The "before" pictures.

As promised, this is a post full of "before" pictures of our new home.  We have a lot of work to do, as you can see. 

I apologize for the dots on the pictures -- apparently there was something on my lens, which I have since (I hope) cleaned up.

Behold the family room with the 1970s red shag carpeting.  That black thing at the far end is a wet bar that is covered with black flocked material, tufted across the front. My friend has dubbed this space "The Las Vegas Room."

Family room and the fabled red shag carpet.

I need to tell you that I vacuumed this space twice over today -- with two different high-powered vacuum cleaners. 

And then I began the shampooing process. 

The dirt was truly disgusting. I'd get about a 3' x 4' patch done and then have to change out the water. 

Gross.

And, as suspected, many fibers came up in the shampooing process. Number 6 (who is home for a few days between jobs) joked that there were enough fibers to weave a whole 'nother carpet.

Tomorrow I will go back over the family room carpet with the shampooer yet again, and I will shampoo the carpets in the two bedrooms off the family room.

Now, let me show you a space that I am very happy about.

This is my new kitchen.

The kitchen.

See that window over the sink?

This is the view:

The view of the backyard.

I look forward to many peaceful evenings.

- Catherine