The last six months have been a whirlwind of activity here in FanningSparks world. My husband and I have relocated ― not just to another community or across the state ― but 2,790 kilometers (1,733 miles) northeast back to our home country. 
That’s right ― we traded Georgia’s subtropical climate for the rugged beauty of Nova Scotia. It’s been a major undertaking. The first step was to sell our house in Lake Oconee. We downsized, primped and polished, and put it on the market. It sold in only three days! The due diligence and legalities took longer, of course, but everything went smoothly thanks to my husband’s real estate expertise.
The second step was to get our belongings packed, moved and into storage. Then in early July, we hit the road with our vehicles fully packed. A few days later, we were back in Nova Scotia ― 27 years after having moved away. Those 27 years, took us on an incredible journey around the world ― we lived in three states in the US Southeast, two states in the US Midwest, Singapore in Southeast Asia and Cologne in Germany. Three continents, four countries, eight states/provinces and twenty-one different places we called “home”. And now, we’re back to Nova Scotia, Canada. What an amazing adventure it’s been!
Since July, we’ve been enjoying time with family, refamiliarizing ourselves with this beautiful province and hunting for a new home. I’m thrilled to report, we found a place that checks all the boxes and we’re now in the process of moving in! Hurrah! I should be able to share specifics soon.
In the meantime, I’d like to take a few minutes to look back at the last house we called home ― our splendid lakefront property on Lake Oconee. Shown below is the house as featured in the original real estate listing.
Shown below is the same house, seven years later, as it was presented in the recent real estate listing.
It’s obviously the same house ― but with better landscaping! A variety of new plants, shrubs and trees, along with countless hours of digging, planting and nurturing, went into creating the lush, decorative gardens we left behind.
The landscaping on the lakeside of the house has improved the most. Here’s the before…
… and here’s the after.
This area went from completely barren to a thriving border of flowers and greenery where a stunning parade of birds, butterflies, geckos and other wildlife liked to hang out.
Now, for a look inside the house! This is the view from the front porch ― looking back towards the driveway.
And here’s what a guest sees as they step inside and get their first glimpse of Lake Oconee.
Before going further, it’s worth taking a look back at the original kitchen and living room for comparison. I shared these same photos in my 2018 blog post, A Before Tour of Our New Casual Lake House.
It’s quite a contrast to the remodeled space we left behind! The new kitchen is updated with white cabinets, gorgeous granite counters and stainless steel appliances. New sliding patio doors fill the space with light and pull the outdoors in. I won’t list all the changes we made but, suffice it to say, they all add up to a lighter, brighter, more up-to-date home.
The changes in the primary bedroom were also quite dramatic.
FanningSparks readers might appreciate the before and after of my favorite room – the studio!
Granted, this may be the neatest the studio ever was!
This post wouldn’t be complete without saying goodbye to the fabulous view we had the good fortune to enjoy every day.
I’ll wrap up with a bird’s eye view of the property. It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to beautiful Lake Oconee, Georgia but we’re thrilled to move on to our next destination!
More Info
Most of the photos in this blog post were pulled from the real estate listings. Credit for the recent photos goes to Tracey Brill of 2B Media Design. Her work is outstanding! Special thanks to our realtor Rhonda Smith, of the Rhonda Smith Team in Madison Georgia, for her professional guidance and exceptional service!
Only one previous blog post was mentioned in this blog post:
. A Before Tour of Our New Casual Lake House
But our Lake Oconee home and gardens inspired numerous projects and blog posts such as:
. Our Pony Wall and Banquette Combo
. Our New Architectural Jewelry
. Glide It On and 14 More Painting Tips
. Pair of Mosaic Mirrors Completed
. 10 Tips from our Gussied Up Workshop
. The Ultimate Maker’s Cabinet
. A Flutter of Butterflies in the Closet
. Small Change > Big Impact in Guest Bath
. Make Your Own Tiny Door – DIY Tutorial Part 1 and Part 2
. Our Garden Prepares to Leap
. Zinnias Rock! And More Cutting Garden Tips
. Hydrangeas for the Win!
. Strawberry Tower Planter – DIY Tutorial.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Moving out of a home you’ve poured your heart into is bound to be bittersweet.
2. If settling into a new home seems daunting, look back at the last time you did it successfully.
3. Major life events provide an opportunity to stop and fully appreciate where you’ve been.
2 Comments
Hi Mark, It’s so nice to hear from you. Thanks so much for the thoughtful note. Peg
Congratulations on the move Peggy! Exciting times. I’m sure you are glad to be back near family. I can see why the move was bittersweet. The GA home is lovely and you made great improvements. All the best to you and your husband in Canada!