Before and After

I decided to deviate from my normal, essay style on my little blog. A few of you have been curious about the little house and the progress we have made. I regret that I didn't take more before pictures, but these are what I have.

The kitchen had "goldenrod" appliances and the floors were in need of multiple sessions of scrubbing with bleach. It appeared the layers of dirt had actually absorbed into the floor waxes that were used.

 The world's ugliest bathroom had wall board with glittery, faux marble, streaking all over it.  So 1964!  It also had an ugly, gross medicine cabinet and a paper towel dispenser bolted to the wall.  left over from when my house was a daycare.            

The living room is huge and open space.  Every wall in the house was white.  There was no defined dining area except the tiny space in the kitchen.

AFTER

So we have now painted every single wall.  Warm colors that cozy up the place. Added cute rugs over the floors, except the living room, which had awesome, new carpet.

We designated one end of the living room as a dining area.  The table I have was hand made by my step-grandfather and we had to make room for it somewhere!  It's one of the very few earthy possessions I hope to keep forever.  I also had to squeeze in a comfy chair for reading in the mornings.  I also had to add a cute light!                                               

I decided to take the pictures with "reality" in them. My life includes, rugrats, sippy cups and crayons, so the pictures include them as well.

 So far my decorating style is pretty much, "use what ya got".  I haven't bought very many things just for this house.  It's a collaboration of Ryan's things, my things and gifts from friends and family that mean a lot to me.

I was lacking a space for crafts and scrapbooking.  I began to notice that the only reason I wasn't updating the babies' scrapbooks was because I dreaded having to get out all the supplies and then be sure to put them away when I got interrupted.  So I carved out some space for crafting in my huge mud room.  Maybe not the most adorable entry way, but it makes me happy to have this use of space! I do have to go buy a new breakfast nook table though....

For now I have painted over the ugly, bathroom wall board.  I used a light blue to go with the blue tub.  I actually like the blue tub.  It's a bigger size than they put in most homes these days and it's in good condition.  It does need new fixtures and the over hang above the shower ripped out.  I plan on wainscoting the walls, tiling the floor and ripping out the funky sink thing and putting in a real vanity.  But for now painting and making a cute curtain helps!

The kitchen is actually pretty great.  I hate the pink counter tops though and hope to resurface them at some point.  But I love my new stove, love all the cupboard space too! 

The babies room has a nice, traditional rug that was actually picked out by Ryan.  I hung some Remington prints that Ryan already had and made a cowboy themed room for them.  The wardrobe was a freebie that was in the house. 

My room  and Payson's room I will have to update later.  I have some things to do in there yet.  So stay tuned.... I hope you have enjoyed the tour of our little work in progress. 



Outage

Yesterday the weather broke from the snowy and frigid pattern we'd seen for several days.  The warmer, more windy weather returned.  During our little Arctic blast, my mom and I stayed put in our cozy little houses.  Other than the little snow boot path between our homes and Payson's little tracks to school, our yards looked vacant.  The vehicles had blankets of snow all over and around them, untouched.  Us prairie mommas keep things stocked up at home so we don't get stuck without yummy things to eat or things we need for the babies when the weather hits.  Nice and cozy we were....

I had crossed the street to retrieve the mail.  But I missed the sign on the door that was supposed to notify us of the scheduled power outage that was to occur between 3:30 and 6:00 pm.  Luckily, this is Geraldine.  People here are looking out for us.  Around 2 o'clock the phone rang.  Gary is an old rancher that now has retired to town.  He doesn't seem to have much to do, but is very nice.  He called because he noticed that our vehicles had not moved in several days.  So he figured we hadn't gone anywhere and probably hadn't seen the sign on the door of the post office.  He wanted to be sure we knew of the outage so we would not be unprepared or concerned.

This small kindness allowed us to to plan ahead for dinner without power and dig out the candles ahead of time.  It actually was kind of nice and peaceful for a couple of hours and then the lights came back on an hour ahead of schedule.  I guess that's how they do things in Geraldine....

Reassurance

Almost daily, God shows me another reason that we are here.  Sunday morning was one of those times He made it clear for me.  I went to meeting (church) with my mom instead of attending a church in Fort Benton or staying home and watching the dvd that our church in Laurel sends for us so we can stay connected. (I love that they send those!)   After meeting we were invited to stay for lunch with our relatives that host the meetings.

When I was growing up in Cascade we would drive to Great Falls every Sunday for gospel meeting.  My mom's aunts, uncles and cousins were always there and their children were a regular part of my life.  Their families are some of the most God fearing, salt of the earth people I know.  Moving away to Seattle caused us to lose touch with those families.  Until now.  Returning to this area has allowed us to reconnect with family that we are blessed to have.  My children can now grow and play with the children of my cousins.

