Decisions, Decisions

Dear Diary,

The packing has begun once more.  The task seems overwhelming. Invited and offered help is greatly appreciated.  But…it’s difficult to “hand over” some of the work to other  well-meaning family and friends.  They don’t know what to keep or  what to toss. And how they pack may  not protect the “valuables”, regardless of their sentimental price.  The urge to move everything out is ever present but simply impossible.

We are about to hit the “remodeling trail”.  I say about because the contract has not been signed – simple as it may be. The contract is very necessary and I’m beginning to wonder just what “demands” I should put in to protect myself.  We have been talking about this project for years.  Literally.  Since hubby did not want to do business with family, the best builder in town had to be passed over.  The search for the next-best builder took months of research. Once he was found, the talks began, the plans were drawn and re-drawn and somewhere in all of that, both parties came to think that the other  was not really interested in completing the dang thing.  And then he died. Cancer. And we were lost in the aftermath. The “silent” business partner who took over could not find any plans.  And so we started over – looking for a builder and revising the plan.   Along came Tim, the guy with a beautiful tenor  voice who sings in choir  with us.  Hubby feels good about him. For the most part, I do, too. 

The plan keeps the basic structure of the house intact. The major changes come inside with walls added and walls removed. A new entrance into the kitchen and converting a door  to a full length window. I’m insisting on “my” French doors from the den to the patio. In the den, please remove all the built-ins and don’t add any more as they limit what I can and want to do with furniture arrangements.  Give me a real diningroom! And for heaven sakes, make the office private with only one entryway.

Flooring (laminate, ceramic tile, carpet), paint (interior, exterior, trim), counter tops (so many brands), cabinets (wood but must be stained light), sinks, new stove….

…decisions, decisions.

~Susie