The Journal - Ryan and Leah's New House

So while we're STILL waiting for final prices and signatures from our framing/roofing/siding contractor (meaning we're STILL waiting to submit our plans to the Building Department), I figured I'd post some yard updates.

Thanks muchly to Ry's Mom for the wonderful bench seat and planters. Ryan has planted pachysandra in the bed behind it — a great ground cover that doesn't climb and deters weeds.

We got an EXCELLENT quote from our plumber, Roland — it helps that he's our friend first and our plumber second. And on a side note: a big congrats to Roland & Anna for going under contract on a little house of their own. They hope to close by the end of August, with plenty of time to get settled in before baby Eli arrives late November.

So if you didn't believe me when I said we have a mote around two sides of our house, here's the proof. This picture doesn't really capture the full depth and width of the hole.

This is the first time I've ever had a garden of my own. Sure I've GARDENED my whole life, but that was at my parents' house with my gardener father and gardener brother and gardener Opa carefully overseeing my every planting. So yes, I know that my tomato plants are too close together. And yes, I know it looks like the rhubarb I transplanted here from Ry's mom's garden will not survive. But live or die, it's MY garden and I'm proud of it and that's all that matters.

And yes, I still haven't finished painting the fence...all in good time.

11:50 a.m. — July 15, 2004

I've finally added some photos of our kitchen and living Room to "The Pictures" section of the site. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to structure that section once we've started construction and everything changes. Perhaps some kind of Before, During, and After sections? We'll see what happens... Enjoy!

3:07 p.m. — July 21, 2004
It has begun!

Today, during lunch, we reached a milestone: Ryan submitted our plans to the Building Department! Only a month after they were approved for zoning — "only" ...hah! Ryan had to change a few little things once he got there to satisfy their picky tastes, but he was able to leave with confidence, knowing that in 4 to 6 weeks — unless they decline our application — we can break ground.

How exciting!

In the meantime, for your viewing pleasure, I have made some updates to "The Plans" section of the site. The lovely first floor blueprints and site survey are now avilable to view.

4:57 p.m. — July 27, 2004
Freecycle: To the Rescue, Again

*Very happy that my pictures are actually downloading to my computer straight from my camera via USB...finally.*

Freecycle has done it again! A few weeks ago, we picked up our new-to-us washer and dryer from a very nice man at his new house. Seems he was just overflowing with washers and dryers and we were very willing to take a set off his hands. Our new Kenmore set is five years young and replaces our super-rusty, 20-something-year-old Lady Kenmore set inherited with the house.

The old set (above) and the new set (below).

The new washer and dryer just look so BRIGHT and WHITE, it's wonderful. Take a look at how bright the whole area looks now:

OK, well, this whole area may not LOOK very bright, but believe me, it's a MAJOR improvement from when we first got here. Notice the Stairs To Nowhere on the right...? They go up to the kitchen, but unfortunately, they've been floored over for quite some time now. Why bother taking out the basement stairs after covering over them? Notice the water on the floor beneath the utility sink...? Why make sure the bilco doors are waterproof?

And notice the Super Nintendo on top of my little TV...? Why bother hanging on to your childhood games and systems when you can just buy them back for way more than your mom sold them for at her garage sale? =)

PS I'm currently looking for SNES Sim City, Addams Family, Street Fighter II, and the Game Genie Code Book. If anyone's looking to get rid of any of these, I'd be happy to take them off your hands...

Continue on to Next Month...