Home...

I tried to think of a more engaging title for this post, one that might encapsulate the excitement I have as I write this, but better to keep it simple when words cannot do it justice, right?

So, I'll keep it simple and get to the good news: WE BOUGHT OUR HOME!!!

The long story short is that in an unexpected (and quick!) turn of events we fell in love.

IN LOVE.

I walked into the house and just felt IT. I felt the walls as we walked through and thought -

This is where my family will gather...this is where I will cook dinners - some good, some bad, and maybe even a few that are great...this is where memories of bright and joyful holidays will be shared...this is the place where our closest friends will sit with us for hours over a good glass of wine by the fireplace...

It was like for every minute we walked through the house I saw memories to come play out like a scene from a movie.

And it was beautiful.

That was last Sunday, by Friday we had a signed and agreed-to offer, and yesterday the house inspection went perfectly!!! If all goes accordingly, we will close on the house on November 19th. Talk about a killer birthday present for Ty and me:)

Now enough of the story...here's some pictures!

Here's our street:


One view of the front:


Another:


Entrance:


Front door, entryway:


Foyer:


View of family room, with bay window:


The kitchen has this fabulous exposed brick, which I love:


This is the view from my kitchen window:


The backyard of the home is what sold us, it is HUGE and really made for entertaining with a gorgeous pool, extensive patio, and yard - this is one view:


This is the left side of the yard:


I was trying to capture the whole yard, I'm in the far left corner while snapping this picture:


Close-up of the spa:


Yard from the right side:


I should have taken more pictures but we spent a lot of time talking to the inspector yesterday - SO next time we're there, I will take LOTS of pics to share! I will be updating the blog as we go along!!

Cannot wait for you all to come out and visit!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow...(NSFW)

Raleigh had to say goodbye to these:


Sad, I know. Ty took him in on the way into work on Thursday and when he came home last night, he looked like this:


Funny, I know. We took many more drugged-pug pictures, but thought it might be overkill to post them all here. What is that you say? Oh, you think I already went overboard by posting a picture of his balls pre-chop? Pish! It's for archival purposes.

It's not like I'm some weirdo saving her kid's umbilical cords. (Sorry to any of you readers who think this is a good idea.) Have we not all seen that SATC episode where Miranda's cat eats the baby's umbilical cord? SICK, yo! SICK!

Anyhow, back to the blog...Raleigh's starting to recover from the shock and looks a bit more with it, but just a little:) He's none too pleased about the cone.


But sad story, he has to wear it for another 14 days! He will get it off just in time for his 4th birthday:) We'll have to celebrate with a cake and everything, it will be a momentous occasion. Look for it on the blog in two weeks!

What? Overboard again you say?

Dang.

New Orleans

I don't know what I expected when I went to New Orleans. I think I expected one part debauchery, one part grit, and another part pure frivolity. But it's so much more. The city is layered and rich and it beckons you in from the minute you arrive. It doesn't take you long to know you've discovered something much better - with it's people, music, food, colors, and history, it's just like the jazz music so synonymous with the region. All at once dark, brooding, beautiful, and joyous.

Ty and I spent this last weekend drinking in all the city had to offer, and while the pictures that follow can hardly capture the essence of all there is to behold - don't worry, we're already planning our next trip back:)



Down a random alley, you find treasures like this:


Breakfast was here with beignets and coffee, yum!


St. Louis Cathedral, built on the foundation of one of the oldest churches in the city from the 1700's.


Our lunches were pretty much summed up by this sign:


I took so many pictures of this cathedral, so I will spare you and only include one more:


Lafitte is one of the old family names in the city:


Lafitte Blacksmith Shop - now a bar, but the original building still stands:


Beautiful statue in the middle of a square:


Like the cathedral, I kept coming back to this little square, it was beautiful:


And last but not least, proof we were there;) At the end of day one:


At the end of day two, a "bit" more refined;)