Backstory and a Beginning

Over 10 years ago my husband and I first became interested in dome homes. It was back in 2002 when we bought our first house. It was about as far from a dome as you could get but that was what we could afford. As we went forward with that house we began to plan and dream about our future house.....one day. Built in 1890 our first place enabled us to stretch our renovation muscles. Some of it not by choice! My husband had some experience when he was young working for someone that made custom cabinets and no doubt he learned some skills helping his dad with various projects growing up. All my skills were fine art based but I was very comfortable around power tools. During my time in art school, I had many sculpture classes using all the big wood shop machines as well as welding etc in metal shop. Not really renovation but better than nothing! Some conflict arises in how we approach projects. My husband is cautious and plans every detail. I just go for it. The first day of renovations on our Victorian only started because of my approach. We had talked about removing a wall for several months but video games occupied all my husbands free time and he showed no interest in actually starting the project. So one day I took matters into my own hands without warning him. Sledge hammer in hand I just went for it! He says that I scared the crap out of him. Nothing quite like demolition! There began a year long process of fixing all kinds of scary and unsafe things in that house. Opening that one wall lead us to discover a snowballing assortment of mind boggling projects that only 120 years of random diy owners could create.

We just sold our second house, a 1979 typical boring colonial. We brought it into the 21st century the best that we could in our 7 years of owning it. Our basic renovation skills have improved but our approach is still the same. My husband is trying to combine his over planning skills with actual action and I am trying to think before action. The good thing about that renovation was all the work was cosmetic AND it is over. We purchased the land to build our dome three years ago but we needed to sell our current house to break ground.

We are 2 weeks post house sale and renting a cottage from our friends parents just 3 miles from our property.

It took us almost 2 years to sell our house so we can start our dome building adventure. The first buyers lost their mortgage at the last second due to an extension on her pending divorce. And buyers for a house with an in-law seem scarce.  Finally the sale went through thanks to a little statue of St. Joseph. My next post will be dedicated to explaining the story of St. Joseph the patron saint of real estate and how he sold our house. I am only kind of kidding.

It begins.....Here's to my husband and I not killing each other! The disagreements have already begun! He jokes that we are building a house to test our marriage.