Victoria:
Dictator. Procrastinator. Hoarder.
Loather of noise. Hater of disruption.
Adorer of the oversized and ornate.
Lover of fashion, wearer of pajama pants.
Paul:
Magician.
Fixer of all things broken.
Mover of walls, slayer of lath.
Fetcher of unwieldy Craigslist treasures.
Elvis:
Swing vote, lap cat.
Leader of the revolution.
RIP sweet monkey, see you on the other side.
The Blog, est April 2012:
Plaster. Disaster.
Marriage. Construction. Gardening.
Sinks. Paint. Demolition.
Dirt. Dust. Mess. Filth.
Sheetrock. Frustration.
Restoration. Tile. Noise.
Progress. Lack of progress.
Joy. Failure. Faucets.
Flooring. Disappointment. More noise.
Old stuff. New stuff. Budget. Over budget.
Chaos. Panic. Obsession.
August 21, 2013 @ 6:32 pm
You cracked me up. I share your eagerness to search for treasures on CL and whip myself into a frenzy until I can go pick them up, usually without my husband’s knowledge unless I must use his truck…….. the mirror story was EXCELLENT! Kingdom indeed! You scored big on that one.
October 6, 2013 @ 10:57 am
I had to post your blog on my blog and plus I forgot to check the boxes so I know if you comment back. AND I should have put a blog in the website not my practice. It’s just when you say “your website” I automatically think the one with my name as the location…. I love your blog!!!! It has made me feel so much better about the madness that is our life. We are so much like both of you except we’re a blend of ADHD/OCD. Ok my husband is totally like you with the hyperfocus but sorry that’s not only OCD that’s actually more ADD. So you’re really ADD with hyperfocus. The ADD impulsiveness is what got you in the house in the first place. Not all ADD is just ping ponging around in space never landing on anything. In fact, many of us become much more OCD like and get paralysis from analysis because we so do not want to make a decision that we later regret like the wrong tile for the bathroom. So sorry for the psychoanalysis I just can’t help it, and anyway, I am joking about you being much much crazier, you’ve just exposed more of your craziness than I have and you are also better at writing. I need to work on that. So far no one really reads what I’m writing and it’s more of a diary of sorts. And as you can tell by comments I tend to write like I talk and perhaps I ramble. Your style is entertaining and conscise. LOVE IT! Someone to emulate!
February 5, 2014 @ 2:03 pm
I love Your Blog! I found it kind of by accident , isn’t that the best way, and truly admire what you have written and done! Your writing is very entertaining and also informative. My husband and I have been married 20 plus years and built one house from scratch outside New Orleans , then did a full renovation of a 70’s house in Charlotte, NC. We Are Still Married!!! And still renovating, the gardens at least. As you know, gardens are always a work in progress! Keep writing, and I will keep reading and laughing!
March 28, 2014 @ 9:52 pm
Hi love what you have done with house. We also have a 1909 Victorian Thats being renovated room by room (I feel your pain 🙂 ) right now we’re looking to paint the outside siding and we really like the blue color you have on your home. Is there any you can please take a picture of the color code from can and email it to me. Thank you so much.
June 25, 2014 @ 5:38 am
Hi
I have a siren in my head too
goes on “Imusthavethat” alert on a virtually daily basis
I am here to warn you and your poor husband that THIS WILL NEVER GO AWAY in fact it gets louder with age
trust me
Love your site, want a laugh?, look at our blog!
Blog – sur -Aude at http://www.coteetcampagne.wordpress.com
July 24, 2014 @ 4:38 am
Okay, so I stumbled on your blog because I’m that metaphoric kid standing at the edge of a pool debating whether to leap in or slowly slip in, letting my blood cool slowly to acclimatize to the water temp. Yeah, I, like you am way to verbose. What I mean is I’ve found and fallen in love with an old Victorian. It, however, is a total redo. Wiring, plumbing, walls. You know, simple stuff. The problem is, I’m in love with it. So it shouldn’t matter right? That and the fact I’ve never renovated so much as a thanksgiving center piece shouldn’t matter at all.
In any case I’m in the, “should I REALLY do this?” Phase. Like all modern people into horribly derelict and abused overly ostentatious houses I surfed the net for advice. That’s where I found you and before I knew it had spent two hours reading post after post. Sad part? I still think the total renovation project is a good idea. I know, I need help.
The house I can get for a song, duh. The actual project? I have no real clue. Hopefully I will find some guidance here in your posts. So far your posts, even the advice on blogging, has the images of a perfect, easy home rising from the rubble of the currently neglected building glowing as bright as ever. Sometimes I worry I will never break this habit of always seeing the beautiful potential of something. I mean, really, when has anything ever met it’s actual potential without driving the guy/gal behind the push crazy.
