TheLiFeInPines

The last two weeks have been busy, a little stressful, but also a lot of fun! While Ted was working at the hospital, I was working behind the scenes on getting our Airbnb listing ready, working with the city and the health department to get the required licensing and permits, making lists and putting finishing touches on the project house. On his days off, we were finalizing details and we had our final move in day! The last two rooms of this home are complete.... which means WE DID IT! We finally finished this project and the Cottonwood Koti is officially ready to be opened up to guests! We had a successful open house during the annual Weihnachtfest, so Ted, the kids and I all stayed the night there for the first time! It was also opening day at Giants Ridge, so you know that's where the kids have been from open to close all weekend! We are thrilled to be able to walk you all through the home in this video! Yes, a FULL HOUSE TOUR! We'd love to get your feedback on our completed project! Also, if any of you have any questions at all, please comment below and we'll do our best to answer them in an upcoming video! AS ALWAYS- A monumental amount of gratitude to each an every one of you for sticking with us through this whole thing! There's been ups and downs, but it's the grace of God, unwavering faith in the times of stress and despair, and the endless encouragement and support from you all that we have come to the other side of this with smiles on our faces. Much love to our pine cones and pine nuts! Link to Airbnb Listing airbnb.com/h/ cottonwoodkoti LUE BONA OTTOMAN BENCH: USE CODE ASUMA15 https://www.shopluebona.com/collections/ottoman-bench/products/lue-bona®-gamera-storage-ottoman-bench?variant=42856719483057 Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share #airbnb #fulltour #renovation

Ok we are finally back, we're healthy and we're excited to share what we've been up to the last couple of weeks! We had to take a little bit of time off since covid ran through our house and knocked us down for a bit, but we're back and healthy and ready for the next project! This video has a lot packed into it. We got back into the kitchen at the project house with building a refrigerator cabinet using one of the original vintage metal kitchen cabinets. This was an add-on project that we felt was needed to make the fridge placement look a little more intentional. Did we accomplish that mission? Next up is building a new deer stand for Jenna. We've been saying we need a new one for probably about 3 years. It was old, rickety, the roof was not secure, the door was blown off, and it has already had many "temporary" stabilizing braces to keep it from blowing over. It was time. So we scrounged up as many used materials as well could to construct a new stand for as little money as possible. It was a great project to get the kids involved and help out. We all had a lot of fun and we were officially ready for the 2023 deer hunting season! Affiliate Links: Angle brackets https://amzn.to/3FQVleh Plexi glass https://amzn.to/469x2Tt Ted’s work boots https://amzn.to/46YkwqD Jenna’s work boots https://amzn.to/46zqP4a Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share #kitchen #vintage #deerhunting

We're back at the project house this week and we are SO excited about the progress we've made! It's been so gratifying to complete rooms and see the house transform before our eyes, but this week it's a different kind of satisfaction as we were able to take something old and give it new life in the house! Throughout the demolition process, we took SO MUCH shiplap out of the house and- my gosh- some of the wood was so so so stinking cool. We knew from the first board we removed that we wanted to reincorporate it somewhere in the house. The transition between the kitchen and dining room (where the 2 houses were put together) was a problem just asking for one of these boards to be its solution. Make a faux beam from a single piece of reclaimed shiplap you say? No big deal, right? Oh goodness me... no. This thing was a challenge for a variety of reasons, but we overcame and made it work! Of course we still had lots to do back at home, including harvesting the honey from our bees and prepping the hives for their first winter OUTSIDE! Come along with us as we continue to wrap up the fall chores and get back to knocking another fun project off the to-do list! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

