Renovation progress,

Well it has been some time since my last post, I really am absent minded, annoyingly so.
Christmas has come and gone, thank God for that. I was OK but wouldn't want to re live it again, lets hope I don't have to. I do hope everyone else had a great time and if not, I am sorry, it sucks big time doesn't it!!! It was the first ever Christmas spent completely alone. For a big Christmas loving person this was very sad, but I survived it.
I had a lovely boxing day with friends, fantastic food, then the snow came. Two weeks later I was still stuck in but had plenty of provisions so it was no hardship.

I quite like being a hermit in winter, shut away from the cold, wind and snow. Hunkering down on the sofa with a roaring fire, cookery books and the girls snoring next to me. I love being warm and cosy.  It was however lovely to get out in the cold but sunny weather for lunch with a friend, after over two weeks, it set me up for the next few weeks ahead.
Where I live it isn't just the snow that has us stuck in, it is also the mud. Like quick sand it sucks wheels and feet down into it's clay like grip, has cars spinning and slipping into tree's and walls or down into dips which then need towing out. I have to say I hate the mud more than the snow!

This year, like last, has been nothing like our normal winter. we are just on our second lot of snow and only about 3" so far, bit different to our 3' drops most of the winter. The temps have been great too with just the 2 weeks of cold after Christmas about -18 or -19c a lot higher than our normal -27 up to -38c which we normally get. It is chilly now but really only -4 or 5 at the moment. The forecast for February is fabulous with sunny days. Long may it continue!

So the renovations have been sloooooooooow. I am in the kitchen/diner/come winter living room. Managed to get in a few days before Christmas. It is great I live in this space only, just going upstairs for the bathroom. It is cosy, warm and comfy. I am really happy with it. Come Spring I will go back into the living room and sleep in my bedroom but right now I am living as the Bulgarians do, keeping warm and wood usage down.

Still needs shelves put up, bits and bobs but it is really workable.

The next stage, living room, is almost finished. The floor tiles are laid the window and plaster is done and the fireplace is made. The problem came when the grout was being done. The colour was really horrid, so I asked for it to be taken out and now have to find a better colour, the local hardware stores do not have enough of one colour, so it is a trip into Gorna or VT to get it.  The we ran out of yacht varnish with just a couple of inches to go. we will get back to that at a later date.

The next stage on from that is now under way and I can't wait to get it done as it is an eyesore, the one completely unfinished area that was neglected for 25 years. 

 The concrete slabs which made up the door step have been removed and a proper step will be made.

 Damage floor from the flood in September.

 This old window has been removed and a new smaller double glazed window has been fitted. 

 Stone floor to be laid, plaster board toilet walls.

 Pipe from shower and sink along with water pipes to be boxed in and a false ceiling put up.

 So this is the back hallway leading out to the garden. It also leads into another large room which I am using as a walk in larder. It can be made into a full on bathroom if needed. The room you see above is being made into a downstairs loo. The pipes along the ceiling are being boarded in and the floors laid to stone.  Then it will be all be painted in the Spring/Summer, along with the rest of the ground floor.

This has turned out to be a huge job which should have been finished in December but I am now looking at March.  Once the front hall floor has been finished the bathroom is being tiled then that will be it for the foreseeable future.

The sun is shining the snow is glistening and my emotions are healing. No longer is it 1 step forward 2 steps back. I am facing an unsure future, but there is nothing I can do about this. I am in Gods hands now more than ever before.............