Valuable Adventure
A couple that I know are finishing off their basement. Baby is on the way and their house is going to be for family soon and not just couple. In order to finish the construction before baby T's arrival, they hired a contractor to do the work for them. I was visiting this weekend, consulting on some decorating ideas, and it occurred to me how different their experience right now is from ours.
We have been redoing our stone-age kitchen. While planning a wedding, it has been our top priority to save funds. So we have been doing much of the work ourselves. At times it is frustrating because in an old house nothing is standard, everything takes eighty five years to do, and it tough to do a good job while also choosing inexpensive updates. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not our family house, that there will be other kitchens in my future. For a short while this weekend, I felt like I wanted someone who knew what they were doing to be doing all the work for us. Wouldn't it be nice if something were just being done without all the time, energy, and worry?
Tonight, I had a change of heart. What have I been thinking? I like working on the house- all its unique features included. There are many reasons why. First, I am learning so much! Last night I learned how to use a miter saw (funner than fun! even though that is not a word), I also attached some baseboard in the kitchen with a pneumatic finishing nail gun that was attached to a compressor (scary how dangerous, but exciting to be able to do something so fast!). I now know how to install a sink and counter top, to caulk, and to refinish cabinets. Second, the pride that I feel when I see what OUR hard work is doing is immeasurable. It gives more soul to the house we live in. Finally, it has been marvelous doing all of this with Jff. It is fun to see what we are each good at when it comes to this construction stuff and to know that we could do this again in the future . (Jff is really good at this and, no surprise here, is really resourceful.)
So, one day I may contract, but for now I am proud of what my hands can do. It has been the most valuable type of adventure, all within my own home.
We have been redoing our stone-age kitchen. While planning a wedding, it has been our top priority to save funds. So we have been doing much of the work ourselves. At times it is frustrating because in an old house nothing is standard, everything takes eighty five years to do, and it tough to do a good job while also choosing inexpensive updates. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not our family house, that there will be other kitchens in my future. For a short while this weekend, I felt like I wanted someone who knew what they were doing to be doing all the work for us. Wouldn't it be nice if something were just being done without all the time, energy, and worry?
Tonight, I had a change of heart. What have I been thinking? I like working on the house- all its unique features included. There are many reasons why. First, I am learning so much! Last night I learned how to use a miter saw (funner than fun! even though that is not a word), I also attached some baseboard in the kitchen with a pneumatic finishing nail gun that was attached to a compressor (scary how dangerous, but exciting to be able to do something so fast!). I now know how to install a sink and counter top, to caulk, and to refinish cabinets. Second, the pride that I feel when I see what OUR hard work is doing is immeasurable. It gives more soul to the house we live in. Finally, it has been marvelous doing all of this with Jff. It is fun to see what we are each good at when it comes to this construction stuff and to know that we could do this again in the future . (Jff is really good at this and, no surprise here, is really resourceful.)
So, one day I may contract, but for now I am proud of what my hands can do. It has been the most valuable type of adventure, all within my own home.
posted by KLOU | 6:23 PM
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