A new house, a new life

The past year has been a lifetime of changes. 

Over the last year we have been fighting a battle with our village board.  We live in a village with about 100 people.  They are enacting new ordinances, and will be enforced by an ordinance officer.  You can be fined up to $500 per offense.  There are other issues we have with this as well. 

There is an issue with the water system.  The water is awful. However, the new system is under contract to where if you sign up, you pay a minimum $10 a month fee for 35 years to pay back the loan.  This is as long as they have 65 households signed up.  If less, you pay more.  You also pay a minimum $20 month fee per month for water service no matter if you use it or not.  So $30 per month without using any water, minimum. We had to decide if we would sign up by Nov 5, or pay $1500 later to get hooked up. 

We didn't sign up.  

Things fell through with the house we were looking at getting in town. 

On Nov 5, we decided to not sign up for water at our house we were currently in.  We also decided it was time to move.  Brent contacted his friend Jeff, who is a realtor.  The next day we were going to look at Jeff's dad's house (possible 7 bedroom). He was asking $49,000, we after talking to him, he said he would take $45,000. Before we left on Wednesday to look at the house, Jeff called and asked if we would come look at another house first.  The lady's husband was a lawyer, and they were fixing it up before he passed.  

We met at the house.  A pretty blue, with a porch that wraps around the front. 

When we walked in the house, I was blown away.  A gorgeous kitchen. Jeff said it was a $15,000 kitchen remodel.  Beautiful.  The formal dining room was huge.  The family room was the same size.  There was a room on the main level that had damage.  The skylights upstairs leaked, which ran down and caused part of the ceiling to fall in on the bedroom.  There's also a cute little room between the bedroom and stairs.  

We went upstairs.  The 2 bedrooms that the kids could share are amazing!  So much room!  Then, the master bedroom.  It's got the space in there as what our whole trailer is.  Plus, an enclosed porch with a jacuzzi tub.  2914 sq ft house.  It also has a full basement!  

She was asking $39,000!  We decided that night to put in an offer. We offered $25,000.  She countered with $35,000.  Then we met at $32,500!  

We handed Jeff the contract today!  We just need 20% down and get the financing.  

Trying not to get excited.  Trying not to get excited.  

I'm so excited!!!!

The house was built in 1906.  It had a feeling of peace and love.  It was a warm house.  I walked in.  I felt like I was at home.  

We went inside and got some good pictures. 

Dining room

Room we call the 'ballroom'.  I can do my Salsa and Ballroom Dancing in here. 

Front Room

Sadie's cute room of her own and closet under the stairs. 

Going upstairs

Girls room

Boys Room

Me and Brent's room

Back downstairs... My favorite piece in the house.  The mirror in the ballroom. 

My first attempt at henna

It took me half the day to get the nerve up to get my henna practice in.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to practice on my foot first.  

I filled my cones this morning, then I set them to the side. I pulled up YouTube and found myself watching henna tutorial videos for a couple hours. 

Finally, I got baby Z in bed, and I decided to go for it. How bad could it look?  Right?

I decided it didn't look finished, so I continued on.  

I finally decided to stop before I reached my knees.  Ha ha!

The finished version of my first henna. 

WHY Did I Say Yes?!

So, I jumped into a fall themed gift swap. 

What am I going to make?!?!

LOL!

I'm thinking of making cinnamon/spice scented hot pads.  They are fun, and they smell super good!

I have another idea in the works.  I'll keep you posted.  

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

I'm doing a recipe someone I know shared. My batch is smaller than hers, though. She had 3 gallons.  I only have 1. 

I had a gallon of peels and cores. Put them in a clean jar. I had kimchi in my gallon jar, so I had to use 2 half gallon jars. 

Add 1/3 cup sugar to each 1/2 gallon (2/3 cup per gallon). 

Fill with water about 1-2 inches over the top of the peels. 

Cover with a cloth to keep bugs/dust out, but allow to breathe. 

Stir daily for 2 weeks. 

Once the alcohol smell starts to go away, strain it. The apple will be pretty broken up at this point. 

Bottle, but it still needs to breathe to avoid exploding. Leave the jar lid loose with cloth between the lid and ring to allow it to release the gas/alcohol. 

Wait 12 weeks. Then take the cloth out, recap and done. 

We will see how it goes. I'll blog it as it goes. 

Here's Day 1. I'll be updating on my recipe blog linked below. 

For this recipe, as well as many others:

http://spoonsandfires.blogspot.com/2014/10/homemade-apple-cider-vinegar.html

New Diapers

I'm so excited.  I sat down the other day and cut out some diapers from some new fabric.  I love fabric.  I have so many plans for it.  I hate to cut it out, though.  It's final at that point. 

I forced myself to cut it out.  I got the top fabric that I had cut... 3 years ago for when Jacob was a baby.  Yeah.  It's been a while since I made a diaper. 

I did it!  2 diapers in 2 days!

The puzzle diaper (enigma) was a good night diaper.  One more insert and it will be great.  He seemed to like them.  I put him in them and he was happy.  No complaints from the 5 month old.  Ha ha!

Now, it's time to plan another diaper.  Maybe a night diaper for Joy.  

Week 2 Day1

Day 1

The positive of day 1 is that there are only 6 runs, instead of the 8 in week 1.  I love that.  

It was a test of willpower.  On my 4th run I was really wanting to stop.  It didn't help that it was all uphill.  At least I timed it to where I would walk as soon as it got flat. Ha ha!  I didn't find it that amusing at the time.  I almost got sick on that run.  I also lost a little muscle control in my hands after the second to last run. They were spazzing a bit and I felt like crap.  One run left.  The song 'Stayin Alive' came on.  Found that fitting.  It was all flat ground for that run, thankfully.  

I did it! I didn't stop, even though I wanted to!  

Oh.  I weighed myself this morning.  145

My Free Day

Today I got to run to town and load up on my free stuff.  I waited at home until UPS came to drop off my Houseparty box.  I got the Hasbro Simon Swipe Game Night party!

I checked the mail and found my ductape I had won.   

I won 2 free pizzas from Dominos earlier this week.  One for me.  One for hubby.  We went and picked up those pizzas, plus one on special.  We also ran to Walmart and cashed in my coupons for a free frozen pizza, Breyers Indulgence ice cream, and Ritz cracker sandwiches.  Then grabbed a few need items milk and such. 

It was fun going out with the kids and getting everything. By hen coming home and having pizza and a movie.  Plus pizza left over for dinner.  :)