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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

More Housekeeping (and a House)

For all those who are followers but don't comment... I'd love to visit your blogs! It's not always easy (or possible) to access your blog by linking through my followers window. Would you mind leaving a comment, so I could find you that way? I'd love to return the favor of a looksee, and say hey in your neck of the woods.

And speaking of...

Yesterday I got a beautiful picture in my neck of the woods: My house with freshly fallen snow, framed by trees. I'd like to share it.

But first, some of you remember we've been doing a full remodel (in and out), so let's look at the before...

And now, three years later...



I'm thinking maybe these pictures can serve as a reminder about writing. First drafts? They can be ugly. Like aged and unkempt houses, they often need a lot of work. But if the structure is good? If we focus on potential, and put forth what it takes, we can absolutely get beautiful results.
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47 comments:

  1. septembermomDecember 9, 2009 at 6:49 AM

    What a beautiful home! I love how snow outlines the structure with such care and definition. I agree that we should expect first drafts to be a bit "ugly" or unrefined. Beauty often takes time and care to unfold before us. Enjoy your day Janna!

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  2. Kristen Torres-ToroDecember 9, 2009 at 7:17 AM

    Wow! What a beautiful picture! I'm a bit jealous... we rarely get snow where I'm from. I know it can be a hassle if you live in it a lot, but it's really beautiful!! Go outside and listen to the silence for me, okay? I'm happy for you, though! Thanks!

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  3. Tamika:December 9, 2009 at 7:48 AM

    What a transformation! I love what you've done Janna!

    I needed the reminder about my first draft too- it's looking real shabby these days.

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  4. Rebecca NazarDecember 9, 2009 at 7:51 AM

    Very nice, no place like home.

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  5. Eileen Astels WatsonDecember 9, 2009 at 8:12 AM

    Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! Wow, I love the country feel to it.

    We're getting our first dose of layered snow today! HURRAY!!!

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  6. AnonymousDecember 9, 2009 at 8:17 AM

    I'm in awe, Janna, you have a postcard-worthy, beautiful home. What an amazing, serene place to live in every day. You're a lucky lady!

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  7. DianeDecember 9, 2009 at 8:21 AM

    Adorable home! Love the color you picked. :O)

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  8. Wendy Paine MillerDecember 9, 2009 at 8:27 AM

    Cool A-frame. Love the color, too. Worth the work!
    ~ Wendy

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  9. Janna LeadbetterDecember 9, 2009 at 8:30 AM

    Thanks so much, everyone. We love this house, which has so much time and work and blessing wrapped up in it. The last few years have been incredible, good and bad.

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  10. Katie GanshertDecember 9, 2009 at 8:34 AM

    Holy cows! That house is GORGEOUS!!! I want to see the inside! What character! Thanks for sharing. Great anlogy about the rough drafts too. :)

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  11. JillDecember 9, 2009 at 8:37 AM

    You have such a beautiful home! And what a contrast three years can make. Thanks for the encouraging analogy about rough drafts as well.

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  12. Terri TiffanyDecember 9, 2009 at 8:57 AM

    It's beautiful!! I LOVE the color:) ANd that star up top is so nice:) Graet job--tell your hubby too!

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  13. Donna M. KohlstromDecember 9, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    Love what you've done with your house! Looks like a wonderful retreat nestled in the woods. Can I come over for a visit????

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  14. Julie GilliesDecember 9, 2009 at 9:22 AM

    Hi Janna,

    I saw your comment over at Carla's and couldn't resist telling you what a fabulous job you've done on remardling thus far. It hardly looks like the same house! And the snow. Oh, it's just beautiful.

    Oh, and it's nice to meet you. :)

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  15. Erin MerrynDecember 9, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    First time visitor at your blog. Your house is beautiful especially with the snow. Looks like your tucked away somewhere peaceful.

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  16. Susan R. MillsDecember 9, 2009 at 9:47 AM

    Wow! I love what you did with your house. It's beautiful. It looks like you got quite a bit more snow than we did.

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  17. Susan J. ReinhardtDecember 9, 2009 at 9:58 AM

    Great pics, Janna! Some friends and I stayed at a house in the mountains similar to yours. We loved it.

    As a SOTP writer, my first drafts always need a lot of help. :)

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  18. JLCDecember 9, 2009 at 10:21 AM

    Oh wow, Janna! That is an amazing transformation! It looks like you had a chimney built too! I can't imagine what kind of patience and skill that would take. When we had our bathroom remodel done, I couldn't wait for the workers to be gone from my home for good. It feels like such an invasion of privacy with them going in and out of you home all the time. Your place is beautiful, and I love the exterior color you picked. We are actually looking at a similar color for our place when it is ready for a new paint job.
    Thanks for posting these pics! Its nice to see where you call 'home'.

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  19. AmandaCanzoDecember 9, 2009 at 10:43 AM

    Such a beautiful house!

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  20. DebDecember 9, 2009 at 11:11 AM

    Your home is beautiful Janna. You've been busy! I love the look of the fresh snow.

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  21. Melanie HooyengaDecember 9, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    Janna it's so beautiful! It's like living in a ski lodge. :)

    Excellent point about the drafts. It's amazing what time, persistence, and a little blood sweat & tears can do!

