We have been away on holiday, taking a much-needed break from construction decision-making and returned home to see things looking up on several fronts: The attic. The Keeping Room hearth. Exterior trim. Front porch. Back deck. And spring flowers!

Our contractor explained to us at the beginning of this project that builders work on a house from the bottom up and the outside in. Our crew has now reached the top of the house. They cleared out the old fiberglass insulation and sistered the rafters, adding extra boards to support the coming weight of the solar panels. They worked around the ducts and electrical wiring that has already been put in place up there. With temporary lighting and the old crumbling ceilings removed, it’s easy to see their work without having to climb a ladder.

Removing the bedroom ceilings revealed more of the farmhouse’s original beams, which we have decided to expose, taking the house further back into it’s historic past. The new ceilings and walls will be blueboard drywall plus a skim coat of plaster for paint and wallpaper. Sadly, we have to say goodbye to all the wallpaper Carol hung in the 80s. We are choosing historic patterns to replace them.

Aron Libby, our mason transformed the Keeping Room fireplace while we were away. Thanks to Josh for documenting the process of removing the granite mantle, reshaping the bread oven opening to fit in an antique metal door and expanding the lower opening, once used for ashes, to accommodate kindling and logs. Aron also re-bricked the hearth to make it flush with the floor.

Outside, Josh, Nick and Al added white trim around all the windows, the last step before the new siding can go up. Siding was delivered this week so they can get started on it Monday. The guys also removed the decorative “dental” work trim under the roofline and replaced it with new, which they milled themselves. And Carl and Randy constructed support for the back deck and front farmer’s porch.

We felt welcomed back to the farm by the explosion of daffodils, forsythia and day lilies!