Log in

View Full Version : Oh, The Joys of Home Ownership...



SiouzQ.
8-9-19, 11:39pm
Okay, tonight it's just a minor blip (we hope)! We signed everything yesterday, got the keys and have started the mad dash of prioritizing what needs to be done and started purchasing the items we need in order to accomplish all this.

We just came back from Lowe's tonight (a 50 mile round trip drive through a strong thunder and lightening storm) with a car load of stuff. We needed a shop vac, a room air conditioner, two smoke alarms, a lighting fixture for the kitchen, more light bulbs plus other sundry items - mouse traps, bug bombs (the house has been uninhabited since last October), and more cleaning tools.

Drove up in the dark, blinding rain, bumping over our very rough rocky driveway, trying to find the right key to get the kitchen door open in the pitch black, comically trying to find the correct light switches to illuminate the kitchen (you have to understand the type of house we just bought - hand built with really nonsensical light switch placements). I still cannot fathom why the main kitchen light switch is all the way across the room from the door. I am going to have to label all the switches because a lot of it seems completely random!

Anyhoo, I digress. We began to unload the car and put all this stuff away for the night. I walked into the room that is going to be our studio and discovered a growing puddle on the floor...upon inspection of the whole house it seems we have a leaky roof in several places. Damn! Supposedly it is a fairly new metal roof so I was not at all expecting this development. Grrrrrrr. Now I have to get someone out to look at that. In addition, we need to get an electrician in to fix a few issues as well. Cha-ching...

I knew all this was a possibility going into this but I wasn't mentally prepared for a leaky roof! It's monsoon season in New Mexico so it rains pretty hard everyday now. I am going to take it in stride and understand the differences between needs and wants at this point, because we can't do it all right away. We have so many cool ideas but a lot of it will have to be put on the back burner while we work on getting the house in good functioning order.

catherine
8-9-19, 11:48pm
Oh, yes, the joys of home ownership indeed!

I had to laugh when you talk about a leaky roof, because it is raining right now and I'm lying on my bed and every now and then the ceiling fan throws a couple of drips at me--we've known about the leaky roof--it doesn't happen all the time. We were going to replace the roof this year but I opted for an outdoor shower instead.

All of these little challenges will become great stories to tell people and great moments to share after you have accepted or changed some of the quirks--"remember when we were stumbling around looking for the light switch?"

Congratulations on the closing! I'm sure you'll create a wonderful home!

razz
8-10-19, 8:38am
Love your 'do-it' attitude!

JaneV2.0
8-10-19, 11:06am
And have the electrician install a light switch by the kitchen door...
Good luck!

SiouzQ.
8-11-19, 8:53am
Yesterday ended up being pretty good. I got a glowing referral from one of my artists in the gallery for a general contractor the she has used and he even managed to make time last evening to come out and take a look at the roof. Yes, there are some problems and he will have to come back when he has time in the next few weeks to do some further investigation and possible solutions. meanwhile, he said not to panic at this point. Luckily the monsoon season will start to wane soon and the daily showers will start to diminish.

I tell you, one of the hardest things about living out here is finding skilled, honest and reliable tradespeople. There are a lot of people in town that "do" carpentry, or plumbing or electrical, except they really don't know what they are doing and are not licensed either, yet people hire them because they are "cheaper." Consequently, the aging miner shacks and other buildings over the decades have become really funky with their wonky additions and questionable electrical and plumbing systems. I have learned in the past three years who NOT to hire for certain jobs and will readily go out of the immediate area to find someone licensed.

Yesterday I spent at least three hours deep cleaning and detailing the slightly older Sears Kenmore refrigerator. It had been unused and unplugged since last October and at first glace didn't seem that dirty but when I started cleaning inside the gaskets and all the little crevices there sure was a lot of CRUD! It was strangely satisfying to take all the shelving out and really scrub all the crooks and crannies. Now I feel comfortable starting to bring some food over to the house so we can have sustenance while we work. Today I am going to tackle the stove and oven, and get the new shop vacuum set up and start sucking up all the debris - cobwebs, dead bugs, old pet hair and other assorted crud! I actually like vacuuming, especially when you can really see the difference your efforts make.

