It has been crazy busy around the Techel homestead lately. I think Joie may want to move out. Actually, both she and Kylie are doing very good despite all that has been going on between my busy shipping days of the special edition of my book, the book launch, John installing a new computer, his busy work schedule, and add in hardwood floors being installed in our living room and bedroom.
As always goes, no remodeling project starts as plans, but tends to blossom. Plus I have a very persnickety husband (also a general remodeling contractor) heading up these many expanding projects. He installed hardwood floor in our bedroom and living room. I think it was sometime in late 2007 that we ripped all the carpeting out. Having a a dog with IVDD, carpet is just not the thing to have.
After we had the carpet ripped out the economy took the big dive south. We put installing hardwood floors on hold… and on hold… and on hold. Our flooring was the sub-floor which we painted. I didn’t really mind it, as it was rather cottage-y looking. But this winter we actually sat down and figured out what it would cost, and since John could install himself, that helped with saving money, and we realized we could tackle this project.
It took him part of January and all of February to install the floors only because he could only do it on weekends. The final steps are coming together. He hired out the sanding and sealing of it. Izzy is our man doing that. He is originally from Bosnia and I could listen to him talk all day- love his heavy accent. He is the perfect persnickety match for John.
The bedroom floor has been sanded and two coats oil based urethane have been done. One more to go! Then we move everything into the bedroom this weekend so living room can be done next week. And to add to the project, Mr. Persnickety (the one I’m married to) decided the kitchen hardwood floor wouldn’t look right with the new floor, so that will be re-sanded and re-finished after this.
But wait! We can’t stop there! If we are re-doing the kitchen floor, we might as well rip out the island we’ve not liked for a few years now, instead of a later date. Mr. Persnickety had to break this news down to me in pieces as my mind has been so occupied with launching my new book. Poor guy. He’d make a suggestion and I’d say, “I can’t think about that right now.” Then of course it was all I could think about and then gave my approval to go ahead.
But in the end… when that end finally does get here… it is going to all look so beautiful! In fact, the bedroom floor almost done now has me looking at it and admiring it every chance I get. And if you know me by now, much makes me get teary eyed… and yes, I even get teary eyed over finished remodeling projects.
I’m yearning for everything to be back in it’s place and I do have my moments where I think I’ll lose it having to zig-zag around everything. But I remind myself these are good moments of life and before I know it, we will have structure and balance once again. And when I feel like I’m going to go crazy, I peek back into the bedroom, admire the floor, smile, and all is well again.