Hands in the Dirt - Memories of a Former Home

Sambuca bush in front of house gone crazy!

In 2007 I purchased the first home I had ever owned on my own.  It's a South St. Louis City house.  Built in 1897.

This is the house I lived in until 2011 when I met Jim.  

When I bought the house it was a high-low duplex.  I had it renovated and changed to a single family unit.  I planned on living there for a very long time.  Until I met Jim. :-)

So many memories.  I remember taking a sledgehammer to walls and tearing them down.  I remember painting (poorly) and covering up the former resident's memories.  Re-carpeting, laying tile, putting new ceilings in, installing a huge master bath and basically..... making it mine.

House minus Sambuca bush.
We couldn't make a trim job work.

I lived in the downstairs until the upstairs was complete. Once complete, I had a HUGE bedroom, walk-in closet and very large master bath upstairs.  1200 sf of upstairs living. I had it designed to be very "lofty".

Now it is time to say goodbye.  We begin the process of getting it ready to sell. Jim and I have already spent many hours at this house so we are quite comfortable being there working on it. The neighbors all stop to talk and wish us well.

The neighborhood is great.  I had neighbors that watched after me (being a single female) and I was never afraid. The older couple next door to me became family.  The took care of me even though I didn't need taking care of.  Their dog was family also. Charlie, Charlotte and Buster, the dog.  One could not have better neighbors.

This week we find out that Charlotte has passed away, the dog, Buster has passed away and Charlie has gone almost completely blind.  Charlie remembers me though!  He remembers that I have moved away and been married.  He tells me I should still keep the house. He just had his 83rd birthday in March.  I care about this man so much.  Tough to walk away from him.

A couple days ago,  I am at the house waiting for Terry (listing realtor) to show up.  I walk around thinking of everything I have experienced in the house.  The parties topping 50 + people, the quiet times in the back yard looking at the moon, the neighbors helping me shovel snow. There are so many memories. too many to list them all.

I still get a good vibe when I walk into the house. I believe that this is the house's way of saying all is good in the world.  It's okay that I have moved on.  I truly believe the house is anxiously waiting to welcome it's next owners.

There is an old saying about things coming into your life for a reason.  I believe this house came to me at a time that I needed it and allowed me to move on when I needed to.

As I walk around outside, I think of all the time I spent in the yard.  It was a complete disaster when I moved in.  However, it gave me the opportunity to have my Hands In the Dirt!

I dug things up, I planted new things, I nurtured things back to life.  I made things pretty.  The dirt and I were friends.

This weekend I am able to work in the yard again.  Hands in the dirt.  Mowing, trimming, cutting..... no planting this time though  The dirt is welcoming and I remember how well anything I planted there grew.

I see a miniature rose bush I planted.  It's still doing well on the side of the house.

Will the next owner be as appreciative of this great yard?  I am hopeful....

Jim is patient with me as I reminisce .  

Below are a few photos of the house.  It should be listed within 2-3 weeks.  I am excited for the house to have a new owner and become a home for someone.