Experiment

I debated...buy a small pouch of dehydrated marshmallows for $4.00 or pay $1.17 and dehydrate them myself.

UUhhhhh...of course, the latter!  They don't shrink to little bitties...but they are crunchy goodness for hot chocolate!
 

What happens when you don't pass an inspection?

If you are Kari...you lose your mind over the list because it is not our fault!  If you are Ted...you attempt to calm your partner down by telling her to take deep breaths and make a plan and try to find some good, strong help after you go and put eyes on the exact points the inspector made.

First...set out several traps to catch the invaders taking advantage of the filthy living conditions.  Who can blame them?  It is starting to get cold in Michigan!

Second, accept the fact that poor cleaning and living habits wreak havoc on a stained floor and decide the faster plan to meet the re-inspection date is to lay flooring.

Third, realize the help doesn't always show up and call the next best girl to help.

Fourth, keep checking for new residents and ruin their day.

Fifth, do your best to work with little ones under feet who just want some attention and love to help.

Sixth, keep your partner busy logging receipts and helping with delivery of materials.

Seventh, shout "Hallelujah! when a good worker shows up to help after another call for help...and he actually shows up four days in a row!  Ted and his helper made great progress!

 

Juggling all the things!

I didn't feel good and was forced to stay in one day...which meant the dogs were happy!  I used the time to work with my hands to put together my big granny square project.

Next day...up and at it again to finish the kitchen redo...by painting the new bare cupboard set up.

I turned on music and got to work.  This definitely will brighten up the space!

A stop at the craft store after a blood draw so I can finish my project was a nice little treat for enduring the needle.

Time to spoil some girls with supper out, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and a stroll through Christmas at Target.  How to get in the Christmas spirit?  Add whipped cream, hot cocoa mix, and a dust of candy cane to a morning cup of coffee!

Clouds and drizzle...one day.

Sun and clouds...the next.  Both days spent driving down to paint and clean.

OOOOOO...naughty dog alert!  Ted left his backpack on the floor in the dining room.

I see who worked to unzip the pockets and get at all the things!  Good thing it was just a Quercitin supplement she broke open.

Ahhhh the full moon...

The never-ending job of rehabbing a house...the endless supply of receipts to log.

Another day spent at home waiting to see if I need to do a delivery...

and I used the time well!  I finished my granny square project!

Alis taught me a year ago to make a basic granny square.  I had seen a sweater that I wanted to do...and I did it!  It is nice and heavy.  Not perfect...but I made it...and it felt good to learn how to do something new and finish it.

 

Sunday afternoon drives

Our faces...oh well!  I wanted a picture of our Sunday afternoon drive to check on a few things before we headed to small group.  It was a nice afternoon for a drive!   

We really do....most often....like being together.

We saw progress...not as much as we want...but there is a big difference in what was and what is now.

The hard part...not picking apart every item that was not done to our standard of care.  Nobody ever cares as much as the owner/one who is paying the bill!  We inspected and now we have a few changes to care for by what we expected.  

*Notes to ourselves...

1.  One must REMOVE staples/nails from steps for safety sake...DO NOT JUST PAINT OVER THEM!  A smooth finish will be achieved when the "gunk" is removed or scraped off BEFORE painting.  Uff da!

2.  Only showing up to work on a project one or two days a week, does not make the job get done faster even if you stay late one night.  Work smarter...not harder!  Come prepared for the day WITH ALL YOUR TOOLS.  

3.  If one makes a checklist BEFORE leaving residence, you most likely will have what you need for the day.  If you fail to plan...the people who are waiting for the job to get done WILL NOT PAY for work you will say you will do...they pay WHEN THE WORK IS COMPLETED.

4.  A "twenty foot paint job" is open to interpretation by the one who is doing the painting.  How old are your eyes?  Do you wear corrective lenses?

5.  In investment property, some details DO MATTER...others...will catch up to you later.

6.  Clean is a relative term with some men.

7.  Remember to stop and think if you have to come back to the house after leaving...YOU SET THE ALARM!  It will go off and you need to be ready with the code.

8.  Deep breath...NOBODY will ever move at the pace we move.  Adjust.  Regroup.  Adjust again.  Sigh loudly and then roll your sleeves up.  ENOUGH gets to be enough.

9.  Building codes and standards are there for a reason...say...plumbing that will actually work! Good enough can ruin a new floor and cabinets...so Ted is excited about re-working the pipe set up under the kitchen sink. OOF!

10.  A workable toilet right off the bat would be most helpful for the delivery gal who has learned that most gas stations in Inkster do not offer public restrooms.  Go before the hour drive.  Don't drink...no matter how long you have to be in the area.  In crisis times...Home Depot, Culvers, Portillos, Chicfila, Jimmie Johns, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Menards...are all clean options!

 

Oh my! can my guy smoke!

Ted's alarm went off Saturday morning at 4:30!  He got up and got things fired up and I stumbled down to offer a second set of hands.  The neighborhood smelled wonderful all day!

We are going to have a feast on Ashlynn and Alec's wedding day!

Ted worked hard on the flavor and to preserve and insure the juiciness of the meat!

We had our friends over to help in shredding and tasting the work of the day!  We all gave it a thumbs-up as we savored each bite!

We ended the meal with a fire in the fireplace and a yummy fall dessert!  Thankful for the help and fellowship!

We are counting down the days till Thanksgiving in Tennessee!
 

I took advantage of a sale!

I have been wanting to get a tree like this for a long time!  Michaels had 40% off... so I got myself a little craft project!  I still have to seal it.  It reminds me of the one Gram had once upon a time.  I am still deciding if I want to add some white for touches of snow.

A little fun for a photo op...we will see if it works!

Christmas crafts...are starting.

 

Date night

I was craving a good burger...and Ted took me for one of the best!    It was a treat worth waiting all week for...Friday night at the Burger Joint!

 

Praying for God to once again...shed His grace on our country!

 I heard someone say to consider the future you want for your children and grand-children in our country as you go to vote.  There is a clear path of evil and a clear path of concern for the rights and privileges that all Americans have right now.  We need to get past the personality of the candidates and look at the track record and policies that are represented and upheld.  We see it with each voting cycle...and this time around...evil seems to have a big voice across the airwaves.  Where are the Christians who are letting their little light shine?  32 million are going to hide their light under a bushel...and if that truly is the case...American freedom as we know it will suffer.