Construction, Destruction and Cats

This was a window with a tree in front of it. The light pouring in through the doors brightens the whole house. It also has internal blinds to keep cats away. The French doors were a huge splurge, but my dad still gives into "please daddy" when I ask prettily. I'm a very fortunate and blessed girl!

In the beginning, there was a yellow house. I liked my yellow house, as I had always wanted a yellow house and I had painted it myself. 

In September my dad and I began discussing repairs to our home. I own a 28 year old trailer, with affordable property taxes, 3/4 plywood floors and relatively new roof. Everything else about this double wide needs updated, repair, etc. Dad made me do my homework. I researched new trailers, new houses, and the cost of renovation. Eventually dad and I settled on renovation.

The tree sheltered the window, but was too close to the house. We had also nailed pet proof screens over the windows to prevent cat escapes.

I put a roof on my yellow house about ten years ago. I also bought new appliances and replaced a good deal of the plumbing one break at a time. Would have been cheaper to replumb the whole thing!

This was the second to worst window. Note the water damage and rot.

It was bad. really bad. And the released mold and mildew spores resulted in
a terrible upper respiratory infection for me.

We got the outside mostly under control with patches and repairs, then tackled the demolition of the kitchen while I was out of town.

The above middle window became a French door! 

The new door laying in the back of the truck. Scary to see
a hole like this in your dinning room.

This picture is especially poignant because the grey cat, Tannis, was dying. He made it to the dining room to see the changes and to look out the new window before dying. He was 14 and had been rescued when I lived in Atlanta.

Moving the door to its new location stopped a rather exasperating problem. The back door had led in by the laundry area, stove and refrigerator. Every time I opened the door, I either ran into one of the doors or I hit my head on the vent. Ten years that went on.

My very generous parents also agreed to a deck!

New windows, new door and the porch are complete.

It takes time for the crew to get things done. They also have contracts with rental agencies and real estate agencies, so we get worked in between and betwixt. The prices are good, the wait times suck.

Iben, the grey striped cat, immediately was convinced that we built the deck and ramp for him. He seems to deeply appreciate both.

In the midst of the outdoor work, my grandson was born. An upper respiratory infection from mold and mildew in the house resulted in my delayed trip to Arkansas. But I finally managed to go.

The first time I held Ben.

And Cameron managed contractors for the week without me. Cameron just looked at this picture and asked, "God, did we live in that?" We did. And it depressed me every day.

Note the back door that went away. We've got places to put things now, and a new pantry, along with a new rule that NOTHING sits on the dryer. Cameron insists! LOL The floors here are just the plywood. The dog ate the floor about six years ago.

My kitchen was gutted in my absence.

Note the cat proof bungee cord to keep them out. I couldn't wash the front of the cabinets or the fake wood design washed off with the dirt.

Duct tape held the disintegrating cabinet top together, sort of.

Ibn observed the changes carefully.

Cameron has also enjoyed the changes with Ibn's approval.

Transformation!

The outdoors is complete with siding, shutters, door, lighting and gutters!

It's taken months, and there are still details that will be polished along the way (painting and floors come last), but here's the new kitchen! And we also have, a new frig and additional counters and space. 

Check out the awesome river rock in our back splash. I still need to finish polishing it with the drimmel and then it will be sealed.

And Shane's got to come Monday and the cords for the under the cabinet lights hidden. They were added at the last minute. My contractor has been very kind about coming by and sprucing up details that we missed. Note the lovely new frig. We now also have an icemaker! I haven't one of those in 20 years.

No more bungee cords! We have magnets now. Ignore the clutter here. We still haven't gotten everything completely sorted out. 

In January, Corey will be removing our old fireplace and replacing it with a wood stove. I hesitated in putting this picture up, but it makes such a huge contrast I can't resist. The fan can't be turned off. The flu is opened with a coat hanger. The glass doors are gone, so I have plastic lids to keep cats out. Note the piecing pieces of the metal curtain. 

Sigh. It's been a rough ten years.

This is what we choose. May have to get black instead, but it will be the same model if the red's not available.

In the meantime, the deck in finished and this is Cameron showing off the new seat.

This is the window that had rotted out. We also have a new light on the porch. And gutters!

This is the stone for the wall behind the wood stove. It will go floor to ceiling.

Shortly after I got my job, the porch light stopped working. That would be five years ago. So I've left for work at 4 in the morning in the dark. I now have a light, a porch and a ramp. My daddy is the bomb.

I adore Cameron's whimsy. He was so excited to decorate the deck!

The transformation to our house continues soon. January will bring the wood stove and Cameron's bathroom. Then my bathroom, and the remaining repairs to the inside. Finally, we will install new flooring and paint. My parent's generosity and changed our lives. We will no longer be ashamed to invite friends over. Cooking has already become much easier. And my new pantry is awesome!