1…. 5 years ago today we moved into our very first (and only) house.
2…. On this day, in 2001, my husband and I were busy pulling out all of the carpets in the house so that we could sand and refinish all of the beautiful white oak hardwood floors. Did I say that we kept our apartment for an extra month so that we could complete some renovations?
3…. My brother-in-law came up from Chicago to give us a hand and he helped my husband put some ceiling fans up in three rooms. A heat wave had set in and we didn’t have any air-conditioning! The ceiling fans helped a lot.
4…. At some point during that first day I took a sledge hammer and started knocking out one of the walls in our tiny living room. A contractor friend of ours and my husband helped too.
5…. We took down a total of 5 walls between the entry, living room, dining room and stairway hall. Yes, we checked that no walls were structual first. That’s why our friend the contractor was there.
6…. We had met ALL of our neighbors the evening before when we first entered our new home. At least 15 of them. We also learned that the former owners who had lived in the house before us weren’t all that friendly, and that many of the neighbors had never seen the inside of our house. Well, that started an avalanche of people just dropping by over the next month to peek inside trying to find out what we were up to (as if the noise and the big white cloud of dust coming from the windows and open doors wouldn’t tell them!). That gave us a good opportunity to find out just how odd a few of them were. Oh boy, that was just the start.
7…. During that first month Chris and I repaired the ceiling and floors in the living room / dining room where the walls had been, refinished the floors by sanding them and putting 5 coats of polyurethane on them (they’re beautiful!), and painted every room in the house.
8…. I ended up taking a couple more weeks off work to finish some of the renovations and to await the duct work people, whom we needed desperately in order to move the heating ducts in the living room. You see, when I knocked out some walls I knocked out a wall that had a heating duct in it that went up to our master bedroom. That meant no heat for us in the winter! And yes I knew I was knocking it out when I did it, I just didn’t think it would take approximately 6 weeks before we could get a duct work company to come out and do the work for us.
9…. During our month of preparing the house for our move we also had an electrician come in and replace all the old knob and tube wiring. Did I say our house was built in 1927 yet? It’s old but it was in very good shape.
10…. There are only three closets in our house, and only one is a decent size. Think about it. How many closets do you have in your house and aren’t they all full?
11…. By the time we were ready to move into our home at the end of July 2001 I was a mess. I’d been working on our house for 18+ hours a day, during a heatwave with no air-conditioning. I was stressed and over-tired, and I’d lost at least 20 pounds (at least 10 pounds too much). The move went well, but it was a stress I didn’t handle well, and I ended up in tears many times throughout that day.
12…. We were so excited to own our first home. I’d been cooped up in a tiny junior one bedroom apartment for far too long. I was happy to have the extra space and a place to call my own. I was also ecstatic about having a backyard. I was going to plant a lot of veggies in it and even had some started in containers prior to our move. This is ironic because now my “veggie” garden is a major flower garden and the veggies are grown in containers – again. LOL
13…. We just renewed our mortgage for a very good rate, but our original deal was the best! We had a variable rate mortgage at 1.5 % below prime for the first six months, and then 0.5% below prime for the rest of the mortgage term. Which means our for our first 6 months we lucked out because the interest rates were so low. We were only paying 0.5% interest! That’ll never happen again. As a result of our low interest rates and our down payment we’ve already managed to pay off approximately 45% of the cost of our house.
14. A bonus entry – Within less than a year of our move we had both changed jobs and were working at the hospital that is only three blocks from our home. We walk to work. How sweet is that? Especially now that the gas prices are so high? We only fill our car up every two or three weeks! and since we don’t drive it daily we were able to lower our insurance on it since it’s only used for casual driving. Another bonus. Getting this house turned out to be one of the best things that has happened to us.
Oh yeah … we’re still renovating, even after 5 years and all the work we did at the start and through the first year or two. The tin ceiling will be going up in the living room / dining room within the next two weeks. That’s going to look fantastic. Hmmm maybe I should start yet another site? Maybe a renovation one? LOL
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
please only list your name if you have a recent Thursday Thirteen post. Don’t leave a link and run! I remove links from sites that are just trying to promote themselves or sell products, and from those that have never even left one comment on this site. It’s rude to link and run – would you like it?
What a neat post! I am not capable of that kind of thing. I love that you met all your neighbors and you can walk to work.
I got tired just reading that list! Sounds like you’re very happy in your house though. And that’s nice.
All those rennovations and sweat and work makes the house YOURS, which makes it more special.
Sounds like a lot of hard work but also like you loved it, once the dust settled. And I think home renovations never end they just keep evolving!
My T13 is up! Have a Terrific Thursday!
I don’t think a house is ever finished. When you’ve done it all, it’ll be “hmm what can we do next” lol (I know we do the same)
I planted my flowers and other stuff in pots too, keeps them from looking ike an overgrown jungle.
Mandy 🙂
Isn’t it great when you can do the renovations yourself? I’m so thankful I have a handy do-it-yourself kind of husband too.
And good for you for being able to walk to work!! There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to thumb your nose at the government. lol
Houses are a labor of love, and it sounds like yours has lots of love. It’s great to look back and see what you’ve accomplished. I realized last night that we haven’t done a project on our house in like…maybe 6 weeks? It feels strange 😛
Wow, I got worn out just reading that list! But I really enjoyed it, I love owning a home and having a yard, and although we’ve not put that much work into one, it sounds really great and I know you guys are so proud of the work you have done. And, I think it’s so totally cool that you can walk to work!
Have a wonderful day!
