Man Cave 4--Roofing

We have roofing!!!! This is getting to be so fun.

Here's the front of the house.

Here's the man on the covered patio of his man cave.

Man Cave 3--We have walls!!!!

The man cave is now framed in, and I can imagine what it'll be like finished. Of course, I'm now plagued by self-doubt. Did I do this right or should I have made this bigger? Etc.

Rocky, the hubbie, is complaining that there's no wall space. Okay, so maybe I did go a teensy bit overboard on the windows, but hey, he has one 7-foot wall and one 5-foot wall to work with. What more could he want? Besides, think of the money we'll save on artwork.

I've redesigned the laundry room a dozen times. I need a dramatic theme for the laundry room. I'm considering an apple theme for the powder room. After all, I was raised in Eastern Washington apple country. Then I'll paint the walls red? What do you think?

All in all, I know it'll be wonderful.

Coming next: Trusses and a roof!!!!

Man Cave 2--No More Patio

The patio is gone and the man cave is in the first stage of construction. The foundation should be poured this week. This is my least favorite part of building because it's boring. I like framing the best because it goes so fast and you can see the biggest change.

I was happy to see that the purple Rhodie survived. I thought it might have to go.


I've spent part of the week running around to furniture stores, Lowes, Home Depot, Costco, Sears, etc. If they sell home furnishing or home improvement items, I've been there. Let's just say I'm doing my part to stimulate the economy. I know of three furniture stores that are glad I walked in the door. ;)

Stay tuned for the next installment.

The Building of a Man Cave

Tomorrow we start the building an addition on our house. My husband calls it his "man cave." I let him think that, but the secret is that it's actually my library. Shhhh. Don't tell him.

This isn't the first time I've built. I've actually built two houses previously, including the one we currently live in. We hired a great contractor, and we're trying to do everything right so we don't forget anything, yet stay within budget.

Anyway, in addition to the library/man cave, we'll have a big laundry room and a powder room. The man cave will have a wet bar and a fireplace, not to mention a covered porch.

So below is the before picture. The addition is going where the current patio is, right off those french doors.

So stay tuned for my construction updates. I'll post pictures as the building progresses.

I can't wait.

Spring Update

I'm pleased to say that The Gift Horse should be in print within the next month or so. I'll keep you posted.

I'm working on the final edits to Fourth and Goal. I hope to have it submitted soon.

I'll be at the Lori Foster's Get Together along with my good friend Allie K. Adams in June. I'll be signing my first two books. Please stop by and say hi if you're there.

On a personal note, my husbanda and I are busy planning an addition onto our home. He thinks it's going to be a "man cave." It's really my library, but he doesn't know that yet. ;)

Have a great spring.

Conrad Schumacher

I posted my first installment about the Conrad Schumacher dressage symposium on the Equestrian Ink blog. If you're a rider, check it out.

I'm currently working on my m/f football hero romance. I need to do one more round of edits before I submit it. My goal is to have it ready to submit in May.

I'll be at the Lori Foster readers get together in June. If you're going to be there, please let me know. I'd love to me you.

Balance

Ever since I sold my first book last year, I've completed six books, edited several, and promoted the published ones. It's been a whirlwind year. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I've also put on twenty pounds, my house is a mess, my friends don't remember my name, and my horse doesn't have clue who I am.

My life needs balance. Lately, I've been staying off the Internet (the biggest time vacuum around) and doing things other than writing. I'm paying attention to my house, planning an addition onto it, spending more time with family and friends, and reconsidering my decision not to show my horse.

I'm still going to write, but I need to find a middle ground. So I'm writing one hour in the evening and trying to keep my Internet time to a minimum.

I spent this past weekend at a Conrad Schumacher dressage symposium. This man is the master of all masters, in my opinion. It was incredible and inspired me to ride my horse, an inspiration I haven't felt in a long time.

So, I'm working on balance. I suspect my books will be better for it.