rootofnewt | (no subject)

Well, the house we looked at on Elliott awhile back is ours to rent. Lease starts March 1. It's small, but not too small. The sunroom will make a nice computer room for boy. The backyard isn't *too* big and the landlord says I can have a garden (he'd be thrilled, actually, since he grew up in this house).
hardwood floors, central air, big windows with blinds, a shed with some storage space, some built-in closets (added after the house was built), the rent is less than we pay now, but we'll have to pay for water and trash, which we don't currently pay. our lease will start march 1, so we'll have one month to do all the moving.

Downside:
- on-street parking, which is fairly standard in town, though, so I can't complain too much.
- small kitchen... i've been spoiled with our large country kitchen. This kitchen also has a tiny oven, but I never cook roasts or turkeys, so that's not a big deal. no dishwasher, but I think we'll probably get a small portable dishwasher for silverware and plates/bowls/glasses. it *DOES* have a garbage disposal. YAY!
- the built-in closets are small. I foresee more garment bags and wardrobes.
- it comes with a washer and dryer, which are old and small. we have our own washer and dryer. i'm going to see if the landlord would let us store his w/d in the shed (there's more than enough room, these are really small appliances) and let us use our own. this would help save my skin from previous tenants' laundry products and save us from needing to find buyers for our W/D. otherwise, we'll put ours up for sale, as I don't see the point in paying $70/mo to store them until we want them again. I'd rather get back most of what we paid for them (one year old, kenmore, large capacity, never had scented products inside, never had fabric softener used in 'em, the maintenance contract with two years remaining would transfer, too) and just buy another set when we want them for our own place in a year or two.

but but but...

we'll be in town. we'll save so much on gas/car expenses. i can WALK to

xiane's house (about six short blocks) and the downtown mall. we'll probably get bicycles so we can ride around a bit. and there are a few parks within walking distance.

i'm happy. :)

and soon, i can start planning shopping lists. we'll need a sturdy table for the microwave, toaster oven, kitchen-aid mixer, and various other appliances since there's very little counter space in the kitchen. If I could find a fairly high sofa table, I think I'd just put the microwave under it on the table my dad made from my old vanity seat and a piece of plywood. that's what my microwave is on now. Then could put the toaster oven, breadmaker, and kitchen-aid on the sofa table. or i could store the crockpot,mixer, and bread machine like i do now. Thing is, i *will* need space to *use* them. Though I guess the breadmaker could easily sit on top of the dryer, as could the crockpot. they aren't used daily, so I don't mind storing them.

i need more garment racks. i need to get rid of some old and raggedy clothes that don't fit or aren't wearable. i need to organize my fabric and patterns. we need more bookshelves. cable modem. router/switch. lots of ethernet cable.

WE CAN HAVE A CABLE ISP! YAYYYYYY!

on the "buy in the next six months list":
-day bed frame, maybe trundle bed. my old bed frame gets more annoying each time i have to disassemble it and move it. i'd like a daybed that could serve a dual purpose. ikea has a nice black metal daybed frame that's sturdy enough for me. i have two mattresses (twins) that are perfectly fine, which will save a bundle. if my current mock-drawer bed part of my old bed will fit under the day bed, i don't need a trundle frame.
-fabric or wood screen. i might have to make this. see, the bathroom opens off of the room that will likely be the guest room. I'd like to afford guests a little privacy, but still be able to use the bathroom. A screen would help that. It could be used to hide garment racks or a messy desk when we don't have guests. we will not make that bedroom our own. boy visits the potty a LOT during the day before i awaken. it would not do to have him waking me up every hour or so. since we won't be in the boonies, he won't be able to pee off the back porch any more.