Weekend Warriors

Who knew weekends could go so fast?!

As can be seen, we were presented with a big project on Friday... for a tiny backyard, it has become an overgrown jungle of invasive plants! Without the help of friends and family, I don't think we could have made nearly as much progress as we have.

So this post (I'm sure the first of many...) is dedicated to all of YOU - the friends, family, and new neighbors who have helped so much along the way. I certainly don't have pictures of everyone, but know that your calls, emails, visits, ladders, hedge-clippers, recycling bins, and hours of cheap labor mean a lot.

Operation backyard begins...

...dining room detour...

...visitors!...

...back at it...

...almost there...

...getting closer... (yard bags #24, 25, and 26...)

...ahhh, the earned victory parade through town.


Weekend warriors. Stay tuned over the next 12 months as this backyard morphs into an amazing patio / retreat.

Carpet staples: the bane of my existence

What a tease.

The carpet ripped up SO easily, and the tack strips came out effortlessly. But no one told me how much of a b*tch carpet staples would be! Or how many there would be - whoever installed this carpet was a meticulous, trigger-happy freak.



Two more rooms to go - any advice on the best way to get them out? Wonder Bar? Screwdriver? Pliers?!

Progress!

Lots of great progress to share, but not enough time to write all about it. Check out some photos below for a quick update. Thanks to everyone for all of their hard work and their motivational visits!

Ripping up the carpets on night 2...



revealed...



...beautiful wood floors!

We have done a huge amount of general property cleanup, inside and out. This photos doesn't do justice to the hours of back-breaking labor :-) GIANT pine branches (left), filled yard bags (center), and 1300 sq. feet of pink/beige/peach/taupe/green/ugly carpet. Let's hope the trash man is in a good mood tomorrow morning.



Honestly though, the best part of the weekend has been meeting all of our new neighbors. Granted, they can never rival the Tenth St. gang (who can never be replaced!), but they're pretty swell. Everyone's been so welcoming and inviting, and they all seem relieved that "young people are taking on such an ambitions project..."


...I have yet to decide whether that's a compliment or a threat.

OH, and check out the view from our new neighborhood pub! (where there's obviously important house-work to be done...)

SOLD

Well everybody - it's happened. I am officially a home-owner!! And not a single tear shed (yet).

I successfully closed on May 12th, and have had a remarkable team helping me in the house every day since - look for photo updates soon!

In the meantime, rest assured I have made my first trip to Home Depot as a homeowner. I hear it goes downhill from here - either that or you go broke?..

Craigslist deal of the century / panicked

With my closing scheduled for tomorrow, I have legitimately started panicking. Everyone said it would happen, but I refused to listen to them. "Within 24 hours of closing, you will start second-guessing every financial decision you've ever made, every vacation you've ever taken, every gift you've ever given, everything!"

Well how's that for uplifting?

Unfortunately for me (all drama aside), there is validity to such fear. Sooo, what do I do with this added pressure and stress? I focus my energy elsewhere and comb the internet for good deals, completely avoiding all possible thoughts of home-ownership, foreclosure, and hedge-trimming.

Luckily, I stumbled across the DEAL OF THE CENTURY in my procrastination and denial. I found the most amazing furniture set on the planet - original matching lounge chairs AND matching sofa (super rare), direct from Denmark, dated 1959. Leather webbing recently redone, new tweed upholstery - it's all just perfect. And all three pieces for $175.

Check out these photos of one of the chairs in my apartment - I can't wait to see all three pieces in the new house. I assure you this ranch was built to house this furniture.





22 hours!