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Farewell to Winter
Spring has arrived, but before I go barreling into this new season, I’d like to pause & bid adieu to our very first winter spent in this house. The following is a synopsis of that time. . Mid November, we took trips to Amish country in search of a wood stove (I’m always up for a visit to Lehman’s). Using all the savings I had since I was a teen, we were able to purchase one in Salem. The installation took days & involved getting the original 400 pound cast iron one out of the way first. Thank you Uncle Fritz. To our joy, we were finally able to use…
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Glimpse
Written last Saturday evening.. There are moments, such as this one, when it’s difficult to continue. When my back is aching and my body’s spent, no amount of wine or beer can help. And I know full well that’s not what can make me feel much better, but at least it aids in the process, sometimes. “You’re the dreamer, I know you are” he exclaims, “but I know the work that goes into this!” sweat beading off his brow. ‘Hard work’ isn’t just a word taken lightly by us. It’s something we do every day. When we get home from our day job and have more work ahead. When the…
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Tree Down
I came home from work last Thursday to an 80-foot Austrian Pine lying across the driveway. Gavin had called me earlier to tell me he noticed it leaning towards the garage roof. He called the first arborist that was nearby & thankfully the man was able to drop it just a few feet from the roof. We spent Saturday getting it cleaned up. Gavin used his chainsaw to cut all of the branches off then sawed the trunk into pieces. We were grateful to have the help of his friend, Ryan, to haul the brush down to the burn pile with me. We got it all cleaned up in about…
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Bathroom Demo
Last Saturday, we decided to fix the sink. It had been clogged for a few days & it was time to get it done. As Gavin inched his way into the vanity, he realized we had a much bigger job on our hands than we thought. One bump of his shoulder & the corroded, copper line snapped off. This was just the beginning. . . After two trips to Lowe’s & one to Home Depot, we finally got what we needed. By now, we decided to remove the vanity to have more room to work. After that went, I have to say I got a little excited because I could…
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Key
I’ll begin the story about 8 months ago. I put in my resignation & officially ended a job I enjoyed & had been working at for three years. June 1st was my last day. After getting married in May & moving to a new home, I felt it was time for me to begin something new. I walked out of the doors feeling like I made the right decision but anxious about what to do next. I had nothing lined up. I went straight to a coffee shop & sent an email to the only lead I had. It was a name of a woman I didn’t know but maybe…
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Middle Garage Pt. 2
Back to the…middle garage where it’s cold & progress feels slow every night until BAM! We have peg board folks! It’s a game changer I must say. All of the days spent cleaning it out in there, I never dreamed I’d see it like this. But, before I get ahead of myself, let’s begin back where we left off from the first post. Please refer to Middle Garage Pt. 1 to see with your own eyes the horrors that dwelt among there. Gavin & I spent our nights cleaning, listening to 90’s country (thank you Garth Brooks for your contribution) and drinking Octoberfest – keys to success, let me tell you. So, it was quite the…
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Thankful
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6 Have you ever made your requests known to God? Maybe you’ve never thought to before or aren’t sure if there even is someone listening to your prayers. Well, as I sit here on this diving board overlooking the pond, a place of my childhood, I realize that the Lord, my God whom I believe in, has blessed me with so many of my quiet prayers & requests from years passed. I don’t say that to make any assumption that He’s a genie in a bottle we can call upon for…
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American Holly
This is one of our favorite trees on the property. Today I cut a few small branches & placed them around the house to decorate with. I wanted the house to look just right for when my brother & mom came to visit. After taking him home from the hospital last Saturday, I wouldn’t have thought he’d see the house until spring. Today has been a good day. I’m thankful for my family’s faith that’s been strengthened through this season. And all of the work that’s been done to the house feels like it’s not for nothing when friends & family can come over & enjoy the beauty around us.…
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Dusting
Have you ever thought about how the small moments of day-to-day life often go unnoticed? The mundane, every day, “got to get it done” type of chores? Well today I found myself with the urge to clean & ended up standing on the bathroom sink in my slippers, wiping down the light fixture which you see now. In the midst of cleaning this old home, I found myself awestruck by the craftsmanship that this light held. It’s been hanging there for as long as I’ve been born & surely many years before, yet still maintains its beauty, even when covered in dust. I’d never know, had I not hoisted myself…
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The Day After Christmas
What’s the feeling like for you as the year 2018 comes to a close? Every person’s answer is different, for we each experience our own trials & triumphs. To me, I’ll say that this year has been full, brimming with new life and not without its joys & sorrows. Through it all, everything seems to change except the blessings of new tomorrows & the love that’s shared among our family. Certainly each passing year brings with it its own baggage, but this year undoubtedly has offered an abundance of novel living with open doors & hidden paths. Though as surely as I know, I’ve walked another turn around this earth,…
