2021 House Goals: Course Correction

In January, I set some lofty house goals with projects divided monthly and quarterly. Despite the fact there is snow on the ground today, spring is here. Before the snow (that I am pretending I cannot see), the weather was pretty decent, and I started working on outdoor chores. Looking at everything up close, I noticed how much work the exterior of BHH needs. Some of the jobs are small, but every task in an old house escalates, and our summer is so short.

The Original Plan

In April and May, I was supposed to be working on the Main Bedroom. That’s because I thought the One Room Challenge started in April. Oops! It starts in May. Then, I reserved June through September for the outdoor workshop. In case you are wondering about the grand staircase restoration, I assure you that it is still going slowly in the background.

After stalking Facebook Marketplace for over a year, I finally found the perfect bench.

With the One Room Challenge finish pushed out until late June, outdoor projects will feel the squeeze. So after some soul-searching, I think I need to set the workshop/garage area project aside for 2021. I will need that time for more pressing tasks. I don’t wanna…

New Plan (Pivot!)

Over the summer I have a few key projects to finish:

• There are a ton of woodpecker holes in the siding on the west side of BHH. I need to fill those.

• Finish some windows – I have four windows that have languished on my work table for way too long. One belongs under the street side front porch. One goes in my office, and the other two belong in a bathroom and the library.
• More fieldstone foundation repointing – I started repointing the foundation in 2020, and some particularly bad sections need immediate attention this summer.
• Repair the ceiling under the front entry porch – It is still hanging down pitifully.
• Repair and reinstall the screen doors that go with the front entry door.
• Close up the gaps and holes around the exterior crown molding to keep out the wildlife – I also need to do some rot repair. The longer I wait, the more likely it is that the hornets will turn BHH into condos.
• Street Side Front Porch – The last 10% (Let’s not talk about how the first 90% happened in 2018)
• Roof Repairs – Thankfully, I will hire this out. We have a small brick chimney that needs to be dismantled and removed. There are also a few sections of our porch roof that need patching. This is all dependant on our budget, so we’ll see. Our last two kids just started orthodontics, and we are feeling that sting.
• Take down the Christmas lights. Ha!

When I made all of those plans in January, I knew very well that old houses have a mind of their own. While I am disappointed to put the outdoor workshop/garage on hold, maintaining the exposed exterior of BHH is so much more important. Deferred maintenance is the kiss of death for old houses, and BHH won’t collapse on my watch.

So, that’s the latest. I am still on track-ish. What do you think?