Graceland: The Final Stress... I Mean Stretch

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Did you go to the beach? Relax at a family BBQ? Sleep in?

I spent my entire weekend at Graceland. I hadn't intended to. I'd actually decided it is time to start working on a new book. It's been a year since I wrote a novel. Far too long. But that's on the back burner for the next week. Why? Because my father went on vacation and the open house is next Sunday. So it's up to me to finish Graceland. But have no fear, I can do this. I mean, I think I can.

But first, remember the fireplace that nearly brought me to tears last week? Well here it is in its final form. Beautiful, right? I framed the photo in a way where you can't actually see how big the room is, but there's space for a sectional in there, or at least a large couch if you're going for a more casual feel. My cousin said if he bought the place he'd put a huge tv on the right-hand wall, but to each his or her own.

Speaking of my cousin, Saturday night when my dad left the house to go pack for his trip, I realized that the lawn looked awful. The grass was easily a foot tall and just looked like there should be a sign reading, "Tick hotel". So I texted my cousin and asked if he could take care of the lawn before the open house next weekend. First thing Sunday morning he showed up with a mower, a leaf blower, and a weed-whacker. I was so happy I could have cried. That seems to be happening a lot lately, me being on the verge of tears. I think I'm just so exhausted that my body is completely out of wack. 

Anywho, Steven took care of the yard and made it look beautiful again and then walked through the house with me to see what I have left to do and offered help any night this week if I get stressed out. What a sweetie he is. 

While he was talking care of the yard, I had to move the remains of the original deck along with materials that had been torn out of the basement and haul them up to beside our already full dumpster. I called for it to get swapped out for a new one, which I hope is happening today so I can fill that one up. Anyways, I might as well have been doing cross-fit for the amount I was sweating, hauling heavy lumber around the yard. Then I moved on to the deck and screwed in all the boards. It was a nice day so I got to spend a bit of it outside and that helped me not feel too upset.

I spent yesterday painting trim in the basement and there's still so much to do, so I will be working in the city during the day and then driving up to the house every night this week to get the house ready for Sunday's open house. When this house is finally done I will sleep for a full week because right now I'm hardly sleeping at all, and that has nothing to do with the cat who sleeps on my head. 

~ Stephanie

PS. That last photo is my "I can crush this" face. It's probably not clear, but I'm trying to make a muscle.