![[title of show]](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/ShephardSummers/titleofshowsm.jpg)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Moving Mountains
What day is it?
I've been in a dizzying mad-dash to get general, geological, chimney and other various inspections on our new home coordinated with 3 realtors, the owners and aforementioned companies.
How did we get this amazing house?
(photos as soon as it's appropriate, I promise).
We knew it was the perfect house for us.
And The Universe moved mountains to make it happen.
1st obstacle: Multiple bidders vying for the house.
I wrote a sincere, nice letter to the owners with our bid, to let them know that we will preserve the amazing home they're created. The other bidders didn't bother, and had plans of knocking the house down or adding a second story. The owners love their home, and want to protect it.
2nd obstacle: The counter offer.
We were given an amount to shoot for, which increased our downpayment. A bit out of our reach. If we let a few thousand stop us from giving them what they asked for, and then lost the house, we knew we'd always regret it. So we didn't mind giving them the amount. But we were on the fence. A friend stepped in to "lend" a hand.
3rd obstacle: The Bank.
The very same day, with our loan in pre-approval, the bank was having issues with the "gift," and not wanting to ok the loan parameters. An hour later, B was told he was getting a raise. Out of the blue! The bank liked that. (we were rather fond of that as well)
4th obstacle: The Bank wanted proof.
The Mouse produced proof in one hour. Allowing us to proceed with the counter bid.
5th obstacle: Unscrupulous bidders & Money Launderers
The other realtor was offered money under the table to turn the tides. He declined. He likes us. The owners like us. The Owners were offered $100k above our offer by a certain demographic that likes to come in and ruin or knock down character homes. The owners turned them all down ( ! ).
I have to admit, at this point, I'm feeling like it's supposed to be our house. Mountains have been moved without the aid of an earthquake.
The Fat Lady has yet to sing.
Even if something were to happen to change this situation, and we didn't buy this house, I'd come away remembering quite vividly that huge obstacles will be removed if you are in sync with your highest good (what's best for you). We've kept our fears and our trust issues and our baggage from limiting our perspective. And that allowed us to know what to do, when to do it. Because we trusted. (it's still a scary thing to do tho).
I feel like I've been given a gift much bigger than our dream home. I feel like I now have a responsibility to believe. I can't be so lazy anymore, letting my fears and worries take the driver's seat. I have a debt of gratitude. I owe it to myself to stop doubting (as much... I am only human, after all).
And every day that I am alive and allowed to live with my sweetheart in that house. . . I will vow to remember that as best I can.
Hurry up, House. I need all those reminders in my everyday life.
~Shephard :)
Labels: Of Mice and Mondays
posted by Shephard @ 
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Thursday....
I couldn't have guessed that falling head over heels for this house....would make the house we lost a month or so ago... seem like a trifling high-school crush. And yet even that is not quite the right way to describe it to you.
Imagine you buy a shoe that you love the look of... and it fits just fine. New and pretty and wonderful. And then you try on a pair of really expertly made shoes with soft supple (um) NaugaHyde and it's as if you've worn this shoe for a year; it fits like a dream with comfort and ease. You feel light in the loafers. So to speak. Although that first shoe was lovely and comfortable, this Naugahyde shoe is the perfect fit.
THAT is the difference between this house and the last house. (no Naugas were harmed in the crafting of this metaphor).
You'd think I'd be scared to death we were going to lose this house.
But ... I'm not. B isn't either.
We both just feel it's the right house.
We will see if the Universe agrees with us.
But I hope we will be looking at the outside world through stained-glass for a long time to come.
How appropriate that today, my blogiversary, will be a day of answers for us. I can't help but think of the huge changes in 5 years of blogging. It's been a bumpy course at times, but...
I'm still here.
Good times and bum times,
I've seen them all and, my dear,
I'm still here.
Oodles of comments
then sometimes there's nobody near. . .
but I'm still here.
I've survived flickr and facebook too
though they are quicker and easier to do,
Seen most the bloggers *disappear*
. . . but I'm still here!
I'll update this post before the weekend.And we'll see where the journey leads from here.... more house-hunting posts... or growing roots in our new Mid-Century-Modern nest. Either way, I'll share photos.
~Shephard :)
Labels: House and Home
Monday, May 24, 2010
Pineapple
We found the house.
I hadn't been in the house five minutes when I used my secret code word that lets our realtor/friend know we *love* the house: PINEAPPLE.
I lost count how many times I said "pineapple" in this house.
Grinning from ear to ear and gasping at the rooms is not a very successful way to hide your feelings from the seller's realtor. But I couldn't help it.
Imagine a mid-century modern house that is warm and inviting, full of equal parts color and 1950's traditional materials like rock and wood and slate.
