I love my old house. It was built around 1943, and it has so much character. But it also always has a project waiting for me. Add that together with the wear and tear of eight people living here and I can feel overwhelmed quickly at all that needs to be done. I want to take good care of this house-I love it and want to live here forever which means I don't want to stare at the darn crack in the closet ceiling for 40 more years, and I want things done the right, permanent way.
And I have never really found the right "fix-it" man to do these things. Jeff is not handy and hates these projects, my Dad has his own hands full with his house, and it seems every time I've hired someone I've had way less that stellar results and just felt ripped off. So I do everything myself. I look up tutorials on YouTube or ask my Dad how to fix it, or go to the hardware store and figure things out from there. And some of these little improvements are just tiny things that just take a little time.
I wrote about my House notebook before and I love doing this ever year. You can read about it here.
Now that Janey is so much easier and content to sit here or there for a few minutes, and (sometimes) takes a good nap, I decided it was time to get started.
I am off to the hardware store to pick up some Magic Erasers and some spackle and little brushes and a few other odds and ends and starting crossing things off my lists. We'll see how far I get but I have good intentions and since it feels like springtime out, I also have lots of motivation.
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I'm jealous. I'm at that point in the wanting to do it all ... Plus the move toward spring gets my motivation going, too ... But Charlotte wants me to be her pony. Every minute. Every day. So I'm loving her up ... And slowly drowning :)
ReplyDeleteWe live in a house built in 1927 so I absolutely understand this post! I took your advice and went through the entire place and have started tackling those projects. My husband is quite helpful though his work schedule a bit crazy. You've inspired me to tackle the jobs myself when he's not around. :)
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for posting this today!!! I have this nagging list of {small} honey do's that are driving me NUTS, and you've inspired me to just write them down and do them myself, instead of silently steaming at my husband's "I haven't gotten to that yet!" for another day!!
ReplyDeleteI love when you post about that pretty, old house. Ours is ten years newer and needs frequent TLC. I usually bust out the mommy power as well since money is tight and my husband gets no joy out of it. I like to think of myself as a much more modern June cleaver. Vacuuming in pearls? Please! I caulk windows with my wedding rings on :-)
ReplyDeleteI've got a book too - but I think more of my items are in the order of tearing out old and replacing, than being able to touch up. (i.e. old windows, old linoleum, carpet plumbing fixtures...) I still need to finish stripping and re-staining our ensuite vanity doors from the reno we "finished" in December 2011. HA HA! Just a little backlogged!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your inspiration...isn't it crazy how the projects never end! My husband and I are good at starting projects...not so good with finishing all the time! We have an old farmhouse with a lot of charm and enough memories to make up for the chipped paint. Off to find a notebook! Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteIt's shocking to me how much constant wear is being put on my house with the 8 of us. I thought to myself just the other day how I never remember these thing happening to my house when I was growing up...Um, that's because I had parents running after us who fixed it all!
ReplyDeleteI totally relate to your post! My husband reluctantly starts projects that need to be done around the house and then gets busy with other more urgent things like work. I decided this year I would learn how to use the power tools and do some of them myself! I'm going to focus on one room each month. Good luck with your projects!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy for you Sarah! I know the relief that comes when you finally feel like your little one doesn't need you EVERY second and you can check some things off of your list. Such a good feeling! I'm the same way with fixing things. Kenny can do a lot of that kind of stuff but he is NEVER home - always working. So I have learned to do a lot of it myself. It's a good feeling. Right up until I completely make something worse than it was to begin with (which has definitely happened a time or two!) :) I hope you have a productive day!
ReplyDeleteI just moved into a house with my husband that is in good condition, however we find ourselves trying to decide what to fix first vs. how to update on a budget. Definitely love hearing about your older home - I am a fan of the charm. Hope to incorporate some charm into our own home! Good luck with the tasks :)
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that I am glad to hear that I'm not the only husband who isn't handy and hates D.I.Y. projects? :)
ReplyDeleteWe all have different gifts, and a not-handy husband who is supportive of me making changes is a big gift for me! I loved looking a blog inspiration as my kids grew and became quite handy over the years. Love your notebook idea. My favorite project was taking up nasty old carpet on the stairs, pulling out a million staples, and painting them. Accomplishment! But the kids naps always seemed so short when these projects were underway!
ReplyDeleteWell done, you! I'm planning on doing the same (so if you or your dad know how to fix the massive hole in my wall that is the result of removing the world's ugliest moulding...please let me know ; ) x )
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