Sophomore!

This is Tessia on her
first day of Kindergarten, back in 1997.
Monday, she began her first year at high
school! Her schedule this year is pretty
tough, but I know she can handle it.

Biology
World History
Algebra
English
Spanish II
Art II
Physical Ed

Their Sophomore class is the biggest in the
school's history....and several new students have
arrived at the high school due to more consolidations.
Tessia said walking down the hallways is like being
in a sardine can!

I just can not believe that Tessia only has 3 more years
of high school!!

Fifteen???

Does she look 15 to you???
WaaaWahhhhhhh, my baby is growing up!!

Finishing Up the House

Well, Tessia and I have finished up a few more rooms in the new house.



We went to JCPenney this weekend and purchased
Tessia's window coverings. As you can see, she
has one "accent" wall painted "Tiffany Blue".
This was her choice, and as always,
I've allowed her to have creative control over her room.

I also purchased a new rug for the living

room.

New Family Member

Meet Hollister, the newest member of our

family! He is a 4-year old, male Shih Tzu.

Since our little Jack passed, I decided to get

another...to be "Tessia's dog"....and let me

tell you, Hollister has really attached to

Tessia. He follows her where ever she goes

in the house and settles where ever she does.

I was listening to our local radio show called

"Dial-a-Deal", in which people call in live to

sell, give, or trade everything from cars and trucks

to goats and washing machines! Anyway, someone

called in and announced they had this little fellow

that they needed to find a good home for. I

immediately called their number and

arranged for a meeting. These people were keeping

him for their mother, who had to go into an

assisted living facility and could not take him

with her. After visiting for a while, I told them

that I would love to have him....and asked how much

they wanted for him. They shook their heads and said,

"oh no no, we do not want any money, we only want

a promise that he will have a good home." So, on that

promise, I left with Hollister!

More Willow Tree

This is my office at work. I have the rest of my
Willow Tree collection there. I recently found
the three tapestries and thought they made
a wonderful addition.

Head Cover II

My hair is growing back nicely since

it fell out. I'll be glad when I can style

it again. :o)

Mi Casa

This is the view looking out from all of our

windows in the back of the house.

I love having the country "feel"

while living right in town. Occasionally,

there are cows in that field, and Jasper

loves to bark at them! LOL, they just

stare impassively back at him.

I found this adorable table at a local antique

store. I have it placed next to the front, entrance

door. I collect Willow Tree hand-carved sculptures

by Susan Lordi and the one in this photo entitled "Mi Casa" was

given to me as a housewarming gift.

The three, small urns were given to me as a housewarming

gift as well. I am blessed with generous friends. The mantle

clock that I have on top of my wine cabinet was also given

to me when I moved in.

I am so very blessed to have such good friends and

family. I am so thankful for them!

I just love this video!!!

Home Update

These two photos show the difference after we installed

the new window shutters, the new entrance door, hardware,

and house numbers. (click to see larger)

Below are some photos of the inside of my
house ....taken as I have completed each area.


Third bedroom (office)


Bathroom vanity area



Bath entrance




Kitchen


My bedroom

The wine cabinet

Photobook

I've been having some fun in Corel Photobook with
a few recent photographs of Tessia

I am making a 2ft. x 3ft. poster of the first one.

Caramel

Tessia recently had her hair caramelized
at the salon.....I almost did not recognize
her when she came walking out!!

I love this photo of her, taken recently, but

before the salon trip!

The Best Baby Brother!!!

I must brag on my younger brother!! He has helped me with some

projects around my house....and I am so thankful!!

He helped install my window shutters and my house numbers.... and also

helped install some closet doors inside the house.

My brother ROCKS!! :0)

In this picture, he is leaning my new, black door

up against the old door, so I can see how it will

look. The carpenter is coming tomorrow to

install it.

Here, he is putting the finishing touches on

my house numbers.

This is me....and my younger brother around

1973!! I was such a "Marcia Brady" wannabe!! LOL

Movin, movin, movin....we are MOVED!

What an adventure!
It all begin in April of 2006, when I first
began looking for a home to purchase....and now, we are
finally moved in to our house!



