The floors...

When we first moved into the house there was very old and dirty carpet everywhere.  This picture here is standing in the front room looking toward the back of the house.  My son is standing in the dining room with hideous carpet under foot.  In the first month of being inside it was obvious that the carpet needed to go.  I went to a corner of the room and peeled back a section of the carpet.  Underneath was dark brown hardwood floors.  Before taking all the carpet up we had to attempt to determine if the floor was in good enough condition.  From what I could see
the carpet was mostly surface wear and tear, not many stains.  I took a gamble and figured that the floors were in decent enough condition.  We used a carpet cutter to cut the carpet into manageable sizes and tore it up from there.  We did the carpet pad in the same manner.  I was lucky that they didn't glue the carpet pad to the hardwood floor, as this was done in the other bedrooms, (more on that later.)  They had stapled the carpet and pad down around the edges of the room as well as randomly through the floor so the carpet

would stay down.  These staples are fairly easy to remove, being careful not to scratch the floor.  I found a straight slot screwdriver and pliers the easiest to work with.  If the staple is too far into the ground to use the pliers by themselves then carefully slide the screwdriver under the staple and twist the screwdriver so the staple pops up.  Then simply use the pliers to pull the remaining staple out.  Trust me you will get tons of practice so don't worry about being perfect.  Just do your

best not to scratch the floors.  I was very lucky with these floors.  In the pictures you see of the hardwood that is what it looked like under the floors.  Eventually these floors will need to be redone, but for now they look fantastic.  Bono hardwood floor cleaner is what has worked the best for these floors.  Keeping them clean, well that's another story. 

Many Adventures!

"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work."   Colin Powell

Somewhere to begin...

 My home when it was first purchased.  A 1913 craftsman, (or so I'm told) style house.  It is approximately 1700-something square feet.  It was in fairly decent shape when I purchased it.  I can't remember quite how much property it is on, 3 city lots...something like that.  Anywho, I love this place.  At first I felt overwhelmed and excited.  I wanted to start on everything and remodel everything all at once!  Boy am I glad I didn't!!!  The outside alone had many upgrades or upkeeps that needed to happen.  Then to walk inside and see the

 sites.  So this first post will be a simple comment to not get in over your head.  It is very exciting to take on new projects!  I love taking before pictures.  Make sure you do that!  Take a before picture, just like when you start a new diet, they always say to take a before picture.  This way if you are loosing hope or feeling overwhelmed, you simply can look at the photo and find new energy.  This picture is of the back side of my house, when I first got the key.  This was almost two years ago.  I feel as though time is taking forever, but I actually have gotten a lot accomplished.  How do I know?  My before

 pictures!  On the snow pic, you will notice there are two shrubs gone.  Yup, I'm still thinking about taking out the other three, but just not sure yet.  What do you think? Also I have started on a new fence for the front yard.  The red fence is pretty beat up and rotten in some spots.  I am not really savvy on landscaping or planning, but I plan on finding some great blogs about it.  {smile}   This house is the beginnings to all my fun adventures.  I invite you to stay with me as I include you in all my adventures.  Please feel free to ask questions and comment.  I welcome
creative comments and suggestions as I
continue on my adventures.  Oh I can't wait to share the fun things I have done and am excited to do!!!  To the right here is a painting my sister did.  If that isn't motivation and encouragement to keep on moving then I am not sure what is!  And to you, I wish you the best in your adventures!

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” - Helen Keller