WE RESCUE AND RENOVATE OLDER HOMES...OUR EXPERIENCES WITH RESIDUAL ACTIVITY/HAUNTINGS....

  

The before and after of one of the homes that we have renovated...this is the home that I describe in this blog as 'smiling and taking a deep breath' after we finished the exterior painting.  This picture was the inside of the Open House Invitation that we had sent out to many friends and family.   

I was born in the city of Chicago.  Every move that I have made, has taken me further away from the city.... first to the suburbs as a child and then once married, further out into newer developments.  And, for the last 25 years into the country...farming/rural areas.

My husband is a builder, and I am a generator of ideas and lover of older architecture.  We buy older homes, renovate, love and save them from demolition.    Sometimes we would sleep in a trailer on the grounds until we could get the home to at least a livable stage.  Many times, we would live in the house, in a plastic enclosed room for sleeping, a hot plate for cooking and a bucket or two for a bathroom.

We view ALL things as living and able to retain memories.  So, we are always respectful of each home and its original components. We repair, reinforce and restore as much as possible unless something structurally is found to be unsafe.   Bathrooms and kitchens are almost always upgraded.  Not many prospective buyers want to go out to the spring and retrieve water or use an outhouse.  Many homes that we have purchased never have had indoor plumbing.  When looking for an older home to purchase, we generally looked for a house with many rooms, so that we could create a first and second floor bathroom and a kitchen.    We purchased a Sears farmhouse some years ago and there was a pump/tank room on the second floor where one would pump water up to the second floor.  It was large enough to make into a big, beautiful bathroom with laundry (2nd floor).

We always do a lot of research into the history of the home and many times; the history would just come to us in the form of visiting neighbors.  After the purchase of this Four-Square Farmhouse which was built in the early 1900's, we received a phone call from the original owners' great grandchildren (they had researched deeds at the courthouse). We frequently visit local libraries, courthouses and historic societies or organizations to gather as many pictures as possible and/or information about each new project.  When we would run into neighbors at the local hardware store, or when they would stop by to see what was going on, they were usually anxious to tell us about who died there and how they died and/or any other sorted details that they either had direct knowledge of or 'had heard'.  Also in our research, obituaries were always a great source of gathering information.  I have always loved reading obituaries...some are so plain...lived and died...others are so colorful and full of interesting information about the person, their families and the times.

We always assume that at least one person had passed/died in each of these older homes.  Families lived in the same home, generation after generation.  They lived in the same home as their parents and grandparents and farmed the very same soil.

 Many wakes and viewings were held in these homes, usually in the parlor.  After family and friends met and discussed the good and bad times, crops and the weather, shared a meal, they carried the dearly departed to the family cemetery.  Many times, physically carrying them (a child) and other times in a wagon.  After lowering the loved one into the ground and saying their goodbyes, they would mark the spot in several different ways.... a small fence around the site, a cross, a pile of rocks, something that they had made or a special possession of their loved one.  We have purchased homes with grave sites on them...children and adults alike.

 We take our time to get the feel of the home before we begin and come up with as many ideas as possible to restore.... not destroy.   Developing a relationship with the home and all of the memories that are held within the structure becomes our priority.  While coming up with a plan (that changes very often) we have many daily discussions, sometimes we have to go for walks to rest and refresh our busy heads.  Intertwined in our construction/renovation discussion, are thoughts about the families that lived, love and called this their home.  Where love was shown, arguments were had, and families felt grateful and safe.  Babies were born, people died either suddenly (fires/farm accidents) or slowly from illnesses.