Also yesterday K. rented a floor sander and started tackling the pine flooring in the living/dining room. Still a lot of work to do with that but you can already see how beautiful it is going to be!

I am hoping to get an electrician out soon; the guy I have used in the past in the gallery said he might be able to stop by yesterday after a job nearby but he never called or showed up. Hopefully he can make time for me next week. In the meantime, the roofing guy looked at some of the electrical things we need remedied; he can do them, but he is a really busy guy and won't be able to get to it any time soon.

Tybee
8-11-19, 8:55am
I am getting really excited for you hearing about the cleaning and the sanding--it sounds like it will be a lovely home!

And how fun to create a new place for the both of you.

ToomuchStuff
8-11-19, 10:12am
I am going to guess, no home inspection was done then? If there was one, you should have some recourse on the roof.

Tybee
8-11-19, 11:36am
Not sure where you would get recourse. This same thing happened to us--moved in in October, and while cooking Thanksgiving dinner, the kitchen ceiling fell on my head into the turkey.

Usually the most you can get from the home inspector is the cost of the inspection. Did you mean get recourse from the seller?

Teacher Terry
8-11-19, 11:43am
If the seller knew the roof leaked and didn’t disclose then they may have recourse. Unless the house was sold as is. Sorry you have to wait for the roof and electrical. I am always surprised when people put off roofs because the damage just keeps getting more expensive.

iris lilies
8-11-19, 12:49pm
If the seller knew the roof leaked and didn’t disclose then they may have recourse. Unless the house was sold as is. Sorry you have to wait for the roof and electrical. I am always surprised when people put off roofs because the damage just keeps getting more expensive.
DH will earnestly explain to you why our multi-year roof leak did no lasting damage. Much of that, if you believe him, is that he provided a clear channel for the water to run through: down and into buckets in our back bedroom where I sleep. Drywall ceiling panels were removed for this water activity. No lasting damage! He is a Professional, YO! Dont be questioning his expertise!

argh. Sigh.

When the real pros came to put on a new roof here they immediately pointed out where the skylight was leaking. Skylights are the #1 culprit in roof leaks. Pretty obvious I would think.

DH lost all credibility with me in anything related to roofs and leaking. It was fortunate that his liability insurance for his handyman biz did not cover roofs, so he never did any roof work but for real simple stuff.

He is multi talented and can do most anything, but not everything.

Teacher Terry
8-11-19, 1:22pm
IL, that’s funny!

pinkytoe
8-11-19, 8:31pm
Home inspectors are up there with realtors in my book.

Gardnr
8-11-19, 9:32pm
Didn't you have an inspection? This leaky roof should have been noted and repaired by the owner. If you're stuck with this issue, that sucks!

SiouzQ.
8-12-19, 9:24am
Yes, we had an inspection done by a licensed inspector that K. knows (and we paid for). There was also an inspection/appraisal for bank purposes that the seller paid for. We were told the roof was new in the last year; the problem being that someone who didn't know what the hell they were doing did the roof (this is what the roofing contractor just told us). This contractor is coming back in the next week or two to do a more thorough assessment as to what needs to be done to fix the problems.

The story of this hand-built Madrid house is the stuff of legends apparently - as soon as I can gather the timeline and more details I will let you all know, but it involves previous fires (two in total, I think) and an old roof blowing up and then setting back down due to a propane leakage problem during a winter of heavy snow (I can see ya'll shaking your heads wondering what the hell I got myself into, LOL)! It's hard to explain without photos, but the house is actually two houses that were built next to each other and then a middle room (our future studio) was built to connect the two at some point. The worse roof leak is where the two were connected on one of the sides. The house is very solid otherwise - heavy beams, and a stone foundation.

Meanwhile, we are currently working on getting more information from our realtor as we proceed forward. We really want to find out who built this so-called new roof and if there is some kind of warranty.

