Posted by
zyllah – August 31, 2008
I’ve been blogging much more over on the house site simply because it is all consuming. I have also been reading a whole lot. Not much on the fiber hobbies lately. I sit down to knit and then quickly think of something I MUST LOOK UP RIGHT THEN. Having the reader is certainly making me read more. I thought I’d use it alot but I wasn’t aware of just how much it would change my reading habits. I’ve always been a reader, but that gadget just makes it so easy to read whenever I have a few minutes. It also means I can keep my knitting patterns with me at all times. The only thing I would love would be a pen to take notes but I couldn’t justify the Iliad. Still it’s a freaking amazing device. So just for the sake of having a picture…
Posted by
zyllah – August 31, 2008
So as of yesterday the house looks like this. There has not been any huge changes because they have been working on the electrical and the plumbing. However they did get the windows hung. Well most of them anyway.
I was inside yesterday and it really struck me just how much I love that floorplan. I made exactly the right choice. Anyway Friday Justin and I went on a mad dash to pick stuff out. We had varied success depending on the store. First up was the appliance store. We have our pathetically small allowence that we have to spend there. I didn’t love the sales clerk however I rather do like the idea of buying local. They can get the bosch dishwasher I was convinced I wanted. However she said they have had some issues with the few they have sold and also have had some issues getting parts. She suggested I look at Kitchen Aid or Jenn Air or Maytag instead. By the way all links on this entry go to their listings at Us appliance. At this point it’s between the KA, bosch, and JA. Her prices really are very good. On the microwave issue I’m getting this one. It’s a Ge Convection microwave so theoretically I can use it instead of heating up the big oven. Also since I can’t really get the double oven range I wanted it makes sense. At this point I am thinking either Fridgedaire, Bosch, or Jenn Air on the range. It comes down to what do I want to spend. I will have to call her and get a quote on the Jenn Air and Bosch ranges. She priced out a Fridgedaire fridge but I’m not thrilled with it. I don’t like the interior and it’s not that much less than the samsung I really want so we’ll see. Anyway on to the plumbing place we went. We were met there by UTTER failure. They didn’t have the sink I wanted in stock nor did they have the faucet I wanted. So it was on to the lighting place we went. Now the lighting place was by far the BEST stop of the day. We went with oil rubbed bronze. Also they had the faucet I wanted. So now I am rethinking my initial choice of a stainless sink for a white/bone one so it won’t clash. The lighting took a while but at least it’s done. The tile place was a waste since I can’t really pick tile until I pick cabinets. So I quickly left there. We tried to hit the carpet place too but they were closed for the holiday I guess. All and all not a bad days work. So far the only things I’m not thrilled with are the door. I was hoping for a square glass insert like my neighbors. I’m going to ask if it’s too late to switch it. So hopefully this week will firm up some of those choices.
Posted by
zyllah – August 31, 2008
I was hoping to have at least one FO done by now. Sad to say I’ve been all consumed with the house. I think in the future I will never ever want to build again. Unless its one of those custom homes where you pick things down to the nail. We had a few almost tragedies this week but thankfully they were averted. Anyway my obsession is so total that I’m lucky if I get a few rows done a day so I have no knitting to show you but I do have this.
I was out there yesterday and all I can say is I think I love it. I mean its not the most exciting house from the outside and it’s not the craftsman of my dreams but it is a whole lot nicer than I had any right to expect. Friday we went on a huge ‘lets go pick stuff’ trip but the only really successful venture was picking the lighting. Although I am closer to making final appliance choices. Anyway back to the knitting. With any luck maybe I’ll get some done today.
Posted by
zyllah – August 22, 2008
Well it has been appliance week and all I can say is that it doesn’t seem to matter what you spend you still end up with crap. I keep reading these horror stories like “did 10k worth of damage to my floors and cabinets” I believe that was about a kitchen aid dishwasher. Also what the hell is up with appliances only lasting a few years? If I spend those kind of bucks I want them to last. Anyway the best reviewed dishwashers seem to be the bosch. So We’re going to go with one of those. I’m not sure of the model yet since I need to go compare them more closely in person this weekend. However any of them should be fine and they are incredibly affordable compared to kitchen aid. Like half the price and should be cheap as hell to run. For the fridge I’m thinking the samsung still. It got good reviews on the sears site and they ALL seem prone to breaking so I figure I might as well get the one I like. Except then of course I read again about the horror stories and think maybe I should put in an All bosch kitchen. Sure my houses price point doesn’t warrant it, sure it means I won’t get the floors I want. But damnit…. I want something that at least people don’t hate. I also would like something that won’t randomly catch fire.
In other news I got more floor samples and am waiting 17 more later today.
Posted by
zyllah – August 20, 2008
So the first batch of MANY samples arrived on Monday. I am less than thrilled. I had such high hopes for them but they just kind of make me go blah. The middle one and the one on the right aren’t that bad but not that great either. Anyway until the great big box of samples I ordered arrives I’m putting floors on the shelf for now. Since so much depends on the floors and that issue is not finished I am not moving on to paint this week but to Appliances.
