My friends and I were driving in the country when we saw this old farm house.  It looked really sad, very downtrodden, but the structure was really nice.  I think the asking price was something like $8000 (back in the early 70's), and I said, "Oh you HAVE to buy this house!"

They at first thought I was nuts, but then were persuaded by my enthusiasms about how they could fix it up.  Over the years they have turned that ugly duckling into the very swan of victorian houses.  They worked so hard, accomplished so much, and they dearly love and cherish the beautiful farm they have called home ever since they sealed the deal this grand old fixer-upper.