MUWHAHAHAHA!!! A Girl with a Reciprocating Saw….What the heck???

My WORD! What the heck does that mean!?!? Well….it means that I bought myself a reciprocating saw!!!

Now a girl can’t buy a new power tool and not try it out IMMEDIATELY! (at least not this girl.) So…I spent a while humming and hawing…and finally settled on one of three projects to start and finish. There are three areas in this house that I have wanted to renovate (just a little) to make them a bit more Tootsie and kids friendly…and this saw fit into the arsenal of tools that it would take to do the work…perfectly!

It seems that this sgw has a mind of her own…she gravitated directly to the first of the three areas almost on her own. Once the chosen area was prepped…we let the games begin!

Perhaps a little back story to the reason for the reno will be helpful..

A while back I needed to keep my mind busy-and I love to learn- so I decided to take a nail tech course. I busied myself and finished it in no time flat- and am now certified. Practical, theory – the whole shebang.

I decided that since my kids are still so small and involved in a myriad of activities, and considering the situation they are adjusting to, it would be best for me to work from home. This decision would enable me-as a single parent of three, dedicated to her kids, to be available for all of the kid’s activities and pick-ups or drop offs. I have never missed anything they have ever done, and I don’t intend to start now …not ever they are most important…and they need their mom.

My decision to work from home has presented me with a few obstacles…One major obstacle is where would I do these nails? Which room will I use and most importantly- what will I use as a work surface? Being that this is my home, and all the rooms are ‘spoken’ for, I will need to multipurpose one space here.

I thought about using my garage, or at least a small corner of it- BUT we all know how I love to mess with paint, stain and tools- so this option was a very sound NO!!! Then I thought of the dead space in the family room downstairs, but I know I could not be there to supervise the kids if they were playing outside…so again NO! (this would only work in the winter…)

The sunroom is nice- but it is a bit cold in the winter months (however my new fireplace, and the fact that I re-did the insulation under the floor last weekend so that it was done correctly) (yes…it was done WRONG the first time an insulated the wrong part…go figure…ha-ha ) *) might resolve this issue of low temps.

I finally decided that this nail situation would be best kept in a place easy to dust down…central to the house, and warm. I chose the kitchen…across that breakfast bar that has been the bane of the dining area for some time now.

Yep!!! This is the area! I have hated this thing since almost the first day…it was here when we bought the house, and it came with three of the ugliest bar stools I have ever seen…which I tolerated for a year or so…and finally got rid of them (they are now in a place where looks seem not matter-) *)

Oh how this bar cuts off the house and makes it feel closed off…it is just a junk collector most of the time, and I just hate it!

Lets get rid of it! Wanna Watch? That saw has a mind of her own…I started out with the measuring and marking…and when that was all done…the jig saw jumped in and did a first cut across the top of the arborite…ZZZZZINNNG! Done!

Once the first cut was done the big sledge hammer was employed and the designated area to be lowered was popped off….ta-da!

Here’s another view…

After a bunch of measuring and making sure things were level…that reciprocating saw jumped right to the job…she cut that drywall sub wall down to the height I wanted!!!

The counter top was popped back on…and it was all over but the bracing and finishing!!!

I am living proof…that there is nothing a girl can’t do if she puts her mind to it!

I did not take the entire counter top off and lower it all, as I was worried about the wall at the end. This counter was secured like you have no idea!!! So…I compromised and decided on a small area to remain raised for the phone to set on…This left me with a space that needed to be Tootsied up.

NO PROBLEMO!!! I had some of the back splash materials left from when I installed it …and it worked out perfectly! A little drywall patching in…a little backsplash materials…and….a little piece or three of trim…and this long ugly breakfast bar…(that almost got ripped out by the nails…except I could not find any hardwood the same size..) got cut down in size!

It is now the perfect height for homework, nails, computers, or just sitting for a snack! My Dad (Grampie) gave me a couple of very heavy old stools that were the exact right height…and they have nice big seats…and do not tip over easily. thank you Grampie…I will be painting and changing the pretty blue covers to something a little more on the way of my color scheme.

Now my client can sit on one side…and I can sit on the other…my supplies are conveniently tucked away until needed in this cute little table…and when I am not doing nails, they are out of site!

So there you have it…the story of an afternoon in my world, and what my new reciprocating saw did to initiate her first day into the Tootsie family of fine power tools.

All I need to do now…is get more clients. Fingers crossed! If nothing else, I made memories with my little gang, and did something I have wanted to do for years... AND my little girls love this place now. They sit and color, chit chat, or just have a snack on here every chance they get!

Next reno…well that’s my little secret isn’t it? MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Until next time…thanks for stopping by, and for the prayers you have given to my little gang. They appreciate that you all care too. My son and his class read my blog and it just tickles him to see his handi- work shared. He’s such a sweetie!

Hugs and smiles to you all…and to my three winks…Betcha’ miss old ‘you know who’ and all she used to do for you! MWUAH! *) *) Oh ya…and to one very special wink…I know how proud of me you are for having done this job…but…silence is golden dear-heart! *) You know who you are!

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`*.¸.*´Tootsie!
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