Back "Yard"igans

One of the things I mentioned still wanting to do in my Year of the Upgrades post was de-ghettoifing my back "yard" area. Really it's a glorified dog run that is mostly useless and largely unappealing. I hate that I can see the neighbors gross collection of used up tires. But first I want to come up with the best ideas...

 

Here's a reminder of the awful view.

 

The door also needs to be replaced pretty badly. I haven't decided about the pet door. Recently I received a notice from the city that my dog barks too much so I'm not sure that I would want Sebastian just coming and going as he pleased when I couldn't monitor his barking (I really don't want a ticket for that. That would be dumb.)

 

This is what the door looks like from the inside (before the remodel lol) and I honestly don't remember the last time it was used. So I am thinking about switching the "swing" from right hand swing in, to left hand swing in. I like having a window in the spring and winter because it makes it very nice and bright in there but in the summer it tends to heat it up way too much... and the litter box is in there. Bad combo.

 

 

Maybe something like this? (Again not sure if I want the pet door or not)

 

 

The other part of the back yard that needs some specific attention is the porch.... that crap is nasty. No other way to put it. Sebastian won't even walk on it.

 

I found a few ideas when I went a-googlin'. Sorry some of them I couldn't find sources for.

 

Something like this might be nice in terms of actually being able to USE the dang thing. This way I could maybe put the recycling bins from under the sink out there and perhaps create some other storage options. I would have to have steps on both sides for access reasons... more trouble then it's worth maybe?



 

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I could go all super basic and just have steps on both sides of the landing. Access both directions. Pretty basic. 

 

 

Or maybe an upgraded version of what I already have, just you know, something you could actually walk on without fearing for your life.

 



 

The fence is also part of the issue. It's chain link, which does the job but adds zero in terms of privacy and doesn't help with keeping Sebastian from barking like a crazy beast. These are called "slats" and you just stick em into the chain link. It would be about 1/8 the cost of installing even a four foot privacy fence. 

 

 

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Exteriors seem so much more complicated then interiors sometimes... Let me know if you think of any better ideas for that useless backyard space.

2013 The Year of the Upgrades!

This year I have decided is going to be the year that I stop talking about making changes and start doing it! There's a number of things that I need to do to my house and now that I will have the time and (hopefully) the means to make those changes I really want to do it. The goal is to always take as much of the "trailer" factor out of my house as possible.

So here's the short list:

1. Reface the cabinets! My Dad and I have the idea to make these less than standard cabinets look like shaker style cabinets by simply trimming them out. 

2. One thing that definitely has to be done is replacing the counter tops. Last year I painted them this dark brown color and so far that has held up really well. However the counters themselves are done for. They are blown out underneath and are no longer supporting the dishwasher = leaks. Bad.

3. As a bonus though I do have a new, taller, faucet for the kitchen! Got it on sale for $30.00. Not fancy but wayyy more functional!

4. This exterior back door craziness still needs to be fixed. I'm going to get a new back door that will actually   open and close with the dryer by it and make a much safer stair set up.

Ewwwww. Dumpy. I also have to replace the gutters on the front of the house.

5. Easiest one on the list is upgrading the paint colors in the living room. Still want to do the white ceiling and update the color. No more peanut butter walls!

6. This is the best picture that I have but I do hope to upgrade all the doors in the house. Luckily there are only 4 doors that need to be replaced so that won't be too bad. These ones are falling apart and well... UGLY.

Hopefully this year will be a great year for my little house! I am going to be getting a new computer so I can blog more also. Yay!

The Craziest, Wildest, Busiest December Ever.

This has been one of the craziest months of my life! That is part of the reason that I have totally fallen off the blogging bandwagon these last few weeks. The first thing that happened is that my family dog, Shotzi, passed away. He was 15 and a really great doggy. He was a schnauzer like Sebastian but a much larger one. My parents adopted him when he was five and has been a part of our family ever since. We definitely all feel his loss very strongly.

On a slightly happier note I FINALLY graduated from college! See ya later Colorado Mesa University! I can't say that I will miss it. I met a lot of great people. The hardest part of graduating was watching all of my friends move away. :(

We did decorate our hats in accordance with our degrees! Any guess what we are all gonna be when we grow up?

Yup! Teachers! What gave it away? heheh. 

The really awesome thing is that my best friend Christie, who I've been friends with since we were 11, came to visit and see my graduation! It was pretty exciting.

I am wearing 5" wedge heels. 

They were awesome.

I finished up my student teaching, I had a great group of kids that I got to work with so that was awesome. One student gave me this on my last day. I also got a lot of cookies. And a Little Mermaid barbie. My students rocked! I do get to start substituting this year now too so that is pretty exciting.

The craziest transition of all was my Dad accepting a new position in New Mexico after being in Colorado for 18 years and at the same job. My parents have lived in their house for fourteen years and I recognize it as being my childhood home. Packing up a four bedroom, three bathroom, large home was a lot of work. Plenty of memory lane trips for sure.

I did inherit a lot of it in my living room as well... everything from a sewing machine to 4 bottles of Windex. My Dad left me some great tools so I can start really building some cool stuff! It'll be hard being the only one in my town since my brother and sister have moved back to their respective colleges but I think it'll be a great opportunity. Besides I won't have my parents to hang out with so I will be blogging way more!

2012 ended with one of my best friends that was visiting from her grad school program in California. Kendall and I rang in the new year with a lot friends, fun, and champagne. Not to worry. We didn't drink the entire bottle.

Here's to 2013 being a great year!