One evening upon turning on the tv, there was a show about paranormal activity.  At first, I thought it was like the other ones that I had spent a few minutes watching when there was nothing else on tv.  You know the ones, creepy noises, orbs, etc. but nothing that you would really think was actually there haunting the building or its residents.    But this show in particular was about a home where several paranormal experts performed all of the tests that they generally conduct and decided that there really weren't any dangerous hauntings but, that there was what was called residual activity/hauntings.  Meaning that the memories of the activities of the home had been and always would still be present.... kind of like a movie that plays over and over through the years.   And, that you might just be lucky enough (depending upon how you feel about this type of thing) to be in attendance when a memory presents itself.  Stairs that had been walked up and down for years, doors that have been opened and closed hundreds of times, floors that have been walked upon by so many people.... have memories.  Old floors and stairs have structural reasons why they creak and move, but not always.  Doors open and close due to air flow and house settling, but not always.  There are hot and cold areas in houses due to old ventilation systems and drafts, but again, not always. There are many different sensations that one might feel...for no real apparent reason.  Maybe they are just the thoughts that you yourself have created or, maybe they have been created for you...through events that have happened in that place and are still present in some form.

I guess I would like to say that I have seen shadows, items flying across the room, etc., but neither my husband nor I have experienced any of that in the many homes and buildings we have renovated.  But we have always felt an awakening and a feeling of comfort and care.  We have also felt redirected occasionally in our renovation choices.  We have never felt afraid only that we were just the next people to care for this home and bring it back, for which we felt grateful.

One home that we renovated had a history of two suicides (in the spring house...arsenic) with a lot of alcoholism and depression. My husband (before we knew this information) stood back and was admiring the new paint job we had given the exterior and said, "I just saw the house smile and take a deep breath".  The children that had lived in this home somehow had heard of our Open House and decided to come.  One of the wives indicated to us that her husband had been suffering from nightmares and night sweats for years after his life in this home.  We walked him through the house, and he said that it felt much different, he felt peaceful and would be creating better memories.

   Maybe the house had survived all of the sadness and hard times that people and families brought into it.  The house had been unoccupied for years and was in great disrepair, but still "had really good bones" as my hubby would say.  Possibly this home was at first disturbed when we first arrived, but learned from our daily presence and hard work that there would be many more pleasant times and happiness going forward...... and that was good.

We lived in this home for a few years and sold it to a family that described it as their 'dream home'...they still live there and still love it....so, all is well...and good.

Possibly my husband really did see the house smile and take a deep breath...

COUNTRY HEART

County Heart

I didn't start out in the country, not born on a farm...I was born in Chicago.  But, my mom was from a farm and my dad's parents were farmers in Italy.

I guess it all started with my love of animals.  We rescued everything that was injured in the neighborhood.  My favorite outings were to Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoo and to a huge pet store called  Animal Kingdom on Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.  In those days,  pet stores had fewer (if any) regulations.  They had a baby elephant there and a tiger and all kinds of amazing snakes, birds, fish, dogs, cats and anything you can imagine.  They rented out the bigger animals, some were regulars on tv shows.  My parents surprised my brother and I with a pet monkey that they had purchased from Animal Kingdom.  We named her GiGi and she was a Capuchin monkey.  My favorite books were always about animals.  I think my first words were animals sounds...my mom would always read a Golden Book to me about farm animals and what sounds they make.  She was really good at making their quacks, moos and cock a doodle dos.  I would always jump up and down with my hands under my arm pits making monkey sounds.

I wore red cowboy boots with everything much to the dismay of my grandmother...we lived in a two flat, grandma, grandpa and aunt upstairs.  Mom, dad and me downstairs.   My mom was a professional dancer and wore what would be considered 'kind of out there' for the time.  So, it was fine with her that I wore whatever clothing combinations my little heart desired.  Most pictures of me until I was five were underwear, undershirt, cowboy hat and boots and my Roy Rogers/Dale Evans watch.

My parents, like many, eventually moved to the suburbs.  As I married and had kids, we moved further and further out into the suburbs because a growing family was able to buy more house for less, the further out you were from the city.   After a few moves we were in the country with a bit of a longer commute to our jobs in the suburbs.

First it was buying dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, chameleons and other smaller animals 'for the kids'.  But as we acquired more animals and became more interested in growing our own food and sitting out at night and gazing at the stars, we made the decision to become  'as self supporting of our life in the country as possible'.

