Wow! Didn't think this post was anywhere around anymore! Sorry mandav, I reorganized my online photo albums quite some time ago, so that is why the pictures are not showing up. To update everyone, we did build a picket fence in spring of '05 and did create a garden along the side walk. We only went part way with the fence, but are hoping to finish it to the corner and then built a low stone wall around the corner next spring. I already started the flower bed to the corner last spring. Within the corner (behind the stone wall) we will build some type of arch and mount an 1859 bronze school bell that we purchased last year. This picture was taken in 2005. The fence is built out of cedar and we have left it to weather without painting or staining it. I will link to my web page below if you would like to see more pictures. The pages for 2005, 2006 and 2007 should have some pictures where you can see the fence as it ages and the flower bed as it fills in. Marylu Here is a link that might be useful: Our Gardens

Casey, we're not sure we're going to get the property after all. The old lady who owns it has not been responsive to offers unfortunately. We are considering purchasing another home and waiting for either that home or another larger one we know will hit the market in the next year. That owner is more acquainted with market values than our existing dream house...and we can dream about a different one if necessary. The other one is even more spectacular :) We're disapointed, but we're also willing to wait for the right house if the owner can't get a grip on reality. But in the mean time we need a home to live in this fall due to our son's condition, so we're thinking of buying a smaller home, yet just as special...it's the oldest house in town. It's cute and a good investment to hold on to. It has had significant money put into updating it and that's been done with the character of the home in place. I'd never heard of that type of construction myself, so I thought I'd ask :) We want to be sensative to the historical character of all of the houses we buy in town...and I'm very familiar with victorians, but an older house, that's a new beast. We'll be sure to look at that issue with floor stregnth (since we'll probably want another french range in the kitchen). Although I can't imagine that a french range weighs much more than the current pro style (Wolf I think) they have...but that's worth paying attention to. Fortunately it's not "old, musty-smelling, and in need of painting" :) But we'll put an extra effort on electrical inspections (thanks). The B&B had upgraded electricals, but this one might not since it's been a private home. The downside of it is size (it won't be a long term house for us) and lack of bathrooms (1 1/2 I believe). But it's a darned sweet house and one I could easily love while we wait for the other to get on the market. Linda, please, leave me alone? Please, I'm trying to ask nicely, but if you'd be so kind as to put me on mental "Ignore" I'd appreciate it. Your information here is not up to date, but again, please don't bother making an effort to update it. I would really appreciate it!

Thank you all for your words of advise! I always forget to give more back info. Our pre-civil war house was 2 rooms and 2 stories. In 1887 it went through an addition that doubled its square footage. The entire roof was redone in slate and Victorian details were added to the Georgian floor plan. Wow Calliope it sounds like you have wonderful details and a great house! We have found nothing that would indicate a large hearth in the walls or the crawl space. We also have a spring for water by the railroad. I am sorry to say, but I do not think we had a pump until the people living in the house had to carry it themselves. We are very fortunate we had a first hand source for information. I'm pretty sure we had a detached kitchen- we are in VA- and we have some pictures that show where Caroline worked. Ms. Ethel remembers her from her youth- she was over 100 when we spoke to her about the pictures (20 years ago). That puts us around the turn of the century. Ms Ethel even told us about the man who added the front portion and completely redid the roof. When the house was a 2 room 2 story building, it may have had a small cooking hearth- smaller than the average fireplace measuring 3' on the outside of the brick....so clear until the 40's most if not all cooking seems to have been done in the out building not far from the house but detached. The water pump was also located only in there. No pump in house until they put in plumbing. This of course is word of mouth;but, we also can't find any evidence on the grounds except for where the detached kitchen was. I came up with the slate- a throwback to the roof- Buckingham slate is local to us. The bathrooms of the later era used the marble tile and I thought that would be easy to clean...I did think of brick Maryinthefalls, but thought how would I ever clean it? I had no idea about quarry tile- that is a better option! I hope this makes you giggle Circuspeanut: I am an art teacher and you would think this is all second nature to me; but, Marmoleum simply gave me too many choices!!! Patterns, Bright yummy colors. I was simply overwhelmed! By the time I picked colors and a pattern hubby asked if the cotton candy on the floor was edible? :^) Thank you again for all the help! I'll try to narrow down the options, check the brick and try again with the linoleum. Heather

Have you seen Old House Guy's website https://www.oldhouseguy.com/projects/exterior-paint-color-portfolio/ Note there are 900 renderings &34 pgs! ( next pg is on the bottom -it took me a while to figure that out) Often when you take into consideration the original design, color scheme and color placement, ironically the house can look fresher and more vibrant than it would otherwise if you were trying to impose a modern look onto it. Thats not to say it has to look exactly like it was or the colors have to be exactly what they would have been in 1860 - you just want any modern touches to work with, rather than against, your original design. How the colors are placed on the house are important to consider too - that decides what architectural features on the house stand out more and which you want to de emphasize. Have fun! I wish I knew that era better or Im sure Id have an opinion on what color!