Kids, school, sports, fundraisers, traveling, jobs, filming, editing, home maintenance, computer work, appointments, remodeling, bees, chickens, winter preparations... the list goes on. Sometimes people will say to us: "I don't know how you manage it all." To which we humbly respond: "Only by the grace of God." I know we're not alone in this. Unfortunately with everything that we have going on, it has left little time to connect with friends and family. We miss everyone and we look forward to being able to slow down during the winter months, get back to a manageable schedule and reconnect with the rest of the human race again. It seems like winter always creeps up, and we have a million and one things to do before it nestles in for the long haul. This week we finally got to sealing our dry pour concrete slab - something we've (big surprise) never done before. In between applying coats of the sealer, we harvested potatoes from our embarrassingly neglected garden and planted garlic in our weed-ridden garlic bed. Although these are all considered "chores" we were just thankful to be outside savoring the last of the gorgeous fall days. Or what Ted likes to call "good working weather." Next week, we will resume work on the project house so we can finally get that puppy rented! As always, thanks for following along, and we appreciate your support more than you can imagine! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share Amazon Affiliate Links: Ted’s work boots https://amzn.to/46YkwqD Jenna’s work boots https://amzn.to/46zqP4a Concrete Sealer https://amzn.to/3Qu8boY DRY POUR VIDEOS: https://youtu.be/GC0j2Ey5NNk https://youtu.be/UTroH9MX5pw https://youtu.be/_50MXEHr678 https://youtu.be/i5PwQFQvbd8 https://youtu.be/Nv0AArA9UO0

You know when you have this idea and you plan and live that idea out in your head over and over and over again? That was Ted and me with this idea to do a catch, cook and camp from the floating sauna. We've thought about doing this for years and finally just said... Its time. Every new season of life seems to keep us busier than the last. It seems like we've been going full throttle for months and we needed a quick moment to just slow down for a second and smell the roses.... or in this case, the cedar. It was the perfect way to celebrate 15 years of being married to each other. As I'm sure most people can relate, things rarely go as we planned. We "planned" to head to Alaska for our anniversary this year, but we also thought the project house was going to be done by now. As most of you probably know, we are SO CLOSE, but not quite done and we just didn't want that looming over our heads while on a big trip like that. So we seized this moment and made the best of it. PRODUCT LINKS: Coleman camp stove https://amzn.to/46Uw2Dz Coleman lantern https://amzn.to/48Xj5e3 Stainless steel percolator https://amzn.to/3Q0gCGK Kinders seasoning https://amzn.to/45xQCZ2 Green Pan frying pan https://amzn.to/3RUO6sU Klymit sleeping bag https://amzn.to/3FgpGSW Klymit sleeping pad https://amzn.to/3PVNEYS Klymit pillow https://amzn.to/3FnkooI Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

Another day (or week, rather) another room completed in this project house! Last week we were able to finish the guest bedroom, with a fun and easy DIY to complete the space! We are 2 finished rooms away from being able to rent our project house out! A year and a half in the making and we are so close we can taste it! When we weren't busting booty at the house, we were running kids around to play volleyball and ride mountain bike! It has been so much fun to watch CJ and Finley progress through this season and we're a little sad it's about to come to an end! Farm chores have been patiently waiting for someone to acknowledge them back on the homestead, so Ted was able to take a day to hop on the tractor and get our fields cut. The tractor was being pretty temperamental, but he got her going and was able to finish the job! The property is one step closer to being ready to settle into the long winter! PRODUCT LINKS: TOPTES NATURAL GAS LEAK DETECTOR- USE CODE: XZXWNZ7A for 10% OFF https://amzn.to/3F79O5h Metal bed frame: https://amzn.to/46kxyiq Hairpin table legs: https://amzn.to/3RUB12V Closet organizer: https://amzn.to/3POyzIk Area rug: https://amzn.to/46FJvPn Curtain rods: https://amzn.to/48FlLwx Throw blanket: https://amzn.to/48UyWtQ Wall sconces: https://amzn.to/46GFvhM Finley’s customized volleyball backpack: https://amzn.to/48XMN2D (thank you Lydia from @CajunCountryLivin!!) CJs mountain bike shoes: https://amzn.to/3tmCncv Teddys Georgia Boots: https://amzn.to/3PLKBCk Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

