Monday, November 25, 2013

Day 31: Thanksgiving Week




Today is Monday and I'll be leaving town mid-week to enjoy the holiday with my family out of state. Since it's cold and rainy, Im not going to drive out there much this week but rather going to pickup once I return this weekend. Construction should start next week (week 6!).

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe and warm Thanksgiving! Remember to give thanks to God for all of the goodness in your life. May he continue to bless you all throughout the entire holiday season.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Day 30: Daily Drive-by


Obviously nothing to report. Just enjoy the pic on this cold, rainy fall day!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Day 29: Plot Plan Update


 
 
 
Welcome to Week #5!
 
Today Chance, my super salesman, went out in the neighborhood with the construction manager and discussed my plot plan in detail. I made my way in that direction as well, after not hearing back from him. Along with another salesman there in La Conterra, who was very helpful, we all went out to see another lot with a similar "C drain type" plot plan (same as mine, above) and we were able to see how water would drain as well as how the driveway would be graded. The lot we looked at had a 11% grade. Mine will be 14%, which means there will be greater area for water to collect. We saw water collecting just from a worker power washing. That is not okay with me.
 
They did say that when the time comes for my driveway to be paved, that I can come out and check on the grade and we could then talk about installing a French drain, if necessary. And if, once Im in the home and we have a heavy rain, water collects then I may have to make even further improvements to make sure water drains away from the home and into the yard.
 
Im not keen about their answer as there wasn't a solution offered, nor was the construction manager present. I feel as if my concerns weren't addressed, but rather the salesman said it best, "the train has left" and therefore there isn't anything I can do about it.
 
Going to talk to my broker and see what his thoughts are.
 

Friday, November 22, 2013

Day 28: End of Week 4


We're at the end of week 4 and are running ahead of schedule by about 3-4 weeks. When construction begins, we'll be looking at about 12 weeks to go! Hopefully sometime in March I'll close and get to begin moving in.

As I was leaving the neighborhood today, I saw a sod truck entering, there to deliver someone's yard. Oh boy! What a bad time to be putting down sod, just in time for frigid weather and possible freezing. The poor roots on that grass might not be able to withstand the cold temps. Im happy that mine will be installed in the Spring when the weather will be warm and plants will transplant better.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Day 27: Peace & Joy



Stress, good or bad, is exhausting. All of this stress about options and upgrades, paint and brick, the plot plan and everything else really added up and once I was done yesterday, I slept. It felt good to sleep, too! And today, Im happy! I needed to recharge and now that all of that is over, Im excited once again! I know my house is going to look dynamite and be a home that I am going to love for many years to come. Right now I've given it all up to God and know that it is all coming together as he wants.

The pic above is one of the drawings from my design studio appointment yesterday. I received copies of everything and am grateful for that. Each of these little drawings shows where every little outlet, light, switch, cable connection and everything else is located in my home. If I ever have to have anyone come work on anything, they'll know exactly what all is connected and where it runs.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Final Options

 
 
 
 

  • Oak cabinets in Espresso (in kitchen, nook, baths and laundry)
  • White Delicatus granite (in kitchen and nook)
  • Pietra del Norte 'Maine' polished tile backsplash
  • Shaw Landscapes 'Nightsong Hickory' laminate wood flooring (in entry, kitchen, nook, powder, pantry and laundry)
  • Shaw carpeting 'Thistle' (in all living areas) with upgraded pad
  • Emser 'Titan' tile (in upstairs bathrooms)
  • white marble countertops (in all baths and in master tub & shower surround)
  • Kids' bath will have porcelain tub with white tile surround.
  • All faucets will be Eva Watersense in Chrome except for the kitchen which is nickel.
  • All lighting fixtures will be nickel finish.
  • Room conversion - living room to study
  • One door and one extra window in lieu of the patio sliding door
  • All railing will be wrought iron instead of paint grade wood
  • Manchester walnut-stained 8-foot front door (and stunningly beautiful!)
  • Interior paint is Softer Tan (by Sherwin Williams) with white gloss 5 1/4" baseboards.
  • Exterior brick is Urbana Antique by Claymex. Paint will be Foothills and Well Bred Brown (both by Sherwin Williams).
  • Back patio will be covered and have a ceiling fan, size 8' ×16' plus a little more and steps down
  • upgraded the attic insulation
  • insulated the garage (because it also insullates the kids floors as their rooms are over it).
 



