bringing them to me.
As soon as our weather clears up (we're enjoying quite a bit of rain this week), we will begin working on the outside - painting the outside of the house, adding additional shutters and painting the out buildings.
Not only have we been incredibly busy, but our internet has also been down for a couple weeks - not that I really noticed ... I didn't have any time to devote to the computer.
We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving. Dad was here and this was the first holiday I've spent with him since I was 8 years old. AB was able to come home. We missed BT and JP. BT just couldn't get away and JP left a week earlier for the U.S. Navy Recruit Training. If you all think of him, please offer up a prayer on his behalf.
It was such a blessing to log in this evening and have messages of prayers from a few of my readers. I look forward to sharing with you all again soon.
As we've been working on our home and improving the interior, I've been thinking about the changes God makes in our lives when we accept Him as our Saviour. Like the improvements we've been doing here around the house, God works within our hearts. Prior to painting a room, I've taken a considerable amount of time to prepare the room for new paint. I first clear out all the furniture and obstacles that could get in my way and keep me from doing a good job. I then dust/wash the walls. Next I patch/repair any holes or cracks and wait for the wall compound/caulk to cure. Then, I paint on a coat of primer so the new wall color will be a pure or true match to the sample color I selected. Finally, to achieve a uniform color and professional quality I add a second coat of paint.
Like the above process, we must turn away from sin so God will have plenty of room to work within us. We must also allow Him to prepare our hearts for the changes He wants to make. We must allow Him to help us forgive others and heal the broken areas of our lives, akin to patching holes or cracks in an old wall. Like painting a coat of primer prior to painting on the color, we must allow God to create a blank and clean surface within our hearts before seeing significant changes. When we submit and allow God to prepare our hearts, that's when we will see God's hand forming us into what He has created us to be. Yes, the preparation process can be time consuming, but good prep work is the secret to a professional finish. The last time I checked, God is a professional.
Blessings to you and yours,
Mrs. B

Busy as a Bee on a Spring Bonnet

I must extend an apology to my faithful followers. I had promised that upon our return home I'd post about our time up in the Northwest farmland AND include photos of the many beautiful places and things we were blessed to see and experience. Things have been so rushed since our return home, that I often don't know if I'm coming or going.

So we could continue with our remodeling, we immediately began moving furniture into storage - including our good desktop computer. Thus, I am still using our very old and not so good laptop. This little laptop doesn't work very fast AND it locks up nearly any time we try to run more than one application. Downloading photos has proven to be a HUGE waste of time - I literally spent hours and days trying to down load photos while on vacation and I just couldn't get it to work. When I have my desk top back - I PROMISE I will post vacation photos.

I must also ask for your prayers during this transitional period. Due to the remodeling, our home is in disarray. I like things orderly and in their place - when things are out of sorts, I find it difficult to focus and I easily become overwhelmed. My father has arrived to help me with some projects and he and I work VERY differently. I am a planner, a goal setter AND I work tirelessly until a job is completed - he is the fly by the seat of your pants sort and if it gets done, well good - if it doesn't get done, well that's O.K. too. These differences and the chaotic environment have me a little stressed. So, if y'all think about it anytime during the up coming days, I'd appreciate any little prayer you can offer on my behalf.

Thank you, dear readers for your understanding. I'm looking forward to the day when things are a little more routine around here and I have more time to share with you all.

Blessings,
Mrs.B

The Big Reveal ...

Our bathroom remodel was completed by last Wednesday. However, we had so much going on last week I didn't get a chance to post photos of my new room! I don't have any pictures of the old, but trust me when I say it was B A D ! It was worse than the before photos of my kitchen (http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/2008/11/drum-roll-please.html ). When I moved into this home 13 years ago, to say it was a "fixer upper" is an exaggeration. But, we've somehow made it work AND the Lord has seen fit to bless us with the resources to make much needed and appreciated improvements during the past couple years. New wainscoting, light fixture, vanity, faucet, & towel ring. Our new sink base and vanity are only 12 inches deep and 36 inches wide. Our old sink base and vanity was 23 inches deep and 48 inches wide (the space is 49 inches and there was this weird 1 inch gap on the left side). The old caused one to be REALLY cramped between the toilet and the sink. It was so cramped we couldn't fully open the old sink base doors as the toilet blocked them. Now, we can comfortably fit between the two and can also open the sink base doors and drawers. It's wonderful!

We have a new rod iron and wicker drawer unit for extra storage. I LOVE our new curved "hotel style" curtain rod. Aren't our new shower curtain and window shade lovely? Our old was made of white cotton and lace. It was nice, but after 15 years (had it in our rented townhouse before moving to this home), it was time for an update.

We have so much room between the toilet and the sink we even have room for the tp holder and trash can!

Although I was pretty angry about EJ flooding the bathroom, in hindsight I see it as a blessing. Thank you EJ!

(I apologize that my photos are crooked, for some reason I just couldn't hold the camera stright.)

Remodeling, Again ...

Last week our little EJ was up to some no good in the bathroom ... the ONLY bathroom in our tiny little house. Well, he ended up flooding it - really, really bad. I am sure you are pondering, "Well, just how bad was it?" Well, I'm gonna tell ya ... It was so bad that we absolutely must replace the sub flooring (located under the tile) and the sink base cabinet (the entire bottom fell out of it in pieces). Our bathroom was WAY, WAY overdue for an update so, we decided to go ahead and remodel it. I found new flooring I like, new sink base and vanity, new mirror, new light fixture, new energy efficient window, new wainscoting, chair railing, base boards and paint. I did not select a new toilet or tub since I think they are in good shape.

However, JP disagrees with me. He found the following photo of the toilet he'd like us to install. Of course this will never happen as I think he already spends WAY too much time in the bathroom. (click on photo for a better view)



MADE YOU LAUGH !!!

Drum Roll, Please ....

Twelve (12) years ago I bought a very old "fixer upper" home. The kitchen was in terrible shape - (but usable, if I could bake pizza in a homemade cardboard box and foil oven on camping trips, I could find a way to make that kitchen work until I could get it remodeled). Well, twelve years and a long time saving, it has finally been remodeled. Mr. P and Mr. S did a fantastic job. I am very pleased and will certainly give them good references. (Note: my photos posted backwards, for some reason. The after shots are 1st and 3rd and the before shots are 2nd and 4th.)

AFTER

BEFORE
AFTER

BEFORE