Sunday, December 13, 2009

A Floor and a Fire

Wow, it has been a long time since I've posted. I've been neglecting my blog and I've been neglecting visiting YOU and I apologize. It's been a crazy few weeks here with working on the kitchen. It turned out to be a much bigger project than we had anticipated! The floor is done and the room is almost put back together. I want to put some finishing touches on it and then I'll show you the whole thing. There is a sneak peek at the bottom of this post along with a story about it. Wait, wait! Don't go to the bottom yet....I want to show you our bedroom trees first!!


This is the only Christmas decorating I have been able to do so far......


Hailey's tree, pink and sweet.....




Ella wanted a purple tree to go with her room. She has a very small space so we chose a mini tree for in here to go on her dresser...

Her room is on the list for some attention this coming year. Her mouldings will be painted, the carpet replaced....well, I'll save that for another time. Here's a close up of her tree with its crazy colors. She loves it!

And Emidio's green tree. Green is his favorite color ever. Everything is green recently. Too bad I can't get him to eat any green vegetables. The green obsession ends there.....





His tree is filled with puzzle ornaments. Very easy to do. I just used a needle to make a hole and put them on ornament hooks....


And last but not least, our gold and silver tree......






The tree "skirt" is brown toile fabric that I folded under and wrapped around the tree. No sewing, no fuss. And now if I want to use the fabric for something else in the future, I can.



Now onto the floor. The adhesive that was on the floor was so thick and stubborn it took 5 days of sanding to get it off. Then there was the green paint around the edges, most likely oil based, that was also extremely stubborn. Once all the sanding was completed, we were so excited to be able to put some stain on there.


My husband was almost done with the stain last Friday night when he realized there were some spots on the floor. Upon closer inspection we realized they were......paw prints! The dogs must have run through the kitchen with damp paws while it was bare wood. These stains were showing right through the stain. We were so upset. No....make that extremely upset. We realized the only way to get these marks out would be to re-sand the entire floor. If we sanded just the marks, the stain would then be uneven.


We went to bed that night feeling completely defeated. It had been two weeks without a stove, the house a complete disaster, no holiday fun going on.....


We swore there would never be a project done right before Christmas again....never again.


The next morning we got up and dressed right away to head out to Lowes for more sandpaper and more stain. As we drove away from our house, my husband whipped the car around and said, "Oh my God, the house is on fire." I thought I heard him wrong. A fire, what? Sure enough, a few homes down from us, smoke was pouring from the roof of a twin home. He pulled over, and ran to the side of the twin that wasn't on fire to tell the couple living there to get out. They had smelled the smoke but at that point had no idea it was coming from the home attached to them. I called 911 with a shaking voice and we heard the sirens in town right away. At this point my husband went to the side that was on fire and kicked the door open to yell inside. No one was home. Windows started to break near the fire....it was a devastating sight.


We watched in horror as neighbors lost their home and a crowd gathered to see the firefighters work.


The day was heavy on our hearts.....



We couldn't imagine losing our home, the precious things we hold dear....our photos, special items passed down from family. All the things that can't be replaced.







What if this had been our home?



(Photo Credit: Here )


After this experience we realized our problems were small. A few paw prints, oh well. We left them alone. We sealed right over them. A reminder of a day we won't forget, a reminder of how lucky we are to have our home and our family.

I think the floor is beautiful and I can't wait to show you the rest of it!


Have a safe and happy Sunday!

41 comments:

A Southern Rose said...

First of all your trees are beautiful...all of them. Second, seeing that burning house reminded me of when I was a little girl and my grandparent's home burned down. I was in 4th grade but I remember it like yesterday. I had all of my things at her house,baby dolls,books,clothes,school books,etc. I kept everything at her house. She lived right next to us. It was devastating to me at that age. Now of course I realize that there is more important things than those things. They were in shock for what seemed like months. I feel so bad for your neighbors.

Your floors look gorgeous. Paw prints and all!

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Anonymous said...

Hi Michelle,

I am so glad to see a new post from you as you have been missed by me. Did I ever tell you that your blog was the first decorating blog I ever went to? I found it on Rate My Space.
I HAVE lost my home to a fire, it was in January 1996. I had 3 young sons at the time with the youngest being 4 months old. We had built our home from the ground up in Martin County, FLORIDA. We did not know for 9 1/2 years we had been living in a two-story home with a faulty gas water heater until it CAUGHT FIRE with all of us in the house! We all survived, thanks to the Lord for getting us all out, without any injuries. Your neighbors will get through this too. But it is a long road without all of your family photos. We lost a lot of material things but we were left with our ENTIRE family so we couldn't be happier. And yes, we ended up in a bigger and better home in a water front area so now we have a boat slip. So sad to think about it sometimes, though. But we are proof that life goes on and only better things are on the horizon.
I still don't like to have any candles burning since it ia always in the back of my mind.
Have a great week ahead,
JolieAnne

Patricia said...

