Removing the kitchen

Here are my friends that have decided I need help... :)  And we appreciate it more than words can express.  I always enjoyed fixing things and building things with Dad and the family growing up... I hope my kids learn to enjoy it too..  As we discussed the best parts about fixing things we all seemed to agree that using a hammer to dismantle something is a very liberating experience... even for us girls.  Its the only time we get to "ruin" something... and we cant get in trouble! 

So far we have removed most all of the paintable wallpaper that needed to be removed in the "great room" and the hall way.  We have started in the back room and have removed shelves from the middle room.  The kitchen is about empty.  Here is a picture of what the new cabinets/drawers will look like.  I have never had any cabinets this nice so I am ver excited about the kitchen...

All the carpet is out now except the front room.  I have other things in there like new carpet and pad..lol  I will begin in there tomorrow... but the back room is coming along as well...

Our other neighbors I have known for 18 years now.  We joke about following each other from town to town.  At one point 18 years ago I owned a cleaning business.  They still own the carpet cleaning and janitorial business.  We referred clients back and forth alot back then... They came in and worked their magic today for odor removal.  The blowers are going and it smells a whole lot better! 

KILZ is a great product!  We have 5 gallons but I think I may end up buying more...  My friend in charge says we will put it on the floors, walls and some of the ceiling... then we will paint over it.  :)  Once all the wallpaper is off, and all the tacks are out of the floors... we will begin the paint journey...
I do have to say I am enjoying this... through the tired and shoulder pain that is relentless... We said this is our last adventure... so why not go out with a bang!  lol   and to a place I know we will enjoy and with people I absolutely adore!!!

The inside... prepics

All I can say is I have about the best friends in the whole world.  And I know I have the best new neighbors!  They are truly a blessing!!!  Things have been extremely busy packing up the old place and dismantling buildings and getting ready for the huge haul in the next few weeks.  I have thrown my hands up and pretty much let my friends take over for me.  I am so tired and so overwhelmed that I appreciate each and every one of them.  My new neighbor and closest friend here in the valley has taken me the last three days to a place called "Habitat for Humanity REstore".  Its all the contracters leftovers... and she has found an entire kitchen for $500.00.  cabinets, counter tops, sink and faucet...Carpets remnants for $35.00.  Linoleum for $20.00... so needless to say, she is a true blessing!  I am only posting pictures we took of the inside so when she is done you can see the immense transformation.  While she is busy with the inside and I am still packing and moving critters and still trying to squeeze in soccer games and choir concerts, her wonderful husband has mowed a path through the garden area to the gate we share... and he brings coffee and cookies! I see a long and eventful friendship forming... and am very honored to have them so close. 
so here is the inside...

So the inside is in need.  I will post pics as we go along I hope... I forget the camera alot...




On a positive note, the rabbits are hung, and here are pictures of their new surroundings.  Still work to be done there as well, but they are "home"...

One they are hung we screw in the top wire so they dont move.  If they sway at all we attach another small chain to the bottom to hold it in place.  We have left extra wire on the front, I didnt have time to muck the stall... and so we will be able to lower them soon, when I have the floor cleared out.  I still need to wall up the hole there and put in a back wall and put one in front of Rosie there.  She is a full size Rex...  that will block that side from wind.  We will wall up the other side with the fryers as well to block wind and then eventually put up a door.  :)  All in good time... all in good time! 
Tomorrow starts the 2 weeks time frame we have to pull this all off for the inside to be livable for my kids.  More pics to come after the big move... I hope!   :)

Papers signed...escrow closed

Well today was another big step, with closing papers signed and closings costs complete.  Tonight Heather has her Broadway Concert, so we are cramming dinner and getting ready for that...  I hope to help the owners get packed up in the next few days to help them meet their goal of being gone by Wed the 3rd.  Alot to get accomplished, but I think with the help of everyone, it will be. 
Yesterday I dug up all the fruit trees and have them ready to plant over there as soon as the weather clears and Russ and I decide where the new orchard will be.  I also took over a load of herbs to get the herb garden ready once we decide where its going to go.  lol  Thank goodness we had lots of pots!
I'll try to take pics tomorrow... the travel trailer is there awaiting our arrival.  I know my older kids will probably hate me forever making them stay in the travel trailer for 4-6 weeks in the winter.  That's my guesstimate of how long it will take to get the trailer ready for us.  
Hopefully I can get measurements of rooms in the trailer tomorrow and get the rabbits hung in the pole barn there.  A friend is coming on Sunday to dismantle the rabbitry.  Other friends will be here Sa to dismantle the chicken coops.  Lets hope the weather isn't as wet as it has been today, and we meet our goals throughout this upcoming weekend.  
Should be an eventful night watching our up and coming singers perform.  I think we need the distraction with so much on our plate. 

Let the Clean up begin

We have our work cut out for us as we take over our first load.    A lot of it is just general clean up. 
Immediate projects include:  putting the skirting around the trailer, gutters hung before winter, yard fenced for chickens.  Clean up as much stuff as possible before the rain and snow get to be to much. 

Positive sides of the property include the "Barn"... a decent shop for Russ.  The garden area is already fenced (although it needs some work too) and the greenhouse is up and ready to be cleaned.  A good winter project!  There are apple trees, cherry trees, plum trees, and filbert bushes.  Two English walnut trees, grapevines (like I know how to prune grape vines?) and herbs in... the asparagus area will need to be moved, but they are in.  I will just add ours once its moved.


I will try to take pictures as we go... and beings I am new to "blogging"...  you will have to endure my pathetic posts... 

  As you can see, we have taken on a tremendous project in making this 2.6 acre parcel home... :)  Lots to clean and lots to keep us occupied for years to come!