Welcome To Our Little Big House On The Prairie


Monday, April 30, 2012

A new beginning...

I have so, so much to share with you all, that I don't even know where to begin!  Friday brought a bunch of awesome surprises, Saturday at Junk Jubilee left me me broke, and Sunday...  Well, I'll tell you about Sunday.  I'll save the rest for tomorrow and Wednesday.  

First of all, I have to thank each and every one of you for your kind and uplifting comments that you left on my blog on Friday.  I simply just haven't had a chance to respond to you all, but I will definitely be sitting down and responding to each of you personally.

I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.  

You all touched me in a way you wouldn't even believe.  :)

Secondly...  My husband.   The unwavering support and belief Scott has shown in me and my dreams the last few days has had my eyes welling up with tears a few times (SssshhhDon't tell him.  LOL) and utterly speechless a lot.

Especially this...



This is soon to be the new home of Prairie Patina by Our Prairie Home.  

We've had lots of ideas for this little space over the last couple of years:  Storing equipment.  Storing firewood.  Turning it into a wrestling/weight room for the boys.  In fact, we were pretty firm on that last idea up until last week...   

Scott asked me while watching me wax the china cabinet, 

"If I turned the barn into a workshop for you, would you use it?"  

No hesitation:  "YES!"

However, we had a huge hurdle.  The mess we had let accumulate inside for the last five years.  Like, HUGE mess.  GINOURMOUS mess.  TITANIC mess.  

Now, don't judge:


Pretty much every single thing that we've ever thought we should save while redoing parts of the house was just thrown in here... Along with lots of other junk.  Tons of it.  You couldn't even walk in it without taking the risk of stepping on a rusty nail and winning a quick trip to the doctor for a tetanus shot.  

Its our stash spot.  

And the other end still had straw, chicken poop, goat poop, chicken wire, and nesting boxes from the chickens and goat we had a few years ago.  I just groaned and stared when we went outside yesterday morning to look at it.  

I try to forget the mess exists.  LOL

Scott had already done quite a bit of work to it before we let it go to heck in a hand basket - raised the ceiling, which he had to stoop to fit under (People back in the day must have been SHORT) and putting plywood along half of the north wall.  Its been wired for electricity, has plumbing for running water, and we also ran heat to it from our boiler system.  Its been re-roofed; new plywood and new shingles to match our house.  So, we have an awesome set up.  

Personally, I think this was the Lord's plan for it all along, as if all the small decisions we made for it up to this point were working toward His bigger plan for our future.  The more I think about it, the more in awe I am of His awesomeness.

Don't you just love it when He does things like that????  


Like when Scott decided to pour a concrete pad, put this roll up door in, and widen the entry... 

Perfect for moving in large pieces of furniture.


So, long story short we worked like crazy yesterday.  

EIGHT.  HOURS.  

And this is what it looks like this morning:


We sorted out all the stuff from the kitchen and barn remodel 
that was worth keeping:

Sorted through all the lumber and wood 
that had been stashed in there over the last hundred years 
and kept the ones that showed potential.


Although where we're going to put it, I have no idea, since Scott has some huge plans for me and my space.

He never ceases to amaze me.

I was tickled to death with just the idea of having a large working space.  He's making it into a complete studio.  Yesterday, he comes rolling in with this, when I thought he had gone up to the house for a really long break:


His idea?  

Galvanized metal roofing for the ceiling with barn wood trim and a sheetrocked and painted staging wall complete with replacing the west doorway with a floor to ceiling window.  


He put up a few pieces to I could get an idea of what it would look like.  He was so worried that the metal had started to oxidized and rust in some places. 

I was like, "Its called patina and I LOVE it!"  

There will be barn wood trim at the point where it begins to angle down and then the sides will be sheet rocked.

Knock me over with a feather.

He's re-siding it.  Has already lined up someone to come in and blow in insulation into the walls and ceiling.  AND will be installing an air conditioning window unit.  I had to stop him when he mentioned pouring a new concrete floor.  "Scott," I told him, "I'm going to be painting in here.  I don't want to be worrying about getting paint on the floor."  LOL  He did, however, talk me into a barnwood floor in the staging section.  Just thinking about it, I am LOLing.  ;)

Today along with finishing putting up the metal, this is our job:


Installing the rest of the plywood walls inside and out, so its ready for insulation tomorrow.  My carpal tunnel is still flaring up from yesterday, so I hope I can be a decent helper.  Data Entry was a bad job to take when I was twenty.  :P

But I'm so excited, I don't care.  Although I may have to "borrow" some pain meds from my mother-in-law.  Last night it had me in tears.  Y'all must think I cry an awful lot.  I really don't.  Promise. HA HA HA


In the end, my new space is going to be absolutely wonderful and I can't wait to get started working in it.

 


Especially with all the stuff Scott bought me at an auction Friday night...  But I'll tell you about that tomorrow.  

Stay tuned because you are not going to believe all the pieces he picked up for me.  :)

XO,


43 comments:

Unknown said...

I am so excited for you right now! And...just a tad, well, waaaayyy jealous too! I would kill for a space like this, well I wouldn't kill, but I'll pine away for a space like this! Can't wait to see it all finished!

