"Homes and Heart"
By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey


Before

After

I know I speak for a great number of people on this topic.

My Scottish friend Sheila says I'm HOUSE-PROUD!

Please don't think I'm bragging when I say, 

I know how to do this,

Decorate!

Interior and Exterior.

Houses are my passion.

I confess we have only owned 4 houses, and we're living in #4 at present.

 I poured myself into them, and loved every minute of it.

But here's the frustration.

When selling the "house," to someone else, it hurts.

Love hurts!

I wouldn't mind it at all, if the house did not experience "House Abuse!"

I have a real problem with that.

If you could see the before and after pictures, it would break your heart.

Hundreds of bulbs for springtime tulips, lily of the valley, hyacinth,.... gone!

Perfect mature Maple trees,....gone!
 Cut down so new owners can park 4 cars on the grass.

All flowers,....gone!

Grass....gone!

In-ground swimming pool and oasis..... gone!

Decks, patios, flagstone paths,..... gone!

English Ivy arches......gone!

And that's just the outside.

Once you sell the homes of your heart, you have no control over them.

They belong to someone else.

I think some of you have gone through this too.

You get it!

Trying to get others to understand this?

Think of a fully restored car you have sold, passing by one day completely trashed.

Think of your favorite song, horribly performed off key.

I hope we never have to sell #4. I hope to live here until I die.

 It will go to our grand children someday. 

They better not trash "Castle Petite."

Just sayin.'