The Faster I go; The Behinder I get.

Been working on the house after work two days now. Its getting cleaner but I dare say I had no idea how dirty that house was!

Yesterday I found footprints on the front porch, The former tenant was there so I showed him and he said it was a large raccoon that lives somewhere near by. The paw print was about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide! Mentioning the former tenant reminds me. I decided that he NEVER opened a window! Many have been sealed shut with paint, or are just badly stuck. I believe he ran the A/C all the time. My husband and I are working hard to get them open. There is such a wonderful breeze that blows through the area. Some we have been able to open only to find many inhabited with spiders and such. Lots of spiders in the old house. I'm busy chasing them all outside.
Creepy looking picture, huh? This is the dead vine that the crazy grape vine is using to reach the windows! Yesterday I went into a bedroom to find that the grape vine had pried open a window screen and is trying to come into the house! Of course Robin had gotten that window open and there was that silly vine!

Good Things Come to those who Wait.

First, let me address an issue with my last, (actually first) blog. It seems in my enthusiasm I left off the "L" in the word gravel. So it appears we will be driving on a "Grave" in the driveway. My apologies dear readers, and a big Thank You to Chuck who gently pointed it out to me...repeatedly!

So the report I'm receiving is that the old  house is finally empty! Yeah! Stephanie is going over there to sweep and mop the rooms, my son and one of his buddies  have been moving things all day into the basement and slowly our garage is emptying! I think they call this crunch time!

So here's a view of the side yard which is very large. You can see the addition of the 4th bedroom on the roof.  Being able to go out and sit on the roof  is really pretty cool! The dark bumped out section is a green house they built as an attachment to the main house.  I'm standing beside a fence that divides the yard. The garden beds and fruit trees are behind this fence. (Including that wild grape vine!) There is a lot that we would like to do with the yard I'm standing in. All in due time of course! Included on the list would be an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, large spa and a Koi pond. (I just might start digging that pond right away!) Behind the fence is more like a farm, what with all the fruit trees and garden beds. I might have to get Growcology's help on this one! www.growcology.com
That's all for now. I can't wait to get back inside the house tomorrow after work!

This Old House!

So I decided I wanted to keep some kind of journal on this old house my
husband and I bought. It sits in the middle of the orange groves in Riversides
Historic Citrus Belt District.

This is my first attempt at Blogging, so readers, bare with me!

First, facts about the old house. Built in 1930. White adobe walls, dark
hardwood floors, some exposed dark beams in the ceiling of the living room. 3
bedrooms on the main level. (they added a 4th up on the flat roof, with a
French door leading outside so you can sit on the roof!) There is only one
bathroom, its on the main level. There is also a full size basement! Its not a
finished basement, but this way Robin and I can build it to what we want! (I
intent to put another bathroom down there! Robin? He wants a man cave of
course!)

So you can see the front of the house. Kinda sad, isn't it? The house has not
really been lived in for awhile and it needs some T.L.C. But Rob and I have
nothing but time, and we think we can fix this place up to shine! (eventually!)

There is no paved driveway, its just dirt. Gotta fix that before the rain
comes! At the very least we're going to put down some grave to drive on .

The house sits on a half acre of land, in the shape of Nevada turned upside
down. at the very back is a large, old avocado tree that a grapevine, running
wild, tried to kill.

Yes, I said a grapevine and its an uncontrollable monster! Its taken over
half the yard! Running up all the fruit trees and across the lawn!

So far I have found on the property a fig tree, a pomegranate, two citrus,
(maybe orange or grapefruit) two apple, a peach, an I think an apricot, and of
course the old avocado! I'm sure theres more, as I find them, I will add them.
I have also found some old gardening beds, the boards sunk down into the earth.
Planning on reviving those A.S.A.P. It would be nice to grow veggies again!

The man who has been the caretaker told me he has seen a large Varity of
wildlife and to watch out for the pets. He's seen owls large enough to care off
a cat; (Must have been a barn owl!) also he's seen possum, skunk, raccoon and a
really large feral cat, (bobcat?) and the occasional wayward turtle from the
Gage canal. We are very close to the canal. No problem about that turtle, one
of my plans is to put in a koi pond, that turtle can just make itself at home!

I guess thats all for now. Getting ready to go back and clean a little more
today. The years of neglect shows with the amount of dust and debrie! The big
move happens next weekend!