KITCHEN OF COARSE
I just had to do the kitchen first. Well, the very first thing was to get the air so we could breath. Once that cleaning was done, or, almost done. The crew came in and got started.
Things got torn out, lots of painting started to happen.
How I wished I had the money to replace the stove, that will just have to wait. We did replace the microwave.
Another item we replaced, was the kitchen sink. why do they put tiny sinks in manufactured homes? Also all the plumbing and wiring had to be redone.
I am glad we have made headway. I have such a long way to go, but for right now it keeps me out of the weather.
I didn't know where to start
The first step was to clean up the smell. We, brought in a company called "Clean Air Connection". They cleaned out the vents, put a room deodorizer in the vents and came back the next day to scrub carpets. I wanted the carpets gone but that is not in the budget yet.
The we hired a contractor, Rod Hoffman from "Hoffman Homes". The kitchen was torn apart. I would say the kitchen would be a good place to start.
If you look at the before picture, it shows the counter space as small and divided. One part lower then the rest. My idea, was to have the space used by one big counter. Usable from both sides. Also below the counter is 'space', this space is for storage of all those appliances that do not need to take up counter space.
a long way to go but it was a start.
We bought it any how!
You might wonder what makes people that seem normal take on such a project.
For one: We wanted to move to an adult park of manufactured homes.
Two: those homes are super hard to find. They sell as they hit the market, but, most of the time they never hit the market.
Three: This one never hit the market, a friend was helping us look and when she herd about this one she called.
We looked at it and I wanted to run. Not only was it a mess it stank so bad you could only be in it for a few minutes.
I will show you a few before pictures. I would love to hear your opinion.
this is what the kitchen looked liked!!
guess you can tell it is a kitchen.
The side opposite the sink area.
This is the bathroom off the master bedroom.
The guest bathroom
None of this was pleasant to think about. None of that feeling of getting to move to a new place.
I was, depressed for months. Still it was something we had to do.
HOT FUDGE SAUCE
From Ree, the pioneer woman
I am sure you have been to her blog, or watched her on TV.
I have her cook books and found this recipe for hot fudge!!
It is so yummy. When you are trying to decorate, or sew or maybe work in the garden you are earning points to spend on yummy stuff. So forget the diet, forget about scales. Just make some wonderful fudge sauce, pour over your favorite ice cream and enjoy the day.
Recipe for fudge sauce
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
in a medium saucepan, gently whisk together cocoa powder and sugar. Whisk in the cream, then turn heat to medium and whisk it as it warms up. When the mixture starts to heat up, add the butter and stir it in to melt. Then when the mixture is nice and hot, add the vanilla and stir to combine.
let sauce cool in the pan about 5 minutes and transfer to a mason jar. Store in the fridge. It will harden, just scoop out the amount you want, warm in the microwave. the pioneer woman
OKAY, so I exaggerated!
After being pretty unhappy about where we moved to, I started re-following Marty, who owns the blog "A Stroll Thru Life".
Her advice, was, change your mind, look at things with a different point of view. By changing your point of view your home can become your castle.
Maybe for me, it will start with the little things, like not using the dining room table as a place to store things. Actually clean it off and do a center piece.
Just because you have to down size, does not mean you give up on life. Just means, things have changed.
Marty, is a wonderful person. I only know her by following her blog, but I look forward to each new entry. I know I will learn something new. I know I will get inspired to try something new.
For now, I will trick my mind into thinking I have a castle. My tiny bathrooms will become jewel boxes, (another blog post from Marty).
another point, Marty does all her decorating on a budget, she can take something old and thru her vision make it something new.
So, if you have not discovered A stroll thru life, follow her for awhile and you to will know you live in a castle.
MY GOAL
Being as sick as I was, I was unable to attend the high school play my grandson was in. Also, since he is a member of the choir (several choirs actually) I was also unable to attend any of his concerts.
Zoe, is also in a choir, the Jr. high choir, I missed so much.
But, I set a goal, knowing they always sing in the park during Apple Blossom time, I set the goal of making it to their concerts.
It was a beautiful day and perfect for the concert.
This was Seth's concert.
This was Zoe concert, held a couple of days later. I made it to both concerts.
Now, I am making more plans and meeting more goals.
This little blog is also one of those goals.
No matter what your goal is, know that you will reach that goal. Just take it one day at a time.
Missing but still around. I had such high hopes for this second blog and here I go messing it all up.
I had a combination of pneumonia and a stint that had been put in when I had caner, getting infected. The stint put in to save my life almost took me out. It has been a rough few months but I am on the road to recovery.
Walking has been painful because of so many months on bed rest, but that is also improving.
so with high hopes: Her we go again--- I would really like your opinion on a few things in fact on a lot of things, so do visit me.
We will spend some time in the garden;
Time on the water, this is Rocky Reach Dam, from a water view.
