A few years ago we moved into our fixer upper. We have remodeled a lot of the inside (with bathrooms in the near future) but have decided to switch our focus to the outside... probably due to the warm weather. When we bought the house we didn't hate the yard but saw a small need for a change to better suit our young family. Since moving in, we have realized that the current 30yr old retaining wall and fence do not stand a chance against our 2yr old or 5 yr old, I am tired of patching them. I thought, "we can just build a new fence and retaining wall, lay some sod, build a deck and then we are good to go.. all for under $3k"!
I have to admit that my interest or talents are not in the yard, just ask Travis about the tree that I 'pruned' by the front door. He is still having nightmares about it. Travis has great taste/imagination and loves to think and plan what he would do if funds were unlimited, and I am the the one that brings him back to reality of a budget and the fact that he will be doing the work and we reach a compromise. We always start our projects by calling a professional or two and getting estimates, then realizing that we can do it better for less than a 1/3 of their price, but it will be very inconvenient for us for awhile.
Back to the yard. I have had 4 pros come in and look at my property. The 1st, basically told me to leave it and patch what is broken. The 2nd quoted only half the retaining wall and told me the rest wouldn't be worth the $... $7k for half the wall. The 3rd, just told me $12k for the retaining wall but I would need to do the excavating. The 4th is still coming in but it is not promising.
We are not staying in this house forever and we WILL sell this place for a large profit when we leave. I cannot justify $12k for a retaining wall, what about my deck, sod and fence? Does everyone think that just because I live in the South Hills I will roll over and just start throwing money around?
I am peeved. Screw the contractor, I can follow plans that my husband or friends draw on napkins. This can not be that complicated. I am freak'n 5 months pregnant with a cold that makes my head feel like it will explode, but if I need to move a thousand 72# blocks to fix my yard then we will find a way to do it, within our budget, and it will look better than any of the freak'n brochures or business cards that are on my desk.
Excuse me while I go measure my yard, call the local rental company about a Kubota, and look at airline tickets so I can get my nieces/nephews over here for a few weeks (I think am starting realize why my parents loved having a large family... more gorillas for projects). I believe that I am just a regular moron, so it can't be that difficult!
So the next time you see me, I will definitely have a large belly (hopefully only until the first week of January) but I might have some frigg'n huge quads and biceps to match, if I remain ticked off long enough.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Trav's college football (fashion) preview
With the start of the college football season just weeks away, I'm sure everyone is clicking the refresh button on our blog in anticipation of my indispensable analysis. OK, maybe not. But I do want to comment on this...
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure the Ducks have "the firepower to shake up the BCS" -- but the SI cover story should really be titled: "How SWEET are the Ducks New Unies?!"
There are those who say, "Uniforms don't matter, winning is what really matters." And there are still others who say, "Winning doesn't matter, academic achievement in the classroom is what really matters." I have no doubt these uniforms will increase both winning and academic achievement. They are that sweet.
When the team isn't feeling very monochromatic, there's a plethera of other color and helmet combinations to choose from. The Ducks' math skills will improve just by figuring out how much a "plethera" really is. I'm bad at math, so I'll just guess "one hundred million."
Speaking of feeling monochromatic, the Ducks' opponent on September 3rd got new uniforms too.
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure the Ducks have "the firepower to shake up the BCS" -- but the SI cover story should really be titled: "How SWEET are the Ducks New Unies?!"
There are those who say, "Uniforms don't matter, winning is what really matters." And there are still others who say, "Winning doesn't matter, academic achievement in the classroom is what really matters." I have no doubt these uniforms will increase both winning and academic achievement. They are that sweet.
When the team isn't feeling very monochromatic, there's a plethera of other color and helmet combinations to choose from. The Ducks' math skills will improve just by figuring out how much a "plethera" really is. I'm bad at math, so I'll just guess "one hundred million."
Speaking of feeling monochromatic, the Ducks' opponent on September 3rd got new uniforms too.
Pretty subtle, huh. Maybe, the BSU marching band will play Eifle 65's original Italian megahit "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" and the Blue Man Group can perform at halftime.
When it comes to blue, these fellas wear it best...
Go Ducks/Cougs!
P.S. - tell me what you think about Oregon's new threads.
UPDATE
When it comes to blue, these fellas wear it best...
Go Ducks/Cougs!
P.S. - tell me what you think about Oregon's new threads.
