My Dad's goal was to leave something for my sister and me. I plan to make him proud by fixing up my house and at the same time, making it worth more than it is currently. I've lived in my house since Memorial Day 1980, and it suffered from deferred maintenance for about 20 years because I was so busy raising the kids, working 2 jobs, and going to school. I could barely make ends meet. In 2004, I pulled up the carpet in the living room and hallway. My friends and I painted the concrete with cute multicolored splotches. Everyone who sees it likes it.
I got a sizeable income tax return, so I was able to have the outside of the house painted, replace the attic vents with galvanized steel louvered vents (one in and 2 ordered). And I replaced my garage door because I broke it - not in my plans. Now I'm working to pull out the rest of the carpet and linoleum and paint the concrete in the whole house.
You know what has to happen to do that - everything must be packed up and moved out. EVERYTHING! Once we start sanding, everything in the house will be covered in dust, so cabinets, closets, everything has to be cleared out. I ordered a POD to be delivered May 30. In the meantime, I'm packing and stacking.
I had already gone through the pantry to get rid of food that I can't eat - first it was allergies, then my new lifestyle. Then a couple of weeks ago, I noticed weavils, so all the flour, corn meal, cereals, and other susceptible products (that I don't eat but hadn't given away) were thrown out. I had cleared my kitchen of all old plastic products so I'm down to a few Rubbermaid containers and a couple of large salad bowls. I have to go through the lids to make sure I only have lids for bowls I kept. In December I got some dishes from a friend, so my son and I went through my dishes and packed the ironstone I got as a wedding present for him to take when he moved out. I don't even think there's anything on the top shelves of the cabinets anymore. One thing I did after he moved out was put the large ones that I don't use on the higher shelf and the ones I use - the dessert plates - on the bottom so I can reach them more easily. I'm so glad I did. We got rid of all the extra coffee cups I'd collected over the years, keeping only the ones that mean something to me. No more jelly glasses or 25-cent Walmart glasses (which was all I could afford at one time). They were given away months ago.
I've already packed up the linen closet (lots to be given away), the entertainment center in my bedroom, half my dresser (I couldn't believe all the old makeup I saved. I found a cap and bib for my grandson's baptism next Sunday that my ex-mother-in-law gave me when my daughter was born), half the china cabinet, and almost all the kitchen - at least the lower cabinets and drawers except the silverware and pots & pans.
My daughter came by Saturday and packed the other half of the china cabinet while I played with my grandson. He is so freakin' cute! He's a mimic. If he hears a noise, he'll imitate it. It's so cute. I gave him a bright orange flower pen I made. I kept repeating flower, and he eventually said fower. I was so proud! If you cough, he'll make a coughing sound. If you clear your throat, he'll make a similar noise. I always say he'll be a sound effects man one day. He makes some strange noises, and he has for at least 4 months. He's very vocal. Sorry, I digressed.
I have a junk drawer in the kitchen that had accumulated so much stuff, that I was almost afraid to tackle it. I finally cleared off the coffee table, put the drawer on it, and went through it piece by piece until I was down to glitter, beads, paperclips and dust. I started making piles - give away, office supplies, crafts, tools, pennies, screws/nails, marbles and jacks, United Way pins (?) and Christmas twinkle light bulbs and fuses - 1-1/2 hours later. There were several things that I couldn't identify anymore. I guess they seemed important enough to save, but I can't for the life of me remember what they are now. Anyway, that drawer is done. One large box and about 15 minutes should take care of packing the pantry.
I found all sorts of cleaning products that I didn't know I had. Putting them in the cabinet so I could keep them out of baby's reach wasn't a good idea. I'll have to find somewhere else to put them - in the pantry? I don't like mixing food and chemicals. I might be able to install a drawer for the cabinet to make it easier to get to the things in the back. I may not need the large storage unit in the kitchen anymore. I won't have the huge 31-year-old Montgomery Ward microwave anymore. I ordered an above-the-range microwave. I'll actually have more storage because I'll have a new cabinet (which I still need to get) to replace the huge vent-a-hood that I have.
I guess I should mention that I bought new appliances. They'll be delivered June 15 (unless I'm not ready by then). I bought a new refrigerator with the freezer below, a solid-surface range, above-the-range microwave, and a dishwasher - all stainless steel. My range and dishwasher are 33 years old, my microwave is 31, and my refrigerator is 16. They all work - it's just time.
Once the house is empty, I want to remove the wallpaper in the kitchen and dining room; sand, stain, and polish the floors; paint the walls; paint the kitchen cabinets (a little darker on the bottom and antique white on top), add granite counter tops, and a large one-tub composite sink. I want to be able to clean large pots, pans, and cookie sheets.
I already have 1 large box of give away stuff, and I'm sure there'll be much more. I'll be at it all day tomorrow. I think I'll finish the kitchen, the dresser the TV is on, and the exercise room. I don't know what to do with the beads and beading supplies. I may just box them up for later, sell the whole lot for $100, or give it all away.
I want to move my library to the front room with new bookcases and the sleeper sofa that's in my current library. I have a small desk and a rescued chair (both need work) to put in there so I could write, plan, study and dream.
The room that currently has the library will be a guest room. I have my Dad's blow up bed and a small dresser to put in there. My PC and office stuff will be in the room across the hall from mine, and I'll put my exercise equipment in the room next to mine.
All my bedroom furniture (except mattress and entertainment center) will go, to be replaced with my Dad's dresser and night stands. They're smaller and much more functional. I just need to get new hardware for them - although I am thinking about refinishing them. My current dresser, night stands, and drawer unit under the bed have never fit my taste, and I've had them for 31 years!!!
Once everything is packed and moved out, the inside of the house is refinished, replaced, or updated, I have to move everything back in. That's why I'm taking my time packing so I can go through and purge before it's packed. Now is the time to get rid of the old. If I don't love it, I'm not keeping it. I've even packed up some butterflies to give away!!! I know, you don't believe it, but it's true. I've loved everything in my house at one time, but it's time to let someone else enjoy some of it now and to make room for something new.
The inside of the house is not the end. The roof still needs to be repaired and the patio cover needs to be replaced, and the landscaping still needs work. I'm hoping that by October, everything will be done and I can relax. I'm planning to do all the packing, removing, staining, and some of the painting myself so it doesn't cost a fortune. I painted most of the house when my knees could barely get me down the hall, so there's no excuse for not getting 'er done myself. I'll leave the cutting in, repair, and difficult stuff to the professionals.
I want my Dad to be proud, and I can do that by building my future with what he left.
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