The Beginning of Project New House

 

I met a very special person a couple of weeks ago. Pat showed up at my door and introduced herself as one of the seven Schoenherr children who grew up in my new/old house.

 

We chatted about things old and new, and I had an instant new friend. Sadly, she was only home for a visit (she now lives in Idaho), and she was heading back, but she promised me that she would send some pictures of her father actually building the house that she grew up in, and the same house that I affectionately call "Project New House".

 

She delivered on her promise...

 

These pictures are circa 1949, of her father, James Schoenherr, building the house that I now call home. Terry and I huddled over the computer like it was Christmas morning, taking in these amazing pictures. We have gotten to know this house intimately over the past year, and seeing the beginning of it all is just amazing.

 

There's the man who built this house, with three little babies under foot.

 

The house was officially finished in 1949. A beautiful 1,600 square foot, brick home, with basement, on a large corner lot. Terry and I have not ignored the craftsmanship that went into building this house. Solid, and built with pride of ownership.

 

This is what seems to be missing these days, "Pride of Ownership".

 

You only have to walk through, an older home such as this, to realize the difference in quality, and the attention to detail.

 

A special thanks to Pat, for these great pictures; giving me and Terry a glimpse into the past, that somehow helps to propel our future, in "Project New House". 

 

Carry on...

Cement Removal

 

Here is the before picture, tons of broken concrete to haul away...

 

There go the guys on their third trip to the cement dump.

 

Three guys, went about their business. Loaded up all of that concrete, and took it away. Yay.

 

Here's the after shot.

 

In the coming days, they will be back to cart off cement block, bricks, stones, and level the land.

 

Privacy fence coming in two weeks. Yay.

Busy, Busy

 

Today was busy. Here's a five minute job that Terry took care of... New door bell.

 

This morning, we worked in mom's yard, and on the way home we stopped at an estate sale, and picked up this solid little bookcase (for 15 bucks). Can't wait to transform this old thing.

 

In the afternoon, we went to Home Depot to pick up odds and ends; a broom, a mop bucket, furnace filters, tile grout, a new hatchet, doorbell, garden gloves, and oh yes, some grass... 

 

There they are... decorative grasses; Maiden Grass, Spider Grass, and Zebra Grass. This will grow into a beautiful border, at least, that's what I hope for...

 

We worked all evening in the front yard. We planted, and put down grass seed, and moved more rocks around. Terry dug up more stumps, and concrete, and...

 

cut down this giant Yew. This was one of my favorite shrubs in the front yard, but with the new privacy fence coming, we were told to hack it away from the fence line. After trying to trim it back, it looked awful, so we made the hard decision to take it out. Oh well, once the fence is in, I will plant something new here. Hmm... shady spot... hmmm.........

 

Grass seed.

 

Tomorrow, the guys are coming to remove a billion tons of concrete from the backyard.

 There goes another grand. No more concrete graveyard... priceless.

 

 

Busy Corner Lot

 

I took this picture the other day, from my kitchen window, while I was waiting for the tree guys to come. This is my portal to Center Line. I see everything out of this window. Every passer-by, transient, and high school football player; every truck, car, and bike rider. My corner lot is a circus of entertainment. I have never lived on a corner before, and gee whiz, welcome to a whole new world.

 

While we were working in the back yard this evening, we were visited by several people. They walk up to the fence, they drive up to the side and park, or they just seem to appear out of nowhere.

 

Gerry: nice old guy (from two doors down) brought me some tomatoes and introduced me to...

John and his wife: "landscape artist", looking for bricks and rocks. He took a trunkful.

(Can't remember his first name) Savage: Realtor who was curious about the sale of our house.

Leslie: from across the street... told us how happy she is that we are making improvements.

Rob: lives right across the street, and has been very helpful with landscaping needs.

The old woman who walks her dog...

The kids from down the street, who want to play with my dogs...

Lot's of visitors.

 

(We can't seem to get anything done).

 

This new, small town neighborly thing is new for me and Terry, and is a little disconcerting, but I must say, I am enjoying it. Our old neighborhood was so closed, and people were stand-offish.

 

Everyone is so nice, and everyone seems to know each other, and most of them grew up here.

 

Hopefully, the coming privacy fence will not deter visitors... or it will.

 

 

 

 

Time Marches On...

 

 

"The Tree Guys" showed up at 9:00 this morning, and got busy on two of the giant pine trees out back. There are actually seven giant pines in the backyard, and I was told that the original owner planted one for each of his seven children. It is a lovely sentiment, and they were probably beautiful in their day, but fifty years later, they are causing some problems. They have grown to monstrous proportions, drip sap everywhere, and most of them are dropping huge dead limbs.

 

These are the first two to go (due to financial constraints, they will be removed a couple at a time). The first two were chosen to go, in order for the new privacy fence, coming soon...

 

You can't see him, but there is a guy way up in that tree. Yikes!

 

There goes the top of the tree...

 

These guys brought in the big machinery for this job, and they were pretty amazing to watch. If you really pay attention to what they're doing, you realize that they earn every penny they make.

 

Both trees are down, and the clean up begins...

 

They had some pretty big limbs and trunks to carry away. Then they raked, and swept, and blew the driveway. I was pretty impressed with their clean up.

 

Last job was to grind the stumps down.

 

My daughter reminded me that I should plant a tree for every one that I take down, and she is right. I've already planted a Japanese Maple, and now I'm thinking dwarf Crabapple (love them in Spring).

 There will be a spot here, after the fence goes in, that will need some landscaping, and I will plant a tree there too. Maybe a Bradford Pear...

 

Time marches on...

 

Charlie LeDuff Needs a Stunt Double

 

Does this guy...

 

 

 

look like this guy?

 

Terry gets told that he looks like TV2 reporter, Charlie LeDuff, all the time.

 

Too funny.

Happy Labor Day

 

Spent the day with Bob and Peg. They barbequed chicken and we had cheesecake (yummy).

Wandered around their property, played with dogs, talked about my nephew's upcoming wedding.

Nice day...

 

Grapes growing in their backyard...

 

Cute Bella.

 

Good to get away from project house, and chill, with friends who happen to be family.

 

Happy Labor Day!