My mother-in-law once told me that she never considered divorcing my father-in-law until they renovated their home. She also commented that she would never (ever, ever) go through another renovation, even if she had to live in a hovel without one. I thought she was exaggerating until we recently renovated our master bathroom.
We had already taken out the garden tub, leaving part of the floor missing with many small holes and exposed pipes and wall. We wanted to replace the tub with a walk-in shower. Sounds simple enough, right?
We arranged for a contractor who would come in and start work when the shower arrived at the plumbing shop. We ordered the shower in June with expected delivery to be by mid-August. Mid-August arrived and gave way to the end of the month. We called the plumbing store. “It should be a couple more weeks.” September arrived and the shower was “on the next truck from the supplier.” By the end of September, I was getting pretty hot—our bathroom had been torn up for over three months. Finally, hubby dropped in the shop in October. The salesman went into the storeroom and there it was! Not where he expected it to be, he explained. Who knows how long it had been sitting back there?
We called the contractor to say the shower would be delivered the 
next week. No return call. We called again, leaving messages. We texted. Finally, because we had been given the contractor’s name by the plumbing company, we called them and asked that if they had contact with him to please ask him to call us. The plumbing company called back and said that the guy had another job and couldn’t do ours. Fortunately, they gave us another name and he worked with us. There were some other quirks and blips in the installation process, but at long last, by the end of October we had our shower. And it’s beautiful and wonderful. Having it is akin to giving birth in that all the pain of getting it here and installed is forgotten now that it’s over. Maybe all renovations are like that…?
What is your experience with renovations?
Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.
Dee
Burning Bridges by Anne Krist: old letters put the lie to Sara’s life. Now, mending her past mistakes while crossing burning bridges will be the hardest thing she’s ever done.
Denise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, and they often find their way into her books.
How Charity Sunday works: for every comment made on this blog post, I will donate money to the charity named. Thanks for your help and your participation!
I have a confession to make. I am old enough to remember when most people received news through…what were those things? Oh yeah, Newspapers. Most also watched the evening news on television at six o’clock, but newspapers delivered national and local news in one place and in more depth. My parents used to read every page of the daily papers. I was more receptive to television. One thing is certain, where people get their news has changed dramatically over the years.
her iPhone and I thought she was crazy. Who could enjoy reading anything in depth on that little screen? Well, I’ve found out. I was one of those people who said I’d never use a smart phone for anything. Now I pick it up all the time for one thing or another—including keeping up with news practically as it happens!
Remember that song, Red Sails in the Sunset? Probably not unless you’re as old as dirt, like me. I always liked it, though. So romantic, watching a sailing ship in the sunset as it sets out on the ocean. The sails are billowing and catching the last rays of the sun. There is adventure there. There is a dream. There is the wide sea and endless stars during the night. But there is NOT me.
thanks to corona virus, no one can cruise right now. But even in the happiest of times, no way would you get me on a cruise ship. I’m happy for those who do enjoy the voyage. More power to you! I understand lots of people have already signed up for when ships set sail again. For me, I’ll happily wave goodbye from the shore!
Denise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, and they often find their way into her books.
This is a blog hop. Be sure to check the link at the bottom to see posts from other authors!
Clairol used to have a commercial asking if blondes really have more fun. Of course the answer was yes, and supposedly, sales at Clairol proved the point. But an article on 
would guess it’s red. That’s because I’ve always loved red hair. My childhood hair color was pure blonde but by the time I entered my teens it was brown. Not a pretty brown with highlights of either auburn or gold, just…brown. Is it any wonder, then, that I always envied my cousin’s red hair that turned from a luscious strawberry blond to an even prettier bright red as she aged? My grandmother’s hair was a deep auburn, but she and Pamela are the only two in our family to boast red hair. Honestly, I’m not sure either of them appreciated the gift. Not more than I would have, surely. 😉
So my hair color now? Gray. And I won’t color it. I’ve earned each and every one of those gray hairs, and I’m proud of them! How about you? What color is your hair—in reality or in your dreams—and what does it say about you?
Emma Ames is an alter-ego of Ann Everett, who is an alter-ego of a real person. All three live in Texas.