Progress
Posted on | February 19, 2006 |
All day the thermometer hovered in the single digits. So cold, the air cuts at bare skin like a razor. The sky was pale, and the slight dusting of snow on the ground, kicked up with every gust of wind. The stream in the field on the way to the house was frozen today: a channel of blue ice bisecting an expanse of choppy ocher grass stalks.
It was my first time at the house in a week. DH has gone every day, often hiring a neighbor who needs to support his snowboard habit, to help out with drywall removal and framing. I was amazed by how much they had accomplished. The difference in the space was palpable. Sunlight flooded in through the windows of the to-be dining room, filling the kitchen with light.
Seeing it made me want fast forward. I want to be there with my coffee and a croissant at the table, watching nuthatches and starlings fight for seed at the feeder, or my dog ferret out squirrels.
Instead, I spent the afternoon with a crowbar and hammer laboriously chipping the remaining linoleum from the floor. In the basement below me DH was finishing installing radiant heating, and as I sat chiseling fragment after fragment of adhesive and vinyl from the floor, I felt a little tickle of pride sneaking up my spine.
My guy can do this stuff: remove load bearing walls. Install radiant heat. We make a great team, and when I can, I’m there along side him wielding a hammer or heat gun—but this time he’s done it mostly himself, and I’m impressed.
He is fearless when it comes to tackling these projects (which are things he’s never done), and I like watching him: hair mussed, in a workworn sweatshirt and a tool belt. And watching him like this today, I started to understand his unswerving (obsessive) focus on this project.
For him, this is art. The zing of the table saw, the report of the pneumatic nailer, these are the soundtrack of his creative process. TodayI finally started to understand how for me it’s work and it’s fun, but for him it’s even more than that. For him it is a form of self expression—like my paint and the endless notebook pages I fill, DH finds himself in the process of making this space new.
The kitchen, as it was.
Almost the same view as the pic above, after the wall was removed.
Looking through from the kitchen to our future dining room.
Apple tree silhouettes against a winter sunset out the to-be dining room window.
Comments
18 Responses to “Progress”
Leave a Reply
February 19th, 2006 @ 1:34 am
You are going to make this a beautiful home Christina. I can’t wait to see the transformation as you continue working…and you will get there…to your mornings of coffee, croissants and watching nuthatches…you will get there.
I love this realization that this work is art to your husband. (When we buy our dreamhouse a few years some now, I would really like to borrow him for a little while.)
February 19th, 2006 @ 1:58 am
I want to climb on a plane with my family and get my carpenter husband to help you, working side by side with your sweet man. This is how they bond, you know, in sweat and dirt and dusty plaster. I dream that they would become fast friends over their art, just as you and I have become over ours. But mostly, I love seeing the progress and imaging you all there. Making a home is a huge, beautiful thing and I am so pleased that you two are making one together.
February 19th, 2006 @ 2:02 am
Ahhhh….I’m fast-forwarding, too. Make sure you have plenty of croissants and coffee for all of us! That view is inspiring.
Your man is nothing less than ambitious, and I tip my hat to him for working to bare knuckle in that cold. Impressive, especially for someone with a day job! You are certainly his muse, along with Bean, as well as his strength’s backbone. Don’t forget that very important part you play!
February 19th, 2006 @ 2:05 am
Oh wow!
February 19th, 2006 @ 5:10 am
Having a handyman husband is SOOOO sexy
(from one who knows)
February 19th, 2006 @ 7:19 am
I am not quite so handy. I prefer to deal in the finishing touches; paint, wallpaper, etc. But there is the ultimate in satisfaction with the job well done. Having spent the time to craft the paint and paper to present the walls and space in a new look. I am impressed, this will be a wonderful living space. You will transform it quickly from a house to a home.
February 19th, 2006 @ 9:37 am
My guy is handy-man challenged! I think it’s so cool when someone can make a home from scratch; more so when they’ve never done it before. The house is going to be beautiful ~ I love how you’ve opened up the kitchen into a new dining room and I can’t wait to see the photos of you with a coffee and croissant and hear stories of your dog and the birds! Try to stay warm ~ that’s what we’re doing here in NJ.
February 19th, 2006 @ 10:11 am
Wow, knocking down that wall looks like it was exactly the right thing to do. I can’t wait to see how the rest of your renovations progress.
February 19th, 2006 @ 10:19 am
I’m shocked that you decided to knock out that *beautiful* kitchen!
Just kidding. It’s going to look great.
February 19th, 2006 @ 10:36 am
Hello! this is a lovely blog, great project and a most wonderful kitchen project all thrown into one. I have only started reading here today, but am sensing a kindred spirit …
Let’s hear it for art and the art of marrying a handyman! yea!
p.s. very very cute baby!
February 19th, 2006 @ 10:37 am
woops!
February 19th, 2006 @ 11:30 am
I’m so enjoying watching this experience as you all labor at it, Christina. It’s amazing to watch the work as it comes along. Thanks for sharing!
February 19th, 2006 @ 2:58 pm
My K?
With a tool belt, a torpedo level and dust in his hair?
very sexy.
and competent.
February 19th, 2006 @ 4:32 pm
Christina- my service has been down so I missed the Beans B-day! Happy birthday to your darling little guy!
And the kitchen looks great-such nice space and light coming through and that’s amazing what you and DH are tackling-It’s exciting, scarey and stressful and pleasure all at the same time-but good for u 2 that you keep talking-it’s very hard-this under- taking-but such incrediable results at the end of the road.
It’s going to be beautiful.
February 19th, 2006 @ 4:46 pm
It’s going to be great! And so much more meaningful, I think, since you are doing the work yourselves.
I look forward to seeing your progress.
February 20th, 2006 @ 12:17 am
wow! such a difficult project, but the most rewarding kind. it looks like it is going to be beautiful! the two of you have all my jaw-dropping admiration for the hard work you have already put into this.
February 21st, 2006 @ 1:16 pm
I continue to be impressed by your abilities and those of DH! This is such amazing stuff, Christina. Thanks for posting pics (I feel dejavu after seeing BP’s!).
February 21st, 2006 @ 7:08 pm
I have been there twice before and kind of am now with building. Remodeling is so love/hate for me. I totally get into it now. Is that weird? I can’t wait to see the end product. Good luck with it all. I will be thinking of you. I am so impressed.
On a completely different note, It is nice to be back on the internet and coming to your website makes me feel like I have come home. I’ll be thinking of you.