One Hot Mama...er...I mean to say...One Warm Granny

The Epic Mess of January 8 is nearly over. At least, the rooms are almost put back together and my bedroom has had HEAT for ten days...just in time for Spring, doncha know. Hallelujah and Thank the Good Lord above along with Gillespie Construction! It's been a mess, in more ways than one and I'm happy to say good-bye to bedrooms temps of 46 degrees F above zero. Even though I purchased a couple of electric heaters, they were hard pressed to get the temps to the mid 50's. Temps might have said it was a three dog night but I had to make due with two dogs and wool blankets and am glad to have cold behind me. While I'm not quite one hot mama I am now, most assuredly, one warm granny!

BAM! Bedroom floors refinished, walls painted and new heat registers with PEX pipe in place of copper pipe. PEX comes in white, blue, red with blue, generally, being for cold water, red for hot water and white for all else. PEX is less expensive than copper, easier to install and won't corrode; if you have a plumbing job, I strongly suggest you look into using PEX.

I'm still happy I added this little bit of history to the inside clapboard of the dining room.

The dining room furniture still has to be restored...actually, it has to be taken to the gent who is doing the work and I'm hopeful it can be restored. You may recall Eddie was helping but he did a runner, leaving me high and dry, and it's been quite a scramble. Fortunately, Joe, of Cabins and More, was available to help finish the job and last night he and some Mennonite youth blessed me by coming to the farm and doing a lot of jobs that will make my life so much easier and better.

Mom and Daddy have always preached there are two types of people in this ole world...givers and takers. Takers don't know (nor do they want) how to give and givers, generally, have a difficult time taking. All that to say, it blessed me to have pizza and donuts last night (a surprise for them) and it also blessed me having two women to help, then sit and chat; I can't remember the last time that happened.

Shortly after the flood and while I wasn't home, other men moved things out of the bedroom and into the rest of the upstairs. To say it was helter skelter is putting it mildly; I'm still trying to find stuff. In the move, the bed was broken and Joe of Cabins and More, was the one to fix it thus enabling me to actually be able to sleep in the bed. YAY Joe! Last night, curtains were hung, bed was fix, moved, set up and other furniture moved as well. Today, I moved smaller pieces of furniture, rugs, lamps and made the room ready for tonight when the dogs and I sleep in the bed.

The paint is Valspar Hopsack from Lowe's and I almost guarantee it to lower blood pressure by twenty points. The curtains are some I've had for a while but the sheers are new. Generally, I go to the bedroom early, sit in my comfy leather recliner and read before lights out and going to sleep. I'm training myself to read either the Bible (Psalm 4 being a favorite) or use my Bible journal to pray for folks (and myself) as the last thing I do at night.

There's nothing on the brick fireplace, obviously, but I'm thinking of hanging a textile I purchased in Budapest. It's large enough to effective use the real estate but light enough should it fall down, wouldn't do damage.

The small light is used for a night light and other quilts stand ready should temps be disagreeable.

The king size quilt is Ralph Lauren (thrift store) but covers the bed nicely. By the way, last night two girls came to me and asked, "Would you mind if we made your bed?"  Didn't they do a great job?! Chloe, 10, and Graceanne, 7, did a wonderful job, especially considering how far this bed is off the floor. The stairs, middle of this photo, were made so the dogs could have ease of access while I just lumber up any ole way.

I'm still doing laundry because everything in my two bedroom closets need to be washed and dried. Although they closets were taped shut, sawdust from floor refinishing and sheet rock dust managed to get everywhere. When I remove a piece of clothing the dust is clearly visible so I'm carefully putting clothes in a basket and taking them outside to shake them prior to washing them. It's just more work on top of all the other work and is a royal pain in the neck. The insurance man said, "I've allowed for the cost of water in doing laundry." Well, ballyhooo! That ain't going to get it as it also takes electricity and a lot of it to run the well pump, the washer, the dryer. I keep electric bills for several years (farm expense for tax purposes) and my electric bill is doubled for the same months in 2016. Not to mention ServePro machines that ran 24/7 with the noise enough to drive a person insane. Thanks to my Beloved Sistah's suggestion, I took videos and capture all that racket.

Tonight is the Big Sleep-In...right after an Epsom Salts bath to, hopefully, help the bruises and swelling received when a fourteen foot metal farm gate fell on me. Yes, it did, and does, hurt but I'm happy no bones were broken. I believe it was Bette David who said, "Growing old ain't for sissies", to which I add, farming ain't for sissies either.

At some point, I'll give the low-down on the dining room...which is being used as a sewing room because he dining room furniture is in pieces and parts. For now, I'm over the moon HaPpY to be this far along and may God bless all hands who've had a part.  My body grows more black, blue, painful and stiff so it's time to crawl into that tub of hot water and Epsom salts. Bless you for caring.

Ponder this ~ Don't stumble on something behind you ~