Cleaning the cellar!

The cellar is all cleaned! Now we are organizing, bringing in shelfs, putting canned foods down there and making it useable! The shelfs we took in will be remodeled. I am going to put a small piece of wood at the bottom of each shelf- after removing the doors. Then we can lay the cans down and stack them that way. I will be able to organize by food type and keep it more organized I hope! We have all(well most) of the jars for canning stacked on the top edge, some are in a couple shelfs and in a drawer. There is a cool chair, it has hinges and will move so its a step ladder. I was going to throw it away, its in bad shape. Nanna said "mom you can fix it, clean it up and redo it, make it look new" And well I love to do that kind of stuff so I kept it. Like I really need another project!

It doesw look lots better down there now. And if we do have to go down due to a storm the kids wont be as scared to be down there now. We have some blankets in the deep freezer that does not work down there. They will stay clean there and if we have to use it as shelter we can pull them out to use and not have to worry about taking them down there.

I'll be starting the work on the outside of the house soon. I need the weather to co operate for it. I think I have figured out how I will do most of it. Not all but most. I have figured out how to do the porch awning, it will be easier than I thought! The hardest part is going to be the roof, the spot I need to reshingle. I can do it myself, but I cant get to it easily, and well I hate heights!!! But unless I can find someone to volunteer it looks like I get to do it myself. WAAAAAAAA

SO here are some new pics of the cellar. I'll keep updating as we go. Right now the cans are just stuffed in the shelfs and they are not done how I want. I have to get time to change the way they are set up. Hopefully soon.

                             

clean up the cellar!

So Nanna is home for a few days, partly to help me with a few things around the house- one being the cellar! So you have see the before pics- if not just scroll through the blog, There are pics. ITS HORRIBLE! So last night we gloved up, put on masks and went in!

We are not even close to done but so far we have removed- 2 big garbage cans full of old jars of food, old kitchen appliances- radio that was scary! I believe it was 4 lawn and leaf bags, 2 garbage cans! This is the junk, garbage, broken stuffs. I am keeping all the jars! There are so many its unreal. I found a blender that's in perfect condition- its just the blender- not the electrical part. It looks like its never been used. There are 3 bird cages- in good shape. Not sure what to do with them, I do not do birds in my house. I may see if I can find a buyer. There is also an old potty chair. and spiders!! Nanna yells mom a spider- freaking out, I spot it, its on the table! I had no clue I was so flexible- the Tai chi and walking is paying off! I lifted my leg high enough to smash that spider! Its amazing what old card board boxes do when left to sit for years, they get gross, crumble and are gross!

We spent a couple hours down there. We have lots more to go. I plan on cleaning it up good enough, organizing all the jars so they are not all over and using it for y food storage. I shop Aldis and have food all over upstairs. Don't right I can get it all down there, nice and neat. Only the can goods, nothing in bags. Well there is the gigantic deep freezer- it does not work but holds things well. I have my food storage in bags inside it. I am thinking its a good spot for the wheat also.

I took pics to keep track of progress so I am putting them here for y'all to see. Dulie called while we were down there. I found 2 pretty light covers, she likes the pretty pink one. So I'll send it to her. Otherwise it was headed for the garbage can! Save by the Dulie! So here's the pics

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."
M. Russell Ballard

So I went downstairs and took some pics of all the mess! there are so many jars its unreal. I have some masks I bought and I am going to clean it up, organize it and hopefully make it look better. I cant wait to be able to use the jars! They have already been coming in handy. I have cleaned out several gallon jars to hold our rice,beans and pastas, brown sugar, flax, granola,and other stuff like that. There are still more to use plus all the smaller jars. There are also the old milk jugs! Those just look cool, but then I like jars for some reason. So I thought I would share with you the messy view of my cellar. After its clean I will share more pics!

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."
M. Russell Ballard

craziness and chaos

Done fixin for a minute?

Well the water runs! We have a shower! Actually 2 showers! The one in my room is fixed and the main one also!! New stove is in place! And we are focusing on the unpacking now. Finding a place for everything. We have most done. 

I was out walking around the yard the otherday with Loo. She was showing me where she thinks the garden should be. We checked out the chicken coop, the kids have it cleaned out. They are ready for chicks. I have to take care of a few other things first. But they have it cleaned nicely. We found an old milk jug, the metal kind! I am still not sure where to put the garden. But we will figure that out soon. I have to come up with a tiller, or else the boys will be out there with shovels. I know we all vote for a tiller. But thats only going to happen if I find one to borrow. I dont have the money to buy one right now. 

I need to come up with a chain saw also. There is a tree branch on a power line going to the garage, and several other trees that need dead removed badly. I am not sure how I am going to arrange that one bt something will work out. 

I think tomorrow the kids will be doing some stuff around the yard. Its a mess right now. As we have unpacked things have been set out on the porch and the wond has blown stuff all over. Plus the dog chews everything she can.  I need to finish unpacking. For right now we are done with repairs, I think. I know there are more to be done, and there is more to do all through the house. But we will get to it a little at a time. I think our next move is to go room by room and make our plans for whats to be done. As we do that I will put it here to share.

