Floors, Stairs, Family – Our OBX Labor Of Love

The intense level of combined labor going into our beach house during those last weeks could make your head spin.

Floors Galore

Nick arrived back in Corolla late one afternoon. And within thirty minutes he was already starting to install the new flooring!

I cannot describe the JOY I felt to FINALLY see something being FINISHED instead of being ripped apart!

Not to mention the fact that the floor is GORGEOUS!

Replace A Fan? Peepaw Can!

So while Nick installed box after box of flooring, Peepaw headed back up on his ladder to change out all the ceiling fans…and light fixtures too!

Out with the old…

I watched in amazement as those beautiful floors became a reality.

Replacing Those Stairs

Now…about those stairs.

First, new treads.

Next, a coat of beautifully matched stain.

Talk about a labor intensive project! But Nick didn’t bat an eye.

He just kept working. Nonstop. Until those stairs looked like a million bucks. (His attention to detail was incredible.)

To say Peepaw and I are proud of Nick’s craftsmanship would certainly be an understatement.

Now Dear Readers…remember when I shed some tears in the kitchen? (Need a reminder? Click HERE.) Well, I came close again at several times in those final days of the makeover.

Rack ’em Up!

Nick and Sarah said to get rid of the pool table in the game room. I couldn’t believe it! (Spoiler Alert: They replaced it with another awesome game. You’ll see!) 

So, being the Waste Not Want Not person I am…I decided to check with our nearby neighbors to see if any of them might be in the market for a free pool table. And that’s how I met  our wonderful neighbors, Robert and Madeline.

Believe it or not, they had tried to purchase a pool table. They even had one picked out. And they had a spot already reserved for it in their house. But the store in Virginia wouldn’t deliver it that far in the OBX! (Remember my blog post about our trip to Target? Click HERE to relive THAT adventure.) Talk about fate! They were thrilled…and so was I!! (Plus we got to know these super neighbors as a bonus.)

So that beautiful pool table and all the accessories are still nearby in the neighborhood.  And that table never looked happier!

We’ve been told to come over any time we’re in town if we feel like having a game. Talk about a perfect ending to what could have been another tearful saga for ME!

“UG” To The Rescue!

Do you remember the pile of stuff I just couldn’t give away? The pile of artwork and pillows and bedding I had collected on one of the beds in the bunkroom? I had been racking my brain for a way to get all of those treasures back to Iowa. Our car was already full from our Florida snowbird winter. And suddenly it hit me like a lightning bolt! Peepaw’s brother Grant was planning to visit us in Iowa several weeks after we were leaving the OBX. And Grant lives in Virginia. Just a few hours from Corolla! I couldn’t wait to call him to see if he would consider driving to see us at the beach house so I could fill HIS car with stuff to take back to Iowa for me! 

Uncle Grant has always been a favorite of our boys. (They coined the name “UG” when they were teenagers. It’s short for Uncle Grant.) And when he heard my crazy idea he was quick to agree to come for an overnight stay. Of course I promised to feed him VERY well during his brief visit.

He arrived about Noon one day, and I quickly added him to the labor pool…assembling bedside tables for the second floor bedrooms.

Job well done!

Nick and Peepaw barely had time to say hello to Ug that afternoon. But as dinnertime approached I pulled out all the stops to make that meal one they would all take time to relax for a minute and enjoy. 

Dinner That Night? My Labor Of Love!

Dinner that night? I started off with some peel and eat shrimp and some big green salads. I added a loaf of warm bread and butter.

And then came the main course.

Some GORGEOUS steaks from our nearby Food Lion grocery store. Grilled to perfection I say!

A perfect “He Man” meal for my three guys!

I topped those steaks with this red wine/mushroom reduction.

And I made one of Grant’s favorites…My Potato Gratin.

And those spuds caused me to enjoy one of my biggest laughs in a LONG time.

That casserole dish of potatoes and cream bubbled over in the oven and made a HUGE mess! A really awful, smoky, crusty mess. But after a few choice cuss words it hit me. That stove was getting replaced with the new stainless one the next morning! I didn’t have to clean the darn oven at all!!!  LOL!!! (I was never so glad to ditch an item!!)

My guys had a wonderful time catching up over that meal. Eating around a tiny patio table while sitting in lawn chairs. Just enough room for the three of them. Precious family memories made once again. It warmed my heart to watch them together.

After dinner Nick and Peepaw went right back to the labor at hand.  But Grant and I made the trip up the stairs to the Crow’s Nest…just in time to savor an after dinner glass of wine and that priceless OBX sunset over Currituck Sound.

He sure looked peaceful up there…and I was so grateful for his willingness to make the trip to help me.

Pack That Car!

Early the next morning I was back in the kitchen where I  decided to make a hearty breakfast before we sent Grant packing.

I whipped up some homemade biscuits and gravy, some home fries and scrambled eggs.

 

After a few cups of coffee it was time to send UG packing!

He left the house with a full belly and an even fuller car. Even the back seat was stuffed.

As soon as he left it was back to our labor. Time to get rid of those appliances! (Bye Bye Oven MESS! Still laughing!)

Of course Peepaw knows how to install a dishwasher. No matter what labor lies ahead, he’s ready and willing. And see the old handles on the cupboards? Time to switch those out and add some BLING! (Again…Sarah was right!)

Yes…Cabinet jewelry!

Sarah’s Turn To Work Her Magic

The time had come for that last “tag team switch.” Time for Nick to return to Indy, and for Sarah to come in to work her decorating magic to bring it all together. And MAGIC is not enough to describe her talent. I know you’ll be amazed by her color pallet choices and her sense of design and style.

I’ve known for years that Sarah has an eye for decorating. But this huge project showcased her design skills that are off the charts. Incredible talent. (You’ll see!) 

Now…about furniture. THIS stack was just the beginning. Piles like this had been arriving daily for several weeks, and some assembly was required for most items! But of course Sarah had a plan. 

She called in reinforcements to help her. Her extremely talented and hard working Aunt Nancy arrived to help her for several days. Plus Nancy had recruited two handymen to help too. Labor pool to the rescue!

Heading Home To The Heartland

You see, Peepaw and I had reached the end of our stay. My only regret was that I would miss all the FUN stuff!! The decorating and fluffing and staging. But we were also anxious to head back to the Heartland to our OTHER life, and to spend time with the rest of our family as well.

I got a small taste of what was to come when this rug was unpacked for the sun porch before we left. Just wait until you see what Sarah added next!

We had one final sunset in the Outer Banks…

I savored that view, and I relived some of the moments that I hope I’ve captured for you as well. I never dreamed we would have an opportunity to be a part of such an incredible investment opportunity. Plus we got the chance to watch Nick and Sarah bring their shared dreams to fruition. What a blessing THAT is for any parent! We watched them both juggle their family life and their full time day jobs, yet still fit in time to order supplies and schedule deliveries to arrive on time. Amazing skills. 

Yes, it was time to leave the OBX and head home to the Heartland. Our car was packed. (Yes…PACKED!)

As the mainland came back into view it all seemed like a dream. 

Six weeks of blood, sweat and a few tears too.

But a true labor of love.

For sure.