The House Is Being Primed
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Right now, the house is being primed for painting. It is nearly 2 weeks (tomorrow) since Ivy and I moved from the apartment to this house I call Mamie.
Ivy likes to play fetch again because the toy will roll instead of landing on the carpet. She apparently doesn’t think it’s worth playing fetch if the toy doesn’t roll. So every time I’m a captive audience, she brings me her toy to throw. And then she runs after it to fetch it.
My Routine:
My routine now goes like this: I get up, feed Ivy, clean her litter box, and have breakfast, which is cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, or Cream of Wheat.
I usually skip lunch unless I’m really hungry; sometimes I’ll have cheese and crackers. Yesterday I had a cup of coffee around noon with a yogurt. I don’t get up and feel the need to drink coffee first thing, as many folks do.
I’m trying to get this and that put away. And throughout the day, I try to decide how Mamie wants me to decorate her.
Do you think houses talk to you? Well, I don’t literally mean “talk” to you. But a house with so much history, I think it has a personality all its own. So I’m waiting, moving things about when I have someone to help me, and trying to figure it all out.
No matter how she’s been decorated in the past, I think she might have a plan in mind. I will listen closely. If I move things one way, I’ll stop, leave it for a while, and see if it fits there. Then, connecting with Mamie on a psychic, somewhat cerebral level, I will figure it out over time.
I’ve had many internet people out here over the past 5 days, and something always ends up not working once they leave—my phone or the laptop. The TV in my bedroom, where I stream shows, always seems to work.
Exterior Paint Job:
Kendra says the painter will start painting the house next week. Actually, they just showed up, moved the furniture off the porch, and began taping to prime the exterior. I have about a foot of front window I can see out of.
Well, now they’re taping off the window completely. Guess I’d better turn on the lamps.
I wonder what Ivy will think of this newest “intrusion” in her new world?
Kendra and a couple of her guys came on Tuesday and brought my garden stuff from the apartment. I have my Japanese Maple tree again! I missed it. It sits out there, away from the porch, because painting is about to begin. I’d like to have it set close to the porch eventually. There is no use moving it closer to the porch till that job is finished.
After situating my tree and taking the rest of the pots to the backyard, they cleared off the porch. I’d been sitting out there breaking down boxes when they arrived. You can’t imagine how many boxes there are/were. And still more to unpack!
They went to the backyard shed and began putting down items to create a floor for storage, such as plastic boxes. I wrote the two guys a check for their work.
I wish I could get to the cupboard where I had my TV at the apartment. It was moved into a corner of the front bedroom on moving day. But there are still stacks of boxes barring the way. This cupboard is where I store much of my decor. That would be Mason jars, milk glass vases, etc.
Milk Glass Vases, Etc.
I’ve found the box of milk glass vases, and I’d like to add some of them on top of the cabinets where Teri arranged my white pitchers. I might have to ask Greg to do it for me if no one else comes around.
If I could get the milk glass vases arranged atop the cabinets, I’d have more room in the cupboard once I’m able to reach it.
It won’t really help to open more boxes until I have that cupboard in place. And then I want to get the guest bed put together. I think I’ll hire one of Kendra’s guys to do it. There is the bed frame I ordered from Walmart, and a mattress and box springs, both arriving separately in two boxes.
The box springs have to be put together.
The Guest Bedroom:
It will be so nice to get that guest bedroom put together. Not that anyone is visiting any time soon, but you never know. I figure it’s an open invitation to the grandchildren.
I can’t wait to see the house (Mamie) painted! We’re wavering on the colors. The longer we wait, the more ideas seem to pop into our heads.
Across the street, in the cul-de-sac, there is a house with a bright orange door. The next-door neighbor’s house is green. On the other side of me, the house is white. Across from me, the house is also white.
I think the house across from me might be a rental. It is kind of depressing because it hasn’t been properly cared for. Next to that is the boarded-up house the guy in California won’t sell because it’s a tax write-off.
You’d think this would be disheartening. But I’ve grown accustomed to the varying houses, both in good shape and others in sad shape. There’s nothing I can do about it. So I will focus on my own little spot.
You can hardly drive down a block in this neighborhood without seeing a house boarded up. This is an old part of town near the tall downtown buildings where so much business is conducted. And then right next to that house, you’ll see one that is very pretty. I know, odd.
