This time last year I was preparing to head to our property with more questions than answers.
The year before that(in 2021) we had purchased the property ‘site unseen’ and spent a good two weeks peeling back the layers of overgrowth and garbage to see what we got ourselves into (our website banner image shows the first moments seeing it in person). During that first visit we were pleasantly surprised by how solid the structure was and the consensus was we could work with what was there. The foundation/basement was an area of concern but we had hopes of conserving or repairing some of large holes that developed after 6 years being vacant. Speaking with a few experts on this, we determined that the ongoing maintenance of the stone wall foundation would be too much to handle and there was no guarantee this would be usable space going forward. So decisions were made to ensure our foundation and roof would be the major focus of the next year - with anything additional being bonus.
My intent in 2022(while awaiting the completion of the bigger jobs) was basically to continue the forest clearing around the perimeter of the house, make a more suitable bathroom set up and find a way to live/work comfortably over the span of a few months. This included setting up and learning about off-grid power solutions, investing in a new and expensive starlink internet as well as figuring out a better outdoor bathroom set up. Like with most big changes, there was a nervous excitement and doubt that had crept in. What if this doesn’t work out? What if I cannot get my power system to work? What if the house is so far gone that the act of lifting it to put in a foundation destroys it? Will I have to immediately go back to Toronto and abandon the project? On the surface I had a quiet confidence, but only time would tell how things would pan out.
After some initial hiccups with the off-grid power system (thanks to a faulty wire), I was on my way. Our tent trailer(which has become our home hub during the work) was also a home for field mice which was another issue that had to be dealt with straight away. All in all not the smoothest of starts, but I was able to stay and continue to my work at the property and exceed what I was hoping to get done for the season. There were also some pleasant surprises like the discovery of a fairly recent septic and well which we were able to tie back into the structure for future use.
Fast forward to present day and I am eagerly anticipating the start of the season and seeing the property again. But as the title of the blog suggests, there is a change in mindset going in. While there’s always going to be doubts on how certain projects around the house will turn out(or if we'll need to pivot), there is much more confidence in our direction now that the house has a suitable foundation and roof. Add in the success of the offgrid power system, starlink internet and a winter of planning, the next steps seem much more manageable for us. It does feel like a corner is being turned and if everything goes right, by end of this season(late fall) we should have something that is very close to being livable and ready for the next stages of interior design/work.
Looking back at the last one and a half years, it’s so interesting to take note of those initial feelings and reference them. It’s incredible to see the progress on the house and property, but equally incredible to see that confidence and ability grow within us. I’m sure in a few years time, I’ll re-read this and remark on all that’s changed.
Thanks for reading :) - I've also enabled comments on all blogs!
Nik