April 9, 2005

• OH BOY!!

  
  

  I drove out to my house today. I didn't have any clear plan or intention in mind, I just thought I'd pull up and take a look, and maybe a peek at the back yard. As luck would have it, Rachel and Leo(the owners) were home and saw my car pull up. They kindly invited me in.

  
  

  Well, I must say they have done a very good job at emptying out the house considering how jam packed full it was. Looking at it sans furniture, shelving etc. my first thought was "Oh boy!!". Now, was it a good oh-boy like "oh boy, now the fun starts!", or was it a not so good oh-boy like "oh boy, what were you thinking woman!!". Quite honestly? A bit of both.

  
  

  What a monumental, colossal task I have taken on! Of course on the plus side, there is no agenda. I have all the time in the world, but my goodness.......

  
  

  On the plus side, the living room is a lot larger than I thought. On the minus side the dining room is a lot smaller. There is probably no wall surface or ceiling in that house that doesn't need repair and painting. The hall and kitchen floors will need some definite attention. None of this is news to me, but somehow standing there in the sunshine in an empty (well, almost empty) house I suddenly felt very overwhelmed and very, very small. This is not a little weekend reno, this is a major investment of time and hopefully with my bargain hunting abilities as little cash as possible. I am going to do as much (hopefully all) of the work without having to use professionals so I will only have to pay for materials.

  
  

  I think it is just the reality of it all finally sinking in. It isn't a faraway fantasy any more, it is a brick and mortar reality. This is going to be HARD work. I have been working all my life and I have never been afraid of hard work but a little tiny part of me has a little tiny seed of doubt that is whispering in my ear "You'll never do it. You've bitten off way more than you can chew this time." Of course that just makes me even more stubbornly determined to succeed!  This is going to be the biggest, hardest thing I have ever done, but it is going to be fantastic by the time I am through.

  
  

  I can't think of any room in that house that doesn't need some major work, but just imagine when it is all finished. Just imagine sitting in my back porch when it is all repaired and not falling down. Just imagine walking on a floor that you tiled yourself, looking at walls that you repaired and painted yourself. This house is going to become an extension of me. It is going to house my heart and soul and I am going to make it beautiful. One day (probably twenty years from now  ) when it is all complete (is a house ever complete?), I will sit back and sip my coffee and feel very proud. I think it will have much more meaning than if you just handed out some cash and had some stranger come and do it for you. Let's see if I still feel that way six months from now!!

  
  

  The back yard is a jewel in the rough. There is a crabapple tree, two pear trees and a mulberry tree. Grape vines surround a gazebo. Patio stones surround a rock garden. It feels peaceful and calm and I envision many a quiet morning sitting outside reading and drinking a cup of tea. It is like a little secret paradise back there.

  
  

  All in all I am glad I went over today. I was fretting over what it might look like. I was afraid that once I saw it again I would hate it. Rachel has kindly left a box with all the instruction booklets for the appliances and maps of the area. She even included some pizza delivery flyers! I am sure I will be using those during the weeks to come until the kitchen is brought up to steam! This is truly going to be an adventure!

  • 10:34 pm
  • 4 Comments