Home remodel goes eXtreme!

As most of you know Nate and I (and the kids- a tiny tiny bit) have been working to update our new home. We have lived here about 7 months now and have tortured ourselves with the constant upheaval a home remodel makes.

As if moving itself is not enough.

We started immediately with the remodel of the kids rooms. In case you have not seen them. Here they are:

  

[Casi's purple teen room. Complete with "Always climb higher" sign, Edward figure (even though she is not a "twilight junkie" :), cool painted pin board, a comfy reading chair and light, a floating night stand, swirly-green-shear 70's curtains, and fun swirly/stripped blankets and pillows.]

[Tanners "lava" colored room. With a lava play cave, skull "danger" sign, cool fire light, red and black bedding, and black magnet paint strip that goes around the entire room to hang his paper creations on.]

We then tried to stop ourselves. We even took a "break". But in the end, we found ourselves at home depot. Again. Making plans. Making dreams.

Phase two of our home remodel started with the purchase of dark, wide plank, hand scrapped maple floors for the entry, dining room, and kitchen. But to do that we needed to change the walls and railing. Creating more work. So much work. Sheetrock work.  Mud  work. Dirty. Dirty. Dirty work. Here is are the before/after shots. Note the changes in the back wall.

An almost final project!

Note: the paint cans in the background, the stairs still need to be finished, and we want to refinish all of the beams with refurbished barn wood.

This photo shows off the first table Nate and I ever bought (this comment brings back memories of the spool we used to have. Anyone remember that stage? Anyone?)

The best thing about this table is we bought it on KSL. Used. Ok there are many reasons to be excited.

I am so excited because:

 a) Its a Lofgrens table - I love Lofgrens!

b) Its dark and round

c) The chairs are way cute and cOmFY!

d) It can expand to 100 inches and seat 12 people  (Nate's request. Nate is a GREAT cook!If you haven't had  Nate's cooking. Its not too late! We will invite you over! And we could do it too. We can seat 12 people!)

e) It was only $550 (I did not even barter the price. I always barter the price but, it was a steal)

f) the lady we purchased it from was adorable and I think a bit sad to see it go. A purchase is always better from someone who is a cute person. Right?

(I am also excited because Nate just sold the light above the table on KSL. Which means, I get to buy a NEW one!)

We have also added this shelf:

To help separate the living room from the dining room.

Which makes me wonder where my big box of shelf shit is? I still can not find it from the move. Not that I had much shelf shit. Oh well, I would rather fill the whole thing up with books anyways.  And books are NOT shelf shit. At least not in my home. 

So all of this huge ramble is actually an introduction to the most amazing story. About me. An introduction to the main characters mindset. To help you  understand why. Why I would do such a thing. And most importantly, why I think it was the "most fun thing I did in weeks!"

So lets set the stage: It was a weekday. The kids are on the way to bed. A huge, yellow wall looms over. Still needing a second coat. A ladder  A HUGE and dirty ladder is in the middle of the home. Driving me crazy with its imposing -ness. I am SO close to being finished with these 7 months of work.

JUST NEED TO FINISH THE PAINTING!

The sceen starts to swirl. We go back to the past. A distant memory where Nate gives a warning:

"Do not climb the ladder unless someone is holding it"

Creepy music plays in the background and we return to the present understanding its warning.

I climb the ladder and start painting. Casi comes in. I look to her and tell her sarcastically not to tell daddy on me. She heads off to bed.

I continue to paint. Bucket of yellow paint in one had. Paint brush in the other. Up. Down. Move the ladder. Up down. Move the ladder. This continues until...

I climbed the ladder for the last time. Once I am at the top, I reach up to the wall. Placing the roller and rolling it down 6 inches. When suddenly, I feel the ladder move and I know I am going to fall.

The ladder removes itself and I fall.

Down.
(This is the first fall, since bungee jumping, where I actually FELT the fall. Perhaps, Nate can estimate the distance.)

