Friday, April 24, 2009
Proof of my Landscaping Addiction....
Labels: About me, Eternal House Hunt, Latest Obsession
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Landscaping Junkie
I've gone off the deep end.That is really the only excuse I have. I told myself that my front landscaping needed just TWO more plants, red I think and it's done. Finally done.
Then I went to the nursery on my lunch. And filled my car.
Overheard on ride home, Princess talking to The Man on phone:
"I'm sitting all crooked.....cause mom went on lunch to get dog food and TWO plants.....no....she got like 40........there's no room in here for us......."
Little ratter-outters. They told on me.
Tomorrow after work, I'm totally planting.
Labels: Eternal House Hunt, family smamily
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Slow going, but going....
Our purty little house when we were considering purchasing it. Almost a year ago.... Man the work we've done on this place. Could somebody please tell me next time that a freshly built house is MORE work than a normal house. Please. So notice the landscaping, that is the topic of conversation today.So today the kids and I hit up the store for more soil and 2 more Steve's. (Funny story we spent some time chit chattting with the neighbor's while unloading them all, I'm referring to the shrubs as Steve, thoroughly confusing them until I remembered that the hubs name is Steve, that got some laughs when I explained).
So this is where we left off Friday evening. Two Steve's and alot of plants that are so small you can't see. Sorry. Plus a bucket full of bulbs that may or may not bloom (but hey, I wore gloves so hopefully that will help). My mom assures me that they will pop one day and be beautiful. I'm having my doubts. I'm slowly learning this gardening thing.
So once we pulled the offending "same as everyone else" clone bushes, I planted the new Steve's. I think they are purty. My pots of tulips mixed in for good measure. I do love the idea of year round green, especially here.But since I'm frugal by nature........
I transplanted the clones into the backyard. Up against the back of the house where they'll get plenty of morning sun and mixed in the rest of the bulbs. Cross your fingers. The clones are actually starting to bloom, that is just from this week so hopefully they'll take well to their new location.
I transplanted the clones into the backyard. Up against the back of the house where they'll get plenty of morning sun and mixed in the rest of the bulbs. Cross your fingers. The clones are actually starting to bloom, that is just from this week so hopefully they'll take well to their new location.Already peeps in the neighborhood are driving by real slow to get a peek.......
Although it's probably not the landscaping their looking at. We kinda made a mess. Professionals we are not.
Although it's probably not the landscaping their looking at. We kinda made a mess. Professionals we are not. Excuse me while I go clean up my front yard, we ain't that kind of trashy.
Labels: Eternal House Hunt, Welcome to the Boonies
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Curb Appeal
So I did some time on the Homes & Gardens website, which is my crack lately. I just need my fix. And two points became obvious.
1. I live in a cookie cutter neighborhood. All the houses are 1 of 10 styles, they are all the in the same color family and since its a new neighborhood, there are no tree except the skinny little ones on the curbs that the city planted. Thus, my landscaping is the exact replica of all my neighbors, right down to the number of bushes and wood chips.
2. Colors: as I said the color is obviously the same of every other house.
So according to H&G, there are two immediate things I need to do to enhance my curb appeal.
Move and ... I'm kidding since it's apparent that me and this house will be together for awhile, thank you economy.
So yesterday I started on landscaping. I tore out most of the offending ugly stick shrubs and got busy.
I quick trip to Home Depot and I had the basics (in addition to the pine shrubs and tuplis I'd already planted). Notice my OCD method of prepping for work, everything is laid out nice and neatly, according to my list. Mental much?
I started with lots of new soil. Necessary I think. Then I added some spiky plants, don't ask me names, I lost all the tags. But I like the attitude of these babies. I also read that grouping in 2's and 3's are best. So I got 3. Cause I follow directions very well.
Color was necessary since my tulips haven't popped yet. So I got some calla lilies. 2 of them since they are like GOLD apparently. Damn.
Meet Steve, who has a twin also named Steve. (Over the Hedge watchers will recognize this) Duchess names them as a set apparently. Steve looked alot bigger at Home Depot but once planted he lost some height (say it with me, duh) but I still like them, even if they aren't as magestic as I thought they'd be. But I am helping them along, Miracle Gro folks. Plus so far, I've managed to beat the black thumb of death by using garden gloves....The work continues today as I weed the flower bed, rake the backyard in prep of sod and get my weedeating done. I may even do some mowing, as it needs it, even if it is brown grass.
And I'm getting kicked off the computer cause Duchess wants to do webkinz. Peace out.
Labels: Burb living, Eternal House Hunt, family smamily
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Hindsight = 20/20
I love my house. But I'm a realist. So I have no problem admitting the things with it that I don't like. Therefore what better place to put and keep my list of things I want for my next house.Here.
