Before.
During…
(She belongs to some of the friends who helped with the roof project. Cutest little thing!)
After. The siding was still wet from pressure washing when I took this photo.
Jonny milled the new cedar columns himself, and they smell so good!
In August of 2012 Jonny finished what proved to be a three year flagstone porch project. Five years later, nearly to the day, a huge roofing overhaul was completed. The roofing project happened in a matter of days (rather than years) thanks to the help of some wonderfully talented and generous friends. This couldn’t have happened without them.
The funny (or sad) thing about that front porch is that while it is one of our house’s best features, and one Jonny sank countless hours of labor into, while we lived there it was usually covered in sports equipment, shoes, toys, and other miscellaneous things. As our family grew and grew, eventually our little 1500 square foot house couldn’t contain us and the porch caught much of the overflow.
In addition to completely replacing the roof of the front porch, the main portion of the house got a new metal roof just as we always wanted. That part of the project happened first and I was in tears seeing all my dreams for our little house coming true, and knowing that we wouldn’t be there to enjoy it. However, my excitement over seeing the entire project take shape just as we had hoped, quickly overwhelmed my feelings of sadness. I was pleased just for the sake of beauty itself, for a job well done by Jonny and our friends.
I hope that the family moving in soon will make many happy memories there just as we did. (Sob.)
My friend Lori came over Sunday afternoon to say goodbye to the house with us. Being one of my closest longtime friends (we met when I was pregnant with Keats, so more than fourteen years ago), she’s known well the saga of our front porch. She and I were pushing our babies in swings on this porch more than a dozen years ago and she’s watched it in every stage over the years. I was so pleased to show her how we are leaving it, and she was kind enough to take one last photo of all of us in front of our first home, the one we grew this big family in. (Actually, she took hundreds trying to get a decent one. Our kids both big and small were all being so naughty.)
p.s. I hate to throw this in here, but I’m updating my shop on Thursday, August 31st at 8 p.m. EST. I’m not sure I’ll have a chance to mention it again beforehand. If all goes as planned I’ll have a preview post up by Thursday morning at the latest. I’ve got some super pretty seasonal yarns ready!
Denise says
Hahahaha! The family pictures of “naughty children”. What treasures photos are and will be when you look back at them.
karen says
You have a beautiful family 🙂 I love the age range and all of their personalities bursting forth. I bet you are sad to see the house go, but it’s time to move forward with more wiggle room 🙂 I hope you have many blessings and happy memories in your new home!
Alyssa Spring says
What a dream. Also, I haven’t stopped by your site..I would say in 6 years?! I changed blogs myself and lost a lot of the links to blogs I followed. I can not believe all of the MEN flanking you! Beautiful beautiful family
Bley says
I love seeing your family! Those big boys all look so miserable, ha! That must be a perk of the wide family, you still have the joyful (albeit exhausting) little ones in the midst of teenage angst:)
Lissa says
I love the new porch and pictures of your family. (Lord knows I can relate to getting everyone to behave long enough for one good picture. And I only have two kids!) I cannot wait to see what your new home/adventure entails.
Peg says
I so love the family photo. Not often we get to see everyone at one time. All the love and beauty of your home will not be lost, it will embrace and live on in the new family, blest are they!
With Mabel and new life transitions in your family now, your new home will soon crowd with treasured moments and memories. It will be the home Mabel remembers. Life journeys on…Thanks for allowing us to walk with you all. God bless you!
Traci says
Such a bitter sweet moment. I’m right there, right now. A cup of tea and making plans for the day on our front porch my son and I finished this summer. It is the oddest combination of emotions for sure. Today is the last day in this house.
Ginny says
I’ll be thinking of you today! The new family is moving into our house today, and we pass it multiple times each day since we still live on the same road. It’s a really strange feeling seeing their vehicles there!
Leslie F says
Does Seth realize he has perfected the “sultry model” pose? Certainly not what he wants to hear from an old lady, but it was my first thought when I opened the blog! My second thought was that Keats is taller than Jonny. Totally agree with Sophie above that Gabe “looks like such a peaceful respectful being.” What a treat to see the “big boys!”
