We've Only Just Begun

This past Friday John and I closed on our house. We were able to have our furniture moved on Thursday so as soon as we finished up paper work I was able to head over and start unpacking boxes. Overwhelming. Let. Me. Tell. You. The front two rooms were completely packed full! I believe we likely unloaded 75% of the boxes this weekend - so it was filled with both excitement and exhaustion.

The past year has been filled with so much activity I cannot help but to reflect. In one month we will celebrate our one year anniversary. A huge milestone, no doubt - people who say the first year is the most difficult are right on point! We have sold a house (closing is this week), purchased our first home together. We are losing one job - and in that are able to put in perspective the things that are important to us.

I hope that everyone is well - and enjoying life! More to come later...

Spreadsheet Anyone?

Depending on how often you read this, or how often I manage to write, you will sometimes see my incessant rambling about my husband and his spreadsheets. In the words of John, Spreadsheets are the answer to everything! And he truly, truly believes this...

Example: John goes to Denver, CO (very cool place, I hear) on business... He visits friends from high school or college (I can't remember)... I anxiously await stories of catching up, cool restaurants, bars, something that 30-year olds do... Not my husband! He instead fills me in on how the office where he was working uses Excel 2007!!!! Excel 2007, people! This isn't just any 'ole excel program, this program holds One Million line items! We're both nerds in our own way, so this is ok. I'm sure he enjoys hearing about yarn textures, fibers, colors, etc. and my latest bag idea...

Today, I have a new appreciation for the spreadsheets. You may also know that we have been house hunting. Why? I don't know, because in one month only ONE person has looked at our house so if you ask me today, I doubt we'll be purchasing another home anytime in the near future... But, hey, I guess stranger things have happened. At any rate, I digress. Since we have been house hunting for one month we have looked at and liked a lot of houses. As you can probably guess, they are neatly organized in a spreadsheet. MLS#, Address, Stats, Subdivision.... Well he added a column with a hyperlink to the house page!!! LOVE THIS FEATURE!!! This feature has given me a new appreciation for my husband's spreadsheets!!!

And onto RoseKnits news... I have a new bag idea brewing in my head! With any luck, I'll have one in the shop tonight!!! Stay tuned... Also, if you are a RAVELER - join our group 'RoseKnits'! For the month of August all group members who 'refer a friend' to join the group will be entered into a drawing with their friend for a bag out of the shop! Who can pass that up??

A Well Sorted Plan

It can still be good, though, right? In the last blog I mentioned how John and I have decided to set forth and look for a new home together! As exciting as this is, it appears it is going to be a lot of work. When I moved into this house 1) it was just me and 2) I was moving in from a 700 square foot apartment and 3) I have the tendency to make some impulsive decisions at times so it really didn't take very long to get stuff done.

In 2005 I wanted to buy a house - I made an offer on ONE that I had seen (I had only seen ONE) and only when that deal did not work out I was forced to spend a Saturday with a realtor and picked another one that day. Not a big deal. This move, however, is going to be very, very different. 1) There are 2 people involved 2) We are trying to move roughly 1200 square feet into (with any luck 2500 square feet) and 3) my husband, God knows I love him, is extremely anal rententive. This is a good quality, I supposed, because it may provide some balance to my impulsive side.

We rented a storage unit yesterday - and I won't tell you how long that took - nor the discussion that transpired over what kind of lock was going to be used on the storage unit... At about 2 yesterday afternoon I received a spreadsheet with a list of.... "MLS Number, Who Recommended the Home, List Price, Address, School District, Pros, Cons..." Are you getting the picture here? I love, love, love the hubs, but he truly believes that a spreadsheet is the answer to everything!

Needless to say - I will try to enjoy this ride - and probably what keeps me sane is the idea that once completed, I will have my very own room for sewing and yarn storage. As I was packing up my yarn two nights ago (people who view the house may consider my yarn clutter --- we won't hold their ignorance against them) I promised my yarn that after it was forced to stay in a storage place in a rubbermaid tub (we at least sprang for climate controlled; John does not want me to have to replace all of my yarn) I would provide a proper, more deserved home for it the next time I unpack it. Here are some stash photos... Doesn't it look sad??

Funny thing... I only purchased on 32-gallon tub... When I came home John said, "You know that isn't going to fit, you may as well turn around, go back to Target and buy another tub. Why would you think all of that would fit??" Hehehe... I love him, yes I do!

Have a great day folks... Tomorrow... I will carry the Meme torch passed by Taryn.

Adventures in the Saltsman Home

John and I have spoken, joked, hinted around on numerous occasions that maybe we should be in the market for a new home. While we realize this may not be the 'ideal' time to buy a home, we are both still gainfully employed (knocking on wood), and John's job seems to have something that resembles stability.

Currently we are living in my first home - my starter home - a home definitely made for one person, not two. I love this house - it was my first introduction into the adult world, and the first substantial thing that I purchased that was not a mistake :-) My little starter house is 1127 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. It's so cute! Unfortunately, I think John and I are outgrowing this house - and with any luck, we'll be growing our family next year. We joke that we can stay in this house until someone else needs to use the restroom - but we risk a potential homicide occuring in this house if we do not choose to part with it.

I mentioned that John and I have discussed this before - where I am quite sure he dismissed me and went about his daily business. Well - Grant (John's buddy at work) and John went to lunch on Friday - and Grant says, "John, this really is a great time to buy a house... blah... blah... blah..." I can hear the conversation now. Saturday morning John casually saunters up to me, "So, honey, Grant and I were talking yesterday at lunch and I think it would be a great time for us to start looking for a new home..." You could just see the little glimmer in his eye as he made his very proud statement, that I am sure he still thinks that he came up with... Whatever! You have to pick and choose your battles in a marriage and the realtor is coming this week. We're preapproved for a new home... And we'll see what happens.

While I may not get to shout, "H-E-L-L-O, that's what I have been saying..." or "Do you ever listen to me..." I do get to look for new homes. I've won this one, even if I don't get to brag about it - to him...