Set backs and Updates

Called the power company today. I have a city street light in my back yard...yes back yard, that I have to pay to keep on $10/mo. I'm having the light cover replaced and the trees trimmed around the wires. We'll see how long that takes to get done.

My contractor backed out, Brian Robinson. His prices were really good but he had issues with another project he is on and can't get to me until mid-January. I can't wait that long.

The yard is a mess but the shed will be put up this week sometime if the weather cooperates.

Seth and I are leaving to go out of town to Bellingham, WA to see Jennifer, Lorrie, and Mom for Christmas. I had hoped to have the closets going by the time I left.

Part of the process.

The wall in the living room kitchen is nearly down. The wood is gorgeous. I'll add pictures below soon.

NOT MUCH PROGRESS

Well, I have only gotten one person to come over and give me an estimate. Either the job is too big or too small, I can't read the contractors.
The Shed-
Jonathan Dudley and his son will be building the shed next week. The shed will be 10 x12 with 8' sides and 9' peak. The squat rack should fit on the back wall with room to get the plates on.

Down payment $1000
Final Payment $1550

I'm feeling a little panicky because I have had some quality time to get things done but just can't get commitments from people.

Margie came over to help me get organized and make some decisions but I still feel overwhelmed.

Here are my plans so far in order of importance:

MASTER BEDROOM:

• CLOSET 1
•  Header raised
• New doors 96" tall x <24" wide, 5 PANEL doors. The space is 45" so I have to figure out how to cut the doors down to size. Margie wants me to go ahead and buy the doors. But now I discover there are "solid" and solid doors. I know, right. The "solid ones are filled with foam and can't be sized easily. The solid doors are very expensive. 
• CLOSET 2
•  has a top and bottom so we are making it all one closet. 
• New door 96" tall x ?? wide, 5 PANEL doors. Again the width is an unusual distance.
• Paint-REPOSE GRAY

The tall doors will be grand though and will allow me to have access to the top of the closet more easily.

And MOVE ALL MY STUFF FROM STORAGE!!

GUEST BEDROOM

• CLOSET 
• Header Rasied
• Doors??

LIVING ROOM

• Paint -REPOSE GRAY
• Fireplace Shiplap top
• Change Tile
• Paint Fireplace-ALABASTER

DINING ROOM

• Paint-DARKER GRAY

GUEST BEDROOM CLOSET

• Header Raised to 80"
• Closet Rebuilt

GET ALL MY FRIGGIN' STUFF MOVED IN 

Then work on the back of the house

Guest Bedroom with Bathroom:

• Rip off bead board
• ??Cut the drywall at the bottom
• ??Replace the drywall
• Paint whole wall-REPOSE GRAY
• Paint the drywall same color as shiplap
• Apply Shiplap
• Rip up carpet
• New Wood Floor

GUEST BEDROOM with CLOSET

Half Bathroom

• Paint drywall with same color as shiplap
• Paint walls-REPOSE GRAY
• Apply Shiplap

Making My Lists

Spent two days at the house measuring room sizes and deciding what needs to done.  I have my 8 priorities:
1. Closets opening are really short so I want them heightened and then have the closets professionally finished for storage. There’s one in the MBR and one in Guest room.
2. Guest bedroom floors -laminate wood
3. Kitchen countertops, backsplash replaced
4. Cutout between kitchen and Livingroom to add a small
5. Guest Half Bath fixed up
6. Replace wainscotting
7. Outdoor lights
8.

I hope to get a $8000 grant to get a new roof through UAB

The work begins

Here's my TO DO List now that the house is my responsibility.

Homestead Filing
Tax Assessor
Hoover Courthouse

Turn on Water-Bham
Turn on Electricity-Spire
Turn on Gas-Alagasco
Turn on Charter Internet

Home Insurance - State Farm

HVAC Service-B&B Heating and Cooling
Safe Deposit Box Transfer to new bank

Cancel Post Office Box-what a pain that was. If you don't have a permanent address/mailing address there are several things you can't do. I had to use my son's address as my permanent address. His homeless mom is living with him LOL. I could barely get a PO Box without a home address. That one didn't make sense to me. If you are truly homeless, how can you receive mail?

Termite Bond
Pest Control
Lawn Service
Find a Contractor for the repairs and remodeling

Shed??

I bought a house

I'm freaking out and my head is spinning. I bought a house on southside. I don't think I could have found an older one either. Mom will be thrilled. 1901. She insisted I find a new build. Wasn't in the cards. Every house I put an offer on (4 to be exact) got swooped out from under me with a better offer.

1901 and it needs a little TLC. I met Emily the former owner at closing. So sweet and it seems like she really loves the house. I invited her to come back anytime and see it at any time. I'm really going to make the changes as soon as I can and then enjoy it. I want to blog my journey to it's revitalization. I pray God has a protective shield around the house. I really can't afford for anything to go wrong so I can make some money on it when I sell it one day. Or God may plan on me staying in it for awhile.

So, since I sold my house at 2564 Chandalar Lane in Pelham AL I have stayed at my coworkers house for about 3 weeks total. The rest of the time (5 months)  I have been couch surfing in my office while sneaking my dachshund Little Bit into my office against my buildings policy of no pets. Day care is $175 for 10 days. This is not bad but I have been paying $475 for all my "STUFF" to sit in storage and trying to save up to be able to buy new furniture and fix up a new house.

Margie Beth Shaw and Bonnie Cornelius have been with me through the whole process. I know there have been some they wanted me to buy that I just wasn't ready for. There have also been some that I really wanted that they steered me away from. All along, I have really tried to trust God in this decision. Where does he want me? I have had this desire to live close to UAB and be part of the southside atmosphere again. I used to live on 16th Ave South when I first came to UAB. I lived in Dr. Hilyer's top floor remodeled attic. I had my own entrance, close to work, had my own space, and cheap. Once I met Harvey it was all suburban life. We bought the Pelham house in 1993-94. I lived in the house until Seth finished his freshman year of college. I just couldn't keep up with all the yard work, the 2400 sq feet, and I've honestly just had enough with the drive.

If I've made a mistake, Lord please help me finish the updates, make the house beautiful for someone else and then let it go.