A new house….plus SO much more

April 13th marked one year since Derryl and I moved into our new house. We’re in our seventies: I think this is our last house, albeit I’ve said that before – including the house before this one – which I loved; where I was totally content. As shared in a previous blog, there was a plan afoot that our daughter and son-in-law would some day move from their home in Montreal to Nova Scotia to be closer to us. The idea, the for-realness of having family move here hadn’t been in my wildest dreams. Other than a two-year span when our son and family lived in Nova Scotia, our two children and their families have never lived near us. So as this plan percolated, just to be prepared Derryl got busy designing a house to build for the two of us. And the ‘kids’ – Renee and Damien- could live in our home. With Derryl’s good track record for finishing projects he begins, I started wrapping my head around the notion we’d be ‘making home again.‘

Renee and Damien coordinated the timing for their move from Montreal, factoring in their three young-adult kids’ education and on-going housing for staying in Montreal. Both Damien and Renee work virtually, but other details included wrapping up their Montreal life, i.e. saying good-bye to friends and favourite haunts, confirming Renee’s steps for finishing her Master’s program at Concordia University.

On our home front; Derryl organized his life and work schedule to include building a beautiful, one-level home tucked behind huge oak and pine trees, on the other side of our driveway. And grateful I wasn’t under pressure to move quickly, I started purging excess stuff; transporting household belongings by car back and forth, carrying something every time I walked to the new house – and my heart gradually moved from one house to the new one.

The aha moment – this is home! – landed after we moved the contents of our bedroom, slept overnight and woke up to the familiar view of the LaHave River.

Having critical kitchen items on site – i.e. espresso machine, toast and jam, granola and yogurt – sealed the deal. Welcome home!

The next two months we thoroughly emptied the house, washed windows, swept away dust and cobwebs. On June 15th, after a long day on the road, Renee and Damien drove up the driveway.

The plan was really happening: Renee’s blogpost shares some of her initial thoughts and impressions .

It wasn’t hard for Derryl and I to shift into communal living with the Tougas’. We’ve shared space before. Hiking-tenting for a couple weeks on the Appalachian Trail; several months when they stayed with us while the family transitioned back to Canada from the U.S. – then there were a few weeks together when they were ‘stuck’ at our house at the outset of the COVID kaffuffle. I reckon those extended periods of positive co-habitation encouraged us for this ‘big hurrah’ of togetherness. As family and as friends, we would and could share our world. And this Sanctuary property – its warmth of life, love and laughter – has evolved through friendship, honesty, and respect for each other’s privacy and space.

Cooking and sharing meals, picking berries, hiking and camping, walking on beaches, going to markets – wonderful together-fun when wired with similar genes! Week-end movie nights and sports on the big screen; waving hello to each other across the yard; helping and being helped with chores or skills we don’t have ourselves. i.e. full disclosure for Derryl and I, how did we manage before without Damien’s computer, internet – technical support?! So far, keeping my cookie jar full with his favourite (oatmeal, chocolate chip) and a bowl of home-roasted peanuts handy for quick snacks have been sufficient payoffs!

To complete the family circle, late summer-September our son Brad began his process of moving from the U.S. back to Canada. Destination: here at the Sanctuary!

A space above the coach-house style garage was waiting to be developed. A fast-track construction project kicked into gear: since this photo was taken it has developed into a sunshiny suite: a way-station for Brad and a room for Joah – one of his three young-adult kids – to join him when not away at university.

Sharing kindred passions.

“Dad and Brad” on a jobsite last fall.

A smaller house is suiting me just fine. Cleaning has never been my favourite gig – but I do love “hubbub-space” in my kitchen. We’re making up for all the years our family wasn’t part of that hospitality action: our family Christmas was a positive kick-off!

Now it’s spring: Renee’s passion for gardening – and aptitude for organization-design for such – is creating a system to the garden. A VERY welcome shift from my helter-skelter style – I love being able to ask: “what do you want me to do?!” Where there’s building involved, Derryl and Renee are all in – so heart-stretching for me at the other end of the garden plot to hear their chatter.

An acquisition for Damien and Renee since moving here: a “side-by-side” to explore Nova Scotia’s myriad off-road trails… which is also useful for hauling bags of garbage to the bottom of the driveway for municipal collection. Thanks, Damien!

As the months and years stretch ahead – I’m SO grateful for the everyday-ness of family living here.Thank you God for this blessing.

And thank you for reading my story.