2014 Recap and Reflections July - December

July 6th is Jess's birthday. We spent it quietly. Work on the deck was progressing. Our 4th of July was also a quiet one. 

I photographed a splendid sunrise on July 18th We got red and pink blossom hibiscus plants which I planted in our back yard. 

My summertime walks were fabulous. I love our neighborhood, a mix of residential, farmland and a nature trail.

It is a favorite pass time of mine to go to Faces Plus Salon and Day Spa in Kansas City to have my hair cut and styled by Vall Villa.

August was a delightful month. Jason, Noi, Drake and Perresa came from St. Cloud, MN to visit us. We visited, played games, ate wonderful meals, went to Jesse James Farm and visited with Heather, Chris, LaKai and Kevin while Jason and family were here.

The deck was looking better and better. 

The farmland photo of 8 11 2014 was taken not far from our home.

September involved Jess painting the deck, work progressing on the bay window area, we planted iris, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs and Jess poured a cement retaining wall at the west end of our big garden spot in the front yard. We are excited to see what sprouts in the spring.

One of the fascinating aspects of living in our neighborhood is that we often see cows grazing in the field not from from our home. They are there in the spring and late fall and possibly in the winter. I believe they graze elsewhere in the summertime.

A bigger view of our wonderful mural.

On October 6th Jess and I went to pick up our mural that Holly painted for us of the view from an Italian seaside eatery. She did a fantastic job on it. Jess and I love it very much. It brightens our everyday.

It was LaKai's birthday. Jess and I went to her family's home to wish her a happy birthday. I enjoyed that very much.

The KC Royals made it to the world series games. It was so exciting. Good job Royals.

My autumn walks were glorious with such bright colors, fresh smells and crispy leaves to walk on.

Kevin and Jeremy, his friend, came to see us on the 30th of October. A few days later they were off to Colorado Springs, CO. I so glad that we got to visit with them before they left.

 

November 9th was Jess and my 22nd wedding anniversary. We celebrated on the 10th by going to the Kansas City Zoo and had a great time there. They had added several exhibits since we were there last. Loved the polar bear, penguin and sea lion exhibits. It was also awesome to stand next to the Kangaroos while they were spending time out of there enclosure.

I brought the hibiscus plants indoors for the winter. I cleaned them off, gave them water spritzing baths, took off dying and dead leave, did pruning on one of the plants and gave them Miracle Grow. They tend to go in shock when transplanted, which they were from the ground to a large pot. Since they have recovered some they are both blooming again. 

On Thanksgiving Chris, Heather and LaKai came over for dinner and to visit. We had a good time.

 

This December 6th I had a delightful time decorating for Christmas this year. It was wonderful having a fireplace to decorate. We also got some colored lights to put on the mantel. I discovered some interesting reflections with the Christmas lights on the wall. They were so beautiful.

On the 17th we had about 3 inches of snow fall.

On Dec. 27th Mary, her daughters Krista and Kezia and her son Jay came to party with us. They are all so much fun.

On Dec. 28th Heather and LaKai came over. Chris was not feeling well. I love having family and friends coming to visit.

Yes Jess and I have had a year full of changes. Most of them have been good changes. We didn't think it would be possible for us to start owning a home at this stage of our lives. We are so thankful for this opportunity.

 A May 25, 2014 photo of our home.

 HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS TO EACH OF YOU. MAY YOU SEE HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE.

 

2014 Recap and Reflections January to June

 2014 has been a year full of many changes for Jess and me. As January rolled in we had been on a quest, for about 3 weeks, to find a home to buy. Our search really kicked into high gear starting on New Year's Day when we were in Tonganoxie, KS. While there we decided to check out the homes for sale. We saw many Reece Nichols for sale signs. The homes in Tongie were too expensive for us but when looking at the Reece Nichols web site, on Jan 1st, Jess saw a home at 104 Fine St. in Excelsior Springs, MO. There was a box to check if you wanted to have and agent show you the home. On Jan. 2nd Jim Beaty called us and showed us the house.

We were able to enjoy the views from our 6th floor apt. at the Northtown Lofts through February and into the first two weeks of March. I loved watching the Sochi Olympics. It is always a pleasure to go to Faces Plus Plus Salon and Day Spa to have Vall Villa cut and style my hair. 

We wanted to buy the house of Fine St. if the price was right. The price was lowered. Through Jim's help we made an offer on Feb. 17th.. We then found out some else wanted to submit and offer too. That made things tricky for a day or two. We made a 2nd offer and it was excepted. The home was a foreclosure and needed a furnace and air conditioner. It also needs TLC. The home was built in 1973. It has good bones. We closed on Feb. 27th. YiPPy!!!

 March was moving time again. We had moved into the Loft's from the home we rented for 7+ years on 23rd Ave. in NKC exactly a year ago on the 15th of March 2013. We used the Dodge dually truck and Buffalo Bob truck to move our belongings to the Fine St. house on the 15th of March.

This is Buffalo Bob. 

This is our Dodge dually.

 

Between closing and moving in we took up the very old, stained, smelly carpet, the new furnace and AC was installed.We took out a section of kitchen cupboards so the fridge would fit. Jess took out the thorny bushes at the entryway.

Before moving I enjoyed going to the movie with Heather and LaKai on March 9th. On March 26th Mary, Jess's sister and Kezia, Mary's Daughter came to visit and see our home. We had lots of fun.

It was interesting for me to live in a historic building, The Northland Lofts, NKC, MO. The building was built in 1912. Jess didn't care for living there so much. There were challenges to living in an apartment with smoke detectors going off in an apt. and an alarm going off in all apts. All were to leave their unit and go outside until the fire dept. personnel check things out. There were the numerous inspections to get ready for. There was the noise and cigarette smoke from the hallways. There was striving to keep our music etc. down as to not get written up. There was using their pay laundry facilities. I enjoyed talking with residents and staff. Both Jess and I loved the newly painted and updated apt. we had. We also loved the view.

 

The 1st of April Jess took down the cracked mirror and the wall paper that was under it in our dinning room. 

For an early birthday celebration for me Jess, Phil and I went to the movie on April 6. 

Jess worked hard getting the texture off of the entryway walls. He then patched, sanded and painted primer paint on them.

We pulled out the old diseased shrubs and planted tulips. I loved working in a garden area again.

 May 5 Jess finished putting primer paint on the wall where the mirror had been, after patching and sanding it.

 Spring walks were very enjoyable. I mowed the back yard for the 1st time. It is a lot of space to mow. I love mowing though.

I made a book for Seth's 1st birthday. I also made him a scruffy doll. I enjoyed using my creativity and making these items with love for Seth. I got the idea for these from Pinterest.

  

In June Jess worked on the bay window area and the deck. He put new sheet rock up, sanding, taping the seams and putting joint compound on, after cleaning out all the debris (wasps and bird nests) that had found there way into the nooks and crannies of the wall. On the deck he was taking out the vertical boards on the railing to refigure the spacing, putting them closer. He added new boards where needed. I worked on weeding the front yard.

We enjoyed the squirrels and sparrows. Eventually, when we couldn't hear any baby birds in the nests, Jess took out all the old nests in the awning. We decided it would be better for them not to nest in the awning.

We had four squirrel frolicking in our front yard and trees. They were fun to watch.

We have beautiful sunsets here in Excelsior Springs.