If you are in the DC area you know we are in the middle of some crazy wind...

And over the last few weeks I have not been sleeping well, usually I wake up a few times, turn on Nick-at-Nite, with the sleep timer amd roll over and go back to sleep.

But last night ... I slept awesome. Until about 5AM.... when I heard a big crash! Then I realized it was very windy outside... I figured maybe a shutter had blown off the house... but then I got up and checked outside....my trash can had blown over :)

So I went back to sleep for about 20 minutes....

The morning continued as normal... Madison messing up the bed making process, hair drying, etc...

Then I went downstairs.... to get ready to leave.... something didn't seem right. I have gas logs in my living room, and I can usually hear a small hiss from the pilot light. So I went to look for the blue flame. No sign of it! I thought Oh No! Pilot Light is out! Is gas streaming into my house?? Um no cause I didn't smell it..... Weird I thought.... is gas out to the whole house??
I didn't think so becase the heat had been running all night, but I ran downstairs to check the furnace. Everything seemed normal.

Ran back upstairs, figured out how to turn off the pilot light from the main controller. Then sat down to think about next steps. I was still confused why gas wasn't coming into the house. I called the place that installed my gas logs. Not open until 10am.

Then I remembered "Google is my Friend" :)

I googled "Pilot Light Blows Out" and found a site that explained all about how pilot lights work... Basically when the flame blows out there is a mechanisim that shuts off the gas flow... YAY for Safety Features!! Now I just need to remember how to re-light it when I get home :P

What's the best change you made to the place you live?

This should be obvious to regular readers!!! The best change is that I sold my condo, bought a single family house, and cut my commute in half (thereby doubling my social life :P)

This was my first major snowstorm as a house owner... and here is what I learned....



1)Don't back the car all the way back in the driveway. If I had followed what others were doing I would have noticed they were parking as close to the sidewalk as possible... so they would have the least amount to dig out...



2)Don't go to Ghetto Giant right before a snow storm. It was a mess. All I needed was cat food... and there was only 1 express line open.

3) Buy more Ice Melt. I had one little jug that I was so proud of myself for buying at Target a few weeks ago. It lasted for my front porch and front walk.....I resorted to dumping cat litter on the sheet of ice that is my front sidewalk and driveway... but it is a mess. I'll try to pick up some more ice melt at 7-11 or CVS today.

4) Put recycle bins and trash cans outside. Mine are now safely tucked in my garage. With an icy sidewalk and 18 inches of snow between us :(

5)Shovel a path from front walk to driveway... I should have done this on Saturday.... Now I have to walk across icy sidewalk and driveway to get to my car and garage



When I was in my condo... all I had to do was dig out my car. SFH may be more work... but the quiet is definitely worth it!!!!

This past weekend I raked leaves for the first time in my life.


Luckily the town I live in vacuums the leaves left on the curb so I didn't have to bag anything....


This is what my backyard looked like prior to raking





This is an in progress shot...... the orange thing is the tarp I used to carry the leaves from the backyard to the front curb...





They started piling up quickly.... I thought I was going to run out of room! After about 2.5 hours I broke for lunch... and then didn't want to go back out after I sat down to eat ;)


But I gave myself a short nap and went back....And after one more tarp trip where the backyard seemed slightly more than halfway done, I busted out the lawnmower and proceeded to mow (thanks to a previous hint/suggestion from a friend).


Backyard done!





Then I moved on to the front yard which is much smaller, and really only has leaves at the very front... I raked the front and mowed the rest!


After about 4 hours of work I was done.




Final Damage - 2 blisters ... one on each hand (Guess I should have worn gloves!) and my forearms ached sooooo bad I could barely concentrate on anything else. I also have some tightness in my shoulders and back..... but oh well.... better than paying someone!

As you may or may not know.. I have a few handbags...

And they tend to pile up during the week....



So I ordered a coat rack to bring some order to the chaos!



Much better!

One of the decorative features I first fell in love with when I first went to look at what became my new house was the original stained glass windows in the living room (very faded though)...



I knew I had to replace all the windows going in... so I wanted to try and keep stained glass in the Living Room....but as I was looking around... I was finding the cost to be outrageous.

Then my mom mentioned a friend that had decorative films on a window of hers.

So I looked online and ordered some samples. I fell in love with what I eventually ended up getting for the living room....





The I ordered some Ice for my Bathrooom... which turned out AWESOME!!!!




and some stained glass for my master closet window:



(I also got some plain Sandblast films for my basement to have some additional privacy (on one side of the basement with the new windows there is no longer room to hang tension rods for curtains).

It all turned out really well, and was super cost effective. I should have measured better (I cut it very close on two of the installations), but it was all pretty easy to install.

