A few things to cross off.

Ever since we got back from Florida, we have been trying to finish up some of the more dragging chores that we had left throughout the winter around here. In the past week, we have made some major progress and although it may not look like much, the jobs were long and tedious and therefore feel amazing to have been completed. Thankfully, some of them are jobs that we will never have to do again, like completing the siding on the house. Sadly, others are ones that we will fight every year, like the weeds. On a positive note, this morning we put the last piece of siding in and very much enjoyed crossing that off the list. Sure, there are still both gables of shakes to install, as well as the rock we hope to do in the next few years, however it felt great to know that at least something was finished. The siding was started about 10 months ago, paused throughout the colder months and restarted 3 months ago when the warmer weather came. The job was truly a family affair with both Jason's Dad and brother helping when they could. I will not miss this job. (P.S. the bottom of the garage will be rock, ie why there is no siding there)



Jason was also able to hook up our outdoor hose this morning which allowed me to finally plant something. My parents have been fostering this tree for us for the past 2 years, waiting to transplant it out to our house and it finally made its big move.

In my house growing up, we had an annual tradition of taking a picture by the spruce tree in our front yard on the first day of school. Not only is it neat to look back at ourselves over the years, but it is also amazing to see how big the tree got over the course of 20+ years. My hope is that this tiny little tree will become our first day of school tree, and give us the same annual picture that I am so thankful to have from my own childhood. In order to have this dream become a reality, I have been watering it 3 times a day due to our incredibly dry summer, as well as ensuring that it has plenty of encouragement. I will also ensure that the tractor stays out of it's path!

Even though we have been working diligently on the siding and getting the exterior of the house completed before September, we also have started tackling the 4 acres of weeds that have slowly taken over. After spraying them with Round Up, we waited. And waited. And waited. We are in fact still waiting.


They have most definitely died, however now need to be cut and then tilled. Soon we should have a nice, flat, weed free-ish front lawn. Once spring hits next year, we plan to seed most of it and perhaps even lay some sod so we can have some outdoor space to play and run. In the mean time, we have been making good use of the front porch we do already have, although without a railing it makes for a pretty small play space.


Our hope is that by the end of the month the shakes will be installed in the gables, the back deck will be built and the front steps will be new and improved. My hope is that my own, "To do before going back to work" list will also see its match with a Sharpie as I haven't really completed anything on it lately either. My Pinterest project #1 is stalled due to lack of proper tools, my curtains are still not hemmed due to my own cowardliness with a sewing machine and the front deck is not yet stained. I feel a pep talk coming on though...