When you choose to renovate a nearly century-old home, you expect surprises—but nothing quite prepared us for the hidden layers waiting behind the walls and beneath the floors of Bel Cavallo.

Our kitchen renovation has been one of the most challenging aspects of the remodel so far. We made the decision to completely tear down the existing kitchen to expand the space structurally. The goal was to create a layout that’s not only functional for daily farm life but built to last. As of now, we’re still a few months away from having a fully usable kitchen, but progress is well underway.

While knocking out the old laundry room closet, we uncovered something that stopped us in our tracks: a message in a bottle.

Tucked away behind the wall was a hand-written note from a young girl named Maci Tackett, dated February 15, 2010. In it, she shared a sweet memory about discovering an old Pepsi bottle with her family and left behind a 25-cent coin along with a kind message for whoever found it next. A second letter from her sister, Molli, described the discovery as part of a remodel over a decade ago—and encouraged the tradition to continue.

The thoughtfulness and innocence of their notes felt like a gift. Even without sharing their photos publicly, we were deeply touched by the sentiment. It was a beautiful reminder that this home has long been a place of curiosity, creativity, and care. If you happen to know the Tackett family—be sure to let them know their bottle was found and cherished.

And that wasn’t the only surprise waiting for us. While tearing up concrete in another part of the renovation, we uncovered an old underground water cistern. Likely once used for collecting and storing rainwater, it added a layer of historic function to the home’s story—connecting us once again to those who lived here long before us.

Every project has its delays, and with all the rain we’ve had this season, we’ve had to learn patience in between contractor schedules and weather windows. But moments like these—the unexpected glimpses into past lives—make the challenges feel worthwhile.

We’ll share more of these stories as the renovation continues. For now, we’re embracing the journey and documenting each chapter as it unfolds.