I find it interesting that I am not the only one to recently return from elsewhere.  It seems they have also felt a calling to return to a more simple, authentic life for their children after spending years outside of Montana.  We have seen what the rest of the world has to offer and have chosen to be apart from it.

There, sharing Sunday dinner with my family, on a farm in the middle of an empty prairie, God once again whispered reassurance.

Restorations

Over the last month I have poured exhaustive energy into my little, old house.  The renter left and I scrubbed and painted every surface and nearly every wall in the place.  Cleaned the carpets, bleached the flooring multiple times.  I so wanted to have my little home at least "decent" by Christmas. I wanted to be proud of her when my family came. And I was!  It took all my emotional and physical energy but it was worth it! 

Once we were "in", the smaller, less noticeable, yet equally important tasks have needed tending too.  A reoccurring thought has surfaced during this process. It feels as though restoring an old house is an awful lot like rejuvenating a marriage....

Some of the items need cleared out and thrown away immediately! They've stopped working or have become dangerous! (stove)  Some things have lost the ability to work effectively and need replaced with something better. (fridge)  Some things died a slow, cold death a while ago and you can't revive them so you have to manage the costs of moving on with something new. (dryer) 

Then there's the little things allow us to reap great rewards for little effort.  A little handle added to a door, new curtains to hide ugly old swamp coolers.  There's nothing like new area rugs to cover up worn, old floors until we can afford to get the laminate we dream of.  Its the little things that make such a huge difference!

A few things in old houses and marriages are bothersome, but not something you can really change.  You must accept them as they are and choose to love it anyway.  The floors aren't level and they squeak.... the walls are cracked.  But they aren't deal breakers.  A little fresh paint and things look nice enough to keep you happy.

Some things in old houses or marriages are BIG projects that will take an almost ridiculous effort to repair.  But you know they cannot stay they way they are if you want it to stand for a lifetime.  So you plan for improvements and work diligently until things shape up and are strong again.  My little house has a cedar beam down in the belly of a basement.  The beam is doing its job of supporting the floors of the master bedroom, bathroom and part of the kitchen.  But that beam is getting tired and probably won't stand forever.  Ninety five years has taken it's toll.  I know it's going to be a tough project, but I'm going to have to move forward fearlessly if it's gonna last....

Thanksgiving Prayer

The night before Thanksgiving the wind blew....and blew.... and blew like it's purest intention was to blow my mobile home right off it's blocks.  I lay awake thinking of what I would do to keep my babies safe in the event of a freak, unseasonal tornado....it was blowing like that! 

There was more wind and high gusts fore casted for Thanksgiving Day.  I didn't have big plans, but my husband had come home and promised me all of the "horsey" time I needed on Thanksgiving.  My heart sank as I listened to the wind that sounded like the trains were running in Geraldine again.  I hardly get a chance to go out and ride these days... The babies and the business keep my mom and I so busy.  We haven't yet found that extra baby helper to free up some free time for me....

During the early part of the morning the fore casted wind was present.  It wasn't working as hard at it, but still blustery.  The sky was gray and cold, threatening to drop some moisture.  After the babies  were fed, dressed and playing happily I gazed out the window and and breathed a prayer..." Lord, if the wind would only ease up....I need some time to myself before I go crazy...."  I know that the other moms that are reading this have all said similar prayers.  After a few minutes I decided to just be tough and go ride, wind or no wind.  This was the only chance I was to have for a while.

I arrived at the barn, pulled my good ol' Rhett out of the pen and started grooming and saddling.  Was it my imagination or was the wind dying down?  No, it definitely was....  Rhett seemed about as fresh as he ever gets, so I walked him around a minute and shook my finger at him with a warning before climbing on and heading down the gravel road to the South.... I rode past the cemetery and another half-mile or so to an old, abandoned farmstead.  The shelter belt of trees are all dead, gray and gnarled together.  It's the kind of place that would be spooky at night, with it's weathered, crumbling buildings. 

To the right of the old farm there's a track that heads off the road into a field that hasn't been farmed for a long time.  Rhett seemed to choose that route and I didn't argue.  At that moment things  rushed into focus for me.  The air around us was suddenly calm and warm.  The sun was breaking through the clouds and warming our backs.  The only sounds hitting our ears were the dry, short grass prairie being crushed beneath Rhett's hoof prints, a squeak of leather here and there and the sound of his breath as he carried me slowly toward the top of a long hill.  Rhett's arthritic joints seemed to loosen and he happily picked up a lope for a while. Near the top of the rise we stopped to survey this beautiful expanse of land and sky.  We found ourselves standing in an area that the coyotes have been using for a lookout.  The proof was lying in little piles all over the hillside.  I glanced around for a den, but it wasn't within sight.

