I promise I’m only going to show this photo about ten more times. And then maybe I’ll stop.
There’s been so much more hurry up and wait in our lives, that this photo has become a happy moment I wish to preserve in my memory. A symbol of future hope and stuff. In fact, I’m basically just showing this photo to myself again, so I can pump myself up like a good pep talk in the mirror.
Before I go take a nap.
Because if you remember from a few weeks ago, we shared an update before the basement was completely framed out… we only had a little more to go in said framing department.
And a few of our plans for the space…
Which have already changed a little because that’s what happens when you have a over a year and then lots of pressure to hurry up and wait again. It gives you plenty of time to think.
But it was time for another update today, so we thought we’d share what we’ve been up to in the Money Pit.
Because true to form and life and everything it can throw at you… let’s just say that Harvey, or the remains of what was Harvey that hit Nashville, was not our friend.
We’re dealing with it in the responsible way, and taking care of it correctly. Just like the rest of the house, we’re proactively dealing with things. Which means the basement came to a small pause. Which was fine, because we’re technically waiting on electricians for said basement, because Nashville.
Adulting is just so much fun. We’ll be glad we took care of this one. Said crawlspace {which hasn’t been touched since 1976} has been taken care of with the whole encapsulation thing, the entire space sealed, a dehumidifier and sump pump installed.
Technically, when the crawlspace is complete, I will crawl up in there and document it with photos. I’ll have a crawl space tour. I’ll decorate it and stuff. Probably some clown photos on the walls to cozy it up for the clown that definitely lives in there.
On the outside we dug around the foundation, sealed it and looked for any cracks, {we found a big 3 inch hole where the water line hits the house – thanks 1976 builder} while also installing more drainage in our yard as another line of defense, along with jacking up some of the extra concrete that just doesn’t need to hang around. Puddles and stuff.
Basically, the whole nine yards with a two-part defense system installed correctly so water flows away from the house. Forever. The end.
At least we’re taking care of it now. We’re grateful.
Fast forward a few days later, where, the second thing happened. {The second in bad things happening in threes, you know} because it’s time for new tires. Tada! This seems minor, so we assumed the third thing was the fact that we also need to repair a tear in our car’s leather upholstery. Wheee. First world probs.
This wasn’t fun, because we’re dropping thousands on our crawlspace/necessary prevention issues, in the middle of a rehab that we’ve already dropped thousands on, and new tires and a tear in the upholstery deem themselves necessary but not at the very top of the let’s-bleed-out-money list.
Call me crazy. Give me a week to breathe.
And right after that… two days later, the just-in-case {remember the one where I didn’t want to drop thousands on our car which was actually just the second thing?} came in the form of something ridiculously comical.
I had a wreck. I was party to a collision.
In my driveway.
Let’s just say people speed ridiculously on our street, and I was being over-the-top careful so I’m still not even sure what happened. Said offending party never used their brakes. Never tried to swerve. Didn’t even stop until they arrived at the next street, three houses down {our homes sit on acre lots so that was pretty far}. I was hit so hard, my truck was moved in my own driveway. The entire twelve inches of which I had exited. I’m kind of obsessively paranoid so the irony wasn’t lost on me. It was just one of those things.
In retrospect, my children will drive trucks since ours barely had a dent, and the offending party’s car was nearly totaled.
Sometimes life literally throws you lemons. I guess we were overdue to make some lemonade. Or something else clever that’s supposed to make us all feel better, here.
Silver lining myself back to the basement: {And It’s like eating crow for sure here} If septic had let us finish this basement a year ago, {codes are ridiculous here and we’ve waited over a year to move forward} this entire doing-the-crawlspace-right fun wouldn’t have been too pretty for us.
I know right?
I’m cringing as I write this because on top of waiting a year, I now get to eat crow over said waiting and subsequent complaining. I can’t win. Also, all of these things are materialistic and I think it goes hand in hand with the fact that our health is fine, so there’s always that.
Stuff happens. It’s important to be grateful.
But that’s a little update for you on our series of unfortunate events. Long overly dramatic story aside, the basement is completely framed out and ready to go.
While I write this, we’re waiting on electricians and inspections, and then from there, we can do insulation and drywall.
Those giant death traps of metal garage doors were taken to the recycling bin, and you can see how the windows and door will be framed out. Coming soon!
The old Frankenstein wiring in the basement will be coming down, and we’re making plans for light and plug placement. Seems so little but we’re getting excited.
It may not look like it at all, but we are making progress!
All while taking deep breaths, and reminding ourselves that we purchased this house for the yard and location. Because we’re ready to get off the hamster wheel of rehabs in our own house for a while.
Hopefully, we’ll be back soon with some real updates that actually look like updates. And some outside changes because we have a lot of that coming your way! Especially that crawlspace tour. I know you’re waiting with baited breath to see what’s actually under there! ::Cue Jamin with plans to crawl underneath with a body cam so he can place clown photos::
When it rains. Hurray for updates, even the necessary kind you can’t see.
Have an inspired day!
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Laura says
Sorry you hit so many snags – and that your car was hit! But glad, in the long run, it is getting done right!
Have a very lemonade drinking day!
Jenna says
When it rains it really does pour- can’t wait to see what you do!
Bonnie says
I’m really glad that you are ok after being hit in your own driveway. I know the forthcoming updates will be great!!
Angela says
I feel your pain! We just started a large addition to our house. We had to hurry up and buy all the materials in one weekend because of the hurricanes. OSB was going out of stock so fast. Then, yesterday we got a letter from the IRS saying there was a mistake on our 2015 taxes and we owe more money. Also, I think my suv is going to die any day. Yay Adulting!!!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Oh BOOOOOO! Hang in there Angela.