Hang onto your hats because winter is here, garage building is happening, and a whole lotta crazy in between!
Can you relate?
It literally is always an adventure in my home and I’m sure I’m not alone on that front.
Somehow, I sometimes feel like I carry a target on my back. While I can provide AMPLE examples of why, I am choosing to say that I make a point to find joy.
Not all the time… not even every day.
But… I try.
And I have some crazy and joy to share with you today.
PLAN ALL YOU WANT
Ever hear the phrase, “if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans”?
Unpredictable life makes it less boring, but sometimes I gotta say that I’d like some of my plans go according to my wishes. haha.
While I share different details in my video below, I want to share how my garage building is going a few crazy adventures on the side.
First, let’s rewind to this time last week. My daughter and I were out trying to get errands done when I get a phone call from my youngest son saying “a guy just unloaded a backhoe”.
Ummm…
He knew I had been frustrated that I hadn’t heard any replies to my request as to when the garage build was beginning (due to city permits) and wanted to warn me.
Literally, they just showed up and I had no warning.
I finish grabbing groceries as quickly as I can and race home skipping the dozen other things I needed to do that day.
My two youngest were there alone not sure what to do. This mama is not happy.
Sadly, I hoped my C-PTSD was in better check, but the minute I got there, I spoke nicely to the team who had no idea I didn’t know. They apologize, but my body begins to shake.
If you know what I’m talking about, I feel for you. While I’ve been better at handling moments, this one caught me off-guard.
The shakes even affect my teeth to chatter when high anxiety hits or even listening to someone tell a story similar to something I’ve lived.
That death by a thousand cuts is vicious.
And yet, the garage building is happening, and I’m elated with a smidge of frustration.
DIGGING DEEP
As many of you know, this kinda thing doesn’t affect just you, but your kids, and even your fur family.
To break up the crazy, I do things with the kids, including the animals. I pretend to make a feast for Loula in her food bowl and then pop it in a cold oven to make her feel special.
She is patiently waiting or thinks I’ve lost my mind.
SHE SAID WHAT?
“Mama!! The sink just broke.”
What every mother wants to hear while in the middle of feverishly working.
Thankfully, the neck came unthreaded and I am able to spend my ENTIRE morning taking it apart… with Ivan’s help.
My view from working on the sink.
I had to fish out the threads and then jerry-rig this ridiculous faucet… for now.
Join in by viewing my video below where I share more details and behind-the-scenes.
MUD IS MY NAME
Mud, mud, and more mud.
While the digging begins, the ground is hard and nice to move around in our 11-degree (feels like -2-degrees) temps. However, then comes a thaw.
The work crew scraped off my driveway best they could and did a good job being neat in the yard, but it’s construction. And with that comes a deluge of sorts.
For a few days, it stayed frozen enough, but such a mess in our cars, and especially in my home.
When I see a break in the weather of warming up near 30-degrees AND my daughter tells me she slid the entire way down, I knew I needed to clean.
Early that morning, I trudge over to my daughter’s house where she’s storing my extras until the garage building is complete. I get back and spend about a forty-five minutes fussing with my pressure washer and it won’t kick on because the GFCI outlet keeps detecting the rain.
So I’m left to use my hose without a nozzle and a broom to work it down the driveway. Don’t you love the angle of this photo my youngest took? bwahahaha!
After a couple of hours, it’s at least safe and better than yesterday.
Oh, and check out the video to see what this is all about.
NEW FRIENDS
Finally, as a bonus, you can see in the video that we have a few new friends.
Loula and Ivan love KDog (our neighbor dog)
And they have a blast outside. So much so that every time KDog is out, Loula insists on being outside too. And KDog’s owner is a fast friend as well.
And our other friends I share in my video are out back. They just need to stay away come spring when I finish my backyard restoration.
Plus, we met some snowbirds across the street to help rake leaves and wish them a wonderful winter.
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While you’re at it, check out these other remodel adventures like my garage building:
I am seven months into home renovating and it’s so very frustrating!!!! Everything is “manana!” Now I’m just waiting for furniture to finally arrive. I wish I had just a fraction of your DIY talent!!! Goid luck with the garage, I know you’ll LOVE having it done cine spring!!! ❤️
I totally feel you, Rebecca! In my last place it took so long for many things. I’m chomping at the bit to get this one more done, but taking it very slow and enjoying it.. I’m thankful that the garage should be done in general by next week. woot!
I am so excited about all of the projects that you are working on. Loula and friend will have great times together! You have a beautiful piece of land to enjoy. I can’t wait to see what you do in the back yard. Do you get much sun in the back? It will be fun planning out all of your gardens. I guess that you will be getting the same rain as us on Friday. It sounds like it may be a mess. 🦋 I completely understand about the shaking issue. I have it too and I hate it. The past 2 days have been awful. When I am triggered, it is uncontrollable. Sometimes the teeth chattering is unstoppable. Some days I can work with it but others my body feels so out of control. I would like to slip out of my body and walk away. I hope that today is a peaceful day for you! 🙏 You certainly deserve it. 🎄
aww… happy dancin’!! Thank you for the smile, Dale. The house faces east, so yes. Plenty of sun in the back and more so come spring and summer. I hate that you know what it’s like to be in that state, Dale. Do you have ways to deal with it? It literally drains me physically and emotionally. I did have a very BUSY day, but good busy. Thank you and HUGS!!
Despite learning so many tools to cope over the years, I have no way to stop the shaking. It is also not uncommon with Autoimmune disease. I have meds but only use them when absolutely necessary. As you know, it makes life difficult at times. 🦋
Sigh… I know what you mean. While I don’t know how to stop the shaking once it stops (specific breathing helps) I do know that I have stopped both reacting as quickly or as often since taking measure to heal. My best to you, Dale. You’re SO STRONG!