The Saga of our House

I thought at one point, that I would document our Remodel progress. I guess I thought I'd start when the builders started actually doing something. What I realized, is that "something" is actually happening, it's just slooooww.
Here's what's happening as of right now.

We have a plan.
Our architect has drawn up a beautiful plan for our house. We will be building an addition for Kathy (Brian's mom) to live in, create a new front to the house -- which eliminates the solar room -- and bring natural light into the kitchen. We'll be sacrificing part of the garage, but we haven't been able to park in there up to this point, so actually being able to use it at all is a step in the right direction.

The Furnace
We were living without a furnace for half our house since we moved in last May. This wasn't that big of a deal until it got cold. Really cold. Below zero cold. We had 4 space heaters running all at the same time and it really wasn't all that bad, but we took a hit with the electric company. Ouch.
Two days after the cold snap, we got our new furnace installed. It's glorious! It's nice not having to avoid power cables on the floor or to have the extra white noise from the fans. The HVAC guys have been here all week installing duct work.

And guess what else they found?

There's been a small gas leak under the house. I guess it's been there for years. Fantastic.

That expedites the second stage of the HVAC project. We have installed one furnace to service three very different areas of our house: the front of the house, where the bedrooms are; the back of the house, a bi-level living space; and Kathy's space. All of these areas are independently controlled, but let me tell you, that's a lot of ducting!! So now we have a call into the Concrete Cutters to cut through part of the foundation to run the ducting to the back of the house so that we can get rid of our 25 year old furnace that is oversized, not ducted correctly and short-cycling. At least the heat exchanger isn't cracked, like the one we that was in the front of the house.

The Problem with Trees
Isaac took a bath the other day and when we drained the tub, the kitchen sink went "gurgle, blub, blub." That's when we learned that we had a block in the line. Brian removed the toilet (that wasn't properly set in the first place) and tried to snake out the clog, to no avail. We called a plumber and he came over at 10:30 at night and told us that we have tree roots in our septic line.
Excellent.
Yesterday, we removed one of the juniper bushes that was planted on top of where the septic line runs from the house to the septic tank. And this morning, when Brian was in the shower, he heard "gurgle, blub, blub" coming from the bathroom sink. Again, we are without flushing power.
At least when the plumber comes today, it's not at 10:30 at night.

And that's the latest.

When you don't feel like raking...

...just remember. You could have 9 mature cottonwood trees on your property.

 
 
 

A Study in Doorknobs

Let me introduce you to a little part of our funky house. Yes, those are chickens we hear in the mornings; yes, we still don't have heat; yes, we still don't know what all the switches do.
BUT here is one of the funkiest parts:

Look at the variety of doorknobs we have in our house!












Yes. All in the same house.



And then I, well, changed some more.

Did you know we're moving?

We went under contract with our house on Regal the same day we put it on the market which is INSANE. The house that we're moving into (can I say that? we haven't signed anything yet, just sent cash that way) feels like home to us which makes living here tricky. I look around my house and see everything familiar, but now, it also looks kind of temporary. We're ready to move to our new house.

Now I say "new house" but it is by no means new. And it's a little funky, but I think it'll work for us. Brian and the boys call it the Turtle House. Brian says it looks like a turtle. Isaac runs through the house and says things like "I'm in the turtle's head! There are the turtle's intestines! This is where the turtle poops!"
Here are some pictures.



Well, I'll have to link to the pictures b/c I'm over my quota.
Here's at least a link to the house.

Behaviors That Could Lead to the Loony Bin

Mom?

Mom?

Mom?

Mom?

Mom?

"Hey Mom? Where are my shoes?"

"They're by the front door..."

"What?"

"They're by the..."

"What?"

gahh!

Yes. These are excerpts from my children's extensive vocabulary that I've heard many many MANY times today.

Oh, and I almost forgot...

::funny noise::

Mom, did you hear that?

(yes dear, I'm 3 feet from you)

::whistle::

Mom, did you hear that?

(and yes, I heard that too. Now I need to leave the room)

Mom?

Mom?

Dumb Stuff at Peppercorn

Yes, it's more lazy-rant for me.

Brian's mom and I went to one of my favorite stores today, Peppercorn. I have a lot of gadgets in my kitchen, but today, when we were in the "unitasker" section I saw some just silly things for ridiculous prices. Is this my new life? Have I become a I've-been-to-a-Third-World-Country snob? Have I become too good for kitchen gadgets?

FOR EXAMPLE:
an asparagus peeler
onion goggles (and look how much they cost!)
a ginger peeler

My boys had a great time playing with the steamers. One was a satellite and the other was a spaceship. Oh, and then there was the elephant funnel.

I guess I'm with Alton. Be creative and seek wisdom from MacGyver.

Closet Organization

Since we've returned from Africa, some funny American things have seemed just a little sillier.
Like paying gobs of money to organize your stuff. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a organization-addict as well (this does not necessarily mean I'm organized) and Brian makes fun of my basket addiction. But a closet is just a place to put your stuff.
Every purchase I make since we've gotten back has seemed... um, louder? It's like the price rings in my ears after the cashier tells me what the total is. It kind of hangs there for a moment. Maybe it's because I've been using Rand and Pounds for a while and didn't really grasp the exchange rate. 100 Rand? Ok, that's about $12? got it.

So today, while Brian and the boys are camping in Estes Park, I've been cleaning the house. I've gone through drawers, cabinets, bins, cubbies and thrown away all sorts of trash. It's kind of like cleaning inside out.

And now, it's late. Off to bed I go.