And A Mortgage On Top Of It All

Oh the joys of home ownership. Don't get me wrong, I love that I can finally do whatever I want to my house because it's MY house. But paying for it and actually finding time to DO it? Whole different ballgame. 

We've been in our house now a full year and have done some minor things but still have a huge project list that has yet to be started. I won't bore you with my full wish list, just know that it's going to take a really long time. Like, a long time. Like the kids might not be living at home anymore by the time some of it gets done. In that case I will be making expensive home improvements just so I can sell the house because we fully intend on retiring early and buying a smaller house just for us in another state that doesn't have such a cruel summer. I hate summer. That's another blog for another day.

But a few things need to happen now. The whole-house fan needs to get installed before yesterday. It's so freaking hot in Michigan in the summer. It just sucks the life out of me. Then the attic needs to be completely re-insulated before it gets cold. It's so freaking cold in Michigan in the winter and the house is drafty. Also why we will be replacing the entire front door and jam and the fireplace. The deck boards need to be replaced before the first frost to they can "weather" for 6 months before we can refinish the whole thing (a Spring project). 

I'm happy to have finally purchased my own home at the age of 32. But also, kind of sad. We've lived in a lot of places and none of them were perfect. I was fine with all the little things I didn't like because we'd just move again and we always learned from the last place what to look for next. But this time there's no "next house." This is it. We've got what we've got. And we keep finding hidden gems that as first time home buyers we never thought about. Like the giant maple tree in the back yard that leans over the house causing potential (read expensive) roof hazards during any one of the nasty storms we get. Initially I saw it as a shade tree. But it's jeopardizing position has come to light. (See what I did there?) 

I need to be on one of those HGTV shows that remodels and decorates and designs everything for you. 

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Fireworks season is awesome. Yes, there are exceptions like veterans with PTSD and some animals that really have a hard time with the celebrations that this time of year brings. And, yes, there is always an influx of patients in the emergency room who were drunk and stupid and stood too close to a bottle rocket. Or you're my sister and you stepped on a sparkler and effectively melted it into the bottom of your foot. But overall fireworks are pretty cool and I love this time of year. Here's my list of reasons why:

* There is a fireworks show within driving distance every weekend, sometime multiple nights in the same weekend, for over a month encompassing the actual holiday. It's possible to see 10+ shows not including all the random ones that go off around the neighborhood.

* There are events. Carnivals, festivals, parades. 

* The events have food. Elephant ears, cotton candy, kettle corn, and that hand shaken lemonade that is basically just a cup of sugar. Delicious. 

* The season is full of nostalgic traditions that I'm passing on to my kids; catching fireflies while we wait for the fireworks to start, barbecues, going up north for the weekend, sparklers (unless you're my sister. She's not allowed to have them anymore), and the cake decorated with cool whip, strawberries, and blueberries.

* A three day weekend to enjoy it a little longer. 

* Our nation's freedom and what it all represents. 

* Wearing red, white, and blue with pride and the excuse to make it way over the top. Giant star spangled sunglasses anyone?

It's actually not my favorite holiday but the fourth of July is definitely up there as far as celebrations go. And I do enjoy any excuse to use streamers. What are your favorite traditions?