Right now our kitchen is torn apart and we are knee-deep sawdust. Apparently there is a difference between a ‘remodel’ and a ‘renovation’. A ‘remodel’ means changing the existing structure to be completely different from the original (think, tearing down walls, permits, contractors). ’Renovation’ sounds more exciting but really just means changing your existing stuff to look different (think: cheaper).
To save money on this renovation, we are doing nearly everything ourselves. First we ripped out the old tile, quite literally… I never realized how much prying and actual ripping was involved in removing tile. Yesterday we laid new counters. New sink goes in today. New tile goes up tomorrow. Then new cabinets get constructed, painted, hung. Then lighting. Then floors sanded and refinished.
It’s a change I’ve wanted to make ever since we moved in to this house ten years ago, but then life happened. So much life. Ten years ago our sons were 3 and 2 and they were very busy little guys. At that time, we were still trying unsuccessfully at having a third child. I didn’t know then, but I was suffering from postpartum depression from a recent late-term miscarriage. Then foster care, then many, many foster babies and a few adoptions. Life kept marching on at high speed.
We find ourselves right now in an unfamiliar place: our sons are 13 and 12, very capable young men. And we are in the midst of a global pandemic that prohibits most activities outside the home. And so we are stuck in our home with nothing but time, a little extra money thanks to Mark’s job, and many able hands to help. And so we ripped out the tile. Soon we will have new shiny surfaces on which to make our quarantine sourdough and banana bread.
Autumn's Writing 