Taking a break....

 

Photo courtesy of Can Stock Photo

After trying, and failing, to make some progress on my summer reading list, I think it's time for a blog break. I'll be back in a couple of weeks. Enjoy the summer sunshine!

Grateful for the mess...

My house is a disaster inside and out. Outside there is old siding, new siding, insulation and countless pieces of stuff unidentifiable to me but I'm sure somebody knows what it is. There's a really ugly dump truck in the driveway collecting all the stuff being thrown away and our two tall cedars by the front door have been cut down and are laying on the front lawn in a heap. Inside it's dust you can write in, tools, nails, screws, and a whole lot more of those unidentifiable bits in every room. Pictures and other things hung on outside walls are now piled on tables and chairs because once the hammering started nothing was safe.  

And for all this chaos I am grateful. Our house has been needing new siding and doors for longer than I can remember. I'm not exaggerating when I say the siding was falling off in chunks, and in the winter you can stand in the living room and feel the cold wind blowing in around the door. I can hardly wait to see it looking nice, neat and clean. It will be white with new black shutters and a bold colour on the front door. I think I want a deep plum, but a bright teal would really pop and look great too.

It will take a while yet to get it finished and all the little things done - outdoor lights, door handles and locks, mailbox, new shrubs, shutters - but I can live with the mess as long as I know there's a payoff at the end. I am so excited to finally be getting this done that I can't help but be very, very thankful.

What are you thankful for today?