In any case I’m off to imagine how repairing plaster can’t be as difficult as everyone claims and how the entry would look fantastic with intricate wood paneling even though it doesn’t exist there now.
Cheers!
July 27, 2014 @ 11:42 am
I just found your blog and girl… you rock! One of the most entertaining Blogs I ever read!
August 7, 2014 @ 12:06 am
You crack me up! Keep writing!
August 22, 2014 @ 11:36 am
So glad I just found your website, you are hilarious! Great writing style, I’m sticking around…
~Catherine
Inspire Bohemia
November 26, 2014 @ 6:06 pm
Just had to say the Google+ Hometalk show was great today~ nice job. It was very funny at one point your cat kind of stole the show while you were talking…..started “playing the standup bass” in the foreground…..Loved it.
December 23, 2014 @ 10:35 am
“Lover of fashion-wearer of pyjamas” I think I love you.
Can’t wait to read more!
February 2, 2015 @ 11:21 pm
Oh my. At least Paul let’s you buy some of the pretties. John is letting me hunt for our prefect home…must be older than 1930…:-). He is getting into them…my search has left us heart broken twice these past 2 years. I wish John could demo and repair…that falls on me. I am the tool welder. Slayer of projects big and small. He thinks I have big eyes and can’t keep my feet in the ground. Which I can’t…go big or go home.
I love the blog. Helps me through me struggle with a sensible husband who’s wife must have the pretties! Older the better. You should see my 1890s wedding ring he got me. Hehehe!
Keep it up!
February 3, 2015 @ 1:45 pm
You are the most hilarious blogger on the internet. Is there a prize for that?
Lots of your commenters are pretty funny too, which means that reading your older posts takes a VERY long time.
I am 67 years old and thanks to an inheritance finally got the kitchen of my dreams in 2013. It has some open shelving. It has a Portuguese blue Lacanche range. It has marble counters and an L-shaped island at the perfect height for me to knead or roll out pastry. It has a hundred year old bakers cabinet on one wall. And it has drawers instead of lower cabs, which make life and cooking a thousand times easier. I wish I were a DIY-er instead of a slothful person who loves to have other people do work for me and has to wait for unearned piles of money to be bestowed on me before getting anything fabulous, but I am not. Neither is my husband. Which may be why I enjoy (while fighting twinges of envy) reading about the wonderful things other people accomplish with shoestrings and hard labor.
February 3, 2015 @ 1:51 pm
Forgot to mention that you can see my kitchen on Maria Killam’s blog–google white kitchen transformation in upstate New York. If you’re interested.
February 8, 2015 @ 12:43 pm
I am humbled by you! I read my husband the post about getting the KINGDOM mirror. He laughed with me, acknowledging that I am just like you…as is my family (enablers). I am a hoarder of furniture. I love real wood and just can’t say no to a good find on Craigslist. I think I will go see what is out there for mirrors…..
February 26, 2015 @ 12:52 pm
After following you for the last few months, I finally sat down and read them all from the beginning. I have to say you are one funny, gifted writer. And from a male perspective, married to a saint. 🙂
We just came off travelling in an RV for 9 years and bought a townhouse in Tucson. Because we gave all our stuff away when we went on the road we have had to furnish from scratch. We decided to do it strictly with used and Craig’s List stuff and so far have been unbelievably happy with the finds we have scored. I don’t think we will ever buy retail furnishings again.
Thanks for the laughs, I just wish you wrote more often.
March 5, 2015 @ 4:32 pm
Your site is so refreshing and really stands out in the realm of la-de-da design and lifestyle blogs! Thanks for sharing the fun!
March 10, 2015 @ 2:19 pm
As a fellow blogger, hoarder and book lover, I am just sooo in love with your blog. I mean it seriously is like reading a book. There is this gorgeous Victorian home for sale in my town and I drive by it every week…just day dreaming. In the mean time, I will just enjoy all the adventures through you.
September 16, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
Love, Love your Sense Of humor!! I too am a Cat mother!, as we Are fans of Game of Thrones, my husband refers to me as the Mother of All Cats! Also Antique Store Owner In Nebraska!
October 1, 2015 @ 6:13 am
I am so EXCITED to have stumbled upon your marvelous blog! I am up to my neck in a renovation with my husband and it’s causing me all kinds of emotional rainbows and downpours. I know it’s a learning process and undoubtedly one of the most important and exciting times of my life – and blogging helps with that – but it’s wonderful to see that it’s possible to bring your full personality to the party with wonderful expression and joy (as well as anger and sadness and frustration!!) so THANK YOU and keep it up – you’re a shining light!! Annabelxx