1. Proper ventilation in kitchen: our vent fan, vents toward the ceiling. So that breakfast sausage I made for everyone earlier, still lingers. Stinks! Stove must vent through ceiling out of house. WTF were they thinking?
2. Larger bathroom for children. Although the kids are only 10 & 6, they already fight over the tiny teeny little bathroom sink area. Shelving would be nice in there too, for bath toys and such.
3. Two family rooms. People, after having separate areas for kids/adult movies, you can't go back. I'm so sick of Camp Rock, you have no clue. I caught myself singing that crap in the shower!
4. Proper mudroom/garage entry way. Our garage enters straight into the dining room. What was I thinking? I need room for shoes, boots, coats and backpacks. A separate little mudroom would work.
5. Bigger kids bedrooms. Yes my room is large enough for an entire tribe in some countries but the girls, well they are seriously small. Wall to wall toys leaving little room for actual play. Learn lesson!
6. Bigger yard: Yes yards here in Utah are very small, we have a corner lot of at .16 that is big but hello.......no. Need more room for shed for hubs' crap. Room for a tramp and swingset. Need trees. Buying new in a new development, no trees. No shade, no NOT seeing all your neighbors. Trees peeps are highly underrated!
Now: things I do love, and will try like hell to find in another house.
1. Great room: vaulted ceilings, graceful lines. Great echos and very warm feeling.
2. My bathroom: a bathroom for a queen, in this case: me! Big ole jet tub, standing huge shower, although I would rather have the potty enclosed, the closet is rocking too. Nice big ole closet.
3. Double laundry room: Maybe cause it's Utah, you know where the actual family has 5 or more kids (I'm not kidding, go to a HOA or PTA meeting and see) but our house has a double laundry room. Full in basement, and stackable laundry in my closet. Sweet
4. 2 story garage: love that, although we haven't built the loft we need yet, soon peeps soon, there is room for a loft up there for out of season stuff. Hello.
5. Island: first kitchen with a full island, a cook's dream!
6. Wrought iron staircase: leading out of the great room downstairs to the lower level. Lovely, just striking really. Especially with Christmas garland draped all around.
So there are things to keep in mind for my next house!
Whereever that may be:
Labels: About me, Eternal House Hunt
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Obviously missing some brain cells.....
Between all the crap we have going on, we've decided to start finishing our basement after the first of the year.We're in desparate need of more room.
I'm not used to have so much of my children. Sounds horrible but true.
The Man is on the phone now with his dad, who builds houses and is retired.
My father-in-law and HIS father-in-law are coming out in March to knock this out.
OMG........
However, we have 3100 square feet here, only 1550 finished. Basically we're living in the smallest house ever since we left apartment living.
I'm so freaking excited.
Free labor, the hard stuff was done when the house was built, woohoo, so we're already walled and installated.
This could actually work.
Mom, can the kids and I come live with you that week?
In March?
Can you check your calendar and pencil me in?
I clean toliets......
Labels: Burb living, Eternal House Hunt
Friday, June 20, 2008
Unpacking.......Still
Well the mighty unpack job is underway......still.........we're now days into this, but we're coming together quite well, except I was tired so I needed me some beauty sleep, so then I wasn't unpacking......and I had to work, so I wasn't unpacking, and then the people I live with wanted to eat dinner every night (the nerve?) so I wasn't unpacking......are you picking up what I'm putting down?
So here is where we left off, the livingroom........hmmm not impressive at this point.....
Kitchen, yeah there is no way this is what it looked like in my dreams...... 
Oh wait, it's starting to come together......I do so love me the face to face conversing seating. I have a fixation with it......but I'm sure other people do too.....right? I will get around to filling those bookshelves, I promise........first I have to find the boxes of books......hmmmm
Starting to see some promise in the kitchen too.......slowly
But the best part was watching my hubby, The Man sink our first ever brand new mailbox. Go hubby go........
Anyone notice that it got dark really freaking quick? It's already 9 something at this point.....
Still going. He's very meticulous at his work. It doesn't help that I pointed out it wasn't up to postal code so he had to start over.........not the point at all...........
And still going..............OMG do you need some help?
Almost there........putting the finishing touches on..........
And what was I doing? Well I was sitting in the grass in my "I see London, I see France" pjs documenting this glorious experience so we can look back on it when we're 80. Maybe, just maybe when I point out that he was doing it wrong and it took almost an hour to do, he'll finally think it's funny.
Well it was funny..........Still waiting on internet service (we be in the boonies now) so will probably be back Monday morning, hopefully with full house shots of a beautiful and unpacked house.........
