Front Entrance Renovations

Tomorrow our contractors arrive to begin working on our front entrance.

Originally, the plan was to simply replace the existing iron railing with a wooden railing, and replace the crumbling concrete steps with wooden ones, and a railing.

Of course, as with all other projects it seems, we began discussing the idea of replacing the peak overhang with a properly proportioned portico. We really didn't want to invest in that large of a project right now, however, it just made more sense financially to do it all at once instead of in two stages.

In the end, we are happy we decided to do a full entrance all at once.

From the photo of the existing entrance you can get an idea of the size of what the platform will be. It will be roughly 9 inches wider and deeper, which will allow for 6 inch coloumns. There will only be two main columns supporting the roof, which we decided to do flat - in the end, that was an esthetic preference for both of us. The other posts will be capped off.

[via Martha Stewart Living]

This is a similar style home to ours, and we really loved the simple, flat roof entrance with two columns. However, due to the number of steps, we need to have a railing.

[via Pinterest]

So, while this isn't exactly the idea, it helps visualize the railing and steps.

If you can imagine this as a flat roof, with no corbel details, and no ball finials on the railing posts, this is a pretty good idea of what we will be doing. We like the simple, squared off look of the posts, and the square, untappered columns.

Once it is installed, we will paint it. I still haven't decided on an exterior paint colour, but it will be a shade of white, likely with a different colour for the floor boards and steps. I also need to pick out a new fixture. It will be a large pendant lantern-style fixture. I would have preferred to have a pair of lanterns mounted to the wall, but it was out of the question with having to run wiring through 2 foot stone walls. As for the door itself, we would love to open the top and add a transom window, and then find a very plain screen door.

I'm excited and anxious at the same time to see how it turns out and will share photos as it comes together.

Here is my most pathetic attempt at a rendering in Paint to help me visualize it. Seriously, it's pathetic, but it helps me...

I know... it's impressive.

The Cottage and Birthday Celebrations

Oh how we love the summer and our trips to the cottage.

And this week was extra special as this handsome little boy of ours turned four!

Happy birthday Hudson. You make me long to be a better mother and train my sons up to be men who have a fierce love for the Lord. You show me my heart, and at times, in bringing out the worst in me, remind me of what grace and love and mercy are so I can be made better. You are strong and independent and confident, and yet you are so gentle and loving, especially to me, and I can't get enough of you.

Willen helped plan a surprise party for him. He snuck out with Beams (grandma) and decorated the sunroom with balloons and streamers to surprise Hudson in the morning. He made it clear that the "candles according to age" rule was silly, and lit the whole cake up for his little brother. He even drew clues like his Opa does on all the birthday gifts as a special touch.

And how did I occupy myself?

Lets just say I got some much needed rest and enjoyed having my feet up and my husband all week.

No, that's not a beach ball under there. We are so happy to announce that baby number three is arriving in 9 weeks.

Ps. It's another boy!

Happy Canada Day

While my home didn't end up getting any more festive than normal due to a very disappointing selection of Canadian flags, the evening was still lots of fun.

I swear, I could buy fanny packs, water bottles, crazy head bands, rain ponchos and even a Canadian flag travel pillow, but do you think I could find small Canadian flags? The closest I found were LED ones that lit up in different colours, but as they resembled light sabers, the boys wouldn't give them up. At least they had fun waving them around. They also loved the sparklers and glow sticks before the firework show began.

At least one of the pies was festive looking - a Strawberry Rhubarb crumble pie!

I don't bake pies often, but when I do, I remember how much I enjoy making them.

This is simple entertaining at it's best.

Drop cloth draped over a picnic table, an easy arrangement of Hydrangeas, votives in glass jars. It was a pour your own coffee and cut yourself a slice of pie sort of evening.

The other pie was a Kentucky Derby Pie - very similar to a Chocolate Pecan. The boys helped cut out the little pie dough leaves.

We got lucky with the weather as it had rained earlier, but cleared up beautifully by dusk, We just sat around chatting by the glow of twinkle lights in the ivy and candles around the deck. The boys happily ran around the yard until it was too dark to see and the warning firework went off letting us know the fun was about to begin.

We then took our chair and coffee to the front yard and snuggled as the sky lit up!

Happy Canada Day!