Oh wow!
We had a fire a few years back and were displaced for 4 months while the house was being rebuilt
A house fire forever changes you!
God Bless that family and you for calling 911!
As an aside: When we had our fire I was such a mess I called 911 three times and hung up on them!

Anonymous said...

Hi! We have missed you!!! Your story is amazing.. I feel so bad for those people. I hope the community pulls together for them.

The Lord works in ways we don't understand doesn't he? Your husband saved those people, how amazing. Those puppy paw prints.. you'll always have a story to tell now :)

I forgot to let you know I did get your package awhile back.. I am going to start my blog back up in the New Year to do my give-away.

Your floor is amazing btw :)

Theresa said...

Your room trees are beautiful. And you are right, in the grand scheme of things, dog prints are no big deal. Isn't it interesting how sometimes it takes sad circumstances to make us put things into proper perspective?

Darlene said...

What a SCARY situation but so wonderful that you were able to tell the couple to get out of the home. It would be such a sad, tragic situation to lose everything....but as long as the family is safe, that above all, is what is important.

The floor looks like it turned out BEAUTIFULLY. Also, I LOVE everyone's individual trees...so sweet and special.

Hope you have a wonderfully, blessed Sunday.♥

Kendra@My Insanity said...

What a frightening and poignant lesson! Glad you are OK. We are very blessed, aren't we? Can't wait to see your floor!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Wonderful post girl...and a great reminder of how truly blessed we are...Your floor looks just beautiful my friend...Loved seeing your wonderful home once again...Many Blessings to you....hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Unknown said...

I like all the trees....I really like your gold and silver one. I've become fond of mixing the two colors. I put some gold blingy ornaments in an old gray granite pail and dh commented how it was an interesting mix of old and fancy. I told him that's exactly what I love about it!

Have a blessed day!

Nancy

Kim said...

Oh my what a story! My in-laws lost everything to a fire in March. They are slowly putting their lives back together after just moving back. What an ordeal. Really helps to put things in perspective!

susan said...

I LOVE that you left the paw prints---a constant reminder of gratitude! The story and the lesson it will teach your children will mean far more than a perfect floor ever could! Love the kids' trees!

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

You and DH are heros for discovering and reporting the fire and making sure the folks were out and safe. I lost my home in a fire on April 3, 1979. That date is one of the time markers in my life.

Melissa Miller said...

Oh my goodness Michelle!
I hope everyone was okay. We too witnessed our neighbors home on fire this past summer due to a lightning strike. It is so scary and sad to see. My prayers are with them at this time.

Your floor is gorgeous!

Many Blessings, ~Melissa :)

Unknown said...

Oh my that must have been a terrible thing to watch. And yes that makes paw prints small. I'm glad you left them in. Think of it if you didn't get the paw prints then you might not have left the house to see the fire. Things do happen for a reason.
The floors are beautiful!

Theresa said...

OH MY! Love the trees and the fabric skirt! Wow, sometimes we get a reminder of how lucky we are, right? I am so thankful nobody was hurt in the fire but I know it is awful for them to have this happen at all but especially at Christmas! Bless you and happy to hear that you didn't sweat the footprints, the floor is gorgeous!

Old Centennial Farmhouse said...

First let me say that sometimes the Lord just lets us have a little perspective....and it changes our thinking, what a wonderful change of attitude about the floor...just in a split second! I am so happy for you, it does look WONDERFUL...and so do all the cheerful trees you put around your beautiful home. I wish you the merriest of Christmases...
XOXO
Joni

Claudia said...

Oh, how terrible for your neighbors! I'm glad your husband was there to help the people living next door. The paw prints will be a reminder that life is precious and you have each other.

xo
Claudia

Rachel~Wildflower Photography Studio and Wildflower Creative said...

Hey Michelle...been wondering where you were. :) I lovely trees and your floors are GORGEOUS! :) So sad to hear about your neighbors home. :( They are in my prayers.

Smiles,
Rachel

aprilfoolwed said...

Michelle - I haven't been blogging for a long time, but I stopped by to see how your home is coming. Love the little Christmas trees for each of the kids. I never thought to do that - perhaps next year?

How scary about the fire! But it truly does put things in perspective. We had a recent death in the family which spanned the rest of us to attention too. {{HUGS}}}

Lisa

southerninspiration said...

