the new (old) house

In just a few months will be the thirtieth anniversary of when I moved into this house for the first time. I was the same age that Anselm is now–just a couple of months past the second birthday.

It’s kind of funny how things work out, isn’t it? Actually, it’s really not. We’ve prayed for years for the opportunity to move. We’re so thankful for our answer.

I took a few pictures today to have some “befores” on hand, as well as to be able to show this place we’ve been pining over for so long. I feel like I should add a disclaimer, though: it needs work. No worries, because work is what we’re planning on putting into it. A lot. Of work.

It’s a really modest house, and that’s why I love it. After trying to manage a larger two-story home for the past few years, I’m so happy to have someplace small. Small and with LOTS of outdoor space. Six acres in total, all soon to be fenced in and ready for our brood of boys (and girl) to run and run and run.

The house is 1350 sq ft with three bedrooms and one (yes ONE) bathroom. (And yes, adding another bathroom in on the list of “do quicklies”.) There is also an unfinished basement that is an additional 1300 sq ft.

Around the back. I’ve always thought you can spot an old house by the fact that they have windows on all sides. Jeremy and I are already stalking the classifieds for old windows and glass doors to build a sort of solarium off of our  bedroom. The plan is also to paint the brick white or light grey and make wood shutters like we had at our other house. Also, landscaping…one of these days.

There’s the Ham House! You can see how close it is to the main house. In my mind I see a sort of patio/common area  there between the houses with string lights and a place to sit and eat while you watch the kids play on the swingset.

The Ham House is getting a roof makeover this week. You can see that it’s already gotten some windows and doors and a back porch, which has this view:

That’s the spot where we hope to plant a garden next year.

Inside the Ham House has a totally different look. I can’t believe this is the same building. I can’t walk in without remarking on how weird it is. The work is being headed up by a friend of the family’s, and he is doing a great job. It’s no small task!

To take the above picture, I was standing in the same spot as I was when I took this one below:

It cleans up pretty nicely, doesn’t it?

I’m hoping that the main house cleans up as nicely, too. It needs a lot of work and updating. We have big plans for it, which I’ll pontificate on in another post.