{ HAPPY ONE YEAR }

… one year ago today we signed endless papers; turned a key; celebrated with friends and family; toasted with tequila; danced in an empty living room to the music in our heads; filled an air mattress; and started the journey to making this house our home.

…since then, we’ve been hard at work crossing items off our to-do list:

Prune out-of-control landscape

Replace the roof

Repair the fascia and eaves

Replace the water heater

Underground electrical service entrance

Upgrade electrical panel

Replace electrical outlets

Replace exterior light fixtures

Replace bedroom ceiling fans

Install new air conditioning system

Repair damaged drywall in ceiling and walls

Replace window sills

Replace broken window

Install hurricane proof garage door

Install impact resistant patio door

Replace kitchen and rear garage door

Redo linen closet
Paint interior

Paint exterior and

Painted our door red

…today we put a candle on a yummy Publix cheesecake, sang Happy Birthday (seemed like the most appropriate song), and looked forward to the years to come.

{ FOURTH OF JULY ‘11 }

…we’ll start our updates with some of the holidays we have celebrated since we’ve been at the house.

…this year Fourth of July was extra special for us. not only was it when we “officially” started living at the house, but we also had our first house guests! that’s right, house guests! our great friends Michelle and Warren came to visit us from Baltimore. thankfully, they did not mind the lack of furniture or construction dust; because it was great having them here.

…we had an impromptu, but amazing day grilling, playing dominoes, laughing and celebrating.

…and towards the end of the night, we took a walk to the Miami Shores Country Club to watch the fireworks. perfect way to wrap up the night.

{ AND THIS IS HOW I TURNED RED }

…five months ago our door finally turned red and this was how it happened…

  …changing the peephole and hardware…

…wish we could show you our house numbers, but we are still paranoid about that. you’ll have to come visit and see for yourself.

{ THE BIRDS AND THE BEES 1 }

...as Manny likes to put it “our yard is a cornucopia of birds and insects.”  lol.  meet our resident  peacocks…

…can’t wait for Sketch to meet them!

{ OF PROCESS AND PROGRESS 1 }

...it’s been a while.  well, only a few weeks, but it seems like forever in blogging years.  perhaps it’s because so much has happened since our last post.  we’ve been busy; getting our hands dirty, our hair full of plaster, our clothes full of paint, and our sneakers… oh, our poor sneakers. 

post soon to come!

{ ORCHIDS, SHRUBS, TREES, AND BUTTERFLIES }

...first order of business: yard work.

…Sketch contemplating his yard