We’ve had some steady progression on the project. The framers are done, the front porch is finished, and the new bathroom dormer is done, as well as the upstairs framing in the bedrooms! Whoa that feels like a lot. We are so close to being able to get drywall going, unfortunately we’ve had a snag with the plumbing. Our inspection failed and we have a couple things to redo. Dad says it's not a huge deal, and this is why you get things inspected, to find the mistakes before you close everything in with drywall and flooring. However, I know it has been super frustrating for dad since he's the one overseeing the plumbing, and he's very ready to move on.

But hey, look how great the house looks from the outside now! Let's just focus on that part. The new roof looks amazing, and the white trim really brightens her up.

So I did end up selecting board and batten in the gable of the porch instead of the cedar shake due to time and cost. But I’m happy with this result, and I think the vertical lines look great with the horizontal stacks of rock. I'm planning to paint it a warm grey, pulling from the tones in the stone. I’m hoping to have Jonny build me some wooden shaker-style shutters that I will stain, and hopefully a decorative wood piece to go up in the porch gable peak to tie in the wood tones. In my head it looks fantastic!

The front yard has been a mud pit for months, and I've been working to chase down a sod company. We could install it ourselves, but hauling it here would be difficult, and this is one of the jobs I've committed to completing on my own without dad, so I'm trying to find a place who will install it too. Turns out, it's hard to find a company willing to install a small 1300 sq ft yard. In the meantime, Mom and I have been working on the flower bed out front. We got some great deals on discounted plants at King's Gardens during their remodel sale. I used to work at King's when I was in college, they are a sweet family owned business, and their plants are always so healthy. Mom loves gardening, so hopefully this was a job she enjoyed helping me with, at least more than when she helped me clean up racoon poo in the attic. We filmed a little of us shopping for plants…I hope they include that footage in the show. That was a fun day. The weather is starting to get cold, which makes it more difficult to work in the yard, but there is so much to do, and we'll just have to tough the cold to get it done.

Dad and Gabe installed the new windows this week too! The house has some real curb appeal now, and I do really love that board and batten look.

A PAUSE FOR GRATITUDE

I found time to do a little painting in my studio this week. It really calms my mind and I'm very grateful to have a space in my home where I can do this. I posted a photo on socials of a watercolor I did one night, and a few people reached out about buying it. My friends, the Svec’s, bought it and I’m so glad its in their home. An unexpected blessing for me as I've always been shy to share what I create. But in this season so much is getting unlocking in me that needs to come out...this well of creativity that I've been dismissing for so many years. I feel like the transformation that is happening in this flip house is very parallel to the transformation the Lord is doing in me this past year. Over these few months the house has been transforming inside - floors fixed, walls moved, dead rats discovered and thrown out - you can’t see that inward transformation from the road when driving by it. Now when you drive by it's obvious that this house is being restored! The interior restoration has bubbled over to the exterior transformation that the world can see. What a picture of how God works in us all...starting with the inside, deepest, hidden (and often biggest) damages first, and as those layers are restored the transformation becomes noticeable to those passing by.

First Time Fixer, Weeks 13-14

First Time Fixer, Weeks 15-16

First Time Fixer, Weeks 11-12