The Farm & Very Old House – Page 4

The Treasure Room

February 14, 2016 14 Comments

There’s a room in the house I don’t often talk about. Years ago, I used to call it the “tool room”, but, as it turns

Then & Now: 2012 – 2016

February 7, 2016 9 Comments

Turns out that yesterday was the four-year anniversary of a huge and unexpected change in my life plans. Stumbling upon this property when and how

Comfort Zones & Cameras in my Face

February 3, 2016 49 Comments

I wonder how many times in the last 11-ish years–and 1050 posts– I’ve started out by saying, “Holy shit, I’m exhausted.” I don’t know the answer

Seriously, I’m Not Starting the Kitchen Renovation

July 7, 2015 44 Comments

I’m not. Because I’ve got a barn to paint, and a garden to weed, and a pergola to build. I’ve got chickens and donkeys and

In The Garden – 2015

May 15, 2015 24 Comments

You might think now that I have a perfect lounging spot on my porch I’m just going to loll about all summer, drinking wine and

Building Fun & A Duck A-Frame

March 30, 2015 15 Comments

As a person who spent a fair number of years living in far more tropical climates, and then willingly and happily decided to move back

Upstairs Bathroom Progress: The Part Where It Gets Better

February 16, 2015 25 Comments

Here is one of the truths we hold to be self-evident about home renovation… that shit is going to get worse before it gets better.

Upstairs Bathroom Progress: The Beer Edition

February 8, 2015 17 Comments

I’d like to make a public service announcement about sanding ceiling drywall without wearing safety glasses… Don’t. Also, the t-shirt-as-a-dust-mask is not recommended, but it

2014 Lessons Learned: Farm Edition

January 28, 2015 19 Comments

I know we’re at the tail end of January already, but I’m still just kind of easing myself in to the new year. I’ve got

2014 Lessons Learned: The Garden Edition

January 13, 2015 38 Comments

I miss my garden so hard right now, you guys. When the temps in Michigan start getting down to, oh, a million degrees below zero,

2014: A Bigass List and Other Philosophical Things

January 3, 2015 22 Comments

Actually, that was a lie. There are no philosophical things in this post. This is mostly just a token update about how I checked all

Upstairs Bathroom: In Progress

December 17, 2014 22 Comments

If you thought maybe I was taking a long break from giving you updates on my bathroom because it was finished and I’m spending all

Life With Birds

December 8, 2014 10 Comments

When I first thought about bringing chickens to the farm… well…there wasn’t much thought, actually. I happened to be at Tractor Supply, and there happened

Shit I Should Have Done Sooner: Bedroom Update

November 30, 2014 28 Comments

You know that moment where you get all of your painting gear out, pop the top on a brand new can of paint, and just

Chickens & Colors

October 21, 2014 6 Comments

Fall is by far my favorite season, but it also means a lot of my favorite things are ending for the year–no more fresh veggies

I'm not interested in a mediocre life. I'm here to kick ass or die.

(formerly DIYdiva.net)

THE STORYTELLER

Back in 2004 I started writing about my adventures in fixing up houses on the internet. A lot of things have changed since then, with me, with my houses, and with the internet. These days I am basically a cranky old man trapped in a slightly less old woman’s body. The internet has changed and I am staunchly refusing to change with it. You won’t find any algorithms here, or feeds, or ads, or social media. Just good old-fashioned stories about a woman drinking beer and building shit, and living an unexpected life.

(While you won’t find updates on social media, you can sign up to receive new posts via email here.)