Saturday, January 17, 2009

It's Finished!!

by Christie Kelley

Oh, how I wish I could say I was talking about my deadline book. But I’m not. I’m referring to the endless remodel. After a year of dust, cold, noise and people everywhere, we are done!

Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t still things to do. My office needs more decorating but right now with a deadline looming, I don’t care if my pictures aren’t hung. That will happen. After the book is finished.

Since I promised you all pictures when I was done, here they are. I thought I’d start with a “before” picture of the outside of the house. This is what it looked like when we bought the place four years ago. We actually bought the house not liking it, but we loved the community. That’s when the remodel idea started.

And here is the new exterior of the house...Yes, it is the same house!

I can say after 4.5 months of living in a 12x14 room with 1 king size bed, 1 queen size bed, 1 twin bed, a table and an entertainment console, it was worth it.
I LOVE my kitchen with two ovens, a big island and gas cooktop. I love the fact that the kids can be in the family room while I'm in the kitchen and I don’t miss a thing.
I love my office with a door!!! I’m sitting in it right now typing this up with a glass of wine on the desk (it’s 7pm on a Friday, I’m entitled).

So we made it. My husband and I are still married to each other. The kids don’t hate us or each other, so I think we survived. Not that is was rosy all the time. Don’t ask me about the week my husband went to St. Lucia with a friend and I was cooking in kitchen with my winter gloves on (true story).

And the biggest compliment of all was from my 16-year-old son, who today was sitting on the couch with the laptop, he turned to me and said, “I really like this room. It’s comfortable.”

If I have to have a point to this blog, I guess it’s that I'm happy to be able to overcome an obstacle. I think we all grew individually and as a family and for that, it was worth the hassles. Watch out, the wine is kicking in. All typos and missing words are definitely the fault of the wine.

My question to you all is, have you ever gone through something you thought was driving you crazy only to find it made you stronger? Any other home remodelers out there?

78 comments:

limecello said...

Hello?

limecello said...

Christie - it's gorgeous! Congratulations! :) It looks like you built a new house almost on top of the old one! And that is a great compliment from your son.
Heh - I feel like I'm going through something crazy now. (Well this year? And dare I even throw prof. school into the mix?) I'm still in the middle of it - but I know it will get done, and then *I'll* be done with it - more importantly. And that will be the best thing ever. A learning experience that may or may not have been worth it, but one that happened. I can't wait!

limecello said...

And... I'm just going to take over comments :P I have to say - third time's a charm, and I'm glad to see finally, my checking the blog at 2:-- am has finally paid off.

Come to meeee GR! He knows I made tons of macaroons from scratch yesterday ;)

Helen said...

Congrats limecello enjoy your day with him

Christie the house is beautiful you should all be proud of yourselves what I would give to have that kitchen it is truly a dream.

We had extensions done about 12 years ago we added a 17ft by 23ft family room a new main bedroom with ensuite and a veranda on the back then had a new kitchen and bathroom done this only took us about 6 months all up and I hated every minute of having workman there and elecrticity off at different times but I am so glad I had it done we all had so much more space and having 4 children in a fairly small house could be a problem at times.

Congrats on the house Christie and I am so looking forward to your next book not long to wait now.

Have Fun
Helen

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

WTG Limecello!!!
3rd or however many times were a charm for you. But then I'd come to your house for freshly made macaroons too! :-)

Congrats Christie! It is BOOO TEE FULL! Glad all the time and effort was worth it.

You asked about something you went through that was a big hassle but made you stronger... Sorry, the only thing that comes to mind at the moment was my divorce! LOL! DEFINITELY made me stronger, and VERY WORTHWHILE!

Cynical AC

limecello said...

lol -AC, I mostly meant I'd stop commenting (at least in a row) my third time, today. :P Certainly I've tried to tempt the GR to my place a number of times before. Glad he was willing to come, considering it was -10 degrees when I got into my car tonight, *cry* which means the windchill was approaching -30.

Fedora said...

