It was called "The Albion Dream"
I bought my first house in Brantford Ontario at the age of 21. My parents taught me to work hard and save my money so when I bought my first house it was my pride and joy. It's a home modelled after the unique 'Brantford Cottage' and was built about 100 years ago during the economic industrial 'boom' in the city. My cute little house needed some work though.
Over my life I have learned some 'handy-man' skills from my dad and my guy friends, so I put these skills to use. I made Lowes and Home Depot my go-to stores. While other women my age shopped for clothes and jewelry I was shopping for power tools, drywall, lumber, screws and sandpaper. It was probably entertaining for the stores people to watch me haul out 40 bags of cement and massive packages of blow-in insulation.
I had a vision to use the house to bless people. People who needed a home had one there, people who needed help or friendship or anything could come over knowing that they'd get it. Looking back at everything, my house was a huge blessing in itself because SO many people helped to make it home.
Every person who came ended up blessing me more than I can imagine. Let me tell you a list of the great people who entered through the doors: (in no particular order)
1 - Ko & Helene (aka Dad & Mom). Mom came with me to the bank when I signed my first mortgage. She also squeeled with delight along with me when I got the keys to my first house. Dad installed a fake security camera so he felt better leaving me there. Mom and dad helped with everything, starting with encouragement right down to grunt work. My dad is the best handy-man in the world and was always there whenever I needed him. My mom has impecable interior decorating skills and great advice. Honestly I couldn't have done any of this without both of you.
2 - Gwen. If tenant awards could be given out, she deserves first place. Not only did she help with everything from chopping down trees, building patios, gardening, lifting heavy drywall, mudding, sanding, building kitchen cupboards to creating crazy chandeliers, her and I built a friendship that I cherish so deeply. I am so thankful for my house, because it led us to eachother. I love you!
3 - Stevie-steve. My favourite brother. In his Ford F-150, he proudly moved me out of mom and dads house and made sure everyone knew it by blowing his 'Dukes of Hazzard' horn while we sat atop piles of stuff in the truck bed. He is so smart. So much of the basement construction was thanks to him. Even a broken arm didn't stop him from helping out. He chopped down two trees. He ate my food. Yup, Steve... my favourite brother.
4 -Adrian. He always offered help whenever I needed it. He even came over when no-one was home, and rototilled the lawn. He brought seed. He barbecued. He made campfires.
5 - Laura. She got the Mustang stuck in her garage, forcing me to tough out my first night at the house alone. I'm thankful for that, and eventually got used to the weird new sounds. She came over to help with many random things including hauling cement buckets through the basement window. She loved my tea cupboard. She always visited or stopped by with a little surprise.
6 - Alisha. My first interior decorator consultant. She conviced me not to throw out some beautiful old fashioned mirriors (what was I thinking?). She got me the cutest housewarming gifts. She laughed along with me while I engineered home-made mouse traps and bravely threw the dead mouse (trap and all) into the snow. She prayed for my house.
7 - Claire. She carried drywall almost 5x her weight. She dumped buckets of cement. Mowed the lawn, shovelled snow. We picked out Christmas trees two years in a row. She was a great holiday decorator and Christmas parties were so much fun. She helped to build Muskoka chairs. She helped to save animals.
8 - Rachel. She lives up the hill and is one of the best neighbours in the world. She always offered to help. It's guaranteed to be fun when she comes over. She helped to build some kitchen cupboards. She helped paint. She helped move things and clean things. Rachel was always encouraging even though sometimes she though I was crazy.
9 - Renee. My best friend. Mi casa es su casa. She was at home when she came. We shared my bed for an entire summer. She worked in the desert-like HOT attic, enduring nasty smells and performing a balancing act while scooping out old insulation. She scrapped old wood and paint from my windows and fixed them right up. She painted. She spring-cleaned my entire house once. Thats true best-friendship right there.
10 - Malcolm. Painted the amazing mural downstairs. He's a very good artist. He also made the most wonderful music in my house.
11 - Dallas. He installed a sliding patio door leading to the back yard.
12 - Justin. He bought a house years before I did. He was young too. He's the second most skilled Jack of all trades (of course second to my dad)that I know. By helping him at his house, I learned lots about taking care of a home and maintaining it. When he was in the country I got to borrow lots of tools from him. He helped with cementing the basement wall. He also helped by giving tenant advice.
13 - Layne. She stayed at my house one summer for a little while (not long enough) and also endured a hot stinky attic cleaning. When her and Jon married, I could spot her taking a walk past the house. It is always pleasant to see Layne. She also helped out with the "Big Backyard Clothing Exchange"
14 - Jamie. He taught me something so important. How to cook. He also fixed our ancient television more than once.
15 - Harry. He caught a mouse with his barehands. Enough said.
16 - Alisa. She brought so much laughter. She came to many parties and girls nights. She helped with moving stuff.
17 - Kristina. We worked out in the yard. She drove me to dance lessons. She looked after my house-affairs after I left on this track. She is a great friend, sticking through it all.
18 - Denise. Epitome of who a good neighbour is. She bbq'd my salmon when I didn't know what I was doing. My first few days, she lent me her water sprinkler and hose. We talked over the fence. She lent me her car. I dog-sat. She was trusting and encouraging. She made great food. She discovered a mole under her bush, we were both too scared to chase it away until Steve, the neighbour came to the rescue. She visited my work. She invited me to family Christmas. Like I said, the epitome of what a good neighbour should be.
19 - Theo. He and my brother helped to install french double doors to make a third bedroom in the upstairs. He owns a great renovation company.
20 - Melissa. I always remember that day we lugged that one tonne television into the living room. She was so strong as I struggled to get the door open and then makes a run for it just before it almost dropped while yelling get out of my way! She helped with the move and with so much. She trimmed my way over grown bushes. She is a great sister. Together with her husband Andrew, Melissa cleaned the house and took away so much of the nastiness from the dirty tenants. I am forever thankful. I hope you find a good place to stay.
21 - Reuben. He engineered a brick patio with me. We ran together almost every morning. He tried to rectify my failed attempt at an icerink in the back yard.
22 - Tamarah. She came to help me settle in. She helped to dig and create the first vegetable garden. She came to play games. She's always fun.
23 - Everyone. You know, all your names are written on the kitchen acrostic poem decoration.
To everyone, thanks for the help and thanks for the memories!
My house was planned to be my main source of income to fund this photogenX track. There were many trials with the tenants, and my house was left in bad condition. It was so sad to hear that my pride and joy had been so mistreated by individuals. With my funds running out, I appealed to Mike Holmes and his new TV show, "Holmes, making it right" to help me out with this situation. With it being a pressing issue, time forced me to make a decision before Mike responded.
It has now come to a season where God has new things in store for me. Shortly my dearly beloved house will go on the market. It was sad to let it go, but I'm also so excited for what God has in my future, with nothing to tie me down. A house is only temporary, but really it's eternity that counts. I have learned that more than ever on this journey I am currently taking. I am thankful that God blessed me with the opportunity to be a steward of this cute little home and all the memories made there.
If you are interested in this cottage please contact my Remax representative: Denise Benoit
To all of those helping to prepare my house for sale, especially my lovely sister Leanne and my family and Renee. You are amazing, and what you are doing is appreciated so much. Thank you for helping me to continue with the work God has called me to!
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