A House Needs Love:
A house does need love. And when it isn’t given love, it begins to fade and warp and fall apart. The house will start to look sad. And that’s such a shame.
Well, now they’ve taped over the windows, and I can’t see out. So I got up and turned on all the lamps. I guess I’m now trapped in here for a while. Good thing I have groceries for Ivy and me!
Kendra came by for the final exterior paint decision. We were going with green for the door. But she saw a peachy color online and became enamored with it. I like it as well.
So the house siding is going to be a deep, sort of stormy day blue. And the door will be peach.
Definitely think that a home can have a spirit. Ours was a bit mischievous and I enjoyed the antics. Her name was ELLA !
Sometimes I hear odd sounds in my bedroom at night. The spirit of past tenants, long gone? I’m glad you named yours Ella! An old-fashioned and pretty name.
It’s all coming along, and I’m happy for this next chapter Brenda.
Wish it was coming along a little faster. But it will get there.
Brenda, It will get done. Maybe it will take several weeks Orr even a month or two. You have so much stuff to hang and rooms to fill with furniture. The outside is a look at me color and I love it. Your box spring? I got a new mattress and didn’t use a box spring. Ur home is coming together nicely. It will get there and maybe next Thanksgiving you can host dinner…catered of course and that will Seal the deal as far as chakra goes. I’m a weirdo too. You make me laugh.
I read about those beds that don’t need a box spring. But I was thinking I was going to use that iron/metal bed in my bedroom. Then I changed my mind. And the metal bed called for a box spring.
The house and door colors sound beautiful. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.
I love how you have the white pitchers on top of the cabinets. I wish my cabinets didn’t go all the way to the ceiling.
Oh – I wanted to tell you in case you didn’t see on IG, but Clementine passed away on Monday, the 11th. We are heartbroken. 🙁
No, Melanie, I didn’t see. I’m so, so sorry!
The white pitchers and other white dishes look beautiful above the grey cabinets in the kitchen….I love the contrast. Some spots of red would look good too.
Yes, I think red pairs well with gray.
Oh Mamie blue! And orange (peach) is the complementary color of blue. Winner!
The blue is on, and it is a very deep shade. I hope it looks all right!
Assembling a box spring is new to me, too!
Mamie will be quite the lady when you get her all dressed up! Other people can have new builds; give me an old home any day. I totally agree about a home needing love. Have you seen the phrase “give the house some lovin’ ” when referring to cleaning? I think that is just lovely. The grey in the kitchen will be simply a background for all your pretties. It’s interesting how colors come into vogue and then later become an albatross. I will be interested to see what the house paint color looks like. It sounds interesting…who names all these colors?
Happy you have your Japanese maple back with you! One of my favorite trees.
I never thought I’d see the day you put together a box spring. Once you just purchased them and someone delivered them to you or you brought a pickup and took them home.
Box springs have to be put together these days? Wow. I guess I really am getting old, LOL. I don’t think I’d have the patience to assemble all of the parts I saw in a quick check I did online on “how do assemble a box spring” – too much reading of instructions and trying to figure out which parts are which and which screws to use. Not a job for me! I like the idea of the peach front door with the blue house, it will look so pretty! You might enjoy watching the HGTV series “Restored.” Brett Waterman did a lot of restoration projects on Craftsman/Arts and Crafts style homes and hybrids of those homes out in California, and the work he did is just wonderful. You might get a lot of inspiration from the series (6 seasons) and ideas for how to decorate/arrange your furniture inside Mamie. You can watch the show for free on Discovery+ if you sign up for the a free 7 day trial, so you could binge watch for free and scroll through the seasons to see which shows featured Craftsman style homes, watch to your heart’s content and then cancel after 7 days. I don’t know if the show is offered on Amazon. Hang in there, sounds like the house is coming along nicely.
I don’t think I can get HGTV. I just stream shows on the internet.