Julie C says
What a lovely photo, and such a lovely family.
Richard (in Charlotte, NC) says
O M G ; what a beautiful family portrait for your masthead! I certainly hope you will keep it up there for at least a year. I don’t think that I have ever seen you and Jonny and all of your family together in one photo before now. Do let Lori know that she did a marvelous job of getting that one despite the antics of your children! Parting is such sweet sorrow (with apologies to Shakespeare); may your days to follow be as joyous as the ones that have come before. I know it is hard to walk away from a house and home that you have put so much time and love into but, now you have a new blank canvas with which to paint a new masterpiece. May God bless you and keep you all the days of your lives.
Heidi says
Your home is such a reflection of all the love it contained. I’m going to miss your little house.
Can’t believe how much all the kids have grown! Beautiful family.
Cindy in NC says
For several years back in the ’80’s I lived with a gaping hole in my kitchen wall which I tried, not very successfully, to hide with a high chair. We never seemed to have the money/time/expertise to repair it (wallpaper was involved) until it was time to sell and turn the house over to someone else. Sigh. Both your porch and your fami,y are beautiful.
Donna Fry says
Such a beautiful family and the house is being sent off all dressed up and ready for its new occupants.
Job well done by all!
Pamela R says
Wow. The house looks amazing and the family picture is lovely. I hope very soon you can turn your attention to making your new house your own! 🙂
Marion says
Congratulations on a job well done. Your family is lovely.
Marion
Helen says
Great completion … bet you are all thrilled with it. So Beautiful!!
Your family is WONDERFUL!!! Blessing to you all
Judy says
“just for beauty’s sake” – oh, yes.
Martha says
So gorgeous.. your home, finally “finished” and ready, and your sweet family. So fun to see you all together! Hope the closing goes smoothly.
caroline says
Lovely new roof!
Your family makes me smile.
I have 9 kiddos, ages 1 -18. 8 of them are boys, the oldest are taller than dad, and I have one son that always gives a scowl for every picture!
LOVE how you keep it real.
Ashley D says
My husband rebuilt our back porch when we were moving once so I know how much work that is! And how sad it is that you can’t enjoy it. Great looking family!
Sophie says
Gabriel looks like such a peaceful respectful being.
Blessings to him and your family.
Elizabeth says
I hardly ever comment, but Ginny, your big boys are so HUGE. I am in shock. I should have known this, but seeing them for the first time in a while… they are bigger than Johnny! Seth looks so much like Johnny, I bet old pictures of Johnny are nearly one on one.
Thanks for posting these pictures, I really enjoyed seeing your whole family. And congratulations on your beautiful final project. I hope you’ll sell the house to a really nice family.
Eileen says
Beautiful, beautiful family picture! WOW, the boys are getting so tall ,(and good looking)! Your whole family is just beautiful! The house looks amazing as well, Johnny is very talented! Looking forward to reading about your future family adventures in the new house.
Elizabeth says
you are leaving it in such a beautiful state that will bless the new owners for sure! God bless and give you inward steadiness in all of this!
Mary @ Better Than Eden says
It’s beautiful. What a gift to the new owners.
Sara says
Does this family have a blog we can follow? I don’t want to leave the house.
Tania says
It looks beautiful and this family portrait is divine Ginny! I love the one over on your IG feed too as it so captures the reality of less successful attempts (Seth’s expression, in particular, is priceless, love him). It feels rather poignant saying goodbye to your old home for me too. I’ve spent countless virtual hours having the privilege of watching you all grow here x
Shannon Dennis says
I am in love with your front porch and this awesome picture of all of you together. I know the pain of family portraits with so many. You pulled it off!!
Meryl says
Such a lovely family you have!
Laura says
Beautiful – the porch and your family! I wish you the best as you let go of your first home and move on to the next!
Sheila Borowski says
When did Keats get so tall????
What a great looking family!!!