More Tales of the Home Inspection
Yesterday the inspector went to check the house out after the installation of new plumbing and the new hot water heater.
When he got there, the furnace was out. Again.
Thank Bob the temperature had only dropped to 47 degrees, so there was no damage to the plumbing, but the furnace is obviously a big problem.
Last night it looked like we would have to walk away from the house. This morning I was sort of resigned to it. This evening the owner is installing a new furnace and we are paying for half of it.
Shell Cottage will soon be ours. And it has new appliances, new windows, new plumbing, new heating, new floors, and is freshly painted. In 5 years we will put on a new roof, and the place will be so nice we won't know how to act.
Now I can turn my thoughts to varieties of climbing/mounding roses. I want to plant big mounds of roses on either side of the steps so when Michelle sits out on the porch in the morning, reading the paper and drinking her coffee, the scent will waft through the screens.
I feel like I have aged 20 years this month. I had no idea the angst that would accompany the search for and purchase of an hermitage. Please say a prayer that we make it through the closing on the 29th without heartbreak or heartache!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Shell Cottage
Tales of the Home Inspection
The inspection didn't go exactly as planned.
As warm as the house looks, it was actually only 32 degrees on the first floor, and colder upstairs. The pilot light had, apparently, been blown out by the sustained 70 mph winds from the mistral two days earlier. To make a long story short, the entire house has been re-plumbed. The house also has a brand new water heater. We are thrilled, although also a little embarrassed that our good fortune comes at the expense of someone else. (Please note, though, that as soon as I save $1,500, I'm putting in a furnace without a pilot light so that this can't happen again!)
So -- the new pictures. (I didn't take as many as I might have, as it was REALLY cold!)
This is a bit of the kitchen -- we plan to put a kitchen cart or island here to hold the microwave and the coffeemaker. I love the framed chalkboard. If the owner were to leave it, I would not cry foul. The same goes for just about every piece of furniture in the house. The owner had a very, very good eye.
This is the living room. The corner on the right -- behind the sofa -- is where the gas stove will eventually go. I haven't decided if it will be centered between the window and the corner, or if it will be angled in the corner. I have time to decide that, though, as I will have to save for quite some time to pay for it. Norbert loves the chaise and seems rather sad that we would somehow let this slip out of our grasp!
This is the dining room, looking towards the living room. The door to Norbert's room can be seen on the right.
Norbert's room. The only color in the house that I am not completely over the moon about, but Noah thinks it is the very best color ever chosen for a room and that any talk of glazing it or in any way muting it will be met with strong opposition.
This is the third bedroom. Myfanwe calls it The Loft, as it is open to the staircase. We plan to put a futon sofa in here, along with a big old steamer trunk, upon which will sit a small tv/dvd player. We won't have cable or a digital converter, so it will truly be just for videos. And the guest sheets and blankets and pillows can all reside in the trunk when not in use! I meant to buy some lavender this summer to make into sachets. Maybe I'll have to plant some and make my own. Lavender keeps away moths, doesn't it?
I really do love all of the white painted furniture. It is a fairly laborious process, but I expect we will become very adept at painting furniture in the next couple of years!
Please keep your fingers crossed and remember us in your prayers. Everything is going so smoothly -- the loan is in place, etc. -- but all three of us are frightened something will pop up to crush us. We close on the 29th. Two weeks from tomorrow. I don't know whow we will survive it!
We are going to spend New Years and my birthday at the Cottage. I can hardly wait!
The inspection didn't go exactly as planned.
As warm as the house looks, it was actually only 32 degrees on the first floor, and colder upstairs. The pilot light had, apparently, been blown out by the sustained 70 mph winds from the mistral two days earlier. To make a long story short, the entire house has been re-plumbed. The house also has a brand new water heater. We are thrilled, although also a little embarrassed that our good fortune comes at the expense of someone else. (Please note, though, that as soon as I save $1,500, I'm putting in a furnace without a pilot light so that this can't happen again!)
So -- the new pictures. (I didn't take as many as I might have, as it was REALLY cold!)
This is a bit of the kitchen -- we plan to put a kitchen cart or island here to hold the microwave and the coffeemaker. I love the framed chalkboard. If the owner were to leave it, I would not cry foul. The same goes for just about every piece of furniture in the house. The owner had a very, very good eye.
