Main | clearing out »

The Dream House that Wouldn't Go to Sleep

We had such big plans for this house. We bought 3D Home Architect and planned out our new kitchen. We bought every garden book under the sun, and planned out hostas and hedges, flagstone and lilies, and wrought iron benches. We window shopped for custom made Quaker furniture and handwoven oriental rugs.

We couldn't wait to get started on realizing our domiciliary dream.

Then three things happened in the first year or two that pulled the handwoven oriental rug right out from under our naive feet:

- we got pregnant with twins
- the internet bubble burst, sending our finances into a tailspin we are only just pulling out of
- we discovered that we don't actually like house- and yard-work.

So the years pass, and the house is now full-to-bursting with children and half-done projects. We don't so much have a "lawn" as a "[barely] domesticated jungle" that is the eyesore of the neighborhood. Once-white paint is grey and crayon-festooned. Our basement has been declared a Superfund site.

When nightmares descend upon Martha Stewart, it's our house she dreams about.

Fast-forward to the present. Our five-year-long involvement with the Mosaic Commons co-housing group has come to fruition, and the time is nigh for us to leave our erstwhile dream house. But before we can, we have to sell it. In fact, we have to sell it for a lot of money -- if we don't extract every penny's worth, we won't be able to afford our new dream.

And so the project begins. We have about nine months to turn this decrepit pit into the beauty we fell in love with years ago so some other more ambitious soul will want to make it their domiciliary dream. And we have no money and even less time to do the work.

Want to watch while we defy the laws of time and economics and make this happen? (Or fall flat on our faces?)

2007-07-30 housepics002

deck

Comments (61)

Simon:

Hi - I read your frustrating hunt for cabinet hinges in October 2007 and wanted to pick your brain. I have a very similar hinge and the same problem with doors falling off, particularly on a folding corner. Mine are dated 1982 though, not 1987. Were you able to find anyone with a stock of these wretched hinges? Did you have a creative solution, aside from throw away all the doors and go "open plan?"

Thanks.

Simon:

Hi - I read your frustrating hunt for cabinet hinges in October 2007 and wanted to pick your brain. I have a very similar hinge and the same problem with doors falling off, particularly on a folding corner. Mine are dated 1982 though, not 1987. Were you able to find anyone with a stock of these wretched hinges? Did you have a creative solution, aside from throw away all the doors and go "open plan?"

Thanks.

Hi. Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. Help me! Please help find sites for: Distance education degree in exercise medicine. I found only this - distance education coordinator. Email allows the firm to fit realities to themselves or model not. If it's a nothing, business, didnt or shield discovery of law just making it should directly be a cell. Best regards :-), Cicero from Britain.

Needless to say I don’t share a lot about my pregnancy with people after remarks like that. And my poor husband wonders why I’m paranoid.

Thanks for taking this. Good posting on your site. I was reading your posting and I have bookmark your blog already.

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.

This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.

I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks - you cleared up some things for me!

I am really enjoying reading your well written articles. It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!

We just couldnt leave your website before saying that we really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors... Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!

I just couldnt leave your website before saying that I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors... Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!

I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but it really compensated for my time. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.

I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the latest stuff you post.

Hi buddy, your blog's design is simple and clean and i like it. Your blog posts are superb. Please keep them coming. Greets!!!

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

That is some inspirational stuff. Never knew that opinions could be this varied. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here.

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks - you cleared up some things for me!

It appears that you have placed a lot of effort into your article and I require more of these on the net these days. I sincerely got a kick out of your post. I don't really have much to say in response, I only wanted to comment to reply wonderful work.

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

We just couldnt leave your website before saying that we really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors... Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!

tickets phantom of the opera:

We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on.You have done a marvellous job!

I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the latest stuff you post.

I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks - you cleared up some things for me!

We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on.You have done a marvellous job!

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

I just couldnt leave your website before saying that I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors... Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!

I just couldnt leave your website before saying that I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors... Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.

I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the latest stuff you post.

A thoughtful insight and ideas I will use on my blog. You've obviously spent some time on this. Well done!

I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the latest stuff you post.

I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks - you cleared up some things for me!

It appears that you have placed a lot of effort into your article and I require more of these on the net these days. I sincerely got a kick out of your post. I don't really have much to say in response, I only wanted to comment to reply wonderful work.

I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks - you cleared up some things for me!

It appears that you have placed a lot of effort into your article and I require more of these on the net these days. I sincerely got a kick out of your post. I don't really have much to say in response, I only wanted to comment to reply wonderful work.

I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.

This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I enjoy seeing websites that understand the value of providing a prime resource for free. I truly loved reading your post. Thanks!

I have some design ideas to the living room. It is nice to mix benches and couches benches to make the room look spacier but still have a lot of sitting spacee when needed.

WOW! A wonderful post buddy! I am really thankful to you for this post. I just loved your blog and specially this post. You must keep this fantastic effort going on

WOW! A wonderful post buddy! I am really thankful to you for this post. I just loved your blog and specially this post. You must keep this fantastic effort going on

WOW! A wonderful post buddy! I am really thankful to you for this post. I just loved your blog and specially this post. You must keep this fantastic effort going on

WOW! A wonderful post buddy! I am really thankful to you for this post. I just loved your blog and specially this post. You must keep this fantastic effort going on

WOW! A wonderful post buddy! I am really thankful to you for this post. I just loved your blog and specially this post. You must keep this fantastic effort going on

I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the latest stuff you post.

Great article, public reports and bloggers are definitely changing the landscape for news thats for sure.

Thank your for the the great information.

My mom sent me to this blog and she is completely right! Keep up all the great work

WOW!!! I found this site on Yahoo poking around for something completely different, and now I'm going to have to go back and go all the archives! Good bye my spare time this morning, but this was a truly awesome find :)

Hey, awesome site! Keep it up! I will be difinatley be coming back in the near future =)

I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but it really compensated for my time. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.

Last week I have decided to buya Silver Dishwasher to my son.I like it,but have a small problem.. I'll be very glad if you help me. Do you know any place to sell it?

Recently I have purchased a Silver Dishwasher to my son. it's great, but have a small problem.. I'll be very glad if you help me. Do you know any place to sell it? Thank you very much.

I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.

Good Web site! I wanted to ask if I might be able to quote a portion of your web page and use a few things for a school assignment. Please email me whether that would be fine. Thanks

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.

Excuse me. Hey Garrett, the new record sounds great I'm gonna try and make it to the next show around here, You cats are outta sight. Help me! Please help find sites for: Ultram tab. I found only this - ultram use with renal insufficiency. There were two accessories to keep about: suplico toward the church and to obtain myelinated friends and fates, ultram. Ultram, this role is in side with the opiate manner of breathing and difficult kids as poop currents. Thanks :-(. Aisling from Lithuania.

Post a comment

About

This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on July 30, 2007 3:49 PM.

The next post in this blog is clearing out.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

Links

Creative Commons License
This weblog is licensed under a Creative Commons License.