What should have been a quick, easy and very straightforward project, turned into one with failed tools, a product that probably sat on the store shelf too long and a lot (like A LOT) of extra time trying to fix the tools and resolve the problems! But what's new at this point? It's a good thing that Ted and I have a masters degree in on the fly problem solving. We were able to finish sealing our 1950's metal cabinets in preparation for the next step in putting this kitchen back together! COUNTERTOPS! Of course that's not all we tackle in this episode! Ted was on call most of the week, and his long string of "amazing" call days and nights had come to an end. He somewhat resembled a zombie in scrubs by the end of it, but being the incredibly hard working person he is, he still made time to help CJ tune up the dirt bike, cheer Finley on at her volleyball games, and do some spring-turned-fall projects on the chicken coop! We are busier than we've ever been in this season of life, and while we're both living at a constant state of exhaustion, we're still pressing on with our spirits high and our eyes turned up toward the One who holds our life plan in His hands. Thanks again for coming along with us and we hope you enjoy this weeks episode! PRODUCT LINKS: Wagner Sprayer https://amzn.to/3R3J39a Titan Airless Sprayer https://amzn.to/3PkHh1V Jenna’s Sandals 😜 https://amzn.to/48ajfOT Minwax Sealer https://amzn.to/47WWbmf Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

WELCOME TO THE 100TH EPISODE on our channel!!! We didn't even realize it until after we finished filming!! BUT....We want to know what you think! Did we make the right decision in adding the 3/4 bath to this bedroom? It was difficult, it created a lot of problems that needed solutions. From framing to tight trim work, two smaller bedrooms and bathrooms, spaghetti bowl plumbing in the basement, closet locations, extra ventilation, floor patching and uneven transitions, finding showers and vanities to fit *just* perfectly, and the list goes on! But… was it worth all the headache? Ted and I think so, but we want your opinion! Was it worth having a smaller bedroom to have your own 3/4 bath!? Would you want to stay here? Drop a comment and let us know!! ‼️ GIVEAWAY DETAILS: ‼️ ✅Must be subscribed to The LiFe In Pines ✅Comment how many miles you are from Duluth, MN ✅Deadline to enter: September 2nd ✅Winner Announced: September 9th PRODUCT LINKS: INKERMA Bilateral Laser Distance Meter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1RWW961?maas=maas_adg_2FACFA4FEA55452CC93777E23390527C_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas Yellow striped throw blanket: https://amzn.to/45vC3pR Green chevron throw blanket: https://amzn.to/47S0TSC Lamps with charge station: https://amzn.to/47Ozeli Jute Rug (bathroom) https://amzn.to/3OMgOce Oval mirror https://amzn.to/44uymPX Queen Bed head/footboard: https://amzn.to/44mW2Wh Barn door slider hardware: https://amzn.to/47M34H9 Foaming soap dispenser: https://amzn.to/3KWML0i Barn door handles: https://amzn.to/3OQFP64 Shower enclosure: https://amzn.to/45PgBvX Goose down comforter: https://amzn.to/3OUJNK Duvet cover: https://amzn.to/3QQJa7S Bed Pillows: https://amzn.to/45hHpoB #reveal #beforeandafter #giveaway Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

Okay, we had so much fun this week! We packed a lot into this episode so buckle up.... you really never know what you're going to get with us. Were there struggles? YESSS! Were there two people determined to figure them out and laugh along the way? YES! Were there dogs and birds and bikes and a floating sauna? Also YES! It is so rewarding to be finishing yet ANOTHER room in this house, but the real win for the week was spending time with the kids, talks in the car while running them to and from mountain bike and volleyball practice, watching them rip around on the mini bikes, and taking the steamboat out for another sauna-fish-n-cruise. Our days are packed from the moment we wake up to the second we sleep, but I genuinely cannot imagine it any other way. I love the little life we've been given and I couldn't ask for a better family to live it with. It's wild to think that we are *soooo* close to finishing this project house and how life will change, once again, when it is! A big heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who watches, cheers us on and supports us! You are a blessing to our family! xo #reveal #bathroomdesign #diy