Wow, Christie, your new home is absolutely fabulous! And definitely sounds like it was worth the pain--to have a space that your family can enjoy living in together every day! Ah...bliss! ;)

As for something that was worth the pain, hmmm... school? Growing up? Wouldn't do either of those again, but it's nice to be on the other side! Labor? Raising children? My children may very well drive me crazy before they reach adulthood--still praying that it'll have been worth it ;)

Congrats on the GR, Limecello! And yep, I'd come over for fresh homemade macaroons, too!

Natalie Hatch said...

Christie your house looks fab. I love the kitchen. Oh how I'd love a kitchen like that *covet covet*.

Donna MacMeans said...

Christie - I'm in awe. The house is fabulous - so much light! (and it appears well decorated as well) You have fabo taste, my dear!

Something that made you crazy and stronger? First year of marriage, writing with the dream of being published, having kids. Life is full of challenges, isn't it?

Limecello - I'm here shivering with you. A perfect day for baking (and eating) cookies.

Carpathian Queen said...

Hi Christine,

what a gorgeous house!!!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful done!

Well... We're redoing our house too. Last year we got twins, so we needed extra rooms. So with a 5yo, 2 babies and a husband working on the house... you can imagine it was hard sometimes.

But even though it's not finished yet, we're managing.

I even find time to read lol

Gannon Carr said...

Christie, your house is absolutely gorgeous!! Now that's it's behind you, I know you think it was worth all the hassle.

Oh, yes, I've been through many challenging times. My husband retired from the Navy last year after 21 years, and we went through a couple of 6 month deployments, 7 1/2 months apart during Desert Storm, and the last deployment which was a year. The last one kind of clinched the decision to retire. Wearing the mom and dad hat that year was tough! But we all survived, and we are definitely stronger because of it. "I am woman, hear me roar." LOL!

Gannon Carr said...

Congrats on the GR, limecello. Maybe he needs a coat and scarf for the winter. We are freezing here, too. Brrrr.

danie88 said...

first off I have to say the house looks amazing Christie! Definately a big change, but like you said all worth it! :)

Something that drove me crazy but made me stronger?

My parents divorce. It was really hard on all of us especially my younger sister and I. I think what was driving me crazy was all the drama and fighting they did, but it made me stronger in the end.

I know how you feel limecello... it's been in the -30's to -40's here in Minnesota for the past 3 days. :P I'm hoping it warms up soon.

danie88 said...

oh and congrats on grabbing the GR limecello! I'm sure he's gonna stuff himself with macaroons today! :D

Nancy said...

Limecello, congratulations on grabbing the rooster! Watch out for him, though. I'm convinced he had something to do Suz's pizza accident yesterday. Good luck with whatever it is you're going through now.

Christine Wells said...

Hi Christie! Wow, your new home is gorgeous!!! Can i move there, too?

Congratulations on finishing such a mammoth task, I'm so glad you thought it was worth it.

Travel always feels like that for me. I'm not a great traveller but I always feel that my character has been built a little more when I've done it!

I really envy you that office with a door:)

woohoo, Limecello got the rooster!

Nancy said...

Christie, the house is fabulous! I really envy you that kitchen (and the stained glass in your office). I know you must be ecstatic to be finally done with the work and have living space again.

We've done a couple of large remodeling projects, though nothing on this scale. When I was pregnant, we remodeled our kitchen. This may seem insane, but we deemed it preferable to waiting until after the boy was born. The kitchen still met 1934 standards, and all--I do mean all, including the one for the toaster oven--the plugs were at floor level. Looking ahead to having a toddler, we didn't think that was good.

Of course, the cabinets were late, which backed up appliance installation--and I turned out to have gestational diabetes, which meant I needed a protein breakfast daily. The dh cooked it for me on an electric griddle in the dining room, and we ate dinner out, every night for six weeks. Which, of course, added considerably to the cost. It was worth it, though. The kitchen turned out beautifully.

And it's a galley kitchen, 6 x 13 before the cabinets go in. So you see why I envy you that gorgeous kitchen!

