Busy, busy

  Oh, there is so much going on in that old house!  The old master bedroom has been completely redone. New paint, new wallpaper, floor sanded and varnished.  The bed was raised up a bit for comfort sake and all the bedding is new.  The "yo-yo" quilt is quite vintage, as they say, and really gives the room a splash of color and a nice bit of coziness. 
  The bathroom is still not finished but it is getting much closer and all the walls are now up.  Just a bit more wallpapering is needed in the hall and it will be ready to decorate.  Perhaps a small table and some flowers?  Or a corner shelf?  Viv is undecided at the moment.  So many choices!!
  Another twin bed has been redone and lengthened a bit.  All new snuggy flannel sheets and blankets as well as a newly arrived guest.  This old cat has been skulking around the house the last few days and while Viv isn't overly fond of felines, she doesn't have the heart to turn him out.  So the creature shall stay and become part of the Lilac Hill family.  He shall be called Sneaks for obvious reasons.
  You may wonder why all the beds are being made ready suddenly.  Vivian has gotten word that a few family members will soon arrive to assist with the renovation.  Hopefully the bathroom will be completed by the time they arrive!!

A bit of shopping

  Viv was able to take a short break from all of her hard work on the house and visit some local shops.  She found a few things for the new bathroom as well as a few plants to scatter around.  Seeing the new bits of green here and there make her anxious for spring to arrive at Lilac Hill!
  Tonight she retired a little early and has curled up with a good book.  It is doubtful she'll be able to keep her eyes open for very long, though.  She thought her fast paced modeling career was exhausting but it was nothing compared to all these home repairs.  Sleep tight, Miss Viv.

Snowed in at Lilac Hill

  A huge snowstorm today has kept Viv working indoors.  The old furnace keeps the house cozy and there are plenty of projects to occupy her time.  The kitchen is nearly completed, though the fridge is pretty outdated and will likely give out sooner rather than later.  It is so nice to have a useable kitchen that it almost makes Viv wish she knew how to cook!  Oh well.....
  The bathroom renovation is a huge undertaking and ,having no plumbing skills, Vivian chose to contract out the biggest part of the job.  The original bathroom was an afterthought clear up on the third floor and very unhandy.  Luckily, the second floor foyer area was rather large and quite a waste of space so............viola!   The fixtures have all been relocated but the dividing wall still needs to be put up.  Vivian feels she is up to that challenge is so very thankful all the "professional" bathroom projects were completed before the big snow.  Hopefully, she will be able to frame in the bathroom and hang drywall this week. At some point she hopes to have the plumber install a shower fixture on the tub, but for now she is content with baths. With bubbles, of course!

Miss Viv

  Currently there is only one member of the Merriweather Family staying at Lilac Hill.  Miss Vivian (Viv for short) has left behind her successful high fashion modeling career and returned to the homestead for good.  Viv plans to do most of the renovations herself although she is quite a novice.  She has already updated the parlor with new wallpaper, paint and an attractive area rug.
  Viv has decided to stay in the attic bedroom for now since the old bed up there is the only one she finds comfy.  She is rather tall which made her terribly self conscious as a young girl but later served her well as a model.  The bed in the Master bedroom is just a tiny bit too short for her and the furnishings aren't her taste.  The old attic room was her favorite place as a child when she visited Lilac Hill during summer and holiday vacations from boarding school in New York.  You may notice her dog, Tick, tucked in his bed in that room , as well.