Your work has given new meaning to my own restoration of a 1925 bungalow in St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as the building of a garage, which turned into a carriage house-office during its construction.  My own story is similar to those you have revealed in that it contains elements of connecting with the past, facing current difficulties and moving on with things that I can do even when I obviously can’t afford to financially.

I asked Bruce whether he would allow me to publish his notes about the book on my blog, along with some pictures of his house, garden, and garage. You can see them below. What a ton of work, and beautifully done!

Click on images to enlarge.

The house, with new garden and paths

Paths and garden in process

 Inside the house

Before and after paint stripping (FUN!)

Floor, before

Floor, after

Bruce gutted this room to the studs, installed insulation, new wiring, drywall, and restored trim.

The enviable new garage with office/studio

Peggy's vintage metal bed with beautiful linens. Note the industrial clothes hanging rack and bare concrete wall in the background.

No stove?  Peggy didn’t have one either. As long as you’ve got electricity you can cook just about anything in a crock pot (or “slow cooker” in the UK).  Once known mainly as a handy way to make soups and stews, the crock pot has become an  energy-efficient means to preparing fondue, Smoked Trout Cannelloni, and even “Frosted Carrot and Parsnip Cake.” You can find all of these in Catherine Atkinson’s Slow Cooker Recipe Book. Who knew?

Kitchen/dining area in Peggy's basement. Note the concrete walls, which bear the marks of their forms. The painted cabinet at the left of this picture served as a work counter.

Of course, there’s always the woodstove, if you’re lucky enough to have one–and unlucky enough to lack electricity. In fact, a woodstove and a cast iron pot will not only cook your meals but also heat water for bathing. (This works especially well if you’re willing to take sponge baths.)

In summer, a pond (see Peggy’s at right) makes the perfect place to wash off the workday’s sweat and grime.

Finally, there are what the English used to call “facilities.” If you lack a bathroom but live in a rural location, you may avail yourself of the great outdoors.  There’s nothing like a view!

Snowing outside? Middle of the night? Grab an empty drywall bucket. It’s the perfect height and even comes with a lid!    

The modern girl's chamber pot