The Journal - Ryan and Leah's New House

Ryan's been a busy beaver in the basement. He decided last month that it was time to get the walls scraped and get the shelving consolidated. So guess what he did? He scraped and consolidated. Ryan's good like that.

So we now have one whole section of basement with freshly painted walls that aren't peeling or bubbling or hiding thousand-leggers behind the bubbling. This area is floor-to-ceiling storage, housing items that would otherwise go in a shed or a garage, if we had such luxuries.

Another section of the basement is dedicated to Ryan's workshop, which will also someday make its home in our now nonexistent garage.

The third section is the laundry area, which did not change much during Ryan's grand clean.

Though with all that rearranging, you think we'd be able to find the ironing board cover...

The last section is the seating area, complete with TV in cabinet, couch, desk, coffee table, and rug...and various other things that still need a home.

It's a very comfortable place to relax with Honeybug and to corral Lily while Ryan putters away elsewhere in the basement. All this work is in preparation for a clean, useable basement and the prospect of a pool table one day.

Who are we kidding? At the rate we're going, it's likely to become a children's playroom instead!

Jen from Fayetteville, NC said the following on 12/17/2007 at 08:59:40:
I absolutely love your site and all the renovations. Your home is absolutely beaaaautiful! I have always searched for a reno. blog and this one is my fav by far! I do have a question though, I know you blogged about fleas, what did it take to finally get rid of the little buggers? we had some that came in via our cat also and it's been a good two months and we finally caved to terminix and it seemed to do the trick but it's driving me crazy bc they are hard to get rid of, can you email me your advice? Thanks, and I look forward to continue reading this blog. it's perfect :D (btw i am in love with your porch and the green paint).

Leah from NJ said the following on 12/17/2007 at 09:08:46:
Hi Jen - Thanks for the great feedback! What eventually worked for us was a.) quarantining the cat in the basement (poor kitty), b.) giving her monthly doses of Frontline Plus from the vet, and c.) daily vacuuming of the rest of the house, with a flea collar in the vacuum bag. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be one quick-fix solution, but keeping after the little buggers eventually got rid of them...it seems. Good luck!

jackie dillon from Ogdensburg, NJ said the following on 12/19/2007 at 20:21:51:
Hey Leah!I lost your e-mail address, so I thought I would see how things are going with you through your site blogs. I just realized that TODAY is Lily's birthday! What great timing!How the heck are you? The house is looking better every day.Big changes for me. I've remarried, moved to upstate NY and I'm due ANY DAY with my second child!Write me back on my e-mail provided so we can catch up!Your daughter is so precious!!!Jackie

Jen from Fayetteville said the following on 12/23/2007 at 13:41:11:
Thanks so much for the advice, Leah! I can't wait 'til you update again! I have had to show your blog to my mother b/c I think you have done sooo much work it's unreal and your home reminds me of one of the extreme makeover shows, it's breathtaking! You should get a job in designing - your home is beautiful :)

Tante Ilse from East Brunswick, NJ said the following on 01/01/2008 at 08:21:48:
Hiya Leah! Just catching up on your blog and thought I'd send a comment. And I think you're right...I have a feeling the downstairs will become a children's playroom! Especially when Lily's new brother/sister arrives and her new cousins arrive and everyone is together, then you will have 6 kiddies playing down there. And the 6 adults will be "trying" to play pool while watching the kiddies and trying to figure out where Honeybug is hiding. YHIKES! Love, Tante Ilse