Tenngal
8-12-19, 11:08am
the rubber seals around the screws breakdown and need to be replaced in metal roofs...………..at least that is what I was told when we were considering one.

LittleJohn
3-13-20, 1:57pm
There is a lot of work to do when you move into a new abode but in time it will be exactly to your liking. The floor especially will give a good dose of job satisfaction because after a good sand and resurface it will look great.
What electric sander are you using? Do you recommend it? Or should I look at electric sander reviews (https://toolinspector.com/best-belt-sander/) online?

SiouzQ.
4-29-20, 12:04pm
Well, we just got an estimate to actually replace the roof...$13,000 from the cousin of a guy K. works with who works for a roofing company but also does jobs on the side. The gist of the roof problem is that when the house was originally built, there wasn't enough slope created at the highest part. It was actually two houses which were joined together in the middle (which is now our "studio" room and hallway that connects the two. It leaks horribly during the monsoon rains and when we have a snowstorm and the snow melts). At least the roof of the lowest half of the house never gives us problems. Basically the roofer needs to raise the level of the roof at the high end of the house (the living room area) in order to create an 8% smooth slope all the way down...

We had already planned to take our stimulus money and throw that into the roof pot, but now we are going to have to finance the rest. I am debating on whether to call my parents and inquire about the possibility of getting an advance on my inheritance (gawd, I don't like posing it that way as it is awfully presumptuous). Or perhaps better yet just inquire if they would like to donate to our roofing project. I really, really hate taking on loans. And it might be hard to get money right now from a bank. At any case I need to start the information process. I am also waiting on hearing back from another roofing company who does the spray foam to see if that is a viable option for our problem.

Tybee
4-29-20, 12:06pm
Is that for a metal roof or a shingle roof?

We may be in market for a new roof.

Teacher Terry
4-29-20, 1:10pm
Maybe ask your parents for a loan.

Tybee
4-29-20, 1:26pm
We did a roof once with a loan from a 401k.

I know, Dave Ramsey says this is a horrible idea, but it seemed to work okay for us.

frugal-one
4-29-20, 1:29pm
Maybe ask your parents for a loan.

+1

catherine
4-29-20, 1:35pm
Well, we just got an estimate to actually replace the roof...$13,000 from the cousin of a guy K. works with who works for a roofing company but also does jobs on the side. The gist of the roof problem is that when the house was originally built, there wasn't enough slope created at the highest part. It was actually two houses which were joined together in the middle (which is now our "studio" room and hallway that connects the two. It leaks horribly during the monsoon rains and when we have a snowstorm and the snow melts). At least the roof of the lowest half of the house never gives us problems. Basically the roofer needs to raise the level of the roof at the high end of the house (the living room area) in order to create an 8% smooth slope all the way down...

We had already planned to take our stimulus money and throw that into the roof pot, but now we are going to have to finance the rest. I am debating on whether to call my parents and inquire about the possibility of getting an advance on my inheritance (gawd, I don't like posing it that way as it is awfully presumptuous). Or perhaps better yet just inquire if they would like to donate to our roofing project. I really, really hate taking on loans. And it might be hard to get money right now from a bank. At any case I need to start the information process. I am also waiting on hearing back from another roofing company who does the spray foam to see if that is a viable option for our problem.

I'll be interested in seeing how this works out for you, because we have "roof" on our to-do list also for the same reasons. We have barely any pitch to our house, and like you, the roof was patched together with add-ons to both the front and the back. Our roof leaks also, into the back rooms when it rains a lot.

So we got a roof replacement estimate of $5,000, which would NOT include raising the rafters. Our neighbor, who aside from being a good friend is also a roofer, said that he would recommend raising the rafters. I've been playing around with changing the roofline altogether to a shed roof, which would permit more light and a much better view of the lake, but I've decided against that. I think we might raise the pitch of the existing roof line and then eventually bump out the front with a bay window to let more light in a more cost-effective way.

Looking forward to what you learn, SiouzQ.

As for your funding dilemma, I don't know. Personally, I'd find it harder to ask for money from a relative than ask for a loan, but if your parents have already suggested that they would gladly support those kinds of things, you could remind them.

