The Man Cave (Part One)

Definitely the "before" picture!

Hey Everybody,

I've always known how important it was that girls have a place to call their own during their tumultuous growing up years, but evidently, it's pretty important to guys, too! For weeks this summer, my sons, along with a neighbor friend, have been working on transforming our basement into a "man cave." What you see in the picture is definitely the "before" picture!

Let me just say that the basement has never been my domain. Nope! Several years ago, when we were looking at this house with the intent to buy, I felt I needed to venture down to the basement. After all, if we were going to buy the house, I should at least look at it once, right? Well, when I pulled open the door to go down the stairs, I was completely unhinged by the fragrance of something absolutely wonderful: my grandfather. Pappaw had a shop in his basement where he did carpentry and woodworking. Whenever we went to see him and my mammaw in the summertime or during the holidays, he would take me down to show me his latest project. When I was little, I always had to have a Dixie cup filled with sawdust before I would agree to go back upstairs! Btw, only grandparents would let a child walk around a clean house with a cup full of sawdust! Pappaw's basement always smelled like a granddad should smell, you know? Just kind of musty and mannish. So when I caught a whiff of that basement aroma that day, I just burst into tears. It had been a long time since I had felt so close to Pappaw, and since the memory of him had been so vivid. All that to say, after my crying jag, once the basement checked out okay, I was done!

My sons, however, have looked at the basement, and where I see memories, they have seen the future! I know you want to see what they've done with the place, so come back tomorrow and I'll post some pictures. I feel sure that they are headed for Design Star. :)

Thanks for checking in with me, y'all--with school starting, and all kinds of senior-type things going on for my girl, basketball beginning for my guys, not to mention some more cool stuff I will share soon, I have neglected my blog! Thanks for your emails, comments, and encouragement!