We also put a bedroom and a hallway with storage on the back of the house, the 1934 concept of closets not being sufficient for today. The workmen were great and cleaned up after themselves, but I was glad to have them gone and the house to ourselves again anyway.

Congratulations, Christie! No more fleeing the house when you need quiet to write. *g*

Nancy said...

Helen, I envy you that en suite. We didn't have the budget or the space to add a bathroom with our new bedroom.

AC, many people seem to feel this way about their divorces. :-)

Limecello, we don't have a comment limit. And we love participation! BTW, speaking of those macaroons--if the rooster gets a sugar high, how about weaning him so he crashes before he moves to his next host? He can be, er, difficult when he's revved up.

Nancy said...

Fedora, I wouldn't want to grow up again, either. Once was enough for high school, even though it went pretty smoothly for me.

Nancy said...

Donna wrote: First year of marriage, writing with the dream of being published

Ain't it the truth? I like to tell people the quest for publication, with its ups and downs, has built my character (which I think it has, honestly). And now I'm ready to see how it handles successs. *g*

When we were first married, we clashed over the toothpaste. My parents were very strict about squeezing from the bottom so as to get every little bit of paste out of the tube. The dh's parents--not so much. So he squeezes from the middle, and I come behind him and press everything up from the bottom, and we're both happy.

My mom told me the first argument she and my dad had was over whether a baked potato was done.

Nancy said...

Gannon wrote: "I am woman, hear me roar."

I love this song. It fits so many situations. Congratulations on your husband's retirement and on surviving those deployments.

Nancy said...

Danie88, I hope it warms up where you are. I thought it was cold here until I read your post!

Nancy said...

Christine wrote: Travel always feels like that for me. I'm not a great traveller but I always feel that my character has been built a little more when I've done it.

Yes, but you travel to places where you don't speak the language. I've never had the nerve to do that. I would argue that such ventures make you, inherently, a great traveler.

pjpuppymom said...

Christie, what a gorgeous home! Definitely worth all the headaches you've gone through during the remodel. Take a deep breath, pour another glass of wine and enjoy that lovely haven you've created.

pjpuppymom said...

Congrats limecello! Persistence does pay off! Or maybe it's freshly baked macaroons. (grin)

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Several things have come into my life that was terrible to get through but I have most definitely learned to to not sweat the small stuff. There are things worth fighting for and the rest just rolls off my back. AC my second divorce comes to mind as what made me crazy but I was much stronger when I came out the other side.

Christie Kelley said...

Congrats on the GR, limecello!!

Sorry I'm a little later than usual on a Saturday morning. My dh volunteered to take my son on the 6:30 paper route so I let him. I don't usually get the chance to sleep in and with the temperature a not so balmy 5 degrees, I stayed in bed.

Joan said...

Macaroons? Did you say Macaroons, Limecello?

{Chews lip and glances anxiously at the other Banditas and whispers out the side of mouth "Do you remember the OTHER macaroon/GR incident?"}

{Puts on bright smile} Good luck...er, congrats limecello}

Christie your house is gorgeous. The best I've done is have all my rooms painted, replaced a door in my garage and am planning with my tax refund to have my kitchen floor replaced.

But you and your hubby did a great job...want to come do mine?

Christie Kelley said...

Helen, the noise was the worst. Most of the workers were very nice and considerate. Being on my first deadline didn't make it any easier. So I had to choice but to run to the coffee shop and write there.

Caren Crane said...

Limecello, congratulations! Keep the GR warm for us. *g*

Christie, your "new" house looks amazing! I am completely jealous of your kitchen. I may need a tour when we're up your way for conference. ;-)

We woke up this morning to 13 degree F weather, which we DO NOT HAVE in the Piedmont of NC! Naturally, our water pipes were frozen. When I told my husband this, he mumbled something, turned over and went back to sleep. I seethed and went online to see how in the world we were supposed to thaw them when it's supposed to be below freezing for all but an hour or so today.

You can imagine how fast things slid downhill when the dh told me he had no intention of crawling under our house with a hairdryer to thaw the line!

