Our house was built in 1909 by Fred S. Thayer. From the dates listed on the deed when the land was purchased I am making an educated guess that is was completed in the fall of 1909. Mrs. Ethel Jacobs told me her father had carved the date of 1909 into the chimney in the attic on the right side as you go up the stairs. Well, whomever remodeled the house in the 1960's removed the chimney and thus the date along with the matching chimney on the other side of the hipped roof.

The house is built on the plan of the American four-sqaure. It has an addition on the back from the 1960 era also. From the looks of things the back porch was closed in and the kitchen runs the entire width of the house. Further renovations were done by the last owners who installed a wood stove in the kitchen and put in a double sized patio door. The kitchen is pretty much wall to wall glass, super large windows on either side centered by the large door. It makes for a nice view when working in the kitchen. I can look out and my eye sees all that is our domain.

The house has a very friendly feel to it. Immediately when walking in a peace greets you, a welcomeness, a feeling of tranquilty. The house has a good spirit. It is comfortable. It is open and airy. It is home.

My plan is to capture the changes in the house by season. I will photograph the repairs and remodeling we do also but those will be more of the before and after style of photojournaling.

Note: Mrs. Jacobs is the daughter of Fred Thayer. She is 103 years old. She lives in the local nursing home. Failing eyesight and age have left her fragile, physically. Her mind is sharp as a tack! She was five years old when the house was built and spent her childhood here and some of her adult life. She once told me she wished she never had to leave 'home' but getting married she followed her husband and made a new home. Deep in her heart this house is always what she thinks of when she thinks of home. That is just fine by me. I hope we are as happy and live as fruitful a life as Miss Ethel.

January 2005 We spent nearly the entire month of January under snow. I am not a big fan of snow. One day of snow for me fills all of my desires, I prefer that one day of the year to be Christmas Day.

February 2005 The month of February also found us under snow. It did melt away after a bit so we found ourselves looking at brown grass for at least a week before the snow came back.

Early March 2005 The early part of March our house was again under snow. The locals tell us it was a mild winter and the snow fall was light. I do NOT want to see heavy.

Late March 2005 The snow has finally melted and things are beginning to look green. I am praying the usual central Virginia cold snap does not produce another snow storm.

April 2005 The weeping willow tree is starting to fill out nicely. There is something about a willow tree that comforts me in spring.

May 2005 If you look closely at the front of the house you can see the subtle change. We took almost 2 feet off the height of the boxwoods in front of the porch. So far they are surviving the radical pruning that had to be done with a chainsaw. Next spring we plan to take at least another foot off and bring them in line with the porch.