Ramblings before the MAJOR work begins...

Things have been getting interesting around the old homestead recently....so let me tell you about them.


Exterior Painting-

First off I have recently gotten to know one of the renters on the block who has been having some problems keeping steady work. He is a nice guy who might not always make the best of decisions with his life but who I believe really does have a good heart and wants to do the right thing. Recently I imagine his funds have been running a bit low so he keeps asking me if there is any work he can do around my house. I was able to come up with enough cash to pay him to spend a few days painting some of the areas on the exterior of my house that I haven't gotten to yet. He did an all right job so maybe here soon I will have him finish up the rest of the exterior painting (Roof Trim and Detached Garage).


Porch Swing -

In April I got a porch swing and had that all set up so I recently painted it to match the crimson trim I have around painted on the exterior of my house. I think it looks really sharp and brings everything together. Pictures to come, we will see.



New Neighbors-

Over the past year or so, the house two doors to the North of me was completely gutted and renovated by SEND, a local neighborhood organization. Once the work was completed it was put back on the market for resale and just this past Memorial Day weekend I got new neighbors. A young couple no less!!! So not only did this increase my house value (comparable size house that sold above my homes current market price), but there is some more sanity brought to the 'hood. Keep 'em coming Educated, Responsible, Respectable America!!!



Now are you Ready for the big news???

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I bought my Kitchen Cabinets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It might have taken 14 months since I bought this old gal but I have new cabinets that are currently sitting in my front room ready to be put together and installed.

With my sister purchasing her first house and not having much furniture, the family decided it was the perfect time to make the haul up to Chicago and visit our fellow Swedes at Ikea. The goal of the trip was to get my sisters bedroom suite and some other knick-knacks so we loaded up the full size van with an small flatbed trailer attached and headed north. If you have ever been without kitchen cabinets in your house for 14 months, once you walk thru the displays your mouth is watering and want to start swiping credit cards....especially if they are interest free for 24 months.

The analytical engineer in me told me to get as much information as I could, go home layout what I want. Do a cost anaylsis. Get other quotes. The problem or maybe solution was that I had my mother and father along for the ride. Combined their natural instincts which are based on Compulsion and Seeing Results pushed me over the line and I made the leap.

So as you can figure I will be paying for cabinets for the next 24 months. I got the Akurum Adel/Medium Brown Cabinets. Here is a shot of what they look like from Ikea's website:


Now with the cabinets I can start putting them together and then laying down the laminate wood flooring for my kitchen which has been sitting in my dinning room since last fall. There is momentum on Evison Street....Watch Out.