Over the last two years, my plans for this property have evolved at least a dozen times. I stopped telling y’all, “Here’s the new plan” after around the third iteration. I decided it would be better to move forward with whatever work I could accomplish until the storm that kept tossing my life in different directions passed and I felt confident that my plan was a PLAN. At some point in the last year at least part of my “plan” solidified and I’ve been working toward that goal. I realized after my last post that I never shared that goal with you. The face I’m making in the below photo was captured by my camera on a tripod taking a picture every 30 seconds. I’m pretty sure that expression lives on my face 80% of the time while I work because I’m choreographing a dance that jumps from phase 1 of project 12 in room 6 to phase 4 of project 3 in room 2…and so on. March is quickly approaching and that is the deadline for my new, new, new, new Plan!
The Plan
Wes and I are moving into the main floor of the residential portion of the Lodge. Then we will rent out the house that we’ve been living in. Back in October when we made these arrangements with our future renters, March seemed like a really feasible date for having the kitchen, pantry, laundry room, and one bedroom and bathroom completed so we could move in. I’m not sure how complete anything will be by March 1 but we’re working really hard to get as much as we can as close to done as we can. Pretty much every day I say to someone (or just myself), “I’m getting too old to work this hard”!
Also, I think I still plan on having B&B guests at some point. The second floor of the residential area has two suites that I planned on using for that. I’m going to have to have lens replacements in both eyes. That will require me to take some recovery time so I’m just focusing on March for right now.
Halway Finished Pantry
I started building the pantry cabinets while waiting for the fasteners I needed to build the final kitchen project. After being sent the wrong fasteners twice, I was too deep into the pantry to divert my brain energy back to the kitchen so that last project is still on the to-do list.
My mentees are super competent and proving to be very helpful! They come at least once a week and help me cross quite a bit off my lists.
Living Room
I’m not hoping to have the living room completed before March but the bookcase wall is something that has been in progress for a while because it’s something I can have helpers work on when they are here and I’m not able to teach/guide them through a new skill.
Bathroom and Bedroom
We literally JUST started working on our bathroom. Most of this was done in the last three days. Wes and I installed GoBoard and waterproofed inside the shower while Traci mudded the drywall on the outside.
For now, the bedroom is where we’re setting up the tile saw. There’s not too much to do in there beside install doors and floors. Outside that it’s just bringing in furniture so I’m not worried about that room. Even if we don’t get doors up right away.
Laundry Room
The laundry room is pretty small so not much needed to do in this room I do need to order appliances so the floors do need to get done asap. I had Traci help me prep and level and that’s as far as that room has come along.
Kitchen
The last project needed in the kitchen was building a suspended ceiling to hold a flush ceiling mount range hood. I procrastinated this project for a long time because it was one I had to basically invent. It felt really daunting so I searched and searched online for a glimmer of a starting point. I mulled over lots of possibilities until, eventually I came up with an idea that I felt confident enough in to use as a base for a plan and trusted that I would figure the rest out as I went. I won’t tell you any more about the suspended ceiling project until the hood is successfully installed. That is scheduled for this Wednesday so cross your fingers it doesn’t all come crashing down. I’m 99% positive it’s a good plan but, I mean, do I ever really know? Time will tell.
I was feeling rather good about our progress until writing up this post and now I feel a bit sick in my stomach. That could just be leftover from last night and that second glass of wine though. Wes has been helping out A LOT these last few months and is ready to go finish waterproofing the shower so we can start tiling tomorrow.
I’m getting too old to be working this hard. 🙂 I’m having my first eye surgery in April so I’ll get a little rest then. lol
Jencey says
Sandra,
You are an absolute rockstar. We all deal with aging and it’s one of those things where you balance the energies of your youth with your wisdom of today. Take care of yourself first – your eyes are wicked important.
As for the update – go you and WES! Talk about things shaping up and having mentees to assist. It’s hard not being a one woman shoe but over the years Julie and everyone have stepped in to help and frankly it’s good to have help. Embrace it, we all need it.
It looks great and the plan will come together whatever it is 🤗
Sandra says
I’m very happy NOT to be a one woman show. Having Wes and two other helpers pitching in has been a huge help! I miss having Julie here too but she’s trying to finish her own house and multiple other balancing acts right now. I think I’ve become pretty good at recognizing what is too much for me to try alone over the last 5ish years.(?) The physical reality of aging makes it difficult to ignore. lol
Heather Taylor says
You are AMAZING!
