Home

I can only describe the last seven months as a roller coaster ride. We certainly did take the road less travelled and take the long way home.
After the quint suburban homestead I last blogged about, we decided there was far too much to be done that we could not afford. We found another house after that. We signed contracts on my birthday, paid deposits, met the owner, set moving dates...only to find a free way was set to be built right next door. So we got back on the roller coaster to cancel that contract and find something else. While on that roller coaster we had our mortgage application denied, so had to finalise our car loan, applied again but could not borrow what needed. Finally, October saw our loan approved and we asked our landlords once again if we could buy this rental we call home. But just as our roller coaster had rocketed along all of those months, so had the housing market and we were still left short of the money we needed. Back on the roller coaster....
After managing to agree on a price for our home I summoned the courage to find the money we needed. By November we had a verbal agreement toward purchasing the our home! But that wasn't to say we were home and hosed. No there were still twists and turns to come.
The landlords, now vendors, took over a month to organise a contract but were then reluctant to include a finance condition. I was not stupid enough to enter into legalities without it. We worked our way around it...though Im pretty sure its the reason we didn't get a Christmas card from them this year.
Thankful that we had the condition included as we had yet another short roller coaster journey toward attaining the mortgage that had only been approved some 7 weeks ago. More paperwork, more hoops to jump through, more questions.....
But the long story short is that, on New Years Eve 2013, our loan was approved. Our contract is now unconditional and we are rocketing toward the finish line.
Bring on 2014.

No news is, well, no news. You may guess by my silence that the sweet 1900 cottage that we fell in love with a few weeks back did not live up to our expectations and we decided to give it a wide birth.
3 weeks on and I think I am getting rather good at browsing real estate. After countless hours driving up and down suburban streets looking at both new and old homes, walking through countless doors, shaking the hands of agents who look strangely the same, I can honestly say I'm not looking for 'the one' or my 'dream home'. I'm looking for good bones in a good street where no-one is battling the clock (or the traffic). A place that will allow me to raise my 2 beautiful children the best way I can, with out relying on long, out of hours care while I battle the traffic too and from work in the years to come. And strangely, its the houses that look as crap in 'person' as they do in the pictures are the ones that go above and beyond our expectations. I'm learning that these are the little rough diamonds that offer the greatest potential.
Despite my growing familiarity with real estate I am no more enjoying the process of finding a home. Each house comes with waves of anxiety that sweep over me through out my day. Each possibility ignites my mind and it blazes out of control. Sleep? What is that?
In this roller coaster each set back is one step closer to finding a place to call home but in the mean time I latch firmly to the thought that

The greatest luxury in life is to live with what you truly love

 

May this squash my sleepless ness and anxiety and calm my weary mind, for I am rich beyond belief indeed.

A Place to Call Home

At the beginning of this year our landlords informed us that they wanted to sell our home of 3 years by the end of the year. Ive spent the last 6 months wondering what to do with that information. My usual pro-active-can-do self has hit a wall and I find myself saying 'why would I do that, if I'm only going to have to rip it out at the end of the year?' It has left me feeling far from creative about the house we live in.
I have blogged before about entertaining the thought of buying this home of ours. Alas the door, quite abruptly closed in our face. So what now?
We have been carefully considering all opitons. Buy new, or buy old? Shall we build? How far from here shall we move? Can I go back to work? Can he get to work? Will she have a kindergarten to go to? Will I need to comute just to get her there...I peak hour? (NO THANKS). So where are all the heritage style homesteads that we love so much? Why arent there any in suburbia? - I retract that thought. For right infront of me, as I searched the internet once again for house listings, was the most beautiful little cottage totally liveable, but in need of some TLC.
Needless to say, last night, I did not get very much sleep as I etched out the possibilities in my mind. Only to realise today that there is a planning heritage overlay. Now to anyone else, they might just shut the door on the unknown. NOT I. Buying a house is really becoming a family afair. My dad is helping with finance, my brother offering adivice on mortgages and my sister now helping us with planning overlays...mum, she is my sounding board.
When the chapter on this, our current home was firmly shut last month (and our race to secure a grant of $7K was lost) I was not comforted by the words 'Now you have time to look for something else.' Im not comforted by the unknown. We have looked at house upon house, display home upon display home, advertisement after advertismenet. Its deflating to feel so close yet so far.
I pray that this one is THE ONE. A place to call home untill such time as we want to leave.

Please God. Let your plan be known. Let my heart, mind and soul be ready to accept the outcome that you have for us. While we await the home coming into your kingdom, please bless us with a little slice of heaven right there on earth. A place to call home.

Time to Slow Down

After a week that somewhat resembled a tornado we have managed to regain some normality. Tuesday was the first, 'normal' day in nearly a week. As Ben returned to work (after a 5 day long weekend) I took the liberty of 'doing nothing'. After more than a week running around after everyone, entertaining, cleaning, thinking for at least 3 other people (perhaps more) it was finally my 'weekend'. I played with the children, let them watch far too much TV, and consumed more left over cake than I care to admit.
Though, I had told myself the only craft I was allowed to approach was my 3yo patchwork (that has not been touched in a year ah-hem) I allowed myself to be inspired by the beautiful cardigan Leon got for his birthday.  I loved this gift so much that I didn't even hesitate to pick up my needles and visit my ever growing stash of wool. A new adjusted pebble vest simply flew off those needles. Now my little man is a wooly little woogie, knitted from head to toe with cardie, vest and slippers.
I must say, that there is something warms the soul when handcrafts are shared with those who appreciate them. Unlike a gift bought from a store, a handmade gift says to the recipient 'you are my priority', not only in the instance it was given, but during the hours hours of work that have been poured into producing the gift. At the expense of more pressing duties, it says I love you more than the housework, the dinner, the nap/drink/snack/anything that my toddler is demanding.
The remainder of the week has found me continuing to try and make sense of the cold weather that crept up on me, even though it is seasonally normal. Its been so many years since we have had a winter that actually felt cold and wet so early on and I am completely unprepared for long days indoors with Miss 3. Meanwhile, Mr now 1 has had a prickly mystery rash for much of the week.

