Much has happened since July.
After remodeling the kitchen we started on the basement. That took nearly a few months. Once that was finished we met with our real estate agent towards listing our house. Remember how we’ve been updating our home for the last almost 3 years in an effort to profit and move to our dream location in Washington state? Member that?
We finally got it listed last month…and had been told an offer was coming our way the next morning. I kid you not. It did and it is an amazing offer without hassles. We close on October 17th. The buyer is a very nice (sounding) man. I believe he was the first to schedule a tour too. We were stoked that that many people wanted to see our place the first day it was listed (and the following day) then wham. Dreams come true-goals accomplished.
But he wanted to be in the house as soon as he could, so things have gone very quickly…very. It’s only now I can breathe a little and wanted to update you peoples with the news.
WE MADE IT HAPPEN-WE’RE MOVING TO WASHINGTON! (That’s all I wanted to put in this post, but I thought you deserved more.)
After a trip to Indiana to see family and friends, Greg, the pups and myself will be driving across the country with stops in Deadwood, SD, Cody, WY, Yellowstone, Missoula, MT, Leavenworth, WA then to our rental house in Federal Way. (I left out our stay in Iowa because, well, it’s not a thrilling part of Iowa…is there such a place there? Kidding.) I’ve booked cabins, cottages and houses in place of hotels. We haven’t had a vacation or honeymoon, oh, ever and, although we are driving the 40+ hours with pups who will surely be annoyed, this is exciting. It’s all exciting.
Know any great places to eat along the way?
Saturday marked 5 years of the Dabble’s existence. No kidding. 5.whole.years.
I haven’t been around much lately and when I have I’ve been all “look what I’ve (we’ve) done to the house” or “look who likes what I (we) do.” Which seems as though I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be at this point in life.
I think much of that was made possible because I wanted to put myself out there and started here. Trying to connect with others who enjoy their passions as much as I do. Those who have a strong zeal for something, anything in life. I revere and connect with those folks. People, such as yourself, who like to use quality ingredients with a seasonal focus of the home cookery variety. People who enjoy sharing their lives and finding the odd events life brings funny and something that bonds us all (or should). People who enjoy taking something most others see as junk and making it into something special (like furniture/a house/simple ingredient…hint hint those are my areas of interest…and by no means the only things I speak of). It started here and it lead me to follow other passions.
No one would have found me if I didn’t start here. I feel honored and humbled that anyone even cares. I just do what I do and if it sparks interest (or doesn’t), well then, there it is.
My life is completely different from 5 years ago in the best ways ever. (My standards for myself anyway. You gotta set your own idea of success.) I thank you if you’re still here. I’ll be back.
I don’t say OMG very often but this has been an amazing OMG week with two features on some awesome, inspiring sites. The first was for my wallpaper front dresser at Apartment Therapy and today’s spotlight is over at House*Tweaking where Dana interviewed me about our Ikea kitchen reno. It was an honor to be chosen by her since she is one of my absolute favorite bloggers. Love both of those sites! Take a look.
At the Wits yesterday I shared what many people have probably been waiting for from me for a few years regarding our home improvements-“the befores and afters.”
In a few months we plan to put the place on the market and vamoose to Seattle. We’ve known this for about a year and a half because we asked to do so and the company granted our relocation.
My husband and I set out to update 95% of our home and we’ve done the majority of that work. The only parts left are the 3 rooms in the basement. I’m very proud, teary-eyed and a bit in disbelief that it has really come together. When you’re facing a room of dust and rubble it’s hard to imagine it will be anything else, then multiple that times one hundred and you’re sitting inside my head for the last 2 1/2 years.
So I finally spent some time putting together this post here of our accomplishments (with lots of pictures) and want to also share it with you supportive people who have grown fond of me despite myself.
Here’s a sample living room “before” shot. Visit the link above to see the rest.
I’m not here to tell you about Whole30 again. (I’m on day 28 of the 30 and having some positive results. Feeling inspired, empowered and healthier. I get cheese this weekend and maybe wine. No maybe, I’m having some damn wine.) I thought this being a food blog you’d like to see our newly renovated kitchen. I love it. Just in time to, you know, move to Seattle. You can read more about the project here.
I’ll share what I share over there. That’d be the kitchen renovation we’re in the process of doing. Over there being the blog I have written at far more recently and often than here, the Wits.
It’s been nearly a few months with a ramshackled room that I used cook in. One entire side is torn out and the upper cabinets are gone on the other side. All that remains is the sink, dishwasher, base cabinet and the countertop (speckled with drywall mud, dust, paint and whatever else has graced the reno). Otherwise, this was a spot once called a kitchen. With its stove, microwave, sink, dishwasher, space to chop, cabinets to store cookware, utensils and dinnerware, etc.. At first I really enjoyed the newly demoed space because it meant progress, change, and most of all, that we’re almost finished with the house so we can move to Seattle. Then, weeks went by with little happening and the novelty wore off. Greg works late. Certain tasks take the hit. I get something cleaned up or finished and the next step for Greg involves ruining the said task I just marked off the list, only to be put back on the list…while I’m cursing at him.
And yelling and cursing are happening a lot. This past weekend was a breaking point where I wanted to cause my husband harm. With each project we’ve hit that point. It’s called marriage.
Most of the appliances and food stuffs spilled into the the dining room and parts of the living room. I grab a knife from a box atop the fridge in the dining room, pick up a cutting board from the stovetop in the kitchen or in the dining room depending on if it’s safe in the kitchen (this weekend we saw sparks…don’t get the plug stuck and rip out the terminal), then I take a look around for a spot to get knifey on something just to end up hoping the wobbly surface I found clear won’t result in slicing my finger. Often this knifin’ around falls on the dining table that barely seats 2 and on top of that (literally) is the microwave. This table is partially in the dining room and partially in the living room and completely in the way. We make do.
I have to pat myself on the back because I’ve still been able to make some darn delicious meals. Oddly I think I’ve made more recipes of the delicious variety with everything in a hellish state than not. Maybe I won’t know what to do with an actual updated kitchen. Yeah…no. I’ve committed to organizing the recipes we’ve been eating for many months in the hopes of sharing them with you. Today I went through those and snagged one that stuck out. It has bacon. Enough said. Not enough? Avocado, bread and cheese. I hope you didn’t pass out from all that awesome.
Bacon, Avocado and Cheese Sandwich
Drizzle & Drip original recipe
Serves 1
Ingredients:
your favorite baguette, sliced to your liking and toasted
1 ripe avocado, smashed (perhaps slosh a little lime juice on it)
a few pieces of cooked bacon
a handful or two of blue cheese (or your favorite cheese, perhaps cheddar)
Smear the smashed avocado onto your toasted bread, top with bacon and cheese put the bread lid on and slip into sandwich heaven.
Yo, the hubs and I recently did an interview with Goedekers-a trusted appliance, furniture and home lighting company. To find out how we answered why we started blogging, what fuels our passion for woodworking, what our favorite DIY projects are, what sparked our interest in reselling vintage and antique items, where we’re at with the progress on our house/what’s left, what our renovation status and timeline is for our move to Seattle, AND what we envision for our lives in 5 years-check it out here.