Suburban Homestead

11 Things I Love About Our New House

It's been a while, I know.

What's been keeping me from blogging has actually not been the move or the end of school activities, but a couple work projects that have got me very excited...and maybe traveling a bit too.

The dust is beginning to settle though, and I'm looking forward to soaking in everything about this new house of ours this summer. Here are my favorite things about it:

1. The Front Doors. When we first went into contract on this home, we were actually on our road trip to Palm Springs. Over the moon and looking forward for what was in store, I found a lot of inspiration on that trip that I naturally projected onto my visions of remodeling. We needed to do a couple quick fixes before we moved, like replace some windows and add some ceiling lights to the kid's rooms. The interior had been given a fresh coat of paint but I couldn't help but paint the front doors. The best part is that I pained over the perfect shades of yellow and finally narrowed it down to two - Benjamin Moore's "Baby Chick" and "Yolk". Now if that wasn't just meant to be! (I ended up going with Yolk.)

2. It’s a Typical Ranch.  Architecturally speaking, the California Ranch home has got to be my favorite – simple, modern, one story living!

3. It’s In The Flats.  I haven’t lived in the flats for almost 15 years when I shared a five-bedroom house with four other girls in San Francisco’s Sunset district. I haven’t lived in the flats where it was actually safe to ride my bike anywhere since college. In our new life, we bike to school, to lunch, to the grocery store, and out on date night.  It’s been a welcome change.

4. It Needs Work.  There are few things I love more in this world than family, friends and a good project. While we purchased it move-in-ready, and can easily live here for years as-is, it screams “BLANK CANVAS!” to us. We intend to live it for a while, get a feel for what works and what doesn’t (the furnace, dishwasher and toilets come to mind) and then we'll go from there.

5. Room For A Garden. It was tough leaving the original Suburban Homestead with it’s ideal growing conditions, but I’ve been watching the sun and how it moves over the new property and am excited to make this place work too. I think I’ve finally spotted the best space for the veggie garden. Right now it’s just a rocky slope out back, covered in ivy with patches of poison oak, but this time next year, I plan to have it in full operation.

Blackberries from our neighbors yard creep into ours. :)

6. It Has a Mini Orchard.  Two apple trees, an almond and a pear count, right?. I can’t wait to get canning this fall and planting more fruit trees. I will not be a complete woman until I have a fig, quince, pomegranate and persimmon tree here with us.

 

7. The Dark-Bottom Pool. I’ve not been much of a pool person since I turned about eleven, or so. But I have always been a fan of the dark-bottom pool. Who knew a swimming pool could bring so much to a family. Our kids are in it all day long!

8. It’s All White. The previous owners of the house lived here for almost forty years and had not done any work since 1983. There is a lot of Formica, vinyl tile and maybe even one or two original pastel-tile, 50’s bathrooms. But for the most part it’s white, and I can live with 80’s décor as long as it’s all white.

9. The Old-Growth Oaks. ‘nough said.

10. The Hallway.  I know, right? The hallway?!? But yes, the dramatically long hallway, measuring close to sixty feet long, and ending with a picture window looking out onto the pool, is one of my favorite features of the house. I’ve already begun to fill the walls with family photos. More on this feature coming up!

11. The Gazebo. This old school gazebo was adorable just sitting empty, but after a friend suggested re-hanging the (not so lovely) chandelier from the entry in the gazebo, it's cute factor jumped up a few more notches. We've already had some great family dinners out here.

Peg Leg Joe

A leopard gecko had been on our little man's wish list for quite some time. He got a tank and all the fixings for one this past Christmas, and a trip to the pet store to go with it.

At first, Daddy couldn't find the desired lizard at any local pet stores. When he finally found one for sale at East Bay Vivarium, it ran a little more expensive than planned. (Forty-five dollars, to be exact.) When the sales clerk overheard the air escaping my son's deflated body in the background, he offered up a great solution - a young, leopard gecko missing the toes on one foot. They called him Peg Leg Joe and he was only $20.

My Crazy News

I have been absent.

I left the building...departed...I jumped ship. I have been MIA, gone, nowhere to be found. For two weeks now, I have been completely silent online.

And for good reason.

See, we bought a new house...and we are selling ours.

This past month has been filled with lots of introspection, dialogue and movement. Crazy amounts of movement. I've been moving, people around me are moving, the furniture is moving.

Yesterday we finally closed on our new home and today we took a giant step towards the sale of ours. I thought I might find relief in all the good news, but instead, I found myself crying. Right there in traffic, after receiving word from Daddy, and with all three kids in tow, the waterworks erupted. I cried because we had sold my childhood home to another family that would now own it and love it just as we had for so many years. I cried because I worried that I had made a mistake I might not recognize until it was too late. And it was already too late.

But then I reminded myself that my kids and husband do not stay with the old house, and that home is really only where we are all together. It's obvious, I know, but reminding myself helped ease any fear.  Together, we are simply embarking on a new chapter of our family's adventures and what could be more exciting than that?!

Tonight, in celebration of all the good news, we invited the three grandmothers to the new house for an easy dinner of pizza, salad and cupcakes.

