Some years ago I made a visit to Gabriola just to spend the day and have a quick look-see around the island. The rest is history. In my search for a place I could call home I saw many family cottages, and some impressive beach front estates. After many disappointing tours of homes that just wouldn't work for me, I found this place. My palace!!!

True, it needed some minor improvements, but the size was right, the lot was beautiful, and it was within walking distance of all the shops and services I needed. With bright, shiny eyes I said "Bingo! I'll take it"!

I've been living in my home for 5 years now, and I've found how exciting it can be to own land and home. The minimal repairs, like new siding and a roof repair were completed over time, and all the little extras like a well water health and disintegrated septic tank lid were just the kind of thing a home owner has to expect, right?

All these little challenges helped me to learn skills a city girl would never be exposed to. I not only learned how to use a chop saw, split a cord of wood with an axe and maul, get into mortal combat with the deer in my garden, and fire up a loaned generator while the power was out for days.

All of this can be daunting, expensive and taxing on ones' nerves and body. On one sunny morning I stepped out of the sliding kitchen doors to enjoy a cup of coffee and gaze over my estate. Did I really hang the shed door that crooked? I leaned against the door jam and muttered "et tu, Brute?" turned on my heel and cranked up the radio on the counter. There was my salvation. The gutsy 'I am woman, hear me roar!' I did.

Armed with my completely stocked tool box I straightened the hinges, stepped back from the door, dropped the tool box, and walked away. Needing a complete change of scenery I walked around the house and sat on the front steps. Just 1 year ago this space needed some creative salvation as well. Among other things, I learned how to push a wheelbarrow full of wet topsoil, and salvage alpaca poop and seaweed for the flower beds. This space has since evolved into the garden I envisioned when I bought it au natural 5 short years ago.

While I'm relaying all of this I have to admit that a lot of the problem solving and creative ideas for this place were hatched in a very small office. Early into ownership one hasn't necessarily learned all the jam of carpentry. While stapling up the plastic barrier of insulation in the crawl space - yes, I can do that too - I found myself stuck.

Got in, couldn't back out. It's amazing how missing just one meal can be slimming. Eventually, I wiggled my way out, brushed off the cobwebs and wrote down my ideas. Not all of the projects have been completed, some not even started, but the house and I have definitely bonded.

It's sort of like a good marriage. Some give and take. Mutual love and respect. A little trial and error. And, much forgiveness.  It's not all done yet, but I can stand back and definitely say "I do"!

May 1, 2008