Wow, you put me to shame! I think you should start a renovation blog, I would love to see pictures. Maybe you could inspire the rest of us. 🙂
My husband and I are planning on buying our first home sometime this year or next. I’m 37 and have never owned my own home, I’m ready to settle down and make it happen 🙂
Happy ‘New Home’ anniversary and thanks for dropping by my TT
I think house projects keep evolving also! How great that you can walk to work!
Thanks for stopping by mine.
Great post – I’ve found that house is a never-ending project! Thanks for visiting my T-13.
Owning your own home AND having gardens is like living in Paradise as far as I’m concerned.
Your comment on Loose Leaf made me laugh. And I thought you were my sister Tricia.
I like your “leave a comment” plea. I hate it when people do that!
That’s so cool that you were able to do all of that work yourselves. We haven’t done anything nearly so involved and it was really stressful! Good for you!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Moving is hard work but what a joy when you know at the end of the day…. it is yours! All yours!!
Congrats and thanks for coming by my TT
Wow, as I read all that work you’ve put into your home I was impressed and sooo tired for you! hehe Just think…sweat equity is the best and your home is truly more special to you, too! =o)
Great post!
Only 3 closets? yuck! We only have 3 closets too, but they are BIG! you can walk into all of them!
Renovating is such hard work….but so rewarding! Sounds like you have a great place!
Like your banner! 😉 Happy Thursday!
I was just surfing through for the sake of Blogazoo … and I trust you’ll find this particular blog’s Thursday Thirteen emphasis on Minnesota-related topics interesting.
This is a great list!! I am 32 and have NEVER lived in a house before. We are in the military and are hoping the next place we are sent to, that we’ll be able to purchase a house there. I am so tired of apartment living, and I have two little ones now that need a yard to run around in and scream their heads off.
Wow, what a list! #13 was totally awesome for you, how cool. And the bonus #14, what a bonus, eh? How much better can it get than that? [smile]
I just have to know… Did you enjoy picking up that sledgehammer and having at the wall? [grin] I think I would’ve.
Thanks for visiting my T13 today, much appreciated!
LOL on the knocking down walls. My husband I were watching DIY and this woman actually did knock down a structered wall, without a contractor.Loose wires everywhere. Not a good thing!
That’s great you live so close to work,with the price of gas, every little bit helps.
Have a great Thursday!
Your home sounds fabulous. You and your hubby have a lot to be proud of.
Thanks for stopping by my T13. Have a great 4th.
holy crap that post just EXHAUSTED me! lol
Holy smokes!!! That’s alot of work. Now, do you have any before and after pictures? Thanks for stopping by!!!
Ooooo I wanna own a house someday! 5 years! How fun!
Owning a home is a huge responsibility. It’s alot of work and it never really ends. I admire all you’ve put into your home. I’ll bet it’s beautiful.
Have a great night!
Maryanne
What an interesting list!
Thanks for stopping by mine earlier.
Wow, I am tired just reading that…whew. Good luck with all the future renovations too…that is a lot of work. I’m okay with our apartment yet I guess 🙂 Thanks for the visit today!
What a lot of work! Closets: in our house now, where the previous owner added an addition, I think he took a bedroom and turned it into the master bedroom sink/mirror area and walk in closet. It’s full of closet organizer stuff (built in) and it has a WINDOW! When it’s completely cleaned up, it could be a nursery or something! And, yes, it’s full! However, old last house was an old one with no really usable closets.
Thanks for visiting my TT!
How do you get by with only 3 closets? Sure sounds like you guys did a lot of work on the house. I bet the hardwood floors look great! Happy T13!
Wow…what work! But isn’t it all so worth it in the end? We’re painting the exterior of our house right now…tedious, but it will be fabulously restored once we’re done!
Stop by!
Oh my, only 3 closets?! I don’t know if I could make it. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my TT earlier.
Being a homeowner is a lot of work, but SOOOO worth it!! 🙂 No one ever has enough closets. We need to add a room for just my stuff.. or we could add a room for the hubby’s stuff – at least it’d be smaller! 🙂
Thanks for visiting my TT!
I forgot to answer your question over at my blog. VBS is Vacation Bible School!
Have a great 4th and great weekend, too!
It all sounds great. Gup and I love to decorate and stuff.. We have not donemuch actual renovation really. Just some very basic stuff. I really think you should start a renovation blog because I would LOVE to see pics of the floors and the tin ceiling .. oh yeah.. I bet it will be beautiful.
Wow, I know what all that work was like! We bought a Victorian built in 1870 a year & a half ago and we’re still into heavy renovation. We’re not even moved in yet! But we’re doing the work as we get the time & money, and we rarely have any of either, lol. I know it will be worth it when we’re finished… err, well, I don’t think we’ll ever be finished, but at least we hope to move in sometime this decade. Good luck with all your projects! Nice tt list!
DIY is great! gives you a different kind of fulfillment! thanks for the visit!
This is amazing! I hope you did videotape it…at least in part.
Amybe (in your spare time) you wold let people send pics of their houses,/rooms for ideas…me first!
Houses, a place we think we can rest only it takes all our energy to keep it up. I sure hope you get to feeling better soon Tricia. Be blessed.
I always thought it would be cool to get a house and renovate. I think I would probably crumble in a heap of frustrated tears though =)
Knocking out those walls sure must have been fun and theraputic!
Happy 5 year anniversary in your home.
Thanks for stopping by my TT.
Wow you did a lot right from the start. We’ve been in our house for seven years and we are still meeting some of our neighbors and we’ve just started some of our renovations. You’re way ahead of the game.