Aberfoyle Last Day Treasures & Home Progress Update

Everything about this weekend was so perfect. 

I was on a mission to get to Aberfoyle Antique Market before it shut down for the season. There were a few items that I really wanted to get to be able to use in our new home for décor purposes plus there was something special I wanted to get for Branko's Birthday(Oct. 31st) I know cutting it close! 

After checking the weather report Sunday morning was calling for no rain between 7 am and 10:30 am. It was my mission to not be walking around in the rain! I arrived at Aberfoyle  at 8:30 am and started on my hunt for treasures. 

I knew which dealers carried the items I wanted so I headed straight to their booths.

My first purchase: a painter's wood ladder. Now I just need to get some amazing quilts. We love to cover ourselves on the couch so when I saw this idea on pinterest I knew it would be perfect for out home. 

Painter's wood ladder: Original Price $15, Paid $10 

My second purchase: copper boiler. We use a wood fireplace...a lot. Last winter we had kindling's always laying on the side of the fireplace and it really annoyed me. So when I saw this idea on pinterest I knew it would work well in our new home. 

Copper Boiler: Original Price $85, Paid $70

Now onto Branko's Birthday gift. 

Yes, he reads the blog and yes I ready gave him his gifts because it was just too big to hide. 

The first time we went to Aberfoyle we came across a peddle car. The look on his face was like a little school boy he was so excited. The price was $400. He and I both knew we were not paying $400 for a peddle car so on we went. 

It was my mission to find a peddle car so he could hang it in his new garage. 

I searched kijiji and craigslist but couldn't find anything at a reasonable price, I even had my mom keeping her eyes open for one in her area. 

My last hope was to check Aberfoyle again. The first one I came across was $100 but in really bad shape, the second was from the same guy and he still wanted $400. Just before I was going to leave I went to check out a few last booths in a different area. There it was a fire truck peddle car. I figured he would want an arm and leg for it but I figured may as well ask. 

ME: "Excuse me, is that your peddle car? 

Dealer: "Yes it is"

ME: "How much?"

Dealer: "$25" 

MY EYES MUST HAVE SAID THIS "WHAT"

 I didn't bargain. I just took it, paid and ran. 

I also picked up this coke crate for Branko. Just because he loves Coke and Coca-Cola Products. 

Peddle Car: Paid $25 

Coke Crate: Original Price $15, Paid $12

Now onto the House Update. 

Things are starting to really shape up in the new house. Each day we get more and more excited because once we see drywall go up it will start to look like a home again. 

All of the electrical is completed and almost all of the insulation has been put in on the upper level. I helped Branko with this over the weekend and damn that stuff is itchy! I had a long sleeve shirt on and gloves but seriously even after showering I still felt icky. 

Oh well, update picture of the walls being closed in:

This is exciting stuff people! 

I can't wait to show a full update with good quality photos next week. 

Hope you all had a great weekend! 

Tile Shopping...

Normally when I need to make decisions I feel like I am prepared and know what I want ahead of time. 

I have my kitchen layout ready to go, already decided on wall paint colour and flooring throughout most of the house. I know exactly what kind of couch I want. Had a beautiful dining table made for us. Been scouring Home Sense for décor ideas and pinterest to make our new home as dreamy as we imagined it. 

Then Branko says to me: "Did you decide on bathroom tiles yet" 

WHAT!!!

Sadly I haven't thought about bathroom tiles or colour schemes. Even more sadly is now that we are down to the nitty gritty of this decision making I have no idea what I like. 

I've scored magazines, websites, stores. I just don't know. 

Here is what I sort of envision:

http://pinterest.com/pin/118430665172442237/

http://pinterest.com/pin/118430665172414476/

http://pinterest.com/pin/118430665172380463/

I'm sure I will figure it out....well wait I don't have a choice, I need to figure it out soon. 

On a side note we visited Home Depot again last night to ensure we are prepared for the weekend:

Side note 2: sheets of drywall are heavy...just sayin. 

If you have bathroom ideas please send them my way....soon. 

Thanks! 

Come for a walk with me to our sunset point....

A look out point with a sunset view. 

While searching for a location for our future swimming pool we found this little spot that is perfect for sunset views. One day hopefully in the future we will be a able to have the swimming pool with a path to this perfect spot.  

Sounds magical right....

It starts here

Which leads to here....