We found that we needed less with the busy life that we were leading in the country, so we were spending less.  Cleaning barns, mowing much larger land, gardens and animals that needed daily care.  We were always reading books and later, on line looking for information and ideas from experienced individuals about raising chickens and other animals for fun and profit.

 I am a lifelong crafter (sewing, quilting and anything else I decide to learn and create) and soap maker. I was on Pinterest constantly gathering ideas that I could add my own spin. So, I started to make things to sell at various stores and online.

My husband is a full-time contractor, and he still needed to work larger jobs, to support us, but was finding time to make furniture and smaller items that he could sell.  

It took a lot of years and a lot of hard work to really become as self sufficient as possible, earn money doing what we loved and live on a farm.....but, we did it.  And, it took a lot of heart to do it.  Hearts that were large enough to take in (rescues), care for and love all of our animals, indoor and out.  Hearts that felt like they were going to break when any animals would die or decisions had to be made to do what was best for them.  A heart that looked for ways to improve our land, water and air quality in whatever small ways we could.  Always thinking with our heart about how to leave less of a footprint on this wonderful earth for generations to come.

I think that is what a country heart really is....

WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS ANYWAY?

I awakened this morning to a beautiful pink sky and a soft tapping sound on the window behind my head.  I like to have a window near my head as I sleep, to open and close as I choose.  Also, to look outside as soon as I open my eyes just to have a few moments to be grateful before the busy day begins.  This soft tapping I soon realize is a little bird pecking either at its reflection or possibly bugs.  But it is winter and there really are not a lot of bugs out there.  Anyway, my usual quiet moment became a tapping contest back and forth.  I'd tap, it would tap and so forth...until I gave up and got up.  

I always shower first thing in the morning, and I also take a bath at night.  I enjoy a morning shower just to extend a bit of alone time to think about my day.  And, I like to end my day in a nice warm bath, usually reading or writing.  As I was enjoying my morning hot shower, I could hear tapping and little knocking sounds.  We have a sky light in the bathroom.  And the little noises sounded like they were coming from up there.  So, I look up and there are seven (7) doves (14 little feet that looked like spiders, pecking at something and then sliding down the sky light.  As I said,  it is winter and so there is some snow/ice on the sky light.  The doves would climb up to the highest point, peck at something and eventually slide on the slippery surface, down to the lowest part.  When my husband enters the bathroom, I point up and he says that possibly they are getting the grit from the shingles.  Or adds, maybe they are just having fun :).  

At least once a day there will be a woodpecker knocking on some side of our log cabin.  Now, I think that they really are doing that just for fun.  There are many trees right around the cabin (there are several thousand acres of state land around our 40 acres) that he or she could choose from...but, they choose our home to do what they do.....

A little history of this (new to us) log cabin.  It has been a 'camp' for many years.  Families would just come up here occasionally to hunt or whatever.  We are renovating (slowly because it's winter) into a year around home. 

We've noticed that the wildlife on this forty acres really does not pay much attention to us.   The birds that come to the seed basket don't even move when we add more seed or walk past them as they are helping themselves to a sunflower seed.  The deer just walk around and drink out of the pond and eat the corn that we put out for our sheep like they are part of the herd.   The squirrels do not even run when we walk out onto our deck and they are in the seed basket.  

It is as if, this place is their's and we are just a mild inconvenience. 

This log cabin has an attic and we have closed it off for the winter.  It is full of stuff (junk) (not ours) and we don't really want to address it at this time.   We filled an industrial dumpster with the junk that was here from the first floor and plan on attacking the attic in the spring.  That is unless it attacks us first.  We hear running around up there every day.  Sometime with boots on, sometimes rolling bowling balls, sometimes yelling at one another.  My husband thinks it's kind of funny....I guess I do too, but occasionally it sounds like they are going to drop right down on our dinner table as we eat.  We're thinking squirrels.  There are definitely openings in the ends of the roof and it's an easy entry for anyone that can climb up there.  Perfect sleeping quarters during this cold season.  

