Archive for January, 2008

Our Wonderful House

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

I need to sound off about my blessings; specifically those related to my home

  • Spacious
    • 3700 square feet
    • 2700 “finished”
    • open floor plan emphasizes space, particularly in kitchen and dining
    • lots of closet/storage space
    • all areas large enough for our needs (sometimes called “excessive”)
    • dedicated guest bedroom and office areas
  • fun to play in
    • Wrestling mat in playroom
    • fireman’s pole (unfinished) from girl’s closet to playroom
    • pool table/ping pong area
    • Theatre area,
    • darkish, with dimmable fluorescent lights
    • visible from kitchen
    • Lots of lumens (light) available everywhere
    • dining area repurposed to crafts
    • Michele’s jetted tub
  • easy to live in
    • Cleaning
      • lots of vinyl flooring, which cleans easily
      • mudroom helps other areas stay cleaner, longer (cubbies rock, too)
      • two dishwashers
      • all bathroom sinks are seamless
      • Main kitchen sink is seamless corian
      • Main kitchen sink has a huge basin for cleaning large pans
      • Laundry room on the same level as bedrooms
    • Cooking
      • LOTS of countertop surface area, without wasted corner areas
      • gas stovetop is the best
      • large oven
      • two sinks with disposals
      • spacious pantry
      • space for an additional refrigerator, or freezer
  • solid construction
    • downright excessive foundations
    • ICF is strong
    • I watched and worked with the contractors; they didn’t skimp on nails or wood.
  • sound-resistant office
    • alternating studs
    • rock wool
    • green glue/extra sheetrock
    • slab division
    • ICF walls
    • double door
    • special threshold
  • Energy efficient
    • 95% furnace
    • 81% hot water heater
    • “energy heels” in trusses
    • R38 in the attic
    • ICF in the basement walls
    • zoned heating and cooling
    • fluorescent lights in most places
    • high U windows
  • Expandable
    • bonus room above garage
    • wired for sound
  • Misc:
    • quiet stove hood
    • quiet food disposal
    • soft water, Chlorine filter, endless hot water for michele’s tub

It’s been a long hard year building this house, and God has been with us all the way, and I want to praise HIM for His wonderful gifts!!!

I’ll come back to the topic of non-house blessings later

Mark’s Wedding

Saturday, January 12th, 2008

A beautiful wedding in a beautiful place
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I’ve got it all for you in this post, a pano:

a stereogram:
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some misc:
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and even a little indecision… Which one do you like best of the ones that follow?

Travel to Mark’s wedding

Friday, January 11th, 2008

The airport here in Santa Barbara is so CUTE!

Walking to the terminal from the plane:
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Tiny, simple, even a little primative seeming; Not that it is, but when the weather’s warmer, you can get away with a lot more than in a colder climate.

Baggage claim:
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Pace’s Baptism

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

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