 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Building Timeline



I know you probably cant read the fine print on this, however you can probably see the big numbers. Right now we're in Week 4 and are about three weeks head of schedule.

Day 26: Final Selection Day




This is it! Final Selection Day!

Today Im letting go of all of my anxiety and Im going to enjoy this moment. Many people never get to experience this in their whole entire lives. Im going to enjoy this blessing that God has bestowed upon me and be thankful and joyous.

Chance told me at our last meeting that he expected construction to begin the first week of December. Changes will happen fast then. For today, Im going to relish the serenity of the moment because in a couple short weeks, changes will happen every day!

Watch for pictures of my selections today in a separate post to follow later today, and wish me luck!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Day 25: Urbana Antique

For the past week all I've thought about, in my free time, has been about the design and décor of my home. What do I want it to look like? How do I want it to function? What do I want my home to say to people who see it or who visit? What does it need to impress me, make me comfortable and make me happy?
 
Cabinets.
Countertops.
Backsplash.
Fixtures.
Carpet.
Tile.
Wood/laminate.
Paint.
Trim.
Brick.
Insulation.
 
Just to name a few. My options packet is about 50 pages! When you daydream about building a house, it's a lot of overzealousness and the best of everything. When you actually do it, it's a bit more intense. By about a thousand. However, it's very exciting, too!
 
Most of the choices were easy to consider, visualize and make a selection on such as the gorgeous granite I treated myself to or the upgrade from pedestal sink to cabinet in the powder room. Other things were not as clear and required some thought (and even gazing at a zillion pictures online and on my phone) like flooring and fixture colors.
 
Then there were big things like brick. When you go into the design studio, they only have 4 rows of brick in these 12×24 frames. I don't know about you, but a house is huge! Visualizing a small swatch of brick on a big house is not easy, for me anyway. On top of that, try to picture what color paint and trim you want, too. Impossible!
 
I drove around and around, took pictures, talked to people, sent Jennifer a gazillion emails, and even dragged my kids and mom out to help. Brick looks different in the sun as opposed to in the shade. What looks red in the shade may look brown in the sun. It kept playing tricks on my mind.
 
I am drawn to neutral colors. I've found three brown bricks that I could settle with. Bricks with names like Mojave and Canyon Springs. Then there is this really interesting variety with a lot of color that I'm drawn to, Fall Creek. It is pretty, however, I'm not a flashy type of person. I just can't pull the trigger on a brick already overly popular in my neighborhood.
 
It took a lot of struggle, thought and frustration but I really didn't decide until yesterday (okay... today). I took one more trip around the neighborhood looking at my favorites. This time I was able to get out and go see it up close and in both, the sun and shade, at the same time. That's when I knew it was the one.
 
 
 
Urbana Antique. This is it!


 

Here's the variations in the coloring from sunlight to shade. Near where the fence meets the house, some sunlight is able to partly lighten the bricks there, leaving part in the shade. You can see how much the coloring changes. This is why I've struggled with picking brick this week. Houses all face different directions, when you see one in the shade and another in the sunlight, they look completely different even though they have the same brick. I urge you, if you're driving around looking at brick, too, to make sure you see the same house and same brick in sun as well as shade because one or the other just might change your mind. You have to live with your brick for a long time and be happy with it, be able to choose new paint colors (when the time comes) and landscape with it as a background.

I couldn't be more relieved and ready to move onto the next phase. Now, tomorrow, I can go to my Final Pick Day and select all of the things I've been visualizing all week. It will be nice to make it all official. That will be a huge relief! And, having this done, Thanksgiving will be much less stressful, much more peaceful.
 
Watch for pics coming tomorrow!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Day 24: By God, I Think She's Got It!

I think I've found the brick I like! I feel like shouting that from the hilltops! I've got the brick!

Here is a pic of a house in another KB  Home neighborhood with the brick Im favoring. The elevation of their home is very similar to how mine will be in that they have the covered porch area in the front with the half-brick pillars and they have some painted area above the garage. Mine will have both of those also.

I like how they paired a darker paint color with it instead of going with a paler color that would do nothing for this brick (like I see so many other people do). The builder doesn't give us many options, unfortunately, however, this paint-brick combination is attractive and tasteful, and just what Im looking for!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Day 23: Narrowing It Down One By One

 
Tonight I finally feel more at peace than yesterday. Today I drove around the neighborhood again and looked back at some of the pictures that Ive taken of houses with brick that I like. Im happy to report that I have narrowed it down. I now know I like four different ones, and am probably going to nix one of those today.
 