We've been here about two months now and we are so used to all of the noises that if we don't hear any running or tapping, we wonder if everyone is okay.  Our dogs don't even look up anymore.  Once everyone quiets down at night, we wish them a good nights sleep, assuming that they are tucked in, curled up and enjoying all the heat that escapes from the 1st floor.  

We are not hunters, I am a vegetarian and so, harming any animals just isn't our thing.  This was their home and place to be, way before we bought this place.   So, we have learned to cohabitant.  As long as I don't have to sleep or bathe with a squirrel, I'm fine with that.  There are apparently bears and other large wildlife around here also....(our land butts up against thousands of acres of wet land/state land) and so, our current group of little creatures that live with us, are really our more desirable neighbors and housemates.  

RAISING AND ENJOYING BEAUTIFUL PEACOCKS

My husband and I raise peacocks. Fell in love with them 25 years ago, after going to a bird show (yes, there are bird shows) and have not stopped buying and raising peacocks and peahens since.  We have watched 100's of chicks being raised by the best moms in the world.  The males are busy showing the world their beautiful tail feathers and the moms who have much more subdued plumage, are busy raising as many as 4 - 12 babies.  They average 6.  It takes 27 - 30 days to hatch and that mama will not leave that nest.  Ours are free range (generally) and they nest under hosta plants and hide so well that we sometimes just come upon them by accident.  Watching mom raise her chicks is so amazing.  She will take them out for a walk and if she feels any danger, gathers them under her and sits until she feels it is safe.  Everyday she has them roosting a bit higher.  I've seen her teaching them to jump up on a large clay pot and roost for the night.  The next time, it's up onto some saw horses, until she gets them to jump/fly to the lowest branch on a tree.  The growing chicks get so excited at sunset...they are all running and hopping a few feet off the ground under the big walnut tree, trying to work up the nerve to fly up to the lowest branch.  Many make it on their first try and others fall back down but they don't quit because mom is always calling from the lowest branch, until all of her babies are warm and safe under her for the night.  We are currently raising them in a protected building/run.  We just moved to the UP Michigan and it's winter and we wanted to have more control over our animals/birds for this winter season.

The males tail feathers are starting to grow in anticipation of spring showing off time and breeding.  Spring is such an active time.  The males come up to the females raise their tail feathers and then pull them forward (kind of around her) and then shake them...sounds like an old metal Christmas tree being shaken.  She either decides this is the guy or walks away.  Males will breed with any female...not true to any one female.  So, we do keep same species together and separate to keep that species true (white, blue or Indian and green or Java).  But, they do mix it up and we end up with some beautiful combinations.  We've lost our share of older peacocks and many chicks.  We've heard owls picking them off in the trees.  It's so sad because the mom will call all of the rest of the night for her chick.  I usually go out with a flashlight and look everywhere below the tree where they roost hoping that the chick just fell out and needs some help getting back up....but, have never found one....nature...love it...hate it....But, we really do love our peacocks.  They can be so funny chasing each other and running behind us on the tractor when we're mowing....catching bugs.  They do alright in the winter as long as they have somewhere to roost and keep their feet dry...and,  their heavy feathers keep them warm.....but, I am sure they are anxious for spring....just like me.....

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HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY TO APRIL.....

UPDATE:  Wrote this blog two years ago when April turned 25 years old....now she will be 27 in a few days.  She is amazing...has expanded her vocabulary by several swear words and a new dog name....we rescued a 5 year old Chihuahua named Tipo...we call him TT....so she says in a high pitched voice TT...(like I do) She is now located in the kitchen where I'm sure she picked up the new curse words...but hopefully will pick up the timer ring sound, and start singing like I do when I do the dishes and when I bake, which is often during the winter months.  Currently still singing Christmas Carols....but will switch back to old favorites soon.   HAPPY NEW YEAR...I say that to her everyday (every time I pass the cage) and she just looks at me and asks for a chip...Oh Well...she does have a mind of her own.