Imagine a home filled with light, warmed by a stone fireplace and devoid of the usual convention of boxed-in common areas. It flows from dining to kitchen to living to den without walls boxing anything in.
It has an inner courtyard, a minimalist pool, an office for both of us, a guest room with it's own bathroom and access to the laundry/kitchen at the opposite end of the house from the master.
The kitchen is an absolute dream: warm cabinets, ample storage, subzero fridge, double ovens, huge breakfast nook that opens out glass doors to a patio with a built-in barbque and the pool.
There are outdoor and indoor conversation areas. The master bedroom has it's own private bathroom with clean lines and fun penny-tiles in earth-tones. And everywhere, architectural touches that combine both the whimsy and sturdiness of the 1950's. Color splashes of orange, purple and teal keep the home from being too earthy, dead, cold and angular. And the view... we can see all the way to downtown Los Angeles... a valley filled with twinkling lights.
I wrote a nice letter with our offer, assuring them we will preserve their lovely home. Now the waiting.
I am overwhelmed with how wonderful this house is. I've always loved the houses we've bought, but I've never felt this way about any house before. When I think of how hard B works and all we've traded the last 3 years, it represents a grounded place to breathe and recuperate. I'm afraid of losing it. But you can't live your life based on what you might lose. When I think of how happy the house and location makes me, it gives me peace and joy.
When I think of the fact that this home has absolutely everything down to the last tiny seemingly-insignificant preference, I am amazed at my connection to creation/Universe. I am amazed at what good timing this is for us. I'm amazed that it's close to where we are already living. I am grateful to know that this house exists.
When I think about how genuinely happy all of our friends were for us when we told them, I realize we must be doing something right as people, as friends. Cuz ... how often do you see people being happy for already successful people who get what they've always wanted? They're real friends. To see their smiles and their faces light up... was a real gift. When I think of all the happy times our friends will have with us at the house, it puts a positive spin on the future that I haven't felt in a while.
When I think of losing the house to another buyer, I'm okay with it because I know there are thousands of other houses, and we'll keep looking, we'll find it. But... admittedly, I can't comprehend a better house for us. When I think of getting out of the house we're in, it feels liberating and safe.
How am I going to breathe and hold my breath at the same time for 24 hours?
Do you hear me, Universe? Pineapple!
~Shephard :)
Labels: Of Mice and Mondays
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thursday House & Home 15
Two houses that make very clear statements this week.This first one really took my breath away. . .
...when I was greeted with wildly clashing primary and secondary colors slamming up against each other amidst disparate materials & furnishing styles. But, of all the floating gold torsos I've seen in home decor, these are certainly well-hung.
(not shown ... the above bedroom had a school bus yellow and sea green bathroom... not kidding! Also not shown, a room full of mirrors and an ugly back yard). I guess I'd call this style Set-Decorator-meets-Art-Gallery Funk. 
But here is the one thing I liked, at the end of a hallway.....
I love this bedroom color. It's soothing to me without being dead or boring. It makes me happy. Ahem:
Strike One, Two, Three: Costly replacement of materials that clashed: carpet, stone, wood flooring, kitchen counters, all at odds with each other. If they could talk, they'd be screaming at each other, trying to figure out what style the house should be. Whole thing was too contemporary. And the exterior of the house didn't appeal to me personally.
For those following along, you know we don't want a Spanish house. But this one made me think twice and thrice. Seriously. So tastefully done. Owner is an interior decorator. I could live here, save for one detail (see if you can guess).
The front door was at the end of a long passage framed in stucco arches! I LOVED THAT. It was like leaving the outside world behind before you even went into the front door. So unique and welcoming.
Unfortunately, I couldn't take photos. But was promised the website had lots (10....? Grrr). So their photos are not showing you the real charm.... wide doorways, open rooms, great flow, artistic touches, TONS of storage, tasteful drapery and hardware. Next time, I'll sneak photos and they can just bite me. Impossible to remember everything without proper photos.
This is the same room, just the opposite end of it. Out the window you can see the stucco arch that lines the entry walk.
Dining room. Impossible to see here, but the window has bits of colored glass in it. Fun.
Photo makes it look very nice, but this kitchen is old and original. 20's. I know, cuz we have one too. She did a great job. But we'd need to redo the whole thing. $$,$$$.00.
Owner painted interesting little touches like this everywhere. I did take this photo.
House had a long hallway, lots of closets, and 2 bedrooms joined by a Jack-n-Jill bathroom. Above is one of the bedrooms.
Oh, I'm so mad they didn't let me take this photo. The ceiling... she used plaster in a pastry bag (I can't remember what they call this), and edged that oval with a subtle leafy flower border! And subtle corner designs on the walls as well. Really nice. They told me it took her a year to do. Her bedroom had big closets in a short pass-through that led to the following bathroom:
Very tasteful. But... hmm... something is missing.... ?