The house I bought had original 1941 single-pane windows. Casements that crank out. More than half didn't open and many panes of glass were cracked.



I knew my first major project was going to be replacing the windows ASAP. Last Friday the job was completed!



I replaced 22 windows, and now they all open (Finally windows open in my bendroom... YAY!)

See the total transformation here.

The new house had a wood burning fireplace (actually a requirement) :)

But then I had raccoons.... and did I really want to be messing with a fire?!??!?

My mother suggested Gas Logs as an option.... and its actually my housewarming/birthday/xmas present :D

installation was finally complete today!

One concern I had with moving from Condo to Single Family Home was the trash pickup situation.

In the condo everything just went into the dumpster. No recycling. No separating. No keeping track of pickup days. And I loved taking out trash.... I think it's part of my OCD/decluttering craziness.

So prior to the move I was concerned about the effort that would have to go into "Taking out the Trash".

But no worries needed. Cheverly has an awesome Public Works department. In addition to Twice weekly trash pickup... They also have once a week recycling pickup (which you don't have to separate - plastic, cans, bottles, and cardboard can all go into the same bin!) Once a week Yard Waste pickup (which the town turns into mulch... and you can have it for FREE!) ....... and once a week BULK TRASH PICKUP!!!

So I still like taking out the trash.... and even better...

I have neighbors that take up my emptied trash cans to my garage while I am at work :)

It's been over 2 months ... so I guess I was due for more house drama!

This morning I woke up early and was doing my normal "watch tv and surf the internets"....when I heard an odd sound... that didn't seem to be coming from Beverly Hills 90210....

I looked up....and noticed something sitting on my FIOS box... I thought it was a mouse... but wasn't sure. So I went to turn on a light...and that's when it spread its wings...and started flying around the living room! A Bat!!!!

EEEEEEEEEK!

So I spent a few minutes crouched low to the floor, then I decided to grab Madison and shut her in a room upstairs (not very well though, because she escaped!)

Then I decided I would try to trap it myself....and I did! Its currently trapped under the base of a hand held blender mixing bowl.

Problem solved right? Not so quick....

The local community email group pointed me to this article from WaPo. So now I am waiting for Animal Control to come pick it up to be tested for rabies :/

.... and wonder how the bat got in the house in the first place, and if there are more :(

Addressee unknown!

That is what I am writing a lot of on mail that is being delivered to my house. For not 2 previous owners but 3! And its not just junk mail. In the past two weeks I have received one person's Social Security Statement, and a hand-written note to another....

I guess this is what happens in a 68 year old house... but man it is annoying, especially since I do not have my own mailbox that I can just dump them back into! ( I have a mail slot in my front door ... so cute!)

aka.... how I made out with my list of what I wanted in a new house....



1) Location - Totally made out with this. Orange line stop is a 20 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride :D

2) Central AC - its a must! Check!

3) Up-to-Date fuse box, plumbing, windows, and roof - these are leaning very heavy on the must have side :-) Fuse and roof are all updated. Windows are original... and will be replaced by me. Plumbing... seems in good condition.

3) No Upstairs neighbors - Must have! Check!

4)Do not share property-lines with renters - it's a must! Check!

5) Gas cooking - Must! Check!

6) Fireplace - Nice to have Got one :D

7) 1.5 baths - Must Check!

8) 2 bedrooms - Must Check! (there are 3!)

9)Garage - Nice to have Got one!

10) Pre-assigned parking - Nice to have... but almost Must ;) Check! if you count my driveway!

11) Lots of closet space - including walk-in master... linen closet, and kitchen pantry. Upstairs has lots of closet space, no kitchen pantry though :(

12) No neighbors that leave dogs out to bark all day (thanks mom!) Check!

13) House is not on a road with a double yellow-line I am on a road with a double yellow line, but its one lane each way, and there are speed humps.

14) No heat pump - must have Check!

went much better than the first (experience from hell.... vis-a-vi Long Window! Avoid at all costs!).

The 2nd place has an online form where you submit the measurements and they get back to you...

with a detailed spreadsheet that outlines the cost for each window :)

I submitted the measurements on sometime on Saturday, late afternoon... and had my estimate @ 8:30am monday morning. I had some followup questions which were also answered in a timely manner.

I have one more place to contact ( plus a 4th place to get an estimate for basement windows only).

Phew.... happy to finally be making progress after the first disaster!

When I first moved in there was about a 10 inch space between the oven and the wall.

A first I didn't think much of it, but shortly I heard a banging coming from the oven. At first I thought it was something if this variety....but then I figured out it was just Madison.

So I pulled the oven out a little and out she came. Then I stacked a bunch of boxes to block off the opening.

Shortly after that my Mom and I were at Lowes, and found a 9 in cabinet. I bought it , then we ordered a small countertop....used a leftover door handle that my seller left from the original kitchen-remodel....