This is the living room. The corner on the right -- behind the sofa -- is where the gas stove will eventually go. I haven't decided if it will be centered between the window and the corner, or if it will be angled in the corner. I have time to decide that, though, as I will have to save for quite some time to pay for it. Norbert loves the chaise and seems rather sad that we would somehow let this slip out of our grasp!
This is the dining room, looking towards the living room. The door to Norbert's room can be seen on the right.
Norbert's room. The only color in the house that I am not completely over the moon about, but Noah thinks it is the very best color ever chosen for a room and that any talk of glazing it or in any way muting it will be met with strong opposition.
This is the third bedroom. Myfanwe calls it The Loft, as it is open to the staircase. We plan to put a futon sofa in here, along with a big old steamer trunk, upon which will sit a small tv/dvd player. We won't have cable or a digital converter, so it will truly be just for videos. And the guest sheets and blankets and pillows can all reside in the trunk when not in use! I meant to buy some lavender this summer to make into sachets. Maybe I'll have to plant some and make my own. Lavender keeps away moths, doesn't it?
I really do love all of the white painted furniture. It is a fairly laborious process, but I expect we will become very adept at painting furniture in the next couple of years!
Please keep your fingers crossed and remember us in your prayers. Everything is going so smoothly -- the loan is in place, etc. -- but all three of us are frightened something will pop up to crush us. We close on the 29th. Two weeks from tomorrow. I don't know whow we will survive it!
We are going to spend New Years and my birthday at the Cottage. I can hardly wait!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
MORE NEWS!
OK. So we lost The Store in Watervliet.
Never let it be said that when the going got tough, I just crawled in bed, pulled the covers over my head and said, "It's too hard!"
This is our new home in Three Oaks, Michigan.
We saw it on Saturday. We mulled it over on Sunday. We made an offer yesterday. And it was accepted today. (And an hour after our contract was accepted another offer came in. Thank Bob we got ours in when we did!) We close on December 29th. (Record speed. My head is spinning a little.)
I already have plans in my head to dig up the raggedy shrubs in front and replace them with climbing roses. I will enjoy being able to cutmy own flowers to bring inside. And I love the soft, oppulent look of mounds of rose bush.
Three Oaks is a lovely community ninety minutes drive from Chicago. It is 5 miles from Lake Michigan, so the prices are not as steep as on the lake shore, but it is very popular with young, creative, artistic people. It is a town with a population of 1,700 which is able to support a professional theater, an art cinema, a silent film festival, and six art galleries. On Saturday evenings everyone packs a beverage and snacks, grabs their lawn chairs and walks to the park to hear music at the band shell.
Myfanwe really loves the style. It's growing on me. Although I expect I will end up having to learn how to paint furniture so that it fits with the shabby chic cottage decor.
Some day in the not so distant future I will take out all of the upper cabinets, patch the wall, and put up open shelving. The upper cabinets are -- I kid you not -- only 8.5 inches from the counter top. My coffeemaker won't fit on the counter. Neither will a microwave. Or a vase. Or a glass of milk. And I'm thinking of taking an occupational therapy class at the Lighthouse For The Blind before I chop anything on the counter, cuz I won't be able to see what I am doing.
Doesn't this look lovely!
So once again, the inspection is Friday. It's a pretty full day. I will drive to Michigan for the inspection. Meet with the insurance agent. Stop by my real estate agent's. Drop by the mortgage broker. Drop a load of stuff for the house at a friend's place to store until the 29th. And make it home in time to make dinner for the first night of Chanukah! But (ptew, ptew, ptew) I won't have to drive to Michigan again on Saturday!
The plan is still to ring in the New Year in the new home, enjoying the quiet, peaceful nature Harbor Country. I need to make a note to myself -- somewhere betwqeen now and the 29th I need to get up north and buy a mezuzah!
All country homes need a name. What name do you suggest? I think Norbert and Myfanwe would like something Harry Potter-ish -- The Burrow, maybe? It's not hobbitty enough to be Bag End.
KNITTING
I have been making slow but steady progress on the Cathedral Window. I am on row 22 of the last 49 rows before the edging. Pictures soon -- but I'll warn you right now, it looks exactly like a placenta right now. But when it is blocked, I think it will be beautiful.
