The Lessons

We have just celebrated our tenth week living with my folks and working on the house. At times it has felt as though we will never get to move in, that progress is slow and that it is taking forever. At those times I think about everything we have accomplished and remind myself of the lessons we are learning along the way...
1. Every little step is still a step in the right direction.
2. Some things need to be left to the professionals.
3. HGTV and reno shows are a bunch of big, fat liars!

Here is a before picture of the kitchen.

Half way...

Structural beams are in! Walls are opened up and now more work begins. 

Progress at Pine

We have been spending our weekends working away at the house with the amazing help of my crew (hubby, mom, dad, sister-babysitting, Mark, auntie Peggy). Progress feels slow from time to time, but when I feel overwhelmed I think about how far and how much we've accomplished.

Here's some pics of the outside. Looking to still change shutter colour. Suggestions?

Commit to the reno...

Home renovations reveal a lot about a person. I have discovered that I love swinging sledgehammers and knocking stuff out. The problem is knowing when to stop and not get too far ahead of yourself in your project. No one told us this! So instead of admitting to a mistake, I say "we have fully committed to the renovation and the experience"!

Main floor master bedroom
Plan: convert to open concept family room

Meant to be...
I gave Mat one year to find a new house. One year before I started putting some money into our place and making it feel like "home." The search took us on drives to houses in the country, beside railway tracks and hidden in driveways thick with trees. Then we stumbled upon 379 Pine Street. A diamond in the rough. Smelly, musty and bursting with potential. It was perfect!