His momma's helper...

He found a paint roller and wanted to help. He first rolled the dry roller on his mom's newly painted wall. He later happened to lean against the same wet wall and got sage paint on the back of his pants, shirt and head. He didn't stop there as he then proceeded to touch the wall and taste it, and then made a face. Surprise Cash, paint doesn't taste good. His mommy even told him it wasn't food but that didn't stop him from then placing his lips to the wall to try a different spot. The look on his face was priceless...

The blues...

They hit me when I least expect them. I am usually a puddle of tears for most of the day and there is nothing I have tried so far that makes them go away. I just want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over my head and stay there. Today is one of those days...

Here she is...

Isn't she pretty? She has a red front door. Also a living/dining room, family room, two bedrooms, one bathroom, utility room and a kitchen with a nook. Love, love, love her!!! She is getting new paint in all rooms except the bathroom before I move in.

Thanks to my sweet girl Sarah, her hubby Nate and my dear friend Angie the house is prepped and ready to paint. Things are moving right along considering I just got my keys last Wednesday. I have already taken before pictures and will take more in process and then when it is done. I will post those later. 

It has been four days since I started writing this post and I finally loaded my photos onto my computer so I can post the first photo of the outside of my house. My wonderful family and friends have really made large strides on the painting. As of today the family/craft room and both bedrooms are done. The hallway is taped and painted at the baseboards and next to the door frames. The living/dining room ceiling is done as is the first coat of paint on the walls. Lisa started painting the utility room yesterday and hopes are that we get more done tomorrow. I will start posting before and after pictures in a couple of days.

Falling behind...

It is amazing what packing and moving does to your life. Blogging is the last thing that I think of doing. Though I know that I have been a bit remiss with it in the last couple of years it has become worse in the last six months. For instance it has been almost a month since I last wrote on my blog and I don't know where the time went. 

I am now thinking that hiring someone to pack and move me is a really good idea. But it isn't the moving that is the problem it is the sorting and dealing with the aftermath that I don't look forward to at all. I have twenty-four years of stuff to go through and it is extremely overwhelming to say the least.

Two years...

I keep trying to wrap my brain around this fact. It seems like only yesterday I was wondering why Steve wasn't answering his phone at just a little after eight in the morning. He should have been at work by then since he left at a little after seven. What prompted my calling him, which I rarely did, at that time of the morning you might ask? I had been watching the news as I always did and there was a report of a small plane crash. I had the oddest feeling so I called him. When I got no answer it kicked my 'worry' mode into gear. I shut off the television. From there on in the time frame of how things happened got very fuzzy.

My worst fear was about to be moved into a frenzy when I received a call from a reporter with the Oregonian. She wanted to confirm that Steve was the owner of N9996D and if he had been flying that morning. She even had the nerve to ask if I was sure he was the one flying the plane. She then told me there had been a plane crash, I don't remember what I said but it caused her to respond with "Oh my God". Because she then apologized and then hung up. My next call was to Kelly, Steve's boss to ask him if he had seen Steve yet that morning. I told him about the reporter and then I could hear what I believe were his keys in his pocket as he ran outside to the parking lot to see if Steve's motorcycle was there. It was not and then Kelly said I will call you back. I remember calling my neighbor Mary and after that things all happened in somewhat of a blur. How much time had passed from then to when I had a Marion County Sheriff knocking on my door seemed like forever but it could have been moments later I don't know. He was here to basically confirm my worst fears. Mary called family and friends and in no time at all my dear mother-in-law was in my arms sobbing along with me.

The sheriff needed to confirm what Steve was wearing and some of his physical attributes such as 'did he have facial hair'. It struck me at the moment as odd that I couldn't remember what shirt he had on. I described the color of his jacket, the fact he was wearing blue denim Carharts and yes, he had a beard. From there on in I don't remember what happened or in what order. But it seemed like in no time at all my dear friends were here asking what they could do.

Fast forward to today; past the reluctance of the insurance companies to pay out on their policies, the threatened lawsuits, the numerous attorneys and the estate. Today it is no less hectic but I have a goal and I am moving forward. Buying a new 'old' home and selling the old 'old' home is what is occupying my time right now. I hate the packing and moving part but now is when I take the opportunity to reduce the clutter my life. I hope my girls are grateful I am not leaving it for them to deal with...

The next step...

I thought I would be packing and moving to the new 'old' house quickly but after having been there with Sarah on Sunday it looks like painting will be the next step. Looking to go with the colors I was going to use in this house. 

Sarah thinks I need to add color to the room I will use as my craft room, something in pink or purple. I am leaning towards a shade of lavender. She also thinks I should go with a pale yellow in my kitchen, that I am still trying to wrap my brain around. I like the blue in the master bedroom but she says it's a little dull and thought maybe adding some kind of sponged color over the existing will add a little 'pop' to the room. Cash's (guest) room is going to be a sage color as is the living room and the hall will be a shade of light brown. I need to go to the paint store some time this week. But I know I can't go without my decorator along. :) 

I decided on mini blinds in the bedrooms, my craft room and the eating area in the kitchen. So my next trip to the house I will need to remember a tape measure. I will be putting drapes in the living and dining room plus the sliding glass door in my craft room. I am just going to put valances in the remaining windows which are over the kitchen sink, the utility and bathroom. 

I am getting very excited about the house just not the packing and moving part. I have already had lots of offers to paint and to move. I am very blessed with great friends and family.

Making more changes...

While deciding whether to put money into this old house to make it more livable for me and my bad knee a few things became abundantly clear to me. It was going to take a lot of money and also displace me out of my house for long periods of time while the house was being worked on. Talking to Mike and Chris, in-laws extraordinaire, they told me that doing all that would probably not add much value to the house because of it's age. With their considerable knowledge with these matters I got to thinking maybe I should be putting my money into something newer or at least something that didn't have to have a major remodel. 

Well wouldn't you know it they may have found my 'new' home. It is ranch style home built in the early 50's with an attached garage, fenced in back yard, newly refinished wood floors and a utility room with washer and dryer hookups. Biggest plus, it is all one level. I went over this afternoon and looked at it. I fell in love...