Tuesday, July 3, 2012

First Photos of Das Kleine Haus...on the prairie

If you read my post yesterday, you know I have decided to move from the farm. I have bought a turn of the century house. It was built by a carpenter, who had immigrated to Texas from Germany, in 1867. His wife, according to the 1880 Census, was born in Norway.

The Haus has a living area, dining room, kitchen and laundry room downstairs, with 2 bedrooms and one bath upstairs. It is very obvious the bathroom was a later addition to the house.

It is in need of much love....luckily the woodwork is in great shape.










Over 100 years old....beautiful wood and original hardware.

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Floors with loving stress marks from the family that lived in the house so many years ago.












A newel post rubbed to a high patina, from years of hands reaching out for support.























And, kitchen door locks with so much charm.


The first project has started in the kitchen. As always in re-doing older homes, each project usually has one set-back you are not expecting. This ceiling is the back side of the staircase.

It had a few small bubbles the painter wanted to scrape and then smooth with quick set. When the paint started peeling off like wallpaper, it became an entire ceiling wall to repair.


The smaller of two pantries has been painted....the glass door leads into the laundry room.

I hope you will continue to follow me as I prepare to sell the farm and move on to the next phase of my life on The Prairie....

Meggie Mac

39 comments:

  1. Dear Meggie, You are beginning a new life..:)) This is very good for you.And This is a very good choice for you.. I want it from GOD that God gives me a new choice for me.. You are very lucky. I understand you so so good.. I will begin a new life I think in November.. I will be retired and I don't know where I will go and settle down..
    You are my teacher..:))
    I am following your footsteps...:))
    Good Luck..:))

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    1. Oh Beck....thank you so much for your beautiful words. This is a good move for me, even though I will miss the farm.

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  2. DEar Meggie, Believe me that you are lucky..:))
    Yes I said this..:))
    I wish I have a life like yours after retiring my job..:))
    God bless you in your whole all moment..

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  3. Hello Meggie, happy birthday firstly, I am assuming it is a significant one! I am sure you are doing the right thing and I think you will be very happy in your new home.Someone else will get chance to love the farm as much as you have.I cant wait to see everything progress!

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    1. Thank you, Anne, for the birthday wishes. I'm glad you said that about the farm. I would like someone to love it and appreciate the land.

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  4. Sehr schon!
    I can feel that you love the Haus..and the Haus loves you.
    Jane x

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    1. Thank you! I am still torn between the new haus and the farm. But, it is the right move for me.

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  5. Just from the glimpses, I can see that it has good bones- the beauty of the woodwork, the strength and simplicity of the locks and handles, the height of the ceilings, and the sense of solidity, permanence and craftsmanship. You will weave your magic, it will be beautiful and it will be your home. x

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    1. You are so right, Scarlet. It is a very sound home, built to last. It does need some work, especially the upstairs bathroom. It has a cast iron footed tub that needs to be re-finished. This work will begin when the farm is sold.

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  6. What an adventure you're embarking on! I hope you enjoy the journey.

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    1. After the farm is sold, I plan on taking a small break by sitting in that rocking chair on the porch!

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  7. What a great house! The old wood and the locks are very nice. Many of today's houses seem so cheaply built. I bet you'll have that place looking great in due time! Congrats!

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    1. Thanks, Brian.... the wood is nothing like you see today. The carpenter used "real" nails, not the nail guns you see today.

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  8. It's a house with a heart! Good luck.

    Hugs
    Elna

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    1. Thank you, Elna....many hearts and hands have been in this house with lots of laughter. You can feel it when you walk in the door.

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  9. Hello Meggie, how exciting! I have been reading your last couple of posts because I missed them and hope you will be very happy in your new home. It seems like a wonderful house and I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures. Hope you have a lovely July birthday, my daughter will be 13 on the 28th. Lots of love to you, lovely Meggie xxx

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    1. Thank you so much, Emma. So your daughter and I are both Leos....It is my next step in life. Hopefully, I will find some time to try my hand at crocheting and other craft projects. First the farm needs to be sold!

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  10. I can see why you have chosen this new house - it has so many lovely features. Good luck with the whole restauration process. Jx

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    1. Thank you, Jan....It is just one more step to retirement. It was not an easy decision to sell the farm.

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  11. Meggie how charming all those details of your new house! I'll keep following from farm to Haus. It looks so lovely, so full of character. Wishing you the best of times and good luck on all the work that comes with building and settling into a new home and selling the old. I think you are brave in moving to something completely new.

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  12. Oh, Meggie! I am getting on the next plane - your header photograph shows a house both beautiful and inviting. It is lovely, and I can see that your special Meggie Magic is already at work. The staircase and the metal work are superb - and not one pantry, but two! Wonderful. No doubt a lot of work lies ahead, but I think you have chosen somewhere really special to begin another adventure.

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  13. So, what time will the plane arrive? Let's hope the farm sells quickly...then, the real work will begin on the Haus.

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  14. Hi Meggie! I love it and I can just imagine how you'll put your personality and charm into it. I'm with Elaine and I'll be there asap! Love you, XOXO

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    1. Hello Susan...I'm so glad you like it. It does need a lot of work and I must sell the farm before I can start. Thanks for offer of help....cookies would be good!

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  15. Just caught up with you and wow, changes all around! Love the look of the new home, I so wish I was doing a similar thing. Bye the way my sister will be very flattered that you liked her bunting. x

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    1. Hey, Suzy....yes, I have taken the plunge. The decision to sell was not easy. If my 4th of July bunting turns out OK, I will post about it.

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  16. Oh how exciting! Change is good when it follows a good long look in the mirror and into the heart. May your farm sell quickly, your move go smoothly and your new home bring much love and happiness into your life XO

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    1. The look in the mirror and the heart is exactly what I did. Thank you for the beautiful wishes...

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  17. Replies
    1. Thank you, it is very exciting to look at the workmanship in the woodwork.

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  18. Never a dull moment in your life...can't wait to see what you do with this place - it has so much charm and potential!

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    1. Charm and potential go hand and hand with "hard work". It will take time....but, it will be a fun.

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  19. Gorgeous! Old homes have such magic in them. And to think of the love and care that went into building it by the carpenter.

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    1. You are so correct, Jennifer. There were no "nail guns" used to build this house. Each nail was driven with a hammer, and then, recessed with a nail punch tool.

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  20. I am a new follower now so I can follow your adventure of moving and especially to see what you do with your "new" old house. I love old homes and the character that they bring with them.

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    1. Thank you for deciding to follow my new adventure. I'm still tearful about leaving the farm...but, it is a good move for me.

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  21. This is going to be interesting...I will certainly be following along. It may be in bits and pieces...sometimes when my granddaughter comes down I miss a few days blogging and it takes me a bit to get back in the groove...

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    1. Thank you, Rose, for reading my blog. With the move, it has been difficult for me to post everyday.

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