The First Day

The first day in our home was surreal. Most likely due to lack of sleep, but also joy and excitement and the fact that it was Christmas Eve. This didn't hurt much either:

This was the view from our driveway, looking above the house directly across the street. I love that our For Sale sign is still there, since I never thought to take a picture with it until it was gone.

Another surprise: Our first mail!

Unfortunately, it was from the insurance company.

Overnight, the cats had fully inspected the entire house, and left all the cupboards open for us.

Cowboy H took all the doors of their hinges and began painting them (to cover graffiti)

And also put our bed together, so we could sleep in our actual bedroom!

And I started cooking our "Christmas Dinner".

Since we were both working the next day, Christmas, we stuffed our faces a day early.

And that was the end to the most perfect first day in our new home ever. One that will be remembered a long long time.

One Year Ago Today

We packed up all these boxes,

Watched as they were loaded into the moving van,

Arrived at our new address,

Checked out all the rooms,

Living Room


Kitchen


Hallway to Bedrooms


Master Bedroom

Waited for the moving van to arrive,

And started putting things in their new, proper places.

Check out the too small curtains!


Oh, there they are. The old couches.





Walk in closet!

Eventually, the cats came out of hiding from the litter boxes,

The unpacking began,

One down, about 11 hundred more to go.


Look at all my cupboards! I think I died and went to Heaven!


Where, oh where, do I want everything to go?

And empty boxes slowly stacked up,

Um, yes, this was before we had the dogs.

All while Cowboy H painted away.

Finally, at about 3 am, we called it a night,

IN OUR HOME, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

Welcome to the Homestead

I realize I should have made this the first post, but I just had to introduce Hank. I knew I could hook you with sweet innocent puppy pictures. Now I know you'll keep coming back, even if you're just looking for new pictures of Hank.
So, today I welcome you to The Homestead. Well, at least this is what The Homestead looked like when we purchased it in December of 2008. Things are looking a little better these days. Let's take a walking tour!
Upon entering the front doors, you look into the living room, which is straight in front of you. Please note the giant writing on the wall above the fireplace.Immediately to your right, is the KITCHEN. Mama H's KITCHEN. This kitchen played a major role in why we call this house the Homestead today. See for yourself:
Oh, Island, how I love you.
Well, things are looking pretty good so far. Let's venture down the hallway to the left of the front entrance. Gotta check out the bathrooms.
Bathroom #1:


Uhhhh... not so great.
Bathroom #2:Oh, even better. You know, now that I think about it, there was something strange about that wall in the living room...See that light coming through the middle hole? That goes to the master bedroom!
All in all, we decided this would be the perfect Homestead. Why? Well, because the bumps and bruises weren't nothing a little TLC from Mama H and a lot of hammering, sawing and painting from Cowboy H couldn't fix. And as they say, a house is a house, but its not a Homestead without love (and sweat). And maybe this helped a little (well, this, and that KITCHEN):
See that way over there? That's a HOT TUB.

(P.S. Keep your eyes on Bathroom #2!)