I love my house, but it has been problem after problem of late. The valves on all our ancient radiators went bad and did a lot of damage to our window sills; the roof over our front bedrooms needs to be replaced and on and on.
The people who come to repair the various problems tend to say, “This house should never have been built this way. The pipes should never have gone directly into the wall or the roof over the bedrooms should have been much steeper etc.etc. The builder and/or architect were probably not all that skilled. (The house was built in 1916.)
My husband said, “Maybe we should never have bought this house.” I was kind of upset by this. It was almost like a parent saying, “Maybe we should never have had this child.’’ He later said he didn’t mean it.
Warts and all, I love my house. Even more I love my garden. One of my recurrent bad dreams is that we have sold the house and I can’t get into my garden to tend my beloved plants.
We bought the house largely for the garden. It’s not easy to get a city lot that it is a half acre. So okay, it may not have been the greatest investment, but I love it and I love my plants. They’re like old friends who for the most part reliably come back year after year.
So I am trying not to get too bent out of shape by the latest problem: once again pipes built into the walls are breaking down, destroying the wall which will need to be cut so pipes can be removed and replaced. Then the wall will have to be replastered and repainted. I just hope it can be done before a 60th birthday party I am having for a very dear friend in late Feb. If not, I guess we’ll just all have to avert our eyes from the ugliness in my living room.
Despite it all, I love my house, and we intend to say here as long as we can!
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thank you so much Lisa, that helps a lot. I know he tried to blame me for so much stuff, but like I told all of his family and mine none of that added up to a divorce. I do realize it's his needs, it just hurts so bad to think how many years he's
How funny....i only very recently (within last week) read the coconut oil articles on the web. (100 uses, 80 uses etc.) so i bouht some and ordered some from amazon. (Im a stockpiler.)
Have started trying some of the uses. I tried using it a
I too have an old house that frustrates me from time to time. It was built in 1927 and has many redeeming values. The craftsmanship and the materials (hardwoods) are seldom found in the new construction today. It is costly to stay on top of the upkeep but so satisfying when I come home from a visit to a friend’s McMansion with hollow wood- look doors throughout the house.
I liken my old house to an aging beauty. Treat her kindly, respectfully, for she has aged like a fine wine. She creaks from time to time but then so do I!
Sure there are many conversations about selling ,downsizing and renovating. I then am reminded how the beautiful old trees are so comforting as they make a canopy of shade on a hot summer day. Each spring brings a revival of previous loving owners contributions to the landscape.
It is a long winter , hang in there and spring time will soon remind you of why you loved your old house enough to adopt her years ago.
Thanks, that’s beautifully put!
I don’t think I can consider my house an “aging beauty.” She’s little too ungainly for that, but I love her just the same.