Nine Years Later....

We bought the cottage on June 26th, 2002 - our 25th wedding anniversary.  As we celebrated our 34th anniversary this weekend, we couldn't have asked for a lovelier gift than the bank in full bloom:

Another gift.- the remodel- is wrapping up.  For example, Jerry installed our new window box outside the kitchen and  voila!  More flowers!!

I planted my cutting garden, and  as ever, I'm reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "The Earth laughs in flowers"...and gnomes.

Since my last post, the cottage was painted:

Wow....one color? Just when I was getting used to those three different shades of siding that we had going!

Watching the landscaping installed was exciting:

Every country cottage needs hydrangeas.

And a Japanese maple.

We got a screen door for the kitchen and our next-door-neighbor,  Eddie Winter,

got a new job as watchdog...

- although he is generally watching for Beggin' Strips rather than burglars.

Our Maine Cottage furniture was finally delivered:

Piper loves her comfy chair!.

Except a few minor details, we are done! Hooray! So, it's time to look at some before and after snapshots of Mark and Mary's excellent construction adventure.

August, 2010 ....Are we nuts? We are about to wreak  havoc on this perfectly lovely cottage!!!

On second thought....that flat roof has got to go.

There goes the roof...and a whole lot more, both outside and inside:

Bye-bye bathrooms:

And kitchen:

Who needs a bedroom?

Apparently, we don't.

Soon, a foundation for the kitchen addition gets underway:

And the outside of the cottage begins to take shape:

At this point in the project, Mark and I are officially excited!

Inside, the upstairs undergoes a transformation...

And the kitchen undergoes a growth spurt:

A side benefit...the property next door is sold and cleared.  We go from this view:

To actually having a view:

During the winter, interior work continues steadily:

Framing, insulation, wiring, heating/cooling, windows, doors....wow!

Bathrooms are tiled and floors are installed:

The kitchen cabinets, countertops, and appliances arrive, sheltered by a really cool blue ceiling:

The bathroom cabinetry is also installed:

By early spring, we have a real house and since then, we've made ourselves right at home!

In the kitchen....

Or upstairs:

Where the kids have new bedrooms:

Alex's room

Maddy's room

And a bath:

Mark and I can't complain:

A lake view!!!

The porch is open for business. Humans inside....

Hummingbirds outside...

Happily, when pulling into our driveway, we've gone from this:

To this:

And here's what we see when we pull in from the pier:

There are many people Mark and I want to thank for their hard work and outstanding craftsmanship in the completion of the Winter cottage.  They include, in order of appearance:

Sam Leman, our architect, who worked with us from the first planning meeting through construction...a process of almost three years.
Jeryl Hochstetler, our general contractor extraordinaire,and his crew at Clearview Construction:  Jerry and  Dick. Their carpentry skills are second to none and whatever other things needed doing - painting, wall boarding, installation, shingling, masonry - Jeryl made it happen.
Pat Hochstetler and the staff at  US 31 Lighting Supply for their patience with my indecisions over lighting fixtures; I guess I don't look up all that much. Lighting is very hard to select!
Heather Rawles and Country Mill Cabinetry for design, construction, and installation of cabinets that feel like pieces of fine furniture and Ric of Premier Concepts for counters that feel like soapstone...but are much more durable.
Merlin Bontrager and Bontrager Electrical and Plumbing Services, which installed bath/kitchen faucets and fixtures, upstairs furnace for heating/cooling, wiring and outlets any place where one might desire them.  However, according to Mark, their number one contribution was installing the whole house fan, aka "The Ghost".
Teena, Norris, and the folks at Southwind Flooring for help with carpet and tile selections, innovative design, and installation.

Heather Harwood, our landscape architect, for imagining landscaping and hardscaping that say "Welcome to the Lake".
Rick Huber,whose grading and hardscaping was nothing short of miraculous... plus, I got a really cute retaining wall for my flower garden with leftover Chilton stone!
Mark Myers and Myers Nursery of Syracuse, Indiana for careful selection of beautiful trees, shrubs and plants.  Mark's attention to detail and meticulous planting ensures that the plantings may actually survive!

It's been fun to chronicle our time "Under Construction" and to keep you posted...but it's really good, finally,  to be home!