Construction Begins…Finally!

We’re off! There’s actual progress on the house. Progress that you can actually see! Yesterday the demo started on the interior, with the old lathe and plaster coming…

We Have Insurance!

Karl found us insurance! What we ended up with is a vacant-property policy through the same broker that the sellers were using. I was gung-ho initially…

Thoughts on First-Time Home Ownership

Karl Chimes In… I am in the strangest position: For the first time in my life, I am a homeowner. And yet, despite the fact that…

I’m Quitting Smoking For Matilda

I’ve been a smoker on and off for way too many years. I quit and start, usually when stress is flares up. Of course, stress always…

Wheeee…And Here We Go!

Karl and I signed the paperwork with our contractor this week and did a walk-thru to confirm plans. He starts the demo work tomorrow … and…

Our First Wedding Anniversary … and a Plumbing Update

Karl and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary on Saturday. I bought him a house; he bought me renovations. I think that’s what we’ll be giving…

If Frances Mayes Can Do It, So Can We

I was flipping through old home-renovation memoirs and look what I found! Frances Mayes, the queen of buying a crazy old house, signed my book.…

A Note on Teamwork and Marriage

So, yeah. I keep making my Karl sad. I continue to refer to the house as “mine” rather than ours. (See this post where I even…

Waltzing Matilda

Hello, this is Karl chiming in. About the name Matilda: The night before we closed on the house, we were trying to think of…

Actual Email From Our Sellers

This is the lovely note we got from our sellers after the close. Have you ever heard of such a friendly sale? No drama, no…