Just in case you’re wondering….

Meg tagged me with this, and I am really glad.  I’ve been at a loss lately, or my life is just really boring!  Besides, what could be better than learning more about my little self (you don’t have to answer that).

What was I doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago was the summer between my sophmore and junior year of high school.  I worked at a florist most days, and spent the evenings out with friends.  Let’s see, I played tennis a lot that summer and briefly dated someone.  Nothing real exciting happened that summer.

Five snacks I enjoy in a perfect, non-weight gaining world:
Swedish fish
Ice cream
French fries
Fruit
Cheese

Five snacks I enjoy in the real world:
See above,  I still indulge in all these things, regardless.  I have a lack of what we like to call ’self control’ when it comes to some things.

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Quit work, and finish school, then start working again
Spend 6 months in Ireland
Adopt children from outside of the United States
Give money to all my family and friends
Buy land in the country, build our dream house, and rescue all sorts of animals

Five jobs I have had:
Florist, I did a little bit of everything
Waitress, this didn’t last too long, I just couldn’t do it.
Banquet Server,  I worked at a country club for four years, and those were some of the best years of my life.  It’s nothing like waitressing, it’s actually fun!
Receptionist, this didn’t last too long either.  This company had a rule about always smiling, and even I can’t smile THAT much!
Administrative Assistant, this is where I am now, biding my time until I become a Nurse.

Five habits:
Daydreaming. I do way too much of this.
Repeating things to myself after I say them.  I have a constant need to correct people’s grammar, yet I always think I say things wrong.
I always have to keep the volume of the tv on an even number.  I tend to be a little obsessive compulsive, so that’s where this one comes from.
Listening to songs over and over.  Sometimes I will listen to the same artist for months before I switch over to another or back to the radio.
Sharing my silverware with my dogs.  When I give them food, I usually just give it to them from the fork or spoon, which I use again.  Most people think this is gross, but I’ve never seen any problems with it.

Five places I have lived:
I haven’t had the luxury of living five different places, only three.
Livonia, MI
Plymouth, MI
Dearborn, MI

Five people I’d like to get to know better:
This is where I am supposed to tag some people, but I am not going to.  If anyone decides to do this, feel free.  Just let us know, and we’ll check it out!

We had a home inspection done yesterday on the new house.  Everything turned out alright, just a few minor issues that need to be addressed.  That’s what husband’s are for, right?

It got a very good report, and I still like this house more and more each time I see it.  The fact that the previous owners live two doors down is a little odd, though.  That’s right, last night a woman came over while the inspection was going on.  Her and her husband had lived there for 22 years, and this past February, lost the house.  Her parents live two doors down, which is where they are currently living.  While I feel for them, and I am sorry for their luck, it was a bit on the strange side.  Especially when you could tell she really missed the house.  She was very willing to share any information about what they had done over the years, and even gave me some old photos from the kitchen remodel. 

After I had shared some changes that we wanted to make to the house, I kept my mouth shut.  She was very against the fact that we wanted to put up a fence, and suggested that we use an invisible fence.  I will not let anything hold me back, but I do completely understand why she is feeling this way.  First, she grew up two houses down, and her best girlfriend lived in the house we are buying.  The house between those two, and the one on the other side of our house are still owned by the same people that owned them 30 years ago.  So, her and her husband bought this house, and made it theirs for 22 years.  So, hello, there are some changes going on around here for the first time in a long time, and I can see where that would make it hard.

The way she talked about the house and all the things they changed over the years really proved that there is still some feeling there.  Hey, if I were in her position, I would probably be the same way.  Which is why I probably wouldn’t have ever gone over there in the first place.  I am glad she did, we found out many things we wouldn’t have otherwise.  But, if it was that difficult, she really shouldn’t have.  Obviously, she wasn’t rude or spiteful to me in any way.  She was wonderful about the whole thing, which made me feel even worse.  It also made me wonder.  She didn’t seem like the type of person to bother us or look over our shoulders at everything we do, but will she?

So, my huskies decided to be huskies yesterday.  Who would’ve thought THAT could ever happen.  Derek was taking the trash out and he left the front gate open for a minute.  They were gone.  Not just a little stroll outside the gate, they took off at a full run.

Let me backtrack a little and say that we have never had a problem with them running off.  Yeah, they’ve gotten out before, but they never go far.  There were times they had been out for half an hour before we even noticed, and they were only a couple of houses away.  Whenever we are working in the front yard or are at my parents house (which is not fenced), they always stay right with us.  We leave the gate open all the time when we are coming in and out, and they never do anything.

When he first called, I thought he was just joking around.  But then I heard the alarm in his voice and realized it really happened.  They didn’t even have their collars on.  So, for 45 minutes, they ran, nonstop, all over our neighborhood.  They ran the two and a half blocks to the main road near us.  I was just arriving home when Derek called and said he had found Kirra about 5 blocks away.  Someone said they saw Keiko take off toward the main road again.  He found him a few minutes later.  They were both fine, just out of breath.  They were panting for a good hour and a half after that.

So, everything turned out okay, but I nearly had a heart attack.  I called animal control on my way home, and I know a couple of people that saw them had already called the police.  I still can’t figure out why they did it though.  It was so out of the ordinary.  Kirra always has a scheme for something it seems, so maybe she just wanted a good run.  Whatever the case, we are definitely going to be more careful in the future.  I am hoping the move to a yard 8 times the size of our yard now will cure any desire they have to do this again.

 Well, we got it!  A verbal acceptance, that is.  We haven’t signed anything yet.  So, unless something happens, and it falls through the cracks, here is our new house!

