For the past several months I have been Pinteresting the crap out of re-doing our entry/mudroom area... it has been 20 read that again... TWENTY YEARS since we have done anything TO IT!!!! It was time... I sent CountryDad a bunch of links and talked to CountryMum about all my ideas... there was measuring and drawing and we committed to February break.... Let's be REAL though about the BEFORE......Please note... pics of Husband and I from 2001ish and Reebsie... awww....also yes... Husband does in fact have TOO MANY headlamps AND flashlights...
That curtain is circa apartment in the big city I'm pretty sure so that was 20+ years ago...and please note the bench....
It's NEVER CLOSED... it ALWAYS looks like this when you walk into my house... ALWAYS....
and then there is THIS... nothing screams I built in early 2000 like a good 'ol brass light fixture... and how's about that wood stove smoke stained ceiling? I mean.... keepin' it REAL here....
So on Saturday AM CountryDad and I hit the Depot to start getting supplies.... On Sunday he came to me with some ideas of things he had seen at Low's and on Monday AM we (including CountryMum and Savannah) went to Lowe's to hunt and gather the rest.... This is the part where CountryDad saved himself a TON of time and me a TON of $$... we ended up buying a piece of butcher block countertop for him to make into a bench... it was $131...we got it to the register.... it rang up as $80... there were a couple of dings in the wood (which would end up either getting cut off or be on the underside of my bench never to be seen again) but CountryDad talked the manager into discounting it to $60!!!! HOORAY!!!!
When we got home we got busy....when I say "we" I mean Dad and Husband....
Other people were doing things like this.... (gals had Charley and Harper over to play)
and Nana put the puppy to sleep SEVERAL times...
On Tuesday I had to work but Husband and CountryDad got AFTER it!!! They started putting up the board and batten and BUILT THE BENCH!!!! Wednesday Husband took the gals fishing and the CountryRents had appointments so I was on.my.own. with a puppy AND to pick out the stain color... YIKES!!!
It was also 60 degrees out and SOOOOO AMAZING to be outside finishing furniture again... it makes me excited and overwhelmed to think about our kitchen table and chairs....
What you can't see in these pictures is the puppy who was trying to get into anything and everything while still attached to a leash....
From the first swipe I was in LOVE with the color... so so happy!
I ended up doing another two coats on the top because I wanted it just a little darker and to make sure it had really soaked into the butcher block...
Thursday AM had us up and at 'em early... I mean the puppy helps with that but we knew we had a bunch to tackle before CountryDad could move forward and we didn't want to hold him up...this guy did ALL the high stuff and the cutting in for me so I could roll.....
and paint all the trim...
Bench is in... see it there?? 😍 See also my two fav guys...
Meanwhile... we had agreed to take on Savannah's sister for an overnight...but the initial meet and greet did NOT go well... I had yet more supplies to get at Lowe's so I picked up Miss B's friend on the way and we took Savannah for another outing to separate the pups.
When I say it didn't go well... it never got ANY better... we ended up having to keep them separated :( for the rest of the time and this one's foster dad had to come and pick her up after he got out of work... 
CountryMum rocking the baby to sleep again... and the baby not minding one bit...
On Thursday night the gals had a sleepover at Harper and Charley's so Husband and I spent the snow storm on Friday doing this...
and this of course.....
but by the end of the night (and I mean like 7:00) it looked like this....
and in the daylight....
On Saturday and Sunday I got busy polying the top of the bench. I ended up having to add a little more stain in places but I'm so happy I took the extra step.....
I am calling this "Part 1" because I will do another post once I have the decorations and storage options and REALITY of using our new UPDATED space! I absolutely LOVE IT and I'm so THANKFUL for Husband and CountryDad spending a week making my dreams REALITY! Now... who's ready to tackle the Master Bedroom?? (insert evil laugh)
