2 Teachers still learning & chasing their dream
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… Continue reading Quiet Waters, Mystery Colors, and Progress in the Loft
Last week, we had to say goodbye to Suzi. We ended up skipping a week at the cabin afterward, and I know going back is going to feel entirely different without her there. When you’re in the middle of a massive DIY renovation, it’s easy to let the project consume you. Left to our own… Continue reading A Tired Dog, a Quiet Lake, and a Lesson in Stopping to Watch the Sunset
The dust hadn't even fully settled on the newly mounted butcher block counters when our first cabin guests were scheduled to arrive. We hosted our first set of friends at the cabin. There was catching up, exploring, and laughter. SO. MUCH. LAUGHTER!!! And as far as company goes, I will try to summarize the weekend… Continue reading Weekend Laughter!
If you’ve ever hosted friends while your house was mid-renovation, you know the specific blend of excitement and anxiety I’m feeling right now. We have three couples coming to stay with us at the cabin this weekend. What’s finished? The hanging of all of the drywall! Are the guest rooms 100% finished? Nope. But our… Continue reading Cured Counters, Drywall Wins, & Hosting in a Work-in-Progress
It’s been a hot minute since I wrote about our kitchen (no, it’s still not finished, but maybe this week…). Back in January, I wrote about how we saved the kitchen cabinets from the original cabin instead of buying new. But other than that, I’ve only mentioned parts of the kitchen in passing. It’s been… Continue reading We Chose Butcher Block Counters & How it’s Going
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. 🛏️Bedroom hardware change, a Wayfair… Continue reading Bedroom & Patio Progress, Plus Suzi Performs Surgery
This week was all about sandpaper, paint, and solving a few layout puzzles. While the room isn't 100% complete (yet), seeing real walls with crisp, white paint and a ceiling instead of studs makes our bedroom feel so much more relaxing. Paint, Trim, & The Ceiling Medallion Victory We sanded and painted the main bedroom… Continue reading Bedroom Progress, Midnight Door Confusion, & The Closet Hunt 🛠️🛏️
After we got the bedroom ceiling hung, Mike and I were so excited to tackle the drywall on the back wall! Honestly, just not looking at exposed studs anymore makes the whole room feel instantly more inviting. I’m still trying to decide what to do for our sliding glass door covering. Before I spend more… Continue reading Bedroom Niche, the $100 Thrift, & Kitchen Prep 🛠️🧺
After taking a family-filled two-week pause from cabin reno work, we’re back at it! And of course, we had our favorite crew member with us! (If you’re only here to read about Suzi, she’s featured at the end!) The Bedroom Ceiling Drywall: Do Not Try This at Home, Folks! 📦🧱 We decided it was time… Continue reading Bedroom Reno Drama & Suzi Turned 15! 🛠️🐶
This week we have been “working” on the cabin without hammers and nails. Our "cabin mode" has been about some sustainable details and strategies. We try to keep functional items out of landfills, and remind ourselves things seem to find their way to where they belong. The 90-Day Thrift Store Gamble 🎲 We recently had… Continue reading The Thrill, the Risk, and the $90 Patio Set That Got Away 🪑🍂