This is a picture I just borrowed from the listing.  As we are working on it, I am sure you will see plenty more.  And trust me, there is PLENTY of work to be done.  We walked into SO many houses thinking, “what were these people thinking?!”.  One house we went in had some sort of mushroom growing out of the floor.  I’m not sure about you, but I find that real desirable.  There was another with wallpaper that had to be from the 1940’s, covering everything.  I mean, do closet doors really need wallpaper.  For the most part, this house is pretty simple.  With only two three four major screw up’s according to my standards.  First, rose printed carpet in the master bedroom.  Seriously, who in their right mind picks out carpet like that?  No pictures to document that one yet, but I will as soon as I can.  We plan to rip out all the carpet before we even move in, so that’s not a problem.  Second,  white knotty pine cabinetry paired with a dark green counter top and back splash.

Last time we were there, my sister pointed something out that I thought was hilarious!  The back splash looks like an aerial image you would see on a map. I think she may be on to something here.  I am thinking some paint on the cabinets until Derek is able to build some custom ones, and as soon as we can, new counter tops and back splash.  Did I mention that light fixture?  Third, popcorn ceilings.  Need I say more?  Fourth, knotty pine paneling in one of the bedrooms.  Not much I can say about that except, WHY?

I really am not complaining.  I am excited to fix up this house, and make it our own.  We will be happy here for a very long time.  Here’s what did us in.

 This picture doesn’t even do the yard any justice.  For being in the city, it’s HUGE! If that house with the fungus had been on this lot, I would have bought it.  Ok, maybe not.

There isn’t much I can say except, read this.

Downright hilarious!

I don’t know where the last two weeks went.  Things have been somewhat crazy.  Yet, it doesn’t feel like I’ve done much.  Two weekends ago is when my dad and I traveled 2,500 miles in a matter of 40 hours.  Last weekend was filled with a Garden walk and a bridal shower.  Honestly, bridal showers are always so boring, but this one was actually fun!  We spent time painting flower pots, decorating flip flops, and making chocolate covered pretzels.  This wedding is in August, and the reception is on a boat.  Hence, flip flops!

Here’s the bride to be (my cousin), with our grandmother.

My sister and I with her.

We had a really good time, and decorating those flip flops was such a good idea, I will probably make some more eventually.

Well, we didn’t get the house.  I’m not losing any sleep over it.  We are putting an offer in on another one tomorrow.  This particluar one, we actually saw a few weeks ago, but were too enthralled with the first one to notice this one for what it really was. 

So anyway, the house we are offering on has a lot of potential.  The key word there is potential.  It’s very small, no basement, and it needs some work.  On the other hand, it sits on over an acre, is very charming, and it’s a brick ranch.  The location probably couldn’t get any better.  So, once again, cross your fingers!

In other news, Derek passed the state exam, so he is now a licensed EMT.  Woo-Hoo!!  He hopes to work one day a week somewhere while he goes through the rest of the program to become a Paramedic.  He did his clinicals through a local ambulance company, and they told him to apply there once he was licensed.  So, that’s the plan!

Meet Montana.

He is the newest addition at the farm, and boy is he cute!  He is a Shetland pony, and only three days old today.  Hence, not leaving his mother’s side quite yet. 

I’ve never seen a baby horse before, well atleast not one this young.  Everything about him is just so adorable.  The “who are you” look he gives you; how he has to run to keep up with his mom, and then his akward legs get in the way, and he trips a little; the constant interest in everything around him.  I just wanted to pick him and bring him home with me!  My sister in law rescued the white pony (Willow) and she was already pregnant. 

Definitely worth it, wouldn’t you agree?

Well, the outcome doesn’t look good for that house.  There is a bidding game going on, and honestly, we aren’t even interested anymore.  We put one final offer in yesterday, so we should know today or tomorrow.  But, we already have plans to go look at more properties later this week.

We had a good weekend.  Being a pretty big Sex and The City fan, I have yet to see the movie. I am hoping to go later on this week.  Derek had a birthday over the weekend, so some family came over for dinner on Saturday.  I made PW’s lasagna, and it was a huge hit!  In the years since we’ve been married, and all the meals I’ve attempted to make, I do believe this was the first meal that he was 100% satisfied with.  It seems, he always has something to say about a meal.  It has really honed my cooking skills though, so I guess I can’t complain.  We all have to start somewhere, right?

Next week, my dad and I are going down to Florida to get my grandparents ready to come back and then drive them home.  I can’t wait to see them again, I miss them so much!  It’ll be nice to get away for a few days, too.

So, the house hunting…..

There isn’t much to tell.  We looked at six properties last week, and one this week.  We loved the very first one we visited on Friday!  It’s in a great location, is large enough, and has a very good sized yard.  It is located on a main road, but it’s only a two lane road, and not nearly as busy as most.  The lot is very wooded, so you can’t even see the road.  It doesn’t have a basement, but I’ve come to accept that.  But, it’s all about the price.  The entire inside has been remodeled, and is in great condition.

So, that being our first one for the evening, we were crushed when we saw the rest of them.  They were all more expensive than the first, and needed way too much work.  I won’t even bother going into detail about the others, they honestly can’t compare.

We thought about it over the weekend, and then went back and I visited the one we liked again last night.  My parents came along, and they really liked it as well.  So, today we submitted an offer on it.  I had a feeling this house would go fast, and it’s only been on the market a week.   Our agent told us there was another offer coming in today for it, so not to get our hopes up.  Well, she got our offer faxed over first, so hopefully they will submit it first. 

We are neutral about it right now.  We are excited, but won’t be crushed if we don’t get it.  So, I will leave it at that, and if it happens, I will tell you all about it!  Cross your fingers.