2 New Bathrooms!

We finally started our winter construction project. Soon we will have two new bathrooms instead of 2 mold and mildew filled ones! It's so exciting!

So from what I understand, when our house was first build in 1965, the hallway bathroom and the master bathroom were combined. The bathroom had a sink and a toilet on either side of the shower, which served as the divider between the two "rooms".  I can understand how it might have been beautiful, but not very practical, especially if there were kids in the family!

Somewhere along the way, somebody felt as I did and separated them by a wall. Unfortunately, the wall was positioned giving the hallway bathroom the showerand making the master bath a 1/2 bath.

Soooooo our plan is to gut the whole thing, put the dividing wall in a position to make the hall bath the 1/2 bath so the master bathroom becomes a full bath, and to get rid of all the blue fixtures!  Ready, Set, GO!!

Who knows how many years water has leaked behind the shower! YUCK!

Who knew it would take a whole day to break ceramic tile! Good grief!

Next step - plumbing.

The builder

Today I spent an amazing afternoon visiting with the builder and original owner of our house.  I could definitely tell by the way he talked about it that it was built with a lot of love. This was the first house Gerry Maier built after he started the business with his dad back in the early 60's. This was his and his wife's dream home. They moved in with 3 small children and lived here for about 12 years until his wife died of cancer.  He seemed very happy that I had taken the time to look him up and had given him the opportunity to visit.  Listening to his stories about the construction and their lives here really made me want to preserve this tiny part of Delafield history. As we walked around the house he pointed out a few things that had changed (very few), but mostly he recalled why he had done one thing or another -the house was built on a hill of rocks so he didn't need a sump pump or back in the day insulation was more expensive than heating the house (!) or what he liked most (the party room), or what he might have done differently - no log flooring in the entryway.

He also shared stories about the building of the house, like the time one of his workers gouged a spot in the master bathroom ceiling and Gerry told the worker that he would always think of him while brushing his teeth! :)

I learned that the original Deck was built around the tree on the north east the corner of the house, that the little bar on the lower level was once full size and that the tower room was added on for his oldest son, after they had added on the party room.

Gerry also told me that the house was written about in the Milwaukee Journal,  a few years after it was built. So that is my next investigation!

Thanksgiving in a New Home

Oh my goodness! I can't believe two weeks have flown by!  We had a marvelous Thanksgiving with my family, including my 91 year old grandma and my college son, who was home for a whole week! It was the first time he had seen the house since we moved in!  Lots of delicious food, probably too much!  But during this time has also brought a light at the end of the tunnel as far as boxes around the house go!  I was able to finish the garage - meaning two cars can now fit into it! I cleaned, and with  hubby's help painted a closet in the party room that has been designated as my sweater closet ( in my spare time I design and sew upcycled sweater coats.)! I also juts received an area rug that I ordered online that was designed with my colors in mind!

Now it sits until the decorating begins somewhere down the line!  I was also able to get a closet on the lower level cleaned and will begin moving in my crafting supplies in the next several days!  It's all so exciting!

Although it's been a lot of work, moving in and unpacking has gone fairly quickly up until this point. With Basketball season starting (Neoh, my youngest plays) and the holidays coming (baking, decorating, shopping, etc.) I suspect the house will be put on the back burner slightly, but There is still so much to do It will just be until my time is freed up!

The First Owners

Oh what an exciting week it has been! Ever since we found the house I have been curious about it's history, the architecture, the builders etc.  I know the family we purchased it from bought it sometime in the mid 80's, and I found the name of the owners before that. I was never sure if we were owners #3 or #4.  This week I found out - we are owners #4!  During my research I found an email address for a woman I believed to be a daughter from owners #2. I sheepishly emailed her, apologizing every step of the way, and asked her if she indeed was the woman I thought she was. It turns out she was! She gave me the name of the builder and a phone number. It took me a few days to figure out what I wanted to ask, then I called. No answer. Over the next week I tried a few more times, and still no answer. Then on Friday an answer!  I spoke to a sweet old gentleman, who informed me is 80, designed and (with his construction company) built this house and had just gotten home from the hospital after suffering a stroke. He assure me he felt up to and even wanted to talk about our house. It turns out it was his and his wife's dream home. They, along with 3 small children, moved in in 1965 and sadly he sold it to owners # 2 when his wife passed away in 1976.  During the conversation he thanked me and indicated he would love to see the place, so I told him I would give him until after Thanksgiving to recuperate then I would call again to set up a time for him to come over! I can't wait!!

Then on Saturday my lovely housekeeping fairy (aka Mom) came over and helped me clean out a closet in our lowest level that I think was purposely made for my Barbie Collection! That's 3 more BIG boxes unpacked!

My Barbies!

I  never thought I would have a designated spot for my Barbies - especially in a house full of testosterone!

And last night we had the first measurable snowfall in our new house, and what a beautiful sight it was!

The view from the back deck!

Week-end Chores

Saturday was my middle son, Sage's 17th birthday.We celebrated some, then celebrated more on Sunday as that was my mother's birthday. A delicious Chinese dinner and incredible cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes! It was a beautiful week-end.

In addition to celebrating, Steve put up a metal carport to store the mowers in. And I finally got my closet organized. It feels so nice to finally be able to just open the door and know my clothes are going to be there instead of digging through boxes, bags, suitcases etc. to find something that matches!

Hmmmm......... do I have too many shoes?

The other thing I am totally loving is living amidst nature. Every morning there are several deer just off the driveway waiting for us to pass by. On Sunday Steve and I watched a doe and a buck pass only feet away from the bathroom window. Then every couple of days we see a flock of wild turkeys meandering about. And the squirrels running and chasing each other, and chipmunks scurrying by the wood pile. Of course this week a rather silly woodpecker keeps fighting another woodpecker that seems to be in bedded in our living room windows! It really makes me appreciate the world around us - so long as it all stays outside!

A Closet for Echo!

I've been feeling a little under the weather, so not a lot has been done lately.  I did finally unpack a few more boxes and cleaned out one of the front closets to make a dog closet! Yes - a dog closet! She has a LOT of dresses!

Now we have everything nice and handy when we take her out!  Yes she is a spoiled little thing, but who could say no to such a sweetie!?!!

Echo in all her fall glory!

More New Carpet

Party Room "before"

Stairs to the tower "before"

The tower "before"

New carpet in the "party room", the living room and the tower make the house feel more and more like home.  We were able to put  chairs, a couch, the T.V. and a game table in the party room, so now we have a real living space. It feels good!