This part is so hard for me. I want my house to be attractive. Since Im on the corner, and a two story, the whole side that faces Grand Junction Trail (the street shown above) will be very visible. I want to be proud of my house and have it reflect my style and taste rather than picking a fad color. I know I want dimension. I don't want a brick that looks like it's been rolled on, all one color, boring. I want something with flecks and shades and character. In the future, one day, I'll need to paint my home and I'll have to pick paint based on the brick. Im considering that, too. Also, my kids and I have to look at this every day. I have to live with it and like it. I need to make a smart choice here. I'll post more when I have it more firmed up.
 
The above picture was taken today while my mom, the kids and I snuck into the house to view its progress. This shows my lot from a completely different view. I do have a great lot!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Day 22: Some Bumps in the Road



Welcome to Week #4!

After posting my plot plan, an old high school friend happened to see it and shared with me some helpful knowledge. Since he's an architect, I trust he knows what he's talking about and the next morning I immediately contacted Chance at KB about this. He's going to discuss it with the engineer and we'll go from there.

In the picture above, you can see how my lot begins to slope at the easement line. However, after driving around the neighborhood and looking at the houses over on Crested Butte that have similar slope, Im confident that my drive will be leveled in the same fashion.  See pic below.

 
 
Next, the brick. Kennewick isn't available. I'm not sure why since it's being used in the neighborhood down the road from me. I'm terribly upset about this. I've spent the last 24+ hours hunting for a brick I like. Ive found a couple that I can settle for, yet when I consider how much Im spending on this house, I dont feel like I should settle. I'm not happy. And at this point I'm willing to pay extra to get what I want.
 
I pray to God that something good comes from all of this stress.
 
In the course of my hunt, I did find a rather unusual plant that caught my eye in one of the neighborhoods. It's actually a sumac plant, non-poisonous and the berries are actually edible. Edible sumac red berries are from the Sumac bush whereas Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) has white berries. NEVER eat them!
 
 
 
Around this time of year, Sumac bushes have whitish berries that turn a deep rusty red. The berry clusters appear like flames from the green bushes, just beautiful! Its what caught my eye! Not only are they edible, sumac berries are medicinal.
 
Here is an excerpt from Mother Earth Living that I found interesting:
 
Sumac leaves and berries are classified as astringent and cooling. Certain Native American and Canadian Indian tribes used sumac to treat bladder, digestive, reproductive, and respiratory ailments; infections; injuries; stomachaches; arrow wounds; and more. The Chippewa Indians of North America made a decoction of sumac flowers to treat gas, indigestion, and other digestive upsets. The Iroquois used sumac as a laxative, diuretic, expectorant, liver aid, and in countless other applications. The powdered bark and dried berries were allegedly combined with tobacco and smoked during peace pipe ceremonies. The inner bark was also used to treat hemorrhoids.
 
Early pioneers used the berries to reduce fevers, and they steeped and strained the berries and thickened the mixture with honey to yield a soothing cough syrup. Some transformed the berries into wine. Others used the root to produce an emetic tea (to induce vomiting), the bark to make dye, and the leaves to relieve symptoms of asthma.
 
Sumac berries contain malic acid, which possess antifungal properties and putative anti-fibromyalgic activity; tannic acid, which is present in tea and wine and is known for its astringent activity; and gallic acid, a white crystalline compound used in dyes, in photography, and in ink and paper manufacture.
 
Fascinating, no?
 

Friday, November 15, 2013

Preliminary Plot Plan

 
 
 
While I was at lunch today, Chance called. He asked if I could come in and take a peek at the engineer's plan for my lot. It's to show me where my house will be situated, how much sideyard there will be, what direction water runoff will drain to and so forth.
 
He also said that next Wednesday will be my final selection day and then about a week later construction will begin on my house!
 
***BIG SMILE***
 
WOW!!! This is fast!! I am super excited! When I look at the timeline he gave me, this will put me about 4 weeks ahead of schedule. All of that hard work that Jaime and I did leading up to this is paying off. Who knows, we might be able to move in in March of 2014! Just in time for my birthday!
 

Day 21: Thankful




Three weeks ago today was the day when Chance, my salesman, contacted me about the Bigger Is Better Sale at La Conterra. It was the day my hope began and all of the rest of the events mentioned in this blog have followed.

