Mother Nature Threw A Curve Ball

It doesn’t matter how many lists that I write,  how thought out my plans may be, or how organized I feel I am, to have everything turn on a dime.

Or subzero temperatures.  Mother Nature throws a curve ball.

A winter pattern has developed around these parts:  we lose power on the coldest night of the year.  Happened again this year, during the wee hours of Sunday morning.  And whenever we lose power on the coldest night of the year, our pipes burst in the den.

I wrote about this same scenario last year (check out the story here).  But this year…….this year it was worse.  The pipes burst in so many areas that we had to take the pipes out completely and are starting over.  Like really over.

Earlier last month, I shared the projects that I’m planning to complete this year, and yes, the den was one of my projects.  But my plan wasn’t to start it until after I had completed the master bedroom remodel.  After that, taking the ceiling down in the kitchen to expose the old beams.

Thhheeeeennnnnnn the den.

A quick refresher on the make up of the den.  It was an addition that the previous owners built back in 1998.  It’s a room with 3 outside walls and not an ounce of insulation.  I’m not sure how they got away with that, but I am finding out that although they were / are nice people, they cut a lot of corners.  They did projects just to get them done, yet didn’t complete them effectively, thoroughly, nor correctly.

However, on the flip side, it is because of their lackadaisical efforts that I have so many projects  to work on, and certainly makes for good blog stories.  I think about these curve balls, and though I do get aggravated, my heart tells me that I didn’t just find this old farmhouse.  This old farmhouse found me.  And I love it even more.

So, the master bedroom remodel is on the back burner.  The old beams in the kitchen ceiling will be exposed at some point.  For now, the den needs my attention.

The den is getting gutted.  Rodent proof and high R-factor insulation will be installed.  Base board heating will get revamped.  Electrical wiring will get replaced.  And that den will get a facelift.   A huge project that will be completed thoroughly, effectively, and correctly.

So, if Mother Nature throws another curve ball next winter, all I’ll say is, bring it on.  That den will be nice and cozy.  No more frozen pipes.

Stay with me.  I’ll need all the moral support I can get.  🙂