Then he said, "I'm pretty sure the problem is out at the well. I'm going to take that ceramic heater, plug it in and leave it in the housing around the pump. That should fix it."

Still seething at the perceived lack of action (he said it, but I had to prompt him to DO it), I left to take the girls somewhere. When I returned home 40 minutes later, there was an orange extension cord running from our well house and - voila! - water running from the faucets!

So, I had to apologize and tell my husband what a genius he is. *g* We discussed our different methods of handling things and had a laugh about it. Yes, the hard times teach us a lot about ourselves. Not always things we want to know, but important stuff!

Christie Kelley said...

AC, thanks! I've heard that about divorce from several of my friends. At first they were very afraid, but over time, they were so much happier and stronger.

Christie Kelley said...

limecello! -10 degrees is awful. With the windchill it was right about zero during the day here yesterday and just miserable. I think we're warming up to the lower 20s today. Even the river has a coating of ice on it. The seagulls don't seem to mind, they just sit on top of the ice.

Christie Kelley said...

flchen, thanks! I'm with you on all those things. I'm also hoping that if I can get those kids to adulthood it will have been worth it. Only two more years until one is a legal adult.

LindaC said...

Congratulations on your remodel, Christie. I can completely understand what you went through. We built a new house after losing our house to Hurricane Katrina. We lived first in a trailer, then a rental house.
We chose an open floor plan, too, and I love it. The outside of your house is amazing. What a transformation. Enjoy your hard work.

LindaC

Christie Kelley said...

Natalie, it truly is my dream kitchen.

I do have a funny coveting story. In my last house, I had a pewter chandelier that I didn't love but it came with the house. My neighbor loved my chandelier. I actually liked hers better than mine so I suggested we have our husbands switch them out. So they did.

Christie Kelley said...

Donna, I'm far from done with the decorating. All of my windows have temporary shades that you can buy at Home Depot for $6 a piece. I have no pictures up but my table lamps all arrived yesterday. I love them. They're all tiffany style and they look great in the house.

Christie Kelley said...

Carpathian Queen, my hat is off to you. I just don't think I could have done a big remodel with young children. Mine were 10 and 15 when we started so it was more of an adventure for them. Young ones don't understand.

Good luck with the project. It will be worth it when you're done!

Christie Kelley said...

Gannon, being an armed forces wife is so difficult. With the housing market in such awful shape, I know wives who are staying put and not transfering with their husbands because they can't sell their houses without losing a lot of money.

I know how hard it is when my husband is gone for a week traveling. I could't imagine 6 months.

Although, I have to say that some of the strongest women I know are armed forces wives.

Christie Kelley said...

danie88, divorce is hard on everyone. I'm glad you feel it made you stronger when your parents divorced.

Good luck staying warm!

pjpuppymom said...

The hardest thing I've ever been through was my husband's long illness and death. We lived an emotional roller coaster for five years but, with the support of friends and my faith, I survived and have emerged a much stronger person determined to find happiness and hope in every day I'm given.

Christie, it's ironic that I'm posting this response to *your* blog since you are one of the wonderful people (from our old iVillage board) who helped keep me sane during those five years. I don't think you'll ever know just how much I treasured that lifeline. ((((Hugs))))

Christie Kelley said...

Christine, I think I have room enough for most of my family to visit at the same time (not that they will). So come on over. If you're coming to RWA this year, we can pop over and see how much damage the boys do without me for a week.

And yes, the office door is a godsend. Although, it doesn't seem to stop the kids from coming in.

Christie Kelley said...

Nancy, my dh made all the stained glass pieces in my house. Maybe one day I'll take pictures of them all and blog about it.

I laughed at the 1934 kitchen. I grew up in a house that was built in the 1870s. My father was always doing electrical work in the house--moving outlets, adding outlets. I do remember we had several that were down close to the floor. But back then, the appliances had longer cords than today.

Christie Kelley said...

PJ, I didn't read your comment until after 10am so I think I'll pass on the wine and have a second cup of coffee :)

Christie Kelley said...

Dianna, I'm all about letting things roll off your back. It's just much healthier for you that way.

