One thing I tend to do a lot is to put something off, figuring I'll eventually do it, whatever it is. The thing is, time goes by so quickly and before you know it a week, a month, a year has gone by and I still didn't do whatever it was.
Well, tonight I did a few things that I've been wanting to do. I said to the kids, "Get your jackets and hop in the car - we're going." (And tomorrow I'm going to do something else that I've been wanting to do for a long time but it just never fits in the schedule, so I'm going to MAKE time. I'll update you tomorrow night as long as things go as planned..... Sarah's got a low grade temp again, and her throat is bothering her, so we'll see.)
Okay. Two things I took time for tonight....
#1. There is an old cemetery about 5 minutes from me that every spring is just absolutely beautiful. I drive by and purposely look at it every year. This year, I decided to go and take some pictures. I went after dinner so the sun was setting and the light was so pretty. I have just a few pictures here if you would like to look at them. I didn't want to offend anyone scrolling through my blog with cemetery pictures, so peek if your interested and read on if you aren't. :-)
#2. Yes, Doug, I'm gonna blog about you tonight. (hee hee!) My brother Doug and his wife Leann bought an old stone farmhouse and moved in a year ago. Here's the story from move-in day last year. They are putting so much work into this old house and I've been wanting to go and see the latest project, so, tonight I went.
If you saw what the house looked like when they moved in, well, let's just say I don't think I could've done it. It was built in 1848. So, yes, it's old. But it hadn't been looked after in quite some time and was in need of A LOT of TLC and elbow grease. I am completely and utterly amazed at what my brother has done so far. Here is a picture I took last April on move-in day...
The house has so much character and great bones...but cosmetically, well, it needed help. This is the living room. The walls had some sort of plaster-like stuff on them that literally disintegrated when you touched it. The wood in the ceiling is exposed, which was neat, but the pipes for the plumbing were all exposed too. If you look on the back wall, at the very left edge of the picture, you'll see skinny copper pipes and black PVC piping. Now, take a look at the picture I took tonight to see the progress...
They refinished all the plaster walls in this room. Doug put in a ceiling to hide the plumbing and added lights (they had none before). He put crown molding around the whole room. He was putting primer on the walls and around the windows when I got there. But the thing that I LOVE, and he is such a genius!, is how he hid those skinny copper pipes on the back wall. He made this to conceal them...
He built a little area that comes out around the pipes with old wood and added these beautiful, old, faded blue shutters...
And, of course, Leann already has a wreath hanging on it! Here is Doug....
He was going to duck out but I made him stay. (The Holly Hobbie quilt on the ladder behind him was made by my Great Grandmam.) I will have to make the time to go over when there is more daylight. I think the process they are going through to make this house a part of them should be documented. So, Doug, I will make the time to come over and see how you're progressing. I will bring my camera. :-)
i LOVE old houses!
it is one of my dreams someday to move into an old house again. actually kelly & i were talking about it today as we drove through a part of town w/ really old gorgeous victorians...i was trying to explain "character" to her....& some houses just have it....like your brothers gorgeous house! he's done such an amazing job already! go doug!!!!
Posted by: gigi | May 05, 2007 at 09:45 PM
No Patty - you aren't the only person who likes to take photos in the cemetery - I do it too! I have one on my blog here http://scrap-petrina-just-scrap.blogspot.com/2006/12/one-photo-per-day-until-christmas.html
if you want to have a look - totally different from yours. Your photos are amazing.
Petrina :)
Posted by: Petrina McDonald | May 08, 2007 at 06:30 AM