Last time we met here, I was struggling to get a farmhouse design out of my HEAD and onto PAPER. The 2x6s were closing in on me. How's that for a little house-building humor? Actually, if I'm totally honest, my struggle went further back than that . . . I thought I'd design our house from scratch. I thought I knew which rooms I wanted where. I thought it would be easier than it's turned out to be. ... Keep Reading...
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My house-building process surprise: IT’S ALL IN MY HEAD!
Not long ago, I watched Still Mine, a Canadian romantic drama based on a true story about an octogenarian farmer who wants to build a house for his ailing wife. One particular scene stood out for me. It was between a city bureaucrat and the old farmer, Craig Morrison. City: Do you have your plans? Morrison: Plans for what? City: For the house. Morrison: I don't have any plans. City: Well, how do you know what you want? Morrison: I know what I want. City: How do you know? Morrison: Because it's in my head, that's how. Lately, I've found myself identifying with Morrison as I'm trying to finish designing our new house. I thought with a degree in interior design the process would be easy. Wouldn't you ... Keep Reading...
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Channeling the Seven Dwarfs — and a couple more
Yesterday I woke up HAPPY. No longer SLEEPY, I got up and walked into our cozy little kitchen-living-office space to start breakfast. Renaissance Man headed outside to begin his long list of chores. While taking my allergy meds (so I wouldn't be SNEEZY!), IT scurried across my floor and out of sight. A mouse. In my little, tiny house. Yes, I know it's cold outside, but there is NOT room for both of us—and I'm not too BASHFUL to say that loud and often. As I stood reeling from what I'd just seen, Renaissance Man opened the door and said, After we eat some breakfast, I'm going to need your help. Sorry. The ground wasn't frozen as hard as I thought, and I need you to drive the tractor and help me ... Keep Reading...
