renovation

The smell of fresh paint and sawdust still lingers. Scent of pine tree wafts up my stairs. Such is life during a holiday renovation. Old walls came down and up went new ones. Cabinets were assembled while appliances were installed. Big slabs of butcher block were laid upon fresh white cabinetry. Stainless steel sink with my fancy new faucet finally tucked into place and new pipes delivered water for the first time in three weeks. Every single wall besides my son's room and the bathroom were layered in a warm white paint. Garbage pick rug unrolled and cleaned only to be rolled back up and delivered to which it came. There is still hope for that rug, I haven't given up yet. On that I am thankful for overly ambitious friends who plucked it from my tree lawn, hauled it to an open space, and cleaned it even better then the professionals. My nose will do the final smell test tomorrow when I retrieve it from his domain. Now I sit on my antique bed half buried in the week's discarded clothes relaying the process to you lovelies. When I first mentioned the plan to my husband, he thought I was nuts, but it was doable. When I mentioned the kicker, "Oh, and we're having your family for Christmas dinner so it all has to be finished," he was ready to drive me to the asylum, seeing that I had lost my mind and all. See, his family incorporates about 20 people with fiancees, extended members, and giant nephews.Well, here we are just 3 days away from our or I should say, my deadline and it's finished. I should specify that the whole kitchen did not need to be complete, just "phase one". Phase one encompassed new appliances, new walls, cabinets, counter, and sink. Phase two will follow after the holidays with the obligatory subway tile, upper cabinets, vintage refrigerator, and chalkboard stairwell leading to the basement. Budget constraints and Christmas did not allow for everything to be finished in it's entirety, but we are cool with this. Actually relieved. Starting a new job, running a business during the holidays and the aforementioned hundred other activities thrown in there was exhausting with a remodel piled on. We did it though with only one major meltdown, blow out argument that had me chasing my Midol with a styrofoam cup of red wine before noon. It was to be expected. I am bossy. I expect everyone to move at my pace and get very irritated and impatient when it doesn't happen. My husband didn't appreciate me conversing with him as if I were his foreman. I'll tell ya, and men don't hate me, but if women were contractors, the shit would get done in half the time. My husband is a saint. He put up with my bossy ways and only showed me his Irish when I pushed him too far. As I said, it was to be expected. Now as he stares at his new kitchen or turns on the extremely quiet dishwasher, he beams with pride. He was awesome in his ability to work long hours teaching, help me move my furniture and bust out the renovation in about 2 weeks. I painted, cooked, tried to clean up the many messes, took our child to and from school, and ran the store. I was happier being out of the way, well except to offer my to do list that he really appreciated. Not. So now we can breathe a bit, enjoy Christmas. The tree is up, grabbed from Home Depot along with some pipes. My big bulb colored lights shine joyously amid my dozens of vintage Shiny Brites. Vintage white plastic reindeer grace my mantle under a swag of paper chain. We are going simple this year choosing to enjoy instead the food and arriving family on the big day. Cookie baking and mass and a quiet dinner with my boys takes up my Christmas eve. We renovate our home, we renovate ourselves. My son made due with the mess, never complaining and enjoying the Christmas music and movies we played to distract from the construction. His behavior in school even seemed to improve. Crowded around a table together we were tired yet close. I learned a lot about patience and manners while on this dirty journey. I didn't always practice either in the kindest ways, but I have learned again that my husband is my champion. He may move at his own pace yet he always comes out on top and for this I am so grateful and if I could hashtag blessed just once, this would be the time. I don't need fancy presents to remind me how loved I am, I have only to look at my new kitchen. Good night world.