Welcome 2009!

Well hello and Happy New Year! I'm long over due for an update, I know.

Since my last post in November we've worked at the land a few more weekends, but the work has drastically slowed since the snow got to about knee deep. Then the holidays came along and we kicked into high gear with all the shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping, etc...glad all that's done for another year!

Since my last post we've had our most exciting update so far. We received the first draft of our house plans from our designer - Holly - on 12.6.08! Keith had to pick them up from her because I don't know if I could have contained my excitement and waited until I saw him to look at them! We poured over the plans the first night and spent a few days after reviewing her rendition of our dream home. Her first pass was exceptionally on-target, a welcome step forward!

We faxed the plans to my Dad for comments and Dad K and Mom K put their two cents in too. Now we're waiting on draft #2 to come back for review. Although we would love to build exactly what she drew the first time around (especially "her" closet!), it is certainly well beyond our budget. It was basically back to the drawing board for the 2nd floor but the 1st floor was nearly perfect!! She even included 3D images of both floors so we could get a realistic sense of the space. VERY NICE!

On New Year's Eve we visited our first kitchen store! Honestly, I was not looking forward to this step. Hubby and I have such different decision-making styles that the idea that housebuilding is the 'true test' of a marriage is likely to be borne out in the decisions regarding door hinges and what color to paint the laundry room [yep, he will care!]. Being one of my favorite rooms in the house, I was feeling a bit territorial about the kitchen design -- not a good place to start from! :) Any way, all that aside, it was a really fun trip. We kept ourselves in the stock (vs. semi and full custom) area of the store and narrowed it down to one door style and our top 2 counter-top finishes! We even agreed on the stain and wood color --- AMAZING and yet another good omen. Next step for this milestone -- meeting with the kitchen designer to lay out the detailed kitchen plan. FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned...once we get draft 2 I will post a few images of the plan. I know...the nerve to make you wait! Don't worry, it will be worth it [be sure to remind me of that as we get down the road a bit with this project!].

~LK