The house building is sluggishly moving forward again. We finally have completed a few steps in the zoning process, and have gotten to the point where we're waiting for an appointment to go in front of the County Commission. Hopefully then we will get permission to zone the land, after which we have to have it surveyed, platted, and go BACK in front of the Zoning Commission so they can approve the way we have it drawn up.
Bah. Seems like much ado for a few lines on a map.
On another front, the houseplans are at long last almost finished. I'm pretty excited - I think it will be a good place to live. Three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, kitchen, greatroom , dining room, mudroom, a screened porch and a basement. I'm really looking forward to the screened porch.
Though we're building a larger house than we currently live in, we're losing 2 rooms, unless we can afford to finish a room in the basement. So I'm trying to think of the best way to make up for that space - it could get tricky.
After the plans are completely nailed down we'll give them to 2 or 3 of the builders we've met over the last 2 months and get estimates. Hopefully the estimate will be close to what we've projected and we'll acutally be able to afford the thing. I'm so very ready to get actual numbers and budgets and finally get rolling.
That's all I've got for now. Here's to hoping it's not long before I have another installment!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Farewell
My grandma died on April 4th.
This is the grandma who taught me to bake yeast breads. Who taught me to sew. Who I picked green beans and strawberries with, and cooked and cooked and cooked and cooked meals with at harvest time.
She taught me a new knit stitch at her 91st birthday party February 16th.
She and my grandpa ran a dairy farm 2 miles down the road from where I grew up, which made us next-door neighbors. We spent a lot of time with them, helping with farm chores and eating my grandma's fabulous full-o'-fat farm cooking. They always came to our school plays and ball games, and my brothers and I helped them show the Brown Swiss cattle they were so proud of at the State Fair every September.
Grandma had moved away from the farm six years ago after my grandfather passed away, and I admired the way she embraced such a big lifestyle change at the age of 85. She always kept herself busy - exercising every morning, knitting and quilting for mission projects, playing bridge, going to church and singing in the choir. She even played in a bell choir, though I don't really know how she was able to lift the bells.
I wish I had seen her more - she only lived 1 hour away but I was seldom able to get to her house for a visit. I did get to see her the night before she died, though, which I'm very grateful for. And she knew my kids, for which I'm also grateful.
I know she was ready when she went. It was a pretty spring day when she died, and her hospital room had a rather rural view of a large bank of grain elevators, which I think she would have liked.
It doesn't make me miss her any less though. Goodbye, Grandma. I love you.
This is the grandma who taught me to bake yeast breads. Who taught me to sew. Who I picked green beans and strawberries with, and cooked and cooked and cooked and cooked meals with at harvest time.
She taught me a new knit stitch at her 91st birthday party February 16th.
She and my grandpa ran a dairy farm 2 miles down the road from where I grew up, which made us next-door neighbors. We spent a lot of time with them, helping with farm chores and eating my grandma's fabulous full-o'-fat farm cooking. They always came to our school plays and ball games, and my brothers and I helped them show the Brown Swiss cattle they were so proud of at the State Fair every September.
Grandma had moved away from the farm six years ago after my grandfather passed away, and I admired the way she embraced such a big lifestyle change at the age of 85. She always kept herself busy - exercising every morning, knitting and quilting for mission projects, playing bridge, going to church and singing in the choir. She even played in a bell choir, though I don't really know how she was able to lift the bells.
I wish I had seen her more - she only lived 1 hour away but I was seldom able to get to her house for a visit. I did get to see her the night before she died, though, which I'm very grateful for. And she knew my kids, for which I'm also grateful.
I know she was ready when she went. It was a pretty spring day when she died, and her hospital room had a rather rural view of a large bank of grain elevators, which I think she would have liked.
It doesn't make me miss her any less though. Goodbye, Grandma. I love you.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Proof of Easter Cuteness
I finally got my camera back from my mom's house and downloaded Easter photos. You are warned - there is almost too much cuteness!
Little Man and Little Miss posing on Grandma's piano. Cheesy smiles from the one, a hint of amusement from the other. Frankly, she looks a little long-suffering. Speaking from experience as a little sister, that won't be changing any time soon.
The Little Miss, she likes her new shoes.
My favorite Easter photo this year. Kids, eggs and jellybeans. Is there a better combination? I also love that the paci was very apparently thrown over for a jellybean. Fickle kid.
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