OH I did go to the cellar. I needed a jar for my sourdough start that was growing and taking over. I found lots of gallon jars! I am psyched! now I have plenty of jars to store my rice and pastas in. No bug or mice eating them now! There are so many jars of various sizes its awesome. I'll be able to do some canning this year if I grow enough. I took lots of pics. I'll post them tomorrow. Its very dirty and messy down there. One of these days I need to brave it to clean it. I think I need a dust mask first. Its pretty bad. And some gloves!

Well My Baby E is crying. I need to gert her to sleep. To see some pics of our organizing the bathroom and stuff check out my other blog. Theres new updates there also. http://huffinfamily.blogspot.com/

www.homeschoolblogger.com/huffins

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."
M. Russell Ballard

Pics of the plumbing!

So here are pics of what needed done, what I have done, and what I still need to do. It will take me a while to get it all done. I plan on having the hot water heater done Saturday. Hopefully the kitchen sink also, it has very low water pressure. And then little by little I will fix and change the rest. I will be changing most to newe pipes I guess. Luckily I have an awesome brother in law for a plumber! He is willing to look at pics and then explain what I need and what to do. Hopefully I can figure it out and do it this way!  I am not to sure I am ready to tackle some of it! Plumbing is not something I have done before this. So here are the pics. 

www.homeschoolblogger.com/huffins

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."
M. Russell Ballard

this weeks update

         Hello every one!

Well this is move week and its been crazy round here! We have had doc appointments along with trying to get ready to move. Mom got the results of her test for her heart!! LOOKS GREAT! 

So she will not have to have open heart like they thought!! Tomorrow she goes in for the scan on her brain to decide what to do about it, and she already has an appointment with the surgeon to find out what he wants to do.

I went to my doc this week also. We are trying some new meds. One is a patch I have been on it before but had a bad reaction. We found out the reaction was possibly due to the patches being part of a group that was recalled. So far they are helping, no bad reaction.!! Changed some other stuff also. I also had a cortisone shot in the tissues on my hip, OUCHIE! That hurt! Also caused more pain for about 24 hours, then it started to help. I go in today and get another in the hip joint. Not to sure about that. The other almost made me pass out. I fully intend on passing out today. I hope it works. My hip is bad, it will give out while walking, or catch and not move, and constantly hurts. So hopefully it helps at least a little.

We have been packing, and thinning. I have sent stuff to people on free cycle! I have more stuff going. I have boxes every where! I am almost out of the boxes I managed to get, so I will have to get more some how.

Yesterday we went to the new house and did some more cleaning and plumbing! I’ll post pics later today.I fixed the pipe for the washer! But found 2 more leaks. The one bathroom next to the washroom leaks. He toilet leaks. The pipe going from the seat to the back leaks where they connect. I have to fix that or something. For right now the water is just off to it. The sink in that bathroom is gross! When you turn the water on rust and chunks come out. I don’t know if I will ever manage to drink tap water again after this!

The hot water heater has a leak! The pressure valve on top leaks where it is supposed to be sealed! it’s a small leak, but still a leak. I shut the water off at the hot water heater till I can fix it. I talked to GE, they told me how to fix it myself. I cant get it off though! I will try again Sat when I have some man power to muscle it off. I hope. The pipe that goes into the hot water heater also has a small leak where they connect. It looks like it can just be removed and then put back on. I talked to GE, they said to remove both, Teflon tape them and replace them and they should be good to go. I hope they are right. Otherwise we are without hot water till I get taxes back and can use it for fixing it. And I plan on that money going to other repairs, paying off my van and other stuff that is needed.  

The man that’s supposed to haul all the junk off has not done it yet. I cant wait till he does! I am already planning my garden! Trying to find a way to get a tiller, or at least borrow one. It looks like the neighbors near us may have kids. I see swings in several yards, and toys. So I hope that means there are kids close for the kids to meet. I know there is at least 1 home school family there! I have talked to her. Very nice lady. I cant wail till this move is over. I am so sick of packing and trying to get it all done.

Nanna is not moving with us. She has some friends and is moving in with them. They will help keep her on the ball I hope. She is working and doing other things here. She did not want to move. Since she only has 4 months till 18 I decided to let her stay. Not easy to do. I did not realize how hard it can be to have them grow up and move out. 

Well I think that’s about it for now. I did take pics of my repair job! The removed pies- they were disgusting! And the stuff I get to try to fix next. Although I have been told someone is working on helping find someone that knows about plumbing to help me from the new Ward! I hope so! 

I’ll post pics later. And this will probably be the last update from this house. The computers will all be taken down tomorrow. We load up early Saturday morning. I hope the kids that don’t want to move accept it soon and adjust fast. They are having a hard time with this move. But I think once they get used to being out in a big yard, having animals- plan on chickens soon! They will be ok.

So that’s all folks!

I’ll be sending out new address and phone numbers as soon as I find the paper with the phone on it. Seem to have misplaced my phone book and planner.

    Love

     Jae

                                    www.homeschoolblogger.com/huffins
"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."
M. Russell Ballard