Yesterday ended with the most peceful sunset after an incredibly hot and humid day. We were hoping for rain, but it never came, so there wasn’t much relief from the heat. At 8 p.m. I made myself an iced coffee with caramel syrup. It was delicious… until I realized my personal barista (me! 😄) had … More Sunset, Coffee, and Another Step Forward
It was finally time to clean up and set up the pool for another summer. Unlike many sensible people, we didn’t clean it properly in autumn. We emptied the water and left it outside all winter. With temperatures regularly dropping to -20°C here, I was too nervous about leaving water inside and hoping for the … More Pool Season Has Begun
A few years ago, we installed the windows in our old house. At the time, it felt like a huge milestone in our renovation journey. The house suddenly looked more complete, more protected from the weather, and a little closer to becoming the home we had imagined. Now we’re preparing for the next stage: finishing … More Important Life Decisions
I was never a huge IKEA fan, but… it turns out I’m spending quite a lot of money there and even all of our holidays building their furniture. My first real encounter with IKEA was last summer, when we decided to buy temporary bedroom furniture. It turned out to be easy to install and looked … More Our Holidays, Apparently, Are for Building IKEA
This weekend was supposed to be about unwrapping memories. And it was—but not quite the way I expected. Among the many boxes we brought back from storage, there was one I was especially excited to open: my vintage German porcelain from Seltmann Weiden. I bought that set during my mom’s 60th birthday party—the one we … More Let’s Talk About Weekend or Seltmann Weiden Service
On Saturday and Sunday, we finally brought home all my china from storage, along with my grandmother’s buffet. (Or is it a cupboard? Honestly, I never know the right word in English—please, comment below). It’s a beautiful piece with the history, made in 1880, and has been in my family ever since. I grew up … More Monday
Right now, I’m sitting in the living room—in our old chair, laptop on my lap. On the right, the windowsill is full of plants soaking up the light. On the left, an absolute army of tomato seedlings—around 120 in total. They’ve taken over the space, tall and cheerful, stretching toward the sun as if they … More A Nice Living Room Moment
Making the decision to reduce my work hours to 128 hours a month wasn’t easy, but it felt necessary. I love my job and the people I work with. The owner’s values align with mine, and the supportive work environment makes it hard to imagine stepping away. Also, I work from home, so it’s easy … More How I Decided to Reduce My Work Hours to 128 Hours a Month
Yesterday marked the Second Advent, and we spent it together as a family. It was cozy and heartwarming to share a meal and enjoy some time together amidst the chaos of renovation. I also made a small but meaningful improvement to our living situation: I laid down temporary flooring in one part of the house! … More Second Advent and Small Victories
Just got my dream lens, the Canon 100-500mm, and I couldn’t be more excited! I hadn’t been so into photography for the last few years, but now, I can feel that old spark coming back. Getting this lens wasn’t easy. With all the house renovations, I’d been saving up and was close to putting the … More Five minutes outside with my dream lens in hand..
This weekend, we escaped to our unfinished house, arriving on Friday just as the colder evenings set in. The house felt cozy and inviting. This was due to the warmth of our newly started central heating. The soft glow of candles also added to the coziness. Marley, our ever-loyal cat who lives there full-time, joined … More A Cozy Weekend in Our Unfinished Home
I’m excited to share that we will be starting our heating system this autumn! This means we can continue the renovation through the winter and move into the first floor. However, this post will focus on the decisions we made in September of last year (2023). As winter approached last year (2023), we faced the … More Post 5: Preparing for Winter: Reflecting on Last Year’s Renovation Decisions and Looking Ahead
Taking on a house that hadn’t been lived in for over 30 years was no small feat. When we finally purchased the property in late 2019, it felt like we had taken on more than just a house—we had inherited years of neglect, worn-down materials, and the challenge of preserving something that was quickly falling … More Part 2: The Challenges of Breathing New Life: Chestnut Manor
Ilze and her family embarked on a transformative journey when they stumbled upon Chestnut Manor in 2008. After years of fascination, they finally became the proud owners of the 1880s farmhouse in 2019. Despite its neglected state, the unique craftsmanship and potential of the home instilled in them a deep sense of belonging and purpose. … More Falling in Love with a Forgotten Gem: Chestnut Manor
Hello, everyone! I’ve recently been deep in the process of selecting floor boards for our home, and I wanted to share my experience with you. This journey was a lot more involved than I initially expected, but it’s one of those decisions that we’ll live with for the next 20 years. Here’s a glimpse into … More My Journey to Choosing the Perfect (for us) Floor Boards