tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25607818485150712852012-01-28T16:37:20.025-08:00a single mom rebuilding her life, one bit at a timeKatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily Rotationtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-88359442741007460532012-01-26T21:57:00.000-08:002012-01-26T21:57:28.369-08:002012-01-26T21:57:28.369-08:00

I think a tiny beach cottage should have lots of art, and Jane is a great example of this. I have become slightly obsessed with trolling for new artists on Etsy who are affordable. (The key word there is affordable. I know the artists are starving but art purchases still rank below feeding my kids.) I found this little turtle painting, and the artist was selling a small print for under $10! Too

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com5http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/etsy-beach-art-another-minor-panic.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-9463393071624660372012-01-26T04:19:00.000-08:002012-01-26T05:43:14.756-08:002012-01-26T05:43:14.756-08:00

My friend Kim wrote something about the current blogosphere on the anniversary of her 900th post and I've got to throw in my 2 cents. I've been blogging since 2005  (other blogs), and things have really changed. Ahhh, the days of blogging before social media. At some point we outgrow our blog and move on...or we just strap it into a pair of go go boots and make it stand on the corner and make

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com9http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/when-blogs-go-bad-rating-system.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-72523159887062044302012-01-25T05:18:00.000-08:002012-01-25T05:18:52.435-08:002012-01-25T05:18:52.435-08:00

If you're following along, so far I've cataloged a vintage coke crate, Miller High Life girl, and now here is another piece of crap antique that I pulled out of the shack before demolition: When I first unearthed it in the bedroom, it was full of bottles of peroxide. (Do not think too hard about that. Trust me.) It was in rough shape but I liked the lines of the legs and thought it would be

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com11http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/vintage-humidor.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-59992323469512026552012-01-24T04:18:00.000-08:002012-01-24T04:18:30.601-08:002012-01-24T04:18:30.601-08:00

I don't care if it's not really him, okay? I broke down and signed up.  I still hate facebook so I'm holding onto that. I shall be twittering at Bob... probably limericks involving Vila and Tequila.

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com2http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/bob-vila-is-on-twitter-shut-up.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-64265170657464850692012-01-23T06:26:00.000-08:002012-01-23T10:43:57.873-08:002012-01-23T10:43:57.873-08:00

I'm doing an inventory of all the old crap I pulled out of the shack, so far I've mentioned the Miller High Life girl, but there's loads more trash. I mean treasure! This particular find made me happy: I instantly pictured it sitting on a table with a single daisy in each bottle. Kinda sorta like this: Your Home Based MomBut not quite. You get the idea? Kinda like this but without all the

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com3http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/vintage-coke-crate.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-87186193679105944532012-01-20T10:12:00.000-08:002012-01-20T11:59:28.458-08:002012-01-20T11:59:28.458-08:00

My building envelope and restrictions on this lot are TIGHT. So tight, in fact, that there may not be room for the stairs to get to the front door. Which means the staircase might have to go under the house...didn't think I'd be building a second treehouse here! (Note: I'm learning how to use google sketchUp, I only use AutoCAD normally. This was just for fun) I am not sure how many piers this

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com3http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/planning-new-house.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-49467504233734198672012-01-18T12:52:00.000-08:002012-01-18T19:33:22.212-08:002012-01-18T19:33:22.212-08:00

All he did was send me an email asking me about my weekend. That's it. I've only met him one time, at work. This set off a completely insane chain of events in my head. I was envisioning horrible stepfamily dynamics, fighting kids, hateful exes, disappointment, financial stress, no more fun building projects, expectations and laundry and I bet he's a jerk who spent every weekend of his marriage

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com9http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/poor-guy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-39104842429918509222012-01-16T05:18:00.000-08:002012-01-17T10:41:34.624-08:002012-01-17T10:41:34.624-08:00

I found these pictures today. I feel a sense of vertigo looking at these, like I fell down a rabbit hole. I think I conveniently blocked myself from thinking too hard about this catastrophe, because I had so many other things to worry about and it's terrifying to think how close we came to being ruined. If we had been trapped in this house like the rest of our neighbors, I never could have bought

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com4http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/san-antonio-rivermist-hill-collapse.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-65051520811256328602012-01-14T16:38:00.000-08:002012-01-14T16:38:34.808-08:002012-01-14T16:38:34.808-08:00

