We're here

**pammy** · 09-11-2007, 10:07 AM

Finally a Texan!

Moved in 11 days ago.

Still have so much to do, but we got the old house sold and made the 12 hour drive with 2 cars and a loaded up Uhaul pulling dh's Jeep. Even the lil pooch made it okay. Got the mortgage release in the mail on Friday, I'm thinking of framing it.

Got here in the pouring rain, waiting on our wire transfer so we can hand over the cash at our new house signing, it came through with 5 minutes to spare. Not that I was stressed about it or nothing, nooo....

haha. But anyways, we paid cash for it, the house be all ours. The oldest son of the little lady that had the house wanted to be there to meet us. You could tell he loved his mom very much. She had 7 children. So we got some stories and history about the house. The original part was over a 100 years old, and the rest they added on here and there.

So we got moved in and have been working our butts off since then. New water heater; replumb some of the gas lines; new stove; mow, rake and bag the knee high 17k sqft of grass that wound up being 16 large bags full; 4 new AC window units; level, tile and new sink in the kitchen; curtains and rods for 20 windows; used furniture we did not have already; and dh just got done with a wood fence for the backyard yesterday. Still have painting the outside of the house, front and rear doors, and building a wood deck/patio to do. Glad that's about it, the money goes fast, don't it? Dh is glad there isn't still so much to do, poor fella's been working his rear off in this Texas heat. He's itching to go find a job, bad!!

All in all the house is old but she's ours. She has her own quirks. She isn't new or fancy, but already she's getting to be so cute!! We don't have a dishwasher, central heat and air, or an attached garage with a door opener anymore. Won't kill us. Enjoying the freedom not having those things bring, since they were attached to house debt.

Already had our first house guests this past weekend. My little sis, her hubby and 2 y/o couldn't wait to come visit. The hubby came to help my hubby with the fence, so sweet. But they LOVED the place!! I was going for, and it reminded them, of the little old beach cottages we all rented on vacation last month. Think white walls, nautical theme, comfy and used, mismatched, place you come to after a day at the beach. Glad my thrift store finds go so well with that look. Found a great place for used stuff. Our greatest find was an old short dresser for $5 that goes perfect in the guest room. Made of solid wood, old, has 9 drawers, and short enough for peep's to throw their suitcase on when they come to visit. Also got a thick, solid wood dining table with 4 matching chairs for the kitchen for $65. Already has that worn look but it's solid and thick. I think I'll have to go back to that place.

Well anyway, just thought I'd update you guys on here. Ready for things to settle down so I can get into learning the area and finding ways to cut costs around here.

Over and out from this new Texan!!

**mommy4ever** · 09-11-2007, 10:19 AM

Pammy, that sounds wonderful! I really wish I could convince dh to do the same. If we were to sell now and move to a one of the small towns, we'd pocket approx $250k. That is WITH buying a new to us home outright. We'd pay offf the debs in there too.

But the flip side, is that ina few years, the eldest will hit college age and with us here, we won't need to pay for their living expenses as it's all here. They can stay home. We did buy at a time when housing was low, it has since gone up almost 400%. Crazy. So we're actually sitting quite nice. But to be debt free!!!

Pammy you are SUCh an inspiration!

**baxjul** · 09-11-2007, 10:24 AM

Congratulations on the move!

**Katybird** · 09-11-2007, 10:33 AM

Your new home sounds great. I love a home with character. New houses are nice and they have lots of amenities but they often lack character and 100 years is a lot of time to build character. I love the cottage style of decorating. We would love to see pictures when you are finished. You know how we love to ohh and ahhh over each others homes here in the Village.

**Cricketlegs** · 09-11-2007, 11:40 AM

well what a sucess!

Enjoy it!

**ScrapMama** · 09-11-2007, 11:47 AM

Congratulations, that is awesome! I hope in about 5 years I can be claiming the same thing. Maybe even in Texas!

**Darlene** · 09-11-2007, 12:05 PM

So happy for you!!! Hey we need some pics! You & yours must sleep like babies with a smiles on your faces.

**frugalfriend** · 09-11-2007, 12:09 PM

Congrats Pammy!

What an adventure ~ glad it is all working out so well for you! I can relate so much having just done the long drive from Calif. a month ago, driving two cars, towing hubby's hobby car, kids, dog, plants, and the cars loaded to the brim so we could hardly see out the back, racing to get to our house closing here on time! LOL!

But we made it and it was all worth it, life is good, huh?!