Jessica @ Mom 4 Real

Tanya said...

Wow! You have got to be soooo tired. What a great space to work in. Your husband gets lots of brownie points from your readers. Your so blessed to have your husband be your biggest supporter. So happy for you Laura. Can't wait to see all your new stuff.

Shannon Fox said...

You know, you better keep an eye on Scott, some devious DIY diva may plan on stealing him away after they read this post!

I am so beyond thrilled for you. Thanks so much for sharing your new space with us. You are so fortunate you have someplace like that to make over! It's going to be perfect. Scott is building you the Taj Mahal of shabby makeover perfection! Lucky girl. I can't wait to see what you create in there! You have so much talent and energy, there will be no stopping you. You are a shooting star =) Congrats my friend. Luv Lilo.

gertie @ The Old Block House said...

I am so happy for you! This is incredible. It's wonderful that you're going to have that amazing space, but having that incredible man that believes and supports you? YEAH!!!

I can't wait to see the workshop as it progresses.

Becca Bertotti said...

Wow, what FUN and what a loving, supportive, kind husband you have for helping you realize your dreams ... that's LOVE! We can't wait to see all that you create in your new, fabulous space!

Emily said...

What an amazing guy you have :) you are so fortunate to have such a great and enthusiastic supporter in him! I love what you've done with the space already and can't wait to see more updates.

Sweet Melanie said...

Awe, I am so thrilled for you! You had me teared up as I read how you gave God credit....not many do that now adays. And to have such a wonderful husband that truly loves you(that doesn't happen too much either). You my dear are one blessed lady! I am so excited for you, it's going to be gorgeous!

I have to say that I felt a little connection while reading this....I too am opening up my own shop. I know God has truly had a plan and I too have an amazing husband, he's building mine. He is one special fella(highschool sweethearts), he's had some health issues here recently and that hasn't slowed him down one bit. We are a cash and carry kind of people so when he got a loan to build it, I knew he was behind me 100%! WE just don't do that, ya know? All I can say is that you and I both have a lot to be thankful for, lol! God is so good!

Have fun dreaming(cause I know you are) and keep us all posted!

Hugs,
Melanie

Shari @ turnstylevogue.com said...

That is the perfect space and you will have soooo much fun in there. My shop doesn't have that kind of character but I still find myself just sitting in there and getting "me" time - if only for five minutes. What a great weekend for you and more to come. That hubby of yours is awesome. Tell him I take back everything you ever told me about him...! ?? LOL.

Anonymous said...

OM GOODESS....awesome and I'm totally *drooling* over this barn, all his ideas, and all the GOODNESS/GOODIES that will be created/made in there! This truly would be my dream come true....maybe in another 10 years...but for now, I will enjoy your blog....my FAVORITE! Thanks for taking the time and sharing with all of us!!!

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said...

How exciting! What a wonderful space for a studio. That man of your's is a keeper for sure!

Unknown said...

SAH-WEEEETTT! That is amazing. :)
Oh, I can talk today now..thanks to an inhaler and a steroids shot. So feel free to call me once you have a break. This is freaking awesome! I love it.

MEM said...

Just found your blog and it has been an inspiration!!! Have a huge old machinery shed that needs lots of work---but more than hubby can manage. So maybe I should get busy and get estimates.......thanks and look forward to many more visits.

Janna said...

Jealous of you,
Happy for you,
Heat, aircondtioning, running water and electricity,all in one building?...and a man that has visions to create a staging area, WOW
You lucky girl enjoy!

Unknown said...

Hi there! I am a new reader and so excited to see how much your new work space has already been transformed. I could do this with half of my huge, messy garage. I'm inspired!!!

Natalie at Little Prairie Girl said...

Laura,

I am so HAPPY for you! although I have to admit a little jealous about the air conditioning and running water in your barn!

I can't wait to see it in person and see all the AWESOME things you will be creating....God has giving you some amazing talent! :)


It was great chatting with you at Junk Jubilee. What a show! Can't wait to do their holiday show in November.

Now, I am off to start preparing for our next barn sale here at the farm....May 11 & 12! No rest for the weary! :(

Hugs,
Natalie
Little Prairie Girl

Let's get together soon, chat & dream of the future.

NanaDiana said...

Oh- Laura!!!! WOW! I love it! I love your husband for helping you realize a dream! He GOT IT! You have done an awesome job so far and I can't wait to see it up and running. Sooo much work but it will be soooo worth it! xo Diana

Jennifer said...

So romantic! You have a keeper for sure! Enjoy your new space!

Bliss said...

You've heard of rock that town? Well you're gonna rock that barn!

~Bliss~

Miss Charming said...

It sounds as though you have such an awesome husband. What a wonderful place for a workshop. (I absolutely love the blue colored barn!). Best of luck!

Kevin Noel said...

Kudos to your husband, Laura. He did a great job renovating your old storage barn. I like how he built the metal and barn wood ceiling for your workshop. That will certainly give you the motivation to work for more. Well, based on how it looks in the picture, I’m guessing it’s almost complete. All it needs is insulation to help the balance temperature in the workshop.

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