Hi there, I’m Betsy.  Welcome to my website/blog/portfolio/dog photo album.  I started this blog because I bought a house.  A big, old, falling apart house.  And it seems like if you’re going to buy a big, old, falling apart house that will nearly bankrupt you, you should chronicle it for the masses in the hopes of becoming a #lowespartner. 

So how did I get here?  Well, for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved old things.  One of the greatest motivations in my adolescent life was simply to go beyond the velvet rope and see the upstairs of every museum. This fascination with the unseen parts of old buildings eventually led to my degrees in Anthropology, Art History, and Historic Preservation. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Main Streets, History and Landmark Foundations, and one very impactful position at James Madison’s Montpelier.  In 2018, I decided to change pace, and relocate to Wheeling, WV. 

Wheeling is a major character in this blog, because it is where, as Director of Heritage Programming for the Wheeling National Heritage Area, I am able to combine my love of technical preservation and cultural heritage interpretation. Seriously, it’s a dream job. Wheeling is a small city with big amenities, undergoing a revitalization that I’m thrilled to be a part of.   It is also where I’ve purchased the aforementioned big, old, falling apart house.  Said house (second only perhaps to my perfect dog Marshall) will be getting a lot of air time on this platform. 

But I hope this platform becomes more than just an old house blog.  My intention is to create a space for those interested to read my thoughts and experiences in community development, and place-making, and heritage studies AND rehabbing a big, old, falling apart house.   And also dogs and yoga and food and flowers.  A lifestyle blog if you will, written by someone that hates lifestyle blogs. 

So if that sounds like fun, come on in.   I promise I’ll never ask you to take your shoes off.