Dear Amanda,

I've received a request or two from a certain individual (who will remain nameless) to please post pictures of the house now that I've moved in. Unfortunately, I broke my camera last year and I've been using my phone to take all of the beautiful pictures that I have been posting. It worked fine for construction but I actually need a real camera now ... most of my pictures came out very dark and were unusable. Here are a few that came out okay enough to post. I will try to borrow a camera soon so I can document the rest of the house for those who are unable to come for visit. I have to say the house is beautiful. Please stop by to see it if you are in the neighborhood!

This is a quality picture of my patio. Let me just say, it is hard to take photos with a phone. Yea, we'll say that is why the picture is crooked, not because of my photo-skillz. But onto the picture ... I've never been able to have plants before so I've gone a little crazy this summer. So far everything is still living, despite some saying I seem like the type of person who would kill plants. Again, I won't mention names, Mom. Also, I tend to be attracted to every poisonous plant out there. Not good because my dog's tongue is also attracted to the plants. Guess I need to start doing a little more research on plants before I go shopping.

Another shot of the patio. Frankly, it is the most decorated "room" of the house.



A wonderful view of the foyer, living room, and kitchen. Sadly, I had to retire the coffee table last night. Rigby chewed a corner off and will not stop trying to destroy the rest of it. I read too many stories of splinters poking through dog's intestines that I couldn't keep it around. Lawyers. Can't let them read anything, gives them too many ideas. Luckily for the pup, I bought the table many years ago for a small amount of money. Otherwise, he'd be in BIG trouble.

The entertainment center. I'm slowly getting around to actually putting items where they belong. Brooke came over last week, prior to my housewarming, to help make my entertainment center presentable. Thanks, Brooke. It looks great.

We Moved

And by we, I mean me and the dog. :) I haven't taken any pictures of the house since we moved in but here are two of Rigby. One where he is enjoying the backyard. The other where he is not so sure about being outside by himself -- I was sitting outside when I took the picture of the one where he is happy to be out there! I know, he is spoiled.



Um, where did you go?


Are they ever going to remove this stake that is blocking my view?

Moving on Up to the East Side ... of BR

I am really, truly moving tomorrow. There are still a few things that need to be done around the house, i.e. the backsplash, grouting the tile around the fireplace, putting up the clothing rods in my closet, and a few other things. These are all things Andrews swears he will do. I just think we have different timelines in mind. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Rigby is getting a "haircut"(what the groomer called it, not me) so that he will be all clean for his new house. The movers will be at my house for 9, if not earlier. I have furniture being delivered, and Conn's is coming back to install my washer/dryer. It will be chaotic, but I can't wait. There have been a few changes around the house in the last few weeks. The island lights were finally lowered, the tiles were put around the fireplace, and the shutters went up. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to take a picture of the front of the house since the shutters went up, but here are pictures of the fireplace and the kitchen. Hopefully, I will have a chance Sunday to post a few pictures post-move.


This tile is also part of my backsplash. It will be the decorative element over the range -- The rest of the backsplash tile is a tumbled travertine look in a very neutral color. One day.


Looks like I already moved in with all the stuff on the counters!

By the Power of the EBR Permit & Inspection Office...

My house passed final inspection today!!! I cannot wait to get electricity and start moving. Yesterday, I waited at my house from 11-2 for Conn's to deliver my appliances. They showed up at 2:05. I have to say it wasn't that uncomfortable inside the house without A/C. Someone must have made sure my house is well insulated. I called Demco today to see when power would be turned on. Could be between 1-3 business days. I'm hoping it is 1. There are a few things that still need to happen before everything is complete: backsplash, rest of fence, sod backyard. But that is about it. And I guess by the time all of that is finished, I will need to REclean the house. Too bad I already paid to get it cleaned! Can't wait for everyone to see the house in person. I'm now thinking I will start moving in this weekend but will probably wait to officially move the first weekend in June.

