There's a lesson to be learned here! Turn your water OFF when you leave home for more than a day. Trust me!

Sometimes life gets so comfortable, we take things for granted.  Sometimes life just seems so easy.  I'm not bragging, just stating a fact.  I feel blessed. I certainly don't feel worthy of all I have.  I love my home, and am so glad that I have a place to call home.  6 Months ago we paid the last payment on our home.  It's ours!  Free and clear!  Finally!  

Nothing fancy, but it's home.  We spend our leisure time at our lake house, but more about that some other time.  

Last Sunday 10/13/13 is a day I won't forget soon.  I came home from the lake house, which is a 4 1/2 hour drive.  My DH stayed at the lake, since he's retired - he can do that.  :)  Anyway, I pulled into the garage, loaded my arms full of "stuff" and headed to the door.  Oh course it's locked as usual, and I juggle the things in my arms until I can get the key in the lock.  As I open the door, a HUGE gush of HOT air hits me and humidity like someone has taken a shower and left the water running.  If only I'd known how close to right that was.  

As I pushed open the door, besides the heat and humidity, I realized I could hear water running.  Not like out of a faucet, or hydrant, but like out of a water fall.  I tossed my "stuff" aside and ran into the foyer.  I could hear water running particularly in the basement as I ran by the door.  I switched on the basement light and could see water standing, and see water gushing through the ceiling.  This gave me the clue I needed to figure out where this water was coming from.  I ran into the kitchen and before I got through the dining room, I was running in water.  When I got to the kitchen there was HOT water running and apparently had been for quite awhile.  

Panic sets in at this point.  I call my DH and try to convey (through my obvious hysteria) what is going on.  He is trying to describe to me how to shut off the water at the well pit (we live in the country and have rural water). Looking back on it now, we both realize he was telling me to shut it off in the WRONG place!  Guess he was hysterical too, huh?  Anyway, long story short - he got someone to come shut off the water - and I remembered to shut off the electricity.  

This is some of what I found that night - it was 5:25 pm when I made the first call to my DH for help.  

 We have (had) kitchen carpet.  I was getting ready to get something new, but didn't have this in mind.  

The base cabinets in the kitchen had set long enough, they were absorbing the water.  

This is my island top.  It was custom made by a friend, in butcher block style, out of cherry, maple and oak.  One of a kind.  

Over the next 48 hours we went from a house that was paid for and finished - to one that was paid for and demolished.  We lost 100% of our kitchen.

We went from this beautiful kitchen......

To this yesterday - and down to the studs today.  We lost 100% of our living room carpet which now looks like this......

We went from a 100% finished basement

To this.........

And now down to the studs.  This is not fun.  I'd like to scream everytime someone says, "Wow!  you get to start all over!"  I didn't WANT to start all over.  I didn't WANT a new kitchen.  I liked what I had.  

I'll keep updating you as we go along.  So far our insurance has been cooperative, but we keep hearing nightmarish stories, so we shall see.  

Thanks for stopping in!  Please leave a comment so I know you were here.  

Sandi