Okay.  The clock is ticking, and I'm getting real nervous! The contractor was supposed to start this week, came and got the keys on Saturday, but because of ice in the mountains was delayed yet again by another week.  I had planned on going up today to get some photos of the demolition, but since that will now be next week, here are just a few photos of the grounds and some inside shots to show the work to be done.  These are for you mom!

The park-like setting around the house is one of the attributes that drew us to it.  It has a little bit of everything, and since it's been the winter, who knows what will pop up to my surprise.  My contractor did spy a mock orange bush that was blooming when we were there two weeks ago.  I love the cedar in the previous photo down by the farmhouse.  This photo is what is nestled around the main house, lots of old growth!

We have a magnificent old magnolia.  My brother George has one, says you can't rake up the leaves which are enormous.  This is my first time owning one, and I cannot wait for those big beautiful white blooms.  One bloom can fill a vase and make a beautiful bouquet!

Oh, and then my favorite, the bamboo.  It's not black bamboo, which I planted at the boathouse, but that is coming in strong, and I will definitely plant some amongst this blue bamboo. I have about an acre of it.  My friend, Debra, who lives in Tryon, said I will be amazed at the birds that will come out of it, they just love to nest in there.

A bit of a mountain view, not the view our property had, but I'll take it! The stream runs along the back left of this property and once settled, I will inquire as to what it will take to make a pond or a bog, some marshland,which I love because of frogs.

Now for some inside photos.  This is looking out the kitchen window over the sink at the wood shed.  I am loving that it is full and split and ready for next year! This building houses a room that will be my potting shed and then the garage, which will be Roman and Princess Maile's living quarters. I plan on painting it a red to match the old brick of the house and to make it look more like a barn.  It will also get a metal shingle roof.  Can't wait to get started and see the transformation.

There are two bathrooms, both small.  Both have the original fixtures which are in quite good shape.  The tile is not my favorite, but since it is in good shape and I can live with the little bit of gold, most of it is white, and I can add paint and accessories to make it look more up-to-date. My contractor doesn't like the sinks, said it looks like a gas station.  I asked him what gas station bathrooms he goes to, and he just laughed.  This house is only one year older than him, so maybe that's the reason he likes new and not old.

This is one of the bedrooms, and it will be made into Bob's library.  The floors throughout the house are gorgeous.  They are oak, I prefer pine, but these are in great shape, and I'm happy to have them.  The master bedroom and kitchen have carpeting and linoleum and the original floors, which the above is not, are going to look even better.  We actually found square nails, so the floors have promise, and I cannot wait to unearth them. As for the fern wallpaper, well, thankfully they will be hidden by shelves for books, and you may see a peek of them here and there, but better than having to tear it all down.

This is the living room.  Lots of built-ins, which I will keep, and lots of wood to paint.  I'm happy it's paneled, but way too much wood for my liking.  It needs to be brightened up.  It does have a lot of windows and the ceiling will be coming down to expose the old rafters and to put in a skylight positioned in front of the chimney/fireplace so that we will be able to see the old brick.

A view out the front door.  What ugly curtains!  There's a lot of ugly going on in this place, but that will make the transformation much more exciting.  For an artist, he wasn't much on interior decorating.  I'm just glad he didn't "update" and left a lot of the original details intact.

Here it is nestled in the trees and shrubs just waiting for it's makeover!