    *is jealous of Janna's 170 followers*

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  22. VoidwalkerDecember 9, 2009 at 11:43 AM

    Well, since you just visited my blog, I imagine you found me fine :)

    P.S. Beautiful pics. I miss the snow :(

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  23. PDecember 9, 2009 at 11:52 AM

    Looks great!! You have a beautiful home :)

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  24. Jessica NelsonDecember 9, 2009 at 12:14 PM

    I absolutely love the shape of your house! It's awesome!!!

    I wish some of my followers would comment too. All those interesting faces and then I don't get to read their blogs. LOL

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  25. Kavita SahariaDecember 9, 2009 at 12:18 PM

    What a wonderful makeover.I loved the first draft theory here.I am not a writer but i think this theory of your applies to other aspects of our life too.
    Just dropped in to say hi.

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  26. AnonymousDecember 9, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    WOW! What a fantastic job you've done. It looks beautiful. The snow is fabulous too!

    -FringeGirl

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  27. Diane Marie ShawDecember 9, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    What a beautiful home, it is so welcoming. I can see from these two pictures that you have done a huge amount of work.
    I chuckled at your comment about first drafts being ugly. That is the appearance of my NaNo novel but I can get into remodeling because I think the framing is good.
    Thanks for remodeling my spirits today.
    Diane

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  28. KarenDecember 9, 2009 at 2:05 PM

    Jana, how beautiful! Good reminder about writing, too. Thanks for sharing the snow...we don't have it, ever....sigh....

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  29. TanaDecember 9, 2009 at 3:42 PM

    Oh I love the snowy picture! How I long for a day like that! BTW, I love your new picture too. I'm feeling a bit inspired to put up one of my own soon... Must find that camera.

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  30. LornaDecember 9, 2009 at 6:42 PM

    Love the house in the woods--it looks beautiful and all cozy and warm-in-winter. I'll bet you get lots of amazing woodland creatures; birds and foxes and deer? I miss those...

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  31. Spy ScribblerDecember 9, 2009 at 6:45 PM

    Wow, Janna! You have the coolest house! So cozy, and the shape is so cool. Like Sharla said, definitely postcard worthy. :-)

    I always read your blog! I don't always comment. I'm sorry!

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  32. JoanneDecember 9, 2009 at 7:31 PM

    I just love your home Janna. The setting looks so peaceful, and those beautiful paned windows are striking in the front, giving it such a comforting look. A very inspiring place to write, I'm sure. With those before and after pictures, it has definitely gone from a manuscript to a NY Times Bestseller ;)

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  33. Midlife RoadtripperDecember 9, 2009 at 10:43 PM

    Beautiful - and I like the analogy.

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  34. LeSanDecember 10, 2009 at 12:23 AM

    Wow Jana! You guys did a marvelous job. It really looks incredible. I really like the star on top. Ok, I have actually run out of words because I am so impressed. Fantastic!!!

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  35. Capri K @ No Whining AllowedDecember 10, 2009 at 5:57 AM

    WOW! That is a beautimous house! You Guy's have done a great job!

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  36. AnonymousDecember 10, 2009 at 7:10 AM

    Very nice. That brings back memories when I lived in the mountains of NC and all the snows we had. The snows always made the world seem so quiet and serene, save the popping limbs and crackle of snow underfoot.

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  37. LoriDecember 10, 2009 at 8:10 AM

    Your house looks beautiful. I love changes like these. Before and afters. There is something about that. I don't know what. Something to do with dreaming.

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  38. AnonymousDecember 10, 2009 at 10:57 AM

    I love your house. I'd like to live in one just like that! You've done some marvelous updates. You're one lucky duck. Thanks for sharing.

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  39. Jill KemererDecember 10, 2009 at 12:55 PM

    Your home is beautiful! I love snow-covered decks. Mm-mm.

    Thanks for sharing this!

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  40. WendyCinNYCDecember 10, 2009 at 1:05 PM

    Your house is gorgeous, Janna! I love the snow--very ski chalet.

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  41. KathyDecember 10, 2009 at 1:23 PM

    Cool house!

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  42. AmyDecember 10, 2009 at 3:41 PM

    Everything I'm thinking has been said by others, but wow!! Lovely home! What a contrast!

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  43. NadineDecember 10, 2009 at 7:24 PM

    I love your house!! The remodel looks fantastic!!! And I am so jealous you have snow - makes it feel like it is actually Christmas!!

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  44. Ellie KingsDecember 11, 2009 at 12:55 AM

    Wow! beautiful! It looks like it belongs in a book! You did a fabulous job!

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  45. Carol J. GarvinDecember 11, 2009 at 2:00 AM

    A great analogy, Janna. I'll have to remember that as I plod through another revision. Renovations are a lot of work but your results are spectacular... what a beautiful home! The forecast here is for snow over the next four days but I'm not expecting as much as you have. Enjoy it!

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  46. Heather SunseriDecember 12, 2009 at 7:39 AM

    Janna, your home is beautiful! My husband and I share a love for remodeling older homes. It's amazing to find that diamond in the rough and make it sparkle again, isnt' it? We don't get to do it very often in this market or with our young children, but maybe again some day...

    You are so right about our manuscripts. If they have a solid foundation, we can make them sparkle, too, with a little bit of elbow grease.

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  47. Deb ShuckaDecember 15, 2009 at 4:08 PM

    I love the snow picture! Great metaphor - you are the queen of writing metaphors, I think. :-)

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Thanks for swinging by SSW!