March 18, 2025

 It all came about innocently enough. Retirement had prompted us to think a bit farther into the future, with things we think we may need in addition to changes we've wanted. One thing that was forefront was updating our main bath. This began last spring.

We found a company with an estimate we felt reasonable, made our choices for the walk-in shower and the materials. It only took the tech two days to demo and install, with Randy and I doing the finish work. The painting went well enough, but there was old beadboard to replace. That began what we agreed, in the end, would be our last DIY together. Between his frustration and my anxiety, it might have been a better idea to have had someone else do it. The bath is perfect, however.

That led to me deciding my office needed a refresh, so a purge and reorganize was added to a fresh coat of paint.

From there, the spare rooms suddenly appeared a bit worn. We emptied both rooms, and I painted the walls and ceiling in both. Colorwashing has become, to me, the only way to go, especially after seeing the new bath awash in the same color. More pitching and shuffling happening with all new bedding completing those projects.

Not to be outdone, our bedroom benefited from a fresh application, ceiling and all. The organizing in that room never ends! But, the little half bath looked out of place, so it followed the trend of a good roll, a better cabinet, and a very satisfied user.

Over Christmas, when we figured things were about as "done" as they could be, we booked a trip to Ireland for May, then settled in for the rest of winter.

Honestly, I never saw the next thing coming. During a visit to Menard's, I noticed a great idea for the laundry area in our kitchen...which led to wondering what it would run to replace the cupboards in our 1970's original kitchen...leading to measurements...to Menard's to price cabinets with plans to DIY.  Then we remembered the bathroom and our promise to each other...ending with a local contractor giving us a fabulous estimate to do it for us, with custom cabinets. Whew!

We wanted to do the demo, figuring we could take our time, do it in increments. And, it's worked well! We have only the floor and one short run of cupboards to tear out, the one with the sink.

However, it's left me itchy, waiting. The disarray. My word given to be patient. In an effort to cope with the contents of my kitchen boxed and piled in a corner of the dining room, I decided to paint the living room ceiling.

I'm not going to go on. Suffice to say, now my walls are next...then the dining room when the kitchen is done. There hasn't been this much upheaval since we moved in all those years ago!

If you give a mouse a cookie...