Post by Christine on May 7, 2020 8:19:50 GMT -5
I have a problem, and need advice. Not sure if anyone here will relate, but I'm going to give it a shot.
Thanks to Joann, Sally, and the rest of you, I abandoned my yuppie lifestyle, and brought a cow into my life. I live in a yuppie suburb (that is zoned for agriculture), and essentially have cows in a residential neighborhood. Thanks to tolerant neighbors, and intensive cleanup, I make it work. It's unconventional for sure. The cows roam in the driveway, and moo at the Volvos going by. The town officials think I'm like the crazy cat lady, except with cows.
I have dogs, cats and macaws in the house. My place is split into two chunks - a MIL apartment that houses a family room, my office and my bedroom, and the main house. The animals are kept in the MIL apartment, and since I'm there most often, I get to spend most of my time with them. A Brazilian lady cleans weekly. She's a saint. She cleans cat poop, coughed-up, hairballs under the bed, cat litter, dog accidents and macaw detritus without any comment. It's never clean, but she gets up a layer, and keeps things from getting gross. When she first started, she actually had to rake up leaves that came in on the fur of the pyrs.
I met a lady, and we've become an item. She's kind, smart, generous and decent. We're a good fit in so many regards. I never would have figured it. She's a Brookline, liberal, retired lawyer, who lives in a house-beautiful condo. She has no animals, although she grew up with family members who had cows. She also came from a lower middle class upbringing. She's frugal, has no pretenses, and does not live like a snooty, Boston yuppie. Although she doesn't do barn chores, she has fallen in love with the cats, dogs and macaw, and has taken charge of their care when she stays here. She loves the milk and yogurt, so the she gets "cow".
We're talking about taking things to the next step, and moving in together. It's likely that the house will resemble her "House Beautiful" condo, than my ratty farm house.
Even so, I need to have my animals around.
The cows and horses are easy. We set up a barn and pasture, and keep them separate from lawn, gardens, and the area surrounding the house.
The insides are a different matter.
Dogs, cats and macaws trash houses. Things get scratched, broken, chipped and eaten. The dirt that gets tracked in is amazing. Accidents happen with vomit, pee, and poop.
That's ok in my place, because I just disinfect with white vinegar and mop it up. If the macaw takes a 2 inch chunk of wood out of the door molding, I replace it when I have a chance (which could be when I sell the place). It's not a big deal.
It would be a big deal at my SO's house, not because of her, but because of the environment. I'd feel awful if something got trashed in a "nice" house.
So here's my question.
Can you have a gorgeous living space that is aesthetically pleasing, and animal proof it so it doesn't get trashed?
How do people pull this off?
Thanks to anyone who can relate to this.
Christine
Thanks to Joann, Sally, and the rest of you, I abandoned my yuppie lifestyle, and brought a cow into my life. I live in a yuppie suburb (that is zoned for agriculture), and essentially have cows in a residential neighborhood. Thanks to tolerant neighbors, and intensive cleanup, I make it work. It's unconventional for sure. The cows roam in the driveway, and moo at the Volvos going by. The town officials think I'm like the crazy cat lady, except with cows.
I have dogs, cats and macaws in the house. My place is split into two chunks - a MIL apartment that houses a family room, my office and my bedroom, and the main house. The animals are kept in the MIL apartment, and since I'm there most often, I get to spend most of my time with them. A Brazilian lady cleans weekly. She's a saint. She cleans cat poop, coughed-up, hairballs under the bed, cat litter, dog accidents and macaw detritus without any comment. It's never clean, but she gets up a layer, and keeps things from getting gross. When she first started, she actually had to rake up leaves that came in on the fur of the pyrs.
I met a lady, and we've become an item. She's kind, smart, generous and decent. We're a good fit in so many regards. I never would have figured it. She's a Brookline, liberal, retired lawyer, who lives in a house-beautiful condo. She has no animals, although she grew up with family members who had cows. She also came from a lower middle class upbringing. She's frugal, has no pretenses, and does not live like a snooty, Boston yuppie. Although she doesn't do barn chores, she has fallen in love with the cats, dogs and macaw, and has taken charge of their care when she stays here. She loves the milk and yogurt, so the she gets "cow".
We're talking about taking things to the next step, and moving in together. It's likely that the house will resemble her "House Beautiful" condo, than my ratty farm house.
Even so, I need to have my animals around.
The cows and horses are easy. We set up a barn and pasture, and keep them separate from lawn, gardens, and the area surrounding the house.
The insides are a different matter.
Dogs, cats and macaws trash houses. Things get scratched, broken, chipped and eaten. The dirt that gets tracked in is amazing. Accidents happen with vomit, pee, and poop.
That's ok in my place, because I just disinfect with white vinegar and mop it up. If the macaw takes a 2 inch chunk of wood out of the door molding, I replace it when I have a chance (which could be when I sell the place). It's not a big deal.
It would be a big deal at my SO's house, not because of her, but because of the environment. I'd feel awful if something got trashed in a "nice" house.
So here's my question.
Can you have a gorgeous living space that is aesthetically pleasing, and animal proof it so it doesn't get trashed?
How do people pull this off?
Thanks to anyone who can relate to this.
Christine