Sunday, August 23, 2009

Little by little.....

It's weird, but I feel like I have no reason to blog
since I'm not living in my previous home anymore,
and posting the projects that we worked on.

I did buy a new bed and a little antique table.
Don't look at the decorating...I just plopped a lamp
on there until I get everything situated.


Here's a closeup

Isn't the table cute?? I paid only 25 bucks for that puppy!

A teensy baby step toward replinishing all my
belongings that I sold to the woman who
purchased our home.

She just loves her new old home, and called again
to thank me for selling her the house and all the goodies.

I remember feeling that way, so
excited about the house when we first moved in.
I'm happy for her....most of the time..lol

We are currently renting a place that is decorated in the
early 90's motif. I know..I know..lol
Think mauve and vertical blinds. But, it's a beautiful
custom home if you can look past the decorating.
It's got all the bells and whistles, a laundry/craft
gift wrap room with a 9 foot counter, corner jacuzzi tub
in the master bath, an unbelieveable walk-in closet,
and a 3 car garage that Pookie is in love with.
(He didn't even have a garage at the old place)

It holds his Packard, with room to spare.

Excuse that picture...but Pookie walked up behind me whilst
I was doing this post and he said..."Hey, why don't you add the
picture of the Packard??? They would enjoy that!!!"

Earth to Pookie....lol

The property is on 1/2 acre and it's gorgeous.
You know this excites the Lawn Nazi in me.

Here's the Pookster, talking to his mama(he's a good son)
and bbq'n this afternoon with Ziggy waiting
for something to drop. His usual M.O. lol


I mean really.....look at that lawn!!




And a welcoming entrance.


Everytime I walk thru all 5400 sq ft of it, I think....ohhhh, if
I just changed this or that....it could be soooo pretty!
Who knows.....as we wait to
hear if we go to Colorado or not....you never know what we
might do.

It's a crap shoot..lol

Monday, August 17, 2009

Maybe...........

When we were in the title company last week
signing away our home, I was thinking....
maybe we shouldn't sell.

Maybe Mike should retire like he's
been promising me for the last 6 years.

Then, maybe we could stay in the old Victorian
(aka Vicky) we love so much, and not
have to relocate due to his job.

Maybe.

I feel sick today.

Maybe it's because we made a mistake?

Maybe it's because I ate my #6
from Mi Ranchito
(2 beef tacos, rice & beans) too fast?

Maybe I have a kink in my intestines???.....

Maybe I picked up something from the woman at
the title company that was coughing.....

Maybe.

Maybe I'll find happiness
in a new home that needs our love and care.

Maybe I just need some time??


Maybe

Thursday, August 6, 2009

A LOVE STORY

I thought I'd take a second today to give tribute to
the long journey that our home has taken, since it
was built in 1893.























The only original picture that I know exists is this one.



I always wondered who's the kid that was sitting on the fence?

It was a pretty big deal to have a picture taken back in 1893.
So, maybe he was a neighbor that couldn't resist all the excitement???









Here is a closer shot of that picture.


The man who built this house, was Oscar M Booth.
And, this was his family.

Thank you Oscar. Ya done good!











Since we began with the renovation, we have
found a couple of very old marbles, some love letters
and some really old things that were stuck in nooks
and crannies in the walls...but more on that later. :0)

I don't know much of the history between that
original picture and this one.....the infamous BEFORE picture.
















After the first year of working non-stop on the
interior, I begged Pookie to please, please, PLEASE
build the porch. I couldn't take the ugly exterior
anymore.

And so he started on it.

Thank you pookie!
















It looks just as good in the winter......




















As it does in spring and summer.....























We were so busy during the last 6 years that sometimes I
forgot to stop and take pictures.
Darnnit!
I regret that now, but I
was usually covered in concrete or paint spatter,
or was otherwise occupied holding something up for Pookie
while he did the attaching part.


One very vivid memory that I will never forget happened
in the spring of 2007.

I was awakened at about 7:00 am, one Monday morning.
Ziggy was going crazy......barking, running up and down the
stairs......barking...barking....barking. (He is not a barker)

Well, if you know me, you know that I believe 7:00 only comes
once a day....at night..lol
I'm not a morning person.
So, I get up....all cranky because Ziggy woke me up...
and I hear this sound....

