Chapter 9: Finishing Touches, Being Thankful, and Mourning Dallas

It has been nearly a month since my last post, and our renovation project is almost complete, but during this time we also have had to lay yet another member of our family to rest.

Dallas has been a part of our family since 2001.  We brought him and his partner Jay home from a farm near Watertown in February of that  year.  Dallas and Jay, Belgian draft horse geldings, were truly gentle giants.  David and the boys spent many hours farming our place with their horse-drawn equipment–plowing the fields, snow in the winter, and cutting hay in the summer.

We lost Jay five years ago this coming February, we think to a brain aneurism.  We made the very difficult decision to put Dallas down the week before Thanksgiving.  He was nearly 23, and our girls Pixie and Annabelle were as distraught as David and I.  It’s been a tough year for losing two beloved members of our family in as many months, but it is also the reality one faces when they have loved ones–we are all growing older!  As with Becket, God has put David and I in charge of taking care of our animal buddies, and that care includes knowing when it may be time to let them go.  I thank the LORD that He knows the hour and is in charge of David’s and my demise.

Needless to say, our Thanksgiving was a bit sombre, but we still celebrated with a few twists to the standard sweet potato and green bean recipes.  The things you learn flipping through HGTV magazine whilst getting your hair done–thanks Linda, as always, my hair looks fabulous.  You are the best!

Our upstairs project is nearly complete.  Over the past four weeks, we have had shower doors installed thanks to Marble’s Glass in Penn Yan, Dave Irwin has installed all the bathroom hardware, vanities, toilets, and the radiators are now in!

Jenn Carson who is a most superb painter, completed all the door and window trims, and cut in all the rooms.  My small contribution to our painting was in the form of using the roller on the walls.  I still had a few oopsies, but at least I can say I did a small portion of the painting!  The colors are historic and the rooms look warm and inviting.

 

This week, David and I began hauling furniture upstairs, our new bed was delivered and set up.  Soon, we will put pictures on the walls and really make it our own.

So, next week the last chapter of our second floor renovation project will be completed.  Stay tuned!

Blessings,

Lorraine