For those of you monitoring the new yard from space, here’s kinda what it looks like. I’ll try to get some video and pics tomorrow. You can see it’s gigantic – almost a triple width lot compared to the neighbors? It’s flat and surrounded by trees, bushes, and privacy fence on all sides. I can’t wait to get back there and play duck-duck-goose!

The birds outside are riotous this morning at dawn. Lort! I can’t wait to have a yard with a bird feeder. In related news, I need to turn off all my zillow alerts. I don’t want to second guess as more houses come on the market. We have an accepted purchase offer and that is that. I can turn them back on in a few months when I want to armchair monitor the real estate market. Oh, for the record, Mr. K said that I can use the back rooms of the upstairs – that I suspect used to be a small (mother-in-law?) apartment – to run my #BookmarkEmpire.

Here are the HARRIBLE pictures from the listing. Click below for more. I swear these pics are taken with a cricket flip phone. The home is honestly so much nicer and solid than these pics convey. Things to note. The original columns and molding in the parlor and dining room are stunning. The kitchen is gigantic and almost feels like a waste of space. I think I’ll put a large island with seating in the middle of the kitchen. #PuzzleStation Off the back living room, is the seasonal sun room overlooking the private fenced yard. The back yard is so overgrown with weeds that they are obscuring the view out the windows. And there are no pics of the back yard in the listing. Perhaps I’ll do a video to show you how jungle-like it is. I am cautiously optimistic that there are original hardwoods under the carpeting upstairs. If so, wee! If not, meh. I can live with carpet in bedrooms and am fine with it. The two car garage is a rock-solid cinderblock building that could withstand a hurricane. It’s also strangely all tiled on the inside walls? Not sure why. The home used to have an above-ground pool (I’m guessing), and there’s a small space in the back of the garage that I assume was their pool house of sorts. The garge is connected to the house by a small walkway / addition that strangely has a crystal chandelier. The driveway could fit 8 cars, it’s so huge. Which is nice but will be a bear in winter. We will definitely need a snowblower. The house is vinyl sided and/or brick. All the windows are vinyl replacement windows except for the gigantic picture window overlooking the front porch which is original. But it doesn’t look too drafty because it’s all painted shut forever. The electric, plumbing, and heating have all been modernized and updated. It does not have central air, but it seems like that would be easy to fix since it’s forced air. Or even with minisplits. Meh? I can live without AC for 99% of the year, so that doesn’t bother me. The neighborhood is super cute and all the houses nearby are cute, well-maintained historic homes. The house is only 3 blocks from Nappy Knolls, so an easy walk to everything downtown.

There is some hardcore 90s riot grrl picking the musaq at this resto! I’m all over it. Fiona, Sarah, the whole shebang!

Mr. K has officially moved into Nappy Knolls! I asked the building folks yesterday to add him to the mailbox and parking list. We had planned to move him in on July 1, but his landlord found a new tenant who wants to move in June 1. He was spending most of his time at my place anyway. We had a “let’s put your shit away” party last night. He’s more of a “leave everything out and kicking around” type person. I’m more of a “everything must have a place and be put away when not in use” type person. He is learning that my way is the correct and only way. He’s still being resistant to the concept that cupboards, dresser drawers, and closets must be closed when not engaged, but that’s nothing that a few beat-downs can’t fix. I’m on it!

We are very casually still gazing at houses that hit Zillow, but I’m borderline resigned that we are staying put for now. MGA Susan has put up barriers whenever I’ve rolled the dice and made purchase offers. I listen to her guidance. I have a kerbillion dollars in my pocket and could buy any house I want. But I’m strategizing rolling into retirement soon, so I absolutely do not want a housing situation that costs more than my current outflows. That wouldn’t be wise. Especially when my pre-Medicare health insurance costs are a big unknown. I’ve plunked $1,000 a month into my forecast for that. But who knows? It could be $2,000? $3,000? Again, a complete unknown! And that burden is likely to shift in the breeze with political events outside my control. We’ll see, Linda!

I hate the vanity in the bathroom. Which is very much not original. Here’s some playing in ChatGPT. Real bathroom below.

We found a cute house! It’s trapped in 1950s but pristine and in flawless shape! And I’m kinda in love with the pink and powder blue bathroom. Mr. K hates it! Pic below. It’s in a cute neighborhood, sits up off the street a bit, and has a super private fenced-in side yard. It has no garage, but instead a massive concrete driveway that extends far enough back to accommodate a shed.

Have y’all seen the commercial on streaming with the singing belly button? I’m calling the Feds!

I mean, is the Met Gala anything more than a Halloween party for rich folks? I mean, that’s cool and all.