Today Im feeling thankful, even through all of the uncertainty and chaos. Im thankful to be here, building my dream house. With the big decisions made, and my final choices fairly certain, Im at a peaceful point in this journey. And with the peace comes the thankfulness.

Im thankful for all of the people who are helping me in this process: God for blessing me with this opportunity and experience, my mom for everything, Chance my salesman, Jennifer my designer, my kids for putting up with my neuroses, my boss for letting me take off to keep all of the necessary appointments, Jaime my mortgage rep and all of the underwriters who are working on my mortgage loan. Thank you all for your part in this!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Day 20: Kennewick


Isnt this brick gorgeous?! I first fell in love with this brick when I fell in love with the house over on Waizel Way (in another KB Home neighborhood). I came really close to buying that house, however underwriting made me wait. Luckily for me, too, because now Im building my own and getting to experience all that goes along with it. Im designing my own home from the ground up.
 
After picking out my preliminary selections yesterday and going over budget, I went home and slept on it. I talked to friends and family and thought some more. Then I made a list. I crossed out the things I knew I could add on later with the help of a handyman, or as a DIY type thing, and I then settled upon the flooring. It seemed a bit steep so I checked with Fabulous Jennifer, my designer at the KB Home Studio, and we discussed adding in some laminate flooring in lieu of some of the tile. When she sent me back a new quote, I was over the moon happy. This was the fix I needed to be able to keep all of the other goodies I have planned.
 
Then came the brick. As I said before, I wasn't gaga over the one I chose, even though I love looking at it in the neighborhood. One woman I spoke with while driving around looking at brick told me that her neighbor has it and two others down her street. Yeah, no thanks. I dont want to be a cookie cutter. And, since my house is on the corner, it needs to wow people, right?
 
So, I keep going back to the Waizel Way house. I loved that brick! It isn't one of the "included" options with KB, however Im having Fabulous Jennifer quote me on it. Keep your fingers crossed that the tile-laminate swap will be able to fund the brick. Then we're all set!
 
Here are a few more pictures of Kennewick brick from the house over on Waizel Way:
 









Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Day 19: Preliminary Pick Day




Today was my Preliminary Pick Day, as Im fondly calling it. This is the day when I had to actually make choices and about the items that will be installed in my home such as bathtubs and cabinets, flooring and paint, and about a zillion other things it seems.

When you go in, they give you a huge packet of all of the options. It's sectioned out but some parts can get tedious reading and navigating though. Luckily they don't even give you the carpet choices or it would be even bigger! I started on the packet two days before, when I came in to browse. Most of what I wanted I knew. However, I knew Id be adding on much more today.

I had the nicest sales rep, Jennifer, who graciously jumped in and started early with me when she found me browsing the kitchen area before my appointment. She helped me make choices, offered advice, let me take as much time as I needed and, since she had just built a home herself, she knew what I was feeling through all of this. Above are my preliminary choices.

I started in the cabinets and countertops section of the design studio as this is the first room you get to when you begin this process. The granite and cabinets came together really quick, thankfully. I love the granite! It's a snow white with chocolate and black. The cabinets I choice are an espresso color (not black, sorry if the picture doesn't show off its beautiful true coloring).

Then we sat down for a bit and she went over all of the interior structural options such as room conversions, upgrades to the countertop heights and prewiring for ceiling fans, adding on a patio cover, and stuff like that.

Next we picked out all of the faucets and upgraded the kids' bathtub to porcelain with tile surround. I picked the marble tub for the master with separate shower and marble surrounds in both of those. I love how clean and smooth they are! I know Im going to love sinking into that tub at the end of a long day (like today, wah!).

Next we moved onto picking the exterior 8' door and the interior doors. We picked out lighting, upgraded the railings to black wrought iron spindles, and talked about paint. Im opting to not have the house painted a special color inside for two reasons. One, they pretty much only offer shades of white; I don't want to pay for something Im going to turn around and paint over. And two, I have something else in mind for that money. :)

Brick, exterior paint and roofing came next. This part is hard! It's very difficult to visualize what a small sample of brick will look like on a big house. I drove around my neighborhood beforehand, but to be honest, Im still undecided. I made a pick, however it is subject to change before my final appointment next week. One good thing I learned though was that since Im on a corner, that side that faces the street will be solid brick. That's an add-on I don't have to pay for! Sweet deal!