Gardnr
4-29-20, 4:44pm
So we got a roof replacement estimate of $5,000, which would NOT include raising the rafters. Our neighbor, who aside from being a good friend is also a roofer, said that he would recommend raising the rafters. I've been playing around with changing the roofline altogether to a shed roof, which would permit more light and a much better view of the lake, but I've decided against that. I think we might raise the pitch of the existing roof line and then eventually bump out the front with a bay window to let more light in a more cost-effective way.

I would hire an architect to do the design for you. Share w her/him the ultimate goal as well as the steps. Last thing you want to do is have to do the roofline twice.

The side benefit is getting suggestions from that professional that you just might like better. We love our result even though it was 4y before we could fund it.

ToomuchStuff
4-30-20, 12:30am
What direction does the roofline go now? How is it being raised? New wall, wall of windows, skylights, etc.
That might also have the effect of enlarging the property, for both tax and for heating/cooling purposes.

SiouzQ.
5-1-20, 11:48am
Good news! After looking into a consumer loan (since we have not had the house long enough to build up enough equity to get a HELOC, the best rate I could get from my credit union was 9.75%). I CANNOT stand having loans and paying so much interest! I decided to I ask each of my parents if they would loan us $2500 each (no interest), which they readily agreed to. K. has $3600 to put in the pot right now, so I was going to come up with the remaining $5000. K. makes a lot more than I do, but I (thanks to my frugal ways for over 20 years) have A LOT more ready cash in savings and retirement accounts.

I called my financial guy at the credit union who has been helping me with my money for over ten years and he said I could take out money from a little retirement account I got from my divorce in the early '90's. I just called TIAA-Cref and was told that I would still be liable for the 10% early withdrawal penalty (I am only 58 1/2 right now). And then there would be the 20% Federal Taxes taken out; it hardly seems worth it to get all those penalties and only get $3900 from it. Then it dawned on me, why not just take $5000 out from my Money Market savings account and forgo all the penalties???? DUH moment! It still leaves me with plenty of emergency money that is easily available.

K. will then pay each of my parents $100 a month and I will get a reduction in the amount I give him for the mortgage until we have evened up our share of the roof cost.

Back to the roof: the standard in New Mexico is metal roofs; the weather is so extreme here that I don't think the usual shingle roofs work at all. I wish we could hire an architect to do all sorts of things for us, but we just do not have the money for that. It is a "rustic" house that was hand-built in a poor area, so it does have some weird (but charming) anomalies. Envision a tri-level home on a slight slope (originally two small houses connected at a later date in the middle) with five steps up to each level. The highest end of the house is the living room and main bedroom; that is where the highest part of the roof is and the place where the roofer is going to add about one foot of height in order for an 8% slope all the way down.

I'll post a photo of the outside of the house when I can find one.

I am just SO GLAD that would don't have to get a loan for this project. I HATE being in debt!

Tybee
5-1-20, 11:56am
Please post pics of the house and roof work--it will be cool to see it. What color are you getting?

Teacher Terry
5-1-20, 1:00pm
That’s nice of your parents. We have given our kids interest free loans and my parents did the same for us.

Gardnr
5-1-20, 2:06pm
I wish we could hire an architect to do all sorts of things for us, but we just do not have the money for that.

I was pleasantly surprised upon investigation that the plan would only be $900. He had better ideas than we did and 4y later, the result is fabulous and we love it. He was worth the expense.

Like you, we do not like debt. We only improve with cash-so I completely underestand.

catherine
5-1-20, 2:12pm
So glad you've found funding!! I'd really love to see pictures, because we have a quirky house, too--one which only an anti-HGTIVer would love. (I'm a recovering HGTV watcher.)


What direction does the roofline go now? How is it being raised? New wall, wall of windows, skylights, etc.
That might also have the effect of enlarging the property, for both tax and for heating/cooling purposes.

