It has come to my attention that you, and others like you, are reading this blog. And I'm grateful. Thank you. If you care to know more about our renovation situation, as it stands today, here's the latest news.
      This month our bank increased our construction loan (our original contractor did a world of harm including underbidding the job by, er, alot, which almost made it impossible for us to move forward). So I am happy to report that we'll now be able to build.
      We discovered last year that we couldn't afford a General Contractor, so we're doing that ourselves. Although we'll get help from our trusted carpenter Josiah Aitchison of Aitchison Construction. (Weather permitting he'll start immediately.)
      I took the leap and withdrew a majority of my retirement account in order to make up the difference that the bank was *not* willing to loan us. It's this cash that will jump start Josiah's work.
      Legally speaking, we're still trying to recover the money our original contractor didn't spend on our job but didn't return to us. (The corruption staggers.)
      We do remain hopeful though and are working our way through the expensive legal system to get back the money that is ours. We don't want to destroy the guy, but we do fear that he will continue to hurt others if he is not stopped. It's sad.
      Our fingers are crossed that our fundraiser will launch some time early this year. Instead of reaching out to our network of friends and friends-we-haven't-met-yet to donate to our construction budget (as we thought we'd have to do) we're going to reach out for help with what the contractor has not returned to us, and our legal fees (if we're feeling bold).
      It's funny, when my Aunt suggested a year and a half ago to write a blog about the renovation, I never thought I'd be writing this tale of woe. But I have gratitude in my heart, and a whole lot of hope that this is going to turn around for the better. Let the snow fall. Spring is coming!