Making it ours

I feel like I haven't really committed to this Anchorage house.  Even though we bought it, it is not my house yet.  Our other house, in Atlanta, is not really mine either.  It is under contract and should be closing soon, but every time I see the buyers name with my address, I feel a little tightness.  I truly am hoping everything goes smoothly and we close, as scheduled, but I really do love that house.

I am trying to make this house, our house, but it is so much work, and really, I don't plan to live here forever.  I would almost rather daydream about the next house than do the work on this one.  I looked around this evening, and noted that I have not hung up one piece of artwork, except the new one in the playroom, and that one is not really hung up, but rather placed on the ledge.   I haven't unpack any books, or my pretties, like my vases, lamps, or even the wine glasses.  For one, there is no safe place to put them, and really, not one room feels close to being done.  You know, at the end of the home decorating shows, they bring out all the fun stuff?  That's the part I want to get to, but it is going to be awhile.  Making over this house is going to take months.

We are getting closet organizers on Friday, so I can spend the weekend putting things away with some order.  I am excited about that.  We (mostly Dan, but a little me), took out the old (70's?) closet shelves and then I patched a few spots and painted.  It still amazes me what a little paint can do for a room or closet, in this case.  Next week, we are getting some drywall repaired from places Dan and I did some demo work.   After that, my plan is to continue working on the guest/sewing room and the boys bedroom.  Then turn my attention to the playroom, all while planning a kitchen remodel.  Maybe I will have a few before/after photos to share.  All the painting and sewing should keep me busy for the next month or so. 

Oh, Happy 11th months to Linnea. 

That means it is time to start planning a birthday party.

I suddenly feel tired.

Time for bed.

2 Comments

Cate

I know EXACTLY that feeling. I finally after 9 years in this house decided to start treating it like I was going to really LIVE here instead of thinking "oh well we'll be moving eventually". I'm in minimalist purge mode with the thought that the stuff I have left will be more important to me and make me smile more. Treasured things instead of just "stuff" you know?
Hugs to you all and what a beautiful picture of Linnea! Wade saw your view and now he's thinking Anchorage would be a great place to live!

Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 07:53 AM

Kjerstin

Ah, yes.  I got rid of so much stuff before we moved.  I lost track of the number of trips to Good Will.  It felt so good to give away the stuff I knew didn't make me smile.  BUT, I still feel like I have too much stuff.  I go through clothes regularly, but I think it is time to do it again.  I rarely give away books, so we have a of those, still in boxes.

Oh, tell Wade, that picture of Linnea was not taken at our house.  So, the view is not ours. It was at the lake we went to last weekend. Although,  it is hard to find a bad view around here.  Come visit!

Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 10:58 AM

Location, Location, Location

 

A quick criticism of Apple’s iWeb.  You can not update your blog from the web.  You have to do it from your own computer.  Since this computer was in a box for over 2 months, that meant no blogging from me.  Since I opened the box a few weeks ago, the computer has been downstairs and I have been on my laptop more.  Not to mention all the other things I have been doing.

I am thrilled to be in Alaska, but I am not in love with this house.  It has a few issues, particularly the garage, that are too expense for us to fix.  Right now we are planning to update the kitchen, the fireplace and the floors and call it done.  Oh, and add a fence.  Birdie has been challenging, to say the least.  She needs to run, but in our yard only.   I do love the location though!  So, so quiet compared to Atlanta and we have had several wild animals visit, including a black bear, but we didn’t see that one.  Most of the neighbors have kept to themselves, which makes me miss our neighbors in Atlanta even more.

Meanwhile, back in Atlanta, our perfect little house sat unvisited in a super slow market.  We managed to put our house on the market in the first month that had a drop in home sales since last October (I think, that’s right).  So, 2 couples made an effort to see the house, both loved the house, but the 1st didn’t like the neighborhood.  The second were ok with the neighborhood and loved the house so they made an offer.  Not a great offer, but an offer, none the less.  So, we’re in contract and hoping it works out.

If the house sells, then we can work on the next location.  The house I have been daydreaming about for years.  A house we build from the ground up here in Alaska.

2 Comments

Annie

Hope the house sells for you, and hope you get your dream. If you are building it yourself, you dang well better blog about it. I am very interested in hearing about it.

Love to you all!
annie

Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 06:09 AM

Kjerstin

Hey Annie,

I am sure I will blog about it.  Of course, when I say "we build" I mean "we hire someone to build."   Maybe not quite as interesting, but should have its own challenges.  Right now we are looking at vacant land around here and trying to find the right piece.

Did you ever pick a chandelier for your house?

Friday, August 20, 2010 - 10:50 PM