Summer Renovations
Two little girls, a small RV and a house that is torn apart. This is how my August went. Well, backtrack a couple weeks and you would find me trekking to Kitchener to pick out tile and flooring and such. After that, was packing and organizing and packing food away. Then the RV came! Abby was happy and excited.
August 2nd: Nathan and his brother and uncle worked hard all day to pull down old plastered walls and counters and flooring. To say it was a mess is an understatement. White dust covered everything including themselves. Wheelbarrow loads of debris were scooped up with shovels and carted out to the waiting bin. I went to the local Amish horse sale and bought ourselves some lunch. We ate lunch under the old tree and enjoyed the cool breeze. That weekend we had our annual camp out with the family and I was happy to leave our home! When it rained all day Sunday, I was thankful I wasn’t cooped up in an RV with two rambunctious girls.
Week One: First the electrician, then the insulation and Nathan is doing all sorts of odds and ends to prepare for all of it. On Wednesday, Nathan went back to work and the girls and I went on a little road trip to Gorrie. The girls were asleep so I stopped by the side of the road, rolled down my windows, and soaked up the peaceful country air. For a moment, time stopped and all was right with the world. I love these little pockets of country solitude.
Week Two: I am tired of RV living and the AC doesn’t work. My Monday morning is a little chaotic as I visit a friend in the morning, and leave baby’s bottle at her house. I run a forgotten envelope back to Stratford and go back to pick up the bottle. Lessons learned. The girls nap peacefully all the way and I managed to enjoy the quiet drive. Beans waited to be picked and three huge zucchini to grate and freeze. Lots of running back and forth between the main house and the RV. Can I enjoy the process of all this without wistfully waiting for my kitchen back?!
Nathan cleared the lawns of all its messes and I happily mowed and trimmed the yard again. I am not a happy camper when there are messes everywhere I look, but sometimes it has to be a part of the process. The children, though, take advantage of every opportunity to play.
Week Three: We disagree on the size and style of a window and whether part of the ceiling should be redone when we noticed a strange dip in it. He had his way with the former and I for the latter. Hardworking hubby worked late into the night to complete it before the mudding crew came and I loved him for it. I concluded that in a few more days he would be grateful as well. After waiting and waiting, the mudding crew finally showed up on Friday. This left me scrambling to get the painting done before end August. Nathan installed the new window and I cleaned a few more while I was at it. Everything is dirty! Next week looks busy and exciting.
Week Four: Our final week in the RV! I am so excited to move out even if the house will not be finished. It can’t be helped. We did the best we could to move things along.
MONDAY- I super- clean the dusty upstairs and it is so rewarding! The mudding crew showed up and did the first coat.
TUESDAY- I mow lawn and get all the yard work done in preparation of painting.
WEDNESDAY- Laundry, cleaning, etc and now I feel free to devote the end of the week to painting!
THURSDAY- Two coats of primer and one top coat- My faithful friend showed up and helped me along and showed up again on Friday morning. I hope I can repay her someday! I bought AnnaMae’s chicken and enjoyed every bite of it. Sometimes we can justify a break in cooking! The girls had a happy, full day at “mommy’s” house. As I finished up painting for the day and depended on hubby to watch the girls, I reflected on how truly blessed we are. Yes, living in an RV had challenges and my patience and perseverance was tested many times over, but we had life and health and family. What more could we need? My three- year old rushed in excitedly and said, “Mom, we found flowers for you!” As every mom knows, these are the pearls amongst all the daily sacrifices, the tired mornings, and the peace amidst the chaos. It is but for a short little season.
FRIDAY- It was a little hard to drop the girls off this morning. Annika cried and clung to me. I had to decisively leave and not look back.
The painting is finished! I danced a little jig when no one was looking and felt free as a bird. The rest is all the fun stuff.
SATURDAY- We are not moved out but we are changing appearances one step at a time! Nathan put in part of the bedroom floor and by evening we set up our bed and slept in it. Ahhh, the comforts of home!
One evening we took a break and went to the sunflower maze.
September 11- Fall is whizzing by on wings. We are on the way for a load of wood as I write. Life became a little dizzy as we butchered meat birds and chickens and canned tomatoes and worked on the kitchen. At the supper table we looked at each other and said that maybe we can breathe again. The Little One was clingy lately and I suspect a new tooth will make its appearance soon. I called the neighbour lady and borrowed her youngest daughter to give a hand while I made homemade ketchup and finished up laundry. Tomorrow we focus on putting in wood and thus goes another Saturday without working on the house. And this busy season of life continues on. Someday, we will look at the finished project and forget about all the trials that brought us here. It will be worth the wait.
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