"Those Kids Are Nuts"

Belle Renovation Update 

I've lost track of what week it is!

This photo was taken in 2007 on the day that Jeff's and my mother met for the first time. We had been together for 2 years, but with Buttons living in Colorado and my mom in California - it took a trip to Belle to meet for the first time.


Two weeks ago we lost Jeff's mom, "Buttons", and I have been struggling to update my blog with so much of my focus on her and Jeffrey. So I am dedicating this blog to Buttons, my mother-n-law.., a woman I loved and miss dearly.

I think our mothers bonded over their shared confusion and "worry" about the small fixer-upper Jeff and I had bought together not soon after we started dating... I know that Buttons told Jeff's family time and time again.. "Those kids are nuts" when asked about Belle.

But don't be fooled... just like my parents, Buttons supported and believed in Belle. Well, lets be real, I am not sure any of our parents believe in Belle per say, however I KNOW that they believe in their children.

Before Buttons moved back to New York from Colorado she would stay with us at Belle. After she moved to New York she would drive up and meet us on the weekends and join us for dinner under our beautiful maple - always with a motherly worried look on her face thinking ..."Those kids are nuts".

I wish more than anything in the world that Buttons was able to see our beautiful Belle finished. Before she went blind I would show her photos on my ipad every weekend - and she always (like any great mother) sounded interested and exciting for us.... but we all know what she was thinking "Those kids are nuts".

A lot has happened as Belle's superheroes continue to work tirelessly to restore Belle over the last 3 weeks as we have been away.

To catch everyone up, I thought it would be fun to do some before and after photos.
The "after" are photos that I took today....

The front side of Belle (West facing)

 The back side of Belle (East facing)

 The side of Belle (south facing)

 The side of Belle (north facing)

So much else has happened... new electrical throughout the entire house is almost done; the new plumbing throughout the entire house is close to being done; insulation is in; sub-floors are in; and 90% of all the new windows and doors are in.


And the biggest part of this entire project is the front foundation.. which after 160 years is showing her age. Our superheroes continue to impress us day after day - as they work tirelessly to save our sweet Belle.

While we love Belle the house, she is more than that.
She is the entire enchanted property that loves us and cares for us.

Buttons... thank you for sharing Belle with us and being a part of her history.
I love you and miss you dearly.