As the evening sun set, and our pizza cooled, we marveled at all the new surprises surrounding us, like our new neighbor's Cecile Brunner, cascading over the fence and in our view from the kitchen nook. :D

My absolute favorite part of the evening came when I looked up at the entryway chandelier, wondering what the heck to do with it - keep it or ditch it. Then, as if I'd never looked up at it before, I took notice of the view above. Just get a load of that spectacular oak tree hanging over the house! Needless to say, the controversial light fixture is out, and the view of the old growth oak tree is in.

The Secret Society

Last night, I was invited to attend the most inspirational awards ceremony. I went in support of a friend who’s hard work and commitment, of almost a decade, was being acknowledged.

He was one of many.

I felt humbled to be in the presence of such incredible people who, with great courage, had overcome massive hurdles and created such positive change.

Every seat was taken and people lined the walls.

Last night, I had tears in my eyes as I watched the women and men, girls and boys, walk down the isle when their number was called, 24 hours, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 1 year...

…and on up to 30.

30 years!!!

The first ones were nervous, apprehensive, and exhausted.

But each subsequent group shined brighter and even more proud, as they walked towards the stage, accompanied by the enthusiastic applause and cheers of their friends and family.

High-fives, hugs, kisses and flowers.  The mother in me wanted to squeeze every one of them and tell them how I proud I was!!!

I wished that the world could witness the beauty in that room.

Last night, I sat on a cold, folding metal chair under the bright fluorescent lighting of church rec room, and tried to stay warm while listening to the words of a survivor captivate several hundred people. His incredible story of immeasurable loss, strength and perseverance inspired us all.

What wonderful lessons for living, I thought.

And then I spotted an old, familiar face across the room and my heart just ached for the suffering he must have endured before bringing himself there. I went to say hello and to offer a hug.

He looked beaten down and broken, but with a half smile he remarked in wonder,

"Everyone here seems so happy. I’m excited.”

Last night, I went to an AA chip meeting.

My Mom's 80th Birthday

We celebrated my amazing mother's 80th birthday at Nick's Cove in Marshall this afternoon!

Doesn't the cake just say it all?!

We ate oysters and flatbread, fish and chips, crab sandwiches and cioppino!

It was a great time with everyone. Thanks to Jackie for making it all happen!

xoxo

This day last year: "Brining Olives - That's a Wrap!"

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Five years ago today, my little *Beanie-Love* came into this world wearing nothing more than a sweet, little smile...

...and a few hundred long black eyelashes that she liked to bat at her daddy whenever he looked her way.

Happy Birthday

Seven years ago, a boy and a mother were born. Happy Birthday, my sweet, sweet son. It is an honor, and a privilege to be your "Mommy". xo

Meet Milly!

We have a wonderful new addition to our family!

Milly is a three-year old Boston Terrier that we rescued from the wonderful women at Little Bow Wow Rescue.  We are simply beside ourselves with excitement - Milly is just the perfect dog for our family!  She is sweet and loving and just wants to be snuggled and adored. She loves kids, walks to school, car rides and Little League games.

Milly hadn't had any training before she came to us, but we started working with her immediately, and because she's such a little people pleaser, she's doing awesome so far!

The Spirit of Papa

This world lost a phenomenal human being today.  After a brief, but courageous battle with cancer, my father-in-law took his last breaths, free of any suffering, and in the comfort of his home. He was surrounded by the ones that loved him most, his wife and children.

To know Papa was to know a kind and gentle soul whose willingness to give was boundless.  He gave...and he gave...and he gave some more, never once asking for anything in return. He had a sweetness about him that put everyone at ease. He'd make every effort to get to know you. For as gifted and successful as he was, he was also very humble and understood that you too had something to teach him.

Papa lived for the smiles and giggles of his grandchildren and they showered him with adoration in return.  On any given Saturday he might show up at our house to take the kids out for donuts and milk followed by a junior drag-racing tournament in his driveway. His best, last moments were spent with his grandkids on his bed. When we took them away and asked him if he needed to sleep he whispered, "Are the kids still here?" And so we brought them back in for round two.

I knew Papa for less than ten years, but in that time I witnessed countless moments of his saintliness. My favorite, being the time he personally delivered a glazed donut to me in the hospital, after the birth of my third child. I hadn’t asked for it, but he knew I was a fan. So despite the fact that it was a work day or that he himself was in the middle of a chemo cycle, he just wanted to brighten my morning. What’s more, he also delivered a dozen donuts to the nurses ­­station. But he never told me that part.  I learned about it later that morning when a nurse came in my room, floating on a cloud and singing the praises of my "amazing father-in-law". And wasn’t that just like him to think not about himself, but of his son’s wife and all the amazing women outside her door providing care for her and his grandchild.

The only thing that gave me peace these past few weeks was knowing that Papa would allow us to spread some of his ashes around the fruit trees that would feed my children for years to come. To know that there would always be a part of him, at home with us, gave me great comfort.  But in his last selfless action, Papa decided to donate his body to research. I am both proud and humbled by his decision.

So instead, we will erect a shrine to him in our backyard, a place where we can go and talk to our children of the great man that was their Papa. I made one last promise to him, that on his birthday, every year, I would make our family a dinner of his favorite meal: sausages, potatoes and his mother's Charlotte Rousse. 

Tonight, my husband remarked about how fortunate we are to have small children around during this time. I couldn't agree more. Their untouched innocence is a beautiful reminder of the circle of life we all walk. And how with each passing generation, there is new life to live and more love to give.

Rest in peace, Papa. You are forever in our hearts and memories.