The Next Big Thing

I was going back through the blog and I realized, you know, I didn't really get a whole lot done on the house last year. I know I got burned out and was not able to get any time off from work so there were plenty of days I just didn't do crap. Then, there were a couple of men coming around distracting me. Dang men.
So, anyway, I did manage to do the following:
installed and finished more siding/ painted more rafters
installed permanent bath light fixtures
installed permanent bedroom light
installed bath base trim and towel bar
built strawberry bed
cut parking area and built stone wall and steps
waterproofed foundation wall and backfilled
finished stained glass window and installed
built and installed gable vent

See, I just don't feel like that is good progress for a year's time. So, I am determined to make better headway this year and hopefully not get discouraged or burnt out again. Obviously, I would like to finish the whole house this year but who knows what's going to happen. We do have one decent size job starting up in the next month and I have requested to be put back to work. Now, I don't know if I will be because we are about to be flooded with all those guys that have been working on that big job in GA. Since jobs are scarce right now, the men with families could get placed before me. I don't know if they will consider that or not. Daddy Rabbit is the superintendent and he usually likes to work me so I've got that going for me but the general superintendent could step in and override him.
At any rate, my main goals for this year are to:
completely finish siding and painting.
finish grading for back patio area and steps and install at least a partial patio
install permanent cedar posts and stone pilasters for porch shed roof
resolve stained glass problems and permanently install/ trim out
install all finish mill work in bath
finish pantry
finish all drywall in living room and tile wall around gas heater.
build hearth and install mantle

And there are tons of other things; it gets overwhelming. I know a lot of people have said, well, a home is something you work on your whole life and you never really get through etc etc. and I agree with this of course. I will always be working on my place. The discouraging part is that there are some things or parts that must be finished in a timely manner or the house can begin to deteriorate and that is what is so upsetting to me. It's not just that it's taking a long time, it's that I see problems in the near future if some things don't get finished quickly. Like I said, I know a lot of this past year was just me getting discouraged and burnt out. I would like to have time to have a personal life. Maybe go on a vacation or something. I would like to have time to devote to someone besides myself. I want to enjoy my life; not just work constantly.


*Ani Difranco