Moving Weekend

This was a very exciting weekend!  We were able to move into our first house!

A few weeks ago, I gave you guys a sneak peek of some of the pictures I had of our house... and that garden with a "Cabana"!  I've spent many a nights leading up to our move cherishing these photos and trying to imagine how our stuff will look in them.  What pictures I'll hang on the wall (actually using levels for once to get everything just right).  How I will organize all of the kitchen cabinets (and teaching Kevin where everything goes this time so he has no excuses to not put away the washed dishes).  What colors I want to paint the walls (I actually have a few paint swatches hanging out in my purse that I pull out and admire in different lighting from day to day).  I know... I'm a big nerd.

I'll tell you right now.  I am not a good mover.  I grew up in the same house my whole life until I moved for college and then when Kevin and I were first married.  In total, I've moved about seven times in my whole life.  Kevin, on the other hand has moved nearly 20 times.  He moved many times as a kid in California because his dad was a real estate agent and was able to find them really cheap rent until certain houses sold.  His mom and him made it a game, so Kevin thoroughly enjoys moving.

I do not.  I hate the feeling of all my things in boxes not ready for me to grab when I need them.  I don't like the uncertainty of when those boxes will be unpacked someday.  I hate the anxiety of feeling temporarily homeless because a place doesn't feel like home until I unpack.

This move, however, felt a bit different.  I did get anxious from all of the chaos, but not nearly to the extent I have in the past.  I think the peace of mind of knowing that this is the last move for a long while made me more calm.

On Saturday, we finished packing up the apartment and cleaning a few things.  Then on Sunday, Kevin had several of his coworkers come (with trucks, yay!) to load up.  We ended up making it in two trips with four trucks and two cars.  We worked loading and unloading from 11 to 4, but we got it done!  We spent the rest of the evening unpacking (the kitchen for me, the tv room for Kevin), and were able to set up our bed in the spare room to sleep in (we are getting a new master bed set soon).

It was exhausting and exciting all rolled into one.  I ended up hitting my step count goal around 1 (10,000) and the majority of that was stairs since our apartment was on the 3rd floor.  After a long weekend, we are in and so excited to be home owners.  Hopefully (!) very soon I'll be able to start bringing you some new recipes from my own kitchen!

Health and Happiness,

Amy

Meet our First House

As I mentioned in my last update post, we are going through the process of buying our first house.  This was exciting, and really frustrating at times.  Without getting into too many gory details, we found that the housing market for buyers in our area is very competitive.  Before we found our house and had our offer accepted, we had tried unsuccessfully to put offers in on four other houses.  For the four we tried, we were beaten out by higher offers, some of which were cash.  Very hard to compete with that when you are a first time home buyer.

When we viewed our house, it was the only one we were interested in that was by appointment only with the owners.  We ended up being the only ones to see it before we put in our offer, and had our offer accepted the next day.  It is a lovely, updated, and well maintained two story home with three bedrooms and two and a half baths.  And the backyard... is amazing!!!  There are three things that I have been most excited for in a house: having a craft room, having a nice kitchen, and having a yard where I can grow all things lovely and/or edible.  With this house, I am getting all three!  Let me share a few pictures with you...

Our adorable house with a large lilac bush in the front as well as some lavender bushes.

My new kitchen!  It has lovely lighter-stained cabinets, a tile countertop and backsplash, a deep two sided porcelain sink, a pot and pan rack on the far wall, a spice rack on the left wall, a window looking out over the backyard, as well as a newer dishwasher, gas stovetop, convection oven/microwave, and nice fridge.  The french doors in this picture lead off to the family/TV room, which will be perfect for cooking and watching football games in the fall.  The paint color is a bit bright for my tastes, so I am hoping to paint not too long after we move in.

A closer view of the pots and pan rack.  I'm not sure my miss-matched pots and pans will look quite as nice as their matching set.

A view from the other direction of my kitchen.  I just love the tiling detail that they chose!

This is the view walking into the backyard from the family room slider.  There is a long pergola that has three different types of grapes that grow.  I'm not sure what I will do with all of the grapes come fall, but I'm hoping to learn how to make preserves and perhaps some wine.  To the left of the extended pergola is our covered detached deck, which the appraisal report called a cabana... so that is what we will forever call it.  I can just imagine thinking this summer, "I can't wait to go home from work and have a glass of wine under my cabana."

Here is another view of the pergola and "cabana".  Ha!  Cabana... I just can't get over it.

Beside the house is a nice area for a planter bench as well as the tranquil pond that will be staying.  Four little fish come with it, and I was told not to name them because fish always seem to go belly up once you name them.  But, seriously, how can I not name them?  I'm someone who names squirrels and ducks that I see in my head on a regular basis.  That is, in my head I name them... not that I'm seeing imaginary critters.

Here is the planter box to the right of the pergola.  I'm hoping to make this one my herb garden this summer.  The trees lining the fence include Rainier and bing cherries, Asian pears, plums, hazelnuts, walnuts, and a four way apple tree.  On the other side of the yard that I don't have any pictures of is another identical planter which I will do tomato plants, green onions, carrots, and some kale.  Around the outter edge on the other side is also three types of raspberries, one type of blackberry, and two types of strawberries.  On the left fense edge is bamboo that has been trained to make a partition for a private garden section.

A more professional picture of the backyard from the right side.

One more picture, from which you can see the bamboo and planter on the farther side.

I hope to be bringing you recipes from my new kitchen as well as showing you all my garden progress through the spring and summer!

Health and Happiness,

Amy