Joanne Heim: Home inspection and Christmas lists

My mother drove up to Denver this morning and went to the house with us this morning for the inspection. The list from the inspector was long, but mostly little things. The furnace is good for another 10-12 years, and the roof will last another 10 with only about $600 of repairs. We're relieved, because those are the two things we thought we'd have to replace right away.

I did take some pictures (well, Toben took some pictures while I measured some closets, etc.). I realize we don't have any pictures of the yard. Next time.

This is a little dark, but this is the family room. I love the paneling and the built-in bookshelves. And I'm a sucker for a fireplace too. This one is gas, which is nice for turning on and off at the flick of a switch. This is taken from the breakfast nook, which has a sliding glass door to the deck and the kitchen is behind the breakfast nook.

Here's the living room, there's a big vaulted ceiling, looking up to the loft (next picture). This fireplace is woodburning, and this is the deep window I'm going to furnish with a cushion and pillows for reading. The window looks out to the front yard. This is taken from near the front door.

Finally for now, here are the built-in bookshelves upstairs in the loft. There are new banisters and railings on the righthand side that look down into the living room. This will be Toben's office. A desk under the window, I think, and a big table in the middle for a huge workspace.

I'm so excited!

The thought of being settled makes me think of crafty projects, and that makes me think of Christmas. I figure the month of October is a great time to make Christmas gifts, leaving plenty of time to just enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas. I sat down for a few minutes today to begin to think through Christmas gifts. It's no secret that I love to make lists; so I've begun my Christmas list. I list all the people I'd like to give gifts to, then all of my ideas for each person. Once I spend some time thinking about it, I decide on what it will be, put the other ideas in next year's list, and keep a record of what I've made.

I usually knit--a lot. It's a good way to avoid the Christmas weight gain; it's hard to knit and eat at the same time! Last year I made lots of felted things--little zippered bags for makeup and such, totes, and slippers. I also made some scarves--some knitted, some braided from bits of yarn and ribbon and such.

I like having a theme of sorts for making gifts, but haven't quite come up with it for this year. Last year, we cut way back at Christmas--to good effect, and I'd like to continue simplifying it. What I really love is to be all together and to eat brunch and watch movies and take our Christmas afternoon walk. I don't really want anything, but it wouldn't really feel like Christmas without some presents!

I did one or two things for each person last year, and that worked well. I do like to make handmade things--future "heirlooms" of a sort. I like thinking that someday Ava may put a hat on her baby and say, "My Aunt Jo made that for me when I was a baby." Or that Audrey and Emma will pull out doll clothes for their little girls and remember that I made them once upon a time.

I'm off to the fabric store tomorrow with Janna, and maybe will be inspired by things I see there to come up with some more ideas. It's so fun to plan and dream!

Comments

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You new home is lovely already -- and you're not even in yet!

Posted by: capello | August 22, 2006 at 06:32 PM

I love the colors they've put in there... they seem like color you could work with, the yellow makes me think of you in your grandma's knitted suit! Congratulations!
Take care,
Heather

Posted by: Heather | August 23, 2006 at 07:37 AM