I Want to Clean?

I haven't scrapped for weeks.  Not since before I went to the lake, and even then it was frantically trying to put quick pages together so that I had some new lake layouts to show my family. What gives?  I don't even want to.  Normally I can't wait to get to my laptop during Zoë's nap time and after she goes to bed.  Now... not so much.

Now I want to clean.

What is up with that?  I want to clean?  Clearly I have problems.  Actually, let me clarify that.  The house is clean. (Our house cleaners came last Thursday and are coming again in two weeks. SWEET!)  What I have been doing is organizing, decluttering, cleaning the disaster that is my office, planning and cooking meals for my family (from scratch!), keeping up with laundry... It is frightening.

I may know why this is happening.  Remember a while back I mentioned that we wanted to move back into the city?  Well, we are now in the process of getting our house market ready.  Not that we are rushing to buy a new house, but we want ours to be ready just in case.  Our house isn't in terrible condition but there are a few things that need to be taken care of.

Exhibit A: The kitchen

It's not terrible, but I don't like it.  The counter top needs to be replaced because I burned a hole in it last year when I left a candle burning over night. (Oopsie).  The floor now needs to be replaced since it was ruined while we were in Spokane last month.  I didn't tell you about that either, did I?  Our house sitter didn't realize that the water taps on our water cooler were child-proofed and broke the nozzle.  He also didn't realize that when he broke the nozzle it caused the entire five gallons of water in the cooler to drain on to the floor.  Lovely.  I wasn't even mad about it because I hate that floor anyway.

Enter our new contractor, Randy.  Randy had some great suggestions for us.  We are replacing the cheap counter top with granite, replacing the hideous back splash with something more appealing, covering up the chalkboard with bead board and buying a new stainless steel stove and microwave to match the fridge and dish washer.  Then (yes, there is more) we are replacing the floor and extending it past the kitchen/dining area to cover the entire room. 

Randy is also replacing the vanities in our bathrooms.  The counter tops specifically.  He is not only a contractor, he owns a granite company.  I was planning on using Squak Mountain Stone for all of our counter tops, but he changed my mind.  How?  We can have any granite remnants Randy has for free.  We simply pay for fabrication and installation.  Otherwise the granite would just be thrown away.  We are getting a great deal AND recycling (and you know what a nut I am about recycling).  I am pretty excited.  I'll tell you about my trip to the granite yard with Zoë another day....That is a post in itself.

So, long story short (well, I think it may be too late for that) I am on a house cleaning-furniture buying mission.  Kelly and I were planning to put hardwood floors through out our townhouse but decided instead to invest in some good quality furniture that will show off our home that we can also take with us when we leave.  I cannot even tell you how many hours I have spent looking at furniture. We have chosen a new dining room table and chairs. Now I am on the hunt for bedroom furniture.  I have had the same furniture since I was eight.  It is time to upgrade. I'm almost thirty for goodness sakes!

Before I go, here are some of the lake layouts I was telling you about.  There are five or so more quick pages, but it takes no talent at all to insert pictures into them so I'm not posting those.

Comments

[jayne]

Hey stranger!!!!

Have you taken your temp. to see if you are delirious with fever? I can't imagine wanting to clean before scrapping....I get the HAVING to but not WANTING! LOL

As for the counter...although it has a burn in it, be happy you have one and one that's in a house...you could have burned the house down with that candle! YIKES woman! LOL

Love ya!

[grammie]

Thank you for the great Priest Lake pictures.. I'm sure one or two will make into Aunt Mary's collages on her 'wall of history' in the cabin! I absolutely LOVE the page of Ryan an Uncle Mark ~ you couldn't have phrased their relationship better ~ 2 peas in a pod!!
It makes me sad to think that you will be covering up the chalk board in the kitchen ~ it was such a clever idea!