We are still in Cansas...for now

Life has been traveling at a frightning pace. I must say, I feel like I have been whirling around out of control for quite some weeks, if not months. It seems that the autumn leaves have changed colour and fallen completely with out me having noticed. There is no daily rhythm to be had. I am perhaps treading water just to stay a float.
We have been living at Huntly Street for a little over 3 years now, but that time is drawing to a close. Desipte the research I did to value this little rental house that we have made a home, and countless hours spent clearning for various inspections our Landlords decided on a price. Despite their initial offer to sell it to us, the amount they finally requested was not only more than we were willing to pay, but much more than the house, in its current state of neglect, was fairly worth.
Not a moment after recieving the news, I felt a huge sence of relief and not an ounce of disapointment. I am so looking foward to where we might reside in the months to come.
We looked at houses locally, but despite my father's generosity we are just priced out of this market. And while we thought that some day we might make a tree change, that change may be closer than we ever anticipated.
There has been no room to breath or rest since recieiving this knowledge. Though, for my own sanity I have put the house hunt on hold for the past week and a half as I changed gear to celebration mode.
My little man, woogie, Little Leon turned one 2 days ago. We celebrated well beyond our means with a whole suckling pig on a spit and 45 of our nearest and dearest friends.
As if preparing for such an event wasnt enough, I committed myself to helping my dear mother prepare her house for the event, complete with new carpet (yes we removed the furniture and the old carpet oursleves!). And as I am a glutton for punishment I also decided to sew a dress for Avalyn, overalls for Leon, his birthday crown, 4 strings of bunting, threaded paper garlands, a photo display and a Happy Birthday banner... Yes, I think I am officially CRAZY!
The day was wonderful. Such a delight to have all our loved ones in the same place, even if my efforts to be hospitable rendered socialising impossible. At the end of the day I was completely peopled out. So much so, that I was thankful that Ben's dad decided to stay with other family from the west.
Now we face the aftermarth of cleaning up what was left behind and reorganising the things that were neglected. I must say that I really cant wait for a day to sit back reslish the slower pace that winter deserves. But for now, 5 mintues to simply pay the bills will have to do.

Road Trip

Our weekend in Sydney with the family was, as usual, fleeting. Two, ten hour car trips with young children in four days is taxing on all participants. The pieces can fall either way. A dream run or frustration that usually ends in tears.
This weekend was filled with its fair share of tears but it did not hamper the joy we experienced when sharing our babes, esepcially ou itty bitty Leon with his Sydney reletives. And it certainly did not stop the show at the beautiful beach side wedding. Benny's little sister finally married!
I love a good wedding. So many expressions to capture and rememeber....made all the more sweet when your three year old runs barefooted down the beach in a long dress complete with butterfly wings. So much snappy, photography goodness.
Avalyn certinly is captivated by dressing up these days. Not only was she a fairly princess butterfly queen (all at once in her flower girl dress) she also requested, despite being exceedingly cranky and sleep deprived, to dress up at the Chinese Gardens. Again, so much snappy goodness. What is a camera savy mummy to do?
So we take home with us the fading knowledge of some very tired cranky children, and file away the memories of a beautiful wedding and fun family days in the sun and time with reletives.

Naughty and Nice

The last few days have left me tired in the evenings. My nearly three year old, Avalyn, is discovering new ways to push the boundaries each day. I find myself in a chorus of no, dont, stop, come here, are you listening? for the better part of the day. Though no one wants to read about the fleeting trials of parenting a three year old, nor do I want to reflect upon it in times to come.
I dont know about you, but I would much rather come back to the joys of life and read them again and again. Than return to the daily grind. So in the spirit of 'If you cant say anything nice, dont say anything at all' I am turning a new page on blogging today.
Here are some of the joys from the past few days:

:: embraced the two consecutive warmer days which allowed me to wash and fold clothes straight from the line. Crisp and fresh.
:: marvled at Avalyn's curly hair in the sunshine as she played in her sand pit for the first time in months.
:: said good bye to my tulips knowing that the forcast winds will see them deshevled by morning. They have been so glorious to watch in the sun for the past 2 weeks.
:: Watched the dappled sun light dance on my baby's face as we sat under the cherry blossoms.
:: Loved watching Avalyn put her 'I can do it' in to practice. Sweeping floors, mopping and raking for Mamia, cutting up vegetables (with a butter knife), making milo and snacks.
:: Smiled at the sence of accomplishment and pride that sweep Benny's face now that his seeds are beginning to sprout for spring planting. I dare say new beds are on the agenda as soon as we get back from our vacation.
:: Excited for things to come.