Gillian Layne said...

Oh my gosh, it is gorgeous! And I was bouncing in my office chair, yelling for hubby to get up here and look at your siding---it's exactly what I was thinking of doing, in a different color, to our house!

We're still in the middle of do-it-yourself renovations. I'm thrilled and thankful hubby can do it, but want it over!

Are those countertops granite? I think granite is beautiful, but I'm scared of the whole "have to seal it" thing.

Christie Kelley said...

Joanie, I'm going to have to pass on coming down and working on your house. Never again! I'll paint but that's it. No more major remodels.

Christie Kelley said...

Caren, we had frozen pipes a couple of times last year before everything was finished. What a pain it was but luckily it never got this cold. I'm quite sure we would have gone to a hotel.

I love your story about different ways of doing things. It's so true.

Christie Kelley said...

Thanks, LindaC. I couldn't imagine what you had to go through. It was hard enough without losing everything.

Christie Kelley said...

PJ, I remember what a difficult time that was for you. I'm glad you're feeling happiness and hope for every day now.

Hugs back to you!

Christie Kelley said...

Gillian, I love the siding but boy was I scared about the color. I just wasn't sure about the green. I'm so glad we did it though.

Granite is super easy. It comes sealed so you don't have do anything to it. I had it in my last house and the installer told me you should have it resealed every 2-3 years. So I called them after 2 years and they told me as long as I was using the once a week cleaner, I wouldn't need to reseal yet. I sealed the tile floors in all the bathrooms and it wasn't difficult. Just messy.

p226 said...

My question to you all is, have you ever gone through something you thought was driving you crazy only to find it made you stronger?

Ahahah, um... yes. Only my whole life.

Military school.

Bootcamp.

Depoyment.

And ... well ... the current crap going on in my life (I'd like to elaborate, but... I just can't) probably fits this model better than anything ever has. In October, I basically had my soul pulled out through my nose, dropped on the floor, and stomped. And what's kind of strange, is that as it lie on the floor bleeding I kind of got to look at it. And as I looked at it there in the dirt and mud, I thought "Um, that's not a very pleasant thing laying there. It's kind of ugly and damaged and unpleasant."

So over the past few months I've had some options. Well, maybe more than options. Maybe the way to look at them is "opportunities." I could go on with my life as I was, which was, well, driving me crazy. I could sit there staring at my soul bleeding on the floor which I KNEW absolutely WAS driving me crazy. Or I could pick myself up, have a long honest look at what's really wrong, and try and fix things. I chose the latter route. And it's absolutely been driving me crazy. But it's also making me stronger. A completely different kind of stronger. It's not the kind of strength that lets you lug a rifle and eighty pounds of gear through the mud to the top of a ridge. It's not the kind of strength that lets you dig a fighting hole on that ridge and stay up all night shivering in the cold looking for movement in the shadows. It's a kind of strength I didn't really know about. I never knew it existed. And the path to that strength has certainly felt like a journey through madness. And what's truly daunting, is that I'm a complete novice at this kind of strength building exercise.

But I'm learning. "Driving me crazy?" Yep. That's an understatement. But I'm already stronger. And I'll be even stronger in the future.

Christie Kelley said...

p226, good luck with your current struggle. It's never easy when you're going through it. But there is always the hope that life will get better.

jo robertson said...

Wheeeee, Christie!! Your home is beautiful. I can't believe it's the same house. How amazing to have a vision and a dream and put them into reality. Congratulations, you deserve it!

Congrats on getting the chook, limecello. Is he gonna freeze or swelter today?

I've never done anything as complicated as remodeling, but I do believe that adversity makes you stronger. My niece's grandson was born without a complete heart and I've seen how the family has pulled together to care for this baby boy until he's old enough for surgery. It's amazing!

Anonymous said...

Christie, the house looks amazing! I second everyone's comments about what a lovely job you've done decorating it as well. I'd have to buy all new furniture if we did a remodel like that. My rag-tag furniture would look absurd in a room that big and beautiful! :-)

Challenges? Well, writing is always a challenge, but such a rewarding one. Submitting and knowing you'll be rejected 90% of the time is a challenge.