I have this summer’s consumer reports special on kitchens but I’m going to join the website too for more details and longer listings. Yesterday I looked at fridges and I’m leaning towards this samsung. I was impressed with how well thought out it seemed at the store. However I do need to check on their reliability. I get really obnoxiously anal when I make major purchases. I’m struggling with the notion that I should buy all the same brand. I’ve heard it matters but I would rather buy the best of that particular appliance that I can afford. Like I want a bosch dishwasher. The most important thing to me is that it is energy star and works well and doesn’t cost a bloody fortune. So anyway we’ll see what I can come up with.
Anyway Justin got home late yesterday but I still made it out to the house. I kinda sorta have the start of walls. I was so excited. You’ll have to excuse the bad photo as it was well into dusk by the time I got there. It just doesn’t lookbig enough!
Posted by
zyllah – August 17, 2008
Yesterday we had to get a tough box so Justin can pack up for his overseas trip, luckily we had to go to lowes so I was able to get his take on a few items. We settled the style of Fridge (side by side). Checked out carpet and tile a bit but mostly looked at the wood/wood laminates. I’m not sure I can bring myself to put in wood laminate. It’s so hideously ugly most of it. It just looks so fake. Anyway really justin likes hand scraped with ‘interesting grain’ So I went back through Lumbar Liquidators and picked out some more.
1.1/2″ x 4-3/4″ Rustic Maple Handscraped Engineered Flooring
Comments: Love the look might be too red.
2. Natural 1/2″ x 5″ Virginia Millworks Prefinished Yorktown Plank Flooring
Comments: I really love this. Nice deep brown. Nice grain. Not too red.
3. 1/2″ x 5″ Handscraped Colonial Plank Flooring
Comments: Justin really likes this one. I like it but not quite as much as the one above.
4. 1/2″ x 4-3/4″ Smoke Ash Handscraped Engineered Flooring
Comments: Nice and lack of red.
5. 1/2″ x 4-3/4″ Tobacco Oak Handscraped Engineered Flooring
Comments: More of a medium which I do like.
6. Natural 1/2″ x 5″ Virginia Mill Works Prefinished Jamestown Plank Flooring
Comments: Lovely but could be way too red.
7. 3/4″ x 4-3/4″ Cambridge Oak Handscraped Flooring
Comments: This could be it.
8. Natural 3/4″x 4-3/4″ Virginia Millworks Prefinished Hand Scraped Solid Old World Oak Flooring
Comments: I think this one has a bit too much texture maybe.
Posted by
zyllah – August 15, 2008
So yesterday I went out to see the house so I could shoot a pic of the actual lot.
Much to my surprise they had actually *started* I was never so pleased to see concrete!
While I was out there I met two oh so very chatty kids who live somewhere in the subdivision and one of my new neighbors. Very nice. She had the floor plan I almost chose. How she fits five kids in it I’m not sure. Anyway I am glad I have a nice neighbor. She appeared to be a bit amazed we’d purchased such a large house for the 2 of us. Maybe it is too big for us. I don’t know. I bought thinking it would be good to have the space if we ever actually spawn. Besides it’s not like I won’t use all the rooms we’re getting. Anyway…I found some more flooring I kinda like and I’ve ordered samples. I know we’re probably going to get it locally but I very much want to see what they are like in person and test them for durability. I’m not really looking at tile or carpet yet since I am less concerned with it. I already decided to do grey carpet and grey tile. He likes doing a simple pattern so I was thinking a light grey with a darker grey accent. I wish I could do subway tile but the labor would probably jack up the cost of the house and I’m not sure it would be worth it. Oh maybe I’ll add bead board to the half bath downstairs. That would add a charming touch. So these are the ones I ordered. I found them here.
That’s Vulcan Oak. What can I say I love oak.
That’s Wenge. It might be too red
That’s a distressed mahogany.
Also going to try and head out to the local place to see what they have. I did go there with my mom but I want to take Justin to show him. Since he unexpectedly seems to have opinions. Which makes me happy. I was getting a little stressed out thinking of making all the choices on my own.
Posted by
zyllah – August 15, 2008
So yesterday morning I woke up and found this:
Actually what I found was the yarn stretching between two rooms with the scarf still attached. Squeak is by far the most yarn aggressive cat I have ever had. Like if she sees me knitting, she hops up in my lap to put a stop to it. She is the devil, but she also spent over an hour last night rubbing her face against my back and licking it. So sometimes I guess she’s sweet. Having five just means I’ve had to officially accept the idea that I am a crazy cat lady. In other news the new sock is coming along.
Like I said I am unofficially competing so I’ve decided to give myself till the end of the month. Mostly I just am sick of the projects and want them out of the way so I can move on to greener pastures. This weekend I’ll hopefully get through most of the 2nd sleeve for basic black. Then I can focus on the finishing. Of course since I’ve yet to even cast on for the sleeve….But I have a fool proof plan. A new Falco audio book! How I love the romans in all their bloodwashed hardheaded decadence.