Sandra says
Well thanks. I have to look through my past two years posts to see that I’ve actually accomplished anything.
MikeC (Bladerunner) says
Inspiring to say the least! I really do admire your ambition, work ethic and mentoring of others. Keep up the posting of your progress it is definitely motivating me to continue my home renovation as well (nothing to the scale you are tackling though).
Sandra says
I am really trying to keep y’all updated better but before I know it, several months have passed again. I will keep trying. 🙂
Shelagh Ryan says
I am too old to work even half as hard as you do! I think I discovered your blog when I was researching how to make map drawers… and have loved every minute ever since! Take care!
Sandra says
Thank you so much for following along on this crazy journey. I don’t know how my 90 year old father can still outwork me. I’m sure it’s a mental commitment but I’m just not that badass.
Carrie Dick says
This is awesome! I missed where your lodge is. When u open as a b&b will dogs be welcome? I don’t go anywhere without Tucker Moses Jameson.
Stay focused! 😀 I admire your skills.
Sandra says
That is something I hadn’t thought about. I will have to give it more thought when I don’t need all my brain power focused on the current projects. 🙂 Oh, and we’re in Clinton Tennessee.
Charlene Lyle says
Ha! Boy do I understand!! I’m not doing much in home projects at the moment, but I’m very involved with Habitat for Humanity in my community building houses, on the Board of Directors and a couple of committees. My husband is not at all into this sort of stuff, so I’m the family handywoman. And I just had some minor eye surgery yesterday, so I’m now down for a while, on the construction sites, that is. I’m always behind on housework like mending, ironing, cleaning etc. and I never seem to have enough time for my woodworking & needlework , baking and cooking hobbies either. And “I’m too old to be running myself ragged like this” is my mantra! (I’m sure I’m a lot older than you!) But we keep on going, don’t we? In the end, somehow, it all works out, so chin up sweetie, I’m sure you’ll do just fine!! Best wishes to you!
Sandra says
That’s so awesome that you’re so involved in Habitat for Humanity. I have worked with them in the past and would love to again when I have my head above water in these projects. It will be inconvenient to take multiple weeks off after each surgery but it’s necessary and I’m really looking forward to the visual benefit I hope to see!
Housework, baking and hobbies? I vaguely remember a time when I loved to bake, sew, scrapbook… I hope one day I’ll have some energy for those things again. lol
Barbara H. says
Happy to see this post, understand the revision after revision and sending best hopes for easy, successful eye surgeries.
Sandra says
Thank you so much for all the positive vibes for my surgeries. My vision is getting so bad with my cataracts that I keep (half)joking that I half expect to come back to work with my better eyes and be very disappointed in my work. LOL
Ron Mack says
Happy New Year Sandra & Wes. Thank you for the update. Everything is looking good. I will pray your eye surgery goes well in April. Be safe, take care and God bless.
Sandra says
Thank you very much and Happy New Year to you as well!
Guerrina says
Ah! So glad to get caught up and questions answered with this newsletter! All you’ve done is amazing. Looking forward to all to come!
Sandra says
Thanks to you for asking the question in my last update. I appreciate all your comments and support!
Mason Leskowitz says
It looks SOOOOO good! Keep up the amazing work!!
Did I miss where you decided to rent out your main house?
Sandra says
This was the post where I updated ya’ll on that decision. LOL We decided it at some point in the last year (or two- they’ve just melted together in my memory).
Stanley C Pearse says
I was so EXCITED the other day to see your newsletter hit my inbox. I echo the other comments above and just wish I lived closer to help you all out. I totally get the issue of getting “side tracked.” Between working on our two homes, the property, loosing our 23 year old son, setting up one of the homes as an Airbnb, my wife’s health issues, completing projects, etc., etc. One day my 360 square foot shop will get completed. LOL!
Sandra says
These last few years it seems like “life happening” is really slowing down the projects. Sometimes I just put one foot in front of the other and ‘step”, hoping it’s in the right direction. There were many points in the last two years where I wasn’t sure I was moving toward a goal I wanted – but I kept hoping. LOL Hang in there, Stan.