The Basement

I have finished all of the redo work and had my rough inspection today. They looked at my framing, plumbing and electrical work. It passed. Next up is the drywall work. We have changed a few of the furniture ideas. Of course, the changes have upped the price, so I am going to do the drywall afterall. I was contemplating hiring it out, but I think I'll save the $1,500 and do it myself.

Happy Birthday Sheila!

It's my sister Sheila's birthday today! I want to take moment to express just a few of the things I love about her.

I love that Sheila is comfortable in just about any situation. This is probably why she was such a great missionary for our church. She can make friends anywhere!

I admire Sheila's firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Life has thrown her some curve balls this year, but she's remained faithful and steadfast. I really admire that!

Sheila has a sweet relationship with her hubby Mario which has earned them the nickname Shelio. I love the way they relate to one another. You can really tell that they're in love.

Sheila recently became a new mommy, but she was good at mothering long before Joel was born. She's been working with little kids since she was a teenager. Her preschoolers adore her because she's so fantastic at teaching AND playing with kids (usually the same thing in her line of work).

Sheila is an attentive daughter, sister, and aunt. Emma was just talking the other day about the birthday dates that Aunt Sheila used to take her on. Family is a priority for her.

Sheila has a great sense of humor and a sunny personality. Most people end their sentences with a period, she ends hers with a giggle. She always seems to be having a good time. Oh! And she has fabulous hair. No really, I'm jealous.

I love you dear sister! Happy Birthday!

Ouch!

Audrey is always trying to get me to blog something so here goes.

I decided to do our basement the official way including permits and inspections. However, I found out that the sole plate (board that secures the wall to the floor) had to be a specific kind of wood. Since I had already completed the framing, that meant that I had to go back and replace all of the sole plates. I was not thrilled, but I did it anyway.

1 week later, I am almost done. I have been pulling out the fasteners attaching the sole plate to the floor and tipping the framed wall out. Then I knock the sole plate from the vertical wall frame and put a new one on (of the correct wood). Not too hard, but very time consuming. The old sole plate has the nails in it that used to secure it to the vertical boards.

Well....I wasn't paying attention and walked right onto one of the boards. 2 lovely, 2 inch long, big ol' fat framing nails went right through the bottom of my shoe and deep into my foot. I tried to shake the board off of my foot, but they were in too deep. It just stuck on. I had to push it off with my hands. Audrey and the kids were sitting about 10 feet away and saw the whole thing. I wish there was video, It must have looked ridiculous. Thankfully, my tetanus is up to date. I guess that it'll be worth it in the end.



My shoe. You can see blood on the entrance holes.



My foot.

ignorance WAS bliss

It's time I came out about something. I think I'm on the verge of becoming one of those crazy, granola, activist people. Over the past few weeks my eyes were opened to a disturbing problem in our country. Have you taken a hard look at where our food comes from lately?

Here are just a few resources that will get you started:

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/factory_farming/

http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/vermont-slaughterhouse-cl_n_343934.html

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3176184587819334935&q=sierra+club+michigan#


Food, Inc.

King Corn



I didn't know about any of this. Seriously, what am I to do with this information?