UPDATE
Friday, August 7, 2009
(Un)Sound Financial Advice
Recently, my children presented me with the following proposal: in exchange for being "good" all day, they would each receive a shiny penny. They no longer wished to be good for nothing. I agreed to their terms.
Before long, their business plan paid off and they quickly accumulated several pennies. When Taeg' showed me her profits, I suggested that she find a safe place to keep her money. "Under the cushions!" she beamed, quickly lifting up a seat cushion on the living room sofa and carefully depositing her coins. I tried to explain that the interest her money would accrue under the seat cushion would be negligible. But 2-year-old's don't care about compound interest -- they just want to keep their assets liquid and readily accessible.
Today I learned where the kids have directed their revenue stream -- salt water taffy.
I accompanied them to the candy store during my lunch hour. I handed Karst' a basket and told them they had sufficient funds for 8 taffies. After some deliberation, they reached their quota. The boy tentatively approached the cashier by himself and carefully handed over his basket of goods. The cashier rang up his total -- .96¢ -- whereupon Karst' silently reached into his pocket and emptied the contents onto the counter. Four quarters and a dime. Upon receiving his taffies and his change, Karst' glanced at the coins and smiled. "Yes! I'm rich again!"
In these economically uncertain times, it's nice to know that my children are so financially savvy.
Before long, their business plan paid off and they quickly accumulated several pennies. When Taeg' showed me her profits, I suggested that she find a safe place to keep her money. "Under the cushions!" she beamed, quickly lifting up a seat cushion on the living room sofa and carefully depositing her coins. I tried to explain that the interest her money would accrue under the seat cushion would be negligible. But 2-year-old's don't care about compound interest -- they just want to keep their assets liquid and readily accessible.
Today I learned where the kids have directed their revenue stream -- salt water taffy.
I accompanied them to the candy store during my lunch hour. I handed Karst' a basket and told them they had sufficient funds for 8 taffies. After some deliberation, they reached their quota. The boy tentatively approached the cashier by himself and carefully handed over his basket of goods. The cashier rang up his total -- .96¢ -- whereupon Karst' silently reached into his pocket and emptied the contents onto the counter. Four quarters and a dime. Upon receiving his taffies and his change, Karst' glanced at the coins and smiled. "Yes! I'm rich again!"
In these economically uncertain times, it's nice to know that my children are so financially savvy.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
SEcrEt MEsSaGe.
A few weeks ago, Primary was centered around family night and how to make them better. I successfully avoided my other responsibilities and was able to sit in the back and listen to parts of the lesson. I realized that our family nights need some help and I remembered a crafty project that I have successfully put off for YEARS.
I am proud to say, I love spray paint, I had this piece of wood sitting in the garage, I didn't need a power tool, and vinyl lettering will remain tacky after years of sitting curled up on a shelf.
Yes, I do realize that the 'things' representing the individuals in the family are lame but in my defense, I could not find what I really wanted so I just decided on making do until I find/make what I want.
We have continued with a tradition in my family, the person that is conducting is in charge of picking the pray'er' for every meal or anytime we feel the need to give thanks as a family during that week. I was the first person in charge so no biggy. Taegan just gave up her rights last night and lets just say it was a long week of hearing... "she never picks me"....."me, me, me, me"..."um, um, um, I pick, um, um, um, I pick.." We will see how this week goes, Karsten is the school bus!
I think the board has been a helpful reminder for us to not only remember who does what but also to put some time into our family night duties! There are probably halos on our heads right now.
I am proud to say, I love spray paint, I had this piece of wood sitting in the garage, I didn't need a power tool, and vinyl lettering will remain tacky after years of sitting curled up on a shelf.
Yes, I do realize that the 'things' representing the individuals in the family are lame but in my defense, I could not find what I really wanted so I just decided on making do until I find/make what I want.
We have continued with a tradition in my family, the person that is conducting is in charge of picking the pray'er' for every meal or anytime we feel the need to give thanks as a family during that week. I was the first person in charge so no biggy. Taegan just gave up her rights last night and lets just say it was a long week of hearing... "she never picks me"....."me, me, me, me"..."um, um, um, I pick, um, um, um, I pick.." We will see how this week goes, Karsten is the school bus!
I think the board has been a helpful reminder for us to not only remember who does what but also to put some time into our family night duties! There are probably halos on our heads right now.