So in the last couple of years I've done a lot to it. It NEEDED it. It's still not where I want it to be, but it's getting there. And I like it. 😀
One of the major things that I've re-done is the flooring. It was mostly carpeted when I moved in, but I've pulled that up in all but three rooms. I'm just not into carpet - not with all the traffic and animals I have. Thanks to the flood I got rid of the carpet in the dogs' room early on (probably first). It's concrete and I want to seal it with some of that stuff like you see in fancy garages so that it's sweep-able and mop-able. I have to go over it with a vacuum hose as it is right now and that's killer on my back as well as time-consuming. I feel like if I could go over it with a dust mop every other day or so that would be wonderful and easy and cut down on a lot of the dust in my house. Not to mention that it would be much easier to clean up doggie accidents.
In the bathroom Emma pulled up the flooring (a few years ago), but I replaced that soon after with black and white checkered vinyl tile. It really gave that room some character. 😊 In the living room and hall I pulled up that carpet and replaced the flooring. In the living room it's wood laminate and it looks nice. The hall is done in black marble vinyl tile and I like that. I've also pulled up the carpeting in my bedroom, but haven't put anything else down yet. Right now it's a really retro-looking (probably because it IS old) linoleum in there... It really doesn't "go" with anything, but I like it. I do know what I want to replace it with, but I don't have the money right now. I plan on finishing my bedroom and the dog floor when tax time rolls around again.
I have painted 3 rooms so far... the living room (green to offset the red wood floor - I think it's BEAUTIFUL), and the hall is now a light blue (I think it looks AWESOME with the black marble floor) and the game room (used to be Nick's room); the wall was striped paneling (really office-y), but now it's gray with a lot of stuff hung up in there to brighten it up. If you can't tell - my house now has some character aside from "old lady." 😁
Back in February I had the limbs from my pecan trees trimmed from above the house - those trees drop limbs like they're hot. 😳 Shortly after that when my roof was leaking a lot I got a new one. It's brown metal and it looks really nice. I'm sure that was good for it. Recently, Shaun and I (but mostly Shaun) put up a privacy fence between my house and the neighbors... they seemed to be having trouble distinguishing where their property ended and mine began. Might not have been a big deal if they weren't hanging out and littering all in my yard, but I don't like that. And yeah - cigarette butts and candy wrappers - though they are small, count. They count a lot, in fact, because they are small and numerous and hard to pick up.
Anyway, Shaun has helped me SO much and we've put a lot of work into this place. It's FINALLY starting to look and feel like MY HOUSE. It seems like the more time, money, and energy I put into this place the happier I feel to be here.
Plans for the future:
First and foremost: DOG ROOM FLOOR. I will be SO HAPPY to have that done. The leaky planter is a work-in-progress... I hope to finish that soon. After that I'd like to do my bedroom floor and deal with my rotten closet. Then there are miscellaneous places that I need to re-do the trim, like the bathroom, hall, and game room. Not major, but will make things look nicer, for sure. After the railroad company finalizes the paperwork to let the county dig the ditch out back I will probably have some landscaping to do. I would also like to put up some kind of lamps or solar lights on my fence posts and repair the lighting in one other place.
I think a picnic table for the area with the privacy fence and a bench on my porch would be just awesome. Those are not really things I have to do to the house, but they would be cool things to have. And a hose reel. OMG, I want one of those.
Of course there are larger things I would like to do as well, but none of it is pressing. Really, I'd like to have a screen door and newer windows, but those are not really necessities at this point. I would also like to get rid of the rest of the carpeting, but I can live with it for now.
So yeah... home sweet home and stuff. 😊 Sometimes it's really hard to have a house to deal with, but other times it is really rewarding. And just so you know - I help Shaun at his place, too. So far he hasn't had to do anything too major, but I'll be there when / if he does. I have a feeling he'll be sending me into the attic to see about his insulation when the weather cools off. 😂 So much of what has been accomplished here is due to him. He's just got this encouraging, helpful attitude that makes me feel like everything will be ok. And so far, since he's been a part of my life, it has. 😁❤
