Getting There

We've made some exciting progress over the last few weeks at Bethel Barn! With every step of the process we celebrate being closer to our dream. I shared the excitement of seeing our windows installed nearly two years after ordering them.  Well this week marked another big milestone as our exterior doors were installed.

Just for reference, here is the before picture:

(these doors are each about five feet wide)

And here are the new doors:

They are exactly what we envisioned! We have kept the original transom window above which will be painted black to match the doors and windows. It is fixed in place but previously it was operated by hand crank to tilt in, making room for a tractor to pull through with hay. We're keeping as much of the original charm of the barn as we can while giving it a modern vibe.

Along with the front doors there are two sets of french doors upstairs and two sets downstairs as well as two doors in the mudroom. 

The upstairs french doors will open onto the screen porch, those downstairs are in the master suite and will open to the patio.

Another exciting addition recently has been the staircase.  This was a head-scratcher for us when drawing up our plans.  Because we have an inverted floor plan with bedrooms downstairs, it was important to us that it not feel like you were walking into a basement.  We wanted the stairs to be as open and large as possible.  Thanks to our architect and our builder I think we have achieved that.  I can hardly wait to see them finished!

I tease Brad because every afternoon when we take our walk through and assess things he says, "It's getting there, my love."  It makes me smile to think about the many times in our 30 years together that this sentiment applied. Life is a lot of "getting there".  When we're younger we may think that we'll finally be happy when we get there.  But the older we get the more we realize that the joy really is in the journey.  As excited as I am to be able to wake up in Bethel Barn every day I am savoring each step of 

"getting there".

 

The Trees Come Down and The Walls Go Up

 

In the last few weeks site work has begun on the barn project. 

 Because we want to have sun exposure on the northern side of the barn and we plan to put in a swimming pool, a significant amount of trees needed to be removed.  Although I can assure you we still have PLENTY of trees on the farm, I always get a little anxious when I hear the whirring of chainsaws. I just don't like trees being cut down. I can remember growing up and only having one tree of any size in our yard.  I dreamed of living somewhere with hills and trees abounding.

  But Brad has great vision when it comes to these things and I am learning to trust him. The improvements he has made to the farm in the five years we've been here are proof enough. So, as the trees come down I am beginning to see his vision coming to life.

As sitework continues outside, there has been no lack of work going on inside.  Before framing could begin on the lower level plumbing had to be roughed-in and concrete poured.

With the concrete poured, framing has been nearly completed, masonry work is beginning

and the walls are going up.

Today as we were walking through the barn discussing next steps I told Brad that I can't believe we're at this point in the process.  It's getting busier by the day!  So. Many. Decisions.

But I'm determined to enjoy the process as much as possible and not lose sight of what is important...

...building a HOME.

"A house is built through wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.

Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables."

Proverbs 24:3-4