This may be the only recipe you'll ever see on this blog. I am not good in the kitchen, but since I got this TOTALLY AWESOME 1950s MIXER at the antique store last week, I really wanted to give it a whirl. The mixer, I mean. The banana pudding was just because my son loves it and it's the only thing I can't screw up.  I made this up based on a couple of recipes, here's what we did: Oh who cares

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com4http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/banana-pudding-cake.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-10269915901116935332012-01-11T11:35:00.000-08:002012-01-11T12:32:10.222-08:002012-01-11T12:32:10.222-08:00

So - how much will my property taxes go down once I demolish the house? Tax Assessor:  About $10.00. lolllllllll

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com2http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/conversation-with-tax-man.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-40599291587778035152012-01-10T06:24:00.000-08:002012-01-16T06:48:18.569-08:002012-01-16T06:48:18.569-08:00

I decided to participate in the "Word for the Year" party at The Lettered Cottage. This is big for me since I'm such a blog hermit. ;) My Scary New ProjectI get paid all day long to analyze, calculate, and avoid RISK. When I calculate how much strength is needed for a structure to withstand 100 mph winds, I get the final number and then I throw in a 2-to-1 safety factor. Just in case. (This is

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com15http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/risk.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-67959733366051183342012-01-07T15:22:00.000-08:002012-01-07T16:00:48.602-08:002012-01-07T16:00:48.602-08:00

This was an awesome Saturday. Me and my mom went to the antique shop in Little Mountain. The basement has stuff like this: So you know it's a good place. I always find a million things I want. But today I saw this: It had the headboard, footboard, rails, and it was set up for display. It needs to be sandblasted and painted (because I'm not wild about shabby chic), but it's from the 1880's. I

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com7http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/scrubbing-funk-my-new-iron-bed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-77045084298004583252012-01-05T13:33:00.000-08:002012-01-05T13:33:30.588-08:002012-01-05T13:33:30.588-08:00

This is the house I want to build on my tiny lot: I know I could build it myself because it is so tiny. Except... I live 3 hours away from my lot. I am trying to figure out how I will make this happen. I would have to hire a contractor to put up the exterior shell, and then I could finish the inside myself. Except it might cost boatloads of money to hire the men to do it. I don't have boatloads

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com7http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-house-reality-check.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-69373358606847295172011-12-31T19:12:00.002-08:002012-01-01T20:33:13.460-08:002012-01-01T20:33:13.460-08:00

Well I stumbled upon another cache of yucky porn, so that part was bad. Also, the part about trying to flip mattresses and move junk without touching anything. I would happily sleep on a park bench or beneath an overpass before I laid down in this nightmare.  My brother made this trip out to the island with me because I needed his trailer and his muscles. I am somewhat limited and I can admit it.

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com14http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/update-on-beach-shack-crazy-story.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-65483297828769514442011-12-30T12:47:00.000-08:002011-12-30T12:47:53.076-08:002011-12-30T12:47:53.076-08:00

An update on the rug quest:  I rolled up the dirty rug and decided to go rugless for a while...thanks to the commenter who mentioned this to me in the previous post. I don't know if it will work long term since we like the warmth of a rug, but at least I feel free from dirt and decision making for now! :) I have painted many walls that had soaring ceilings. I was happy to go back to having a

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com3http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/painting-high-ceilings-quick-and-easy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-85156765863992239652011-12-27T12:12:00.000-08:002011-12-27T12:12:50.670-08:002011-12-27T12:12:50.670-08:00

Everyone knows how bad it sucks to shop for rugs. There's hardly anything you could call "cute" or "pretty" that falls within an affordable price range and fits in with your decor, and even the rugs at the $5,000 price point aren't that cute. However I wouldn't pay $5k for a rug anyway since that's how much I budget for a new car. Let's get real, here. I have given up trying to find a

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com10http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/rug-shopping-analysis-paralysis.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-3517588693800006432011-12-19T18:34:00.000-08:002011-12-20T18:05:46.747-08:002011-12-20T18:05:46.747-08:00

My present to myself last year was a mother's ring, with my kids' birthstones and names engraved on the shank. It was sad because it was the first holiday I spent alone, since my kids were with their dad and his fiance out of state. This year is better because I get to have my kids with me, and my babysitter/nanny/lifesaver surprised me with these: I seriously just stand in the foyer and look

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com6http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-gift.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-71635268914980118332011-12-15T08:00:00.000-08:002011-12-16T06:53:57.577-08:002011-12-16T06:53:57.577-08:00

My niece just had a broviac catheter placed for the first time, trying to kill off stubborn lung infections. I was so hoping that Ally would not have these difficulties so soon. Any prayers would be appreciated for Ally and my brother's family. My sister-in-law Emily will be giving her the meds at home over the next few weeks. If you have any inclination to donate to finding a cure, please do.

