Webster defines livable as "suitable for living in, on or with" also as "endurable." But what a person can endure or feel is suitable, is not the same for everyone. So how much had to be done before we could move in was subject to individual opinion.
The reality that we would not be living here by Christmas was a hard one for me to accept. I had been looking forward to our first Christmas tree with such excitement! So, we compromised...Ben bought me a tree and set it up in what would be our living room. I spent a good hour stringing lights, placing on all our ornaments, ones from childhood as well as ones we had received or purchased as a couple, and topping it with the angel I had made. We took a couple photos, enjoyed looking at it all afternoon, and then proceeded to take it all down and put it away so the animals (we had two stray cats at the time) would not damage anything. I think of all our Christmas trees, that was one of my favorites, because it was a special gift for me, for our home, because it was our first.
Ben's mom and dad spent many hours helping out, everything from food to cleaning to stair treads!
With demolition pretty much completed, sub flooring in and new walls being framed, I was really getting excited about the potential. We were working with a blank"ish" slate, waiting to be filled with our ideas, possessions and family. We were turning this building into more than a house...it would be our home!
Above: the kitchen taking more shape, bathroom to the right, remnants of the grain elevator can still be seen in the living room. Below: despite the icicles, the roofers did get the roof completed...eventually!
It got so cold that winter, trying to keep fingers and toes warm enough to work was a challenge. We set up a special makeshift room with a heater to help keep us and our help thawed out! Besides Ben's parents, both of his sisters, my mom and brothers and our friend Kevin (best man at our wedding) worked long hours over three years helping. We were also blessed with many friends who donated time or food or company throughout this project.
With the main living areas taking shape, Ben turned his attention to the bedrooms, on what would technically be the 3rd floor. Floor joists, sub flooring, stairs and wiring.
In the spring we learned that we would be adding to our family...a baby would be joining us in November! Yikes! We needed to get our house done enough to welcome our baby into the world. But, life gets complicated, and if a baby wasn't a complication, the insurance company surely was! They decided we either needed to hire a contractor or have someone living on the premises. Well, the contractor wasn't in the budget, so...we redefined "livable" for our family and made preparations to move in...
Here is the kitchen a few weeks before we moved in...the board covering the window opening on the wall was replaced by a window on the day we moved in!Chapter 4: Our new family
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