The Bedroom Beams Are Up.....And The Patio Door Is In!

This past week found us driving to Newport Rhode Island to take my Dad back home after his three week visit here. I will miss having our morning chats in the living room before heading off to the cottage to work. I am hoping, however, that I can start work a little earlier now. It's still August but the days seem to be getting shorter and I noticed this morning, that the air has that cool, crisp feeling that signals the onset of autumn.

So, back to work we go with no time to waste!....After the windows were installed in the bedroom last week,  the next feat was to take out the last remaining rafters and install some cross beams. By doing this, we created cathedral ceilings and still supported the roof with a handsome feature. I really wanted to have old, rough looking timbers instead of box beams to do this.

                                                           The last rafters to be removed

                                                       The men bring in the new beams (6 x 6 spruce)

 Michael visited a local lumber yard and chose the most beat-up beams. I love the cracks, scrapes and bore holes. We're planning on white-washing the beams after they go up.

                                                             

                                                                             Beam me up Mikey! 

The bedroom beams are up!

By the way, did I tell you that the patio door went in too? See it at the end of the room? As much as we love the elegant look of French doors, we finally opted for the space saving effect of a sliding glass door, especially in a small cottage like this. This door will open up to a secret bedroom patio, complete with a rock garden, fountain, goldfish pool AND an outside shower! Oh, life is so good! I can't wait until it's finished but a lot more has to happen before we work on that project. 

 I took the next photo through the glass of the new patio door. Butterflies are fluttering around us all the time while we work, as if reminding us of the marvelous transformation we are involved in.

Did you know that a Butterfly was originally called a "Flutter-By". Because people always got the words mixed up, eventually it just became easier to call it a "Butterfly".

A special thanks to my Dad for all his help while he was here...thanks Dad! XOXOXO

A Real Metamorphosis!

So many things have changed this week that I just don't know where to begin! Hmmmm, I guess I'll start where I left off...with the window installation. After the window delivery, Michael set right to work to get the windows installed. He started by wrapping the southeast side of the house with TYPAR weather protection. (EBS is our local hardware store.) This was the side of the house that originally had no windows. This whole side is the new master bedroom.

                                                          First the right window

                                                                  Then the left window

After looking at many different styles and brands of windows, we finally decided on an Andersen vinyl window which is sold under the name of American Craftsman. We would have loved to go with a wood frame window but we are trying to minimize future work by not having to paint. We also chose windows that tilt in and have the grills within the glass  for easy cleaning. These windows were also on sale, which saved us a small fortune. I love how the grills change the entire look of the house.

                                Once that was done Michael installed the front side window.

The next window to be installed was the top accent window. This was very scary for me to watch when Michael had to come very close to the electric wires while installing the window.

 I don't recommend this ever! Michael worked as an electrician for years so he has experience working around wires but still, that was no comfort to me. We weren't able to get our electric company to come out in time to wrap the wires for this project but I sure hope they make it before we shingle.

                                                       We are so happy with the new look!

 
                             A real metamorphosis happening on the house... and in the meadow.
                                 I took all these shots right in our own meadow the other day.

                                                                       Enjoy your day!

Miscellaneous Joy!

On Friday I took my Dad to the place he enjoys visiting the most when he is in Maine....the heavenly studio of the BEST Massage Therapist in Maine... and possibly the world! Becca Swan is truly a remarkable healer and her studio is like no other. Nestled in the woods next to a stream, the little cottage studio is an idyllic sanctuary and plays almost as important a role in healing, as does Becca. While waiting for my Dad, I love to wander around the flower gardens, sit on a rock wall and play the slate xylophone or stroll along the meandering brook. The trickling sound of water, the deep bong of the chimes hanging in the tree and the songs of woodland birds, make it one of the most peaceful places I know. I can't wait to have my massage.

                                                            Needless to say, we love Becca. 

 On Saturday morning, although rainy and wet, the patio doors and windows were delivered! We were so excited to see them but when we carried them all inside, there was barely any room to move around in the small cottage.

While the windows were being unloaded, my Dad and I quickly drove to a local thrift store where we had gone the day before. I had seen a half-round window for $49.00 and knew it was a good deal but wasn't yet sure where it could go. I thought about it all night and in the morning decided it was worth taking the chance and getting it.