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com15http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/cystic-fibrosis-really-sucks.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-90338284928303272112011-12-14T09:14:00.000-08:002011-12-14T09:14:32.061-08:002011-12-14T09:14:32.061-08:00

This plaster statue was found in Shorty's abode, covered with a thick layer of dirt. I am guessing this is from the 1940s or 50s, since she's wearing the vintage outfit.The red sign at the bottom reads "Miller High Life". Someone tried to glue her together after she broke. I'm thinking Lucy needs to find a new life in the beach shack, don't you? I mean, the poor girl's still got her lipstick and

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com6http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/miller-high-life.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-51618790126215219812011-12-07T17:42:00.000-08:002011-12-07T17:42:04.438-08:002011-12-07T17:42:04.438-08:00

Yes, I still have to tear the shack down and then find some more money. Unfortunately Shorty did not leave stacks of $100 bills alongside his porn collection. The important thing is that I found this for the kitchen (that's not built yet):  Art by Eat.Love.Paint Priorities!

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com5http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/lets-not-lose-sight-of-whats-important.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-52139045045030978452011-12-03T16:20:00.000-08:002011-12-03T16:20:49.598-08:002011-12-03T16:20:49.598-08:00

My grandpa died on Monday, and my childhood memories include him shooting at the birds in his cherry trees, houseboat escapades on Lake Cumberland KY, and playing Operation (with him cussing every time he hit the buzzer). But what really sticks with me today is the visits to my grandparents' FL condo in the later years (where else?), with Don Ho playing on the Hi Fi. Although Grandpa was a big

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com4http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/12/memorial.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-21393246801706230102011-12-01T08:03:00.000-08:002011-12-02T05:54:54.658-08:002011-12-02T05:54:54.658-08:00

Read this for background on who Debbie is, and why I asked her if I could renovate her kitchen. Knowing what she knows now, she may wish that she'd declined. muhahahaha   Also, this isn't a full-scale renovation, it's more like a "facelift". (That still took me 10 weeks!) When I invaded, the faucet was broken again and she had shut the hot water off completely to control the leaking.  One of

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com12http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/11/debbies-kitchen-reveal.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-3908631884664645012011-11-29T13:53:00.000-08:002011-11-29T13:53:57.405-08:002011-11-29T13:53:57.405-08:00

me: Isn't this AWESOME! As soon as I tear it down, I mean.  dad: Katy this is disgusting! If I'd seen it before you bought it I would have told you NO! Me:  You know what's even more awesome? If I was married I never would have been allowed to buy this. My boss: True! me: I love this sink.dad: *EYEROLL* me: I want all the doors too-- and I found glass doorknobs in there! And do you know how much

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com11http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/11/male-reactions.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-4043985306941135512011-11-28T06:07:00.000-08:002011-11-28T06:07:57.102-08:002011-11-28T06:07:57.102-08:00

Usually when I decide to throw sobriety to the wind and make impulsive purchases, it's just golf carts and ducklings. This. I don't know whether to cry, or jump up and down with glee.  I was actually sober when I signed my name. I'm thinking about getting falling-down-drunk now, so I can match my new shack.  My dad took one look at this place and agreed that it needed to be torn down ASAP. I'm

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com8http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/11/beach-house-nobody-wanted.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560781848515071285.post-3825103683514517302011-11-23T07:54:00.000-08:002011-11-23T07:54:31.872-08:002011-11-23T07:54:31.872-08:00

It's duck hunting season. Yesterday a boat came down into my parents' cove, and shot all of our pet ducks. I'm not against hunting, and technically those hunters weren't doing anything wrong. But I still hope their boat sinks.

Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.com6http://momandherdrill.blogspot.com/2011/11/remember-pet-duckies.html