Twelve Months in a Fixer-Upper

Welcome to our renovation blog, 'Sawdust and Coffee', broadcasting live from Portland, Maine! Twelve months ago, James and I bought an old, abandoned Victorian house that was the ultimate fixer-upper. We thought we could easily handle the work ourselves on weekends.

From the very beginning, our extended family thought we were completely crazy. My sister kept asking if we needed a single parent support group, joking that our relationship would never survive the stress of living among dust and mess every single day.

So far, James has been sanding the old wooden floorboards in the hallway for three weeks. Every time he thinks he's finished, he finds another rough spot that needs more attention and special varnish.

Meanwhile, I've been working with our main contractor to fix a terrible plumbing leak in the upstairs bathroom. The damp had caused serious mold behind the old tiles, so we had to call an electrician and a plumber immediately.

We've also knocked down a kitchen wall to create an open space, and we've put up new shelves in the pantry. It sounds productive, but the project has already gone way over budget.

Our initial estimate was thirty thousand dollars, but we've already spent nearly double that amount. Every contractor we hire tells us that old houses always hide expensive secrets behind their walls.

Despite the chaos in the house, we've learned to laugh together and open up more about our fears. When we first started this project, there was always an awkward silence at dinner, but now we talk about everything.

Here is the ultimate twist that shocks all our friends: since last March, we haven't even slept inside the house! We've been camping out in a large canvas tent in the back garden to avoid the household dust completely.

Read again and choose the right answer

Where is the blog based?

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Portland, Maine
• Seattle, Washington

What has James been doing for three weeks?

• Painting the kitchen walls
• Sanding the floorboards
• Fixing the roof

What caused serious mold in the bathroom?

• A plumbing leak and dampness
• Bad ventilation from the window
• Rain coming through the ceiling

Where have the couple been sleeping since March?

• In a local hotel
• In a tent in the back garden
• In their car

Sources: photo by Kindel Media on Pexels