Home Sweet Home-Improvments

This last week as been busy, as I am sure you noticed with the lack of posting. I try to do something everyday (or at least every other day). I have found that I am always thinking about what to post, and have found that I have a more cheerful/thankful attitude because of it. It makes since, I am always thinking about the blessings God has giving us.

Today we are getting ready for Nana to come and visit. Because my sister works and has her hens (anyone in the Seattle area wanting organic, farm raised eggs let me know!) she is not coming yet. Mom will be here for a few days, then the kids and I are heading back with her. We are going to go camping out on the San Juan Islands! The kids have been playing "camping" for the last 4 days!

Now for the home improvements that went on this last week. The city replaced the sewer main right out side our house, and while that was going on, Aaron replaced the sewer line on our side. Blessings in this, no more clogged toilets, etc. The city line was busted all the way though right after the old connection to our house. This would account for the problems we have had. While Aaron was doing the exit line, he also replaced the part the toilet bolts to and well as some of the plumbing under the house. Since we are wanting to remodel and move the kitchen, he didn't do any of that stuff. Another blessing, we though we were going to have to replace sub-flooring around the toilet, because it was "soggy" feeling. Well, come to find out, the floor is not wet (!) but the support column that held up a beam in that area, was not up! Problem fixed, and a lot less $$$.

Our insurance company has a couple things they want us to do before the say the house is "insurable" (we have 20-30 days to fix them). They are very simple things like getting the tree branches off the roof and also replacing and painting a soffit on the eve that is needing replaced. All things we were planning on doing, and not a lot of $ involved. Aaron has been trimming the trees (we have two HUGE willows RIGHT by the house) and we are getting a bit of firewood in the process.

Well, I should get back at it. We are cleaning the yard up, doing laundry and I want to re arrange the living room.......

Home Sweet Home-Improvments

So now that we are buying a house, you all get to put up with home improvement posts as well. Isn't it grand? *big grin*

Our goal for the bit of money we have right now it to make the house more winter tight. That meant finding a wood stove instead of the electric wall heaters we have been using. Getting a new back door up. The old one was, well...old. It was a thin wood and the glass had been replaced with plexi glass at some point in time. In the winter we would have a nice little puddles of ice, inside the door from the condensation run off. If someone really wanted to, it wouldn't have taken much to break in!

We decided when we ran in to town. we would swing into the Habitat Restores and check out what they had. We have a list going of what is needed/wanted. We are also keeping an eye out on Craigslist for good deals.

Two cast iron wall sconces, to pretty to pass up, even though I am not sure where to put them. Cost: $6


Steel entry way door, in frame with handles etc. Prefect shape. Cost New: about $400. What we paid: $50

Bad picture of a really cute light for above the bath sink. New: not sure how much, maybe $40. What we paid: $10


Two outside lights, needs to be spray painted. Cost to buy ONE new: $40. What we paid with spray paint: $16 for two.

I also got a fan (nothing fancy, but has a light) for the sewing/guest room. Its got very high ceilings and the window doesn't open. The light fixture that is in there is old and is just one light, this will add more light, and help cool people off on hot summer days! Cost to buy a fan/light new: $70. What we paid: $10