January 1 - 11, 2022
Tombstone, Arizona
If 2021 taught me anything it's that I have to stop waiting for life to return to how it was before. Before politics revealed a level of ugliness I didn't realize existed in this country. Before a two month pandemic became a two year battle to save us from ourselves. Before campground reservations became such a challenge for certain areas and dates.
Alas, this is life. Right now, and likely for years to come. Disappointed and discouraged is not how I want to live it. Either is frustrated and angry. Trying to fit 2022 into a box from the past (trying to think of a year that was actually without its own issues) even sounds silly. So I'm attempting to look forward to this new year with no expectations. It's an opportunity to do things differently, to accept what's changed.
You may need to remind me of this attempt as the months unfold!
It was Labor Day when we arrived back in Tombstone to deal with our "SUV-crashed-into-the-house" incident.
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| Shocking to see our fireplace destroyed, a wall knocked down, the front door out of its frame. |
New Years comes and we're "almost" done. Baseboards are replaced around the new fireplace, painting is touched up, the carpet installers are due on the 5th. It's all coming together!!
And then....
Our contractor has COVID. Our carpet installers call off at the last minute. We've moved all the electronics to the kitchen, drawers from the dressers, lamps and other items from furniture tops, the shower is full of all the wall art - so we're not happy about the delay. A delay that ends up being three days :-(
I pick up the paint brush and finish the baseboards, and the dining room wall. Bill covers the holes in the bedroom floors with sheet metal where the old AC vents were. We camp out in our living room, move the wall art out and then back into the shower.
The flooring company works with us, contacts me each day so I'm not wondering "when????", and their crew of two shows up 30 minutes early on Saturday following the promised phone call with their expected time. And they bust ass from moving all our furniture, to vacuuming the beautiful final installation. We're soooo happy with the results!
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| This gets old real fast. |
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| Very excited to see the final step getting done. |
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| So nice to have thick and soft underfoot - and the color looks just how I hoped. |
Putting the living room back together is a lot of fun. I've been dreaming of this for months, having a whole house again is a big deal!
A couple new furniture pieces, lamps, throw rug, photo frames and ottomans give the space an updated look. Getting rid of the paneling on the long wall really makes a difference. The new bison skull is being painted by our dear friend, and will soon complete the room.
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| Our quaint but dated living room when we moved in. |
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| Welcome to the 21st century! |
10 days pass and our contractor tests negative, feels fine, and paints the new front door - another successful color choice!
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| I always wanted a purple front door and this muted plum turned out great! |
This time of year we don't spend much time on the north side of the house because it's chilly. That's also where the car went through the garage wall which is still boarded up. The destroyed downspout has been replaced, and the new siding is finally due in days. When that wall is replaced, the garage ceiling is stained, and the house front all painted, the rebuild will come to an end.
Gluttons for punishment, we have all the materials to update our main bathroom whenever our contractor can find a few more days for us. It's the project we were preparing for this winter before the forced change of focus. And geeeee, why wouldn't we want some more disruption in the house??
We'll see whether it's a good idea.....
The day after the kids return to California we get a much needed rain storm. Cold and windy, I'm glad we're not having to figure out a place for Rizer and the family isn't making the short trek from the motorhome. Still I wish they didn't live that far away - all of them!
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| It was a good soaking with winds that flipped over chairs and tables. |
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| Grand daughters Penelope and Reese - happy snuggles. |
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| Shhhhh..... |
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| Little Oliver already growing so fast! |
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| Elliott giving Daddy that "look". |
This new variant is definitely more contagious than the preceding virus. We know many who have or have had it, and they all know even more people. Definitely not a time to be in crowds, we're back to limited contact with others. At the same time I'm planning routes and reservations for our upcoming nine months on the road. Optimism at its best :-)
We'll be visiting the remaining five states in the lower 48 that we've missed up until now, as well as adding new places in Michigan and the northeast. I'm excited to get those wheels heading down the long road again!
Your house looks fabulous!! I love that round rug and the plum door! Isn't it fun to take these old, outdated houses and turn them into something we love! And those Elliott eyes--oh my goodness!!
ReplyDeleteI really is so much fun to see it all come together into something new!
DeleteYour opening sentiments are right on....THIS is what we have and THIS is what we need to adjust to. No looking back to when things were different, THIS is now, get on with it! I love the re-do. You'd never know that a car crashed into that house, it looks just lovely and better reflects you. Still, it's a great story to tell around the campfire! It's wonderful that your workers keep in good contact with you about when they're coming and when they're not. I wish our chair people would be that communicative. I have to call and push for information about when they'll arrive. It's only been since May after all.....
ReplyDeleteEvery time I start to whine about a delay.....I think at least we haven't been waiting since May!!
DeleteThe re-do is likely something we would never have considered, but we're sure happy with how it turned out.
