The house is looking rather hideous from the outside right now. đ It all started with insulating the block sections of the house. We insulated the brick and stone walls from the inside because we wanted to preserve their original look on the outside. After all, this house was built around 1880, and those old … More Our 1880 House: One Renovation Leads to Another
This week was finally the moment weâve been waiting for â time to install the decorative corbels on the arch! ⨠We had to make a few adjustments to the arch itself first. Nothing ever goes completely smoothly in renovation, but with a bit of grinding down and reshaping, we got it ready. We spray-painted … More Adding Corbels to Our Arch
I was ready to sit down and reflect on my intentionsâonly to realize I never made any for March! Life has been busy, and somehow, March slipped right past me. But that just means itâs the perfect time to go back and review what I had planned for February. Letâs see how things went! I … More Looking Back at Februaryâs Goals (Because I Skipped March…)
I don’t know where to start. Lately, life feels heavy. The flu, the renovation, dentist appointments, leaving the rented flat, and endless to-do lists leave me stretched thin. Some days, it’s hard to believe things will get better. I’m trying to accept that it’s okay to feel this way â to let the hard days … More Holding On Through Hard Days
Introduction:Iâm excited to set my intentions and focus on what matters most this month. Hereâs what I hope to accomplish and how I plan to make the most of these 28 days. Personal Goals: Family & Relationships: Gardening: Fun and Creativity: Renovation: That’s about it, let’s see if I can keep up with the plan … More February: Goals and Intentions
Iâve been struggling to decide on the trim for our ceiling and wall cornersâitâs one of those small but important details! To help, JÄnis brought in three different trims and placed them in the room so I could see how they look in person. It’s really helpful to visualize them in the space, and now … More Choosing Trim for the Ceiling and Wall Corners
I recently stumbled upon a blogger who shares her grocery shopping trips, detailing what she buys and how much it all costs. I love seeing how others navigate their food budgets and prioritiesâitâs so relatable and oddly inspiring! Meanwhile, yesterday we filled a cart with what felt like nothing and walked out 150 euros lighter. … More Grocery Shopping…
Iâll admit it: Iâm not in the best place in my life right now. Writing this feels scary because voicing it makes it real, and Iâm afraid things could get worse. Isnât that what people say sometimes? That health or circumstances could deteriorate? Then thereâs the other voiceâthe one that says, âEnjoy what you have!â … More When Life Feels Like a Struggle
This summer was like a juggling act gone wild! Between renovations and work, my greenhouse turned into a jungle, but surprise! My little yellow tomatoes flourished amidst the chaos. Theyâre so tasty that the kids can’t resist munching them straight off the vine. As it turns out, chaos can be deliciousâwho knew? Note to self: more tomatoes next year! … More Summer Chaos, Renovation, and the Tastiest Tomatoes
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
The real work began when we started rebuilding from the ground upâliterally. The original flooring, like much of the wood in the house, was beyond repair. But the issues didnât stop there. Beneath the floors, we found clay, which is not good. So, we had to remove that and fill it with the sand. Since … More Part 3: Rebuilding from the Ground Up
Yesterday, we celebrated HelmÄŤ’s 9th birthday, and today the festivities continue! Itâs a milestone for more than just our smallest girlâitâs the first party weâve ever hosted in our unfinished house! And honestly, it was magical. The space is spacious and open, just what we envisioned for these kinds of gatherings. The kids loved the … More Celebrating Helmiâs 9th Birthday in Our Unfinished House
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
Thank you for your vote! Ilze
Hello, everyone! Iâve 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 itâs one of those decisions that weâll live with for the next 20 years. Hereâs a glimpse into … More My Journey to Choosing the Perfect (for us) Floor Boards
Yet, amidst the chaos, I’ve discovered something profoundly comforting: my bath. Yes, that’s right. Even in this incomplete setting, with construction materials scattered and the faint echo of power tools in the background, I have found my personal sanctuary. Let me paint you a picture. Our bathroom isnât exactly what youâd call âfinishedâ at the … More Finding Joy in Imperfection: Bathtub
The other day a package came and I asked – what is it? The answer was something totally unexpected: drywall stilts. Yes, there are tall, wobbly things construction workers use to reach high ceilings. The moment I saw them, I thought, This is crazy! You know we like to do everything on our own, but… … More I know what makes me anxious: Draywall Stilts!
Hello everyone, Itâs been a while since I last wrote here (2020 – almost four years). The truth is, life has been overwhelmingâso much so that writing felt like an impossible task. But today, Iâm sharing my story, hoping it might resonate with some of you or at least give me the strength to keep … More A Road Less Traveled: Starting Over, One Step at a Time
It all started five years ago when we were living in Ozolkalns (small village near Gulbene, Latvia) for a year. We couldn’t decide to stay here or buy our property somewhere else. We even thought about moving to Germany, that sounded real with two small kids :). But we are Latvians and wanted to stay … More Old Chestnut tree and its manor!