Then 

And finally the sunset spot...

Yes, yes I realize there are a ton of trees in the way that sadly some day will have to come down. 

For now I will just sit in between the trees....

12 Hour Days

Over the weekend we did something crazy....we worked 2 full 12 hour days. 

Saturday was cold and rainy but we kept at it and tore down most of the that board and batten. Sunday was a continuation of this job.

We were tired...actually I was completely wiped out. I have no extravagant updates...putting up plywood is boring and tiring. 

I dropped a hammer on my neck. 

I stubbed my thumb. 

I went to sleep Sat night at 8 pm and woke up Sunday at 7 am. So unlike me! 

I almost lost it Sunday night when Branko just wanted to put in 1 more hour of work. 

I have pictures. Two to be exact. 

The top portion if the picture is currently the side of the house and this area will in the future have a master bedroom addition with en-suite bathroom(dream free standing soaker tub included) and walk-in-closet. This area will be between 400-500 sq. ft. 

The bottom portion of the picture is the back of the house. You see those bushes, well there is a huge drop off there. We hope to cut down just a few trees here to allow more light into the back of the house. And yes, that ugly metal antenna stand will be coming down. 

This post became so much more detailed then I had expected...we also framed the new bath room inside and the closet for the small bedroom. 

This week and weekend will provide some major changes...by next Sunday the house will be fully wrapped, the electrical will be done, and insulation and dry wall will start to go up. 

Now that's exciting! 

THANKFUL for every moment.

So much happened this Thanksgiving weekend that I actually woke up Monday morning and couldn't believe it was already MONDAY! 

Saturday was a full day of working on the new home. We managed to almost finish all of the sub-floor that we are putting down. This includes burning all of the old pine floor that we are pulling out and laying down all of the new sub-floor with new ply-wood. 

I am very THANKFUL that Branko and I have the capability to work so well together.  To be able to understand, trust, and know that we are both putting all of our effort into this home Reno.  

Sunday morning we woke up early to finish the last room for the sub-floor so that Monday morning we would have a fresh start. 

We finished up around 11am, cleaned up and then headed down to my parents place to have a wonderful dinner with my parents, sister, brother, sister-in-law and my little niece. 

I am very THANKFUL to have such great family in my life. My mom always cooks the most amazing dinners and puts us all into a food comma afterwards. And of course being able to have a visit with that cutie in the picture my little niece Christiane. 

Monday was spent getting over my food comma! Haha kidding, we worked all day, it wouldn't be like us to just sit around. Branko's dad came over to work some more on the electrical and Branko and I started our next phase of our project. This phase is to remove all of the current siding(board and batten) put up new plywood sheets and wrap. 

I am very THANKFUL for all of our parents help. As mentioned before his father is helping us with the Electrical and my father is building new stairs and a kitchen for us. Our mother's are my décor eye's and ears! ;) 

All kidding aside we wouldn't be able to be so successful without them. 

With all of that said I will leave you with my "new bedroom" collage inspiration board. I hope to re-create that headboard. I absolutely love it right down to the wording "awake my soul". We had several solid wood dressers that were left in the house so I may just recover one them for the room. And that old window frame! I would love to put one of our wedding photos in there for our room. 

I am very THANKFUL to be able to be living out my dreams. 


I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend! 

The Garage and a Surprise Update

So where have I been you ask.....

Well along with all of the other projects we have going on we also threw in "starting the garage" project. 

Yup, 

 call us crazy! 

This project of course couldn't have been something simple and easy...no,no,no. 

It's a massive 4300 sq. ft garage 

Every man's dream "MANCAVE" is really happening for my husband. 

Side note before I go on: you know you have the coolest wife ever when she's totally OK with this project :) 

 Back to this garage....

The details: will fit 15 cars, possibly 2 hoists, tv, couch, fridge, a place to store all sporting equipment and land equipment. 

He hopes in the future the garage will look something like this(no we do not own any of the cars in the below pics):

For now it just looks like this:

This is what we have been up too..we had to clear the land (65' x 175') - this means taking down a bazillion trees, cutting the leg open with a chainsaw, and many late night bonfires during the week to get rid of the branches.

Branko paid somebody to come and level the land because it was on slope and a garage on a slope is just not cool. 

AND 

Before I leave you today my table is stained! 

What do you think??? About the table...not the garage! ;)