Here are the movers at the apartment.
That is Tessia and Jasper coming out to meet me.




And here are the movers at my house.
If you squint your eyes, you can see me
standing in the big window in the front.
LOL!




Here is a before & after of my house after
my brother and I installed the window
shutters. What a difference!
Next, I'll be getting a black entrance door.
Stay tuned for more photos.

Head Cover

I have decided to be brave.....and post these photographs. lol

I am currently experiencing a Lupus flare, which has caused

my hair to fall out. It has happened twice before, but never

this bad.

Despite the shock of the severity, I am actually coping

quite well. I have ordered several hats, caps, scarves, and

turbans from www.headcovers.com and they suffice for work

and whenever I have to go out. When I am home, I just
"go free" and wear no head cover!

One thing about it....it only takes seconds for my hair

to dry now!!! LOL.

Visit my other blog to read more about Lupus.

CLOSING

Finally, we have an actual closing date!!
June 15th, we will close on our house and
will be completely moved in by mid July.
We are so pumped and can not wait. On June
15, I will give my landlord his 30-day notice.
Between June 15 and July 15th, we will have
plenty of time to paint and prepare the house
for our move. I will be taking photographs throughout
the process and posting them here....so stay tuned!

The Process

My sweet Baby Girl.....then......................and now.

I've taken a small break from the house-buying process,

to make a slideshow/movie of Tessia-- beginning from

my preganacy through today. All the sweet memories have

given me a much needed break from the stress of the past several

weeks. It is hard to believe how time flies!!

We are within days of closing on the house...so we will be

moving soon. Tessia and I have already begun packing.

We will both be happy to finally be in the house and have

this process over!

Frustrating Experience

Going through the house buying process has proven to be one of the

most frustrating experiences I have ever attempted! The deal on the

house has falled through and I terminated my contract. To make a long

story short, the owners decided that they wanted more money and their

crooked real estate agent found a loop-hole to ask for more. I refused, and

we terminated the deal!

However, since then, I have found a better deal!!! I found a house for-sale-by-owner

and we sat down last night and reached an agreement! It is a wonderful home

in a beautiful neighborhood. I have posted a photo here.

I'll write more later......our closing date is July 22.

Movin' On Up

Well.......a compromise was reached between the sellers and myself on Friday and
I will soon be a home owner! There are quite a few hurdles to jump still, but my
closing date is June 22, 2007. I've scheduled an appraisal and a home inspection which
will be done in the next few days.

GO SINGLE WOMEN!!

"Recently a very thought provoking article appeared in More Magazine regarding home ownership and Single Women. It included a statistic from the NAR that Single women represented 21% of all buyers in 2005 and they bought at twice the rate of Single men! 21%! Thats a lot of Single Woman Homeowners!
The writer of the article, Lisa Scwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly Critic, tells us all the reasons why she was unable to make the move to homeownership. Some of her reasons, while sounding comical are also very valid.

1. Who needs the aggravation of upkeep?
2. In a rental apartment you can feel secure
3. Should't you be Hoarding your savings
4. What if I meet a man and he doesn't like my house?
5. What if I become too lonely?
6. Or too self sufficient?
7. My favorite, What if a tree falls on the house and there is no one around to hear?
8. What if people see me differently and not as "female" if I own a home?
9. How will I do everything, fix things, mow lawns, paint

Single women have evolved to such an extent, yet there are still those that are held back by feeling they just can't do it.
Here are some reasons why you can:

1. You probably have a certain amount of upkeep where you are anyway
2. You are no more secure in a rental than in your own home
3. Put your savings (not all) into an equity producing machine
4. Need I answer that one?
5. You will be lonely in an apartment also.
6. Great! You can never be too self sufficient!
7. Even if someone hears it, would it make any difference?
8. Who are these people?
9. You will learn and enjoy the learning"

----Karen Hurst, Associate Broker, Warwick, RI

The Adventure Has Begun......

I have made an offer on my first house!!



I just had to post this photo of Tessia
when she was a baby!!! I just love that
lil' smile!!