Of house dreams and designs.

Am home sick today. Have been in bed all morning, I figure if I do that I might feel well enough to actually do things in the afternoon.

So, have been thinking and surfing the net, mainly checking out SaucyDwellings - which is basically a community of people who post photos of their houses once (re)decorated. Pretty cool. It got me thinking about the house - if/when it's built it'll be pretty modern, which is great because I love modern. But modern often lacks a bit of character. (Though if you look here you'll see that that's not always true!) So I'm trying to think of ways to give it character. Which is silly because it's not even close to being built yet.

But I'm a little like that. Currently am thinking a little old mixed in with the new.

Anyway, will be exciting because once it's done (like 6 months from now - eeek!) I can post pictures and whatnot. I'm just excited to get my own space!

I always feel slightly guilty when I don't go to church on a Sunday morning. Which is silly, isn't it? I'm going tonight. But I feel like I should be going in the morning as well.

Logically it makes no sense. I shouldn't feel guilty in any case.

Plus it's not like God only resides in church. He doesn't. And I don't regularly make a habit of NOT going. I've been so tired lately that today I just feel like I want to stay home and get things done.

AND take the new bike for a spin.

Hmm...maybe that's why???

PS - People if you're on here and reading this, click on one of the links below! It'll greatly help our house fund if people start clicking on adsense!!!!

We got approved!

The bank approved us!! Only took almost a week lol. Yay!!! It's all becoming a little more "real". Lotsa decisions to make in the next wee while - going to need lots of prayer!!!

Ageism

Sometimes I look in the mirror when the make-up is off and I feel old.

We had a retro worship night tonight...not just the '80s but the '90s too...good to listen to the old stuff but MAN the 90s feel like a LONG time ago!!

One of my ex-youth group girls is ENGAGED!! I'm happy for her but am also thinking it doesn't seem like that long ago she was in high school...

Perhaps when we all have kids I will ponder this again. Thing is the best time is now!!! Loving to live the dream...or at least part of it!

New to come

Working on a new layout. Wanted autumnal but am leaning towards Spring. Hope for the future perhaps?

Getting slowly re-addicted to Shorty Street. Not sure if it's bad or not. But the acting sure is!!! *sigh*

So...this week have met with the builder/real estate agent and today we met with the mortgage broker. All very positive sounding. Will just have to see what the banks say now!!! Feels so old and grown up though!

Watch this space!!

I am a shopper of the times

I buy general stuff from Pak n Save. Meat and veg for Raeward and ocassionally go to the Funky Pumpkin or the Mad Butcher depending on what is cheap.

Basically, I am awesome.

I'm glad I've started carrying my camera around town. Means I can capture moments like this. I'm putting together a new Flickr set - Christchurch in Autumn. Hopefully it'll be something really worth doing!

Love this country!

The Ahuriri

Where else in the world can you go and see sights like this?? I love this country! It was a great, relaxing Easter as well. Felt a little like summer but slightly colder.

Just by the Ahuriri Valley Track

More photos to come on my Flickr. It's almost enough to make me want to throw in my job and just go live somewhere that's NOT the city and wake up to the mountains every day :)

Traffic!

Traffic on SH1 - outside the Synlait factory

Yep...we couldn't believe it either! Traffic stretched all the way to the Rakaia bridge! According to Google Maps it's a good 16kms of crawling traffic. WELL away from civilisation!

Crazy!!! Turns out there was an accident on the bridge. Ouch.

But we're here now!

Today

Today I apparently believe in the power of internet advertising. Oh no what have I done???! Like it's not enough to be surrounded by it 24-7 at work! I suppose if it generates revenue it's okay. Or is that what ad execs have been telling themselves for years in order to justify the creation of this consumerist state we are in??!

Or am I over thinking?

On today's baking menu - lemon/lime squares! I am quite excited regarding this as it's out of my 500 great cookie recipe book which doesn't use cup measurements but weight instead. I got to use my new Salter scale which rocks! It's also extremely quick to do in the mini oven. (Book estimates close to an hour for baking but it took me just over half an hour)

These are to take away with us this weekend. And am going to do bread as well. Will let you know how they taste! Cooling in the tin now :)

NOMS

Isaac is graduating today which means that everything is fairly full on. Being him he didn't actually look through all the stuff that they gave him in his graduation pack till last night! *sigh* At least he managed to book his robes...lucky I love him!

