Across the Fence

By Arvord Abernethy

A person can buy a do-it-yourself kit for many, many things. Ray and Lily Hudson didn’t buy it in a kit, but they have a fine home that is really the do-it-yourself kind. They didn’t hire any help at all, but did have the help of Lily’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Balzen, Lily’s brother, Kenneth, of Temple , did the wiring.

The Hudsons felt they had needed a better home, so they started getting ideas together. After some planning, Lily sat down and drew the plans, and I must say that everything is conveniently arranged.

Last June they started the work on the house and at that time set a deadline of Christmas, and believe it or not, they moved in on Christmas Day. One can not think of a better Christmas present for the entire family than a brand new place they can call “Home Sweet Home”. The home is located about a mile north of Fair Park out on the old Stephenville road.

Ray is a trucker for the Gerald Company and Lily works for Munday’s Cleaners, so their time to work on the house was restricted to week-ends and night. Lily said that there were some times when they would work as late as 2 a.m. and then work at their business the next day. It took that sacrifice to meet the deadline. But that sacrifice has given them a feeling of pride and joy that they will probably never feel in any other home they own.

They have a three bedroom, two bath home that they will enjoy for years to come. Their twelve year old daughter, Shanon, has her bedroom in a soft yellow that gives it a very girlish look. Mrs. Balzen did all the painting and finishing in Shanon’s room. Their son, Kevin, has his room done in blue.

They found a good buy in kitchen cabinets, so that is one thing that they did not make. They did arrange and install them to where they have a nice, convenient kitchen. Lily laid the tile in this part of the house and she did a professional job on it.

With the exception of electric ceiling heaters in the bath rooms, the entire house is heated with a large modern wood heater in the living room. Mr. Balzen built a large hearth of heavy stones and then built rock walls to the ceiling on two sides of the hearth. When these stones get good and warm, they will give off heat all during the night. Do you remember how good it felt to your cold toes to have a hot rock in bed with you back in those “good ole days”? The outside walls have five layers of material, plus insulation, so it is a warm house to begin with.

Since the house represents a very part of each of the family, it will always have a special meaning to them. They are so happy in their new home, and we are happy for them.