Heated Exchange

      When we bought Stella two years ago, she had been much loved by the previous owner but also neglected. We kept all the rustic charm, she is still a very 1930's summer cottage, but the things that really needed fixing got fixed and an interior wall was removed so that the tiny  kitchen was open to the seating area that looks out over the cove.  For more details, search the Once Upon a Tide post labels where you'll find posts on her restoration. 

       At the door to the back deck was the only source of heat,  a gas operated heating stove, one we couldn't use because it didn't vent to the outside and so the odor from the burning gas flooded Stella's small interior. A few days ago we had a new one installed with a vent pipe that goes through the roof.  It still needs to be hooked up, but it will be a beautiful sight to see on chilly spring, summer and fall evenings when we want to take the nip out of the air inside the cottage. 

 The original... 

The new model

      The cottage and surrounding island , or what's really a peninsula despite it's name,  have a different vibe in winter months for the obvious reasons - and the cold inside the cottage is bone chilling.  The unmade beds, empty refrigerator and food pantry underline and highlight it.  When we began Stella's re-do, she was infested with rodents - mice droppings fell from the curtain tops and were embedded in the toaster left from the previous occupant.  There were nests in the seat cushions.  These things in particular freaked the Mr. right out, so he made sure she is now almost airtight, and we don't have meese in the rafters or the cushions or the toaster anymore. 

  While the guys were installing the new stove, I took a walk around with camera. 

 Stella from the road

 ... and from the waterfront 

    Meanwhile, we've had some glorious sunsets that 

I've captured with the good camera here on the farm

   As I type this, it's snowy-raining outside and the horses and chickens are waiting for their breakfast -  Spring is just around the corner, you can see it in the light cast across the fields at the end of the day, in the diamond sparkles on the water.  Just don't look on the ground, where there's still some of the white stuff that doesn't scream spring.  Out into that stuff I go.....