I think a shabby chic cottage in Three Oaks is just SCREAMING for some hand knit doilies, don't you?
Never let it be said that when the going got tough, I just crawled in bed, pulled the covers over my head and said, "It's too hard!"
This is our new home in Three Oaks, Michigan.
We saw it on Saturday. We mulled it over on Sunday. We made an offer yesterday. And it was accepted today. (And an hour after our contract was accepted another offer came in. Thank Bob we got ours in when we did!) We close on December 29th. (Record speed. My head is spinning a little.)I already have plans in my head to dig up the raggedy shrubs in front and replace them with climbing roses. I will enjoy being able to cutmy own flowers to bring inside. And I love the soft, oppulent look of mounds of rose bush.
Three Oaks is a lovely community ninety minutes drive from Chicago. It is 5 miles from Lake Michigan, so the prices are not as steep as on the lake shore, but it is very popular with young, creative, artistic people. It is a town with a population of 1,700 which is able to support a professional theater, an art cinema, a silent film festival, and six art galleries. On Saturday evenings everyone packs a beverage and snacks, grabs their lawn chairs and walks to the park to hear music at the band shell.
Myfanwe really loves the style. It's growing on me. Although I expect I will end up having to learn how to paint furniture so that it fits with the shabby chic cottage decor.
Some day in the not so distant future I will take out all of the upper cabinets, patch the wall, and put up open shelving. The upper cabinets are -- I kid you not -- only 8.5 inches from the counter top. My coffeemaker won't fit on the counter. Neither will a microwave. Or a vase. Or a glass of milk. And I'm thinking of taking an occupational therapy class at the Lighthouse For The Blind before I chop anything on the counter, cuz I won't be able to see what I am doing.
Doesn't this look lovely!
So once again, the inspection is Friday. It's a pretty full day. I will drive to Michigan for the inspection. Meet with the insurance agent. Stop by my real estate agent's. Drop by the mortgage broker. Drop a load of stuff for the house at a friend's place to store until the 29th. And make it home in time to make dinner for the first night of Chanukah! But (ptew, ptew, ptew) I won't have to drive to Michigan again on Saturday!
The plan is still to ring in the New Year in the new home, enjoying the quiet, peaceful nature Harbor Country. I need to make a note to myself -- somewhere betwqeen now and the 29th I need to get up north and buy a mezuzah!
All country homes need a name. What name do you suggest? I think Norbert and Myfanwe would like something Harry Potter-ish -- The Burrow, maybe? It's not hobbitty enough to be Bag End.
KNITTING
I have been making slow but steady progress on the Cathedral Window. I am on row 22 of the last 49 rows before the edging. Pictures soon -- but I'll warn you right now, it looks exactly like a placenta right now. But when it is blocked, I think it will be beautiful.
I think a shabby chic cottage in Three Oaks is just SCREAMING for some hand knit doilies, don't you?
Sunday, December 06, 2009
BAD NEWS.
Because of a serious structural defect identified during the inspection, we have had to walk away from the darling little house in Watervliet, Michigan. I am seventeen ways to sad.
And as I was talking to my real estate agent from the inspection to let her know, another call came through -- notifying me that a friend had -- not unexpectedly -- passed away.
I just got home from the funeral.
This has not been an upper of a weekend.
And as I was talking to my real estate agent from the inspection to let her know, another call came through -- notifying me that a friend had -- not unexpectedly -- passed away.
I just got home from the funeral.
This has not been an upper of a weekend.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
BIG NEWS!
Myfanwe and I have made a big purchase. Monday we made an offer on a vacation home in sleep Watervliet, Michigan. It was rejected. An improved offer was made today, and it was accepted. It is a beautiful, quirky little place on Main Street. The back overlooks a river and a beautiful park. It used to house a store in the front, hence the way it looks...
It has a lovely deck over the garage, and it has a large screened in porch. Noticed the terraced gardens on the left. They are lovely, and NO LAWN TO MOW! Yeah me!
This shows the dining and living areas...
The floors have been re-done since these were taken. We purchased an antique Ford & Johnson arts & crafts pedestal table and 4 chairs for the dining room from an estate sale here in Hyde Park. It is a beautiful set.
The kitchen is small and very workable.
