Johnson Home of Eastern North Carolina

 Don't let the picture intimidate you. I learned how to use power tools this summer and I feel pretty gangster about it.  I’m back!! It’s been a solid 6.5 years since I last shared here. So so so much has changed in that time. Like the world is upside down these days. It feels real heavy most days.  So here’s the long and the short of it: since my last blog post here, we have moved into our forever home #buildingonbuckhorn , built my carpenter husband’s shop (pictured just outside of it), and the same weekend we moved into our home, found out we were expecting our daughter. Our family is now complete. At my last post I was a full time librarian who had a side hustle in direct sales on the side to help fund the building of our home on my family’s farm. Nowadays I am working that side hustle full time from home while homeschooling my kids and raising up a homestead.  It’s pretty neat to be encouraged by perfect strangers on the internet to go back to blogging again. I share a lot on

  The end is rapidly approaching. We are so excited but can't believe this is it. This is our forever home! I have so much packing to do and so little motivation to do it. I know, I know-- I should be literally throwing crap into bags and boxes so they'd be ready to throw on the trailer and high-tail it to our new digs. Basically I can't pack because we are still packed from when we moved from Greenville TWO years ago! Everything that I need to pack is an every day item. Anyways, I've been slack on posting lately but here is the finished product. We are so happy and proud of this project. Our plan did a complete 180 from the beginning to end but we couldn't be happier that we chose Etheridge Custom Homes to build our forever/dream home. Willie, Margaret, and Tyler are top-notch. The work ethic, organization, and communication is unmatched. We prayed about this endeavor and prayed for the right contractor and we KNOW the good Lord put ECH in our path for a reason

  Picking light fixtures, countertops, paint colors, and other craziness is making me feel like a mad-woman. I've decided the best thing for me to do is not to think about it for too long. Because then I over-analyze and change my mind a million times. I hope my theory works out in the end. Especially with paint colors. EEK!   Check out the dry wall going up (actually it's plaster board. Plaster going on next week.) Bonus Room Kellen's Room... he picked it a few months ago. Kellen's bathroom Front bedroom Kitchen to the left, dining area to the front-right Looking into living room from dining area Master... my closet door shrunk ;) Master bathroom sink area Master bedroom Dining area and hallway to the right     We have siding!! Only took 2.5 months to decide on a color. SIDING finally! Spanish Olive... overcast day doesn't show its color very well.

  When we decided to go this "move home, build a house" gig, we began brainstorming the best ways to save money-- a little hobby of mine at the time since we only had one income for our family. Every single financial advisor/guru says not to use credit cards; only use cash, do the envelope system, whatever you need to do except use a credit card. Maybe this is wise advice for those with little self-control when it comes to money or those who indulge a little too heavily in retail therapy. I beg to differ with these "experts", though. We use our credit card more than anything else. Note: I said card; not card s.   Our credit card company offers cash back each month for purchases you make using your credit card. Since my family has a pretty strict budget, here's what we do and it's simple:   Use our credit card to make purchases we already have the money for.    Gas and groceries are items that have to be purchased each month. These are items we budget f

Sometimes pictures say it best... Bonus Room Above Garage... JK!! Living room Windows and doors in Roofing Beautiful to me Kellen's bathroom Back sliding door (loving the blinds in between the glass) Living room I LOVE my front door! To the screen-in porch Master bath on left and closet on right Unexpected raised platform in bonus room will become a cushioned lounge area! Back sliding door with blinds down and opened. So neat. Trying to be patient about getting in this beauty. Working on cleaning on closets, selling off stuff and donating others. Less mess to pack in a few months!! Say a prayer for me as I continue to pick out colors, fixtures, lighting, etc. So fun but definitely a little stressful!

  I love being stopped and told how great the house looks and how much progress is being made. I think I heard the best comment today, though. "I see you got some sticks in the air now". Right he is. Enjoy a few pics from the progress made this week.  Before Thanksgiving From living room looking into kitchen/dining area Night visit Thanksgiving Day In the light Sunday Looking like a house Living room Kitchen Bonus room Garage AKA Brad's shop until we can afford to build him one   I love it when a plan comes together. :) Shout out to Amanda Rose for stopping by with her sister Tracey while we were there. Glad we could give y'all the tour.