The Log Splitter

It's been slow around here on the renovating side of things. Branko has been extremely busy at work which has left us with little time to tackle some big jobs we need to get done. We are still expecting about 2 more weeks of work on the dream garage until it will be ready for winter. Meaning we can load it with some belongings without any damage.

On some other exciting news though we picked up a log splitter from my dad. Yes, I know what you are thinking "how is a log splitter exciting" well my friends let me grace you with this picture....

Yes, that above picture is a pile of wood that we have been hoarding. That is 4 dump trucks of wood or 10-15 bush cords. Which ever makes it easier for you to understand the unprecedented amount of wood we need to chop. 

We had to cut down a large amount of trees at the old house to really fix up the landscaping. Then at the new house we had to cut down more trees to make room for the dream garage. Don't worry all you tree huggers, cutting the trees down was a little sad for us as well but it had to be done. Don't forget we are on a tax management forest program to save trees!!

Ok, back to the log splitter. We finally managed to pick it up and bring it home. We tried using it last week but some of the fittings had to be changed so last night we were finally set and ready to go.

Now can I just tell how exciting it is when you realize you just saved $200 in an hour! That is the cost of 1/2 bush cord of chopped wood delivered. 

MORE PURSES, WALLETS, CLOTHES, SHOES.........oh wait Branko reads this.... I totally mean more groceries!!!!! 

Here is the final product ready to be brought to the old house(yes we still have that home) so we have fire wood for the winter.

(that is half a bush cord/$200)

Tell me...Do you have a wood burning fireplace that you use? Do you chop your own wood or do you buy it from somewhere? Would love to hear your thoughts....

Thanksgiving Weekend

We have been blessed with beautiful weather here over the Thanksgiving weekend. It amazes me day in and day out the drive we find to tackle our projects but also incorporate important family time.

This weekend was full of  "Forever Home" projects. We took Friday off and spent the day removing some more of the front deck from the house.

Picture taken Aug 5th, 2012. When we took over this home the windows and doors all had to be upgraded. In the above picture the walk-out basement doors were changed. The upper doors were in the process of being changed from sliders to french doors and new windows. 

Picture taken Oct. 11th, 2013. All of the windows have been replaced making the dining room/bedroom windows much larger for better views. Bushes have all been cut down, siding removed and new plywood put up. Most of the deck removed. 

The plan is for 2 additions at each end of the home, therefore that deck no longer works for the front of the house. A new balcony will be built coming off of the French Doors on the upper floor and a new deck in the back of the house for entertaining purposes. New landscaping will be completed where those bushes once were that will be incorporating large stones and plants. Stone will be added from the lower exterior of the entire house going up to the windows and then siding to the roof.


We also spent a considerable amount of time on the Garage this weekend. We hope we can get the steel roof on within 2 weeks. This will allow us to utilize the garage over the winter. Branko and I together put up 68 sheets of plywood on the walls this weekend.

If you are actually reading this and not just looking at the pictures please please don't think that I am writing this to be a big fat show off....I'm writing this to show every person out there that "when there is a will, there is a way". We could not afford to pay people to build this dream garage/forever home. We knew going into these projects that our very own blood, sweat, and tears would have to be poured into these projects to achieve our dreams. Everyday you just remind yourself to push a little harder, walk a little faster, and dream big about the future.

The plywood above the window was the toughest part, those are 12 ft. ceilings so Branko had to use lots of muscle and a few tricks to get those pieces up. This kid does not get on ladders. 

Next time you start a major project remember that your own capabilities are much more then you could ever imagine.

Don't fret!!!! We had Turkey! 

If I wasn't too busy playing with my niece and filling my face with food I would have taken some pictures of all of the food we ate....ahhhhhhhhhh next year! 

On our drive down to my parents place on Sunday we took the scenic route and came across these entry 

way gates. 

They are made out of wood and not metal! Which we both really LOVE! 

Another close up. 

This is what our entrance looks like now....

I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and same as last year I am again Thankful for our health and our gratitude towards each other.

With that I will leave you with the sunset at the "Forever Home"

10 years

Today I am officially celebrating 10 years at my current job, while this is exciting it is scary at the same time. Is this my ultimate dream job maybe not. It's not to say that I don't enjoy my job, I really do.

BUT

Something happened at work last week that really had me thinking. A co-worker decided to resign from our company after 34 years of service. An email was sent out to the teams advising of her departure and the following day would be her last. She was just 1 year away from retirement and with no reason she decided that she wanted to leave. No fancy retirement party, no penny of the year you started, no letter from the company CEO....nothing. Her closest co-workers scrambled to go out and buy gifts and some food for the next day to ensure she saw how  much she will be missed.

Can you imagine after 34 years coming to one work place day in and day out. All I can hope is that she did not feel alone, that she had nobody to confide her feelings.

This really got me thinking about my dreams and goals. Could I picture myself working for one corporation for that long. What is life like after such a big decision. I have only been here for 10 years and even though that doesn't measure up to anywhere near 34 years I wonder what would it be like not to come to this work place anymore. To see the same faces that you have coffee & lunch breaks, sit in lengthy meetings, go through numerous technology changes, cut backs, weddings, babies, vacations.....you share so much of your life with these people. 

Branko and I have some big dreams that include our forever home renovations, kids, vacations and maybe one day owning our own business. We both love the idea of working for ourselves, that kind of independence is freeing. 

After Blogpodium it was clear that most bloggers walked away with that feeling of I can do better, I can succeed at whatever I set my goals towards. Feelings become more vulnerable. Once you become vulnerable you allow yourself to take that leap that you need. You can read about some really great "I can do better for myself" posts over at Alex,  Becky, and Natasha`s posts. Each of these write ups let me know how myself and so many others are not alone in this race...not just in the blogging world but in real life too. 

For now my blog is a hobby, I wrote about it here the dreams I have for this little space but what I really want to focus on is our life dreams. As crazy as it sounds the blog has really made me realize how much more I can do...from renovating to meeting total strangers.


Where do I want to be in the next 10 years.......I am not 100% sure but what I do know is that this blogging atmosphere and the people that I have met have helped me realize your dreams are attainable and I really do feel like if I needed an honest opinion or even a good old laugh I have community of writers to fall back on.



In 10 years I hope I can look back at this and say I took that leap and let myself be vulnerable.

I would love to hear where you hope to be in 10 years.....

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