We have bought and sold FIVE houses in our 38 years of marriage.
And – each one I have left behind a little bit of myself!
Our first house was in the country – EAST WINDFALL ROAD –
outside Olean New York – but Portville N.Y. school district.
The driveway was a 1/10 th. of a mile long.
Great for sled riding in Winter but also getting stuck in the snow!
At that house – Sherry’s father and I built large butchers block –
multiple colors of wood – glued together – light and dark and oiled.
It was large and took up the full counter to the right of the stove.
It replaced that counter top.
It was really something and he taught me so much
as he was a master carpenter.
Our second house was Pleasant acres drive – Portville N.Y.
At that house I left a tiled floor in both the laundry room and the half bath.
As well as nearly 50 % of the basement.
My very first tile work.
I also replaced all the molding and door frames with the help of her father.
And we installed chair molding in the dining room.
But the secret was the finish – he taught me just how to get that high finish.
Tricks he used using cheese cloth to strain the stain – steel wool it –
and apply coat after coat until it almost was like a mirror!
Our third house was Fountain side lane in Fairfax Va.
Here I painted the entire ceiling and walls of the garage –
having to close the garage door and it got really hot in there.
I also went into the woods there and followed a small stream
and collected all sizes and colors of limestone rocks.
I used them by the eaves spouts for when it rained
and let the water gush over them like a stream.
I installed dimmer light switches for the dining room
and pained rooms.
Our next house was Ridgetop Commons – just a few blocks from the last one.
Both houses were about 2 miles from the NRA headquarters
and George Mason University.
At this house I put down sand and gravel a
and installed blocks for our patio under the deck
I also installed a small swing for our grand daughters
During that time when we first moved in –
the water drain backed up – we had to vacate –
They had to come in and dig up the driveway and to the middle of the road.
When they built the place –
someone broke the main drainage line
connecting to the main sewage line in the middle of the road.
Here we had a 15 foot hole in our driveway & to the middle of the street.
They put us up at the Hyatt in Reston until they fixed it!
But – I wrote my full name and date in the cement of that driveway!
I also built and installed a platform in that garage for storage.
In our last house on Minerva drive in Brambleton Va,
This was our dream home – thinking we would be here –
never moving again.
I built this patio out the back door
and moved
and took out all the bushes on the whole yard.
I planted all the bushes and trees by hand – mostly on my knees
as the ground is full of rocks and I dug them out with a garden trough.
I have often thought in my mind to return and see if it all is still there
after 38 years have gone by!
Yes – I have left a little bit of this and that where ever we have lived!
I somehow remember them all!
There is a piece of me all over –
but for the most part I am the only one who knows.
Except my name – set in cement with the date
On Timber Meadows Drive- Fairfax Va.
And by the way – I also installed a ceiling fan there
in the Master Bedroom – and while up on my metal step ladder
a storm blew in just as I was connecting it up –
And rain poured and lightening flashed –
Thunder roared and scared me – here I was – standing on that ladder
But my name is engraved on that driveway- and the date.
I will always remember that fan! LOL
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!
MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
