Phase 2

Wow, I am really a terrible blogger. So inconsistent . . . but today I googled myself (embarrassing to admit, but I've never done it and I wondered . . .) and this blog came up, along with a photo someone used for their own blog, in choosing a color for their home. Alas, my exterior home color, Copley Gray by Benjamin Moore was not chosen, but still . . . I haven't kept up on this blog, yet we are about to begin phase 2 of our home remodel. After scrapping the initial plans, and the initial builder, today I officially turned in my contract to the builder. From here, we'll wait for the county and the bank, etc. before we can begin. It seems like every time I get to this point, I have second thoughts about what I'm getting into. Do I really want to live through the mess and chaos again? Can I handle the lack of privacy, and this time, a lack of parking space and a bedroom? Am I sure I don't want to move to Holladay in a new house and neighborhood closer to Pete's work? Funny story, how I started thinking about moving to Holladay again. Pete and I were joking with one another about how we should defy burial conventions, and be buried in separate cemeteries. He said he'd have me buried in Holladay since I'd always wanted to move their during my life, which got me thinking, why wait until I'm buried? So . . . I found a house I liked, took a look, made Pete take a look, low-balled an offer that was denied, and find myself back to remodeling my existing house. (I know, I know . . . what would it be like to have such problems?) Am I perhaps, a bit too flakey for my own good? Yes, I'll admit it, AGAIN, this is a sickness for me. I am an idea person. I love thinking about the possibilities, and every once in awhile, I feel compelled to act on those possibilities. I will also reiterate that its a good thing this is not the case in my personal relationships, namely with my husband. If I was looking to change my personal relationship (i.e. marriage) as often as I contemplate moving, I'd be with someone new every 6 months, and that may be a long estimate! Anyhow, the next phase will include another addition, this time more substantial than the last, in that its mostly above ground. We will gain significant garage storage space for bikes, snow plow, lawn mowers, etc., as well as a larger mudroom and small food storage/pantry on the main floor. Most of the changes will occur on the second level. We will gain a new master bath and closet, 2 bedrooms and another small bath. We are changing the location of the entrance door to our bedroom and replacing the existing french doors to the back deck with new, hopefully better insulated french doors. A big portion of this remodel will include changing our furnace and air conditioning units to more environmentally friendly, efficient models. I'll try to keep the blog updated, but clearly I'm not good at that, so I won't make any promises. In other home news, I am loving gardening this year. I've added several roses and perennial flowers to my beds since last year. I've also planted a garden with green and yellow peppers, tomatoes, green onions, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkins, zucchini and yellow squash, and believe that's it. So far, I've got tomatoes starting and saw my first green pepper today, but I'm skeptical of the berries--the plants aren't looking so good. I'd love any suggestions from fellow gardeners on the best way to help the strawberries and raspberries along. I've been told strawberries should do well, so my confidence is waning!! Hope to post pictures next week!