The house looks great! May have been a blessing in disguise. Life doesn't go back, it's forward to new challenges.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gaelyn, I think you're right! Hoping to avoid that rear view mirror this year :-)
DeleteWhat a beautiful transformation! Love the front door and the pop of color from the round rug…all wonderful choices! Enjoy and relax!
ReplyDeleteFeet up and enjoying our new space!!
DeleteThink I'm going to copy and paste your first two paragraphs into my journal as motivation to see things through your eyes. So glad to hear you are ALMOST back to normal and maybe even an improved bathroom. Would love to hear about where you plant to stay in Michigan and the northeast. 9 months is a LONG time to be gone but going across the country really does pretty much require that or you spend your entire time driving. Leaving in March-back by December???
ReplyDeleteOh, and where does one buy a Bison skull??? Those are really darling grands you have there.
DeleteWe have to help each other out in the motivation and peace department :-) We're going to spend some time in Kalamazoo to see some family history, then travel the UP for a week or two, then back to Sutton Bay to visit with pals Jim and Diana, then South Higgins Lake to see Darryl and Dawn, then Dearborn for the Henry Ford before east through Canada to Vermont. Haven't decided on route from there to end up in Canton for the NFL Hall of Fame. Our little AZ place was always intended to just be a winter base for fulltimers, and we're hoping to get back to that this year.
DeleteThe weekend-days-only antique store in Bisbee had three beautiful skulls for sale. I was surprised but delighted. Our dear friend is painting it for me.
Perfect opening for how most of us feel. It is what it is. I can only control myself at this point. Thank goodness we love where we live and have lots to do without a crowd. We did cancel our Tucson visit since it involved too many people. We have decided to do a loop tour in March/April of our own state hitting some lesser know towns, ghost towns, and state parks. I'm excited to see what we find. Nevada has lots of history and empty areas. I love seeing the transformation of your living room. While a temporary inconvenience, it turned out to be a nice inexpensive way to renovate. What a dramatic difference in your new room. Awesome purple door!!! Great color. You have the cutest grands. Wow, a nine month trip. Now I need to know more about the plan. Sounds like fun.
ReplyDeleteI always remember that you two "found" a glacier in Nevada!!! So I bet you'll find even more fab places in your home state. I think we've covered every area of Arizona over the years and then I see where someone has visited some place new - sounds like a fun option to check out those spots.
DeleteWe are super happy with our new space, and now anxious to get the bathroom done so the whole house will be how we want it.
We're looking forward to being back on the road - including 6-8 weeks in Michigan. Missed the UP last time so we'll spend some time exploring up there before dropping down to see Jim and Diana.
Wow! You have done a beautiful job and "typical Jodee" you have discovered the sweet secrets of how to be happier in a crazy world -- I knew you were always reflective, a "cut to the chase" woman. Lovely to see it all in action ...may you have lots of peace and happiness right now and for all your days! That re-do is fabulous and shows such a lovely style -- nice job! Cindy
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Cindy, what a lovely comment.
DeleteWe never dreamed we'd have this new space, but we're sure happy with it!
Love how it all came together, Jodee! Tessa blends right in on the carpet. It’s been challenging the past few years, but there are silver linings out there. I haven’t been glutened at a restaurant, as we rarely eat out anymore. Haven’t gotten a cold or the flu, as we wear our masks in stores. That might become a permanent thing for us; they don’t really bother us. Can’t wait to see your new bathroom!
ReplyDeleteWe were just saying the other day that masks will likely be a part of our lives forever now. Can't complain about not getting sick of any kind :-)
DeleteI'm hoping it will be a quick "do" now that we have all the materials!
The remodel looks great and the grandkids adorable as usual. Sounds like exciting trip !
ReplyDeleteLife is good with our new space and those cutie grands! We're ready to see some new places for sure :-)
DeleteI agree, the remodel turned out fantastic! I love the new stone wall and wood mantel. I'm sure the bison head will be the final piece of the puzzle once it's hung :-) Glad you got some rain. California had a whopper of a storm roll through-we could all use it. Your grandkids are getting so big! I can hardly wait to see where the road takes you and Bill :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rene. This was our contractors' first fireplace and I bought all the materials so we're super pleased with how the collaboration turned out :-)
DeleteStunning! Just stunning! Love love love the purple door! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks!!! I'm so, so happy with the door.
DeleteYour first two paragraphs are so wonderfully written and a good reminder of how we can live with grace and joy in these troubled times. Let's keep reminding each other.
ReplyDeleteYour home remodel turned out beautifully! I love your color choices, your gorgeous fireplace, your new decor, and your front door! Our front door in Ashland was a deep plum color. :-) And your trip plans sound fantastic! Wow, nine months on the road! Yay!! I just wish we were going to be in Michigan at the same time.
Of course you had a plum door :-)))) Yes, we must remind each other regularly, it's so easy to wallow otherwise.
DeleteWish we were too!