Tuesday, March 29, 2011

happy birthday to...me!

i guess it hasn't sunk in yet that i've reached another one of those decade milestones.  i'm not sure what turning 60 is supposed to feel like.  can't say that i feel any different, except maybe more of an urgency to keep pressing on towards the high calling that Christ has on my life.  i fall so short everyday of what i want to be, but keep gettin' back up and dustin' myself off.  i'm reminded today of 2 of my favorite movies.  one is 'man of honor' and the other is 'the last samurai'.  they are such an inspiration to me.  both portray individuals that just won't give up inspite of every conceivable road block thrown in their path.  i especially love the scene where tom cruise is getting the crap beat out of him and doesn't have enough sense to just stay on the ground.  some might say i'm bull headed and stubborn...maybe rightfully so.  but i try to distinguish between the nay sayer's in my life and those who know and see my passion, caution me, and then cheer me on.  someday i won't be able to do the things i love to do, so for now, i'll just keep pushing myself.  my grandmother always said i went at everything like i was killing snakes.  so...this decade is dedicated to you, miss clara.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

it just needs lipstick...

yesterday we signed a contract trading our house for an historical building in scenic downtown victor, co.  i'm so excited i can barely keep my feet on the ground.  while restoring old structures is not new to us, this will be our biggest challenge ever.  eventually it will house our new business, 'marigold mercantile' in the front and our home in the back half of the building. 


this is the side door that lead to a loading dock for the original store known as 'gardner's mercantile', circa 1899.  the building was land locked from the rear due a small inconvenience known as a 'gold mine'!  the mine has long been closed up and property resurveyed to include the back part of property.  my husband has always loved to dig...so here's his chance...go for it, honey!



this is a shot of the floor joists in the basement.  evidently years ago, the roof collapsed due to snow load.  the weight of the snow also slammed through the floor leaving a huge snow ball in the basement that took 2 years to thaw out.  the floor and joists have been repaired, but evidence of the damage remains.  



just the thought of removing the plaster to expose the original brick really gets my adreneline pumping!  this is an area in the back of the building that will become our dwelling.  i already have plans on what to do with this and the matching bricked up window casements.  work begins mid june, 2011.  check back in to see how we're doing!




Tuesday, March 8, 2011

ready to roll...

although this looks like a motor home...it's actually a uhaul in disguise.  it was packed top to bottom, front to back with 2 months of southwest junk shopping.  tables, chairs, trunks and other furniture filled the inside with just enough room for driver.  when we arrived in colorado and started unloading, we could almost feel the neighbors eyes peering out at us and comparing us to the little circus clown cars that are packed with everything but a kitchen sink.


so, no room for hitch hikers!  i love all forms of galvanized vessels, and especially this one!  it is filled with new burlap bags that will become the ceiling once we start store renovations.  in contemplating how to finish off the ceiling 'on a dime' i came across about 100 burlap bags at a yard sale for a total of $2...problem solved!




and who needs an expensive bike rack when you can turn a metal work table over and bungy cord all the bikes to it?  we only had to leave 1 table and another work bench behind to be picked up next winter.  i forgot to take a picture of my car pulling our cargo trailer...all equally packed.  after a 16 hour drive, we arrived safely in victor.  the only problem i had was keeping up with my husband who seemed to find his comfort zone at around 75-80 mph. 

thank you Lord, for a safe trip, no flat tires...and no speeding tickets!