I've been working on decorating my home a lot, but I've also felt very happy with what I already have. There are a few things I want to do differently--I want a new dining room table, and some new bookshelves. But I have a very old reclining couch from my grandparent's, and I'm not getting… Continue reading What home feels like
Measuring
I was installing trim on my windows. I tried measuring with a measuring tape, but it was not working out right. So I gave up on measuring completely. I cut a piece of trim long, held it up to where it needed to be, and then marked with a pencil where I needed to cut.… Continue reading Measuring
Stone on Stone
Therefore, when we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will… Continue reading Stone on Stone
Dreams
Everything I wanted in my house: 4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSeparate living room and family roomsSmaller bedrooms; bigger living spaceLaundry room in my bathroomDetached garagedLarge yard with gardenLarge windowsBrightCats, dogs, chickensSomewhere with neighborsQuietWalk to schoolsClean I have watching HGTV for a long time. I loved watching people design homes and look for homes and renovate homes. I… Continue reading Dreams
To Grandmother’s House We Go
When I was young, we usually drove up Provo Canyon to go to Grandma Jane's house. When I was older, we went up through Salt Lake more often. I was never quite sure how to get there, only that each moment of the drive was familiar. When I finally drove up there by myself, I… Continue reading To Grandmother’s House We Go
How to Build a Loft
We have a bedroom that is somewhere between 7.5 feet and 8 feet wide (the walls are not parallel) and around 17 feet long. It's a good size bedroom, but a little longer and less wider than normal. With such a narrow space, it was the perfect opportunity for a built-in loft. When I came… Continue reading How to Build a Loft
The First $50,000
Do you want to know how much renovating a house costs? Way more than you think it would. Here's a breakdown of how we've managed to spend over $50,000. All figures are approximated. *Roof: $22,000Doors & windows: $7,000*Back wall: $6,000Tools: $3,000Siding: $2,000Paperwork: $2,000Trailer: $1,500Odds and Ends: $1,000*Grading: $1,000*Water system update: $900*Pellet stove update: $700Kitchen: $500Plumbing:… Continue reading The First $50,000
Leaving
At the end of 2018, I was fighting with my husband often. We would see each other every other weekend, and mostly I was home alone with my kids. My oldest was in second grade. My son was in part-day kindergarten. I had my two small ones home all the time with with me, and… Continue reading Leaving
Exterior: Before and After
How We Got This House
I assumed we wouldn't live in Utah again. We lived in Nevada and Wyoming and while I wanted to go back home, at times I didn't think we would be able to. Jobs didn't may enough and housing was too expensive anyway. And then my husband got a job at Dead Horse Point State Park.… Continue reading How We Got This House