Ta-Dah!

Along with moving to a new town, comes driving around town in order to run errands and shop for necessities (like food!).

Right after I first moved I was mainly driving back and forth to Big Box shops in Bowie (cause I know Bowie... and you usually stick with what you know).

But a few weeks ago my friend that lives in town sent me a list of shops that she frequents so I have started expanding my circle. Then came the big day 2 weeks ago when I decided I needed to find...... FAST FOOD :D

The above image is the Memorial Peace Cross and it is at a crossroads (of 3 roads... not quite a circle)... and it has been giving me fits ! ( I did find fast food... McDonalds and a Wendys). I usually pick the wrong spoke when trying to head back to Cheverly. I cannot tell you how many times I have ended up in Hyattsville and Brentwood. But I think I have reached a turning point.... I picked right twice this week... and I even managed to pass a Metrobus. YAY!

Actually before I bought this house I don't think I had an opinion on it one way or the other.... but the white flowers in my yard are driving me nuts!!! I want to cut the lawn every 2 days because its growing back so quick.

But I think I have an action plan...In Early Sept use a broadleaf herbicide (probably Weed B Gone specifically for clover) to eliminate it... then wait 30 days and overseed the bare areas.

O.M.G.

Last night I got my first estimate for replacing the windows in my house. I suspected that it was not going to go well when I submitted the online request for an estimate and my phone rang about 5 seconds later. But I wanted to get the process started so I when they said they could have someone at my house at 2:30, I replied that I wouldn't be home til 5:30, so they came back and said how about 6:30?

I said fine.

Got home around 5:20... ran a quick errand.. and was ready for them by 6:30.

About 15 minutes later the salesperson showed. With a huge stack of unorganized papers. We sat in my dining room. Kiss-ass talk ensued... "Cute House" , "How long have you been here".... blah blah blah. Then I noticed she had blood running down her arm!!!! Then I kept looking at it and she must have realized it , and said "Oh... I must have cut myself!" She cleaned herself up at my sink.

The we started talking about what I wanted, Why I wanted to replace the windows, and maybe I should do the doors too! I explained that the windows are original, some are cracked, some do not open, and they need to be replaced. Its my top priority. I further explained that I will do the doors at some point, but not now. Then I took her on a tour of the house. She told me she would measure and then give me the estimate... I was like Great!

She went outside and took some pictures. Brought in a big bag. Then started talking. And talking. About stuff that had nothing to do with windows. It was probabaly around 8:30 now. Then she started talking about the company. Fine. Then she started showing me pieces of windows. OK. The she started talking about doors again. I once again explained that I was NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THE DOORS! (Then she mentioned "Your garage needs lots of work" I replied Yes I know... and its on the list to do later. I am only interested in WINDOWS AT THIS TIME!!!!!) Then she started talking about security... and uttered a phrase that always boils my blood... "You are very young" Um lady ... you have no idea how old I am... yes I look young.... but I am not as young as you think!!!

She still hasn't measured. Its getting close to 9:30. I get up and mention... 10pm is my bedtime (This should indicate that I am OLD :P). She's like OK I will measure I am like great.. I need to take out the trash.

She measures... Its pushing 10:15 now.

Then she gives me the estimate. Verbally. I am like can you write it down? She writes it on the pamphlet for the doors. I get no literature about the windows. I was hoping for am estimate where the costs are somehow broken out by floor or something. Nothing. Its now 10:30. I am pushing her out the door.

She leaves. I go to bed.

This morning I find a "We appreciate your business" card (soaked by the rain), with a Windows magnet.... but still no details. (She is supposed to email it to me).

I hope this is not normal. I can not go through this 2 more times.........

Updated - After a 2nd experience getting an estimate with a 2nd company... that went much smoother, I am naming names... and writing a complaint letter to the first company -- Long Window. Avoid at all costs!!!!!!!!!!

Cheverly welcomed me to town with an awesome fireworks display!

(Saturday was actually Cheverly Day... my pics can be found here)

Last Friday Madison went missing while I was moving stuff to the basement, so when I couldn't find her in her usual spots (under my bed, under the dining room table) I ventured into the basement. As I was looking in the closet space under the basement stairs, I came face to face..... with a GUN! I am not a fan, and in fact had no desire to even touch it. So I emailed the community Chief of Police, and he said call when I am home and someone would pick it up.

I finally had time tonight.... and the officer determined that it was.....a BB Gun!!! LOL!

Oh well....I may have over-reacted, but I still didn't want to touch it... so the police officer took it away.

They funny thing is.... every guy that I have told this story to (before the BB gun part) said that I should have given the gun to them...what is up with that??!?!!?