It again has been some time since I posted to this blog. LOTS of changes! Yes the house is done on the outside..well at least the logs are on and all new windows and doors..and have been working steady for the past 3 years on the inside. Will post some more images of the where it is at present day. It sure has come a long, long way from where we started!

My Lady Lena...

And the De-construction began...

started the removal of the siding..

removal of the base boards..

added new insulation and plywood..and it is raining

front ready for typar house wrap..:)

Rear-same process

This was a cold day..had to rebuild this entire wall as the base posts were rotten

got to move the terrace door over some to make room for a larger pantry in the kitchen when we get to that project..haha

starting to take apart the couryard

Adding new support posts and beam in the kitchen..

The de-construction on the house began on August 21st of last summer..not the nicest of days..it actually started to rain before we got the front wall closed in. All in all, it was long, dirty tiresome work that I honestly can say I never want to go thru again. All my artwork was put on hold for how could one be artistically creative or see beauty while living in such chaotic conditions. The outside work took to December-one week before the snow actually started to fall here. It was a welcome site I can say for sure, to see that last long go on! With only a small break, we started the interior logs one week before Christmas(what was I thinking???) 4 months later, we are working on the 5th and second last interior wall. Can you say 'had enough'? But I know thru all of this, it will be so worth it in the end. Just the road getting from point A to point B has not been joyous...it has been enlightening? to see how all those closet handymen went about doing what they believed to be fixes or improvements...haha. With that said, here is a photo catalog of the exterior process for you to enjoy...:) More pics loaded of the process tomorrow..:)

Should I say Happy Anniversary??

If I waited about another month, it would be exactly one year since I visited this ole blog. How distracted from it have I been...A lot has happened over the past year..mainly the progression of the house. Flagstone was completed where the deck was and the hole for the pool was finally started. Digging a hole approx. 5 feet deep  proved to be a time consuming, body aching process! We started building a retaining wall out of railway ties to hold back the dirt away from where the pool will be.. Let me backtrack a little bit. The pool is a 20 foot above ground pool which as you know will require level ground to be put up. Well no where on our land is there any place that is even close to level. So major digging was needed to make an area 22 feet round flat. What we have now is an above ground pool that has its north wall level with the ground..so more or less an inground pool but the south wall is on ground...if that makes sense. When it is completely installed, a deck will be built around it..about 4 ft wide made out of plywood and sloping slightly back into the pool. The surface will be painted with that granite rock they have on the market so its not slippery but its slope will hopefully catch splashed water and guide it back into the pool.. Since we are on well water with a very low water supply, the water will need to be trucked in to fill it. The more I can keep, the better off we will be..:)

The construction of the pool area stopped in August to begin the deconstruction finally of this old house! As much as I was looking forward to the process, I actually think now it was the end I was envisioning and not the road it would take to get there.  An absolutely incredible mess everywhere with piles of old lumber, siding, insulation, nails and whatever else we tore off..oh, and windows and doors! Not much was left except for the original timbers inside the walls before we could begin the re-construction. Below are a few pictures of its de-construction and the finished flagstone...:)

Pond Side..

About 2 years ago now we dug out an area that was rather boggy and let it do its thing. Not huge..about 24' diameter and about 8' deep in the deepest part, it naturally started growing its own plants(outside of the lilies which I transported down from the 'house' pond)and in no time, life. Even fish started to appear!.ha, must have come in as eggs on birds or plants... above you can see the Damsel-flies morphing from the nymph stage they live as in the water..

A frog that is still a tadpole. If you look close, you will see his long tail..:)

Sitting on the oxygenators....

Up close...

camouflage!!

A new addition I discovered yesturday..an Eastern Painted Turtle. Dont know if it is male or female yet but no doubt is adult. It probably measures about..5-6" in length. Will have to try and get pics to show his size..

Happy Spring!

Cant believe the amount of time has passed that has since I last posted here. We have gone thru a winter, a Xmas, a Valentines, a St Patty's Day, an Easter and fast approaching a Mothers! One of my favourite blooms is that of the Redbud. this one here we have had now for 2 years and is at its beginning phase. Give it about 4 more days and it will be in its glory!

Work on the flagstone has commenced again..slowly and hope it is complete to move on within the next week or so...

The Gypsy painting of Cobalt, Tonka, Guinness and Slainte, was completed and now resides in its home at Old Mills Farms in Pennsylvania

Is this October..or November??

K with the weather being as cold and windy and wet as it has been, laying flagstone has been tough. Not being a woose or anything but the fingers get numb real fast! However I did make some progress. Today seems to be can I say 'nicer' outside so hope to get further along..

On another note, I did get to spend some time creating some product in my zazzle store http://www.zazzle.com/artsofeden/

Im excited by these new products!