I guess it's too late to change my mind?

We have finally decided on that question of whether we should renovate or move to get the kitchen we want.  It took us quite a while to get to this point.  A lot of back and forth on whether we really needed the cost and the upheaval that goes along with a reno.

Over and over I told myself that I could survive with the limited counter space.  Then I would cook something more involved than toast and would swear at the lack of room.  I should say that my style of cooking generally involves making 5 things at once under the theory ... I'm here anyway dirtying dishes and the oven is hot, so let's go.  It is impossible to make 5 things in a kitchen with limited counter space and not swear.  Home cooks in Paris would think my original counter space a luxury, I am sure.  Another reason why we didn't need to renovate.  And so it goes.

Then there were the conversations about whether we should just move.  But our house is the perfect size for the two of us otherwise.  We love our garden.  We have good neighbours.  And if we move, it's not like we'll save money ... the new house would be more expensive and something would have to be renovated, likely the kitchen.  So we finally took the plunge.

I would say that after the rip out started, I questioned our sanity.  Everything had to come down for various reasons.  The insulation came out, primarily because it would have fallen out when the ceiling came down but there was the added benefit of cleaning up the stuff left behind by some racoons that decided that our attic would make a nice refuge a few years ago.  We now have all sorts of racoon prevention devices under the new roof we did after that.  Who knew racoons could chew through shingles and wood?

Back to the reno.  What a difference a week makes.  We now have no interior walls on the main floor.  Drywall is up and it is starting to look like a house again.  I can see it finished in my mind again.  The stress is not over but at least now it is tinged with excitement and not fear.

New yarn store discovery!!!

Yesterday had many frustrating moments.  It started with a trip to the counter people in Mississauga.  I get lost in a paper bag so had the route there all mapped out via the 407, the local toll highway.  The directions to the place and my husband's non verbals were telling me to take the 403, the non toll highway and slightly quicker route.  As I was driving out, after my antenna flew off my car, I decided the traffic was very light so, why not, I'll take the 403.  Little did I know, Dixie, the exit off the 407 I needed, isn't the exit off the 403.  So, after driving about 1/2 hour more than I needed to, I ended up back on the 407 and found the counter place.  Which, despite the hours posted on their website, was closed.   Ugh.  Why can't companies update their websites?  Why didn't I call first like the little voice in my head was telling me?  Why didn't I follow my first plan and put the trip off to next weekend when my husband was available to go and I could knit in the car?  Why didn't I take the 407 in the first place?  At least I would have been there quicker so it would have been marginally less annoying (I think).

Anyway, I had also mapped out a visit to The Stash Fibre Boutique  in Campbellville.  This I found with no problem because I followed my detailed directions and I have been to Campbellville before.  Didn't know how to find Campbellville without looking it up on Google maps, but that is why we have Google maps in the first place.  Because my time at the counter place was much less than budgeted, even with the unfortunate detour, I was in Campbellville an hour before opening.  Ugh again.

Fortunately, Grumblin' Grannies around the corner was open and the Trail Eatery, where we've enjoyed a few after-hike lunches, is in the same plaza.  So with a combo of shopping (I bought two shirts) and a nice tea and yummy blueberry muffin, the hour flew by and I was able to visit The Stash.  A great store.  She specializes in small local dyers and there were many lovely yarns that could have made their way home with me.  I ended up buying some locally made sock yarn for the January sock club, some Madelintosh (obviously not local) to make a scarf and cowl and several accessories that I didn't really need but must have.  This purchasing totally negated the frugal feelings I was having after not going to Lettuce Knit on Thursday at lunch and instead buying a sock book for 30% off at Indigo in the Eaton's Centre.  Here I was buying something that would help me reduce my stash instead of adding to it and not dipping into the kitchen reno budget.  Looking at it another way, if I'd gone to Lettuce Knit and the Stash, things would have been much worse.  So there, justified.  And thanks, The Stash for turning my day around.  I'll be back.  But I really should get some projects done first ...