Eckenrode Family

Tomorrow is Moving Day

Dear Buyers of Our House

When we moved into this house we had been married for 4 months. We found out that the original owners of this house had lived in it for sixty years. They raised their family here and grew old here. The husband used to be a big bowler and celebrated his 80^th birthday at the Olentangy Bowling Alley which used to be near here. (We know this because while renovating we found a picture of him behind the mantel.) We have had a few people visit here saying they were the grandchildren of the original owners. This place apparently meant a lot to that family. They tell us their grandparents had a nice garden in the back and that there used to be a very old, large apple tree in the backyard. I believe the irises on the front hill were also planted by this family.
This house also means a lot to our family. This is the place we brought our 2 sons home from the hospital so it’s seen us as newlyweds and also as brand new parents. We appreciate the beauty of the architecture of this house and the beautiful woodwork. There is nothing cozier than this house in the winter with the wood burning stove cranking, something baking in the oven and good tunes in the kitchen. I will always remember that about this house. I also found that there is no need for baby monitors in this place because, without carpet, you can hear your child crying even if you’re in the basement. I took comfort in this fact.

If your kids end up being light sleepers like mine are you will find that the creaky stairs pose a problem. I’ve found that if you skip the second step after the landing, you’re golden.

We love this house and we hope you find the same happiness that we had here. This house has meant a lot to us. When we walked through the doors of this house with our first son, we became parents. Our kids took their first shaky steps on these wood floors. They got their first bumps and bruises here. They smiled and laughed for the first time between these walls.

Another wonderful thing about this place is Halloween. This neighborhood is the place to be for Halloween. The neighborhood has a parade and all of the children gather on a hill for a group photo. You’ll get a lot of trick or treaters so be prepared with lots of candy. Also, look for the guy that rides his bike down the street every year with the keyboard and microphone attached, playing spooky music and laughing maniacally through the microphone. I will so miss this neighborhood during Halloween.

We’ve enjoyed this place and made so many precious memories here. I can think of no better place to have as the background of the memories I’ve made these last eight years.

Preparing to Move

We are a few days away from moving into our new house. We have been traveling there on the weekends and working on it. Slowly we’ve made it into our place and we feel like we can move in and feel at home.


We’ve scrubbed and swept away the dirt, painted, torn out and hauled away unwanted things; chased out the mice; explored some of the woods; and rolled in the dirt. It feels like the home of our future selves and I can’t wait to start this chapter in our lives.

He's Five

He’s five. What seems like just months ago he was my newborn son and now he’s a boy. He’s funny and sensitive and imaginative. He woke up this morning on his birthday to the first snowfall of the season. Happy Birthday my sweet Miles.

Giving Thanks

One of the things I love most about being a mother is when a holiday comes up and I get to plant surprises for them after they go to bed.  Tomorrow Miles turns 5. I love planning for their birthdays and trying to make it as special as possible for them.

This year Miles birthday happens to land the day after Thanksgiving, coinciding with the arrival of our Elf on the Shelf, Friddle. We love Friddle and all of the magic he brings to our house at Christmastime.
Also, I just had to post this photo of Ben on the toilet. He is in the process of potty training and is having some real success! Just look at how proud he is of himself.

It's All About the Bow

When I found out I was getting a new niece I immediately thought of all of the things I could make her with ruffles and bows. I really think the only thing I’m missing right now about not having a daughter are all of the embellishments on girls clothing. So, I knitted her a few hats and added a bow to one of them. Once I got a hang of knitting short rows they were a breeze. I found both patterns here.
I also had some pink chenille dot fabric on my shelves along with some simple yellow flower fabric from the clearance rack at Joann’s and together I think they look pretty sweet. The blanket is also lined with some bamboo batting which makes it really soft and warm.
The boys and I really enjoyed meeting our new niece and cousin. She was truly beautiful and feminine and I can’t wait to be the aunt to a girl again! Welcome baby Leah, we are so happy you are here.