Waiting on the final inspection, again

I ended up not moving this weekend. The house was inspected last wednesday, and it did not pass. The legs of the mantle were 5 inches from the fireplace opening, EBR wants 6. The problem is being fixed tomorrow (for inspection); hopefully, it will pass. If so, I should have electricity by Thursday. After that, I will slowly start moving in. The front yard was finished last week, and the fence is close to being finished. Here are the latest pictures...



This is my backyard. Rigby isn't too crazy about cats. Not sure what he is going to think about geese. Luckily, there will be a fence back there. Certainly don't need him to decide to be a hunter.



The awning has been fixed, sod is down, and the landscaping looks great. The garage door still needs to be painted the same color as the trim. And the stickers need to be removed from the dormer window. Any volunteers for that one?

Cleaning Day

Okay, I posted this page last night, but I had a few problems. For starters, somehow I managed to sign myself out of my account and I lost about half of what I hadwritten. Which leads to my next (and last) problem. My dog, who is lucky he is so very cute, thinks it is fun to eat keys off of my mom's keyboard. He started with the number 4 key. I guess when he realized we don't use the number 4 very often, he decided to move on to bigger, and more useful, keys. Like the letter "O." You don't realize how often you use the letter O while you are typing, until you have to resort to using a pencil to get the letter to work (12 O's in this sentence by the way. think of how long that would take typing with a pencil!). I am pretty sure Rigby had a plan when he did all of this. Like, if they can't type, they can't use the computer, and I will get even more attention. Or maybe he thinks we don't give him enough snacks and that plastic keys are yummy. Luckily, he has not actually swallowed any keys yet. Anyway, my point was that once I realized I lost half of the post after already dealing with the letter O situation, I decided to wait to re-update. And on to the house ... yesterday the house was cleaned. Inside. The yard is still another story. Landscaping has started, but sod is coming soon. The house is beautiful and I cannot wait to make it my home. As of right now, I intend on closing on the 21st, moving on the 22nd, and unpacking every day thereafter. Anyone off on Memorial Day, feel free to stop by. I'll be there.

Front. The garage door went up yesterday. I had posted a picture of that too, prior to logging out. The garage door still needs to be painted the same color as the trim and the awning still needs to be angled. Right now you can't even see it. Other than that, it looks great!



Travis put a small flower bed in the back of the house. Knockout roses, pink, of course.


The foyer. It is difficult to get a good picture of the foyer because of the glare from the front door.

Finally, the french doors are in. If only the doorknobs were on too.


The french doors open. I cannot wait for the day when I have electricity and I can see just how bright the office is.


Front Bedroom...carpet is in. I thought I had a picture of my bedroom but I guess it didn't save -- what happens when you use your phone as a camera.




Hall Bath.


Master Bath.


Kitchen. Everything is painted now. I am leaving it like it is, at least right now. Maybe I'll antique the cabinets myself if I ever get bored. The lights still need to be lowered. It is on the punch list. The light that is going above the sink has been on backorder but it finally came in this week. And the faucet for the farmhouse sink was stolen last week, but the new one came in yesterday. Now, just waiting on the plumber to come finish everything. Then, I can get electricity, after a final inspection of course.



The mantle has been stained, or varnished, whatever they do to cypress. Andrew will be putting the tiles around the fireplace soon. He says he is waiting for power. Can't blame him. It is really hot all of a sudden. I am so ready for everything to be finished though.

Wood Floors

The wood floors went in Wednesday. I didn't get to go out there until late in the evening, so the pictures are a little dark. The floor is pretty dirty also. Can't wait for them to be cleaned.


Living Room

Kitchen. The island is still red, but that should change next week. The butcher block is finally going in today. I'll get pictures this weekend. The chandeliers will also be lowered. The electrician said he put them that high so that when people sat at the counter the lights wouldn't be in their view. Guess he knows some really tall people.

Dining Room