I think TMS was addressing the question to me, so to answer, it is currently a very low-pitched roof. See picture (we're painting the outside next week!). I agree that more windows and a higher roof, and particularly a shed roof would raise our heating bill, especially since I'm looking to expand the north-facing wall. That's why I think a bay window might do the trick.

3182

Tybee
5-1-20, 2:18pm
I love it! Is this the front of the house, with woodstove pipe to the right? Is this what faces the water? Where would you raise/shed the roof?

catherine
5-1-20, 2:53pm
I love it! Is this the front of the house, with woodstove pipe to the right? Is this what faces the water? Where would you raise/shed the roof?

This shows the side of the house facing the lake. I thought a shed room tilting up and adding additional small windows would bring in more light. The room with cedar shingles is the mudroom that was added by the previous owner--that's why it doesn't have the same siding. The next 3 windows are part of the living "room" (not a big room, I assure you). That's where I want the bay window. The gray building to the left is our lean-to for wood/storage. We're painting that, too!! It's ridiculous how many colors were used on this house, both inside and out, but I think they were very frugal permaculturists and they bought remnant paint at ReStore. So as for color, DH wants to paint the house/outbuildings all one color and I'm playing with the idea of a honey stain on the cedar and a grey/sage green color for the log shiplap. If it was REAL log cabin, I'd keep it natural, but it's just fake wood siding meant to look like log cabin.

Tybee
5-1-20, 3:16pm
I would be inclined to go all one color, the grey/sage green, and put window boxes under the living room windows.

I would also pursue your idea of the shed room tilting up if I understand it correctly--the more light and more lake, the better, and it's a small house and you are not talking any big difference in heat--if might increase solar gain.

ToomuchStuff
5-2-20, 2:10am
I think TMS was addressing the question to me, so to answer, it is currently a very low-pitched roof. See picture (we're painting the outside next week!). I agree that more windows and a higher roof, and particularly a shed roof would raise our heating bill, especially since I'm looking to expand the north-facing wall. That's why I think a bay window might do the trick.

3182

Actually SiouzQ.
From the pictures, yours could have a rip off done, and probably go with some premanufactured trusses to replace the existing ones. It looks like a much simpler design, which won't affect ceiling heights/heating/cooling etc. (in fact, you could probably insulate more and get extra benefit)

SiouzQ.
5-4-20, 10:02am
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3198[ATTACH=CONFIG]3199[ATTACH=CONFIG]3200

Our roofing guy came out yesterday for some final measurements and planning and took off one of the metal sections just to see what he would be really be dealing with; good thing he did, as the minor repairs we had done last August during the monsoon season were already compromised (plywood sheeting was already soggy). Definitely the result of the pitch of the roof being to shallow and a bad connection between the two sections of the house. The estimate went up by $3000. Sigh...my mom is pitching in another $1500 so both of us will be coming up with another $750 each, for a grand total of $16, 650. Still a lot cheaper than going with an actual company.

I got a better feel for the character of the roofing guy yesterday and I completely trust him. He works as a supervisor at a roofing company and he brought his teenage son with him and afterward we chatted for awhile about online schooling and such, which let me get to know him a bit more. I'll feel comfortable handing over $5000 money orders in intervals.

Anyway, let me explain the house photos. In picture one, the window (with no trim) is part of the "solar" room, which needs a complete refinishing to make into something you'd want to sit in. Moving to the right is the living room. The front door is something we do not use and actually want to block in; the door looks nice but is in really bad shape and lets in so much cold air during the winter we had to staple plastic on the inside. When it was windy you could actually see the plastic billowing in and out.

Second photo: to the right of the window that has the air conditioner is the inset that shows the middle room (the room that connects the two houses together). It functions like a foyer and has a sliding glass door that someday we want to make into the main entrance of the house. Behind the foyer is the studio room that faces the back of the house (where most of the roof leaking occurs but actually starts at the living room end of the house).

Third photo: the lowest end of the house that has the kitchen, bathroom, "family" room and loft. The porch is awesome; when I sit out there I can see the Sangre de Christo mountains to the north and the lights of Santa Fe and the Ortiz mountains to the south! Madrid is spread out just below us. I love the cabin feel of this end of the house.

