carpet sucks.

Welp. Today, my brother and I tackled the carpet in the rest of the house. Last night, my new neighbors so graciously helped by taking out all the electrical covers, doors, and blinds. We also ripped out the carpet in the living room. Today, Spencer and I tore out the carpet in the three bedrooms and the kitchen/dining room area. Woo. It was heavy, it left gross little specks all over your legs, and you left feeling as though there was NO WAY you hadn't inhaled thousands of toxins. After pulling out the carpet, we took out the tile and swept away. The home already smells better and I dont feel as though I am walking across someone elses life. As I stared at the carpet in the home originally, I couldnt help but wonder at all the mysterious stains around the room. One in the master bedroom looked awful sketchy. After letting my mind wander a bit too far, I realized ripping it out was the way to go. As you can see, this has become quite the community project. I think people take pity on me, realizing that I have NO CLUE what I'm doing so they offer to pitch in. I went to Lowe's twice in one day and at one point, after five minutes of rambling/verbally processing what I was trying to say, I looked up to find both employees staring at me with this look like "they let HER buy a house??" Needless to say, I now have a great new relationship with several of their department heads.

Lilly, my new neighbor, helping out by sanding my wood paneling

The neighbor cat apparently has found a new home?

The neighbors helping by ripping up some carpet

I figured I could throw in a "hand"

Notice now TWO cats asleep on my back porch

Yippee!! Moldy carpet. YUCK.

My growing "to do" list. On the right, the assignments for the "amateurs"...on the left, the list for those who have "been around the block." Good thing I have talented help arriving soon...(HURRY UP JON AND GORDON!!)

My dog stopped by for a visit.

Carpet, tile, and TAH DAH, concrete!!

Spencer ripping up carpet

This is what's underneath my floors...a mysterious black "floor"

Washing the walls with chemicals tends to show just how dirty they originally were

Before...

Midway...

AFTER

Looks so much nicer with no flooring :)

Hallway.

Pile o' junk.

And there goes "the wall"

All my visitors had to take a picture in front of "the wall"...OBVIOUSLY.

Mom and sister

Family friends.

Not sure how you can have phosphate-free TRI SODIUM PHOSPHATE...hmm. Works miracles though so no complaints.

So many germs right there.

I couldn't resist.

Dad and brother.

Neighbor Aaron.

So...as you can see, we have LOTS ahead of us but this is still kinda fun. As I said, I find myself sometimes wandering around because I genuinely don't have a clue what to do next. I'm the most excited about decorating. That's the moment I'm waiting for. I think once we have some paint on the walls, the house will look MUCH different. My goal is to have "the wall" gone by tomorrow night. We shall see.

SHOUTOUT to my neighbors, parents, brother, and friends who have already been so encouraging and helpful. I don't even think I could have found my way in the front door without you!!