It all started 4 years ago when my mother in law discovered a hidden gem (albeit a very dirty gem) on a river near her home. My husband and I walked through it and knew we wanted it to be our next project house. There was SO much potential. The place looked like this.

Initially, it was going to be just an investment property - but after about 5 months of spending every waking minute of our free time working on the place, we thought - let's keep it for a year.

That is the hole under the tub where I fell through the floor to the crawl space.

Because after all that hard work, the place was finally looking like this . . .

Well, a year turned into four. We bought a boat, added a dock, and for about 2 years it was the most fabulous little cottage for gatherings with friends and family.

First time out in the new boat.

Dad enjoying the river.

However, for the past year the place has sat vacant. The cottage quickly transitioned from an investment property to, well for lack of a better term - a money suck. With a little one we only used the place ONCE all last summer. Not only were we not using it, but we can barely find the time to keep up with our primary residence let alone a second home. So we decided it was time to let it go.

Last week we closed on the sale and it was definitely a bittersweet moment. Although my husband and I both left the title company feeling a bit lighter knowing we didn't have quite so much responsibility on our hands, I also felt a bit sad about our separation with the dirty little gem we spent years shining. After all, this is where we shared so many good times with family and friends and took weekend getaways. Because of this house I learned how to water ski and wake board at 28 years old. This is the house we brought our first born child home to (it's where we lived while our current house was under massive construction).

Baby's first bath.

So, despite a huge sense of relief, it is with some sadness that I say, farewell cottage. You sure were good to us and hopefully the feeling is mutual.