Dormer or No Dormer

So, I got a call from my builder late one night, asking me to drive over to the house to see if I still wanted a dormer above the front door.  He thought it would be too busy, and we should just scratch it, but the third dormer was in the original plan and he wasn't about to go and change it without my approval.  I was impressed that he cared enough to call me.

Here's a pic without the dormer.

I've never believed in 'less is more'...

Week 4

Week 3

Great Day!

This morning, I headed out with my builder to do a little shopping.  We drove all the way to Vaughn to pick out my granite and hard wood.  Unfortunately, the granite store was moving locations, so the warehouse was quite empty.  I'll have to go back in a week or so.

But, I was very successful picking out my hard wood.  They didn't have exactly what I wanted, so I am having it made.  A 4 1/4" plank....oak....dark walnut stain...distressed...and 35% gloss.  Make sense???  It's gorgeous.  I'll get a sample in about 4 weeks.

We also took a trip to Sarana Tile in Hamilton.  That's where I get to choose out my tiles for the washrooms and kitchen.  There was SO much to choose from.  I'm glad I went for a quick window shop so next time I go I can be more prepared to actually make some decisions.

All in all it was a great day.  We even popped by a Polish shop to pick up sausage and pickles!!!  I'm pumped to move into my glam home, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with decisions.  Really, what do you pick out first?  Granite, backsplash, light fixtures, door knobs, faucet, sink.  I'm just going to have to trust my (educated) instincts...Stick to the vision :)

Here are some updated picks of the new crib.

The green space that our house faces.

Apparently a park is going in this year.

Front of the house.

This is the view from my front curb.

The pumpkin patch at the end of our court.  Just 2 houses away!

I still feel like we are in the country..well, I guess we are!

This is on the house a few streets away.  I picked out the same door, but mine is frosted glass.  I'll have it painted, but I am sure it'll take me 3 months to decide on a colour!!!

Back to School

I met one of my best friends 10 years ago when we were in College together.  No doubt, we were the worst students in the class - we were more interested in gossiping about our classmates and making fun of our annoying teachers.  We spent more time at the pub than we did doing homework, but needless to say, it was a blast and one of the most memorable times in my life. 

We were chatting on the phone this summer and she said "let's do it again"!!!!

So here we are today, in week 2 of our new class.  It's simply Floral Design, but there was no way the 2 of us, in the same class, would be successful at anything more complicated!!  It's a 10 week certificate course at Mohawk college in Hamilton, and it can lead to an actual diploma if we continue and complete another 5 certificates. 

I must say, I am thoroughly enjoying myself. Getting out of the house for a few hours every Tuesday night is much needed in my life right now and there are plenty of odd balls in my class to gossip about later. heehee.

Each week, we have to complete an arrangement, so I thought I'd share them on my blog. 
Here's my first one.  No laughing.  I got 20/25.... unfortunately, so did my BF - I was really hoping to kick her ass!!!!!!!!

Construction Begins...

Ohhhhhh, I am so excited.  Finally I am seeing progress on the new house.  I am certainly a little concerned with the November 30th deadline, but apparently he hasn't missed a deadline yet.... we'll see!

This is our street.  It's a court, so there won't be much traffic.  Can you see the pumpkin patch?!?!

Our lot.  It looks so dinky. That's our backyard for the next 2 years or so.  Then, they will start building some more houses behind us.  Luckily, the lot behind us is pie shaped, and majority of the houses are bungalows, so lack of privacy isn't as much of an issue as it was in our old hood in the 'burbs. 

This is a better view of the court.  There will be nothing built between the yellow hydrant and the pumpkin patch.  It's all green space.  Perfect, pure, beautiful country green space.

Our front view.  There will be another house directly in front of us, but again, noting to the left of the hydrant and beyond. 

"Rental" exterior

any cheap suggestions???

I'm thinking about just painting the front door, but what colour???

The Shit hole - wooops, I mean Rental!

(Some names in this post may be changed to protect their disgusting habits)
 
So, here we are in the "rental property".  I usually call it the "shit hole", but to remain optimistic, I'll refer to it as the "rental" for now. 

Here's the coles note version of how we came across this place.  The "Williams" decided to make an attractive offer on our farm, conditional on them selling their house in Jarvis.  We accepted, and found a beautiful home in Waterford to buy.  We wanted to rush our deal and get a closing date of August 30th, in order to get in the new house, just in time for school.  So, we decided to scoop up the "Williams" home in Jarvis in order to close our deal and also buy the home in Waterford.  The Jarvis home would be a great rental property and hopefully bring in some money.  So, the circle of deals was done...... until, the 48th hour when the house in Waterford fell through.

You see, the Waterford house already had a conditional offer - conditional on this other couple selling their crap farm house that had already been on the market for 2 years.  Sure enough, they went back on their word and forked up the dough to buy the Waterford house.  How they are floating 2 houses right now is beyond me, but whatever.  They are jerks.  They said they'd give us the house,and then they went back on their word, basically screwing us.

