Halloween Night

Trick or treating was interesting here. I had just as many adults as I did kids...and many were not even in costume.....now where's the fun in that? Trick or treaters started about 5:30 and by 7:00 I was out of candy. I think next year I am going to try and scare the bejezzes out of them before they ever get to the door. Maybe the candy will last a little longer that way!

My doorbell rang, on its own several times last night. Interesting. There were 5 of us here, we investigated. No one was at any of the doors. It has not done that before, since I've been here. I guess that was a trick but to me it turned out to be a Halloween treat!

The Halloween party I went to was fun. My besties had the best costume of the bunch. I will post a picture once I download from my camera. Ms Ann decks her historic home out...It was quite beautiful. I had my cards read. It will be quite interesting to see how things play out.

Spiders and Crickets, Oh My!

Well, while Gracie may enjoy the playmates, I on the other hand am having a harder time accepting our new roommates. Jumping crickets (huge ones and little ones alike) have claimed our residence. Truth be told they were likely here first and we're the intruders. Every morning I am greeted by the colony of Granddaddy longlegs that inhabit the kitchen. Gracie will walk up and sniff the half dozen or so hanging out on the wall near her food bowl. I will gaze at the one in the curtain above the sink as I wash the dishes from the day before. I think about grabbing one of their long legs and about making the hurried trek to the back door, but I don't. They are not really hurting anyone. The ones that enjoy the tub and shower are different though. I will gather up the two spiders with their crab like legs and the two jumping crickets (after I am able to catch them) and remove them from the tub. While I may be able to tolerate them, I definitely don't want to shower with them. Every day there are two spiders and two jumping crickets in the tub. Every day I remove them. The next day, new ones take their place. I contemplated leaving them alone, but if they just keep returning then I would have a farm of them in the bathroom. *Sigh*

I've told them that once the floors are fixed and I am actually getting ready to live in the house full time, that I will be having an exterminator coming. I guess they can consider that their 30 day eviction notice.

Ahhhh, Hot water!!!!

I was able to take a hot shower today after 48 hours of being without. Thank you propane man Nicky Ellis!

Things will pick up around here Friday. Gable is coming with a foundation pro John Jameson (sp). Supposedly the best in Richmond. Thanks to Gable for getting him here. HVAC guy is coming by to give an estimate. I have been gathering estimates from house painters to masons and hopefully will be able to settle on someone to get the first major project on the way.

It's interesting learning about the people who do some form of construction for a living. I find it quite fascinating myself! I'm learning that the time schedule for this type of project is sporadic, and what the professionals who do the work have to deal with. It's amazing that 2 professionals of the same trade will approach a single job in completely different ways. Deciding what the best approach is a head scratcher, especially when dealing with a 200 year old home.

My friends and family continue to be invaluable. Their giving warms my heart and motivates me. Jennifer and Sherman....I love you. Dad and Mom, what can I say, but Thank you - every day for the rest of our lives. For all of you that have volunteered and stopped by to just say hello - it is always refreshing and I'm thankful (next time bring a hammer....lol). Mark, the tuneage melted me and was the best drift off I've had in a while. I've added it to my play list.

Love Ya'll

Window Scraping!

Most of my days have been spent taking down the windows, chiseling out the crusty glaze and removing the old-school window panes, then scraping the old paint away (which is like cement - ugg). Dad will be a pro at this by the time we are done. It is hard to keep up with him, especially after making an overnight trip to Virgina Beach to enjoy Unknown Hinson and shaking my groove thing for 6 hours! Woo, Hell yeah! (Look it up.)

The foundation contractor and Gable will be making a trip this coming week. Hopefully we can move forward with jacking the house up (6-10 inches). I understand that this process is risky and quite frankly an adrenaline rush. Can you imagine, being under a house in less than a 2 foot clearing, jacking the house above you all the while being silent so that you hear the cracking and popping above you? I think I'll stick to motorcycles and roller coasters for my kicks!

More to come. Stay tuned!

Gable Painter is a cool dude! Many Thanks!

Well, I just spent the past two days with Gable Painter of GP Restoration out of Richmond Virgina. He knows his stuff. I could not be more appreciative of his help. Next project on the list is to rip out the foyer flooring next to the stair case and a section in the living room "parlor" and start hauling dirt out from underneath the house. Any volunteers?....Yea, I didn't think so.

I am also undertaking the project of removing all the windows, taking the glass out of the sashes and then replacing them with new glaze. There are 26 some odd windows in the house and each one has approximately 12 panes of glass. *Sigh* - tedious, I know but it will save quite a bit of money, especially considering it would cost $250 per window for a professional to do. [Thanks again to Gable for the lesson on how this is done...and to Ross Cohen for his pep talk and help with gathering supplies.]

I also want to thank Sherman Collins for all his help the past two days.....Thanks Sherman for cutting a hole in the hall closet today...didn't know you'd be working on your lunch break, huh?

Dad, I can never thank you enough for all you do...I'll just keep telling you every day now for the rest of our lives :)

Lisa Bobbitt....Thank you for giving me a place to lay my head during these two weeks. I can only strive to reach your level of generosity!

I should have some more pictures soon. Keep praying!

Ahhh, Patience dear grasshopper!

Well, my restoration guy has been pushed back two weeks. Something tells me that I should get used to this. A lesson in delay ;)

Well, It Belongs to Me.

Closing went off without a hitch. Well, unless you count yukking the night before. Apparently repressed stress can rear it's ugly head in many forms. On this night it decided that I needed to stare into the toilet for a bit. Besides that it was great and the new very old properties belong to me. Now begins the real work.

On the morning of closing, I was awoken by my restoration guy giving me the good news of when his visit will be. That was a great way to start the day. I'll know in two weeks whether we will be able to work together and more about the timeline of projects.

Current projects include gathering a list of local contractors skilled in the areas of roofing, flooring, treeing, insulation, painting, foundation, plumbing and electrical. I am also trying to figure out the logistics of the move. So far the goal (not plan because those are to often broken) is to put everything in Charlotte, except for necessities, into storage. Locate a place to rent for several months while the restoration takes place, I'm scoping and hoping for something on one of the lakes. Last day in Charlotte is scheduled for the 24th of this month.

Wish me luck!

September 14th

Well, the closing date is fast approaching. I am headed to Warrenton this weekend and a few extra days to finalize the closing and get the utilities set up.

I should have news soon from my restoration dude...then the real fun can begin!

Wish me luck.

Closing Date!

I have an official closing date!

September 14th @ 11am.

Home ownership (second time around) here I come.

Thanks for all your encouragement....keep it coming ;)

Allowance Request

Well, here goes.

I have counter offered on the property and asked for a credit towards the cost of redoing the entire electrical in the house on Wilcox Street. The estimated cost to redo the electrical is around $15,500. *Gulp*

My realtor, who has been great by the way, is 100% sure that they will not agree to the full cost of electrical repair but when presented with the entire inspection report for the house and the store listing all the multitude of items that need to be repaired, we are hoping that they will agree to half of the electrical cost.

Crossing my fingers and saying my prayers!

Under Contract

I am currently undercontract!

Residential: Built 1850
312 Wilcox Street
Warrenton, NC 27589

Commercial: Built 1901
123 Main Street
Warrenton, NC 27589