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...moooooooo...MOOOOOOOOOOOO MOOOOOOOOOO

moooooooooooooo.MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


I thought, what the???????
I looked out the window and there was a herd.....
and I don't mean one or two....
I mean a FREAKING herd of cows in my front yard!!!!






They were all the way over to the right,
at the end of the vinyl fence where
we also had some temporary chicken wire fencing up that ran
along the street that helped support my rose bushes.

So this herd of cows, the mamas and the babies, about 25 in all,
were wedged there and apparently didn't know how to back up.??

They were in a panic, to say the least.

There was also a crowd gathering near my front porch.

All the neighbors didn't want to miss the action.


Poor cows, they were just beside themselves. MOOOOOOOOOOOing
and MOOOOOOOOOOOOOing.....and pooping!

Another thing I learned that morning was that cows don't just poop
and it plops to the ground.

OH NO......it's liquid-sprayed-out-poop!
And, it was now covering my vinyl fence, my lawn and the other cows to the rear.

Then the police arrived...animal control and the sheriff himself.
They all tried to assess the situation, but nothing changed..

The MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOing and the fence ramming
and poop spraying continued.

Then, about 10 minutes later, up rode 2 cowboys on horseback.
Hats, boots, ropes, the whole deal.
And cell phones...lol I thought that was kinda funny.

The cowboys just calmly rode up to the poor freaked out cows,
herded them up and away they went back to their home
about a mile down the road.

True story. :0)

A unique memory for a city girl, wouldn't you say?.

I'll try and post some more tomorrow.
Have a great day everybody!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

SOLD



It all started back in November of last year,
when a nice woman, a complete stranger,
walked up the steps and knocked on our front door.
She said she loved our home from the outside,
and would we please, please let her have a tour of the inside.

We actually have quite a bit of people that
ask to see the inside, so we didn't think anything of it.

In she came.

Before she left, she asked if we would sell our home and
made an offer. What she didn't know was that this summer,
we knew there was a possibility that Pookie
would be going back to Colorado
for a big job there that was scheduled to
last at least 2 years.

Knowing this, and knowing that we probably would
be putting the house on the market in the Spring,
we began negotiations and finally came to an
agreement.
Appraisal and inspection went great and soon we were at
2 weeks till closing.

If you remember back late last year,
the mortgage companies were going a little crazy,
and they made some changes in her financing
that she couldn't handle. They wanted more down payment.

So, the deal was off.

I felt bad, but was secretly relieved.
I just wasn't ready to say goodbye yet, even though
I knew we would probably have to the next year.

I wanted one more Christmas in the home that we love!

Well, spring came very quickly, and the house was listed.
We had painted the shingles and the trim so it looks all spiffy.


After just 1 week on the market we had another really good offer.
But, once again, their mortgage company changed
their requirement, and they couldn't swing it.
He was a self employed person, and they wanted him
to be on the job for 2 1/2 years, instead of the the
previous requirement of 2 years.
There's nothing you can do about a time frame.
It either is or it isn't.

Then, 2 weeks ago, we got another couple
that walked up to the door,
and asked if they could see our house.
They'd retired early, and were looking
for a second home near their family in Provo, Utah.

They made an offer that day.
2 days later we had the inspection and appraisal the same day.
Then we left for Colorado for a couple of days.
And we are supposed to close next week.
The realtor said in her 35 years of selling homes,
this is the fastest closing she's ever had.

AND, the buyers want to up the price and buy it fully furnished.
Right down to my sheets and towels, dishes, furniture...
everything.

I am freaking OUT!

Is there such a thing as SELLERS remorse?????????????????

This afternoon I was sitting on my porch, all
by my lonesome and feeling completely overwhelmed.
Right there, rocking in my favorite wicker chair
that I had painted black.



And I sobbed....and sobbed...and sobbed.

Pookie came out looking for me and just stood there and
said, "Bunnie, grab my hand....come off the ledge...it's going
to be ok"

I think it will.

I hope it will.

It's going to take me some time.