Of making a place special...

My mom has a soft spot for old homes. We have remodeled quite a few and she always sees the charm in them and my dad always sees the potential (no matter how disgusting or dilapidated they are), and I guess I see both. I grew up in the midst of remodel projects but now that dad has a contracting company and crew I'm not hands-on in the work anymore. I'd forgotten how slow going it is when you do all the work as time allows, and how sore you are after a few hours of sanding or demo or painting. I haven't forgotten the sweetness of making a place special by pouring out your time and energies on it though. A remodeled home is like a masterpiece, a labor of love. You can't walk through it without getting a little attached, or walk away without being a bit sentimental. It's exciting to not just be preparing this house for renters, but to be preparing it for my future... for Barley... for Cat... for my community of friends and family. If my life is a story, this Little House is certainly a character in it.