layers
I am not going to reveal my ceiling decision just yet. We have more work to do before we get to that. Today is wall demo day, and just like the ceiling, it did not disappoint. It reminds me of the poem “Work While You Work, Play While You Play” by M.A. Stodart. Pippi and Tiny Tot had to memorize it for language class last year and the whole family now knows it by heart. It goes like this:
Work while you work; play while you play.
This is the way to be happy each day.
All that you do, do with your might.
Things done by half are never done right.
Leaving work undone or half done wouldn’t be right and certainly would not bring anyone any happiness, so off we go, back to the pantry bathroom to tear down some walls.
Today’s post is called “Layers” because of the many layers of material found in this small room. If you read my first post, you saw the plain white drywalled walls. Here, you’ll notice more drywall, plaster, and wallpaper.
Looking at more layers is slightly disheartening, but when you have kids who cannot wait to channel all of their energy into demolishing everything in their path (okay that might be an exaggeration, but not by much), it goes pretty fast.
Pippi was a little unsure if we were joking about being able to put a hole in the wall, but she gave it a shot anyway. Look…another layer! But with plaster, we were anticipating lath.
G. I. Joe seriously lives for destruction. He didn’t stick around long, though. He is not a fan of having to wear shoes and he is smart enough to know that big messes mean lots of clean up.
Eventually, we made it through the many layers of wall to the bare construction that had been hidden away for over a century. But before I could revel in our “discovery” someone had to put a mask on and sweep up all that mess! As much as kids love to deconstruct, they have an equal amount of hatred for cleaning up, so I was pretty much left to myself here, which was better in the long run because it was incredibly dusty work.
Okay, maybe I didn’t get it 100% clean, but here she is, the base layer, the warmth, beauty, and charm I was looking for!
Look at those gorgeous square nails! These are the things house dreams are made of!
Can you love a house? Or an architecture style? If you can, I love this one. As much as I long to feel “at home” this gives me hope that we are going to achieve that some day. I cannot explain it, but seeing just what is under the layers of this one room moves me. I am drawn to it and intrigued by it. It speaks to me and makes me wonder about the people who built it and lived here, who forged these nails and cut these beams by hand, likely from trees on this very land. They did it all before electricity or power tools. There was likely a community of people around them helping them offering not just building assistance but love and support as well. Though a harder time for sure, I am envious of their skill and their work ethic. And more than that, I crave the families they built out of friends and neighbors. I believe this endeavor we have taken on is about more than just fixing up a house and having a few cute animals. I believe God will use it to lead us to others, even if not directly, that we can build a family out of His people who help each other like the pioneers did.
