oregano

Day 20

"Basements"

Gregory's comments on Day 19, entry 2 got me to thinking about basements again. 

Isn't it odd that our new friends laugh when we ask about basements here in TX and our long time friends and family laugh when we talk about basements.  Why is everybody laughing??? 

Down here in the valley if you had a basement it would be best served as a swimming pool.  The water table is high enough that dump trucks of soil had to be brought in before the foundation could be poured -- remember the truck from Day 1.  One of my greatest concerns about living here is what happens in hurricane season when the waters start to rise.   I guess sand bags are pretty cheap -- I've wondered how many we'd need.  Our new friends laugh because they think we're out of our minds even contemplating one.  Ergo, basements, even tiny ones (c.f. Day 4 - third photo) are not even an option.

Our family and friends laugh when we convey that there will not be a basement -- What!  No basement?  Where will you put your storage?  Where will the kids play (when it's cold outside -- LOL)?  Where will you do laudry?  I am generally concerned about storage.  When the time comes to move in, I imagine we'll eliminate a few more things -- items we probably should have gotten rid of before we moved.  Needless to say, there will be a definite mis en place in this house!

It might take a while for this native midwesterner to stop looking for the basement door -- or cellar door for those who prefer the lyrical name. (I seem to remember my maternal grandparents talking about the cellar.  Mom?  I also remember the phrase used when someone was going to the cellar -- they were going 'down d' basement'.

Day 49, entry 2

"The Kids"

GDG and MELG have truly enjoyed going over to the house every day;  it's been a treasure hunt of sorts discovering what's different, new, and unique.  This evening, MELG found 'steps' in the bricks and climbed up to perch, GDG quickly followed.  It's very interesting and insightful to listen to the two of them chatter on about the house -- what they like, what they look forward to, and what they've discovered that day!

Day 61

"Happy Fourth of July"

       GDG and MELG sport their patriotic, decorated bikes

Day 68

"The Most Difficult Phrase"

It's in storage!

Books.  Cookbooks.  Recipe box.  Coffee carafe.  Party dishes.   Bread Pans.  Extra pie plate.  Pie container tupperware.

Sorry, it's in storage.

Glass measuring cups.  Measuring spoons.  Tools.  Box of favorite CDs.

Sorry, it's in storage.

MELG's play kitchen.  Puzzles.  Software.  Software manual.  Candles.  Candle sticks.  Full length mirror. 

... yeah.  Sorry, it's in storage.

Day 109

"First Day of School for the New School Year"

Today was the first day of a new year for GDG and MELG.  They were both ready and eager to get going having been counting days until school starts from the day they were dismissed for summer vacation.  It was good to get them back to class.  I had hoped that they would be having their first day of the year photo on the front porch of the new house, but not yet.  That's OK.  Perhaps as soon as next Monday we'll take a photo on the new front porch on their way out the door.

More construction news later this afternoon or evening...