We frequently get water in the basement of this old house when it rains. It runs across the floor and down a drain. I give thanks for the drain. Not too long ago, however, the drain backed up, and Pure Luck had to pull roots out of it. I ended up doing a bit of that myself, but it seems to be running well now.
However, I didn't realize the standing water from that earlier event extended into the one walled-off space in our basement. We've used it for storage, for the kinds of things you can't decide what to do with, so you put them somewhere never to look at them until you move. Or have a yard sale. Or have a flood.
That stuff is wet, or some of it is, and so is the wallboard in that thrown up corner room. I'm not sure why anyone ever thought it was a good idea to wall off that space. It happened before our time. And I'm pretty sure it's going to have to come down now.
Naturally, I'm discovering this when the house is populated by yours truly, a 14-year-old girl, a dog and two cats. I guess I'm going to have to take it one section at a time and do as much as I can by myself. I've got bags and bags to put out in the trash tomorrow. I expect there will be even more next week.
Most of what's down there is not anything I cared about keeping, but I just found the box my mother's wedding dress is in, and it has a damp corner. The plastic around the box had broken away. It was not directly on the floor, and honestly I hadn't even thought about it. I hope I can have it cleaned and boxed again. If so, it's going straight to our small attic!
I can do this.
I am woman.
Hear me roar!
