“Sistering” sounds like something I have done all my life – spend time talking to or hanging out with one of my sisters. The term has a different meaning in construction, but with the same emphasis on lending support. Lovely as the original beams under the first floor are – some still encased in bark – they need help to continue their job into the next century. This week, carpenters are sistering new joists alongside the old ones, cutting through them when necessary, so the younger lumber spans the distance from from wall to wall, sharing the load.

While this sistering is underway on one side of the basement, the masons are applying their skills on the other. They’ve begun to cover the bare concrete walls with the handmade antique bricks which we salvaged from the chimney piers in the old cellar hole. It was worth the effort!

Outside, the snowy weather caused us to re-think our driveway plan. We watched plows scrape the front yard, pushing up a snowbank that now covers our newly exposed stone walls, and wondered how long it would take for them to melt in the spring. Nils suggested we keep part of the temporary road built to move the house from its former site, and create a circular drive around the barn. This will give us access to the house without ruining the front garden. Parking will be near the carriage house, which we’ll one day turn into a proper garage.

So, we consulted our in-house architect, Mr. Caper, who inspected the modified drawings, then ran it by Ace, our canine excavator, who surveyed the site and gave his nod of approval.