Two years ago, I moved into my house.

While I haven’t accomplished as many projects on my list, Rome wasn’t built in a day or two years. When I think of what I have done as a singleton on a librarian’s salary, I can’t be too frustrated.

I cleaned out previous owners’ leftover junk from various parts of the house. Then, Dad power washed my drive and basement because it is quite possibly his favorite outdoor activity. I sealed and painted basement and painted the garage floor.

I hired someone to install a new garage door and garage door opener, I hired another person to install a custom-size door with a threshold and no longer worry if the back drain doesn’t drain fast enough, I’ll have earthworms in my basement. Part of DIY is realizing you can’t possibly do-it-all-yourself for a sheer lack of time, tools and knowledge.

I bought shelving for the basement and the re-shelved three closets on the first floor after finding extra wire shelving in the basement.

Dad and I installed a new vanity, toilet and wainscoting in the bathroom. [Side note: my friend like my vanity so much she got her boyfriend to install one in her house]

I had the giant tree in the backyard canopied and he removed the dry-rot deck. I removed two dead bushed from the front yard (found more junk) and planted new evergreens. Dad mixed the concrete and supervised my application as I filled a giant gap along the house.

To make the house a little more energy efficient I installed a programmable thermostat, put an insulating blanket on my water heater, recycled a large magnet to cover a closed vent and put a thermal curtain on the doorway leading to the second, rarely used floor.

I created my own vertical mirror in lieu of buying a full-length mirror, I added some life to my hallway and FINALLY bought a sofa!

Yep, that’s my house. Grass grows over the sidewalk, the landscaping is more maintenance than I would have installed and I’m in a constant battle with the neighbors’ and stray cats to keep my yard from being their litter box.

It’s all mine (well, the bank’s and mine).