We have been SO blessed with Ted's call weekends this year, and this past week was no different! This was one of his busier stretches of work and taking call, but we were still able to knock out a room and get it COMPLETELY FINISHED! AH! It feels so good! We're getting so close we can taste it! Not only were we super productive at the house, but the Lord blessed our farm with another colony of honeybees! Granted, we had to go catch them in swarm form, but that was half the fun! All in all it was a great week here at the ALF, that ended with the kids fishing with new lures that our good friends from @CajunCountryLivin sent up to us! Check out our latest video to see it all! We hope you enjoy! #cajuncountrylivin #honeybee #bathroomdesign Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

We started this week off great with Ted getting the final floors installed.. not a single floor remains to be finished! He even installed the laundry room door which makes a huge difference in the kitchen! The kids were off with their grandma for the weekend so Ted and I were excited to bust some stuff off the list with no worries or cares or agendas. We went to the house excited that we had a plan but when we got there..... that all changed. It was one change of plans after another which completely threw us off and had us feeling like we had taken 3 steps back. So what do we do when nothing seems to go according to plan? We go home, eat some cedar plank halibut, light the sauna (aka the "Finlanders Pharmacy") and take the steamboat out for a sunset cruise. We sweat out all of the days frustrations and washed them away with a refreshing dip in the lake. As the old Finnish saying goes, "If it cant be cured by tar, spirits or sauna, then you'll die. We're happy to report, we're still alive and feeling SO ready to take on what the next week brings! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

Another busy week at the Asuma Lake Farm! Ted was working at the hospital 6 of the 7 days last week, but we were still able to get some stuff done in the in-between time. I even enlisted the help of a stand-in for Teddy to help me finish up a job at the house. That was such fun day! Even though we didn't complete any "big" jobs, it really does feel just as good to cross some smaller things off the to do list. It all has to get done eventually, right!?!??! This week we installed our kitchen appliances, kinda-sorta installed one section of the countertop, finished our floating shelves and installed the kitchen light fixture! Of course we all got plenty of puppy therapy in with our 9 little fur balls still at home. They keep us busy but also full of joy. We continue to reflect back on our lives and this project and cant' help but just thank God for everything we have. Which to some, may not be a lot, but as Ted has always said: "We may not have everything money can buy, but we have everything it can't." Our incredible marriage, our good health, our amazing kids, the beautiful area we live, the free gift of salvation and an eternity in heaven. SO much to be thankful for. Thanks again for watching and we'll see ya up in the pines! We wanted to extend a huge thank you to Graham and Clarissa @colonelw.g.sparkman6931 for donating the refrigerator to our project!!! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

Back at it at the project house this week, and we took some lemons and made some of THE sweetest lemonade. From measuring mishaps, to forgetting tools, to... yes I'm gonna say it.. a total case of the Mondays. You name it we endured it. Mistakes happen, mis measurements happen, dropped or forgotten tools happen, life just happens. But we just see these things as opportunities to stretch our brains (I'm saying that's a thing), think outside the box and exercise our problem solving skills to come up with a solution that works for us! We've done just that and pretty much nailed it... if I do say so myself! We couldn't be more excited to be at this stage and we cant wait to reveal this whole project to you all when we're completely finished! We can FINALLY see the light at the end of the tunnel! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share Winner of the LASGOO LG-3D laser level is @steveh1395- Congratulations! We hope you enjoy your new tool!

It's been about a month since we did our very first (of many to come) dry pour slabs, something we've never done before, and we were not fully prepared for the wrath Mother Nature unhinged on our project. We were SO upset that our finish was not perfect and we weren't able to do this method the justice it deserves, but as in all things, God had a plan. One messed up slab has turned into the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Jim and Lydia from @CajunCountryLivin. We are so thankful for their willingness to share this method of pouring concrete with us and the world, to give people the confidence to be able to think outside the box, go against the grain and DIY the heck out of whatever concrete project you can muster up. We had SO MUCH FUN with Jim, Lydia and Lady and are so grateful came up and helped us get this project done! Not a bit of it felt like actual work, and we are already looking forward to the next project to tackle together.. maybe down in Cajun Country! Big shoutout to Ladly for being the cutest butterfly transporter, Finley for filming and keeping Ladly entertained, and CJ for helping with all the odd jobs and the extra camera angles he filmed for us! Roller Hootis: https://amzn.to/3XbdXxr Roller Hootis handle: https://amzn.to/3JlYvsF Concrete Edger: https://amzn.to/3p9upS4 CONCRETE CALCULATOR LINK: https://www.calculator.net/concrete-calculator.html CAJUN COUNTRY LIVIN' DRY POUR VIDEOS https://youtu.be/GC0j2Ey5NNk https://youtu.be/UTroH9MX5pw https://youtu.be/_50MXEHr678 https://youtu.be/i5PwQFQvbd8 https://youtu.be/Nv0AArA9UO0 Northern Climate Dry Pour Video https://youtu.be/JfLQFPF8Ulk Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

