Deer vs. Car, Water vs. The Entire Downstairs, and oh yeah - Don't Forget to Vote!

 Driving home last Sunday evening on one of our dark, windy, mountain roads a deer ran into our car.

Everyone, including the deer (thank goodness) were okay.  The car was jam packed with our luggage and some random stuff from shopping trips and a project Donald is working on that he brought home with him to complete.  

The car needs some work

The stuff in the car went flying.

Thankfully, Annabelle was tucked safely in her cart.

We were pretty shaken, but happy that the car was able to get us those last couple of miles home.

We usually have a small herd of deer sleeping in our back yard, so I opened the back door and called out that their Uncle Buck had had a bit of a mishap, but was okay.  He'd probably be here pretty soon.

I love our deer and I was upset that this had happened.  They know our place is a safe place for them and I felt like we had let them down.  (don't judge me . . .  🙃 )

Happy to be home, I had a cup of coffee and turned in.

Donald, however, couldn't settle until the car was unpacked.  Where he got this energy after a 9 drive home is a mystery to me.

Like I said, it has been a week.

Some of the shopping I did was specifically for some items to help me do some organizing.

Our house is small.  A lack of space is problematic.

Having that long drive home from Birmingham gave us time to talk about some possible solutions - focusing on the kitchen.

Donald has a real aptitude for these types of projects, and he enjoys them.

On our first full day home, last Monday, we ignored the suitcases needing unpacking, measured a kitchen wall, agreed on some shelving, and off Donald went to Lowe's Hardware.  

For a guy who normally hates shopping, he is like a kid in a candy store once he gets into a place like Lowe's.

When he returned home a few hours later with shelving, brackets, etc., it was to discover that our entire downstairs was flooded due to a failed water heater.

Y'all.

What.

A.

Mess.

Bless Don Barley's heart.  He has worked really hard all week cleaning up the mess downstairs.  First using his shop vac to get up all the water which took a couple of full days and nights.  Then ran the carpet cleaner a few times to get rid of the odor.  Our carpet cleaner died, so he bought a new one to finish the job.

Moved a bunch of stuff in order to dismantle and remove old water heater.

Brought in and hooked up new water heater.

We both lost track of how many trips he has had to make to Lowe's Hardware.

So.

Things in this little house are a mess.  

In the process of getting back to normal, but we're not there yet.

The insurance adjuster has already sent a check to cover the damage to our car, now we just need to get that taken care of.

Another insurance adjuster will be coming out to look at all the water damage caused by  the hot water heater.  

This is going to require a LOT of work. 

 There are many  bookshelves, filled to the brim with books, that need to be emptied, removed, and replaced.

Nasty carpet pulled up and replaced.

The kitchen organization project is on hold, of course, with the new shelving still in the car.

Send good thoughts!

And - early voting is beginning in some places - - - 

Don't Forget to Vote!!!!!!!