TINY back yard had these fun tile features and storage and a small garage. I took these photos out of the watchful eye of the well-meaning realtor.
Strike One: Costly Kitchen reno.Strike Two: Tiny backyard, private, but too cramped to ever do much with, and not much greenery despite this woman's expert execution of absolutely everything.
Strike Three: Say it with me: NO BATHTUB (or room for one) IN THE MASTER! Deal breaker.
We have 6 houses to see this weekend. The search continues. . . .
~Shephard :)
P.S. Happy Birthday, Robin :)
Labels: House and Home
Monday, May 17, 2010
Packing the Cart before the House
We haven't found the house.
But I've begun to pack anyway.
One of the best things we can do to create what we want is to participate in the future. I'm convinced of it.
When we were in college, we wanted to go on a wild vacation to D*sn*y W*rld. We began planning long before we had money or means. There were so many obstacles as college kids for us to afford it. A day before we left, the transmission in the car blew out. But we went. No parents helped us either. We squeaked by at every obstacle as if we were immune and had a month long adventure! We made it happen.
We moved to that dangly-down state without jobs or a place to stay, and started a life based on the fact that B wanted to work for the Mouse in an*m*tion. Despite several sizable obstacles that included hiring freezes, roommates evaporating and the incompetence of the "powers that be," we made it happen.
Words aren't enough to start the ball rolling and participate in the future. Fear or uncertainty kill participation. I can choose to put my energy where my mouth is. So I started packing.
We're doing all we can, not just some of what we can.
We know our limits, and what we need vs. what we want, and we know where we can make trade-offs and sacrifices. We are juggling all these things in my mind every time we view another home. It will happen when it happens. If we can't speed up the process, why not use the energy to make ourselves feel good about the process?
So I packed 4 boxes of books and tchotchkes!
A friend asked me what I was doing.
I said, "Visiting the future."
My mind recognized how packing feels.
Before I knew it, I felt like we were moving forward.
I didn't feel static or trapped in waiting.
I was accomplishing things that need to happen "before."
For a few days, obstacles dissolve as I participate in the future.
Although I shouldn't put the cart before the horse, I can at least pack the damn cart!
The cart will be much more efficient.
And that's because I know how the horse works.
~Shephard :)
Labels: Of Mice and Mondays
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thursday House & Home 14
This week's house is a bit of a puzzle.
I can't figure out if it used to be Spanish and was converted to Craftsman, or Craftsman converted to Spanish. Neither successfully. But it's a fascinating house, just the same.
For starters... double front balconies... covered in a facade with cut-outs. There is no decoration or adornment. It is a big flat gingerbread wall of plainness. Bizarre.
Interior... Craftsman. Nice. But, as is oft the case with Craftsman (aka Bungalow, Arts-n-Crafts period homes), it's a bit dark inside. Which can be comforting. But I do spend a lot of time in the home. These two rooms mirrored each other, identical more or less, except one had the fireplace, one didn't. The fireplace is an authentic Claycraft.
Traditional Craftsman color in the downstairs powder room.
For the amount of money this kitchen cost, it has to be hands down the ugliest kitchen I've ever seen. (for the amount of money spent). Note the back-splash is the same strange leopardy marble as the island.
I felt like I was visiting a lake-retreat club house or something. Austere, spartan, but nice materials. No warmth. No color.
Backyard...
View from upper window (through screen, sorry)
Upstairs master bedroom had a fireplace like the downstairs. Pretty cool, very roomy, with a door to the outside covered balcony. So peaceful. But it still felt like a lake retreat house or something. 
Master suite had these air vents that led into the ....
Cedar-lined master closet.But the one thing I liked about the house.... .. .the master bath...
Like a Spa retreat itself.
All tile. I'm guessing they went to Waterworks, and just pointed. This bathroom had to be at least $50k.
Look at the pass through tiled shelves from shower-side to bath-side. Clever!
Master suite balcony.
If not for the hideous facade, the balconies might be a great idea. Perhaps all the facade needs is some expert decorating. Tile maybe. I don't know. It baffles me. Especially that ugly attic vent right in the middle. Wth?
Strike One: Um. The exterior.
Strike Two: Um. The interior.
Well, specifically, the most oppressively dull and ugly kitchen I've seen in a long time, completely walled away from the entire rest of the house.
Strike Three: Choppy, dark rooms on two floors and a tiny backyard eaten by a pool. Strike, strike, strike. But I did love the master bath... I'd have warmed it up a bit with some raspberry and Tiffany Blue accents.
This makes 45 houses we've seen in person. The adventure continues.
~Shephard :)
Labels: House and Home