Thanksgiving.

Today, will be the last Thanksgiving we spend in our house in Lancaster, SC.  We are making a turkey, ham, massed potatoes, gravy, au gratin brussel sprout, sweet potatoe soufflé, garlic cauliflower, and crescent roles.  For  dessert, we have  pies, cider, and cookies.

While it is bittersweet, I am thankful and look back on my life over the last five years. 

I left a horrible marriage, met Clay, lost my Mom, lost Clay's Mammaw, moved from Nationwide to MetLife to Dimensional; moved to Lancaster, OH then Charlotte, NC then Lancaster, SC and now Chester, SC.  I am ready to settle down and feel that this Greek Revival will be my home for life. 
It feels like home.

Yesterday, I took a half day and decided to work on a Christmas Project:

1 Trash picked wood window...
1 $2 wreath from the thrift store
3 christmas sprigs from an old wreath
...a little glue and some ribbon.
Final product, eh....not priceless, but close.

I am thankful for my growth both chosen and forced.  I am a different person than I was at forty.  I  hope at fifty, I have experienced more growth.

Simply; I am thankful.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Lancaster.  ⛄

Thankful,  Kris

Hammered Dulcimer

It only seems appropriate that I learn how to the play the hammered dulcimer. 
This is my beloved Mom's instrument.  It has been sitting in a closet for a couple of years.  She so loved her music. 

I found a great learning series online.   After one YouTube video, I can play Mari had a Little Lamb.  BOOM.

Hammered Dulcimer Lessons Free

Thanks Mom.  Happy Thanksgiving.  I love and miss you.

We are officially in contract on both houses!

We got an offer and are looking to close on both houses on December 29, 2016.  While we are nervous, we are also extremely excited. I am now focused on a couple of things.  PACKING and PURGING.

I am also focused on learning more about the new/old house.  I found a link to the historic district request:

 Chester Historic District Original Request

And then the amended application for the amended register:

National Register - Chester SC

And, then photographic proof of our house being included in the register:

We are excited, to say the least.  I am now looking at paint swatches.  Gray or gray or gray for the entry?

Peace and gray walls dreams,

Kris

We are officially in Contract!

We were awaiting a list of things that the current homeowner would like to keep.  She travelled up from Alabama to go through the house.

She made a list of the things she would like to keep, which is minor (Paintings, a dress form, and some china) and include family treasures. She did decide to leave the Dunham Piano with the house. 

 It has been with the house since it was built in 1855. If only Piano's could talk?

We are blessed.  Love and Dunham Piano Dreams, Kris

Our house in Lancaster, SC is officially on the market!

So, now that we are in a contingency contract, we have put our lovely home in Lancaster, SC.  It is on .4 of an acre and boasts an updated kitchen and fabulous Master Bathroom and Suite.  We love our house!

Here is the virtual tour:

1184 Craig Avenue Lancaster, SC 29720

We are praying for a quick sale so that we can move forward with our move to Chester, SC!

Wide Plank Floor Dreams, Kris

The Dunham Piano comes with the house!

We will get the full list tomorrow.  What is the list you ask? 

Well, we made a full offer with the contents.  The family travelled from Alabama to make a list of the things they would like to take.  We prayed about it and put it in God's hands.  We are not sure exactly what they are taking but we do know they are not taking the Dunham Empire Style Piano.  This beautiful grand square piano has passed from owner to owner with the sale of the home. 

It has ivory keys and the most beautiful sound.  Here is a youtube video of a many playing a Dunham.  It sounds like a harp to me:

Music of the night on a Dunham

Here is the piano.  It overlooks the front yard and York:

Love and piano dreams, Kris

143 York Street: The front of the house video

This is a video of Clay and I looking at the front of the house, for the first time.  It is amazing to me that this house used to be red brick.  It was painted and remodeled by mid-20th century owner J. Cody Quinton.  He added onto the back of the house, removed the front porch, and painted the house white.

Before:

After:

And our video...

The Second Floor of the Gage House - Video

Check out the sky light!  Beautiful but in need of work, my friends.

We had the privilege to walk through this gem again yesterday.

Enjoy the tour and check out THE FLOORS!

Love and Wide Plank Dreams,

Kris

First Floor Video.

We were very lucky to go in and get a last look before the family comes to survey the property.  They are making a list of the things they would like to take. We will then get a final contract.  Here is a look at the magnificent first floor.

Oh, and we made a short list of things that need to be updated:

Exterior - Front pillars, garage doors, and windows
Interior - Paint, Electrical, Plumbing, Sky Light, Kitchen...to name a few.

Now to the video:

 

A little about Chester, SC

Chester is a small rural city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,607 at the 2010 census, down from 6,476 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chester County.

Current Chester County sits in the "the Land between two rivers."  Initially it was divided by The Great Warrior Trading Path and The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road.  The Saluda Gap Road, another major path also crossed the Indian Trading Path  in Chester County.  


Chester County  had its beginning in 1750 when the Scots-Irish from Pennsylvania and Virginia made their way into the area, settling on Rocky Creek and Fishing Creek.  In 1785 the state was divided into 37 judicial districts and Chester County came into existence.  The first court in the area was held at Walkers, now known as Lewis Turnout in 1776.

Chester  operates as an industrial and agriculture community, with much land area in timber production. Forestry plays a major role in the county economy with several mills in the county and others near it. Forest land ownership is majority family landowners who manage their properties for a variety of uses. Agriculture is a big segment of the economy with crops consisting of cotton, wheat, oats, rye, beef and dairy cattle, hay, corn, peaches, other vegetables, peanuts, soybeans, and pecans.


Below is an early 1900's map of Chester, SC:

143 York Street: A Video from 2014

If you want a glimpse of the inside of 143 York Street in Chester, SC, check out this gorgeous Georgian Structure below:

Wide Plank Floor Love, Kris

We just got a call! We have a verbal agreement.

So, here is the deal.   We offered 195,000 plus the contents of the home.  We just got a call  that we would need to accept the house as/is and the family would like to enter and Family Heirlooms.  We  completely agreed.  Because of this, we will not have a firm contract until after the weekend. 

Check out the interior. 

Even if we get a part of the antiques, I feel like this is a blessing and meant to be. 

 

Please cross your fingers for us.  Love and wide plank floor dreams, Kris

The G.W. Gage House - 143 York Street Chester, SC: The Early Years

The GW Gage House was built in 1855 by Absolm Housar.  Mr. Housar was a prominent brick contractor in Chester, SC.  The 1850 census shows that Mr. Houser had moved from NC and was co-owner of a business called McDonald and Housar. This brick business manufactured over 450,000 bricks per year!  Absolm was no slacker.

Check out this early photo of the house before the front porches were removed and the brick was painted white:




Gaston-Gage House before the remodel

I love the history of this pre-civil war gem.  I can guarantee that if we purchase this home, our next dog will be named Absolm, Absolutely!

Fingers crossed!  Wide Plank Floor Dreams, Kris

In Love.

So yesterday, my husband and I made an offer on an 1855 Georgian Revival Home in Chester, SC.  We offered 195,000 plus the contents.  Now, we wait. 

We made our offer including the contents.  The lady that owned this passed away in 2013. 

Check out the exterior:

 

 

This staircase reminds me of Gone with the Wind:

 

 

And I still don't know nothin' bout birthing no baby's!

 

Love and Wide Plank Floor  Dreams,

 

Kris