Though we have waited ever-so-long to begin building our new home, the timing – as usual – is turning out to be just right! With all of the waiting, Thursday, March 7, was one of the most exciting and entertaining days that we have experienced in a long while! I will link the video at the end…

Backing up a couple months – when we moved out of our home in November with everything that we wanted. We tore up the three rooms of new carpet and put it down in the unfinished basement of our rental house. I began asking friends if there was anything that they would like to have? Our appliances were all just three years old and it didn’t take long to give away our dishwasher, stove, kitchen sink and bathroom vanity along with a few light fixtures. It felt good to be able too share.

That good feeling just continued over the months as friends have taken the things we hadn’t even thought to offer – the new laminate flooring, the HVAC system, copper piping, the electrical panel, wood burning stove, outside lights, bathroom sinks and fixtures, door hinges and knobs, doors, toilets, kitchen cabinets and even the decking. I even went back to recover a few lightbulbs because we had packed up our extras.

It felt good when the local fire departments began to use the home for practice drills. We decided to not burn it down as originally planned because our demolition team asked that we not do so. They had done this before and said it took two years to get the smell of smoke out of their equipment, besides the remains would be soaking wet and disposal would cost more. The firemen were able to practice rescues in the smoke, punch holes into walls and ceilings and even through the roof. Originally we spoke to our local volunteer firefighters and then surrounding communities came as well. They were happy because learning these skills on “models” is completely different than the real thing.

Demolition kept being postponed, giving our firefighters a few more weeks than anticipated. By the time Demo Day finally arrived we felt that our home had given every bit of service that it could. Demo was scheduled for a Friday – but mid-morning on Thursday I got the call that they were headed our way. The timing was perfect – I was dressed to go out for the day but quickly canceled those plans and put on my jeans and boots and was on my way. Mark was having one of his best days I could remember since mid-January and Greg just happened to be at the house to drive him over a bit later. We were at the house in time to throw a few rocks through the windows before the tractor arrived, and then the real fun began.

Was I sad? Everyone asks this question. Yes, for about two seconds. We have happy memories from our three years here, but we have been looking forward to our new home since we went looking for property in 2016 so… after those two seconds I just felt excitement. And fun! I just kept smiling. I actually love tractors – I love the power and how experienced operators are so talented. This thing was HUGE but the man could wield it like a third arm/hand. SO impressive!! I love the noise – in the same way that I love thunder. When you click on the video (link at the end) make sure to listen for the background noise.

It took just one hour for the house to come down. A day to clean/haul the debris, two days for the concrete, and it was gone. A blank slate. And just like that I have a new topic for my blog… See below for the link to the video – you don’t want to miss it!

Click here for the link to our demolition video. Enjoy!! Well, here is the link again because that one didn’t work for me.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIVfP_1l8BU

And I know… I throw like a girl. Because I am a girl…