I'm still learning how to blog

I pressed publish post without adding the good things about my new house. I had to have purchased this house for some reason, right? I would like to draw your attention to the picture of the back yard. I own .25 acres in the prestigious and lovely town of Lexington. We live on a quiet tree-lined side street full of nice families, and I have a driveway. This house does have great bones, regardless of the mystifying add-ons. The house a few houses down is going for $1.5M. There is significant value to this place and, after all of these fun re-modelings, we are hoping to really enjoy the fruits of our labor along with the eggs of our chickens. BB has tons of CARPETED room to run around and is the happiest I have ever seen him. Plus we don't have drunken college kids ringing our doorbell every Saturday night around 2:30 am, so it's a pretty good deal. It is a cozy little house that just has a spectacular laundry list of things I would like to dig into, although it is a completely functional home right now. Except for the kitchen, but don't push it.

Pictures

Good morning. After the first weekend without rain, I have gotten a few pictures to share. Unfortunately, stupidity doesn't translate over the camera as well as I had hoped, but you'll have to use your imagination. Andy and I are spellbound in this house daily by the idiotic building decisions that went into this glorified cardboard box.

As a background, this house was built as a vacation home for city folk back in 1942, which is quite an odd year to build a house. As time went on, the owner apparently decided they needed more room and wanted to add on, but decided crazy things like insulation and finishing were too expensive. We have a living room with a vaulted ceiling and lovely paneling that is actually fairly comfortable and pink. That has a spiral staircase up to the loft area where the kids will sleep, seeing as no one over 4' can stand up in there - great use of space and emerald green carpet. You will see the two bedrooms off the living room, ours and Buns'/ Andy's closet/ guest room. And then the beautiful bathroom that someone took the time to sponge paint in not one, but TWO colors of pink. Take notice of the window in the shower, that's a nice touch, especially because it's single-paned and unfinished wood.

Our kitchen is off the living room was most likely built by monkeys, and not the smart kind like you see in Madagascar. You will see the gigantic waste of space, the fact that there are no drawers except on the OTHER side of the counter, the cupboards are an unfinished wood that was cut with a hacksaw, the counter tops were not sealed and are an inch from the wall. The entire place smells of mold and rotten food, and every time either of us goes in there, we get so frustrated and grossed out there is constant muttering and groaning. It's a good diet, I suppose.

I took a few pics of the basement, too, which was Andy's first project. The previous owners thought a 2' drop ceiling would make the basement more cozy. Not only is that ridiculous and claustrophobic, but it makes using the elliptical machine nearly impossible, so Andy ripped down half the ceiling and it's really opened the place up. You will notice that a "bar" that was put in that is truly hilarious. And please note the "bathroom" that was put in in a corner of the basement stairs that has its own pump, winning it first place in the "what the hell were they thinking" contest of 85 Reed, which is saying a lot considering the pretty intense competition.

Also, you will see the three-season porch that gives me the heebie jeebies. When we first looked at this house, there was a dead squirrel that had found its way through the doggie door onto the porch, but couldn't find its way back... so if you're wondering mouse > squirrel when it comes to mazes. However, I've also found squirrel > mouse when it comes to noise in your walls.

Anyhoo - there are tons of anomalies of this place that may or may not come through in the pictures. Just enjoy and have a hearty laugh and hopefully yours won't end in silent sobbing like it does for us.

Preface

Once upon a time there was a content girl living in a lovely one bedroom apartment in the city. She had everything she needed, a few things she wanted, and more wonderful people in her life than she could count. Then one day she met a boy, fell in love, and what she thought would be happily ever after has actually turned into countless trips to the Home Depot and furry woodland creature home invasions. And this is just the beginning.
Most of you have been along for the ride of this "faerie tale", and most of you, if asked a year ago if you would ever see me in this situation, are intrigued and flabbergasted by the recent change of life events. This in addition to my lack of committed hobbies (I've been told brunch doesn't count as a hobby), my desire to yabber on about myself, and many curious parties with bets on when I'm going to have my 10th mental breakdown, I will be developing this mildly entertaining blog for all of you to follow along with the renovations.
So here are the ground rules :
1) AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - I do not know what I'm doing. If you want me to pick out a chic outfit from Barney's, I'm your girl. If you want me to put up trim, if that's even the correct phrasing (see point #2), then you will end up walled into your room. I have not needed to do any sort of construction type anything since my parents made me help them wallpaper my room pink in 5th grade, and I'm not sure if that even counts as construction. I am, however, a fairly bright girl (please keep comments to a minimum) and am hoping I will both understand everything I will need to do and perform everything I will need to do with at least some extent of excellence and dexterity.
2) Please do not correct my phrasing.
3) This is a slow project due to fundraising and limited labor. Unless you would like to help (in either area...I maintain a paypal account) please be patient with our progress and I will get pictures up as soon as possible.
4) This project is made entirely possible by my wonderful, loving, extremely talented better half. He is a carpentry genius and design mastermind. Major props for his sponsorship, dedication, and all around excitement toward the coming activities. Raise the roof.