The stucco of the entire house was obviously never finished; that's another thing that'll have to be pushed off into the far future. There is a lot of trim work that needs to be done as well to tie it all together. So MANY projects! We need to win the lottery! It'll be nice to have a solid roof over our heads but I really wish we had sprung for a specialized roofing inspector before we bought the house so we could have negotiated more on the price...

Tybee
5-4-20, 10:13am
Oh wow, this is so different than what I thought it would be. Totally flat.

Very cool.

razz
5-4-20, 11:06am
Thanks so much for sharing those pictures. It is an awesome setting. As each project gets completed you will have such a sense of accomplishment.

Tybee
5-4-20, 11:14am
I absolutely love your porch. Your description of sitting and looking at the mountains--it sounds truly heavenly.

SiouzQ.
5-4-20, 11:23am
It's actually not a flat roof; the top of the walls of the stucco are more a like a parapet (is that the right word)? Meaning behind what looks like the top of the roof line actually sticks up about a foot from the metal roof, which you can see from the back of the house.

catherine
5-4-20, 11:53am
I absolutely love your porch. Your description of sitting and looking at the mountains--it sounds truly heavenly.

I agree!! What a difference from your previous experience in the Midwest, I bet! The Southwest is such a beautiful, magical place!

I love your house! Good luck with the repairs to the roof! Yes, home ownership is a never-ending battle.

ToomuchStuff
5-5-20, 1:11pm
SiouzQ

I like where you want to put the door. Is the other door or door frame the real issue? I ask, because if it is the frame, then you could use that door at least temporarily.

Doesn't really show a roof at all. Looks from the front, like it should be a commercial type, hot tar roof.

JaneV2.0
5-5-20, 1:46pm
Definitely a product of, and a complement to, its environment. It looks like it's been there forever.
And home ownership is definitely a mixed blessing.

SiouzQ.
5-10-20, 1:20pm
What looks like the "front door" with the carvings is in really, really bad shape. It is inset with what looks like glass panes, but in reality they are plexiglass that has cracked from the extreme weather here. There is no way to take it out easily and replace with glass. Perhaps we can reuse the door inside somehow as an interesting art project??? The doors in this house don't fit in their frames very well (again, the way the house was built was with scrips, scarps and salvage). That is another great loss of heat in the winter. I will have more weatherproofing to do for the fall.

So many projects, so much time lately, but not enough funds!

iris lilies
5-10-20, 1:38pm
I am glad that the desert dwellers find their love in dry, sandy, desert. I do not consider it a “magical place” but instead consider it a god forsaken landscape rather like the moon.

But that doesnt mean you all are wrong! That’s what’s great about these United States, the topography so different. If we weren’t born in the right place we could move to the right place. While I lived in the southwest I heard many a tale, like Suzie Q’s, of people who felt drawn to the desert and they were from the Midwest. They moved there and were happy.

I could live in New England in a New York minute, but the short growing season is a bummer. I mean, snow on mother’s Day. Ummm, no.

Teacher Terry
5-10-20, 3:16pm
I lived in upstate New York and Wisconsin and both are pretty. Wichita Kansas and Wichita Falls Texas were both ugly. The high desert where we live now is pretty and Tahoe of course is gorgeous.

iris lilies
5-10-20, 3:24pm
I lived in upstate New York and Wisconsin and both are pretty. Wichita Kansas and Wichita Falls Texas were both ugly. The high desert where we live now is pretty and Tahoe of course is gorgeous.

This?
not my jam.

https://stockagency.panthermedia.net/m/stock-photos/6926969/high-desert-scenery-nevada/

Teacher Terry
5-10-20, 4:42pm
You picked the bare mountains. The ones with trees, green, etc much prettier.

iris lilies
5-10-20, 4:44pm
You picked the bare mountains. The ones with trees, green, etc much prettier.
Where is it green year round? Sincere question. I haven’t been to Nevada. Part of the desert gets green for a couple weeks in the spring but that’s it.

