Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Our new house...the work begins!


Our first project! Getting rid of these ugly junipers. You can't even walk on the sidewalk. Sean got to use his brand new moving toy...a chainsaw! It is a good one.

Sean in action. Don't you just love the wood chips flying in this picture?

Our shop and other outbuildings. The guy we bought this from collects junk and is a hoarder. All of this is going to be cleaned out at the latest by the end of Oct. He has been selling stuff off and is taking the rest to auction. It is still looking pretty junky but better than it did!

This is where the snake we saw was...the story is later in the blog. I love this little gazebo I think. I want to take out the yucky hot tub and replace the decking there, screen it in and put our patio furniture in there. Just a coat of paint will do a lot!

Here is the barn. It is a little broken down but I am so excited to make it into something. I want this to be a summer kitchen and guest house one day. I know it could be amazing. I would love to work on this first as it is a fun project but we can't even think of it until the rest of the house is done! It is a bit broken down and needs cleaning out and shingles but other than all that it is great! Next spring we will get a coat of paint on and clean up all around it. There are lots of fences falling down and plenty of weeds if any of you want any!

This is a picture of more weeds and outbuildings. If you can see behind some buildings in the distance that is Redcliff. It is pretty much straight across but a big river valley separates us for now. They are going to be building a highway across in the next 10 years. So that will be way quicker for my Brooks friends to visit.


This is the master bedroom. It is the old living room before they added the addition so it is quite big which is nice. It has a nice broken down deck as well! I think we will really like this room. We will add french doors and build a sturdy big deck.



This is kitty... the only brave one to use the toilet. Just looking at the picture I want to gag! She is getting picked on by all the other cats there...so sad. They are wild and mean and living and pooping under our deck. Sean caught a kitty yesterday. Good thing he was wearing gloves, it almost clawed him to death and you should have heard the racket! We need to figure out how to get rid of them so we and kitty can live in peace.


London working ripping out carpet and tiles. My amazing girl!


Here I am with my dust mask scraping up the wood flooring that we found under the carpets. It is very old...but not nice. I was hoping for a minute we found hardwood...just cheap stick on tiles. They are really fun to take off...most of them came out really easy.



London was working so hard she broke her little hammer! She really has been amazing. She is a handy little thing ripping up stuff and hauling it out. A real helper!


Is this ever going to end? London took this picture in mockery of her mother's hair!! I know it is ugly but I had to add it as my look is just how I feel.

We got the big guns in to help us with the hard stuff and real heavy labour. He was outside weed whipping trying to make it so we aren't so scared to walk around. The first day we ran into two for sure maybe 3 rattlesnakes. We were walking the property with my Dad when London starting running and screaming....what did I do? I went running and screaming too! Once she was safe on a high up thingy she was able to tell us she saw a snake. Sean didn't believe her but went to investigate and found one curled up against a building. It was pretty small but London claimed in was littler and going in the other direction...so thus maybe it was 3 snakes.

The other snake story is later that same day; I was showing my brother- in -law the deck when I heard what I thought was a sprinkler hissing. I knew we didn't have any way to have water running so I went to the edge of the deck to find the sound coming out by Sean's tire so then I thought he drove over a nail and his tire was leaking so called him out to tell him. Mac, Sean's brother looked at the tire and saw a rattlesnake...a big one coiled up rattling at a cat that was getting way to close! I couldn't believe how close the cat got and how the snake didn't strike. We all gathered around and watched it and then Sean got a rake and tried to pick it up. Well it then climbed a pole on the deck and hissed under the deck forever. We gave up trying to catch it. Yikes!!! I hope they move out before I more in. Once we water and mow they shouldn't be around the house.


This is going to be my laundry room.....pretty isn't it!? The room is small and I am getting the new front load laundry sets...I really want red! Won't that be fun. I think I will stack them so I have more room for stuff and can have a folding table and a couple of cupboards (Our old white kitchen cupboards insurance replaced which are perfectly good)


This is going to be my office for now. I would like to build an addition and have an office in there that is brighter. It is a pretty big room so it will work well.


This is the scary bathroom!! It hasn't been cleaned for some time so we are holding it for now! It is a nice big room so we are going to try to re-design it somehow. I think we will replace the window with glass blocks and have a small jetted or claw foot tub and a shower in it. It has a nice big closet in it as well. We will fix it up ourselves as Sean is pretty good with bathrooms. It is the next project to start while I am cleaning and painting.



The other side of the bathroom is fairly big as it was a bedroom at one point. This is the upstairs. It is not going to be too bad to finish. I didn't show the kitchen or living room yet I will take pictures today. Today we are tackling the basement....prepare yourself. It makes the upstairs look like a palace!

10 comments:

Eva Aurora said...

Looks like you have your hands full, but it's fun to be coming up with new ideas you want to do to make your house more your own, isn't it? I still haven't painted, but I see the colors in my head. If I were closer, I'd help you out.

Stacey said...

ummm....wow! there seems like there is work to do for every step you take! good thing you guys are so talented to be able to make an outdated place into a smashing dream home.
i have a suggestion, almost a request for you though, please buy a gun and kill any snake on site. they don't need to reproduce near your property. YUCK!!!
we're going to oregon this weekend. we'll be gone for a week and a half but when we're back, i'll send lane down to help out. you know he's handy with those toilets and sinks. ;) great post and pictures by the way! it paints of the picture of everything you're up against! you guys are awesome!

Kathy T. said...

The rattlesnakes would freak me out! Maybe you should keep some of those tough cats - they can be your "watch cats!" Yikes! I'm sure your home will be amazing when you're through with it!

Stephanie said...

I LOVE the look of your house!!! The roof would have sold me all on its own. I also love the gazebo, barn (and your idea sounds amazing for it!) and all the land.
I do not love, watching you sweat~ poor White's!, hearing that your cat is being picked on (kinda breaks my heart) or the rattlesnakes... not cool!!!!
Thanks for the pics - we will come visit when it is less snake friendly? GAH!

rosecoloredglasses said...

well this house is definitely worth the work kimara,,,,with all your hard work and talent of decorating it will be a beautiful home for all to see,,,,i cant wait to come and help tear it up....sorry im not too good at putting it back together but im good at destroying stuff....:P...i miss you and wish you wouldnt have to work so hard:( but its so worth it in the end!!!PS i knew there would be tons of snakes....until you have made your presence known...they have called it home....they too shall move on!!XO

Anonymous said...

That picture of you wiped out in the hallway is hillarious. You look so exhausted. Can't wait to see it in person. We will get there before too long I promise.
Amy

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah and I forgot to mention that is a beautiful barn. I love big red barns and the paint looks good.
Amy

Anonymous said...

Kimara Snakes! Oh my goodness! That sounds pretty scary to me, but knowing you soon you will be grabbing them by the tail and swinging them above your head a few times and sending them flying through the air! Remember when those dogs were running for Blossom? Looks like you have your work cut out for you, but it will be lovely when you are finished. Already miss you guys, and haven't quite admitted to myself that you are really gone.
Love Becky

Anonymous said...

Kimara Snakes! Oh my goodness! That sounds pretty scary to me, but knowing you soon you will be grabbing them by the tail and swinging them above your head a few times and sending them flying through the air! Remember when those dogs were running for Blossom? Looks like you have your work cut out for you, but it will be lovely when you are finished. Already miss you guys, and haven't quite admitted to myself that you are really gone.
Love Becky

Randa said...

Umm Im afraid I will have to drop in once you are snake less as well since Kyan would definately go looking for - and with his skills - find one and start a fight. That place looks very cool though - you guys are going to make it amazing!