I was adopted at birth and now know my birthfather and siblings except for one full blooded brother we are still looking for (see that story at The Oklahoma and Kansas Adoption Registry)

I grew up in a small community in northcentral Oklahoma in a two story farm house my father moved to town. I spent my time riding horses and trailing after my father.A tomboy of all tomboys, I loved nothing more than to do the things I watched my father do and he could do almost anything, plumbing, woodworking, carpentry, home repair, mechanics, farming, you name it, he knew how to do it and do it well. (Oh, I did learn to cook, thanks MOM). My love of old homes must have certainly come from the values my parents taught me and way they believed in substance, solidity, doing the right thing, and doing things the right way.

I don't know when it is a person realizes they love old homes. You don't just wake up one day and realize it. With me, it was gradual. I remember several years ago, deciding to seriously try to buy a home of my own. I began to take a closer look when I saw a realtor's sign in the yard and soon realized the homes I would slow down for or drive around the block to get a better view of, were never the brick ranches, never the new generic homes of the subdivisions, but the grand old two story homes in the older parts of town. It seemed as though they touched a part of me, brought back memories of looking out my second story bedroom window at night as the streetlight shined in, listening to the sound of the wind through the huge maple tree right outside the window. Memories of a big house to run and play in, a huge yard to enjoy, that one step that would inevitably sqeak when I'd try to sneak down in the middle of the night for an ice cold Pepsi (they should pay me dividends).

I was told by more than one business man, honey you don't want to buy a big old home, stick to a little efficient starter home for you and your kids, what are you going to do if the plumbing starts to leak or the screen door breaks..... (well, I suppose I will do what my daddy taught me to do - jump right in and fix it). Comments like that made me want to just slap someone. This wasn't about just a place to park my stuff, I wanted a HOME, a big old home and I wasn't going to rest until I got it. I finally found a home in my price range that was livable and comfortable the way it was, in a nice neighborhood, and I can take my time restoring it as it is in very good condition thanks to the current owners purchasing it as an investment, but loving it enough to repair - not remodel.

I still don't know exactly when I jumped the fence and never looked back, but could never see myself living in anything but an old home. Granted, mine is not a huge victorian mansion or anything spectacular (yet), but it is big, it is old, and it's mine. It has character, it has history, and it has my heart. I decided to start this webring when night after night, all I wanted to find were pictures of old homes similar to mine so I could get an idea for paint schemes. Unfortunately, someone saw fit to put vinyl siding on my home (which I will remedy when I get the money and all of the other 4001 projects completed). My delima was finding some trim colors to bring the house to life that would complement the cream siding. I tried every search engine, webring directory, historic preservation site, Sherwin Williams (who incidentially has a nice little page for trying preselected schemes on 3 styles of homes, but doesn't let you do this with their preservation pallate, go figure), HGTV, and an endless number of other sites to no avail.

I decided to start a Webring for us - those of us who love old homes, love wood, plaster, staircases, crown moldings, claw-foot tubs, built-ins, lack of closet space and are overjoyed that someone saw fit to put four, count them 4, lazy suzans in the kitchen along with two cutting boards, a bread bin and a flour bin. Those of us who are constantly in the middle of a house project, constantly wondering if we are being true to the history and period of our homes, wondering if we are doing it right, wishing we could see an example of "that" (whatever "that" may be at the moment)

I have come to understand, that only old house lovers understand the sense of pride and accomplishment felt in doing right by your old home. Only we know the true meaning behind "that really opened up a can of worms" as a small little project can snowball until the whole house is torn apart and you haven't slept for days because you've "gotta get this done". I was at a site called "Old House Chronicles" the one night and laughed so hard I cried reading about the experiences of the writers when everything that could go wrong, did - because I've been there, I can relate. We are definately a different breed. We are those that become enraged at the tearing down of what once was, and could have been again, a beautiful old home to make way for a parking lot when most others are glad to see it go. We are the people down at the historical society, the library, the courthouse trying to find our homes "roots".

I decided it was time that we had a place to share our thoughts, our accomplishments, our insights and ideas, post our before and after pics and a way to offer each other support and share our favorite sites. This ring is for old home lovers, do-it-yourselfer's, when I get to it I'm gonna, and just look how this turned out kind of people. I don't care if you don't have any more to offer than a few pics of your house or just a story about how you finally managed to get those monstrously huge double hung windows finally working again, if you have an old home, your site is welcome in this ring.

Best Wishes, Join the Ring, and Spread the Word......

To my dear friend Katherine - get some pics of your house, get a site, and join the ring and tell us all about your blue porch ceiling!!!! (She has a beautiful Four Square on Main Street and tends to it with loving care) She is also one of my best friends and co-worker - guess what we talk about all day long..... Her mother gave me my best (and only) housewarming gift -an American Flag because"all old houses should have an American Flag to fly on Flag Day, 4th of July, and Memorial Day" Thank you Mrs. Dunn.

Lori Bates

Visitors Since June 6th, 2000

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