And THIS is the crowning gem -- the old storefront. Which will be our rumpus room. Try to picture it with the shelves stocked with board games, an air hockey table, a ping pong table, a couple of comfy chairs, and -- someday in the distant future -- a woodburning stove or fireplace!
This is the smallest of the three bedrooms. I don't have pictures of the other two, but I will after the housing inspection.
We close on the 29th, which gives us the opportunity to start the new year in our new (vacation) home!
It has a lovely deck over the garage, and it has a large screened in porch. Noticed the terraced gardens on the left. They are lovely, and NO LAWN TO MOW! Yeah me!This shows the dining and living areas...
The floors have been re-done since these were taken. We purchased an antique Ford & Johnson arts & crafts pedestal table and 4 chairs for the dining room from an estate sale here in Hyde Park. It is a beautiful set.
The kitchen is small and very workable.
And THIS is the crowning gem -- the old storefront. Which will be our rumpus room. Try to picture it with the shelves stocked with board games, an air hockey table, a ping pong table, a couple of comfy chairs, and -- someday in the distant future -- a woodburning stove or fireplace!
This is the smallest of the three bedrooms. I don't have pictures of the other two, but I will after the housing inspection.
We close on the 29th, which gives us the opportunity to start the new year in our new (vacation) home!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
MO PROGRESS
Although I finished this in August on the flight home from Dublin, I didn't block it until today.
Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague. Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Glazed Carrot. Less than one skein. (I still have 1.25 skeins left. Any ideas what I should do with them?)
This is for Myfanwe. She's allergic to lace, but I think, since it is in her favorite color, she might be able to wear this one.
As usual, I can only see its flaws. I am an average knitter, but I am a below-average finisher. If they had taught blocking at my high school, I would have finished in the lower third of my class.
PROGRESS
OK. I know this must be getting tedious. Once a week I check in with a few words about the Cathedral Window Shawl with no pictures. Well, this is no different.
I managed to get all of the stitches picked back up and have now made it to row 12 of the 24 row repeat. Then I'll knit an eyelet row and do another 24 row repeat. And then I think I will be able to start the 1154 or so rows of edging. And then I will be done.
So, if I stick to the current schedule -- which I rarely, if ever, do -- I will need another 3 weeks before I start the edging.
Edging which, now that I look at it, I have absolutely no idea how to knit. So I should probably figure that out.
IN OTHER PARTS OF MY LIFE
Myfanwe and I have been looking in Southwest Michigan for a second home -- a weekend retreat in a greener setting...someplace quiet, with a fireplace. We found the perfect -- the PERFECT house. A 1960's rach backing up onto woods, 200 yards from Lake Michigan, on an acre of land.
We made and offer. Then an improved offer. And we lost it. And it has nearly broken my heart. We are still looking, but I feel like a mourner at each showing.
I managed to get all of the stitches picked back up and have now made it to row 12 of the 24 row repeat. Then I'll knit an eyelet row and do another 24 row repeat. And then I think I will be able to start the 1154 or so rows of edging. And then I will be done.
So, if I stick to the current schedule -- which I rarely, if ever, do -- I will need another 3 weeks before I start the edging.
Edging which, now that I look at it, I have absolutely no idea how to knit. So I should probably figure that out.
IN OTHER PARTS OF MY LIFE
Myfanwe and I have been looking in Southwest Michigan for a second home -- a weekend retreat in a greener setting...someplace quiet, with a fireplace. We found the perfect -- the PERFECT house. A 1960's rach backing up onto woods, 200 yards from Lake Michigan, on an acre of land.
We made and offer. Then an improved offer. And we lost it. And it has nearly broken my heart. We are still looking, but I feel like a mourner at each showing.
Friday, November 13, 2009
SNIT! FUDGE! SPAM! PASS!
I have been working quite diligently on the Cathedral Window Shawl. Earlier this week I executed the next increase to 1152 stitches per row, inserted a lifeline, and began plugging along, knitting happily on the next 49 row repeat.
I was on Row 4
WAS.
As I was knitting this morning, about 30 stitches slid off the left hand needle. And promptly -- given the taste of freedom -- practically danced out of the constraints of the stitches beneath them.
I had to take the shawl off the needles and rip it back to the lifeline. I now have to pick up all 1152 stitches from the lifeline.