Flooring and tile was pretty much the last step of the process. I was a little disappointed in their selection of backsplashes. They offered nothing by way of tiny pieces except for the glass mosaic, which Im not a fan of. I wanted something more along the lines of a pretty white but had to settle for a 12" tile. Thankfully its silky smooth like stone and not like floor tile. It'll work for now until I decide to rip it out down the road. I did pick out carpeting fairly quick, however I realize now I need to confirm with Jennifer which areas are having tile and which are having carpet.

So, the process seems short, however you're making a thousand decisions within a few hours and by the end, I was starting to get a headache. Im eager to see it all installed in my new home. I just know it will be beautiful!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Day 18: Sinking or Swimming?

 
 
Today is one of those days when you have so much on your mind and you just feeling like your mind is swimming. So, I drove by the lot this evening on my way home. The sun is starting to set (behind me) and its still casting nice colors in the sky. It felt good to come by today.
 
After browsing through the studio yesterday and seeing all of my choices, Im torn. Mostly its the theme of the home. Im unsure of the brick color, although I know which ones I like when I drive by them in the neighborhood. Picking them out in tiny swatches is like finding a needle in a haystack. I had no idea there were so many colors in a brick pattern.

Also, the counters and cabinets and flooring. Oh my! I really thought this was going to be easier. Ive ruled out a couple of colors I don't like, but there are still too many that I do. Luckily my budget is helping me to narrow that down.

For today, Im not picking. Im just letting it sink in.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Day 17: Peek Day



Today is Peek Day! Hooray! This will be my first look at picking out all of the things that will turn my house into my home. This is huge! I don't have to make a decision today, luckily. Instead, I plan on jotting down the items I like in each category by first, second and third. Then I'll be able to go home and think about my choices and decide where I want to spend my money. Right now I predict the hardest part will be choosing the brick and the exterior color scheme. We'll see!

Update: Today was hard. There were so many choices, colors and themes. Once I thought I had made up my mind, then on the way out I changed it. What I thought I didnt want, I did!  Oh! How am I going to do this? 

I go back in 2 days and have to narrow it down. 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Day 16: This Section Is Filling Up



It's a super beautiful day today. The sky is so blue. It's breezy yet not too chilly. It's a perfect day to be outside.

There are currently 8 homes with sold signs, including mine, and the two houses being built. This section is quickly filling up as the pool and 8 surrounding homes are on hold for Model homes. There aren't too many left in this section. It'll be interesting to see which direction the neighborhood expands into next.

Ive been going over the options list that my salesman sent over. Just trying to wrap my head around the things I know I want and, at the same time, sort of making a mental list of things I know my handyman can take care of for me a little at a time down the road.

Remember when I said I felt like a kid at Christmas? Christmas is here! It's going to last for about 10 days, too! Today is Peek Day. Wednesday is Preliminary Appointment Day then a week later will be Final Appointment Day. Watch for pictures to come!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Day 15: Made an Appointment With the Design Studio




Welcome to the beginning of Week #3!

This morning I received a call from the KB Home Design Studio. They scheduled my first appointment for this Wednesday.  I'm going to pop in and browse on Monday to get my feet wet. I cant wait to see all of my options for flooring, brick, paint and more!

In neighborhood news, the two houses being built just off to the back are having their brick put on.  The kids and I walked through one of the houses (the one with the similar floorplan as ours). They have some cabinets and have been painted, but otherwise nothing has been done inside. It's exciting to see though. The kids say they cant wait to get to see our house inside. :) 

Friday, November 8, 2013

Day 14: FHA Conditionally Approved!


Late this afternoon my mortgage broker let me know that we have a conditional approval by FHA! this is it! This is the news Ive been waiting for! Yay! I am so happy!

It's a beautiful day and today has been full of great news on all fronts. I cant wait for the next phase: design!!!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Day 13: Waiting on FHA

 
 
 
Waiting is so hard, isn't it?
 
Yesterday I did some reading online and I came across another realtor's website that talked about FHA loans and how, since the big government shut down last month, the IRS has a backlog of requests for form 4607-T from people who are trying to get their mortgages approved. It might take some time. This sort of gives me a bit of peace as I realize that it's nothing we can control. And, I know how slow the IRS is.  I shot off a text to my mortgage specialist and she advised that we might hear tomorrow or Monday.
 