LASGOO LG-3D LASER LEVEL GIVEAWAY DETAILS: TO ENTER: Subscribe to @TheLiFeInPines Comment: Your favorite Pine Tree! (likes and shares are also appreciated!) DEADLINE: July 15, 2023 Winner Announced: July 22nd LINK TO LASER LEVEL: https://amzn.to/3KbdOov LINK TO Wallpaper: https://www.lovevsdesign.com/stamped-mosaic-wallpaper.html Once again, thanks so much for following along! This weeks project was getting some of the freshly painted metal cabinets back up into the kitchen, hanging the upper cabinets and tackling the backsplash! Both of these projects were a breeze thanks to the LasGoo LG-3D Laser Level! Neither Ted or I have ever hung wallpaper before, but honestly, picking out the patterns and colors were the hardest part! Of course, we don't do things in the conventional way... so we ran the wallpaper HORIZONTAL 🤯 to eliminate the vertical seams and conceal edges for maximum waterproof-ness (technical term) for this kitchen backsplash! Mission ACCOMPLISHED, and we absolutely LOVE the outcome! I know not everyone agrees with doing this... but has anyone tried!?!?!? Feel free to follow along to see if this peel and stick wallpaper holds up to the busy traffic of an AIRBNB kitchen! #wallpaper #laserlevel #diy Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

This week has been EXTRA challenging. Mentally, physically and emotionally. A lot has been going on and we (mostly I) have reached max capacity of emotional bandwidth. In these times of feeling defeated, the ONLY thing that ever gets us through and changes our mindset from grief to gratitude, is the power of prayer. But of course, Teds sense of humor DEFINITELY helps too! This week was stage 3 of the metal cabinet restoration -- PAINT! Let us know how you think they turned out and if you're a fan of the color or not! Lauras *FAMOUS* Chocolate Chip Cookies Cream together: 2/3 Cup Shortening 2/3 Cup Softened Butter 1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Brown Sugar ADD To Creamed Mix: 2 Eggs 2 Teaspoons Vanilla In a separate bowl mix together Just under 3 cups Flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2/4 teaspoon salt Mix with batter, Add desired amount of chocolate chips Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. #vintagekitchen #restoration #diy Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

It's been an another busy week around here, and we are so excited to share with you one room we decided to tackle and FINISH! We cannot believe that we have one room done! Well... 99% done. The plan is to just keep this ball rolling and finish one room at a time until this house is COMPLETE! Finishing this room has given us new enthusiasm and excitement that this renovation is coming to an end. I mean, don't get me wrong, we still have a LONG way to go, but the light at the end of the tunnel is much more than a distant flicker now! It's a blazing torch and we are running full speed ahead to reach it! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

It seems like summer is finally here, so Ted and I (and the kids!) took a break from being stuck inside at the project house to turn our attention to something that we've been needing to tackle at home. Let me tell you, it felt SOO GOOD to get outside, breathe that fresh air, turn our faces to the sun, and fully soak up some gorgeous Minnesota weather. So what is it we got to doing? DRY POURING a concrete slab in front of our chicken coop! Ever heard of it? Us either..... until we met Jim and Lydia from @CajunCountryLivin. They have perfected the dry pour concrete method, so we reached out to ask if this method would hold up to the relentless Minnesota winter with its sub zero temps, and frost heaving. We put our heads together, made a plan and got to work. We have done several wet pour concrete projects in the past and they've all cracked. We were so excited to try this and show you all that it CAN be done, ANYONE can do it, and it WILL stand the test of time! CONCRETE CALCULATOR LINK: https://www.calculator.net/concrete-calculator.html CAJUN COUNTRY LIVIN' DRY POUR VIDEOS https://youtu.be/GC0j2Ey5NNk https://youtu.be/UTroH9MX5pw https://youtu.be/_50MXEHr678 https://youtu.be/i5PwQFQvbd8 https://youtu.be/Nv0AArA9UO0 Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

