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Oh boy, it’s been a whirlwind of per week! I’m very grateful to work from home. Between how typically Bennett will get sick, and all the employees that must be let into the home, I absolutely would have been fired by a standard firm by now.

“Sarah, we all know you’re a tough employee, and also you someway all the time handle to get your work finished, but it surely says right here that you just missed roughly 165 days within the final month. I’m not even positive how that math works, however you’ve been gone A LOT”.

In case you missed the most recent drama, final week I discussed that our contractor went to begin laying my dad’s new flooring. The plan had been to affix the brand new flooring with the previous flooring that hadn’t been eliminated. Aaaaaaaand, he discovered mildew on the cork underside of the planks. Blast.

This week discovered a Dry Field pod being delivered to our driveway. After transferring every thing in my dad’s residence 3 times (which was additionally housing our cabinets, books, and toys from our a part of the basement), I refused to play “transfer the crap” hopscotch once more.

Servpro got here again out on Friday to maneuver every thing into the pod. Not solely do I by no means need to transfer anything ever once more, however insurance coverage is protecting it. Nice, finished and finished.

The Servpro pack-out began a day of utmost highs and EXTREME lows. I’m able to be finished with this. I’m able to not make extra selections and never juggle every thing.

HIGH – they got here out Friday morning to begin packing and mentioned my transfer was probably the most organized that they had seen in years. I requested them to place it in writing. They laughed and didn’t notice I used to be critical.

HIGH – for the reason that pack-out was so quick (because of my organizing!), they obtained authorization to begin the ground demo THAT day. We’d have needed to wait till this coming week. Who-hoo!

Earlier than they may begin the demo, they needed to take moisture readings of the flooring. I’m not a water injury knowledgeable (but), however they defined that readings 16% and decrease indicated that issues have been “dry”.

Virtually the entire remaining flooring was 16% or decrease. This was a difficulty as a result of it’s exhausting to clarify to insurance coverage why they have been ripping up “dry” flooring. I defined that it’s been drying since November 2nd and it doesn’t shock me that it’s studying as dry, however damnit, I SMELL MOLD.

They needed to take away solely a bizarre part of the flooring that was studying at 17% however then go away the remainder attributable to “dry” readings. They have been so good however positively decrease on the org chart and didn’t need to get in hassle.

I lastly obtained our insurance coverage adjustor on speaker cellphone and had him 1) inform them to take ALL the flooring 2) inform them he was calling their supervisor to authorize it in order that they wouldn’t get in hassle. Wonderful, let’s get this present on the highway, I assumed! <—–foreshadowing, my mates. Foreshadowing.

I had helped them transfer issues throughout the pack-out and I had been cleansing as they went, however for the demo, I used to be working in our a part of the basement so I used to be close by if that they had questions. I sat down at my laptop computer and it wasn’t 5 minutes earlier than I hear “um, Sarah, we discovered why you retain smelling mould”.

EXTREME LOW – My mates, you’ll by no means imagine this. There’s a small gradual leak underneath my dad’s sink or dishwasher. The ground in entrance of it was moist and gross however dry sufficient to not visually buckle. The Servpro individuals and I have been buds by then and I requested them if it ever obtained exhausting solely ever telling individuals dangerous information. They mentioned it did.

This hadn’t been a part of the flooring they have been initially licensed to take away. If I hadn’t pushed for insurance coverage to approve it, this by no means would have been discovered. I assume that’s the silver lining of this poop-colored rainbow.

A couple of issues: 1) the flooring goes allllllll the best way underneath my dad’s base cupboards and large pantry cupboards. 2) these cupboards have been custom-made to be increased to accommodate my dad’s peak 3) these cupboards weren’t low-cost 4) who the hell is aware of the place this leak is, find out how to repair it, and the way lengthy it would take to order new cupboards.

Servpro might be coming again out this coming week to stroll by way of the method of eradicating the bottom cupboards and figuring out the leak. Y’all, I’m TIRED. I’m uninterested in the drama, the backwards and forwards, and the goalpost consistently being moved. I’ve been coping with this since November 2nd and I need to be finished.

My dad’s well being and bodily calls for of getting ADA-accessible lodging for a 6’8 ft human are quite a bit totally different than most individuals. It’s actually exhausting to pivot and determine it out when you may’t truly bodily pivot (ha!).

Life is extra sophisticated when your dwelling house needs to be personalized. With a view to roll with the punches, you’ve gotten to have the ability to roll.

