Villebilly Deluxe

Spring 2010

2010-04-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

Just came home from work today to see spray paint on my driveway and the treelawn. Must mean that the AT&T folks are going to replace the leaning pole of Torrence Road.

I wouldn't much mind this, except that the phone lines weave through my old, old redbud trees. I will have eighty-four different kinds of conniptions if anyone touches any of my landscaping. Have taken pics to document. And anyway, what's up with spray painting my cement sidewalk? That paint better wash off!

View from upstairs window/Spring 2005

2008-11-03T12:39:00.001-08:00

View from upstairs window/Spring 2005
Originally uploaded by villbillyrehabber

This is the view from my little back bedroom before my neighbors built their two-story addition. It was a beautiful view, all-year round.

Kitchen Remodel

2008-10-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

A during, and later during. Wow, I can't believe that I cooked on that stove for 2 years! The worst turkey I ever made for one memorable Thanksgiving. The dividing wall is down (we discovered a water pipe), so quickly came up with the bookcase/divider solution. I really like it. The worst part about this old house was that the original light fixtures had all been removed and replaced with ugly '50's crap. We're still replacing a few.

House during remodel/Spring 2008

2008-08-21T20:19:00.001-07:00

Spring 2008
Originally uploaded by villbillyrehabber

It's starting to come together. Still needs some details, maybe a window in the third story, definitely a couple of window boxes. Not to mention landscaping.

My Best-ever Cat, Barney

2008-08-19T07:42:00.001-07:00

Barney 2006
Originally uploaded by villbillyrehabber

Barney, who was a sweet-16 this year, was not entirely into this move. He'd always been an indoor/outdoor kitty, but after his move from west of High Street to East of High, he kept crossing the main drag and returning to his old home. Worried that he was quickly using up his ready reserve of nine lives, I had to make the sorry decision that Barney would live out the rest of his life as an indoor kitty.

About My Blog

2008-08-17T14:09:00.001-07:00

Everyone I work with at the Columbus Metropolitan Library had been given the task of creating a blog. I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to prod myself back into action: I've lived in this old house for the past five years, and had completed about 75% of the rehab work.

But I'd lost momentum lately. I'd recently finished a great rehabbing memoir, All the Way Home, by David Geffels. He wryly noted that the last 10% of rehabbing takes as long as the first 90%. I'd been feeling a little discouraged, but realized that this was the perfect impetus to spur me back to work--keep an online diary, complete with photos, to regain that initial enthusiasm.

Before and after Living Room

2008-08-16T08:48:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm doing this totally backwards. This is my first attempt at putting up a photo> I'll need the fabulous Lindsey from work to save me, but I know she'll give me props for trying.

This is what it's all about. Silly photo, though. I accidentally deleted the good photos of my living room, and kept the one with my husband's holey old bus-drivin' sock foot.