Demolition Derby set for April

Yes! There is now a definite start date for knocking off the jerry-built addition to our century farmhouse so it can be replaced by a fantastic new one complete with decent kitchen. What's being trashed: a kitchen, bath and laundry, and two nondescript rooms now used for storing family junk. In early April, Mike the Salvage king, whose yard is a convenient couple of kilometres away, will arrive with his demo crew and bulldozer. Once the dirty deed is done, Peter the builder takes over. Start date is May 1 or maybe earlier if there's no mud for heavy equipment to bog down in.

How did we choose our builder? A big decision and in our case, one that was solely based of whether he was still friends with the folks for whom he's built houses. NO we do not trust referrals or references. Why? Because everyone around here is related to everyone else! My idea: find custom built homes you like, knock onthe door and ask people who built it and whether they would use them again! Is this method fail-proof? Keep watching this blog and I'll let you know. ( above: farmhouse kitchen circa 1950, soon to disappear.)

A Beautiful View from the Bathroom Window.

Looks cozy, doesn't it? The little farmhouse glowing warm and welcoming in the snow. Just shows you how pictures can lie! Our little old house freezes your socks off in winter, the kitchen was built for a midget, and the very best view -- a fantastic panorama that includes a lake and mountains -- is from the bathroom/laundryroom window.

But all that is about to change, because here come the wreckers. In early April, they'll tear off the hopeless kitchen, the mainfloor bath and two odd rooms now used to store junk that were tacked onto the end of the house by some demented handyman. Then the big adventure begins. Check this blog out occasionally to see how two hopeless amateurs make out with a major reno and addition, including the mistakes they make (and that you should avoid) and hopefully, the things they do right.