We’ll determine it out, we all the time do. However I used to be already close to the breaking level of my being accountable for different individuals’s crap. Two weeks in the past we thought this venture can be finished in days. Then it moved to 5-6 weeks with the moldy flooring. And now…?

I hereby flip in my resignation for being an grownup. I’m finished. Everybody else can simply determine it out. I hand over.

It hasn’t all been mould and drama, although it completely felt like that! Final Sunday was Bennett’s “household” celebration and it was a lot enjoyable. It’s been nearly 4 years since I’ve had that many aunts, uncles, cousins, and mates in my home.

Bennett had a good time and beloved the cake that he designed and that I attempted to implement. I’ve been low on effs to present, so I made a decision to serve Costco pizza for this social gathering. It was a success and there have been hardly any leftovers. New custom made.

It was additionally the primary gathering with little cousins and a few mates that the children might simply be off on their very own. There are lots of milestones in a mother or father’s life when issues shift and life will get just a bit bit simpler.

Katie likes to say that when children study to pump their legs on a swing, you unlock the following section of parenting. However I’ll add that when children could be alone whereas taking a shower, and after they can play at a celebration with out parental hovering are my two favourite milestones.

Rising up, we all the time had a “household” social gathering and a “pal’s social gathering” for our birthdays. Two separate events for 2 separate teams. My mother’s mother and father and sister, and my dad’s brother lived two hours from us, so I feel this was a method to verify we noticed one another at the very least twice a 12 months.

To not point out your pal don’t annoy your older relations, and your older relations don’t bore the snot out of your pals. It’s a little bit extra work to have two events, but it surely’s how I grew up and one thing we’ve tried to do for the boys.

Bennett’s “pal” social gathering was yesterday at a small non-public indoor pool. It’s a teeny pool, however one that’s shallow (nice for the little children) and really heat. It’s additionally DIRT CHEAP to hire for a celebration. I feel they set the costs in 1965 and by no means up to date them.

And since the pool is so tiny, there isn’t any house to soundly serve meals, so I didn’t even have to supply snacks! I made cupcakes and handed them out in to-go containers within the car parking zone. And Bennett gave out some goodie baggage as his mates left. You’ll by no means guess what the theme of the social gathering was. 🙂

General I’m not an enormous fan of single-use kitchen objects. However, this week I caved and at last purchased this meat masher factor, and I’m formally in love. I’ve all the time used a pastry cutter when cooking floor meat, and whereas it really works nice (and is free), I’ve a brand new skillet that may’t have metallic utensils used on it.

I used the meat masher factor (official title, obvs) on Wednesday whereas making Immediate Pot Tortellini Soup and it labored so fantastically. Mobility points are all the time on the forefront of my thoughts, and I feel this might be actually useful for anybody who has arthritis or restricted use of their palms.

READER SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Lengthy-time reader, Myra, left this five-star evaluation on our tutorial for do-it-yourself brown sugar {Pin this}:

So I used to be all set to make my favourite baked oatmeal recipe. I gathered all my elements..oh no! Brown sugar was not within the pantry. You rescued me and my baked oatmeal. I went old fashioned with a whisk and had beautiful brown sugar in lower than 5 minutes. Thanks!

ON SUSTAINABLE COOKS THIS WEEK

Sheetpan Rooster Thighs – With contemporary herbs and a scrumptious garlic lemon marinade, these Sheet Pan Rooster Thighs and potatoes make a tremendous weeknight dinner. Your favourite flavors come collectively in a tasty one-pan dish. {Pin this recipe}

Pesto Rice – This Pesto Rice is a quick weeknight facet dish that the entire household will love! Made on the stovetop or within the Immediate Pot, this tasty rice dish is nice for meal prep. {Pin this recipe}

Confessions – everybody’s favourite foolish publish of the month.

MEAL PLAN

Monday:: Immediate Pot Potato Soup and veggies.

Tuesday:: Testing out a brand new recipe and we’ll have veggies on the facet.

Wednesday:: Troy is making dinner and we’ll be excited to eat it!

Thursday:: Take out to assist a neighborhood small enterprise and my sanity.

Friday:: Air Fryer Pretzel Canine and many veggies. I’ll double the recipe and freeze half of them raw for future quick dinners.

Saturday:: Popcorn, leftovers, and film night time.

Sunday:: TBD, depends upon what we’ve leftover within the fridge.

What are you having this week?