JaneV2.0
5-10-20, 5:47pm
When I first saw Southern California, I thought "Golden State?" Is that a polite way of saying "brown"? People tell me it used to be lush with orange groves and other vegetation, but that's hard to picture now.

iris lilies
5-10-20, 5:51pm
When I first saw Southern California, I thought "Golden State?" Is that a polite way of saying "brown"? People tell me it used to be lush with orange groves and other vegetation, but that's hard to picture now.I know, brown land.

If I was super rich I might have a home in San Francisco but I would have to close my eyes when I got out of the city until I got to where I was going because ugly

JaneV2.0
5-10-20, 5:56pm
I know, brown land.

If I was super rich I might have a home in San Francisco but I would have to close my eyes when I got out of the city until I got to where I was going because ugly

I'm pretty comfortable with the Bay Area and points north. I was put up in a motel in Walnut Creek for a couple of weeks, and I liked that area.

rosarugosa
5-10-20, 6:44pm
IL: I'm with you on "god forsaken landscape." We didn't have snow on Mothers' Day, it was the day before Mothers' Day, lol.

SiouzQ.
5-10-20, 8:03pm
The cool thing about New Mexico is that you can go through all the "zones" of vegetation pretty quickly! You want tall trees and shade? Just drive up into the mountains east of Santa Fe and hike under the Ponderosa Pines and further up you are in the aspens. I live at about 6600 ft, so we have low, scrubby hills with a lot of juniper, Cholla cactus and some elms here and there. In the valleys are the cottonwoods, which are this unbelievable lime green shade right now. Apparently long ago there were a lot more big shade trees here but over the decades the monsoon season has shrunk quite a bit. One thing I do miss is lush green grass to walk barefoot in once in a while!

jp1
5-15-20, 1:03am
When I first saw Southern California, I thought "Golden State?" Is that a polite way of saying "brown"? People tell me it used to be lush with orange groves and other vegetation, but that's hard to picture now.

There are places throughout california that are green for at least part of the year. By august, many of those places are no longer green, but some places are green and beautiful all year long. A friend who lives in southern California was sharing pics and google maps images and such with me today of an area 40-50 miles east of San Diego (which I had assumed was all desert) that looked more like Tahoe than Palm Springs.

catherine
5-15-20, 8:13am
I am glad that the desert dwellers find their love in dry, sandy, desert. I do not consider it a “magical place” but instead consider it a god forsaken landscape rather like the moon.

But that doesnt mean you all are wrong! That’s what’s great about these United States, the topography so different. If we weren’t born in the right place we could move to the right place. While I lived in the southwest I heard many a tale, like Suzie Q’s, of people who felt drawn to the desert and they were from the Midwest. They moved there and were happy.


Regarding the desert, I remember the worst grade on an essay I received was one which I had written about the desert, describing it as lifeless and, as you said, IL, "forbidden". The teacher basically told me I don't know what I was talking about--that there is tons of life in a desert, and she gave me a C-. Funny thing is, I had never actually BEEN to a desert, and when I was in mid-40s, I went to the Southwest for the first time and was absolutely entranced. I realized that based on my ignorance, I had deserved that C-!



I could live in New England in a New York minute, but the short growing season is a bummer. I mean, snow on mother’s Day. Ummm, no.

Hey, the Champlain islands have the longest growing season in Vermont! It kicks off slowly (I was shocked and almost confused when my Master Gardener teacher said that the day to transplant veggies into the ground is Memorial Day.). But, October is lovely. Here's a little tourist video of the county that mentions the growing season and gives you a snapshot of life here:

(BTW, IL, my DD is newly in her first house, and she has been watching with excitement perennials push up in her yard--along with the house she got lots of Chinese peonies, day lilies and bearded and Japanese iris!! I told her that if she has to many, I'd be happy to take some off her hands).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww__UbkrIBU

herbgeek
5-15-20, 8:29am
Love the video Catherine. It was fun recognizing a number of the places I've been to!

catherine
5-15-20, 8:39am
Love the video Catherine. It was fun recognizing a number of the places I've been to!