Maybe
Labels: Eternal House Hunt, Married Life, The Never Ending Move
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Move Day
Move day started early.......real early. Especially since The Man insisted on sleeping at the new place, on pallets.....awww isn't he cute? My back was killing me! I'm too old for that crap. But while awaiting the troops, he spent his breakfast time calling people to set up new house stuff.
Whereas my baby, Duchess slept in.........then wandered around in her jammies until I made her go to kid camp for the day. Moving with kids underfoot is NOT cool......
The calvary finally arrived. We started with four. That rocked, four guys that work with The Man (sporting his favorite Dads Againest Daughters Dating shirt). Four meant that I could make donut and coffee runs and then work my way over to the new house put things away as we received them. Didn't happen. Why you ask?
Cause seven more people showed up. This action was more than I would have gotten if I'd have had military movers, they only send three. So it began, the tearing down of furniture, the stuffing of crap into boxes, cause I didn't have time to pack ( hey, I was working...... ) the jokes and colorful commentary you get from ALL EX MILITARY guys with only one woman around, hence I was temped to buy earplugs, yuck.
Once at the new place, the guys started really going over the place. Worse than chicks they were. You should put this "here" and that "there", too funny. Especially since I put this "here" and that "there". Fun times. With eleven men on the decorating scheme.....
Then I noticed that they started slowing down around lunch. Most of the big stuff was moved. Now it was all garage junkola.......now The Man and I don't drink. We do smoke, but we just don't drink........so it never occured to me why so much got done before 11 a.m. and then after 11 a.m. everything slowly came to a grinding halt.
See all those coke cans.......yeah.......SOMEBODY brought rum (line: Yes, but what about the rum?) and it wasn't until I went to grab mine that somebody yelled, smell it first, make sure its clean.........oh boy.......
So the chickie here is my girlfriend Mrs. Hockey (named cause she plays every Friday night and is much more aggressive than her husband, she kicks complete arse.....) we typically spend every Sunday together while the guys work. We shop and we hang, cause I haven't been to church lately, but I'm starting back this Sunday so yeah me. Anywho, Mrs. Hockey and I were the chicks in charge of being in charge. We were cracking the whip. And ordering the massive amounts of food that was required to feed all these people. Plus, we switched to Dr. Pepper to avoid the tainted coke cans.....they almost got away with imbibing at my moving party. But honestly, this is one of the dangers of having so many of these rogues in one spot at one time.
Speaking of dangers......Poor guy......they completed nailed him twice with the headboard of my bed. Sorry fellow........there is ice......in the cooler......over there
As he waddled away, the rest just kinda too it in stride, laughing............
So the end product is not quite to my liking. But as of 5 p.m. on Friday, we were completely moved into the new house. Dang.............now we're unpacking..........still............and could use some help...........please.........
More interior shots to come tomorrow...........see you then
Labels: Eternal House Hunt, The Never Ending Move
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Blank Canvas.....
Welcome to our new home.......come on inside.
This is the view from my front door.......so if I kick you out of my house, this is what you will see. Beautiful green grass......they love them some stucco here.....but the mountains in the background. Worth it. I do miss my morning lake views but I own this view. It rocks. The house across from me is for sale too, anyone want to be my neighbor......oh won't you be my neighbor....
Duchess is introducing the brand new kitchen........ohhhhhhhh.....pretty. I wasn't too sure about the cabnet color but everyone else raved about it, so I shut up. Then I realized it perfectly matched my table and was an upgrade on the model of my house. Sweet, I am in love with it now. The floors rock. I do love me some hardwood floors. Plus the major theme of my home decorating is wood and iron so there you go. This house was build with me in mind.
I lost some dining room space but you won't hear me crying.....the other one was so big and awkward that it was hard to decorate and didn't have that homey feeling that I love. Plus my pub table works well in this area......
This is the entrance to my living room. You see the coat closet.....You see the stairs to the full basement......off to the left you can see the foyer and the other end of that little hallway leads to bedrooms. I must admit that I am loving me some one level living. 10 plus years of multi-level living just sucked once I realized how much easier life is when you're all spread out on one floor. The Man gets points for knowing this ahead of time and forcing the rambler living.
More to come over the next couple of days........you'll get to see, gasp.....the reality of civilian moving. Which might be normal to most of you, but this was my FIRST non-military move. Meaning I couldn't sit and sip iced tea and just point, I had to actually work.......
It was not pretty.....you've been warned.
Labels: Eternal House Hunt, The Never Ending Move
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Anti-Climatic
Well we have the house....now what. We need a deck, back yard sprinklers, grass and a fence. We will eventually finish the basement into more bedrooms and a den. We also have to plan a real family vacation.....Life didn't stop.
