Hardwood Christmas

 

When we started this adventure.  It was agreed that we would refinish the floors.

I mean, one of the best features of a 103 year old home would be the floors.

 

Until you're the one trying to refinish them.

 

 

I can't take any credit.  I am the luckiest girl in the world to have such a man.

He took on these floors with gung-ho gusto. 

 

Two days into it, as I spoke to him on the phone while I was at work.

He sounded beaten.

 

It was a sound I hadn't heard out of his mouth in quite awhile.

 

He sounded as though failure was immient.

 

He brought up putting down laminent.

He brought up putting down carpet.

 

His partner called me 'the queen'.

As in 'the queen' would not be satisfied. The queen would not be happy.

 

 

This are how they looked before he started.

Not only years worth of paint and lacquer.

But drywall dust and globs of joint compound.

 

 

A rented sanded and fifteen million sanding pads.

Just to maybe get to specs of the wood underneath.

 

David spoke to every contact he had.

Researched tiredlessly on the internet of other options to refinish floors.

 

The option he found that suited his need for the results he wanted.

And his need to make sure I was happy without putting him into an early grave.

He hand planed them. Every inch of them.  On his hands and knees.

And wire brushed them.

 

 

The process was long.

The process was exhausting.

 

 

Distressed floors are all the rage I told him.

I stopped by to take a look one day on my way home from work.

 

 

I told him they were looking fantastic.

That I didn't think he could see the forest because of the trees.

 

Once the stain and polyurethane was on there, they would look great!

 

Our Christmas celebration this year was on Christmas Eve.

When you have children who have other parents, it's part of your holiday celebrations.

Holidays are shared.

So today, Christmas Day, it was just David and me.

 

We decided to get over there and try out the stain.

 

It was a Christmas miracle, these floors will indeed be quite lovely.

 

He realized all his hard work did produce something that made me the happiest girl on the block.

 

 

I certainly hope he realizes that I am so very thankful for him.

I have never in all my life had someone work so hard for me.

He is my dream come true.

And together, we will have this tremendous dream home.

 

And next year, on Christmas Day, our family will be in this new "old house"

 

Merry Christmas to you all.

From our family to yours.

 

xoxo