I did a post once about being in the right place at the right time. Discovering the paw prints that sent you on a trip to Lowe's, the seeing the house on fire and saving the lives of the people in it. Those paw prints are a reminder of God's faithfulness and His using you.....glad you left them. That floor is gorgeous, and I hope you'll have a Merry Christmas.....and remember HIM who saved both of those people and you. Take care,

much love,
Suzanne

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Your post made me start to cry. It is horrible someone lost their home to a fire. Horrible. But it is good for us to have reminders of the things that are important. Now on a much lighter note ;) I love all the different colored, shiny trees in your house! And the floors, oh my goodness, they are stunning!!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh my -- those poor people! I can't even imagine how devastating a house fire would be. How wonderful that you were able to warn them before it was even more tragic. Your trees are such fun! And can't wait to see your kitchen reveal -- that floor looks beautiful and eventually those little paw prints will be endearing.

English Cottage in Georgia said...

The trees and floor are beautiful! So sorry about your fire experience - uncontrolled fire and water frighten me so - do not even like to think about it!

Anonymous said...

You guys have really been busy, older homes are so much work but they truly are worth it. Seeing a fire like that is so devastating, there seems to always be fires at Christmas time, glad no one was injured. Your floor looks amazing.

LeAnn

Rue said...

OMG... how devastating. I started crying and had to pull myself together since Rich's kids are here. I can't imagine. Sweetie, don't worry about paw prints. I have a few myself and some dog hair to boot. Nothing like a little character right? ;)

Your trees are darling. every. single. one.

(((hugs)))
rue

artis1111 said...

I had a housebtomburn down and got nothing out. That wasn when I was married the first time. My hubbie now and I just had a water pipe to burst 2 weeks ago. The damage is at 40 thousand and it is going to take 2 months to fix. I am picking out new floor tomarrow. We put the first ones down AND ARE JUST GLAD WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT THIS DOWN.HEHEH Kathy

Amy M in Indiana said...

Oh my, this story almost made me cry. I think it was right of you not to fix the floor -and I think God placed you at that fire at the right time --to put all in perspective. The floor will remind you of all you have, and even your pets, too! The floor looked great, so this is just a little bit of "character" for you guys! Merry Christmas!

Diva Kreszl said...

what an incredible story...those beautiful paw prints will always be a blessed reminder of all there is to be grateful for...even our four legged friends!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Michelle...Love all of your trees! I think it is so fun that you have one for each bedroom! And thanks for the story...sort of puts things in perspective here at Christmass time, doesn't it? I can't wait to see the finished product! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Pam @ Frippery said...

The trees are charming. Small things seem big until compared with the really big things. I think leaving the paw prints is a wonderful idea. It just lends character to your beautiful floor.

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

How sad about that home. Things like that do make you realize that the little annoyances in life are just that... annoyances. I think you did a wonderful thing by keeping the paw prints as a reminder to never lose sight as to what is really important. Thanks for sharing this story. And, your bedroom trees are gorgeous! I love the gold and silver one in your room.

heyruthie said...

so glad you sealed right over those lovely paw prints. that fire really brings it all into perspective. thank you God for everyone's safety!

ashlina {the decorista} said...

wow...those trees are awesome...
i LOVE the pink one. its adorable.
i love your blog too, just found it am enjoying it

:)

Artsy Fartsy Junkin Finds said...

I feel awful for those that lost their home! My girlfriends puppy did that to their hardwoods before they dried a few years back! YIKES! Thanks so much for stopping in to vist, Love all your trees! Just gorgeous! Blessings, Janna

Dawn said...

How devastating for your neighbors! I just can't imagine!

Your floors are absolutely beautiful!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

Thanks for your sweet comment and becoming a follower! Made my day.

Anonymous said...

Oh, my goodness! How awful! Your poor neighbors! A fire would be a terrible thing. Thankful your home was okay and how brave of your husband to kick down the door to check if anyone was in there!
I'm so sorry this happened.

Your floor is lovely and I kinda like it that you saved the little dog prints under the glaze.
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

Ive been neglecting mine, too!

The little trees are so cute. My kids each have one also. I guess this year I need to find another for Morgie.

That is so scary! So sad :(

mustard seeds said...

Your floors look beautiful. It may be kind of special to have those paw prints one day. That makes it home. I feel bad for your neighbors. My aunt's house burned down to the ground many years, and they lost 4 pets, but they were spared. It really was hard, and took quite a toll on them. I hope the community helps them like they did my aunt's family.

Angie said...

Your post brought tears to my eyes. We just went through a house fire on October first and it was devastating in ways you never imagine. And yet... We've learned so much, grown so much closer as a family. It's amazing what comes out of an experience like that.

Missy in Texas said...

I just came across this post. What a great story. I love that you kept the paw prints on the floor.
Suddenly having the perfect floor wasn't so important.