                                                                           Exterior Side

                                                                           
                                                                               Interior Side

Before leaving, I called the shop to make sure the window was still there and when we arrived, I happily discovered they had marked the window down to $24.00! I was so delighted. I brought it home, not sure what Michael would think but luckily he thought it was a terrific find and suggested we put it above the front door in the overhang and close it in. With decorative shingles around it, I think it will look fantastic!

           
                                                    Temporarily placed to give us an idea 

After a long day of work on Saturday, Michael and I washed up and raced out the door at 4:30 to our friends rental lodge. They were visiting Maine with their three young boys from Florida and needed a babysitter so they could attend a class reunion. We happily offered. It's not very often anymore that we get the chance to spend time with little ones and we miss it.

Armed with sidewalk chalk, a live snake, cardboard boxes and a soccer ball, we felt ready and prepared. I am a former children's librarian and day-care owner while Michael is himself, a father of 3 boys. Nothin' to it we thought...except we forgot how much energy it actually takes to care for children...especially healthy, active boys! Honestly though, these were the most polite and well mannered boys we had ever spent time with...but they were still active and we arrived tired.

                                    Budding Artists (Michael still builds houses even with chalk!)

                  Looking for worms to feed the snake (which the boys loved and fondly named Joe)

After leaving their place at 12:30 A.M., we were beyond exhausted. So Sunday was spent relaxing and gathering our energy for Monday...the big window install and tree pruning day!

Stay tuned...

Out And About With Dad

It was a bright, shiny day yesterday and the air seemed a lot less humid...a perfect day for my Dad and I to visit the local Farm Market to stock up on some freshly picked vegetables. Beth's Farm Market located in Warren, Maine is always a fun and colorful place to stop.

                                                Sweet juicy melons warmed in the Maine sun.

                  One free gladiola with each purchase...                           and a free apple to sample too!

                            Who can resist buying all these beautiful, locally grown vegetables?

We just had to bring home some sunflowers!

After we got home and made a nice lunch, I set out to Catch Meadow Cottage for a little walk in the meadow. I discovered thousands of berries growing on the ground. They are called Northern Dewberry and are closely related to the common Blackberry.

                                                   Here they are in different stages of ripeness. 

 Instead of growing on tall canes like blackberries do, they grow along the ground on vines. The leaves almost look like Virginia Creeper. Once the berries turn black, they are quite delicious. I have never seen so many growing in one place before. I am going to see if I can cultivate them by training them to grow on small trellises.

                                                                  Have a "berry" nice day!

Father Knows Best....

Last week Michael and I drove to my Dad's home in Rhode Island to pick him up and bring him back to Maine with us. He was very curious about the new property and all the changes that we were making. All week he has been coming to the house with us to inspect, watch us work and help us make decisions. Yesterday was no exception.

One of our biggest dilemmas was where we should locate the new gas fireplace. The fireplace is an essential component in the house because it will be our main source of heat. We are taking out the old oil furnace in the basement and replacing it with a wood stove. Of course we will use the wood stove as much as possible but we also need another source of heat that 

does not have to be continually maintained and does not need electricity to run. 

The old oil furnace we are taking out of the basement

Because the cottage is small, we don't need anything too big. A gas fireplace that puts out 20,000 to 30,000 BTU's should suffice rather nicely. Although the efficiency rate isn't quite as good, gas fireplaces are much prettier to look at than a typical propane heater. 

It will make a very charming and cozy addition to the cottage. 

(Note: We don't have the option of natural gas in Maine)

This is just an example of what we would like

We couldn't figure out where to locate the fireplace without taking up a lot of space. Our original thought was to install it in the corner of the new living room but for practical reasons it 

just didn't work there. 

My Dad listened to all of our ideas and then politely interrupted us.

 "How about placing it between the two windows and building a box outside, to house the back of the unit so it won't stick into the room so far?" 

We just looked at each other and smiled. Brilliant idea! Why didn't we think of that? 

And so....thanks to Dad, our new gas fireplace will be installed on the wall between the two windows leaving plenty of space for a couch, table and chairs.

Father knows best!

My Dad points to where the fireplace will be located. 

(That door on the left will become a window) Can you picture it?

Have a beautiful day!