This is April.
Today is her birthday...she is 25 years old.  Life expectancy of an African Grey is about 90 years.  So, she will still be here, probably living with one of my children/grandkids after I am gone.  So, I am busy teaching her as many naughty words and questionable expressions as possible so that my memory will live on as the eccentric, creative, potty mouth person that I am.

We are currently experiencing a possible health issue with April.  According to Google she might have anything from a fungal infection, bacterial infection, mites or depression.  We have moved from WI to MI over the last few months.  Our last trip we pulled an animal hauler with our sheep, llama, peacocks and chickens in it and our parakeet, dogs and April were in the backseat of our truck.  We had to move her from her large floor cage to a smaller cage that we could actually fit in the backseat.  And, carry her large cage in the hauler.

It has been hard getting in touch with a Vet in our new area, especially an Avian Vet to either have them make a home visit or take her in for blood tests that might possibly tell us something.  (Also, all of the Holidays) We did find out from some people that we met that there are two female vets in our very town that service a local zoo.  So, knowing that the local zoo has many parrots, I'm sure we're going to be in good hands.

On advice from Google, I thoroughly washed her cage with vinegar and water, cleaned and sanitized her bowls and toys and actually put her in the bathtub and gave her a shower.  She did not seem happy with me capturing her in a towel and placing her in a few inches of warm water.  But, after some complaining, she spread her wings and started to bath herself.

Once I put her back in her cage and put a warming light on her, she began to preen herself and afterwards looked much better.

 I have offered her every food in the world in the last few days....even going so far as to chew food myself and give it to her (I am her mom after all).  She really had stopped eating.  She would just push food around and mostly turn her head and put her beak into her back feathers and sleep.  But, after her shower, pushing food, rubbing her and talking to her constantly....she seems to be reacting and talking more.

I was busy thinking about how stressed I've been, selling our home in just a few days, packing up a very large home, filling a semi container and making several enclosed trailer rides to our new home (4.5 hrs. one way), (a small log cabin in the middle of not much).  But I never stopped to think about how all of the changes might affect her.  Birds are very sensitive and can become stressed and depressed I have learned.  So, we moved her closer to where we are most of the time and put her parakeet friend right next to her (like it was in her old house) and are making an all out effort to get her to eat and interact with us.

I had been so busy working...I'd throw food and clean water in there everyday and peelings and fresh fruit...and talk to her for a moment.  But, I am who she has bonded with, and I was letting her down.  I promised her that I would not let her down again...she wants kisses all of the time and wants me to rub her head and I now always make time to do that.  She is very important to me, more than I knew.  This is the first time in 25 years that we have had a potential health issue.  l

I have made an appointment with the vet to take her in....I just want to be sure....and, by the way, we refer to her as her but we have no idea is "she" is male or female....there is no difference in appearance in male or female African Greys....you have to blood test them to find out.  So, if our new vet thinks we should run some tests, I may actually find out after 25 years if April is a girl or if she is a boy.  She's still going to be April no matter what...cause she says her name....but, it will be interesting to know if I guessed correctly.  She just always struck me as a girl...just a feeling...we'll see if 'my radar' was correct.

UPDATE:  She, yes, she is a she...was getting ready to pass her first egg.  It was somewhat stuck...sticking out partially one morning.  So, I again put her in warm water and put her in her carrying cage and off we went to the vet.  They had to semi cut the skin around her vent to get the egg out...it was stuck and dried to her skin.  They got it off and out and gave us a lubricant to apply to her vent everyday.....it happens they said...good that we got her in.  Her first egg when she was 25 years old. I kept the egg, it looked like a golf ball....put it in her cage and she ignored it.  Glad she wasn't ill...just having a little trouble doing something normal...