Returning to the cabin this week felt different. It was our first time back since losing Suzi, and the silence in the places she used to roam was heavy. We knew we couldn’t just throw ourselves into non-stop renovation work and pretend everything was normal. Instead, we decided to honor her memory by taking things a little easier—learning to pause, breathe, and just be present.
In her honor, we took a step back from the power tools and spent time exploring a couple of the charming small towns nearby.
Small Town Iowa
We made our way through Nora Springs, Iowa where we visited the Skyview Market and Fertile, Iowa, where we ate at Cafe Mir. Both have limited days and hours they are open and these local businesses make these towns feel so charming. Another highlight in both towns was definitely the water.
Both towns have incredible public water spots and parks, and walking along the riverbanks offered a peaceful break from work.
- In Nora Springs, walking near the Shell Rock River provided that perfect, peaceful backdrop and had a two floor structure with swinging chairs (created as part of an Eagle Scout Project).
- In Fertile, strolling by the historic Fertile Mill and the gently flowing Dam park felt like the exact kind of “lake break” Suzi always loved.
The Great Chair Debate: Green, Blue, or Teal?
When we did get back to the cabin, it was time to unbox some long-awaited furniture! I’d been hunting for swivel chairs for a while—I wanted something flexible enough to face the couch for cozy conversation, but able to spin around toward the TV whenever company is over for a big game. (and they had to be small enough to fit the space)
I decided a pair of green accent chairs would give us that great pop of color and tie into the rest of the cabin’s palette. Wayfair had a sale and the chair seemed just right – even though the photo looked a bit ambiguous. And for the first time ever with an online furniture delivery, it arrived looking 100% exactly like the picture… which only created a new problem: I genuinely couldn’t tell what color they actually were!
Is it blue? Is it green? Is it teal?
The bright natural light streaming through the windows made it tricky to capture on camera (and judging by one slightly blurry video clip, I might have had a smudged lens!). So I turned to the internet to settle the debate. Opinions were a mixed bag, but the consensus seems to be that it leans team teal. In the big picture, they still work in the space—especially after I scored a fun cheetah pillow from Dollar General in Clear Lake that somehow ties the whole look together! (and adds an unexpected pop of fun!)
Crossing Off the Loft Railing
We also tackled a major milestone on the loft. I stained the main wooden railing with a rich, dark gel stain, and Mike got all the black metal slats reinstalled.
The dark finish coordinates with the reclaimed wood feature wall and the stairs. Once we get the shiplap ceiling hung and painted white, that dark stain is going to pop even more! Mike still needs to wrap up the very outer edges of the railing once that ceiling is in place, but seeing the slats back up and the drop cloths finally cleared away is a win.
What’s Coming Up Next!
We’re keeping the momentum going into next week with some big goals on the horizon:
- Finalizing the Kitchen: We’ll be hanging open shelving and getting the final piece of our butcher block backsplash installed.
- The Bedroom Push: We’re aiming to get the bedroom fully wrapped up. (curtain rods and curtains…)
If we manage to finish both the kitchen and the bedroom next week, we will officially have rooms 2 & 3 fully completed (joining our lone finished space, the bathroom!).
Suzi taught us to appreciate the slow moments, and balancing these sweet small-town outings and walks by the water with steady progress makes the cabin feel more like home every single day.
What do you think of the new chair color—are you Team Blue, Team Green, or Team Teal? Let us know in the comments below!