Then there was a triathlon I trained for. Took me months to get up to strength for it, and it felt GREAT to cross the finish line.

Now, of course, I can barely run around the block. Snort.

Christie Kelley said...

Jo, thanks on the house compliments.

Best wishes and prayers to your niece's family.

Christie Kelley said...

Thanks, Kirsten! I did have to buy a new sofa for the family room and new living room furniture.

A triathalon?? Really?? I couldn't imagine doing such a thing.

Unknown said...

Congrats Limecello on grabbing that rooster today. I am sure he will eat all of your macaroons today, he likes his treats.

Christy, your house is beautiful, I love it. I would love to have a large house like that. Although I know you thought it would never be finished. I have been there myself.

My husband and I bought a very small house before we where married I am talking small like 575 squire ft. We add about a half a house to it. We built a large family room, bathroom, and laundry room. Then we remodeled all of old part of the house. Made a larger kitchen, and lived in a mess for years. We hired some of the work done but we did alot of the work ourself, so its a wonder we are still married, but I think it made us stronger. If I had it to do over I think I would have just built a new house behind this one and tore the small one down. But we learned a lot during this time.

Joan said...

((Hugs)) to you p226.

I am a FIRM believer that there is a modicum of truth in every "old" saying.

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger". Yep, it does. What a insightful guy you are to be able to see that in the MIDST of your struggle.

The only old saying that I have my doubts about is "The way to a man's heart is through is stomach"

Hasn't proved true for me. I've spent years baking and tempting the latest fellow without success. I've left trails of crumbs all over town and all I've gotten are pigeons and rats, LOL

Anna Campbell said...

Limecello, congratulations on the chook! It's a while since he visited you, isn't it?

Christie, what gorgeous pictures! The house looks amazing! I think you're right - the memory of all the mess and inconvenience will fade and you're left with this wonderful, wonderful place to live in. I had my bathroom renovated once (small beer compared to what you've been through but it was supposed to take ten days and took six weeks, a lot of which I had to live with various friends and in hotels, not a fun period of my life!). But man, did I love that new bathroom!

Congratulations on finally getting it all finished. It looks great!

Christie Kelley said...

Thanks, Anna!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Christie, the house is gorgeous!! I can tell from the pictures where the old house was, but wow, it is remarkably different now! And I love your office. Is that a stain glassed window in the wall behind the desk?

Major congrats on surviving the whole thing!

Christie Kelley said...

Thanks, Suz. It's not a stained glass window but a panel. We have about six of them that my dh made. At some point he'll want to get back into it but really I don't have room for any more!

Caren Crane said...

Christie, if you have spare stained glass panels lying around, I would sacrifice and take them off your hands. *g* I have a couple of stained glass panels that I hang in our windows and I LOVE them.

P226, so sorry to hear about your hard time. They always sneak up on you, don't they? Especially the really hard stuff that comes out of left field and knocks you flat on your arse. Stay strong and have faith! You can always come over here for completely non-serious and often comedic relief. *g*

p226 said...

It's all good Caren. Or will be.

Lots of craziness yet to go, but I'll come out the other end of it stronger. It's already making me stronger.

Today's blog post did serve to remind me that I have to start tearing my basement up. That's going to be SOOOO fun. Not. :D

Leslie said...

Christie - how did you end up with my dream kitchen? lol It is stunning.

We had a bathroom completely remodeled which wouldn't have been bad except it was the week before Thanksgiving and guess who was hosting Thanksgiving dinner? *shakes head* What was I thinking? I was thinking that I wanted, needed a new bathroom. It all worked out, got finished the day before and it turned out beautifully.

Congrats limecello on nabbing the GR!

limecello said...

Hee -thanks everyone! Today we had a "heat wave" - 16 degrees, and it feels like 4. degree outside. Eek! So... I think the GR is going to freeze - but it's ok - he's consoling himself with the macaroons and the pumpkin cookie trifle I made :P

Christie Kelley said...

