Curb Appeal
To Garage or Not Garage?
W-a-a-y back when we mentioned to you that we were planning on enclosing our existing carport into a garage. And that’s the last you ever heard from us on the matter. Even after having about three different companies give us an estimate.
The initial reason? Security of course. Also, it’s not too large of an expense considering we already have the cement pad, half bricked walls, framing and a roof. And not to mention a bunch of junk to conceal.
Thus, our garage-wanting wheels are spinning again. Based on estimates we’ve received, we’re thinking it would mean about two grand to save for in between now and the summer. Just so you know, we’re ambitious but we would not try to hang a garage door on our own. We considered putting up the walls ourselves and allow a pro to come behind us with a door and siding. In the end, we discovered that this would not save us much money at all and would only cost us much needed sanity and happy marriage points.
But two grand isn’t exactly pocket change. So here are some thoughts on the situation:
- Chad is great at eating peanut butter and jelly for lunch. I am great at eating Jersey Mikes, but can stop for a few months.
- Previously mentioned junk and Craigslist. A beautiful combination.
- We’ve found out that our homeowners insurance and auto insurance companies will give us a rate discount for having a garage. Which means we could easily offset some of our costs. By the way we think that’s pretty standard for most insurance companies around here, but if you’re across the pond we’d recommend checking with your own company like RAC to be sure if a discount is available. That’s right – we’ve got exotic readers.
- Barton and Lucy have both offered to get jobs if necessary to offset costs, but we will also consider corporate sponsors.
- An easy to add garage could add resale value to our casa in the event we ever sell it. Would you pay more for a home with a garage?
Thoughts? Reservations? Suggestions for garage door installation people? Job offers for Barton and Lucy?
For You and Me
Would you ever live in one?
What if your middle name was Cougar?
Just us? Hmmm… that’s odd.
The first one even has a flippin’ sweet bird out front. Guess we missed our chance here.
Photo Credits: Genoa Nevada, Charleston, Carmen’s Chronicles
Thinking Ahead to Summer
In doing so, I’ve decided that I would like our front walkway to look like a Starburst commercial. Or maybe it was Skittles. I can’t remember.
Chad loves this commercial. The guy is telling his girl that he can’t live straight because the streets are just too rough – he’s on a scooter in some pretty nice burbs.
When Chad called me into the room to see the commercial and I paused the screen and said “Look at those bushes!”
You win some you lose some.
But seriously, look at them.
Perfectly manicured, shorty boxwoods. With pink flowers down the middle! Yes. Plus that house totally looks like ours, minus $800,000.
P.S. If you’re not ready for boxwoods but thinking about veggies, check out this month’s Durham Magazine. We’re in there talking about planning your summer garden, now.
This Morning
I awoke and decided the following:
My bedside lamp needs to be red instead of orange.
And therefore so does Chad’s.
They are drying as we speak. The one in the front is the red in case you can’t tell in the light.
This repaint job should come as no surprise to any of you considering this post about my desk, this post about jewelry holder, and this post about our bar closet. I like to paint, thankfully it’s not a crime.
Also decided?
We are way overdue for pansies this year.
So while out picking up red spray paint I also scored some flowers for our front porch. I discovered that they are in fact violas and not pansies after bringing them home. I know no difference.
Want to know my lazy secret? I just stuck them in our urns without removing them from the plastic hanging baskets they came in. It will be easier to yank them out when they die. It will happen I am just preparing not to get too attached.
They are a nice improvement to the raggedy Christmas trees we had in the urns earlier. Those guys were getting kind of wonky.
Much more cheerful right?
And finally, also decided…
Someone will be very unhappy when the Christmas tree comes down and her new favorite chair is moved back into the living room.
She hasn’t even tried to eat it. Not once.
Here’s to a Less Eventful Holiday
Ever heard that saying when it rains it pours? We kind of experienced that with both of our automobiles ever since Thanksgiving. On our way home from Alabama in November this happened.
This came about after a few cars in front of us wrecked and we hit one of these.
And of course what would this post be without an artist’s rendering of the incident.
You’ll notice that both pups were extremely confused. Especially the little upside down one. And Chad’s beard looks like Santa.
It was scary but thankfully we were unhurt and the Jeep is still driveable as f-ugly as it’s looking right now.
Oh and the rest of the raining and pouring – literally?
My car battery died twice last week which led to me going to get a new one hours before we had people over for a holiday party. That was easy and expensive enough.
But then in an effort to let our house guests have space in the driveway I parked my car in the grass beside our carport. Add one monsoon that night along with me forgetting to go move my car and you have one very muddy and very stuck Cobalt.
AAA had to come tow me out of my own lawn.
Awkward.
And now our grass looks like this.
Yeah, we are those neighbors.
A Few Words About Michael Jackson and My Dream Home
It’s been mentioned here and there that the two of us are running a marathon in a few weeks. Yikes. A few weeks. I felt like I was just telling myself that it was a few months away. Let’s just say I haven’t been the best trainee. Chad on the other hand is rocking it as he does most things – except closing cabinet doors.
Because I am much slower of a runner, I find myself taking in a lot of my surroundings along my route and thought that this time I would take the trusty phone along for some photo ops. You know, just to give you guys a glimpse into what I am staring at multiple times a week as I seem to run around the ‘hood in circles.
Oh and just for fun I thought I would also throw in a few tidbits about my running playlist too. Because I know you all really care about what I listen to while said running in circles occurs.
Sight One: The neighbor is planting trees. Is it staker-ish that I cannot wait to see what fills these holes?
What I’m Listening To: When You Love Somebody by the Fruitbats
Sight Two: The house with the trees full of t-e-e-n-y pine cones.
What I’m Listening To: That’s Not My Name by the Ting Tings
Sight Three: The divided road where I always have to decide, do I cross and keep running? Or do I turn right toward Tutti Frutti? I definitely choose the path less traveled, most of the time.
What I’m Listening To: I Need More Love by Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Sight Four: The red tree that lets me know when it’s fall. It’s fall.
What I’m Listening To: Little White Church by Little Big Town
Sight Five: The new home that I’ve been running past for so long that I saw it built from the ground up. It’s a nice quaint property.
What I’m Listening To: Don’t Stop the Music by Rihanna
Sight Six: The golf course. This does nothing for me.
What I’m Listening To: The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson
Sight Seven: My dream house. On steroids. Half would be equally satisfying.
What I’m Listening To: Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root, yes it’s the song from Ice Age.
Any other wanna be runners out there with go to songs to pass the time? Any one else love those teeny pine cones as much as I do? If only my running shorts had pockets!