SNIT! FUDGE! SPAM! PASS!
P.S. I'm hoping to have some really exciting news very soon. Cross your fingers! Say a prayer!
I was on Row 4
WAS.
As I was knitting this morning, about 30 stitches slid off the left hand needle. And promptly -- given the taste of freedom -- practically danced out of the constraints of the stitches beneath them.
I had to take the shawl off the needles and rip it back to the lifeline. I now have to pick up all 1152 stitches from the lifeline.
SNIT! FUDGE! SPAM! PASS!
P.S. I'm hoping to have some really exciting news very soon. Cross your fingers! Say a prayer!
Monday, November 09, 2009
Calling Out to My Seattle Peeps.
I have a lovely niece -- for the purposes of the blog, I think I will call her Newsie -- who is currently a graduate student in Museology at the University of Washington. She is intelligent, articulate, hardworking, thorough, and trustworthy young woman. (She's also funny, talented, clever, mischievous, and cute!) She moved to Seattle in August for school and is still looking for a part-time job. She has experience in a law office setting, a pharmacy, box office, and hospitality (culinary) industry.
If you hear of any openings, could you please forward the postings to me? I'd appreciate it!
If you hear of any openings, could you please forward the postings to me? I'd appreciate it!
Friday, October 30, 2009
I'd Write a Haiku, But I'm Too Damn Tired.
When last we commiserated the Mollywobbles family was leaving to spend a weekend with the Royal Family. We had a wonderful time at St. George's Castle, and the Principessa was thrilled with her shawl. She's looking great for someone who has been under the weather, and we had a celebratory birthday feast -- my first Peking Duck! -- and a fabulous, relaxing weekend with the de Rumball-St. George's and the adorable Infanta, Little Bird.
It was hard to drag my tuchas in to work on Monday morning, but I did. And it may have been the worst day I've ever had in the office. We were informed that a big case had, overnight, become a BIG CASE and would require Herculean effort to accomplish. And they laid off one of the staff that provides me and my boss with a huge amount of assistance and has been working on our stuff for the last 8 months.
I don't know how I'm going to manage the amount of work we have. I feel lucky that we have identified some able people who can give me some of their time, but I could use a LOT more people. I feel so close to panic all the time.
I'm still trying to get in at least one hour knitting a day. I can usually bank on getting half an hour in the morning and I try to get another half or a whole hour when I get home -- 8:30 or 9:00. Sometimes I'm just too tired, though. (And knitting lace isn't something one should do when drowsy -- a lesson I learned after some oral surgery.)
The Cathedral Window shawl is up to 544 stitches in a row. I'd post pictures, but right now it looks like a placenta. I won't know until I've finished the 49 rows of 1088 stitches if it will need another increase to 2176 stitches. When I've finished the 49 rows of 1088 stitches I plan to run a huge lifeline and then take it off the needle and pin it out to see how bit the sucker really is. Then I'll make a decision.
I'll post again when I can. Stay well. Be good. Have fun.
It was hard to drag my tuchas in to work on Monday morning, but I did. And it may have been the worst day I've ever had in the office. We were informed that a big case had, overnight, become a BIG CASE and would require Herculean effort to accomplish. And they laid off one of the staff that provides me and my boss with a huge amount of assistance and has been working on our stuff for the last 8 months.
I don't know how I'm going to manage the amount of work we have. I feel lucky that we have identified some able people who can give me some of their time, but I could use a LOT more people. I feel so close to panic all the time.
I'm still trying to get in at least one hour knitting a day. I can usually bank on getting half an hour in the morning and I try to get another half or a whole hour when I get home -- 8:30 or 9:00. Sometimes I'm just too tired, though. (And knitting lace isn't something one should do when drowsy -- a lesson I learned after some oral surgery.)
The Cathedral Window shawl is up to 544 stitches in a row. I'd post pictures, but right now it looks like a placenta. I won't know until I've finished the 49 rows of 1088 stitches if it will need another increase to 2176 stitches. When I've finished the 49 rows of 1088 stitches I plan to run a huge lifeline and then take it off the needle and pin it out to see how bit the sucker really is. Then I'll make a decision.
I'll post again when I can. Stay well. Be good. Have fun.
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