I feel the balls of my feet slam on the floor, my knees bend all the way to the ground, my hips catch what is left. my tail bone hits the ladder,  and I lay down to the floor.

The  kids run in asking "are you OK!"

I respond with "Wow! That was a rush!" (and it was)

Once I cleaned up the mess (of paint, ladder, and me) with shaky hands that only a shot of adrenaline can give. I asked Tanner if he was going to tell on me. He responded with. "Yes, I think I am."

There's a certain slant of light

I feel pent up. Caught. Trapped. 


Nate says I tend to get this way when I don't get out. I think he is right and that is exactly what I need. To go outside. 


It does not help that the Salt Lake Valley has been capped with a lid of visible pollutants. Intensifying the caged feeling I have. I need to get out. Do something physical.  I am my own trap.

Logan, December 26th 2009

There’s a certain Slant of light,

Winter Afternoons —

That oppresses, like the Heft

Of Cathedral Tunes —

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us —

We can find no scar,

But internal difference,

Where the Meanings, are —

None may teach it — Any —

’Tis the Seal Despair —

An imperial affliction

Sent us of the Air —

When it comes, the Landscape listens —

Shadows — hold their breath —

When it goes, ’tis like the Distance

On the look of Death —

Emily Dickinson, There's a certain slant of light

My story: 2010

One of my friends posted this. A beautiful post regarding her story, as she will write it, in 2010. I loved it but I was not going to do it. I have always liked not defining the new year. Instead, I like to see things from a rear view window perspective. Seeing what has happened. What I did "by accident" with out any planning. In some ways, having no plan, is silly but bold.

Another friend posted hers this morning and I started to feel left out. Sometimes thats what it takes. Peer pressure. Eh- besides I dont have anything else to do with my life. Being kicked out of the TV room, not having a book to read, having read ALL the blogs I follow and NOT wanting to search out more blogs.  I am utterly afraid that one more blog will only fuse my reality further in with the internet;  the light of the computer my sun and these blogs my personal friends.  So I thought, rather than do that, perhaps, I will try to write my story. As I would like it to read for 2010. It is a good idea after all and I may like this way of looking into the new year. So here is my story. As I see it. Today. Waiting to be filled in like a paint by number that reality will color.

My 2010 story

My 2010 story will obviously contain story's that reflect on the outside world. An existence of observation. This type of relationship with nature will always be a part of my life. Observing. Enjoying. Loving. Reflecting. But for 2010, I want to "up the anty" by adding a physical element. I have a few ideas in my head. Nothing new, though. Perhaps 2010 will be the year I find this missing detail.

In 2010, my story will include learning to fit into a new place; the Bell Canyon House. A house where my furniture does not fit and seems outdated.  Our daily functions are out of whack, dysfunctional,  and rough; the word "organization" rings loudly in my head. We have already added so much of ourselves to this new  house but it still does not have the "fit" that the Gold  Medal home had, after 9 years of living in it. It is my hope that within  2010 I will see the definition of our Bell Canyon house change to include the word... Home.

In 2010 my kids will  change. Especially Casi,  as she turns from 12 to 13; moving into the world of TEENAGER! Of course, I have been saying she was 13 for at least 6 months. I knew it was coming.  The signs have been there; flashing, Neon, and huge. I have been reading books with Casi. Trying to keep up with her hunger for books is difficult but rewarding. I noticed, that I often have a hard time bonding with the main character; usually female, rebellious, and teenager. Watching in print what I see in my home through a parents perspective can make it hard to relate. I think it hard because in my heart, I know 2010 will be the beginning of a long journey as she discovers her adult self and that for me, it may be a time fraught with moments of trying to hold on. I plan to fight these urges, dismiss any feelings of personal offense,  and hope, instead, to guide and support. I may joke that I will see her again in 2017.

