Not that newsworthy...

I live in a mini house. It is a cottage. The top photo is Charlie on our love seat recliner that we inherited nearly 20 years ago. His toys are strewn in that little hallway that leads into the other 'half' of the house. That is the kitchen/dining area that actually has a nice plank floor on it. 

The living area has old carpeting in it. It is nasty, dusty, and of course it has been through more than one puppy if you get my drift. When we remodeled, it was supposed to be pulled out and replaced. Hubby said he'd do it.

The photo with my feet in it is a sample of the new flooring I am finally winning approval for. I brought home samples of linoleum flooring that looks like wood planking. Frankly, I do like the planking on the kitchen floor but this cushy flooring I have as a sample is the same as what is in my bathroom. It is CUSHY! There is a huge difference in the feel of it when I walk across the planking vs the bathroom floor.

Personally I found some awesome 'rock' looking flooring but hubby wanted something that looked like wood.

I had several samples and he picked the old reddish barnwood flooring look. I agree, it is the better choice.

I was told that I didn't want sheet flooring, it would look stupid. But I expect since I will hire an expert to put it in, it will look nice. Bonus points for the fact that the flooring people will remove and dispose of the old rug and underlayment. Sure it will cost me, but I've been saving for it. 

Once that dusty old carpet is removed, I will be very happy. A stick vacuum and a mop will be easier.. well, I think.

AND!

He agreed to go with me to look at a replacement for the loveseat. Yep, my house is too tiny to have a full couch. At once time I wished to have a day bed. But I like putting my feet up at the end of the day. Plus it can only measure something like 67 inches to fit where I want it.

The very last project I want to do internally is put up floorboard trim. However that is not a hot issue. 

My outdoor work is continuing.

Pulling Burdock and chopping down Elderberry bushes that have taken over like crazy.

These nasty yet tasty things grow everywhere and by midsummer completely shade the grass out.

The shoots look harmless enough, but they grow by seed and extend by root shoots. They are less harmful than the Buckthorn but just as hard to get rid of.

So I work with a reciprocating saw and pull the shoots as they appear all year long.

It is a constant battle and eventually I will give up when I am older or no longer have equine.

In the photo below there is an Elderberry shoot with its LONG root extended next to a regular sized rake. Just wow....

And here is a section I have worked on now for almost two years to keep clear.

And this is why I do it.

Lazy bums!

The elder mule Fred with Mica who has breathing and heart issues. They are so happy to be with the others right now.

So there it is. 

Not very news worthy, but my week so far.

I will take the rest of the week off from hacking, chopping, piling, and burning.

There is a trail calling my name in KVR.

Behold the Heater!

The new heater was delivered 3 weeks ago. We unboxed it and hubby admired it for a few days at it sat silently in its box.

Why not?
The day temps were in the 80's and it was warm out!

We walked around the heater in the living room, stepped around it...hubby actually unpacked it and got out the instructions.

And there it sat.
And sat.

Hubby read the instructions and has been easing his way into this job.

He's done this before. 

But I think there is a certain amount of admiring to do that has to be done before you can actually install this thing. I think it says that in the instruction booklet. 

"Let heater sit on the floor and walk around it for at least 30 days or until the wife gets angry...or it gets cold outside and the heater becomes necessary. Then said parties will be more appreciative of said heater."

Hmmm. That means that temperatures of 40 degrees at night and day time temperatures of...60 will make the house feel pretty cool inside.
However I must say that with the new siding and insulation the house stays fairly temperate.

Though last night when we went to bed the temperature was 59 degrees in the house.

I stared hard and long at the heater. I even knelt next to it and begged it to warm me up.

Today I'm going to build a shrine around it and gather wood to make a campfire on the new kitchen floor if I get cold.

Hint.
Sweet hubby.
Time to install the heater!

Remodel!

Hopefully it isn't too late in the season to start the remodel project, we finally got our closing date!

I know that Kurt had said we'd have to wait until spring for the front porch cement to be poured.  I just hope that it isn't going to be too late in the year for the other work to be done.

I know I am looking forward to that new porch.  It will be so nice to sit on it in the mornings and have coffee while watching over the critters.

In truth I'm probably letting my imagination get ahead of me here.

I'm looking forward to a new entry way also.  Hard to imagine what the finished part of it will look like.

Okay, probably not this either.

We will close on the financing this coming week.  It seemed to take forever.

I will be following this remodel with updates and photography [of course] as it goes along on The Little House Remodel blog.  Yes, a little blog about a little house getting a face lift and addition.

I'll get a link put on the sidebar for anyone who wants to visit things once we get rolling along.

Of course I will eventually have a real kitchen to work in.  Wow, can you imagine?  If you've ever been in my kitchen ... if it can be called that, you know it is beyond tiny.

Gosh, what a disappointment that you cannot ask for a kitchen to be built that actually comes with chefs.

Alas, I'll still be doing the cooking.

I plan on designing some things myself.  Oh no, not structure things! Goodness, I couldn't hammer a nail straight at all!

I've got some things in mind for designing my own shower curtains, window treatments, and bedspread.

I am working on an idea for a computer space that will not take up the room it does now.

We'll be getting a complete makeover which includes a new roof, new siding, new windows, and new flooring. Oh yes and a larger bathroom!

Nothing too fancy of course.

Alas there goes my imagination again!

Now if some magical fairy would come in and wave their wand over the poor collapsed garage, our place would look awesome.

But the garage is yet another project.  I think we'll have to look at that mess for a while yet.

Well there you go, as long as Kurt [Crooked Creek Construction] says he can do it, we are on....

Let's hope for a very mild December!

Hello Spring!

These shots were taken just a few days ago.  With the onset of warm temperatures lately, the snow is just about gone except in those areas where the sun rarely shines.

In the far eastern part of the valley is a dry run that had blue ice earlier this year, I got back to it a couple of days ago.

The sun's angle has changed and the ice is beginning to melt here.  However, most of the valley was without snow.
Everything was brown.

Although I still can find places I feel are beautiful.  I love this tree which stands over the 'hard' turn of the creek.

The sudden thaw always creates a few issues regarding gravel roads and even some more issues with gravel/dirt driveways.
Here is a shot of my neighbor's driveway.
He uses this sign each year and props it up with a kid's plastic picnic table.

The Grammar Cop in me wants to take a red marker and correct the word "Muddey".
However it makes the sign a bit more fun.
Especially the Call Me part which can't be seen unless you get out and pick up the sign!

Lastly, I created a separate blog for the house remodel.

This spring after the road bans have lifted, our cottage or Little House is getting a huge facelift.

I'm going to make it a photo project and update things that we do and the contractor does.  
It isn't going to be a how to do it yourself blog...no way!  I would not attempt to put on new roofing, drill through concrete to put in plumbing, nor try to excavate...

Anyway, I may refer to updates once in a while here so anyone who wants to follow it can.

The Little House Remodel 

It promises to be a great and crazy journey.