We are in hustle mode as we race toward a huge milestone: hosting multiple couples for our very first full cabin weekend! Our to-do list continues to be long, but this week brought some major bedroom & patio progress, an internet consensus, and more pet/car drama than we bargained for.
šļøBedroom hardware change, a Wayfair armoire, and arrangement
We finally finished assembling our new armoire, which meant we could officially tear down and remove that temporary rolling clothes rack!
The Hardware Swap: Once the armoire was assembled and up, we realized its black hinges and hardware perfectly mirrored the black hardware on our washer/dryer barn door (also in the bedroom). So, I had an aha! Instead of the brushed gold curtain rods and handles we originally planned, weāre going full black hardware in the bedroom. It will be the only room in the house with black hardware so I hope it all looks intentional.
The Internet Voted: We were torn on bed placement, so I asked for feedback from all of you. Every single vote came back with the same answer: put the bed on the solid wall, not the window wall. Decision made (and I appreciate all of the input)! As we upgrade to a larger mattress, new bedding, artwork, and a rug – and removing the window air conditioner when we install the mini-split – I will be excited to share a full reveal!
šŖµA patio & backyard views
Outside the main bedroom, Mike and a friend built a small patio using reclaimed deck boards from the original cabinās deck. Standing on the new patio, looking out at the yardāwhich we tilled and seeded to replace the overgrown weeds and bushes, I think some relaxing might be able to happen out there! The view from the street is also so much better!
š¦®Suziās dramatic medical miracle
Now for a wild Suzi story! Suzi, has been dealing with recurring ear infections caused by a gumball-sized growth in her ear. It was pretty gross looking and has kept the ear from getting proper air flow. Sheās been battling bacterial and yeast infections for over a year.
When we first discovered the growth (or tumor) several years ago, our vet quoted $1,500 under full anesthesia. We didnāt want to spend the money, but also worried about her going under at her age. Recently a second vet offered a $400 option with light sedation. We were debating what to do until last week, when Suziās ear suddenly started bleeding profusely.
It was dripping on her bed, her paws, and when she shook her head, it sprayed everywhereāthe sofa, my clothes, the windows, the fridge, and the kitchen chairs. It literally looked like a crime scene. I held a towel on her ear and applied gentle pressure until we could go to the vet.
While sitting in the sunny waiting room, I got a clear view in her ear…the tumor appeared to be completely gone.
The vet confirmed that Suzi had somehow removed the growth herself, and it was already scabbing over nicely! Suzi literally performed her own surgery, saved us $400, and is completely fine now (after a very laborious cleanup of her fur of our house!). She had a great weekend at the cabin and is loving her un-tumored ear! I also have photos and videos of the “crime scene”. Reach out if you would like me to send them to you as I didn’t want to gross anyone out with blood.
šStranded on the way home
On our drive back from the cabin, we stopped halfway home to let Suzi go to the bathroom and whatnot. I had a kick off meeting at work in a few hours. Andā¦the car wouldnāt start. Trouble shooting led us to the conclusion that the auxiliary battery in my hybrid had completely died, we didn’t have our usual jumper cables, and roadside assistance was over an hour away since we were in the country!
Suzi and I sat in a shady spot of grass while Mike spent an hour asking kind strangers at the gas pumps for a jump. We finally got a start, canceled roadside assistance, and Suzi, living her best life lounging in the shade, refused to get back in the car. š We rushed home just in time for me to change clothes and make it to a meet and greet for our student teacher kick off event for the new school year!
Whatās next?
We are working feverishly to get the cabin as far along as we can before our weekend guests. Butcher block counters are in the sealing process, pony walls are being built, sanding, and many details are coming together, and I canāt wait to share more with you next week.
Have you ever had a pet do something that completely terrified (and then amazed) you? Let me know in the comments!
(and please forgive some wonky formatting…I write in Google Docs first and paste the text in here. It is doing some weird formatting and not letting me adjust it consistently like I normally do…hopefully it will look better next week ; )
