2016 Update

When we get asked about the house, we laugh and say "it's a long-term project." Our goal is to have it done by the time Elsie goes to prom. Once I said that to someone I had only recently met and he laughed "junior or senior.." as if to say "this year or next!?" He shut up when I said: "She's six."

So, that should put into perspective the fact that it has been just about a year since our last update. We have been busy...!

Winter: Ben continued to finish details on the new addition, including details like window sills, baseboard, etc. These are items that honestly I overlook on a day to day basis, but they drive him insane;). We also started the countdown to the fall when we'd be welcoming baby #3! That made finishing some of these interior projects all the more urgent!

Spring: We were excited to get outside! Surprisingly, there aren't many flowers leftover from the previous residents, with the exception of a huge lilac bush in the front yard which we love. So, last fall we had planted lots of bulbs in the front of the house and we added a few more Michigan native plants this spring. Lots more to add in the future. I discovered that in front of the new addition (breezeway) gets a lot more shade than I expected, so I'll have to rearrange a few things and add more shade tolerant plants next spring.

The newly restored tractor and wagon, with Grant's matching set!

We also started our first vegetable garden! We were grateful to our neighbor, Jerry, who came over with a giant rototiller to help us get started. While it wasn't an amazing success, we were happy with it and we learned a lot. Next year, we're going to move it to a bigger space and add more varieties of lettuce, more pumpkins, add some framing for tomatoes, and create a bigger space and start sooner for a flower cutting garden.

Ben (with help from his dad) also took time this spring to completely rebuild his 1955 John Deere 70 tractor. With that, you also need a nice hay wagon, right!? We've put both to good use this year.

Summer: The fact that the siding was not done on the new addition has been weighing on our minds... with two kids and another on the way, nothing gets done quickly and easily. Ben plugged away on the siding among lots of other activities and a full work schedule this summer. It's not quite done, but closer every day!

Roofing in progress.

Ben, his dad, and our 2 year old plowed the field across the road that we are leasing. We'll plant hay there next spring. We're excited to begin to really farm something!

Fall:   The insurance company compelled us to replace the roof on the old house, though it wasn't *yet* leaking. It feels good to have that done - thanks to help from friends Tom and Mike. This will buy us more time to work on the interior without worrying about that. We weren't able to afford metal roofing for that section which is our goal, but for now it's water tight with standard shingles.

 We have also hosted several hay rides which we all enjoy.

Ben and his co-pilot, Grant, driving
the tractor for a hay ride on a gorgeous fall day.

This year's "Fall Fest" included a hay ride to
Kilcherman's apple orchard nearby.

I love seeing all these friends enjoying the farm with us!

After everyone left "Fall Fest," Ben and I headed to Traverse City to conclude the evening with the birth of our third child, Benjamin. We're planning on another "Fall Fest" next year, perhaps we can combine it with Benjamin's first birthday party;)

Baby Benjamin 10.9.16