There will be chapters, in my 2010 story, about Tanner.  As he learns new things and then shares them with us. Often to the point of annoyance. His exuberance can be exhausting. Yesterday, this showed in the form of whistling. He brags he "is the second person to learn in his whole class". I smile as I watch his new found talent float about him in nonsensical tunes, announcing his location like a bell on a cat, and driving poor Casi to slam doors. I look forward to being a part of these revelations. Enjoying his passions and energy and discoveries as they often come; in the form of loud obnoxious belching and dreams of making arm pit farts.

The last part of the 2010 story will include my Nate. I often overlook his part in my life. Our lives are so intertwined it is often hard to distinguish his part from mine. Nate has been with me so long it is hard to  imaging my story with out him.  He has played a vital part in who I am today and I look forward to the part he will play as we enter 2010.

Things I overheard: Casi

Having a teenager is hard. I mean really hard. I blame. Me. And my moms curses. I was a hard teenager too. At least that is what she tells me. For, I thought I was fine and she was the deviant. At least, that is what I thought back then. Today. I admit. I was a hard teenager.


So as a parent, on a day when you win a battle, with your teenager, you should celebrate. Because yes. There are winners and losers. And it is, WAR!  So you celebrate. Because, as the parent, you don't get to win. Often. At least this is my experience. Or, at least my perception. Since, I am certain Casi would say otherwise. And probably thinks I am a deviant.


 And it matters because, you want so badly to be successful. Your success being tied to their success. In life. At least that is what her psychiatrist will tell her. As he explains how I screwed up. For I know, I will. Or already have.


But, I have digressed from my true point in this ramble. So when you realize you have had this small victory. You should celebrate. And Today. I choose to celebrate by bragging. 


Me: "The next time you say a negative comment you have to follow it with two positive ones."


Casi: "THAT IS....! (long pause) I guess I will just stop talking."


I won! right? She is such a smart girl.

The world wakes

The day after Christmas, I got together with Ern who was visiting her parents in Logan. I was also, in Logan Richmond Idaho, whatever. The point being, we where only 30 min away from each other and decided to meet. Perhaps, we could scare up some bird life too. 

I left early in the morning, when all but one in the house were sleeping. As Quiet as I could, I stumbled into layers of gear. Expecting the worst from the weather. When I was finally dressed, I headed to the door passing my father-in-law on the way out. He gave me a look that seemed to say "you wont make it 10 minuets" or "you might be bit crazy"... or, perhaps, those were my own thoughts knowing December in Logan is very cold. I started my car and dreamed of coffee while it warmed up. My car registered the outside temperature at 4F. I hoped it would get warmer. It didn't. 

Ern and I meet at Sues ponds a half hour later. It was 0F. After documenting the temperature and noting the frost forming on my hair, we walked down the dirt road that splits the small preserve in half. The world was white with fog and the layers of frost and snow. It was incredibly beautiful. Serene. Tranquil. We invaded the silence, with the crunch of footsteps and quiet chatter. 

I longed to be quiescent with this sleeping world. My mind silenced by place; the bitterness of cold, the visual weight and depth created by fog, the purity of white, and the scarcity of life. A passive and frigid world of  ice, fierceness and peace, sleep and silence, exquisite artistry, and penetrating coldness. Soon the cold has its effect and we move on to a new location, Hoping our car heaters will warm us up before the next stop.

As we reach the next stop, at a small pond along a major road in Logan,  the sun starts to break the fog, turns the world a golden hue,  and initiates the awakening of the world around us. We start to see the subtle movement of feathered life at the back of a pond. Cars drove by. A muskrat slowly swims along the bank. 

We then went to the 20-20 ponds and Starbucks for a mid morning warmer before ending at a cemetery where we are entertained by Golden-crowned Kinglet's, many American Robins, a dog who barked enthusiastically, and a man who recognized our passion and then shared his mothers love for birds. The lowest temperature was -2F and the high was 4F. 

