Step one: salvaging my late Mother's artwork. There were piles and piles in here, dating back to 1989. Many of the pastel work on paper was water damaged or torn or smudged. It was heartbreaking, but there were plenty of beauties in perfect condition. I took them all home to Saskatoon, photographed each one, tossed the dead spiders and stored them properly with sheets of glassine between each to prevent any further smudging.
Last fall we tore down a badly weathered addition off of the original 16x24-ft cabin. A new exterior north wall was built in its place, and a back door was framed in. The building had sunk on the east side over the years. My Carpenter began to level the structure. You could hear the old bones creak as she straightened up again.
The roof is next and winter came.