Plants

I plan to sign the contract with CK this week. He dropped off the electrical and final floor plans to me yesterday morning and I haven't had time to look at them. The electrical is a whole post in itself as there are tons of switches, outlets and recessed ceiling lights. More on that another day.

The house is contracted to begin by May 15 and end Nov 15. I asked if I could move any plants and he said I could stick them in the ground somewhere and move them in the spring. They probably would not be able to seed the lawn until spring. So I am wondering if you wanted any of my plants this summer/fall, Annette? I might give away some to friends too. I supposed I shall move what I can, but I'd like to put my house on the market in Sept/Oct. Maybe catch a buyer that wasn't happy with what was available during the summer. I'd have to have a proviso they couldn't take possession until late Nov. and probably another that we need a 24 hr. warning to show the house.

Got up early and took a walk with M. Then we were at church by 11:30 as she had to serve, then spent 1-2:30 getting dance photos done. Came home and turned around and took L down for her 1 1/2 hrs. there. She has to be in 3 group photos. Did some laundry, but not much else accomplished today. I am so tired. Am making a sausage strata for supper.

I'll try to post more drawings in the next few days. I'm on vacation most of the week, so have tons I want to do.
M.F.H.

Kitchen ideas

The new layout of the kitchen is basically what I now have. I marked 'E's on the cabinets that are 'extra' to what I know have. Though it is hard to judge if the new 2 cabinets are double my current cabinets or just 1 1/2 times larger. Plus I had a 4th
page I seem to have lost. It is of the island - which has 3 wide drawers on top of each other and a waste basket cabinet with a
drawer above it. And if I add more space to the left to take the kitchen to the sliding back door, I will have even more cabinets.

D, the designer, priced the kitchen using Dynasty 'Villa' by Omega. I think Omega also makes Decora. Not sure. The total price for the kitchen, 3 bathroom and laundry consoles and cabinets comes to: $14,776.70 The contractors allowance for all that, which also includes mirrors and towel bars and installation comes to $11,500. So I need to cut about $3,000. Hmmmm.
Advice?

I think I can do without the pre-made pantry to the right of the refrig. I was wondering about putting a regular counter there to sit the microwave on, or even making it into a small desk area. Or the contractor could build me a pantry with a regular door. What do you think of the transom window over the stove? How about moving the window to the right of the refrig? I don't know yet how that would look from the outside of the house. I was also think about doing away with upper cabinets on the sink wall, except that would be the best cabinets to store glasses in. So I was thinking of less upper cabinets. Also perhaps some open shelves for display - not too much because they just will be dusty. Also, it looks to me that none of the cabinets - high or low go up to the ceiling. So I would have lots of display space up there.

D said Villa was the only style that had the plain front. Out of zillions of door styles, only 2 are plain! Perhaps I could look at cheaper brand of cabinets. But don't want too cheap. Already he priced the bathrooms with a cheaper line. I would also like
someplace to the left of the sink to sit or hang a tv, so maybe kids will eat in kitchen for breakfast and snacks.

M.F.H.

New kitchen 3

New kitchen 2

3 Designs for new kitchen

Kitchen 2

Kitchen 1

Here are 2 views of my current kitchen. I want the new kitchen to look very similar to the current one.
M.F.H.

Lot, slant

From the house on the right you can see how the rear of the lot slants down. My lot is more like the lot on the left. You can't see it, but they have an egress window in their basement.

M.F.H.

Lot, view to the right

This is the new house the developer is just finishing. It is 2 wide lots (68 ft. each) away from us to the east. I know these photos aren't very informative.

When I next get some time, I want to photograph some home exteriors and see what colors you like. Also, I'll scan the plans and see if they view well.

We had a beautiful day. Went on a picnic. Rode scooters around the park. Worked in the yard. Went for an evening walk. And I did 7 loads of wash - the last one I still have to hang up tonight!

M.H.

Lot, view to the left

If you are standing in the st. looking at the house, this house is to the left or west. There is a narrow lot in between us. It could be a long time before people build around us. Who knows? Right now the developer has 4 houses for sale, 1 they are just finishing and 3 they have had for sale for 2 or more years. Plus there are 3 other houses for sale on the st.

M.H.

Lot, looking to rear

Hmmm, I'm having trouble loading more than 1 image, so I guess it's one at a time.

This is the view from the st. to the rear of the lot. The lot ends where the tall, light weeds are. The trees are quite a ways from us and some day there may be houses behind us.

M.H.

Why Red Stick House?

Obviously, I wanted to talk about our house without identifying where we live. Also I like the typical child's stick house drawing. Though I don't think our house will be red.

Also, it is a lot easier to type than to find the time to scan things and take and add photos, but I hope to get around to that.

The closing was very painless. I kept thinking, 'spending this much money shouldn't be so painless!' Closing costs came to less than $500, but I get to close again when the construction is done.

I was talking to a regular patron where I work and he was telling me I could save so much money by being my own contractor! I can't imagine that. First I don't know anything about building a house and I don't have time to do it. I can't imagine spending all day at work on the phone to workmen. Plus coordinating them all or even hiring the best ones at the best price that a contractor would be able to do. Obviously if they want to work for him again, they have to show up when expected and do a good job.

I am supposed to see 2-3 kitchen layout from the kitchen guy on Tues.

M.H.

Closing

Today I close on the lot and the construction loan. Woke up to snow this morning.

Yesterday I met with the lawyer. She is the mother of one of L's friends and I've known her since dance started. EDJones wired
the needed money into my account yesterday. The Easter break delayed things, but it looks like all will work out. I can see that parenting, and/or adopting has made me confident that all will work out.Or else I just don't have much time to worry.

On Mon. night I spent an hr. with CK, the contractor, going over changes that Joe suggested. Joe spent most of his Easter vacation planning and redrawing my house plans. I can understand why CK suggested things as he did, but Joe simplified things and made them more - what's the word symmetrical or right angled. More straight lines that run through the house. So we are going with a modified Joe plan (CK has to make a little more hallway room outside M's bedroom.) I still hate losing the window in the master bath, but CK was fine with the idea of frosted doors. He still doesn't like pocket doors! So we shall see.

I will try to get copies of the plans posted and photos of the lot (really exciting, ha) and mail the specifications to some of you.

M.H.