Saturday, June 21, 2014

So much work!

I just don't even know what to post about.  The house is still a disaster and we are spending a buttload of money on things that are NOT fun, like replacing our old leaky skylights (to the tune of 3k) and paying hundreds of dollars to have plumbing and electrical issues fixed. Well, let me just start with the beginning.  We started with a nice open space before the moving company came.  Here are some fun 'before and after the movers came' shots.  
This is the best one!  All the empty boxes from the move are still clogging our garage.  We still aren't sure when they are coming to pick them up, but I hope it is this week! 
In other news, we bought a refrigerator and the wee frig opening in our cabinets was not working for 98% of available bottom freezer or side by side models.  We ended up getting a Samsung unit that was too tall for the opening, which meant we had to remove the cabinet on top.  
We took a look at what was happening up there to see if we could detach is safely.  It was good to go!
A few screws were removed, along with the silly decorative rail on top, and the cabinet was off. 
Bye bye decorative rail!  I kept a couple of the little doodads as a reminder.
And here is the new frig in place.  Those with eagle eyes will notice we also got a new stainless dishwasher...that would be the source of the plumbing and electrical issues that will cost us unfortunate amounts of money.  We found some 'fun' surprises when we tried to install the new dishwasher ourselves...thankfully I found a great plumber (he was on Bath Crashers!) and he is taking care of us.    
Now we just have to reattach the cabinet above the frig a few inches higher because we desperately need the storage.  We would also love to add some crown to the top of the cabinets at some point....we will see.  In closing, here is the back patio area when we put our offer in this April....
and here is the crazy weed mess that we have inherited, now that the snow is gone.  Oh my gosh, I don't even know where to start.  I walk out here and then walk back into the house shaking my head.  
I will need about 65 Ashford naps to fix this garden.  Yikes!

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Happiness and clutter

So, by some miracle the roofers got the entire job done in ONE day last Thursday, and we are now in our new home!  We were able to close on Friday morning as originally planned, and I ended up driving from 6pm-midnight Thursday night to get there in time.  Stress!  Luckily, the roof is exactly what I wanted - even though they installed a different brand than the one they initially quoted. 
Unfortunately, we do not have internet or cable yet at the house and I am a freak that doesn't have a smart phone, so I have not been able to update the blog, research appliances, figure out where I am, check the weather, etc.  The movers delivered all our junk last Monday and our house looks like a box factory and an episode of hoarders collided. 
We got a big dose of reality that we moved into a MUCH smaller house with a lot less storage.  All the built ins in our former home (china cabinets, living room and basement bookcases, master closet dresser, the wall unit we installed, mirrored closet in guest room, shelves in Ashford's room) are no more...and all the stuff that was in them is now homeless.  We also have this impressive pile of rugs (8 of them!) in our master waiting for me to decide where to put them...and I also have a few less rooms to put them in.
Our yard is a real mess.  The storm that ruined the roof last August also destroyed every tree on our property, and a lot of the lawn....so we have made a couple trips to Home Depot for plants, grass seed, compost, soil.  We hadn't done many projects in the old house recently, so it was sort of weird to be back at one of our "minimum $100" stores.  The other one being Target, obviously. 
PS - it has not escaped my attention that every photo in this post so far has Ashford in it.  That is kind of embarrassing.  So, just wanted to give you all an update and let you know there are many projects coming up.  Like the inside of our main bathroom vanity.  What in the?!