My favorite room in the house.
As I noted before, this house was a disaster when we bought it thirty-two years ago. A neighbor, who had looked at it before buying some of the land, gleefully told me her husband said the best thing that could happen with the house is a bulldozer. I did not respond. I loved the barn and immediately saw the potential of this hodge-podge house.
This is part of the 1984 edition to what remained of the original farmhouse. This area was not a disaster, it just needed some finishing work. The 1984 section of the house is on the east end.
Now we jump to the west end 1973 addition. It is now a bedroom but had been the living room/dining room combination. This was the disaster area of the house. The person we bought from purchased from the original farm owners in 1983. He was a highly creative man with a serious alcohol problem. After the east addition he just stopped. The outside of this part of the house was left in tar paper and nothing had been done with this end. This was what my neighbors saw as a unfixable problem and I saw as possibilities.
You will excuse me for taking this opportunity to show off some of my horses professional photography sessions. We turned this into a bedroom. It's large enough for two moderate sized rooms but if that happened one room would be windowless, so it's one.
Gatto also likes to admire those lovely equines.
Happy Mother's Day.
Thank you for the tour. That first room is just lovely! I am glad you saw the possibilities! When we bought our house I envisioned the door to my now family room. I would point it out to people who would make jokes but 28 years later we built that 500 sq foot room, along with the front porch, side porch and outdoor storage building. Dreams do come true.
ReplyDeleteWhen nothing is going on in the life I can always fall back on my weird house and my naughty cats for blog fodder, Miss Merry!
DeleteHappy Mother's Day to You, Sandra
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tommy. Good travels to you.
DeleteA grand piano? and do you play the cello too? I love all of the interesting spaces in your house.
ReplyDeleteI did play the piano but not well. I am self taught and when I started to really learn my dear mother sold the piano. It's difficult for me to play with my arthritic stubby hands. No, I don't play the cello. It belonged to my paternal great-great grandfather. I pursued lesson years ago but swiftly found I was not ever going to be a cellist. Instead, I listen to cello music. My favorite instrument. I got to hear Yo-Yo Ma play at the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra when Itzhak Perlman was the musical director there. Also, Isaac Stern. One of my life's highlights!
DeleteHappy mother's day, Sandra. Yes, I liked the wall o' horses. Your house is a lot more interesting than most.
ReplyDeleteMy house is full of photos of horses, Boud!
DeleteGood for you! Thank you for telling us the story.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Cheerful.
DeleteOkay, who played the Cello. Did I miss something.
ReplyDeleteThe cello belonged to my paternal great-grandfather, Dora. It's not used.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this. Gatto is beautiful. And your dinner looks delicious. I am not a mother, but I would like to wish you a belated Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I had a quiet day, my son was working. Gatto has a crush on himself!
DeleteLovely that when others were saying the house was a disaster you could see the potential and have been very happy there.
ReplyDeleteI like disasters, nick. It allows me to do what I want with it.
DeleteHouses are not complete without furballs...well, I think so.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place.
The first farm house we purchased with my ex was a mishmash of additions too. But it was a neat little home.
Yours is stunning and you took a piece of rough coal and turned it into a diamond.
Well, maybe zirconium, Val! Other than when I lived in an apartment by home has had furballs. The mishmash of additions can be common on old farm houses.
DeleteThanks for the brief tour, Sandra, and the first room which has appeared in many posts is also my favorite. It’s great that you and Mark saw potential where others saw disaster.
ReplyDeleteMark did not see potential at all. He asked me if I was sure I could fix it. I said yes and he crossed his fingers, Dorothy!
DeleteWhatever I see of your house and whatever I see of your food always impresses me.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very kind thing to say, AC. I've been learning to accept compliments and I appreciate and accept yours.
DeleteThat wall of windows in the first photo is impressive...
ReplyDeleteand I love the wonderful photos of the horses...
Yesterday's Mother's Day was beautiful; we had sunshine, took a trip to the national park, and had a picnic there in the evening sun...
Warm regards.
I wish you a wonderful week.
Viola
p.s. your dinner is perfect :-)
Your Mother's Day sounds ideal to me. I can't think of anything I would rather do. Especially in the beautiful landscape of where you live, Viola.
DeleteI am happy for you that you saw your home’s potential. That first one is delightful. I enjoyed my tour of your home. Lovely to see and your pasta dish looks delicious. Gatto gave me a big smile.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise. Gatto is a hambone!
ReplyDeleteYour Fav Room is Wonderful. You saw the Potential of the Property and that is Priceless to accomplish the Vision you have for it and will transform it into. Loved the Cat getting in on the Photo Session... how dare you just cover the House when Gato should be The Star of said Post!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so correct, Dawn. I should hang my head in shame, he should always be the lead fellow!
DeleteWow, what a thing to say to someone. Glad you didn't take her words to heart because your house rocks. I mean, the sun, the fun and those floors. Really, really lovely.
ReplyDeleteYa, she was special, Ivy. I still care of her sheep and alpacas when they were gone. Oh, and her chickens.
ReplyDeleteCared for. Sandra
DeleteSo interesting to see how your home evolved. Thank you for the tour.
ReplyDelete