Thanks, Leslie! I do love my kitchen.

You're not the first one I know who's tried to do a kitchen or bath right before a holiday. As I've said before--never again!

Nancy said...

Christie, I am all in favor of sleeping in on Saturday. I usually do.

I hope you'll share your stained glass someday. I really love it. This is the last room in the house to have no work done on it yet (and it may wait until the boy finishes school), and I hope to have a hanging stained glass piece for the window by the computer.

An 1870 kitchen, huh? Wow! One of the things that moved us to begin was that, thanks to the short cord and lack of cabinets/counters, the toaster oven was on the bottom shelf of a butcher block table, about a foot off the floor--so not good with a toddler!

Caren, this is the first time in years the high hasn't broken 32 in this area. I'm so sorry about your pipes but glad it all worked out well.

Nancy said...

PJ, I'm sorry you and your husband had such a difficult time. I admire your positive attitude coming out of a loss like that. I'm not sure I could do as well.

Nancy said...

p226, that sounds very difficult. I wish you all the best with it.

Nancy said...

Kirsten--a triathlon? Wow! That's quite an achievement. So is hanging in there through the 90% rejections. You go, bandita!

Nancy said...

Virginia, your remodeling project sounds like a huge trial. Relocating plumbing is never easy. I would've liked to have a bigger kitchen, but it wasn't in the budget.

Nancy said...

Leslie, when I was in high school, my father broke one of our two toilets on Christmas Eve. We were expecting 13 more people for dinner the next day.

He was pouring the "old" water from the dog's terra cotta dish into the toilet when the dish slipped. Terra cotta apparently beats porcelain under the right conditions.

We heard this loud crash. Then Daddy came into the room, shook his head a couple of times, looking really, seriously annoyed, and turned away. Mom said, "What happened?"

He just shook his head and disappeared, so she followed him. Then "Oh, no," came out of the bathroom, which led my sister and me to investigate.

Two hours later, and the plumber would've been closed. In that, at least, we were lucky. We had two working toilets for the family gathering.

Trish Milburn said...

Christie, your new remodel is beautiful! Definitely worth the wait. Okay, party at Christie's house! :)

Louisa Cornell said...

Late getting on as I spent an HOUR this AM arguing with my internet provider. They said I canceled my service, I said I didn't. They wanted me to pay to reinstate my service, I threatened them with bodily harm and voodoo curses and they saw the error of their ways!

Christie I LOVE your house! The transformation is AMAZING! The house is so light and airy. I can see why your son said it is comfortable. Congrats!

limecello, keep the feathered one warm. It was 16 degrees here in Alabama this morning. EEEEEEK!!

Writing my first book nearly drove me crazy, writing my second book made me certifiable and once I finish those revisions and move on the third book I am certain the men with the butterfly net and the coat that fastens in the back will be here immediately.

However, I got to go to San Francisco, meet the Banditas and act like a real author for a week so, yes the craziness was worth it!

There have been some opera roles I have learned that I was certain would make me nuts before it was over - Lucia di Lammermoor and Lulu come to mind. (Actually both of those characters WERE nuts, but that is beside the point.) They were well worth the craziness.

Keira Soleore said...

I'm so not a remodeler. I lack the imagination and the guts. I have to see what I'm getting. And the hassle? No way. So...Christie, I'm all admiration that the five of you did it and lived to tell the rosy tale.

And how I love your office!!! The size, the colors, the windows. Is your furniture custom-made? Do you have a larger picture I could perhaps see? Thanks.

Limecello, great nabbing.

Keira Soleore said...

Louisa, was the Lammermoor role where you had your hair stepped on?

Louisa Cornell said...

No, Keira, that was the Othello role - Desdemona - where he knelt on my hair while strangling me and I told him if he did it again I would neuter him! The hair was sewn to my actual hair and when he caught it with his knee I thought he was going to pull my hair AND the weave out by the roots. It's hard enough to sing a death scene on your back with your head hanging over a couch without some guy trying to scalp you!