From our coyote lookout, there was only one ranch in sight, other than the spooky old farmstead.  It sits off to the West about 2 miles away near the foothills to the Highwoods. We could see a tractor slowly delivering it's load of a round bale to a handful of cows. Like a tiny ant with it's heavy load.  I was completely in awe of the stillness and deafening quiet around us.  It was so quiet I found myself actually holding my breath to silence it and take in the peace.  Rhett's soft snuffling also ceased as he caught his wind.  All I heard in those moments was the rumbling in Rhett's stomach....

We continued on to the top of the hill and down the other side.  That open patch of prairie extends all the way back to the West side of town.  We ended up at the "airport", aka landing strip used by some of the farmers.  Then roamed down the street that defines the edge of town and back down to the little barn where Rhett and his filly spend their time. 

The entire way home, I had an overwhelming gratitude in my heart, for my answered prayer and the chance to breathe. 

Car Washes and other Luxuries

There are a few things I miss about the "big city" of Billings.  Espresso shops....Olive Garden....my friends there and my church family.  And I sure miss automatic car washes!!!  My poor van is really, really dirty!  But in this weather I'm not exactly going to bust out the hoses and bucket to give her a bath!  I haven't even been able to find a car wash in Fort Benton.  I'm also pretty sure that if I washed the van in Great Falls the next time I make the trip, by the time I got home no one would be able to tell I went to the trouble. So I guess the van and my ol' blue pickup will just carry that layer of road dirt and grime that every other vehicle in this town wears.  At least until summer....

I have moments here and there that I really enjoy shopping.  But those moments don't come too often.  I can spend hours in a great tack store.... I can spend a good bit of time and energy shopping for my children and trying to find nice things for them without breaking the bank.  But one of the things I have had the blessing to realize.... I do not miss Wal-Mart.

In Fort Benton there is a small grocery store.  It has a very limited selection of things, but enough to keep our families fed a variety of good, home cooked meals.  You just won't find Keurig Coffee K-cups, special yogurt for babies, organic anything....you get the picture.  Down the block is the True Value hardware store.  A real, old fashioned hardware store....that happens to have a furniture section in the basement with some very nice, reasonably priced pieces!  You can also by a Maytag or fridge there if you need one.  Next door to the True Value is the Pharmacy.  When you walk in the huge, ancient  front door there's a place to get a soda and all the free popcorn you'd like.  They provide the drugs the town needs and a lot more.  You can find interesting toys, gifts, material for quilting, crafts, dishes....you name it!  They do not however, carry cat de-wormer....I asked the day the barn cat showed signs of needing it. 

Several trips I've made to Fort Benton have required a stop to each of those three places in order to fetch the items needed at home.  Bandaging tape, milk, outlet covers.... So I park the van at the Pharmacy and then walk along to the next store!  It's a nice stroll in one of the prettiest little towns on the planet.  The big ol' Missouri river on my right, shops on the left.  There are several more little shops I haven't had the time to cruise through....but soon.  Back in Billings, I'd drag myself to Wal-Mart more often than I like to think about.  "Easier to just make one stop."

But here that's no longer an option.  I am forced to slow down, take a breath down by the river and enjoy my outing. 

 

Remembering My Manners

Maybe you've been somewhere like this.  A place where people are still very happy to see one another.  Instead of hustling past each other on the street with our eyes down.  Or feeling agitated that there is yet another herd of people in front of you at the stop light.  Or trying to not get cranky in the longest line anyone has ever seen at Wal-Mart....

People here ward off loneliness every chance they get.  Almost everyone shows up to nearly every school function the kids have as a way to have somewhat of a social life and stay in touch with each other.  The town is gearing up for the annual "Country Christmas Social".  There will be Indian Tacos, a no host bar and a band will play 'til midnight.  They are also going to show the second round of the Wrangler NFR and have a live auction!  This will be held at the old auditorium that was built soon after the town was founded and has been rejuvenated as part of Obama's reclamation project. (I just have to chuckle about that.)

One of the places people here are most happy to see each other is on the highway or the streets around town.  I am deeply ashamed to say that I am having a very hard time remembering to wave.  If someone drives past you in town, you are supposed to wave!  If you are lucky enough to see another soul on the highway, you wave!  The "highway waves" don't have to be exuberant.  A finger lifted off of the steering wheel will do.  But the "in town" waves are always a fully lifted to wiggling hand accompanied with a nod and a smile. I'm often embarrassed that I completely forget this part of my manners until the person has passed by me, their hand handing in the air. "Dang! Missed it again!"  I feel even worse because I was raised with these country values and I outta know better! It's a code that says we are the locals! It says to each other, "Yes, we are part of this very unique, blessed and often under appreciated way of life!" It also says, " If I see ya broke down on the side of the road on my way back from town I will stop and help you!"

I've been a resident for nearly a month now and it's still sometimes hard for me to remember my manners.  But, today I'm happy to report that I was first to wave at the old man in the early 70's model pickup truck that I passed on my way home from feeding the horses. He waved back and had that "who the heck are you" stare, but that's ok! I'll probably see him at the Christmas social and introduce myself....