Slav, the owner of the Waterford house, just happened to be the owner/builder of Landstar Homes.  He felt so bad that our deal went sour, that he offered to built us a house in the new subdivision adjacent to the one his house was in.  But, it wouldn't be ready until November 30th.  We were forced to proceed with the deal with the "Williams" and here we are.  We switched homes.  I am sure the "Williams" are just delighted to move from this shit hole into my precious farm house, but me - not so happy.

This place needs some serious TLC.  Although this is a fair size and has huge potential, the "Williams" just didn't take care of it.  It's dirty and needs some serious love.

Did you follow that whole story???

I'm hoping to dump just $2000 into a cosmetic face lift and get this place either rented or sold once we move out.  Between my, my Mom and Mom-in-law's basement, I know I can dress it up nice.   But the DIY projects I have planned, are already proving to be more difficult and costly than I imagined.

We just tried to rip off the shower door - replace it with a fancy shower curtain, and half the tiles fell off because they were full of mold.  Eeeeeesh.  This is going to be quite the challenge house.

But I'M UP FOR IT!!!! stayed tuned!!!!

Exterior Stone

This morning I made the trip to Patene in Brantford (www.patene.com) to pick out the exterior stone, brick and roof for the new house.  I had a great salesman named Peter to give me a hand.  I had the poor guy dragging samples all over the showroom to make sure I made the right choice.

I absolutely did not want anything too bland.  I am not a fan of houses that have the same colour everything - all gray brick, stone, roof, etc...  Everything had to match the copper window roof, but too matchy, matchy.... I wanted something with a bit of contrast, and something that no one else has... But, I don't want my house to stick out.  (My Mom bugs me all the time - "you get mad when some one comments on your new hair cut, but if they don't say anything, you get mad as well"...bahahah, that's me!)

Anyway, I spent hours last night looking through photos for inspiration.  I picked out a beautful Cultured Stone Country Ledgestone, but of course Peter tells me it's an upgrade and will set me back at least $5-10k.  No thanks. 

I ended up choosing a beautiful Lafitt stone in a new colour called "Berkley Brown".  A Paisley brick in "Old Ashfield", and a Timberline shingle in "Barkwood".

The brick was an upgrade, but I convinced him to just give it to me!!!

The final samples.

Lafitt stone in "Berkley Brown"

Example of Lafitt Stone.  Not my colour though!!

Another example of Lafitt Stone.

 

 

And one more!

Timberline shingle in "Barkwood"

Example of the "Barkwood" shingle

Can you imagine all of this with carriage style garage doors, copper window roof and a bold colour front door.  ohhh, I can't wait!!

My new obsession

Olioborad.com

I can't stop!

Here's my new kitchen idea.

For My Mom

How many years has it been, and the room still isn't quite finished!  So, I made this for my mom.

Love you...

It's been a long weekend

I know, this has nothing to do with home decor!  But, I've had a tough week filled with emotional drama, and sometimes I just need an outlet.  Surprisingly, blogging has provided that for me.
I hate it when people do this to me and my loved ones.... so, if I ever do it to you, I promise to not take offense when you point it out.

________________________________________

Mind Your Own Business

Donnie V. Rader

One of the commands of God that we sometimes act as if we haven't read is the one that tells us to mind our own business. The text says, "that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you" (1 Thess. 4:11, emphasis mine DVR, NKJV). Yes, the Bible actually tells us to mind our own business! Thus, we need to consider some ways we sometimes violate this instruction and just how serious that is. It Is a Sin Remember that sin is a violation of the law of God (1 In. 3:4). Since the law of God tells us to mind our own business and not another's (1 Thess. 4:11), then it would be a sin to behave contrary. In the second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul stated that there were some in the church who were "busybodies" (2 Thess. 3:11). A busybody is one who is not busied in his own business, but over busied in that of others' (Vines). If he did not cease his practice, he was to be disfellowshiped (2 Thess. 3:6-15). That tells how serious being a busybody (minding the business of other people) can be. God said such a one is "disorderly." How We Are Sometimes Guilty 1. In our conversation. Quite often we find ourselves talking about other people, the decisions they make, their money, the things they do, what they buy and what we think about all of that. It may be that the things we talk about are personal which should not be of any concern to us. Some take it on themselves to meddle by thinking they must tell others exactly what they think about their life decisions or how they handle their money or children. We sometimes ask questions about things that are none of our business. We sometimes ask about conversations that do not concern us. 2. In family relationships. It is very easy for parents to mind the business of their children who are married and have families of their own. Some parents treat their grown children as if they were still kids, telling them what to do. When parents feel that they have to make critical comments on their grown children's money, looks, clothes and children they are minding business that is not theirs. Why is it that some parents feel that they need hold the reigns on their adult children and meddle in their affairs? Some are failing to recognize that a new family has been established and God has established the husband as the head of that family (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31). Some Questions to Ask Yourself Before we get too carried away asking questions, telling what we know or passing on our advice let us ask ourselves the following questions:  (1) Is this really any of my business?  (2) Have I been invited into this matter?  (3) Will my action of asking or telling possibly do more harm than good?  (4) Will others think that I am minding other people's business?