There was a hole...🎵

We visited the "cottage" last weekend, only to discover that it is 100% gone! I can't believe how quickly it came down. So fast.

Currently we are pounding our heads against questions about siding, windows, doors, and solar power. The island is prone to power outages that can last for days. That, combined with the usurious "delivery fees" Hydro One charges, is pushing us towards a solar (possibly solar+wind) solution for our hydro. We get good strong winds off the lake, so wind is a viable option for us.

And now, photos of the hole:

Neighbourly update

Some photos of the current state of the demolition, sent by our awesome cottage neighbour, Doug:

So here's what we're thinking...

Firstly, this is definitely the shape of the new cottage..it's almost the exact same size/footprint as the old cottage, just wider by 10ft on the northish side (the side towards the peaky bunky). We're also going to be adding a "utility room/crawlspace" beneath the cottage, and a second story loft/storage/overflow sleeping space upstairs.

Because we need to order windows and doors toutysuitey, I need to figure what colour those windows and doors should be. And to figure THAT out, I need to have made decision on siding/trim colours. *Exasperated sigh*.

After much agonizing over super boring siding colours, here's the current front-runner for the colour-scheme (and it changes almost hourly):

Ignore the woopsiness of some of my windows and doors in the rendering; the visualizer tool was cumbersome and I grew sloppy. The backdoor in the side view will be a screen door into the covered porch, the tool didn't have any.

I think we're ready to place the doors/windows order on Monday. If I don't waffle again about the colours. 

I was not prepared for this

In my head I always knew hodgepodgelodge had to come down for lodge 2.0 to go up, but I was not prepared for how devastating it was to see this picture.

*Breathes deeply*

Hang on to your hats!

Here we go! Demo has finally started and I'd be lying if I said this wasn't bittersweet. All of that hard work smashed to bits. All of those memories.

I have to keep reminding myself that it will all be worth it when we get our brand new cottage. (Please let it all be worth it)

In addition to meeting with the builder and his demo crew, we checked in with the "siding, windows, and doors" folks in Port Hope to start making decisions there. Apparently it could take up to six months to get a sliding door delivered. What!?

Episode 1: A new beginning

*Blows the dust off*

Tap....tap tap....*blows again*

"Hello? *Screeching feedback* Does this thing still work? Is there anybody out there?

It seemed like a good time to kick-start the old bloggo, to document the latest in Hodge Podge Lodge news:

After 13 long years of funhouse-floor enjoyment and GDPH trials and tribulations, we've pulled the trigger. The Lodge is coming down and we're rebuilding!

It's been over a year in the planning stages, with the township ultimately rejecting our bunkie upgrade proposal (more on that later), but on Friday, June 3rd we finally receive our demo and building permits to tear down and reconstruct the main cottage. We were quietly hoping the May 21 Derecho would've taken care of demolition for us, but no luck.

We meet the builder on site this Friday (June 10) and demolition starts that same day. 

Join us as Hodgepodge Lodge 2.0 rises from the proverbial ashes.