An easy and comfortable fit

Yesterday a friend (Beth) and I went birding at Antelope island. Beth normally resides in Omaha (A word I like to say out loud every chance I get) but she is in town for the holidays and a wedding. I felt lucky that I got to enjoy her company while she was in town.

Beth and I share a passion for Antelope Island, so when she comes into town we usually agree its the place we would like to go. Following our traditions, I picked her up at the 2600 exit in Bountiful after filling my cup with HOMEMADE CHAI (thats right Ern, its back!!!!). We then drive to the island. The car filled with our constant chatter as we describe our lives, what our kids are up to, what makes us happy and fulfilled. We can even talk politics and religion; her opinion although different than mine always compliments how I feel. I  think, Beth and I talk best when driving and I blame carpooling to the University of Utah for three years. Making it an easy and comfortable fit.

As expected, the Island was quite. A white fog filled the sky, meeting the white-coated earth at some undetectable point. We saw a few birds and a coyote as we drove in. Most notable though, was what we did not see; gulls.

As we entered the island, we opted to break tradition and go to the ranger station. Noting the gang of chuckars in the rocks just north of the ranger station and seeing a rock wren just before entering the building. Some things never change. We wandered the ranger station, noting new books on the shelfs, checking out the brine shrimp tank,  enjoying the local artists photographs that line the wall, and speaking to the ranger about any recent and fun bird sightings. We then headed to the Ranch.

On the drive, we saw a pair of flickers and an accipiter in a riparian area, a few bison grazed and horned larks flitted at the road side. The coolest thing we saw was a porcupine sitting in a tree. ( I did not take any pictures this trip.... so I drew a picture of what it looked like.) Cool huh!

This sighting got me thinking about porcupines and so I did a little research. The porcupine we saw was the North American Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum. Described as a large rodent ( I would have added "pooky" before rodent.) that lies in Alaska, Canada, and much of the northern and western contiguous United states. It is also said to be common in Utah but this is the first time I have ever seen one. Another interesting thing I read is that "the quills usually lay flat against the body unless the porcupine suspects danger". As you can see in my wonderful drawing the quills in the porcupine, we saw, were raised. Which makes me wonder, were Beth and I in danger of being quilled?

After watching the porcupine do a whole lot of nothing, we drove on to the ranch. The ranch is a huge riparian area with a fresh water spring that attracts many song birds. At the spring we saw Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, and many American Goldfinch's who must have had social bath time; they were all wet and puffy and preening like mad. We also saw 5-6 Virgina rails wandering in the open spring.  Seeing so many rails in an open area, without fear of us watching them a short distance away (5 ft) is a bit odd. Rails, in general, are quite abundant but are rarely seen.

Overall the day was perfect and my only regret (if I need to have one) is not taking any photos. Course, sometimes its nice to enjoy the scenery without the pains of trying to capture it. Plus, not having a photo of the way cool porcupine allowed me to hone my Photoshop skills. YeeaaaH!

Happy New year; 2010!

To celebrate the new year, Nate, the kids, and I went downtown. Here is our night of celebration in bullet point form.

•  I took 150 terrible pictures. 
• Casi purchased and wore a pink, flashing, bunny ears.
• We witnessed a female snowboarder break... something. 
• Tanner found a balloon, gave it a name, and carried it around like a baby.
• Casi and I saw a concert and danced like we had no cares.
• Sadly, we never found the exhibit where the melting of 100,000 marshmallows was to take place. It would have been so cool!
• People twirled fire while we Ohh'd! and Ahh'd!
• We ate at Market Street. The kids had drinks bigger than their heads, Nate drank something pink, we ate very large shrimp, clam chowder, and seared Ahi. The kids enjoyed it all.
• Someone commented on how warm it was...three times.
• We went home at 10 pm, after finding out that planetarium was sold out and we were too cold to go on.
• The last hour was spent at home with hot chocolate, a fire, friends, and games.
• We went outside to vocalize our excitement for the new year and heard our neighbors.
• Tanner energetically banged a pot until the spatula broke.