Very strange, but for so long, I was so focused on getting the house that everything else just kinda seems details. Now that we have the house and have lived there for under one week, I'm sitting and looking around going, wow.......what next.......
I guess I'm that kind of person.
Labels: Eternal House Hunt
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Our New Home
Forgive me, as I'll not be blogging till I have new wireless service, in my new house. (Unless I can mooch off a neighbor's....)
Today we bought our home, we closed. Tomorrow we get the key and we're moving. Tomorrow morning, we're going to be buying blinds, curtain rods, and then we're rolling naked through the deep beautiful green grass........hello, new neighbors.....
We left the military dreaming of settling somewhere to do just this......thank you Lord, a year and a half later, here we are!
Plenty of inside pics coming, although please don't let me kill you with tons of house talk. I hate that.
So about the house........wink wink
"Home Sweet Home"
Labels: Eternal House Hunt, The Never Ending Move, Welcome to the Boonies
The Silver Lining
This beautiful shot was taken off my back porch. I just love it, the beauty of God's work. Plus, it's the perfect representation of my silver lining........
We are scheduled to close on our house at 4 p.m.
Cross your fingers.........
Labels: About me, Eternal House Hunt, The Never Ending Move
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Another Chapter
The Man and I have had a heck of a ride. We've been together a long time and we haven't killed each other yet. Our journey together started in the midwest, through the Great Lakes area (thank you boot camp), southern sunny California, dry arse middle of freaking nowhere Texas, back to sunny Cali and then we left the comfort blanket that was the military. We willingly gave up our woobie. It was madness.What made us do it? Our kids. And the desire to spend everyday with one another verses precious few days of a year. So here we are......quite close to exactly 1.5 years after the military.
We've done well for ourselves. We see each other everyday. My children have grown in confidence that can only come from being with their dad all the time. We have made these snowy mountains our homes, hell we've even imported some cajuns to keep us company....hi mom!
This past Friday on my 31st birthday we reached another big milestone.........
We've decided to settle some roots in this beautiful, strange, place.........
We signed papers for our very first house........as in we pay the mortgage, not rent.......HOLY SHIT!
So until we close sometime in the next 15 days, I'll be keeping my pictures to myself....cause I'm still not sure it's real. I'm still pinching myself.......and laying with my face on the floor thanking the Lord that he blessed us!
Now I'm gonna go price blinds.......we need lots of blinds for the house.....
Labels: Eternal House Hunt, Married Life, Welcome to the Boonies
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Hannibal Lector Lived There
So today on my lunch, The Man met up with me to go look at a nearby house that had popped up twice in our househunting stages.....as we're very very early in the process here.It is the house of Mr. Lector....completely normal on the outside and normal on the first three floors (split-level).....
It was the completely underground level beneath the garage with three tiny bedrooms and a butcher's closet (complete with drain the concrete floor) that did it for me..........
It doesn't help that the entire way back to work, The Man kept announcing "It puts the lotion on it's skin".....
Labels: Eternal House Hunt
Monday, August 13, 2007
Houses on the Brain
Well we've begun the "neighborhood hunt"....meaning, we've decided to start our house hunt by picking neighborhoods first....We've picked three locally....Then I get online and find some houses I'd like....can you guess what these below all have in common?
A. this lovely has an incredible back yard (not seen here)...small but adequate....lovely trees and a veggie garden to boot.....Oh about 22 miles from my house
B. Mature trees and an oversized lot here......important when you consider the desert we live in. This is about 35 miles from my current home.....
C. Simple yet huge house! Baby has six freaking bedrooms! Hello you split level beauty, I could plant so much stuff in your barren front yard....to make up for six lovely separate bedrooms, I could have an office, my own room, an office, a kids' room, an office, another kids' room, and a workout room/office.....51 miles from home
D. She has most of what I want....except a big kitchen....note the upper balcony and the flag pole...sniff sniff....down right patriotic! I could live here, except the horrible mowing pattern in the grass is giving me a headache.....58 miles from here....
E. the house that I would built....this has it all, big ole yard, it is NOT a cookie cutter home...looks nothing like the rest of its neighbors...this is important as I'm not a cookie cutter person, ask to see my toe tricks! Back to the house....porch, landscaping that is un-killable! This is the house that makes my whole self sigh...if only you could see the inside pictures!...and it is a whooping 102 miles from here.....So what do each and everyone of these houses have in common....
They all cost the exact same thing!
Which should explain how freaking cheaper the houses get, the further you drive from my community.....
And I hate a commute....
Figures, just Farging Figures!
Labels: About me, Eternal House Hunt, Latest Obsession