Ted and I can finally say we have another big project under our belts! These maple hardwoods are officially stripped, sanded, cleaned, sealed and FINISHED! Even though this job was a big one, and by no means easy... one thing we both agree on is that this was not NEARLY as bad as doing all the drywall in this place. While this floor still has its flaws, we think it's just imperfectly perfect and couldn't be happier with how they've turned out! It really feels like we're getting somewhere with this place and with every project we complete, our enthusiasm and determination is strengthened! We've had some difficult times, and our relationship has definitely been tested, but when we keep our focus on Jesus, it always brings us closer. Closer to Him, closer to each other and closer as a family. We've found the more we trust Gods plan, and remain obedient, there is unending joy. Our hope is to be able to share that joy with you. As we've said from the beginning, if you cant learn from us (usually our mistakes) we hope you can laugh with us! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

If you are someone who has been tossing around the idea of refinishing your hardwood floors to bring them back to the original beauty, have yourself a little looksy to get an idea of what DIY'ing a project like this entails. One thing Ted and I have become experts at, is underestimating the complexity, difficulty level and how much time projects like these will take. Once we started we worked long, hard days until it was finished. And you know us... it WAS NOT all smooth sailing. We bring it to you as real as it gets with the problems and setbacks we had along the way. As we were looking back through this footage, we were genuinely surprised by our own perseverance through another doozy of a project. We kept saying "I cant believe *we* did this!" The days we spent sanding these floors became fuzzy and quickly a distant memory as we let our bodies recover from countless hours spent bending over, looking down, and wrangling heavy, powerful sanding machines. Not to mention the braincells we probably lost by inhaling toxic stripper fumes.. I kept thinking of the Beatles song " I get high with a little help from my friends." :::sigh::: but WE DID IT! And here they are... NEXT UP: FINISHING these puppies! SO EXCITED!

Another day, another project! This time the kids came to help out and we were able to teach them a thing or two about slinging paint! They had their own ideas about what should be prioritized during our work day, but like always, it led to lots of giggles and fun memories made. So now, painting is officially done and dried, Teds homemade stilts have been retired, but there's one thing we cannot seem to agree on... and that is the color of the paint in the bathroom... is it GREEN or is it BLACK?!?!? While we were endlessly bantering about what color the bathroom is, we were able to finish up a lot of little projects that have been lingering on the to do list for months. We have SO MUCH MORE to show you guys, so we hope you'll stick around! The home stretch is SO CLOSE! Follow along with real time updates and day to day life on Instagram: @thelifeinpines https://instagram.com/the.life.in.pines?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennafer.asuma?mibextid=LQQJ4d Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12ST3Y6T5NT6U?ref_=wl_share

The last two months.. yes... TWO MONTHS have been wild. Who are we kidding, the whole last year has been wild, honestly. But this drywall job has been something else. So many times we've been frustrated or feeling defeated. We've run into unexpected problems. We've struggled to keep our lighthearted attitudes and sense of humor. We've been mentally exhausted and our bodies have physcally ached. But giving up was never an option. Maybe because we didn't want (aka couldn't afford) to pay someone to come and finish it for us...lol but maybe it was because we started this beast and, though it felt like it may NEVER END, we want to experience that sweet feeling of accomplishment that we knew was eventually coming. We have FINALLY finished this drywall project and the victory tastes as sweet as we thought it would. Now we're on to the next phase which is prepping for primer and paint! Our sense of excitement and energy has returned in full force and we are so ready to move on to all the fun stuff!