Working Weekend

August 03, 2014

Working Weekend

Little roadtrip with me, myself and I this weekend to help Peep get the house ready to sell. The house he built when he came home from the Navy. It is so bittersweet for all of us. But we made lemonade out of lemons this weekend. There is still more to do to Nanny's hose or the little house that I lived in when I was a baby. He built that too.

Robin came over to help until her asthma got in the way. She makes runs to Walmart and other places during the week for Peep picking up things to make the house smell good and feel more homey.

Aunt Dory was in from NC...came all that way to help her brother get ready to make the move. She is getting the roosters off the wall for me to put on the fence at my house. Just wait until you see them on the fence at NottLotta Farm. They are going to look great.

I can't remember if he was shielding himself from getting hurt if one of the roosters should fall or if he was yelling instructions. I'm guessing it was the latter.

Aunt Judy was on call to run for dinner. She was good moral support too.

Uncle Kenny was Jack-of-all-trades. He carried heavy things, put up curtain rods, arranged things in the little building...you name it he was doing it.

He just had to show off and climb the ladder to take down the last rooster. We were all holding our breath.

There were several rummage sales in the neighborhood so we loaded up the driveway with lots of FREE STUFF. Robin made sure it all got to the driveway in style. She even rode down the hill and put up a sign.

My mom and dad built this house when I was little. It is unique for sure. Lots of things you simply don't find in other houses. I think those things should be known. He has a real estate agent and she took all the regular pictures for the MLS. I just felt like she maybe didn't see the uniqueness of the house. I know I'm making this too personal. It is just a house. I can hear you all now. But I think she should have added a few more pictures and shown the unique features. Not meaning to tell her how to do her job...just helping to sell the our house.

The front porch where my grandmother and I would cover up with quilts and watch thunderstorms. Where we would swing all the kids when they were babies. Where Bryce would shoot the bb gun at the target on the hill.

The patio where my Mom could lay in the sun without moving from sunup to sundown.

I love the new red metal roof.

Love the vaulted solid beam ceilings. And there are beautiful hardwood floors under the new carpet. I remember my mom and dad rolling up the braided rug and dancing in the living room.

The fire[place that keep me toasty many a cold winter night. And that darn hearth that sent several children to the hospital for stitches.

Our Christmas tree always went to the top step under the beam. It would take up half the walking space up the steps. When there were little ones in the house there was always a Johnny-Jump-Up swing in the middle of the beam. We would swing them out into the living room and they would squeal like crazy!

This was the dining room until Peep decided to get a roll top desk. We would stand at the window behind the desk and watch people try to get up the hill in the middle of winter before the salt truck would come. Or yell out the window to our friends. We watched Mark, Jeremy and Bryce ride Bigwheels down the hill at break neck speed and then skid in the gravels at the bottom.

This is his new and improved kitchen. This happened a few years ago when he tried to burn down the house. There is even a dishwasher. He always said he didn't need a dishwasher because he already had two...my sister and me.

Had to school him a bit about decluttering the house...having it ready when ever anyone wants to see it. Still working on it...I think it will be a constant thing.

I still remember sitting at a picnic table beside these bricks. And in the winter when there was a fire in the fireplace the bricks would be so warm. I loved eating dinner with my back against them. When we got a little older we got an oak claw foot table. Robin sat in the corner and I sat under the oven. When the oven door was opened I had to lean forward and hope I didn't get burned.

A few years ago Peep decided to redo his bathroom. And with the help of his two sister, they turned an all pink bathroom into something a little more masculine. His favorite part, the rounded shower curtain (gives him more room) and they way he tucks it into the bar on the back of the wall.

This was Robin's bedroom until my Nanny moved in with us when she got sick. And now it is where Peep works on all his collections. It reminds me of my kitchen junk drawer. You know the place you put stuff when you don't know where else to put it. Not that he has any junk!

This was my room until the day of my wedding. I remember it being so hot in the summers (no AC until after I was married). And we always had to go to bed earlier that any of the kids in the neighborhood. You could hear them playing into the night. I always thought that was so unfair.

Peep's room. When you looked out the side window you could see Julie's house. And you could watch Helga's dogs. Or see Mark Adams and Jeremy playing on the hill.

I wish I had a laundry room this big. Not to mention the huge walk in shower complete with a toilet...

...and a huge folding table at just the right height so you don't kill your back.

My all time favorite thing...the old school wooden clothes pin tied to the end of the light string.

The huge...HUGE...basement closet. And yes, that is a hot tub in the basement. I think it was easier for my mom and dad to walk down the stairs rather then go outside to use it.

The wall around the fireplace has names of our friends etched in it. And we actually used that popcorn popper. Our friends could not believe that our parents would let us write on the wall.

Wow...those are the lamps that were there when Robin and I spent time in the basement. Man are they old! My dad made the end tables and coffee table out of scraps from bows and arrows. They are really cool. Know anyone that wants to buy a couch, a recliner and a bar with bar stools? They are great and in really good condition. They are going on Craigslist tomorrow. Had a birthday party once in elementary school. Invited everyone in the school I think. And we all fit in the basement!

This room is huge! And I have to give my dad's cleaning lady, Cathy, (wonder woman) a BIG thank you. Robin and Betty cleaned it once. Then Robin and I recleaned it. Then yesterday Cathy spent all day cleaning it. You can eat off of every square inch of it top to bottom, side to side! She is amazing!

I honestly can not remember ever seeing the garage side of the basement this clean. It never was used a garage. My dad had an awesome workshop. He sold all the tools. Gave a few away and we sorta took some without him looking...just little stuff like maybe a hammer or two and a yardstick. Or maybe a few of those really cool flat sided pencils. Ha! I just noticed there is a window in that room. A peg board hung there with tools all over it. Wow!