Monday Surprises

Spring cleaning began in my house today when my fiancé had an unexpected day off. We live in a house built by my great-grandfather. My great-grandmother lived here her entire adult life, and my grandmother who lives next door grew up in this house. Moving in required the cleaning of a lifetime. Every room needed cleaning from the ceiling down. Windows needed caulking, sinks and tubs needed replacing, someone had actually smeared menthol chewing tobacco all over the living room walls. The room intended as the nursery currently needs all of the walls ripped out because whoever fixed the room last put the drywall on backwards. can you believe it? It has definitely been a process to live here, but the house continues to surprise me. Previously, we found old jars from my great-grandmother in the dirt cellar, along with a buried cast iron furnace. We have found bullet shells and dated toys, and practically a field of wild blackberries hidden in the woods on the hill behind the house. We even uncovered my great-grandmother's piano. I thought we were done with these discoveries, but in my kitchen is a shelf that is about 2 1/2 ft deep, and of course, I can't reach all the way back.

With today's spring cleaning, I asked my fiancé to pull the pots and pans out that had been pushed to the back. When he was done, he brings me a small jar and said he had found it in the cabinet. Under the grime, was a small glass container of dill weed. You can tell how old it was because it has a wooden lid. I'm only 26, but I have to admit, I have never seen this level of craftsmanship in a spice container. I had to share because I felt it was an impressive find. I opened it to smell, and it is still good! I couldn't believe it. It is just about the only spice I didn't have in my cabinet. Somehow, my great-grandmother left it for me!

I can only imagine what is left to find when we tear down the walls of the nursery, or the barn attachment of the house. The attachment is falling apart and the previous owner used it as a chicken coupe, but there is still one alcove of the attachment we have yet to search. After over two years, I have a renewed excitement to see what is still around this old place.

If anyone has suggestions or tips on fairly easy ways to continue restoring the house, feel free to comment!

Thanks for sharing in this find with me!