We closed on the house in January 2018, so it was months before we would eventually get there in spring. I must have played this video a hundred times during those winter months, I was so excited to move here.

SiouzQ.
5-15-20, 10:40am
Well, today is it! They are going to be starting on the roof and working all weekend. I am grateful that we are able to pay for it with cash, as both my parents chipped in to help, but it is still a sh** ton of money. Glad I have been saving for so long! I still have a decent amount in my emergency savings account, but K. has tapped out all he wants to go to at this point. He needs to work on rebuilding his savings; luckily, he has remained employed and will be because of the government contract work he does in an essential industry.

I pray to the roofing gods that it all goes well!

catherine
5-15-20, 10:52am
Well, today is it! They are going to be starting on the roof and working all weekend. I am grateful that we are able to pay for it with cash, as both my parents chipped in to help, but it is still a sh** ton of money. Glad I have been saving for so long! I still have a decent amount in my emergency savings account, but K. has tapped out all he wants to go to at this point. He needs to work on rebuilding his savings; luckily, he has remained employed and will be because of the government contract work he does in an essential industry.

I pray to the roofing gods that it all goes well!

I'm sure all will be well, SiouzQ!

early morning
5-15-20, 12:08pm
Sending all good vibes to your roof, lol. Let us know how it turns out.

iris lilies
5-15-20, 12:30pm
Regarding the desert, I remember the worst grade on an essay I received was one which I had written about the desert, describing it as lifeless and, as you said, IL, "forbidden". The teacher basically told me I don't know what I was talking about--that there is tons of life in a desert, and she gave me a C-. Funny thing is, I had never actually BEEN to a desert, and when I was in mid-40s, I went to the Southwest for the first time and was absolutely entranced. I realized that based on my ignorance, I had deserved that C-!




Hey, the Champlain islands have the longest growing season in Vermont! It kicks off slowly (I was shocked and almost confused when my Master Gardener teacher said that the day to transplant veggies into the ground is Memorial Day.). But, October is lovely. Here's a little tourist video of the county that mentions the growing season and gives you a snapshot of life here:

(BTW, IL, my DD is newly in her first house, and she has been watching with excitement perennials push up in her yard--along with the house she got lots of Chinese peonies, day lilies and bearded and Japanese iris!! I told her that if she has to many, I'd be happy to take some off her hands).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww__UbkrIBU

I would love Vermont and the lake Champlain area. No question. And really when I think about it, memorial day is only two weeks past our planting day which is Mother’s Day, second Sunday in May. That is the “official “day after which you can plant tomatoes because the danger of frost is gone. However – – we get things in the ground earlier, such as in March, for things like radishes and spinach, and then DH has cold frameS so he will sometimes put some things in earlier if we have a weather breakS.

If I were a rich lady I would have a place in New England for the months of August,September, and part of October because they are brutal here, they are hot when they don’t need to be. I mean honestly 90° weather in October? That is not how God intended it. Ha ha.

Teacher Terry
5-15-20, 12:35pm
IL, just saw your question. Tahoe and much of Reno is green most of the time. That’s why Nevada is no longer a haven for people with allergies and asthma. People brought their native plants with them from other states. The mountains surround Reno with some being bare and ugly and others beautiful with green and trees. Natives say it was much less green before that happened.

SiouzQ.
5-25-20, 10:56am
Our roof is half done, meaning they worked real hard for three days last weekend and got the new joists, plywood sheeting and waterproofing material down. We are waiting on the special order metal sheets (needed extra long lengths). This morning we woke up to rain. The new part of the roof is keeping us dry even with just the waterproofing sheets but the last third of the roof that we can't afford to get fixed right now is leaking because the rain is running under the exisiting metal sheeting (because there is no new overlay metal from the new part of the roof yet). So now we have pots and pans to catch the water in a part of the house that never leaked before... I sure hope that new metal sheeting gets here and SOON! This is the first real rain we've had in months though and we sorely need it. And what I need is patience!