Our Weekend

Our weekend was filled, once again, with working at our new house. We drive there right after breakfast on Saturday and Sundays and spend the daylight hours working in the yard and cleaning the house. We also spend a little of the time hanging out with the neighbors. I’ve finally found a neighborhood where the neighbors treat you like family. Like better than family depending on what family you’re from . . . It feels so good and I really feel like I’m home. Like this is the place in which the boys are meant to grow up.  It just feels right. Also, I’ve been mentally preparing myself to leave this house. This is such a special place to us and I know this house means a lot to the families that lived here before us. This house radiates love and warmth and home.
The most defining moment for me as a mother was when we carried Miles through the door. This house suddenly felt very different to me, like walking through the door was really entering motherhood. The only thing making it easier to leave this house is the excitement for the possibilities of the new place. The boys will have the experience of a huge garden, a friendly neighborhood and the freedom to explore a 300 acre biological reserve. Yeah, I’m excited.

Also this weekend Tim and I made more soap. This is something that we enjoy doing together while listening to great music and drinking some beers.
I love that Tim has joined me in this hobby. I got a few requests for the recipe that we use. We use the recipe from The Natural Soap Book by Susan Miller Cavitch. If you are considering making soap, this book is a great resource.

For our soap we use distilled water, sodium hydroxide, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil and some essential oils.The supplies you need :

• 8-12 quart enamel or stainless steel pot with lid
• 3 quart (2.8 liter) saucepan
• 2-3 quart heat-resistant glass bowl or pitcher
• 2 heavy-duty rubber or silicone spatulas
• good quality scale
• 2 good quality thermometers (because you will end up accidentally dropping one in water or oil at some point).
• molds
• knife for cutting soap

Looks Like Love

For all of those moments when I don’t think I can take the bickering between these two, there is a moment like this where my heart stops beating and begins floating above me. Miles suddenly falls into this helpful, loving and protective big brother and tonight he asked Ben if he could help him put on his slippers. Ben said sure, and after much patience and teamwork the back of Ben’s foot was in the slipper while his toes peaked out of the flap. He wanted me to do it then.

 
But for a brief moment I saw it and it looked like love.

Peppermint

Thanks to Facebook I learned that my friend Sarah was loving the Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks and now I too am in love. Ever since then I’ve had peppermint on the brain and so when it came time to decide what kind of soap I was going to make it had to be peppermint. Now I have it on the brain and in my nostrils. This is the 3^rd time I’ve cut soap using the cutter I got on Etsy and it really makes the whole process much easier. I don’t even have to shave the soap. Just cut and let it sit. I’m also loving the molds my husband made.

 



 

This Weekend

This weekend we worked on the outside of our new place. We raked leaves, mowed grass, and worked on winterizing the pool.


We have no idea how to take care of pool and if you asked Tim he will surely tell you that he never wanted a pool and doesn’t like to swim. But, the pool is there and I for one am very happy about that. Taking care of one, I have no idea but I’m happy nonetheless. Lucky for us we happen to live on the friendliest street on the planet and there are plenty of people to offer up their help. Seriously, there is so much kindness going on in this neighborhood that Tim and I, coming from the city, were taken by complete surprise. One of the neighbors raised his family is this house and had this pool built, so when I ran into him he offered his help and sped away on his tractor in the direction of the pool. Minutes later I see him pull up his truck and head to the bottom of the pool is his high rubber boots. He ends up working on it that night and then sending me a pictured of the cleaned and drained pool asking us if it was ok for him to fill it back up. I think I’m going to like there.

We took a break from the house on Sunday to attend the Blue Jackets Hockey Fest. 




Tim enjoyed a much needed break at the festival. Miles enjoyed playing hockey with other kids under 6 and worked himself into a hot, sweaty mess. Ben planted himself on the zamboni. I think he was dreaming of daddy’s new John Deere.