*big grin*

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Day 12: Inside Preview

Its getting harder and harder to wait for that final call from underwriting saying we can go ahead with picking out all of the wonderful details that make a house a home. I feel like a kid at Christmas, counting the days down, waiting for that wonderful day to finally be here and getting everything your heart dreams of. I know it will happen, it's just a matter of having patience and enjoying this joyful time in the meantime.

It's rainy today and pictures are all looking the same, so I thought I would share with you a few bits of the inside of the house. This obviously isn't my house, it's the model, but its the house I fell in love with. Im going to be choosing a few different design features but overall you can get the idea of what most of our home will look like.

This is the entry:


Here is looking from the entry towards the back:



Looking back thru the dining to the office and entry:



Family room, dining and office again:



Kitchen and breakfast:



Upstairs, great room:



Master:



Master sitting:



Back of the house:



Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Elevation



This is the elevation of the home Im going to build, exactly. Im unsure of which brick and paint color Im going to choose. There is plenty of time to pick those. I love the double garage door -- I can park in the middle if I want. I also love the columns and porch.

Day 11: Disclosures Returned



This morning I returned my disclosures and shot off a couple of informational emails. I learned that my application has moved in underwriting from Denise to Leslie. It's interesting to see the path it's traveling. I wonder who will issue my final approval. Right now, Im rooting for Leslie! :)

Since it's still rainy and there isn't much to show at the site yet, I thought Id show you some other things, like this street sign. This is where I'll be! Now, when I drive by, there are now eight sold signs on this small strip of road. This section is filling up quickly. I have to admit, Im eager to see who will make it out of underwriting first and be the first to break ground. Of course,  Im still hoping it's me!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Day Ten: Disclosures Packet Arrived

 

I'm still having computer problems. I apologize but will post daily pictures as soon as possible.

Today a big packet of disclosures and other information arrived. All kinds of documents to read and sign. It's a lot to digest and even tougher to understand. These are like mock papers though because my address is incorrect and my sales price is an estimate until I pick all of my options. What that means is I get to plan on reading and signing these all over again sometime before closing.

It was a misty, rainy sort of day today and so I didn't opt to show you a picture. Nothing has changed, obviously. I like to think the rain is preparing the soil, strengthening it so that it's ready to be built upon. Soon. Very soon.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Day Nine: Homebuyer Education Complete



I'm having some technical difficulties with my computer lately so my posting might be delayed. Sorry about that!

In the meantime, Jaime, my mortgage broker, is getting my paperwork in line for me to get a mortgage credit certificate (MCC). The MCC is only available to first time homebuyers. It gives me up to $2,000 off my taxes each year but it can be done in such a way that I take home more of my paycheck each month rather than wait for filing my tax return. That'll be nice!

For that, a requirement was that I needed to complete a homeowners education course. Jaime sent me a link so I could take it online, which I completed last night and got the certificate.

Now I'm just waiting for the double thumbs up. Say a prayer for me that it'll happen this week? Thanks. :)

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Day Eight: Panoramic View



Welcome to Week Two!

Today the kids and I grabbed a quick snack at the site of our new home. We grabbed some apples and oranges and trotted off to enjoy our quiet spot.  It's such a gorgeous day out! Here it's breezy and about 72 degrees, an absolutely lovely Texas day! After our snack, we randomly dropped the seeds in the space that would one day be the backyard. Who knows if they will actually grow into anything fruitful, but you never know.

Then the kids graciously stood on our fence lines so I could really see how big the lot is. In the pic above, I stitched three pictures together to get this panoramic shot. It makes our lot appear pie-shaped, but you get to see the whole thing. Im standing where the fences will come together and the girls are on the front edges of our lot.  There will actually be about 10' strip of grass between the fence and the sidewalk and curb (not shown here). The lot is 110 feet and our house is 40x40. Even with its 10' bumpout and covered patio, we'll have still have a nice size backyard.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Day Seven: Good Morning!



Good morning!

Today it occurred to me that one week ago today I didn't even know I would be doing this. It was a complete surprise! I can say this has been one of the happiest weeks for me. While I was pondering over this on my commute, I decided to drive by the lot right after dropping the kids off at school to see what sort of morning light we have.

This picture was taken from the side street, showing the stake that we suspect indicates where my back fence will eventually line up, looking over my lot. Turns out that the house being built (the one with the big blue dumpster in front) shields the rising sun at this time and casts a great big shadow, over my land as it is now. I hope it shadows my home, too, once its built, because it would be nice to not have sun glaring in my window this early. :)

It is a nice lot, dontcha think?