The Shed Notebook: Ten Lessons Learned From The Remodel

We started a remodel project on our house on April 25th. As of yesterday, it is winding down and we are working to put the house back together. I had never been through a remodel before, but I did learn some important lessons through the process.
1. You can survive without a shower every day. You can even survive without a shower every three days.
2. Having a toilet in your house is overrated. We managed one whole night sneaking outside and "watering"  the lawn.
3. A human CAN sleep through hammering, drilling and pounding. I have mastered it very well in the six weeks.
4. The dogs did survive not being with us every waking moment of the day. They started enjoying the backyard together.  They also enjoyed playing tug a war with two bench cushions. The cushions didn't survive.
5. It is possible to enjoy healthy dinners without a stove/oven. It helps to have restaurants close by in a pinch though.
6. Our cats can also sleep through hammering, drilling, and pounding. Our cats could sleep through an earthquake.
7. When purchasing a vanity for the bathroom, don't rely on looks only. Our very beautiful vanity only gave us about an inch to squeeze by to the toilet. It had to go back. Darn, I loved that vanity.
8. Having a mirror is overrated also. We both survived with only one hand mirror during the remodel. I didn't scare anyone when I went to the store so I guess I looked somewhat presentable.
9. You have a perfect excuse to not clean house during a remodel. Why dust when more dust will fly?
10. The whole process is so worth it. We could live with the inconvience.
Photos soon!

I'm Enough

"After all those years as a woman hearing 'not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not this enough, not that enough,' almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought, 'I'm enough."
                                                                                                   Anna Quindlen

I have stumbled across this quote numerous times in my travels. I have also read many essays by Anna Quindlen and when she puts words to paper, it makes sense. I have worked hard for four months to reach a goal of wellness. Because of constant pain from arthritis, I knew I needed knee replacement surgery. I have a wise surgeon that could have just operated on my knee and set me up failure. He didn't . He gave me a list of goals I needed to accomplish. I needed to lose weight, do physical therapy, and wear knee braces.
I have reach my goal weight, but I have accomplished enough for the surgery. When I heard him say, "You are motivated and have a positive attitude" I knew then that I'm enough! 

Daily Peace: The Most Beautiful People

" The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Above are a few of those beautiful people in my life.
From top left clockwise: Grandma Woolum with sister Carol, Uncle Bob West and Mom, Dad, Uncle Bob, Aunt Lila, Grandma West, Mom