I totally believe houses can tell us what they want us to do. I’ve always found that to be true until moving to this house, which was the home of two divorces. Then it was a foreclosure that sat here empty until the roof caved in. When Dave and I bought it the bank holding the mortgage had come in and made everything new, like a brand new house, but it had not one bit of character, non of the high ceilings I was accustomed to, 4 different types of flooring. We never would have bought a house like this if we hadn’t needed the barn and pasture. It took me three years and finally I just decided to start with a new kitchen, gutted it, lights, floors, and everything in between. The kitchen was enough to inspire me to keep going and now I love my home. Just wish Dave were still here to love it too. I haven’t deserted you, I’ll be back tomorrow or Saturday, but this place takes some time to get it ready for winter, cleaning out the hay stall for a new load, which I’ll go pick up in a few days, but still have green grass for the time being. Been cutting back rose bushes and trimming back plants that will return next year, sacking up all the trimmings to gradually get on the trash truck, getting the equine vet out here to take care of Bo’s teeth and do his vaccines as we always do in November, and trimming around the fences so in the spring I can put on weed killer to keep it down after this year. This place is a lot but I can still do it, just a lot slower.
No problem!
Your exterior paint choices sound wonderful….and I love your kitchen….the white pitchers are gorgeous…I inherited a lot of milk glass from my Mom, great neutrals…your home is coming along so nicely, and I wish you & Ivy all the happiness you deserve..Glad to hear your plants are doing welll…..
That poor tree has now been moved 3 times!
Teri put them up there. I’m thankful to have a place to display them all.
The photograph you took of Ivy by the fireplace is beautiful. She looks very content and at home, which I think is a reflection of your happiness at being home, too!
I look forward to seeing Mamie outfitted with her new colors.
Me too. The windows are covered and I hear them priming the siding.
I wanted to add that some rooms tend to work better than others in a “house” for internet service. Unobstructed I guess. I have a back bedroom that doesn’t work as well as the front. Maybe put your office or computer in a place where it works best??? Just a thought.
I finally got my phone, which is with another provider, online. The odd thing is: I seem to have more trouble right next to the modem in the living room. It works just fine in my bedroom.
Your cabinets look lighter than in some pictures. They are actually a pretty color! The white dishes on top looks really nice and brightens them up! You’re so patient. I sit here and look at all the ways I could rearrange, but can’t due to my back. I guess I have to work on that patience. Ivy has done wonderfully well!!! I think she could feel your stress and now she too is free of it. You know that link you posted when you were looking at condos, I still have for Tulsa. I changed it to little houses instead of condos and Tulsa has oodles of small homes. And I was thinking how sad they are! They could all be so cute and cozy and so loved and they’re not! It’s disheartening. I guess we’re in a different era where big is what everyone wants, but I for one would die for a little home, like my first home after getting married. My daughter and husband have a small home given to them by his grandma, which was a rental. They are redoing it, but so many little homes and people just don’t care. But like you said, we have to focus on our own and make it our little slice of heaven. I can’t wait to see Mamie’s new duds. lol. The peach door will be really pretty! I saw that color combo on line as well.
I’ve gone way past being impatient. I just don’t have a choice in the matter. I want so badly to do things that I just cannot do. Today I’m hoping to get more boxes unboxed. I have two rugs that were delivered and are still rolled up in plastic. I guess I’m going to try to put one of them down and see how that goes.
Your house color and door color sound lovely. It will truly boost your spirits.
And then that poor boarded up house across the street looks so sad. There seem to be a number of cats that stay there. It is falling apart. I don’t understand why it can’t be condemned. What is the condition it must be in to be condemned, I wonder?
Find our who your Alderman (or whatever they are called in Tulsa) is and contact their office. Explain that the house appears to be falling apart and could be dangerous especially for children (and we all know how kids are, they love to explore and don’t understand the danger of being inside a falling down house), and ask if something could be done about it. Maybe nothing can be done under Tulsa building code regulations or state law, but I figure getting a call from a voter in his or her district may at least get you some kind of response and info.
You have a lot of work ahead of you, but thank your blessings, mainly your children who are helping you. What a blessing!! Ivy seems happy…all good. Take your time. I’m so happy you are away from your previous location….it sounded grim….and becoming worse.
Last night I had to drive over there to pick up packages Lisa said were at the door. No matter what I do or who I talk to, some packages still go there. But I felt tense those few minutes I was there to pick them up, and was so glad to drive away. The conditions there were depressing. People there are afraid to ask for much of anything. They have nowhere to go. Because Tulsa is in urgent need of housing it seems.