Am really, really looking forward to getting out of town. Had a bit of a missing kitty moment yesterday. Every time I head out I feel like I'm forgetting something like checking his food bowl, making sure he doesn't run outside or just saying goodbye. This too shall pass I guess.

House hunt is still on. Mum is on board now which is nice - she likes looking at houses and has an agent friend so that's good. And she makes it her business to know what the best deals are. Kinda like I do but to a greater extent. I learnt from the best! (Haha)

Enjoy the ads people ;)

Ps - 8 degrees and it's 11am! Awesome!!! :(

Biccies!!!

So, I decided on Belgium biscuits for some UNKNOWN reason. I forgot that I am crapski with biscuits that need rolling and cutting out.

BUT these turned out pretty ok if I do say so myself! I am happy to send these a church-ways.

They also taste good. NOMS!

Lack of exciting

Am trying to find something exciting to bake for Journeys Towards Easter pack down on Sat. Since I'm not going to be there and all I thought I'd contribute in some way.

Alas, everything I find appears to have "frosting" (said with American twang) on it.

May have to drop back to the old failsafe Edmonds choc brownie. Am also thinking biscuits to take away with me.

Will let you know how I go. First time in yonks I am at liberty to blog all the time and no one else is here so how better to use up all my words for today??

White Cat needs home!

Someone, anyone in Christchurch after a cat? Saw this on Trade Me and it just makes me feel so sad! He needs a home and we can't give him one at the moment as it's too soon :(

But I figured that I'd get the word out there in case anyone is looking or thinking of maybe adopting a baby. He's a bit older and he's had a hard life.

So...if you've been considering it and have a place in your home and heart for this baby please, please, give him a home!!!

Freedom!

Well, it is officially Easter weekend for me due to a mix up in when Isaac's graduation is. (It's Thursday, not Wednesday)

But that's ok. Initially I was planning on spending most of Weds with the kitten, but that has obviously gone out the window now. So I am filling my day with things like baking and going to Journey Towards Easter and preparing for heading down to Ohau. Again, we originally weren't going any where for the holiday but with kitty gone it seems like a good time to get out of the house as it's a little uncomfortable-feeling here sometimes.

Sometimes I think I see the kitten sitting somewhere on the floor. It always ends up being my shoes or something like that. But I don't expect him to walk into the room as much any more :(

So tomorrow will be okay. Just me. My parents get back tomorrow so may stop in for a visit and Isaac and I are planning on trialing the delights of Wagamama tomorrow night as a pre-graduation celebration.

I feel that I will probably have to take a few deep breaths. But that's okay. I'm doing okay and that is really only due to the grace of God.

We are looking at places to move to. Places to buy. Looking into how much we can/need to borrow. It's all very exciting and grown up. I'm believing for the right place and the provision to get it.

Still haven't heard about the job I applied for. But that's all good. Supposed to hear by the end of the week - but I'm not there (haha). I'm not worried though, I still like my current job well enough and part of me would feel bad for leaving in such a time of change.

6 days off work! Whoop!

Thoughts

We are thinking of buying a house.

For a number of reasons:

1. The market is really good right now and it's probably good to take advantage of it before it changes again. (Btw - how much of a grown up do I sound like using terms like "the market")

2. One day at some stage I would like another kitty. Simply because I miss Mr Squirrel's company very, very much. We can't do that here, not with the dogs and all.

3. Some days this house feels claustrophobic because it's ours but it's not.

4. I want my own place. And more space.

Last week was really hard. I miss my kitty like nothing else. It sucks knowing that he's never coming back. I have gone over so many things in my head and cried so many tears. We had a beautiful memorial service for him yesterday - I think it helped. And I guess with time I will stop being sad and remember the good times. I'll see him again one day - I really, really believe that.

The whole house buying thing was a bit of an impulse decision. Especially when we were upset at the neighbors and their dogs. But now I think we'll do it. We have a couple of areas we like. So yes. Watch this space.

Complexity

Life isn't always easy
Complexity surrounds me
Some days it's not clear to see
Evidence of your majesty...

But I am hanging on,
To the one,
Who gives me life...

I am hanging on,
To the one,
Who gives me life...

I'd forgotten this song. Must be Easter if I'm thinking of Satellite. It so fits my mood right now.