The Money Pit Has Been Dug

We returned from our holiday travels last night. As we pulled down our street we shined the headlights where we had left our house a week and a half ago and realized that we are now the proud owners of...

a hole.

Of course, it's a nice hole with a view of the pond and a short walk to downtown, so that's comforting.

-J

Just Like That

It's gone.

Sadly, after all this planning, we had to miss the actual demo yesterday. We had really been looking forward to seeing this part, but the timing didn't work with the holidays.

We heard from our builder this morning that it took all of half an hour to completely demolish the main floor of the house. By 11 am, there was just a slope where there the tiny shack once stood. We're hoping that someone made some pictures of the event.

Merry Christmas,

J and A

Dig This!

Zippy and Natalie- a final visit

The water is off. The power is off. Temporary power is on site and now heavy equipment is parked in our yard, towering ominously over our tiny house.

It was septic tank moving day yesterday and fittingly we had a front row seat from the, ahem, bathroom of our temporary abode next door.

The viewing gallery

The excavators were really nice, even "waving" their digger at Natalie and offering me coffee. (I felt guilty- it should be the other way around... if I knew how to make coffee). It was awesome to watch them rip up things and dig their big holes. Bundle-of-nerves Zippy was a bit unsure about the whole thing.

- J

Including the Kitchen Sink

The house is being emptied. Pieces are filling the basement of our current home and some things are being sold.

Kevin helping to take up the floor.

First we moved all of our stuff. Then we started moving things that came with the house. Then we started moving actual parts of the house. And just when I thought there was nothing else I wanted from the house, the neighbor got involved and started salvaging whatever was left.

Seeing someone else discern value from your belongings makes them so much more attractive. Suddenly every hinge and screw looked *very* important to me.

Apparently pipes are worth more than pink sinks.

Anthony came at it all with a very logical, "If you haven't needed it in the past three years, you're not going to need it ever."

My frugality kicked in with, "Think of how we'll save that 20 cents down the line because we won't have to buy a new screw..."

Salvaging the storm window frames

Bottomline was that time (and energy) was not on our side though. After months of waiting and planning for this, it turns out it's happening at an incredibly busy and stressful time for us: proposals, trips, returning to work plans, Natalie deciding it's more fun NOT to sleep at night, etc. We did our realistic best and got what we could, which of course included the kitchen sink, but we let the neighbor take the gutters. Perhaps he'll make a big ice cream sundae bar in one.

- J

A Reminder

Why did we buy this place anyway? Wouldn't it have been a whole lot easier to just get that one over on Peterson Road that was all finished and everything? You know, the one with the view of the Holiday Inn...

Oh yeah, we got it because we can't see room 303 from here.

- J

It's All Starting to Happen

We cleared out our house in preparation for the big re-do. It took a lot longer than anticipated. Maybe having a four month old had something to do with that? Only one of us (read: Anthony) could really do much at one time. We had some help with the big stuff (help that doesn't mind too much being squashed by our washer/dryer- thanks Kevin!), and we ended up selling off our stove.

We worked through the night on Tuesday, and the house is pretty much ready- we just need to salvage a few more things from the inside.

We took one final picture of the little shack as we knew it.

Asbestos removal day was Wednesday.

So the siding is now gone, and if the house didn't look bad enough before, now it's just plain pathetic. But hopefully pathetic in a people-are-trying-to-do-something-here kind of way. You know, something with a little promise.

Wow- this is really happening. Here we go!

- J

One of *Those* Days

Renting the neighbor's house, day one: Zippy pukes on their carpet. (As baby cries her little heart out.)

Upside to it all: Anthony masks dog-puke smell and negative emotions by baking brownies. (Yum.)

- J

November Flies By in the Blink of an Eye

What? No November post?

Where did November go anyway?

Oh yeah. We spent it waiting, and crossing t's, and dotting i's, and doing math, and trying to figure out other people's math, and filing things, and preparing to sign new contracts, and sweating about the lack of income my maternity leave is (not) providing, and reveling in the joy of chanting "Trot trot to Boston" for the twenty-thousandth time.

November came and November went and now it's December, so where are we?

Plans are being looked at by the structural engineer. New builder is ready to go. Building permit is ready to be filed. Conservation Commission planting extension until the spring is in hand (so that they have a better chance of survival). Loan has been applied for. We're slowly moving into the rental house. Belongings are being reassessed. Things are being posted on craigslist. Childcare for January has been secured (although impending going-back-to-work in January is being ignored). Zippy's still barking at the mailman. 

 And as for the little one... just when you thought she couldn't get any cuter- she does.

-J