Someday.

Yesterday was a long day for the Carpenter. He was out the door by 6:30 AM, and was finally home by 9:45 PM after an evening meeting with a homeowner. He was in and out during the day but only briefly. He is like a bird flitting from branch to branch these days. …


So much to juggle. He project manages the jobs. Manages the crew. Purchases all the project materials. Meets with potential customers in the evenings. He spends many hours on his cell chasing pricing for projects during the day, (He says that these days with the booming construction market in the Twin Cities, he has to wait much longer for a vendor to get back to him with the needed info), then writes and types up proposals in the evenings or very early in the morning. Thursday nights he holds class in our cabinet shop for our Apprentice carpenter. (For those of you who faithfully read our blog… I realize I am repeating myself about all that the Carpenter does… it just really continues to amaze me how much he handles as owner of a small construction company!)

Tonight he headed to Eden Prairie (30+ miles away) Minnesota to meet about a residing job during rush hour. He recently told me that he spent $10,000 on gas last year for his diesel truck. Can you imagine spending that much money on gas!? He is ALWAYS on the go!

I am very busy these days too but not to the Carpenter's level of busy. I watch him keeping this frantic pace and I try to think of ways to help. It's hard because I don't know the "ins and outs" of the construction business. I do see myself project managing because I've been a project manager… but construction is still primarily a man's domain and I've been told even if I knew the trade well enough to manage… it would be hard to be taken seriously. I like to think of myself in the role of Jenny on Bravo's Flipping Out. She's cute, spunky and has style and seems to be able to hold her own on the job sites. Maybe it would be possible!

Well in the meantime.. I will keep the home fires burning. Have a meal prepared for the rare occasions the Carpenter is home for dinner. Keep our home peaceful and organized. And keep marketing my little heart out for Applewood. Last night before I went to bed I stopped by his office at 10:30 PM. There he sat at his computer. He turned to me and said… "someday Andrea we will get away to really rest. I promise you that." I am looking forward to that "someday"!

~ the Artist